Lighthouse Way (Huckleberry Bay 1)

“But you didn’t,” Luna says softly.

“I can’t,” I admit with a shrug. “Yeah, it needs a lot of work. But it’s only a ten-minute walk to the cliffs, and it’s in a great spot.”

“I won’t disagree with that,” June says. “You could get half a million just for the lot.”

“I should tear it down and build something new here.” I rub my fingers over my chin, thinking it over. “It’s not the house that I’m attached to. It’s the location.”

“I haven’t seen all of it yet,” June says, “but I can tell you that it would cost just as much to renovate this place as it would to start from scratch. If you’re not sentimental about the building, I say take it down and start over. You could even build something similar to this one. How big is the property?”

“A few acres, most of it wooded.”

“Well, then, you can do just about anything you want. You’re not within the city limits, so there are no ordinances out here. You could build a bigger house, add a nice garage…”

“That’s a must,” I agree, nodding. There’s no existing garage now, just the carport, and it drives me nuts. “I have a few cars that I don’t want sitting out in the elements—especially being so close to the ocean. They’d rust right out.”

“What kinds of cars?” June asks.

“Fast ones,” I reply with a wink. “And when they all get here, you can come check them out anytime.”

“What are you going to do with all your stuff?” Luna asks with a frown. “Everything in here belonged to your parents. Where’s your stuff?”

“It’s all being shipped from Monaco.”

Both women just blink at me, and I can’t help but smile at them.

“You lived in Monaco?” June demands.

“A lot of the drivers do,” I reply. “It’s private.”

“Sure,” Luna says as she nods. “Private. It’s also damn expensive.”

I just continue smiling at her.

Damn, I miss Monaco.

I’ll take her there. I’ll show her the most beautiful country I’ve ever been to.

Make love to her there.

I mentally shake my head. I might be getting ahead of myself.

“Okay, fancy pants,” June says with a gusty breath. “When will it all be here?”

“In a couple of weeks.”

“Well, we won’t have this place either renovated or rebuilt by then. Are you sure you want to live here in the interim?”

“Yeah,” I say. “For now, anyway. I know the house is small, and there’s no storage to speak of on the property. I’ll rent something.”

“I’d offer my buildings,” Luna adds, “but I don’t think they’re in good enough shape to hold your things. Not yet, anyway.”

“No, you don’t want a Ferrari to fall through the floor of one of your outbuildings,” June says.

“How did you know I have a Ferrari?”

June just barks out a laugh. “You’re totally the Ferrari type. Plus, you raced in one. Did they give you a car for free? Was it part of the sponsorship?”

“One of them was. If I’m sponsored, which I was by Ferrari, I’m expected to be seen driving their cars.”

“Wow,” Luna says under her breath. “I drive a Mazda.”

I laugh and reach out to tug on a strand of her dark hair. “Nothing wrong with that, sweetheart.”

She grins, and I want to lean in and kiss her so badly I can taste it.

“Ahem,” June says, clearing her throat. “Good God, the chemistry is ridiculous between you two. I’d say get a room, but I’m not convinced the ceiling wouldn’t cave in on you here.”

“Were you always this blunt?” I ask her.

“Oh, yeah. I have a filter now.” June winks. “Okay, you make heart eyes at each other. I’m going to look around a little bit more.”

June leaves Luna and me alone in the kitchen.

“She’s just trying to be funny,” Luna says.

“So, you’re not making heart eyes at me, then?” I ask and step just a little closer to her.

She doesn’t back away.

“Pfft. No. Of course, not.” She licks her lips and stares at my Adam’s apple.

“Thanks for the cake,” I murmur as I lean closer, smelling the sweetness of her. Not only does she look like sunshine, but she smells like it, too.

“You’re welcome.”

“Okay, break it up,” June says as she walks back into the room. “I definitely recommend a rebuild here. Your plumbing and electrical are crap. Unfortunately, I don’t think you’ll find a builder that can get started until at least the spring.”

“Will this place hold up until then?”

“If you’re lucky,” she says with a grin and then keeps talking, but it suddenly feels like I’m in a tunnel, and my head is in a vise. The women’s words are muffled, and all I see is what my doctor refers to as an aura.

Jesus, why do the migraines come on so damn fast?

I need Luna and June to go so I can grab an ice pack and lie down.