Summer Days by Lisa Jackson

Author:Lisa Jackson
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Kensington Publishing Corp.
Published: 2014-03-15T04:00:00+00:00

Ten minutes later Celia was sitting in the realtor’s office, only two blocks away. The minute she stepped into the small but cozy space she was greeted by a reed-thin woman who shook her hand and introduced herself as Anna Beth. She escorted Celia to a chair, sat behind a desk across from it, and hit her with a high-beamed sales smile. “Are you in the market for a vacation rental or a permanent home?”

“I’m here about the yellow house on the corner with the ocean view.”

“It’s fabulous, isn’t it? You’re in luck. I have the keys, and it’s available to show—”

“That won’t be necessary. I’ll take it.”

“Pardon?” The woman’s smile faded just a touch. She cocked her head at Celia as if she were prepared to press an emergency button under the desk if Celia said or did anything else strange.

“I’ll take it.”

“You’ve seen it before then?”

“Just from the outside.”

“Okay. And you don’t want to see the inside?”

“ No.”

“Are you a developer?”

“I guess you could say that.”

“I have to tell you, the property isn’t zoned for business.”

“That’s fine.”

“Do you even know the listing price?”

“I’m sure you’ll tell me.”

“Why don’t you have your realtor make an offer and fax it to me.”

“Aren’t you a realtor?”

“Of course. But I represent the buyer—”

“Elizabeth Tanner?”

“You know the owner. Are you family?”

“Old-timer.”

“What is your name, doll?”

“Celia Jensen.”

“Doesn’t ring a bell.”

Of course it doesn’t. Because I was just the daughter of a good-looking handyman accused of stealing. If she said “handyman and diamond ring,” the woman would know her, all right. Celia didn’t know whether to be relieved or insulted that the woman didn’t realize who she was. Not that Celia knew Anna Beth either. Celia hadn’t been much into real estate back then. “When I was a kid I lived here for five summers.”

“Well. Here’s the list price.” Anna Beth slid a brochure across the desk. The price was in bold letters at the top. It was quite an asking. Celia felt Anna Beth staring at her with pity. What? Because she was in a sundress and flip-flops she wasn’t a serious buyer? Celia didn’t look like an investment banker because she didn’t want to look like one. She had the money. But just. It would wipe out her savings, and her stock, and she’d have nothing to live on until she and Ben sold the condo. “The price is firm,” Anna Beth said as if she could see Celia wrestling with dollar signs.

“I’m sure it is,” Celia mused. Elizabeth didn’t back down. Even when she was dead wrong.

“Elizabeth turned down the sweetest couple for coming in five thousand less than the asking price. She was so insulted she wouldn’t even counter offer.” Anna Beth threw her arms up as if in defeat.

“That sounds like her.” Celia would have to watch it before her bias spilled all over the place.

“If you want me to represent you as well, I can certainly do that. You’ll save on commission, but it will have to be a full-price offer.

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