It was him. Gorgeous Crazy Tree Guy.
He looked right at her, his big body dwarfing the small space. Wouldnt you know it, his eyes were the perfect color of a double chocolate mocha-her favorite-and held an intensity that spoke of passion. She could have drowned in them.
If she hadnt given up men. Which she had. A shame really, because he definitely had a face designed to tempt women-sort of saint and sinner all packed into one very well put together unit.
Hi, she said, a little self-consciously. Is this the apartment marked in the paper as she unrolled the newspaper and quoted the ad, Cheap, cheap, cheap?
The woman laughed, not the snooty sound one might have expected either, and pushed at a nonexistent stray strand of hair with a long-fingered, well-manicured hand. I hope that didnt turn you off.
Are you kidding? Suzanne pictured her own decidedly unhappy bank account. It drew me here like a moth to the flame. How cheap exactly?
Well talk. But first She turned to the man. Can we finish this later?
Later is going to be too late, Taylor.
Suzanne should have guessed hed have a tempting voice to go with that face, low and serrated and sexy. His face didnt hide feelings, and at the moment he appeared to be highly annoyed as he rolled up the plans.
If the woman was annoyed back, she had too much class to let it show. I need a tenant.
You need to fix those trees. Any one of them on the east side could blow over in the next good storm, which by the way, is due tonight.
Ryan. She touched his arm, and Suzanne watched as the man gave in with a sigh.
Suzanne had never in her life tamed a man with just a touch, much less a man like that-a big hulk of a man who wouldnt tame easily.
Was it the expensive clothes or the way the woman wore them, Suzanne wondered. Self-conscious, she ran her hand down her sundress, which was not only not in style with its long, flowing flowery skirt, but was wrinkled. She wore it because it hid her flaws, the biggest one being her fondness for her own cooking. A great fondness. As in ten extra pounds fondness.
Relax, the weather channel is never right. Taylor patted the mans arm again. Tomorrow will be soon enough to decide on the trees.
He shook his head, his dissatisfaction showing in the tension in his big body, in the heat radiating in those riveting eyes.
Fascinated in spite of herself, Suzanne watched him. The men in her life-the only one at present being her father-never showed their real feelings. In the Carter household intense emotion was the source of great amusement, and all adversity was met with laughter. Footloose and fancy-free, that was the Carter family motto. Her fiancés had followed a similar pattern, hiding their emotions behind masks, even Tim with his big, teary eyes disguising his cheating, manipulative ways.
And until right this very moment shed never once realized there was any other way for a man to be.
Gorgeous Tree Guy-Ryan-brushed past her with an acknowledging nod. Their shoulders touched, his mouth curving slightly in apology.
Embarrassing to admit, but her pulse scrambled and she craned her neck to watch him go. Apparently deciding she was cursed and swearing off relationships didnt affect the lust genes from operating.
Yeah. Taylor had come to stand beside her. Hes quite fine.
Suzanne agreed, but kept her opinion to herself.
And though hes far too kind to show it, hes royally pissed at me at the moment. She gave an elegant shrug. Hell live.
They both moved to the door to watch him vanish down the stairs, momentarily absorbed in the way his T-shirt so nicely outlined his wide shoulders and strong back, and then there were those jeans, so lovingly cupping his long, well-defined legs, not to mention the best-looking butt Suzanne had ever seen.
The woman standing next to her-looking far more suited for a fancy luncheon than standing in the dusty room-sighed lustily, then shrugged it off. So. Im Taylor Wellington. I placed the ad. Do you want the apartment?
Suzanne might have utterly failed in the love department-three times-but she hadnt been born yesterday. I think I should see the rest of it first.
Oh. Yes, of course. Taylor took a look around her, then cut her gaze back to Suzannes. Just remember, its cheap, okay? Really cheap. Now heres the bedroom, just off the front here. She opened a door that Suzanne had assumed was a closet.
Oh. Yes, of course. Taylor took a look around her, then cut her gaze back to Suzannes. Just remember, its cheap, okay? Really cheap. Now heres the bedroom, just off the front here. She opened a door that Suzanne had assumed was a closet.
It wasnt much bigger than one, but it did have a window to the street, where she could see an array of shops and galleries, and people walking up and down the sidewalks. It charmed her, and was infinitively better than sleeping in her car.
Then she caught the sign for the shop directly across the street and her heart leaped. An ice-cream shop?
Open until 11:00 every night, Taylor confirmed. You just keep that in mind now, as you look at the bathroom.
