Page 4 of Flirty Thirty

“I’m worried.”

I smile. “You’realwaysworried.” I nod to Chase in my arms. “I think it’s in your job description.”

She gives me a look like she wants to argue, but she isn’t going to. Thankfully the conversation is interrupted again… this time by me.

“Oh, it’s Sarah,” I say, looking down at my buzzing phone. “Give me a sec.”

Shifting Chase, I push up off the chair and take the call in my living room. It must be big news if Sarah’s calling on my day offandmy birthday. I anxiously swipe the answer button.

“Hey!”

“It’s a big one, Maya,” she says, getting right down to business; it’s why we get along. “The buyer’s coming in early tomorrow,looking for someone to help him buy a property up on Rose Summit.”

My heart soars up into my throat. “What time?”

“He scheduled an appointment at 7:30, but I’d get here at—”

“7:00. Yeah, I’m on it.Thank you.”

“No problem, boss.”

I click off and happy dance with my phone in one hand, newborn nephew in the other. Rose Summit is full of million dollar properties. Multi-million dollar properties. The commission on that sucker… hello vacation!

The beeps from my oven timer sound through the room, and a few seconds later Katie appears in the archway, wiping her hands off on her jeans. “We’ve got a little bit. Did you record The Bachelor?”

“MOM!” Claire screams from the formal living room. “Leru a poopa fleur.”

Katie sighs, her shoulders slumping as she’s summoned. She points to the remote, silently telling me to at least get the show started, before she trudges her way to her toddler. And though I still didn’t catch what Claire was saying, by the look on my sister-in-law’s face, I’m pretty sure I really don’t want to know.

3

Fumble and Mumble

“Chai Tea with cinnamon, cappuccino with chocolate shavings, and dark mocha with hazelnut.” Sarah rotates the cups in the holder as she announces my choices, greeting me right off the elevator. Much to my delight, she’s thought of every one of my personalities this morning.

I push open the glass door that leads into our offices, holding it open for her. Her thick heels clack against the floor as she scurries through, and I pluck the cappuccino from the container before she ends up spilling the drinks to the floor; she had me at chocolate shavings, and I don’t want to see them all over the linoleum.

“His name is Cooper Sterling,” Sarah rattles off. “According to the articles I found on him, he and his brother partnered in advertising and made their first million fresh out of college. Cooper acts as CFO, and invested the moneyverywisely.”

I chuckle around my cappuccino. “Apparently. Did you get anything on his family life?”

Sarah dodges around a small trash can the cleaning crew must’ve left out. “He’s thirty-two, single, and as far as I know, currently unattached at the moment. He likes to buy and flip properties on the side… He’s got a home in LA and one in Texas.”

“And he’s looking for a realtor?”

“I assume it’s a licensing issue. There’s no record of any properties here, which is probably why he needs someone local.”

A sly grin pushes at the corners of my mouth. “This is gold,” I tell her. I’ve hit the jackpot of all clientele—rich, business savvy, and it doesn’t hurt that he’s in my age and relationship status bracket. It’s a rarity for me to speak to someone who doesn’t have a love interest or a few spawn running around at their feet.

“Is he here yet?” I ask.

Sarah shakes her head, her long, red hair waving over her shoulders. “No one knows about the appointment.” Her lips turn up into a shy, almost shameful grin. “I just happened to be the person who delivered Parks’ itinerary yesterday.”

Garrison Parks, CEO of the now billion dollar corporation I work for, likes to meet the high-profile clients in person before he sets them up with one of the realtors. It is not my fault if I manage to bump into those clients before the meeting and put on a little charm.

I pick up my pace, Sarah’s short legs jogging to keep up. “Will you call Mr. and Mrs. Bloomsbury and tell them you’ll be starting the open house this morning?”

There’s a hiccup in her step. “Um, Maya… I haven’t run an open house solo yet.”

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