“Scratch the wish. I’m not a user. But I will take your money. Even though it won’t make up for all of it, it’s a nice start. I’ll be over in anhour.”
Before I could say another word, Martin Roma hungup.
I grinned like an idiot and did a little twirl in my completely screwed upkitchen.
4
The doorbell rang45 minutes later. I rushed to open it only to realize my mistake when the charisma of Martin Roma hit me smack in the face. I opened my mouth to speak, quickly realized I had no idea what to say, and closedit.
He was just as handsome as I remembered. Even more so if I was being honest with myself, which I rarely was these days. His dark hair was swept back from his face and curled below his collar, but not in a pretentious way. More in a he needed a haircut way. His tanned face was set in a neutral expression, but it only enhanced the generosity of his lips and the deep brown of hiseyes.
“Thank you,” I managed to get out. “Thank you somuch.”
“Don’t thank me yet. I need to look at yourceiling.”
I opened the door and he brushed past me as he stepped inside. Even before he got to the kitchen, he let out a low whistle. “Did you get an inspection on this house?” heasked.
“I did.” I bristled a little at his assumption, but considering my ceiling had just caved in, I guess it was a validquestion.
“And who was itfrom?”
I rattled off a Midnight Cove company and watched one of Martin’s dark eyebrowsraise.
“Did someone recommend them toyou?”
“Jeff,” I told him. My steps slowed and ground to a halt as the realization poured overme.
Martin let out a harsh laugh. “Jeff Hunt is a silent partner in that company. They’re a bane in my industry, but so far we’ve never been able to get them on anything. You wouldn’t believe the number of homes I’ve worked on who’ve all hired the same home inspectioncompany.
I sighed and leaned against the back of my couch. “Jeff is the gift that keeps on giving,” Igrumbled.
A slight smile crossed his mouth as he began to crunch through the ceiling debris. “I’ve heard that more than once in reference tohim.”
He poked and prodded some things, whipped out his measuring tape, and studied the hole in my ceiling. “The rumor is Jeff has some kind of kickback thing going on with another one of the realty companies here. I think that will come to a halt pretty soon since they had a leadershipshakeup.”
I hadn’t heard this. “Oh?”
“Yeah, it had to do with some property over on the edge of town and the founder of MidnightCove.”
“Portia Kadish?” I said in frank disbelief. “She hasn’t been seen inyears.”
“Apparently she has. She took them on and fired damn neareveryone.”
The first genuine smile in weeks flickered over my face. “So do you think Jeff will get caught in thecrossfire?”
One of his powerful shoulders lifted in a shrug. “It’s possible.” His dark gaze flickered to mine. “But never underestimate the survival drive in acockroach.”
Heat flickered across my cheeks. My fiancewasa cockroach, but it was hard to hear someone else say it. “Right.” I pointed up at the ceiling. “What’s thedamage?”
Martin shook his head. “It’s difficult to tell until I can get up there and look at everything. I can guesstimate it, and you aren’t going to like it. The original quote I gave you is void, based upon this and our verbal agreement. If you’re ready, I can issue you a new quote.” His mouth curved in a grimace. “And acontract.”
I hadn’t signed a contract the first time. “Is that new?” I bravelyasked.
“Yep.”
I nodded. “Okay. Yes. Is the deposit negotiable? I haven’t worked in a few weeks and my savings took ahit.”
His expression darkened a bit at that, but he gave me a short nod. “I’ll work out something in the contract and send it over to you this evening. Soundgood?”
