I almost kissed Margie on the mouth when she told me, but there was no time.
I immediately shifted into training mode and spent all day showing Beverly the ropes. It was a satisfying but tiring day.
Now that I’m home, I’m ready to go for my usual afternoon walk and then settle in for some alone time.
With my cropped yoga pants and tank top on, I set off for the beach, taking the same route I took with Archer just yesterday.
I hope I was able to cover the anguish I’ve felt since he left last night. If I looked sad at work today, maybe the others chalked it up to the family emergency that took me away from work, and not to me feeling heartbroken over someone I lost more than a decade ago all over again.
The beach is pretty much abandoned as I walk south. Fewer tourists is another sign that summer is almost over, and we’re headed into the winter months. I’ll miss the warmer weather and the sunshine.
I’m usually energized after my walks, but when I return home, I just feel tired. So, I take a quick shower, change into my comfies, and place an order for pizza delivery.
I’m going to give myself this one night to wallow in self-pity, and then it’s back to business as usual.
When I’m armed with a large pepperoni, a full glass of wine, and the remote, I settle on the couch with my favorite blanket and snap on the TV. The regional news fills the screen.
“From what we’ve been told, law enforcement believes the Martinelli family may be behind this brutal murder, but the investigation is ongoing.”
I quickly turn the channel to the home improvement network and set my pizza aside.
This. This is why I turned Archer away.
And it would be best if I didn’t forget that.Chapter 6~Archer~I could have stayed with her last night, but I have a shit ton to do in a short time. If she thinks I’m leaving, she obviously doesn’t know me very well.
But I’ll be happy to remind her.
Because I’m not going anywhere. If she needs space and time to get used to the idea of having me around, that’s fine with me.
I’m in no hurry.
I’ve temporarily settled myself in a suite at a seaside resort, and I have a meeting with a real estate agent in fifteen minutes. I’ve had breakfast, and a five-mile run already, and am on my way to look at the house that caught my eye yesterday when I was on the beach with Elena.
Ally.
I need to get used to her name. She has my last name. I wonder if that’s a coincidence or if she told her grandmother what name she wanted to use. She should have my name. And she would if she hadn’t been afraid of her father.
“Mr. Montgomery?”
I nod at the woman standing by the front door of the large house on the cliffs. I can hear the waves crashing in the distance. “Yes, ma’am. Ms. Stebbins?”
“Cheryl, please.” She shakes my hand and then opens the already unlocked door. Cheryl knows how to do her job well. She’s an attractive woman, dressed in a simple, classy suit. Her blond hair is styled in waves down her back, and I can see she recently applied red lipstick to her pouty lips. But her smile isn’t flirtatious, and she’s all-business when she gestures for me to walk in ahead of her. All of the lights inside are already on. “This particular house has been on the market for about five weeks.”
I nod again. I did a little research on this property last night while I ate takeout in my hotel room. The main living space is bright and open, with floor-to-ceiling windows that give me an unobstructed view of the ocean beyond. The furniture looks new, is simple, and fits the space perfectly. “Is it possible to buy the furniture with the house?”
“I’m sure we can make an offer and see what they say. They’ve already moved out of state.”
The views from the kitchen and living room and then the master bedroom are simply stunning.
“The house was built in 1982, but as you can see, the current owners completely remodeled the home, updating all of the rooms.”
“It’s nice,” I reply, taking in the white kitchen with black lower cabinets, the up-to-date light fixtures, and brand-new floors. It’s better than nice. It’s gorgeous. Living here while I win my girl back won’t be a hardship in the least. “I’ll take it.”
Her eyebrows climb, and those red lips part in surprise. “Just like that?”
“Just like that.”
“Do you have preapproval for a loan?”
“I’ll pay cash. I’d like to close as soon as possible. And I’d like to ask the owners if I can move in right away, paying them rent, of course, until the closing date.”