1-800-CUPID: A Sweet Contemporary Romance Novella by Josie Riviera

Author:Josie Riviera [Riviera, Josie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2018-05-14T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Seven

Taken? The Victorian was taken?

Teddy jerked off his vest and threw it on the worn oak chair in his hotel room. He approached the window and gazed out at a thick black sky. In the distance, the twinkling lights of shops in the town square beckoned. Somewhere near, a church bell tolled the hour.

He tapped his hands together and spoke softly to his brother. “Really, Christian? Candee bid on the irreparable property in Roses that I’m interested in?”

With a heavy sigh, Teddy shoved his hands into his jean pockets. There were few moments in his life when he recalled being at a loss for words, but he definitely hadn’t known what to say when Candee announced her plans. He’d mumbled something about having no idea she’d wanted the property, paid the restaurant bill while acknowledging her ‘thank you,’ then matched her swift steps as he walked her to her car.

At first, he’d been angry. Why hadn’t she simply told him? True, he’d been insistent about seeing the property. However, if the Victorian meant that much to her—which it apparently did—she should have never taken him to see it.

His anger had evaporated on his drive back to the hotel. In retrospect, her intentions explained her hesitancy, her efforts to talk him out of buying it himself. And if he hadn’t been so intent on purchasing a bargain, he would have spotted what was clear in hindsight—she loved the house. He’d clearly seen her wistful gaze when she’d held his hand and stared at the property with him.

He shook his head, berating himself. Here he thought she was the world’s worst realtor. Instead, she was trying to protect her investment, and perhaps her heart. Her life had been filled with trauma and transience, yet in what he recognized already as true Candee style, her aspiration was to transform the house into a safe environment for disadvantaged children.

His head-strong, courageous Candee.

He recalled the night before, the candlelight living room and her amused, “You want to dance—now?” After the music started, she’d snuggled close, her soft curves pressed against him. She’d felt warm and responsive, and the mere touch of her hands on his shoulders had heated his pulse. Just thinking about the tumultuous highs of the past three days made the short time they’d spent together all the more significant.

He sensed she was beginning to care for him too. Nonetheless, common sense warned that love had no place in his life. He owned a thriving real estate business in Florida and had a nephew who needed him there.

There was no reason he couldn’t continue seeing her, though, his heart encouraged. All that stood between them was the house and a distance of over seven hundred miles. Both easily remedied, he assured himself, between phone calls and Skype, although his conscience nagged about how he didn’t do well in long-distance relationships.

With a low exhale, he turned away from the window.

Before they’d departed, he’d pressed a kiss to her forehead and informed her he intended to talk further in the morning.

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