Like Sean might.
“I agree.” They were funny, and I had a fewwho kept trying to set me up with guys, so being able to tell them I was takenwould hopefully make those conversations die down. They were nice to think ofme, but I wasn’t sure I wanted to meet some guy they called sweet but a littleinteresting.
That date sounded like it could go badreally fast.
As the GPS started to talk again, Ryan andI both groaned. The British voice sounded weird as it pronounced the names ofthe roads oddly. None of us had any idea where the rental house was, so Darehad plugged the address into his phone and started following the directions. Wehadn’t been prepared for the British accent Dare described as “sexy” coming outof the phone.
Dare hung on every awkward word as we madethe final turns and ended up on a cul-de-sac with the cute house we’d seen inthe photos backing up toward some woods. It was too perfect. I hadn’t been ableto figure out what was wrong with it yet, but I was going to remain a bitskeptical until we figured it out.
Once upon a time, our apartment hadn’tseemed that bad either.
Maybe I’d have been more excited if wehadn’t already seen four apartment complexes that looked great online but hadbeen a letdown once we’d started looking around. One had roaches that hadactually run between the apartments as we’d been led down the sidewalk, andanother had to have lied about the size of the rooms because they could barelyfit the double beds that were in the staged apartment.
When Dare had seen the bugs, he’dimmediately grabbed our hands and started leading us away as the manager kepttrying to call after us. He hadn’t even budged when she talked about a freefirst month’s rent and the possibility of a garage becoming available soon.
Not that I blamed him.
Once I’d seen the bug crawl under one of thedoors, I’d mentally crossed it off my list, but I would have still listened tothe tour. Dare wasn’t worried about being rude, though, which I appreciated.
As he pulled in front of the house, a hugeguy got out of the pickup in the driveway. Ryan and I were both good-sized guys,but most of our mass was in muscle. This guy was all beer belly that was barelycovered by the wifebeater he was wearing.
Dare cleared his throat. “You guys are justgood friends, got it?”
We both chuckled awkwardly but nodded. Ryangave both of us a smile. “The roach place might have to go back on the list.She thought we were hot, and I have a feeling she was hoping we were kinky insome way.”
I laughed but shook my head. “No, we mightlive in an interesting area but at least we don’t have roaches the size ofsmall pets.”
I’d take the drug dealers.
We all forced polite smiles as we got outof the car and headed toward the guy giving us a blank expression. He nodded ingreeting as we got closer. “You guys here to see the house? I think Gert talkedto a Scott?”
The thick country accent matched the roughlook, but I’d been expecting someone different. I’d talked to a woman who saidher husband would be meeting us at the house, but the way the quiet woman hadtalked about hersweetBart, I’d expected some kind of mousy accountant.
“Um, Bart? I’m Scott.” I held out my handand was pleased when it wasn’t some kind of pissing contest as we shook hands.
“Great. Let me show you around.” He headedup to the porch as he glanced at Ryan and Dare. “Now, Gert said she forgot toask how many people wanted to live here.”
She’d asked more questions about my weekand how I liked my job than anything else, so I wasn’t surprised that shedidn’t remember that part of the conversation. “Ryan and me.”
Dare raised a hand. “Just nosy and helpingpick the place.”
No lies but not telling we were all acouple either. I liked it.
Bart nodded and led us in through thehouse. At first glance, I’d pegged him at about forty, but I realized as Iwalked past him in the small entryway that he had to be in his fifties.Smiling, I gave him a nod as I looked around. “Seems well taken care of.”
It was in a lot better shape than I’dexpected. It wasn’t at the top of the budget, so we’d assumed it would be a bitrough around the edges even though the pictures weren’t bad. Bart nodded as hefollowed behind our group.
“We recently did some renovations buthadn’t gotten the updated pictures online yet.”
That was an understatement.
The small entry opened up to a good-sizedliving room and kitchen. The house wasn’t huge, but the open layout made itfeel spacious. New floors that looked like hardwood stretched across the spaceand granite countertops were now in the kitchen.
“It looksgreat.” Dare was clearlypleasantly surprised.
“Thanks.” Bart wasn’t a big talker, but Ithought his stern look softened a bit. “My youngest is married to a decorator,and he got me some good deals. It’s like some kind of decorating gay mafia outthere these days. He got shit for a fraction of what I’d been quoted.”
What?
