The two-story farmhouse-style house with wraparound porch, flowerbeds, and garage isn’t what I was expecting. It looks like a house a family would live in—not a single guy covered in tattoos. If his pickup wasn’t in the driveway, I’d think I was at the wrong house.
Befuddled, I park my car in front of the garage, next to his truck. As I walk up the brick path to the porch, the only thought running through my mind is; I could live here. I could sit on that porch swing. Gus could stare out the window at all these trees and see lots of birds and chipmunks.
“You found it.”
I jump at the sound of his voice. I was so lost in thought I didn’t hear him open the front door, and now a little furry dog is wiggling happily at my feet.
“Hi… I didn’t… She’s so cute,” I stammer, kneeling down to greet the adorable dog. She attempts to smother me with kisses. “Aren’t you the cutest thing?” I coo, running my hands through her soft fur. Her face is barely visible behind the mop hanging over her eyes.
“Cassie, come on. Let’s not maul her,” he says. “Sorry, she gets excited. We don’t get a lot of company. She’ll calm down once you’re not exciting anymore.” He grins awkwardly. “I mean, I’m sure you’re exciting, but you won’t be anymore. To her. I mean, you just won’t be new.” He cringes at his own awkwardness and it makes him sexy as hell. “You get what I’m saying.”
“I do.” I smile and gesture to the yard with a flip of my hand. “It’s pretty here.”
“Come inside.”
I follow him through the front door, and I’m relieved and surprised to see the inside is just as pretty and welcoming as the outside. A big kitchen opens up to a dining room. There’s a cozy living room with a gray-brick fireplace. And so many windows! Everything is neat and clean—with the exception of some basic clutter on the kitchen counter. The only scent in the air is Jude’s cologne. Or maybe it’s his aftershave or that beard oil I keep seeing on social media. Either way, nothing smells like it’s been forgotten and rotting.
“It’s beautiful,” I say. “I wasn’t expecting it to be so nice.”
“Why, ’cause I’m a single guy?”
“Yeah.”
His shoulders lift. “I’m surprised, too. It was my parents’ house, and I somehow inherited it. I’ve been slowly remodeling. This level is done, but I’m still working on the upstairs, and then I’ll finish the basement.”
“It’s beautiful. Really.”
“Lemme show you something I think your fupagus cat might like.”
Laughing at his massacre of my cat’s name, I follow him to the back of the house to a sunroom—all glass walls and ceiling—with tons of hanging plants and more perched on little tables.
“Wow!” I say. “This is so cool.”
“Thanks. My mom was into plants. It took me a while to not kill them all, but now they’re doing okay.” He moves across the room. “I’ve got an aloe plant.” He points to a row of little boxes. “And I’m growing some herbs over here. The legal kind, that is.” That devilish grin. “Do you cook?” A hint of hope tinges his words.
“Me?” I guess he forgot I haven’t been able to even get into the kitchen at home for a long time. Or the fact that I don’t eat much. “No, but I’ve always wanted to.”
“Well, if you want to experiment, I’ll be your guinea pig. I’m usually too tired after work to cook anything decent. If you want to. And if you decide you want to live here.”
His nervousness actually makes me feel better about this whole crazy situation. I think he feels just as awkward and unsure about it as I do, and that makes it feel more like we’re in this together, on common ground.
“I’d love to try to cook. I promise not to poison you.” I spin around the room happily. “Gus will love it in here.”
“Want to see the upstairs?”
I nod excitedly and he leads the way.
“Like I said, it’s still a work in progress up here.” He nods toward the spackle on the wall of the hallway. “But the bedroom and bathroom you’d be using is upgraded, never been used. This is the bathroom.” We stop in front of a white door and I take a quick peek inside. It takes some serious self-control for me not to squeal and jump up and down. A tile shower! A toilet! Double sinks! Everything is so clean—all white and light gray. And it all smells so fresh.
“Jude… this is awesome. I might live in that shower, just so ya know.”
His eyes glimmer with pride, as they should. He’s done a great job.
“As long as you keep it clean, I don’t care. That’s all I’d really ask for.”