"Crazy?" she sputtered.
The guy shrugged. "Hey, I'm just trying to help."
With a murderous scowl, she said, "I already told you, I get tons of customers. And as far as Market Street, Iknowit gets more traffic, because unlikesomepeople, I know the neighborhood just fine."
"Could've fooledme," he said.
I saw what the guy meant. Market was just one street over. Even now, I could hear its traffic, a low, steady hum that I'd already grown accustomed to.
The street wasn't just a major thoroughfare, it was host to more than its share of stores and restaurants thanks to its commercial zoning and steady traffic.
The redhead muttered, "Oh, forget the street already." She whirled back to Wayne. "Listen,Buddy.If you damage my house, I swear you're gonna regret it."
I looked around.Whathouse?
I was still scanning the street when Wayne replied, "Jeez, lady, I don't even know where you live."
"Oh, yeah?" she said. "Well, for your information, I live right there, in the house you just pointed at."
Wayne frowned through his beard. "I wasn't pointing at the house."
She shot back, "Oh yes, you were. I saw you." She whirled toward the other guy. "You saw him, right?"
The guy gave it some thought before looking to Wayne and saying, "Sorry, Pal. I'm withheron this one."
I spoke up. "Hold on." I looked to the redhead and pointed to the house I was renting. "You're telling me that's your house?"
"Of course it'smyhouse," she said. "Why do you think I'm so concerned?"
Finally, I was putting two and two together. "So, which one are you?"
"Which what?" she asked.
I recalled the names on the lease. "Which sister?" I paused to consider what I knew. "Lemme guess. You're Harper. Am I right?"
She hesitated a long moment before muttering, "Maybe."
I felt my lips twitch at the corners. "Thanks for the instructions by the way." When I'd moved in last week, I'd found six pages of detailed instructions waiting for me on the kitchen table. When I'd called the realtor to ask about it, she'd muttered something about Harper being too helpful for her own good.
I gave the redhead another look.So that was Harper.The house had come furnished, not with anything fancy, but I liked its vibe. It was warm and welcoming with bright colors and comfortable furniture.
Huh. Furniture.
Was I sleeping in her bed?
The thought was unsettling, not because I didn't like it, but because I liked ittoomuch.
I was still thinking of the bed when Harper stalked closer to say, "If you're teasing me, I'mnotin the mood – not with you getting ready to mess with my house."
She looked so cute that I stifled a chuckle as I looked to the demolition pro, and said, "Hey Wayne, do me a favor, will ya?"
"What's that?" he asked.
"Point again."
He gave me a perplexed look. "Sorry, what?"
"She said you pointed at the building that you're demolishing. Point again and keep walking 'til you're there."