The bathroom was the size of a postage stamp. No tub, Suzanne thought with a sigh, but it had all the basics-a shower, a sink and a commode.
Everythings in working order, Taylor promised. That is if you dont try to make toast and use a hair dryer at the same time. And hey, with a good scrubbing, the place might even be cute. What do you think?
I think if the price is right, Ill take it.
The price is right, Taylor promised. Come with me downstairs, I have the forms. When would you move in?
Suzanne thought of her belongings all wedged into her car. I hope now is good.
Taylor laughed. If you have first and last months rent, plus a small security deposit, now is perfect.
Damn. Uhhow attached to the security deposit idea are you?
Nicole stopped and looked her over. Hurting for cash?
You could say that. Tim had let her purchase his very expensive bedroom furniture with her savings several weeks ago. Furniture he now claimed had been her gift to him. Gift, ha! She could have fed a small country for a year on what shed paid. Odd how mad that made her now, when shed so happily given him everything only a month ago. But I do have a job, she said positively, which was true. Will that help?
Yes, a job is good. Taylor thought it over. We can skip the deposit.
They started down the stairs again, Taylor in her fancy wear, looking like royalty visiting the slums, and Suzanne with her gypsy dress, fitting right into her immediate surroundings.
What is it that you do? Taylor asked.
Im a chef at Café Meridian. As Suzanne mentioned the café only about five blocks from this very spot, a flicker of unease rolled over her shoulders. Shed moved up from a less esteemed kitchen when Tims sister had purchased the place and Tim had insisted Suzanne would love working for his sister.
Now that they had broken up, Suzanne hoped it wouldnt be awkward to continue working there. Though shed taken less money than shed wanted to, she loved the job.
Okay, so she loved food. Period. But she needed the job. Without it, shed have to rely on her catering, which was simply a hobby and would stay that way. Running a business would bewell, too regimented. Far too regimented.
Sorry, Mom.
Carters in general-meaning her and her dad-didnt do serious. Which was why her mother couldnt talk to either of them without her jaw getting all bunched up. Her father was still a struggling stand-up comedian at nearly sixty years of age. On the outside it looked like he was a slacker left over from an age when that was a good thing, but the truth was, he loved his carefree life. Material possessions and corporate success meant less to him than his freedom.
Suzanne, according to her mother, was a chip off the old block.
She and Taylor came to the second floor landing, where Taylor unlocked one of the two apartments, then gestured for Suzanne to enter. This is my place.
Suzanne stood in the empty living room not so different from the one on the floor above, except this place had been cleaned spotless. But itsempty.
Ive just moved in myself, and into the bedroom only. The rest is a job for this week.
You own the building?
Taylor slid a very tasteful beige pump, which probably cost more than Suzannes entire wardrobe, over the smooth floor. I do now.
Pardon my frankness, but youre dressed to the nines, dripping elegance and sophistication, and yet I have the strangest feeling that you dont have any more money than I do.
Taylor sighed and rolled her head on her neck. What gave me away? The not wanting to put money into the trees?
Lets just say desperation recognizes desperation.
Taylor laughed. You know what? I like you. Okay, heres the humiliating truth. I grew up with the proverbial silver spoon in my mouth-the best of schools, the whole works. College at Brown University, courtesy of Great-Grandpas Swiss bank account. After graduation, I traveled Europe for fun.
Also on Grandpas Swiss bank account? Suzanne guessed, and when Taylor nodded, she shook her head. Im not feeling sorry for you yet.
I know, were getting to that. Taylor lifted her hands in a surrendering gesture. I was spoiled rotten, I admit it. I never worked a day in my life, never worried about money, nothing. Then Grandpa, who I only saw every few years when he felt the need to see firsthand how his money was paying off, up and died on me.
How inconsiderate, Suzanne murmured.
But he left me this building.
Its prime real estate. Its got to be worth a for tune.
Yeah, if you have a fortune to spend on it. Taylor grimaced. He didnt leave me any money to go with it, not one single dime. Ive never had to save money and I dont have a job so Im flat broke.
Except for this building.
Except for this building, she agreed. Obviously I need tenants, as Ive found Im rather fond of eating.
I figure I can get cash flow from the rentals. And as it all starts to come in, I promise to fix the place up. If you want to help, Ill give you a break on the rent. Sostill want the loft?
Suzanne might have grown up with her comedian father, who thought everything was a joke, but she did have a brain. Why not just sell and pocket the dough?