Page 45 of Forty and Fighting Dirty
“We’ve been duped.” His voice was dark.
I reared back. “Excuse me?”
“We’ve been had, Darling. This place is a pile of junk.”
I looked around, baffled. “This place is adorable!”
“Look at this.” He pointed through an open doorway at the upstairs bathroom. The ceiling was mottled black and yellow in the corner closest to the exterior wall. Water damage. “There’s no telling what’s behind these walls,” he said, scowling.
“So it needs a little work,” I countered. “So what?”
“A little work?” he repeated, scoffing. “It’s a money pit. Nearly every room has something that’s not up to code. The owners just slapped a little paint over it and gave it away. Probably cheaper to have it as a charity tax write-off than it was to fix it. And now we’re left holding the bag.”
“It’s gorgeous. Look at the view!” I pointed out the tiny bathroom window, where a cloud floated past the top of the closest mountain.
“You’ll see a lot more of the view when the ceiling caves in and you get an unintentional skylight.”
“Grumble grumble grumble. That’s all I’m hearing from you. I’ll buy you out.”
Now that I’d said it out loud, I started to really think about it. I’d buy him out for the fair market value. I had a good job, so I’d be able to get a mortgage. Worst case, Georgia might lend me some money for a bigger down payment. Then the boys could explore the surrounding woods, I could put down some roots, and we could finally start living again. A future for myself and my boys. Hope. My lungs suddenly constricted. I was afraid my face betrayed all my hopes and dreams and desires.
Rhett arched a brow. “You’ll buy me out?”
“That’s what I said.” My smile was sharp. “It’s a heap of junk, so I’m sure you’ll give me a good deal.”
“And then there’s the taxes we’ll have to pay on the win,” he said, eyes drifting up to the ceiling again. “Maybe I should’ve let you have it, after all.”
My smile slipped. “Taxes?”
“Round about twenty-eight percent of the value, if I’m not mistaken.” He’d moved deeper into the bathroom and was poking at some suspicious-looking caulking on the edge of the tub.
My heart stopped, stuttered, and started again. I looked around, wide-eyed, starting to see the problems Rhett had pointed out. The floors were all wonky, and a cold breeze was blowing through the top floor. That musty smell was mold and moisture. Judging by the condensation and the bathroom ceiling, this whole place was built like a sieve.
The hope that had buoyed me earlier suddenly deflated, and I crashed right back down to earth. I didn’t have money to buy Rhett outandpay the tax I’d owe, and I didn’t have moneyto fix this place up.
“We have to sell it,” I heard myself say, hating the way my voice cracked.
Rhett glanced up from his inspection, sweeping his eyes over me, and understanding fluttered over his expression. I turned my face away. I didn’t want him to see me like this. I felt vulnerable, raw. Stupidly, I’d let myself hope that I could have the house. That I’d scrimp and save and buy him out, and everything would work out.
But things didn’t work out—not for me. I hoped and dreamed and then got crushed. I picked myself up, and then I did it all over again.
I was so tired.
Then warm hands swept over the arms that I’d crossed against the chill. Rhett was there, his chest in my face, the rich scent of his cologne in every breath I took. His thumbs swept over my jacket, but I could still feel the heat of his hands soaking into my skin. I knew I was trembling, and I wished I could stop.
“Piper,” he said quietly.
“I’m fine,” I said, but a hot tear escaped my eyes and made it obvious I was lying.
“Piper,” he repeated. “It’s just a house. You’ll still walk away with something when we sell.”
I scoffed. To him it was a house. To me it had been security. It had been an opportunity. It had been a future that I hadn’t let myself believe until I actually stepped through the door.
His hands were still on my arms, his body crowding mine in the tight, musty bathroom. I straightened my shoulders and forced myself to look up. That brought our faces close, and I couldn’t quite resist the temptation to drop my gaze to his lips.
He had no right to be this handsome. I turned my face away and shook my head. “We’ll sell it,” I said. “I got carried away. Excuse me. I have to go drop the boys at school. I’ll see you at the office.”
I slid out of his grasp and hurried down the stairs, feeling Rhett’s gaze on my back the whole way down.
