Fated Hearts (Southern Bride 8)

Annalise wasn’t kidding when she said the first house was close to the hotel. She could walk to work if she wanted.

“This is super-cute,” she said after I opened the passenger door for her, and she jumped out. A newer-built home, the one-story limestone house looked simple enough. “It’s so big!”

I frowned. “You think?”

Turning to look at me over her shoulder, she said, “You should have seen where I lived in Manhattan. You probably couldn’t fit this garage in there.”

I laughed. “I always forget you moved here from New York.”

An older woman walked out of the house, heading our way. “Annalise, it’s good to see you again.” The woman turned to me and extended her hand. “Nancy Whitmore, I’m the real estate agent Annalise is working with.”

I shook her hand. “Roger Carter, it’s a pleasure to meet you.”

“Ah, you’re the friend Annalise mentioned. I’m glad you were able to make it.”

Before I could respond, she spun on her heels and walked up to the door. “I think you’ll really like this open floorplan. I’ll let the two of you walk around the house first before I come in and join you. I’ll be right outside.”

“Thank you, Nancy,” Annalise said, stepping into the large living room.

I whistled as I followed her. “Wow, this is a huge living room.”

Annalise smiled. “I like the fireplace. I’ve always wanted one.”

I looked over at the fireplace, and that made me realize I hadn’t brought Annalise back to my house yet. In the nearly three weeks she’d been in Boerne, I’d always gone to her suite. Something didn’t feel right about bringing her to my house. I knew things would end in sex, and the thought of making love to her in a bed I’d slept in with other women just felt…wrong. Anna was special to me, and the women I had brought home were simply there for one reason. Sex. Suddenly, a strange feeling came over me. It almost felt like guilt.

“Look at this archway, Roger. Isn’t it beautiful? I love how the space just flows into the next room.”

I followed her into the large dining room that connected to the kitchen.

“Kitchen’s kind of small, don’t you think?” I asked as she walked up to the island.

“Yeah, I do think it’s pretty small. There’s hardly any counter space.”

We walked through the three bedrooms and the two-and-a-half baths. When we stepped into the backyard, I heard Annalise gasp.

“A gazebo! I love gazebos!”

I laughed. “You’ve got one at work.”

She looked back at me. “I know, but having one in my own backyard would be so amazing!”

I glanced around the large, grassy area. I lived in a similar neighborhood, with neighbors so close you could practically reach out and touch them. Now that was I buying the Martin ranch, I wouldn’t have that problem for much longer.

As we made our way back into the house, Nancy appeared in the living room. “Well, what do you think?”

I kept my mouth closed and didn’t share the fact that I thought the kitchen was too small and that the neighbors could see into almost every single window, not to mention the backyard.

“It’s cute, but I don’t think this one’s for me,” Annalise said.

Nancy nodded. “Not a problem. Let’s head on out of town and stop at the other listing I pulled for you.”

When we got back to the truck, I asked Annalise what she hadn’t liked about the house.

“The kitchen was too small. After living in cramped spaces in New York, I want a large kitchen. I don’t need a bonus room or anything like that.”

“Fair enough.” I started my truck, and we headed to the next house. This one was about fifteen minutes outside of Boerne.

The moment we pulled up and Annalise saw that it was in the middle of nowhere, she turned to face me. “There is no way I’m living in this house all alone.”

I looked past her at the two-story home. It was older, a for-sure fixer-upper. “It’s…charming.”

“Charming? It looks like it’s straight out of a horror movie, Roger!”

Nancy got out of the car and waited for us. Instead of getting out, Annalise rolled down her window. “Nancy! This looks like someone with an ax is going to jump out at any moment!”

Nancy’s smile faded, and she turned and stared at the house for a few moments before looking back to Annalise. “Well, you did say you’d be interested in a historical home.”

“Oh, my God, I’m going to be living at the hotel forever.”

“I’ve got one more I can show you,” Nancy offered. “I pulled an extra one, just in case.”

I pointed to her. “That is the sign of a good real estate agent right there.”

“Is it out this way or closer in town?” Annalise asked.

“It’s right down from the hotel. They are thinking of selling it, but right now, they’re only renting.”