Page 25 of Playing for Keeps
“So,” she says, turning slightly toward me. “What was it you wanted to run by me?” She takes a sip of her wine, watching me over the rim of her glass.
I shift to face her more fully. “Remember when I mentioned I was thinking about buying a place here in Hope Creek?” She nods, curiosity sparking in her eyes. “Well, I was hoping you might be my realtor and help me find something.”
Her brows shoot up in surprise. “What?”
I smile at the shock on her face. She definitely wasn’t expecting this. “I want you to help me find somewhere, Ivy,” I tell her again.
“I don’t know what to say,” she whispers, clearly taken aback.
“If you don’t want to-”
“No!” she says quickly, cutting me off. “It’s not that. I’m just surprised, that’s all.”
“Well, before you decide, there’s something else I want to ask you.”
“Go on,” she says slowly.
“How would you feel about listing my place in Phoenix too? I know it’s a bit of a distance, and it might be a pain scheduling showings, so no pressure, but I wanted to ask you first.”
Her eyes widen. “Seriously?”
I chuckle again. “Yeah, why not?”
She shakes her head slowly. “I’ve never listed a property like that before. Are you sure?”
“I’ve got complete faith in you, Ivy.”
She bites her lip, and my eyes instinctively drop to her mouth. “Ash didn’t put you up to this, did she?” she asks, a flicker of uncertainty in her voice.
I frown. “What? No. No one talked me into anything. I haven’t even mentioned it to Ash. Why would you think that?”
She exhales, waving it off. “Just something Ash said earlier this week. Don’t worry about it, it’s not important.”
“Okay…” I say, eyeing her curiously but letting it go. “So, you’re good with going back and forth to Phoenix when needed?”
She laughs. “I’ll make it work. It’ll definitely be worth it.”
“You’re welcome to stay at my place whenever you need to,” I offer. “I’ll be in Phoenix now and then too, so we can always car share.”
Her lips curl into a grin. “That works. I might even have to christen the tub in your room,” she teases, giggling. “Don’t worry, I’ll wait until you’re not home.”
She winks, and I swallow hard, trying, and failing, not to picture her in my tub, naked and soapy… I shake the thought away.
“Well,” I say with a laugh, masking my inner turmoil. “Someone should get some use out of it before the place goes.”
“Thanks for this, Wyatt,” she says, her voice quieter now, the teasing gone. “This is a huge deal for me, and it means a lot that you asked.”
I smile at her. “Of course. You’ve just gone out on your own, right?”
She nods and leans forward to set her glass on the table. “Yeah. I took the leap a couple of months ago. It was terrifying at first, leaving a steady paycheck behind. Things are a bit slow while I build up my client base...”
“Well, I’m glad I can add to your numbers.”
We spend the next half hour talking through what I’m hoping to find in Hope Creek. I’m not too fussy, but I know I want some land, enough space for all my cars, and a bit of privacy. I’m open to places outside of town, since I know I won’t find that kind of space right in the center.
“What about something that needs a bit of work?” Ivy asks, finishing the last sip of her wine.
“Actually, I’d prefer that,” I tell her. “It’d be good to put my own stamp on a place. I never got to do that with my apartment.”
