“Lello mama! Lello!” she says, clapping her hands and wiggling her butt to get down.
There’s nothing left in this room except some beautiful white floor to ceiling bookshelves built into the opposing wall from where we walked in, so I let her down to explore the surrounding space. She’s also got a built in little nook with a large bay window facing our neighbors home. We aren’t right next door, which is nice, but they have a large window facing us as well so I’ll have to make sure I remember to buy some decent curtains immediately because you can still see into each home if you look hard enough.
I wonder if I should introduce myself to my neighbors. The house next to us is oddly the only one around for miles and much bigger than the one I’m standing in. Theirs being more plantation style, and I wonder if the two properties were ever connected somehow.
I look at my daughter, touching everything she can reach, seeing exactly how her room will look when I’m done with it in my mind, and genuinely hoping she’s happy here. It’s apparent that I’m not the best at making decisions so uprooting her and moving thousands of miles away from our friends and family has me second guessing myself.
I did what I thought was best before and that ended terribly. I was lucky to have gotten out before either of us were seriously injured. Choosing to believe that I did that right thing, I pick up my toddler and go back downstairs to meet Janet.
“Do you need anything else from me?”
“Just type your offer amount in right here… perfect. I’ll give you a shout once I hear back from the owners and we’ll go from there.”
“Thank you so much for this. I need to get my daughter down for a nap so if you don’t need me for anything else, I’m going to get her back to our hotel room. I hope to hear from you soon!”
“Darlin’, if these people are as ready to hand this place off to someone else as they seem, you’ll be hearin’ from meverysoon,” she laughs and waves us off while we make our way to our car.
After getting Hadley buckled, I climb up into my seat, buckle up and whisper a silent thank you to the universe for doing me this solid, then drive off down the road to wait and see if we’re getting our forever home.
Nineteen
Inspections don’t lie
Aria
September 2020
Janet: Your offer was accepted! Meet me at your new house around noon and we’ll get a quick inspection done, then we’ll move forward so you can get the keys to your new home, Honey.
Aria: You got it. I’ll be there asap!
“Excuse me, who are you?” a deep masculine voice sounds from behind me and I startle violently, almost dropping the brand new phone I had to get to keep myself from being tracked by Benji. I was clearly too engrossed in my texts to notice someone stepping up behind me. Fuck.
I don’t mean to respond in such a way, and I’m furious with myself for having a reaction like that to a man, but what’s done is done. It’s left me feeling a little defensive though, so before I can think before I speak, I whip my body around to face him and growl out a defensive, “It doesn’t matter who I am, who the fuck are you?”
“Damn, mama bear’s got claws.” The man says, glancing briefly at Hadley in my arms before looking me up and down.
“Yeah, I do. Maybe don’t sneak up on women and children out in the middle of nowhere next time. Seriously, who are you?” I question suspiciously.
The man’s face remains fairly passive, but I recognize the glint in his eyes that tells me he wouldn’t kick me out of bed. He’s methodical in his assessment of me, like he’s checking me over to see if I’m a real threat or just a protective mom. Hopefully, he’ll recognize that I’m both. No longer accepting my fate in a man’s hands, I will fight to the death to keep my daughter and I safe and our mental, physical, and emotional well-being intact.
I follow suit and check him out, but not because he’s attractive. I need to get a feel for his energy and keep my eye out for any potential weapons since it’s just me and my baby out here with him at the moment. He doesn’t give off bad vibes, but I don’t trust him regardless. He’s damn fine, that much is for sure. Tall, well-built muscles stretching out his tight heather grey t-shirt that’s tucked into the front of his fitted jeans, with a brown belt to match his boots. He’s tan with blond hair that’s shorn close to the scalp, grey blue eyes to go with his eyelashes for days, full lips, a strong jaw covered in three days’ worth of stubble, and a nose that’s straight and leads to a small faded scar just above the bridge, almost reaching his right eyebrow.
I’d be stupid or blind to not notice that he’s the kind of man that has panties dropping anywhere he goes. I’d be even more stupid to give a fuck about his pretty face or hot body.
When we’ve come to a silent mutual decision that we’re not here to cause trouble for one another, he shakes his head and quirks his mouth in a sort of forced half smile. It kind of looks like he’s out of practice, but a lifetime of country boy manners or maybe something else is so ingrained into him that he can’t help but be polite to a strange woman and her daughter.
“Sorry ma’am. I didn’t intend to scare you. This is just private property and we’re far enough outside of town that we don’t get visitors much. The name’s Jace, it’s nice to meet you…?” his voice trails off as he waits for me to fill in the blank, all while holding out a large hand, clearly waiting for me to shake it.
I have to readjust my hold on Hadley to make it happen, so I switch her from my right hip to my left and offer him a firm handshake in return. His hand is so huge that it completely engulfs my own. His hands are rough and calloused and feel really good against my smooth skin. Electricity shoots through my veins at the contact and I pull my hand away quickly, mumbling a soft, “Aria. My name is Aria.”
A rumbling chuckle reverberates in his chest at my response but when I look up and meet his eyes, all traces of humor are wiped away.
“Don’t worry, little lady. I’m nothin’ to be afraid of. I take it you’re the one looking to buy this place? I’m the contractor here to inspect the house. I also happen to be the next door neighbor. Janet didn’t tell me who was interested in the property. Will your husband be joining us?” He takes a quick look down the road, like he’s looking for another vehicle to show up.
“I don’t have a husband,” I state firmly, leaving no question that I don’t want to talk about it.
“I see, and who’s this little sweetheart?” he asks, tipping his head and giving Hadley the first genuine smile I’ve seen since meeting this guy. I freeze in response.
