The house boasted a large central gable, low-pitched roof and a huge front porch upheld by two square pillars. It was charming in a sturdy, masculine kind of way. If the interior was half as nice as what she saw outside, she’d take it—if Cam would rent to her and if she could afford it. Those were some very big ifs.
When Ross mentioned the apartment to her on Friday, Cam had about gagged on his cinnamon roll. He’d tried to hide his reaction, but she’d seen right through him.
Why did he dislike her so much? Was it just that she was bringing kids into the Arts Center? Did he see that as some kind of threat? Or was there something else about her that bothered him?
Well, it didn’t matter how he felt about her and her kids. She needed this apartment. And after pouring over the classifieds for the last few days and talking to a real estate agent, she discovered there weren’t too many other options in this area, especially in her price range.
With a silent prayer on her lips, she climbed the stairs to the small side porch and knocked on the door. Her stomach did a jumpy little dance while she waited.
The door opened and Cam greeted her with a smile that looked forced. He wore a paint-spattered navy T-shirt and faded jeans with a hole in one knee. A few white paint speckles dotted his glasses.
“Come in.” He motioned toward the stairs, his stiff posture shouting his discomfort. “This is a private entrance to the apartment.”
“That’s convenient.” She mounted the stairs, and the top landing came into view. A pendant-shaped light fixture made of stained glass spread a warm glow over the gleaming hardwood floor, creamy walls and beamed ceiling. “Wow, this is lovely.”
He frowned slightly and rubbed his hands on his jeans. “Well, like I said, I’m not totally finished.”
“What you’ve done so far looks great. Can I see the rest?”
He nodded and led her into the kitchen. “I gutted this room.” He motioned toward the new oak cabinets and stainless-steel appliances.
“It’s beautiful.” Rachel’s heart lifted as she walked over to a large bay window and looked outside. She imagined herself sitting at her breakfast table, enjoying the view of the beautiful backyard with its brick patio and neat vegetable garden. She turned back to Cam. “Did you do all of this work yourself?”
“Most of it. But I used professionals for the electric and plumbing.”
She nodded and ran her hand over the granite counter, noticing how it coordinated with the tile backsplash and floor. “I’ve never seen tile like this.”
“It’s from Italy.”
She cocked her head. “You know, most people wouldn’t invest so much in a place they were going to rent to someone else.”
He shrugged. “Quality materials will last. And I intend to find a renter who will take care of the apartment as if it was their own.” He sent her a serious look, then continued the tour through the rest of the apartment. She asked him several questions and praised his craftsmanship and attention to detail in each room. He seemed to relax and soften a bit as he showed her around.
When they returned to the landing, she stopped and looked up. “I love that light fixture. It adds a nice touch. It would look great with an oriental rug in those same colors.” She imagined her small chest with the potted fern against one wall and her tall bookshelf against the other.
She pulled in a deep breath, wishing she didn’t have to ask the next question. “So…how much is the rent?”
He folded his arms across his broad chest and named the price.
She swallowed and released a soft sigh. “I guess I should’ve asked that before I came.”
He frowned and rubbed his chin. “You think it’s too much?”
“No, it’s definitely worth it. It’s just too much for me.”
He slipped his hands in his pockets and lifted his gaze to meet hers. “Are you sure?”
Surprise rippled through her. He almost sounded like he wanted to rent the apartment to her. She nodded slowly, wishing she could give him another answer. “By the time I paid rent and utilities, I’d be eating oatmeal three times a day and have to walk to work.”
“Oh…the utilities are included in the rent.”
“Really?” Her hopes rebounded.
“Yes. I’ll cover the electric, gas and water, and I have wireless Internet that works all over the house.”
“That would be great.” She bit her lip and did some quick calculations. “I’m sure I could handle the payments then.”
A nervous smile broke over his face. “So…you want to rent it?”
“Yes. Definitely. It’s much nicer than anything else I’ve seen.”
He nodded, growing serious again. “Okay, maybe you could give me a couple references and contact info for your last landlord.”
“Sure. I brought that information with me.”
He shifted his weight from one foot to the other. “I guess we could go downstairs and take care of that now.”
“Okay.” She followed him down the steps, slowing to admire a tall window with a section of stained glass at the top. Sunlight streamed through the red, blue and amber design, creating a pattern on the opposite wall. “That’s lovely.”
He glanced over his shoulder at the window. “It’s original to the house. Not airtight like the new windows, but I couldn’t tear it out.”
“I’m glad you didn’t.” Their gazes connected and held, and awareness tingled through her. She looked away, breaking the connection. Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea after all. She’d have to be very careful to guard her heart and not fall for her handsome landlord.
Cam hustled up his porch steps and pushed open the front door for Rachel. His golden retriever ran forward to greet them with a sharp bark and a series of vigorous wiggles and tail wagging that about knocked Rachel over. She stepped behind Cam.
“Whoa! Down, girl.” He grabbed the dog’s collar. “Sorry. She won’t hurt you. She’s just trying to make friends.”
The hint of panic in Rachel’s eyes faded, and she sent him a tentative smile. “What’s her name?”
“Sasha.” He looked the dog in the eye. “Settle down and be nice.” He glanced up at Rachel. “Hold out your hand, and let her sniff it.”
Rachel bit her lip and slowly extended her hand, looking as though she believed Sasha might eat her for lunch.
He suppressed a smile. “I take it you’re not used to dogs?”
