“Yes, sorry. I was sent here by the Midnight Cove Realtor’s Association. We are interested in purchasing your property and wondered if by chance you were entertainingoffers.”
“Excuse me?” I studied the handsome vamp a little closer. “You’re asking me for a number to get me to walkaway?”
The vamp huffed out a surprised laugh. “Ah, I was unprepared for such directness. My apologies, Ms. Reaper. I was sent to see if you had a number in mind, so yes, I suppose that is what I’m asking. I’m a trained realtor. I’m not used to such frankspeak.”
I put a hand on my hip. “Have I ever reached out to any realtors in Midnight Cove other than the one I used to purchase thisproperty?”
Lucien’s eyes widened. “Errm, I’m not sure how I’m supposed to knowthat.”
“No. I have not. Have I ever mentioned to anyone in this town I was interested inselling?”
Lucien took a step back. “Errrm. I’m not sure how I’m supposed to know thateither.”
“You know it by doing due diligence, Mr. Nightingale. I’m not sure what peons are running the show at your company, but you don’t come to a woman’s house this early in the morning and accost her with something like this. Not only was this poorly done, but if I had considered selling it certainly wouldn’t be to you!” The sound of Hank’s truck was coming up thedrive.
Lucien’s hand was still holding the rapidly cooling mug of coffee. There was a...look in his eyes I didn’t like. It was frank, appraising, and honestly he looked like he wanted to unwrap me like a tootsie roll pop and find out what was in thecenter.
“Are we quite finished here, Mr.Nightingale?”
A sheepish smile peeked out and dear lord, heaven help us, he had a dimple. A perfectone.
“Quite,” he said. He gave a smart little bow, managing not to spill a drop of coffee. “My apologies, Ms. Reaper. You are quite right. I came here unprepared for you.” Lucien took a step toward me. “After all, how can someone like me expect for someone utterly ravishing, witty, and intelligent to open the door, give me free coffee, and a well deserved tongue lashing all within the first forty-five seconds of meetingthem?”
My mouth gaped open. A man - a super handsome one - admitting I was right and calling me pretty, noravishing, at eight in the morning? Were the skies going to open up and rainkittens?
Lucien gave me another utterly devastating smile. “I apologize for wasting your time, Ms. Reaper. I assure you that when we meet again I will come not only prepared, I will dazzle you.” With that, he turned on his heel and strodeaway.
“You still have my mug!” I yelled at hisback.
“Consider it a prisoner of war,” he called back as he walked to his sleek Mercedes and slidin.
Huh. I had definitely not seen the last of Lucien Nightingale and part of me was happy to realizethat.
Hank’s headswiveled to watch Lucien drive away. I stood on the porch and waited forhim.
“What was all that about?” he asked me as he climbed up the stairs. He was looking extra rumpled and handsome today. A light blue t-shirt was half tucked into a pair of well worn loose fitting blue jeans. He was wearing those hideous yellow boots again. A pen was tucked behind his ear and he held hisclipboard.
“A vamp,” I said dismissively. “Interested in buying myland.”
Hank started and looked back over his shoulder just as Lucien’s car drove out of seeing distance. “And you toldhim?”
I held open the door. “I told him to stuffit.”
“Really?”
“Yep, then he stole my favorite coffeemug.”
Hank snorted in amusement. “Can you get anotherone?”
I shrugged. “I think I’ll see Lucien again. I bought my mug on Etsy. It said ‘I’mRavenclawesome’.”
Hank let out a sigh. “Let me guess.Ravenclaw?”
I gave him a little bow and headed back to my coffee pot. The mug I’d left on my counter had since grown cold. “You know it. How aboutyou?”
“How about me what?” Hank tossed his clipboard on the counter and put his backpack on thefloor.
“Yourhouse?”