Open House by Mickie B. Ashling

Author:Mickie B. Ashling [Ashling, Mickie B.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: gay romance
ISBN: 978-1-63477-693-6
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Published: 2016-10-24T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter 15

THEY WERE exhausted from too much sex and not enough sleep when they unlocked the front door of Seth’s house. Fortunately, they’d made a Dunkin’ Donuts pit stop on the way, which would provide the caffeine and sugar to get them through the next two hours. The house was dark and had an unpleasant odor, making Seth recoil as he stepped over the threshold.

“What is that awful stink?” he asked, turning to Bryce.

“Your house has been closed up for weeks, babe. Lack of ventilation compounded by the moldy conditions make a bad combination.”

“Can we open some windows?” Seth asked, desperate to get some fresh air circulating.

“Go for it,” Bryce said, “but don’t expect the smell to vanish until they’ve repaired the leaks, sterilized with whatever noxious chemicals they use to kill the mold, power-washed, and repainted the entire house.”

Acknowledging Bryce with a nod, Seth held his breath and walked through the living room with a large latte in one hand and a maple donut in the other. As soon as he got to the kitchen, he placed his coffee on the table but hung on to his donut after seeing the fine film of dust on the oak surface that hadn’t been wiped down in forever. Flinging open the back door with his free hand, he inhaled a lungful of fresh air. After taking another deep breath, Seth stepped back inside and cranked open the window over the sink, letting in more ventilation. Although frosty, it was a badly needed cleansing blast.

The doorbell rang, and he could hear Bryce talking to someone in a low voice. He assumed it was the mold expert, and it was confirmed after Bryce called out to tell him they were about to begin the inspection.

“I’ll wait in the kitchen if you don’t mind,” Seth said loudly.

“No problem,” Bryce bellowed.

Standing there for a few minutes, enjoying his coffee and sugary treat, Seth considered the radical twists and turns life had thrown in his path, starting with Mark’s death. Legalities and crazy ex-lovers notwithstanding, he was grateful to be alive and embarking on what he hoped would be a long and fulfilling life with Bryce by his side. The possibility of losing his claim didn’t bother him as much as it should. He compared the life insurance benefits to a winning lottery ticket. A pipe dream that, at the moment, was more trouble than it was worth. They didn’t need that kind of money, but he could understand Bryce’s logic in wanting to butt heads with an organization who, more often than not, got away with too much. They hadn’t even talked about what they’d do with the funds if he actually won his case.

He would have liked to sit down to finish his breakfast but didn’t, considering the chairs were also in need of a good scrubbing. Bryce popped in to check on him and sneak a kiss, but hurried back to join the inspector in case he needed his help. They were done

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