At Legend's End (The Teacup Novellas - Book Four) by Moody Diane

Author:Moody, Diane [Moody, Diane]
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Publisher: OBT Bookz
Published: 2013-07-28T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter 12

By the look on his face, you’d have thought she’d asked him to give her the house free and clear. “It’s a simple question. Why the hesitation?”

“Nothing, I just wouldn’t have thought . . . I mean, I’m just surprised you’d want to‌—‍”

“Live next door to you?”

“What? No. It’s not that. It’s just that . . . well, you don’t even know how much I’m asking for it.”

“Oh, that.” She chuckled, crossing one leg over the other. “I guess you’re right. I need to know the asking price so we can start squabbling over it, counter-offering back and forth. Isn’t that how it’s done?”

“Yes, but as I told you, the cottage, the view‌—‌it all comes at a rather steep price. Not that it’s too much,” he blurted, raising a hand in defense. “It’s a fair market value, I assure you.”

Olivia laughed again. “Good to know. I’d be bummed to think you were trying to stiff me.”

His smile didn’t quite reach his eyes. “No, it isn’t that. Surely you know that housing prices up here are substantially higher than those where you come from. And it’s entirely possible . . . well, I might as well just say it. I doubt very seriously that a bank teller from Georgia could afford such real estate.” He paused. “No offense, of course.”

Something in his tone irked her, but she let it slide. “None taken. I think?” She shook her head. “First of all, Trevor, I’m not a bank teller. I’m a loan officer at a bank.”

“Yes, well, I didn’t mean‌—‍”

“Second, as much as I’ve enjoyed getting to know you and our, uh, brief exchange over at the cottage, the fact remains you really know very little about me. And that includes my financial status. So I have to say, it’s rather insulting to have you sit there and assume I can’t afford to live in your little cottage next door.”

He released a long sigh, set his mug on the table, and moved to sit beside her. She stiffened. “Well, here I’ve gone and done it again.” Gently, he tucked her under his arm. “I’m so sorry, Olivia. I can’t believe I said something so insensitive.”

“It isn’t that. Well, maybe a little.”

He took her hand in his. “I’m afraid you’re right.”

She looked up into his eyes. “About what?”

“Earlier, you called me a buffoon. Apparently, you were spot-on.”

She chuckled, relaxing a little. “Apparently so.”

He placed a finger beneath her chin, turning her face toward him. “I’m also an idiot, and I’m so sorry you have to keep finding that out. Over and over‌—‍”

“—and over and over.”

Their shared laughter felt good. She laid her head against his shoulder.

“What’s even more obvious, I’m sure, is my complete ineptitude when it comes to women. All of this is so . . . awkward to me. I suppose someone my age should be more experienced, but the fact is, in all my years, I just never found someone who … well, someone I was interested in. In that way.

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