Tessa looked around at the dirty purple wall-to-wall carpeting, the flimsy materials, the avocado green and orange tile in the kitchen. “Everything in this house has to be redone—the bathrooms, the floors, the landscaping.”
“It’s mid-century modern,” he said.
“More like mid-century nightmare,” Tessa mumbled under her breath.
He didn’t say a thing, but she could swear his mouth twitched.
The next house was a sprawling split-level built in the sixties. “An older couple lived here for forty years,” Indira said. “It’s tidy but outdated.”
“And it’s the best price,” Leo added.
“There’s no charm, no character,” Tessa said, looking at the pink-and-mauve duck print in the kitchen. “No moldings, no alcoves, no nooks, no garden.”
“Ducks are charming,” Leo said, pointing up at the wallpaper.
“Ducks are cute,” Tessa agreed. “Just not on the kitchen walls.”
“Wallpaper can be removed,” he said in his know-it-all voice.
“From every room?” she countered.
“I have to say, Leo,” Indira said, “that Tessa may be right on this one. This would be a major undertaking. You might not have the time to devote to this if you’re busy with your family’s business.”
“One for Tessa,” Tessa said.
“One for Tessa,” he agreed.
“Wait,” Tessa said on the way out. “Why are you being…nice?”
He dropped his voice even lower. “Because I like my balls and want to keep them?”
She snorted.
House three was very large and modern, in a new neighborhood with lots of kids.
“Brand spanking new,” Leo said. “Light, bright, airy, and completely updated. Kitchen leaves nothing to be desired, right?”
“Cookie-cutter,” Tessa said flatly. “And the rooms are so large they echo.”
He groaned. “Are you usually this hard to please?”
“That’s not what you said last night, sweetie,” she shot back.
Indira laughed, and Leo colored. Tessa couldn’t let him get away with that.
“You’re blushing,” she said on the way outside. “How cute.”
He shook his head. “Go ahead. Keep poking the bear.”
“Is that what you call your private parts?” she asked sweetly.
He glared. And didn’t laugh. At all. “Okay, don’t get mad,” she said. “I’ll…tone it down a little. How’s that?”
“I just don’t like being poked fun of in front of people. My reputation is important now, especially with the restaurant.”
“Well, I’m sorry. I don’t like being called hard to please.” Because it reminded her of Sam.
“Well, I suppose I can tone it down, too,” he said in a slightly grumbly voice.
Did they just…compromise?
She stopped on the walkway near the front door. “Also, Leo, this house is huge. Is that what you really want?”
“I can definitely afford it,” he said.
“I’m not talking about what you can afford.” She waved her hand over the front of the house. “I don’t see many things that make a house homey. If you just want a place where we won’t ever run into each other, this is it. But frankly, the size makes me uncomfortable.”
“I get it. The vibe is definitely not homey. It’s more…mansion-y.”
“That was uncharacteristically humble of you to admit that.”
He stood there assessing her. Like she was a puzzle he was trying to figure out but couldn’t. “Thank you.”
Indira caught up to them before Tessa could marvel at the fact that they were actually communicating with each other. “House number four is the last one, and it’s a beauty. It needs some TLC, and it’s not the biggest, but it’s cute as a dollhouse. It’s in the Blossom District.”
That made Tessa’s heart jump. She tried to tamp down her reaction, especially in front of Leo. Indira was talking about the old, charming section of town—the part of town she’d choose to live in, if she’d ever be able to save up enough for a house. And if she were going to stay. Which of course she wasn’t.
The Blossom District was loaded with old homes, all unique and different. It was fun just to stroll the sidewalks and take in all the charm.
“Ready, honey?” He gave her a little side hug.
“You two are the cutest,” Indira said again.
When she turned her back, Leo fake-strangled her.
“Do you always act like you’re twelve?” she asked when she’d finally wrested free.
He laughed. “No, but I admit, when I put my arm around you back there, I really was secretly thinking of strangling you.”
“Why does she think we’re a cute couple?” Tessa asked on the way to the car after she’d finally wrested free. “All we’ve done is argue.”
“Do you always act like that?” he asked pointedly.
She stopped walking. “Like what?”
“Negativity, negativity, negativity.”
That shocked her. Was she negative? Had she become accustomed to things not turning out her way?
Maybe she had. “I’m sorry I’m not Mr. Sunshine like you.”
“All I’m saying is,” Leo continued, “it might be good to look on this as an opportunity. Make the best of it. And let people think we’re a couple.”
“We never really discussed moving in together.” She’d just come along for the ride. Literally.
“Well, since we’re in this together, I want your expertise. I want you to look at these awful spaces and envision the most beautiful kitchen that you can. That’s what I’m looking for.”
“All right. I’ll give you my opinion.” She crossed her arms obstinately. “Uncensored.”
Before she could open the car door, he was already at her side, opening it for her. “Somehow that doesn’t surprise me.”
The final house, a cute century-old colonial with scalloped wood trim and blue shutters, sat on a street with big oak trees planted on the parkway, their roots making some of the sidewalk crooked. Full of charm? Yes, definitely. A money pit waiting for some suckers to buy it? Absolutely.