“Not really, but she seems nice.” Sasha licked Rachel’s palm, then nuzzled closer and gazed up at her with soulful eyes. “Oh, you’re a pretty girl, aren’t you?” Rachel’s voice took on that soft quality people use when they talk to babies and small animals. She laughed, and gently ran her hand over the dog’s back.
Sasha’s tongue hung out the side of her mouth in a slobbery dog smile while her long tail beat time on the carpet.
“She likes you.” He grinned, watching them get acquainted. They made quite a nice picture—Rachel in her slim navy and white dress topped with a navy cardigan. It followed her feminine curves and skimmed the top of her knees, revealing tan shapely legs below.
What was not to like? He swallowed and quickly raised his gaze to her face.
“She’s so soft.” Rachel tipped her head and looked up at him with glowing eyes and a sweet smile.
The room suddenly felt too warm. He cleared his throat and stepped back. “Let me…a…grab that rental application.” He turned away and headed toward the desk in the dining room.
What was he doing? Before she arrived, he’d made up his mind to discourage her from renting the apartment. But that was before she praised his remodeling work in every room and knocked down all his defenses. By the time he finished showing her around, his resistance had vanished, and he’d adjusted the rent to include the utilities.
That was crazy! He had to stop being such a pushover. It was bad enough that he was going to see her every day at work. Now she was going to be his upstairs neighbor?
Maybe he’d find something negat
ive in her references or credit check. But he doubted that. She had a good job. He couldn’t imagine her having credit issues. She practically glowed with integrity. If everything came back as he expected, he’d have to rent the apartment to her. Gritting his teeth, he fished through the drawer for a decent pen.
Maybe he was looking at this wrong. Renting to Rachel would be better than having a couple upstairs, or worse yet, a family with young kids. He huffed out an irritated breath and walked back into the living room with the forms and pen in hand.
Rachel stood by the fireplace looking at a framed photo on the mantel of him with his wife and son.
His stomach clenched, and he wished he’d followed his earlier inclination to put it away. Explaining their absence was the last thing he wanted to do.
She turned, questions in her eyes. “You used to have a beard.”
He nodded, but there was more on her mind than that. His gaze flicked from the photo to Rachel’s expectant face. He might as well tell her the truth and get it out of the way. Not the whole truth, of course—just enough to stop her questions. “That’s my wife, Marie, and our son, Tyler.”
She lifted her brows. “I didn’t realize you were married.”
He clenched his jaw and tried to swallow. “They…died four years ago in a car accident. We were hit by a drunk driver.”
Compassion replaced the question in her eyes. “Oh…I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to—”
He lifted his hand. “No. It’s okay.” He didn’t want her sympathy. He didn’t deserve it.
She dropped her gaze and rubbed her arms, obviously uncomfortable with the turn in their conversation.
He handed her the application forms and motioned to the couch. “You can sit down and fill them out now if you like.”
“Okay. Thanks.” She took a seat, then pulled a small notebook from her purse and began copying reference information onto the first sheet.
He rubbed Sasha’s head. “I hope you don’t mind if I run a credit check.”
She glanced up at him, her brown eyes still reflecting empathy. “No. That’s fine. There shouldn’t be any problems.”
There was a twenty-dollar fee for that, but for some reason he decided not to charge her.
A few minutes later she stood and handed him the completed forms. “Here you go.” She slipped the notebook back in her purse. “I do have one more question. Do you need a security deposit?”
“Yes, it’s one and a half month’s rent.” His friend who was a realtor had coached him on all this.
Her shoulders sagged slightly as she set the pen on the table.
He couldn’t stand the look of disappointment in her eyes. “If that’s a problem, we could do half the first month and half the second.”
Her face brightened. “Thanks. That would really help. I’ve been making extra payments on my grad school loans, and things are a little tight right now.”
“I’ll run the credit check, contact your references and get back to you in a few days.”
“Okay.” She held out her hand to him. “Thanks. I love the apartment.”
When he grasped her hand, a warm, melting sensation traveled up his arm. As he tightened his grip and looked into her eyes, he made his decision. Even if her reference and credit check weren’t perfect, he’d found his tenant.
Chapter Six
“It’s just around the corner, number seventy-two.” Rachel checked the house numbers, certain she’d recognize Cam’s place as soon as it came into view.
“Is that it?” Josh Crocker, her friend Suzanne’s husband, slowed his black truck and nodded toward the house.
“Yes.” Rachel surveyed the big front porch and neat yard. It looked even more inviting than she remembered from her visit last Sunday. Leaves had unfurled on the big maple tree out front, and purple iris bloomed in the flowerbed along the driveway.
Cam hustled down the porch steps and tossed a red Frisbee to Sasha. She dashed across the yard and leaped in the air to snag it, then raced back to Cam.
Josh pulled the truck into the driveway, and Rachel’s stomach fluttered. Was she excited about finally having her own place, or did it have more to do with seeing her handsome landlord again? A shiver raced up her back, and she scolded herself. Cam hadn’t given the slightest hint he was interested in being anything more than her co-op partner and landlord. And even those connections seemed an uncomfortable stretch for him.
Climbing out of the truck, she recalled how she’d spent the first half of the week anxiously waiting to hear if he would rent the apartment to her. They’d only crossed paths twice at the Arts Center, but he hadn’t said anything, so she didn’t bring it up. She didn’t want to rush him or make him feel awkward about the situation.
He’d finally called Thursday afternoon to say her references and credit were fine, and she could move in that weekend. She’d done a happy dance all around the kitchen and celebrated by making a special lasagna dinner for Suzanne and Josh. Then Suzanne sat with her while she packed her suitcase with the few items she kept at their house. All her furniture and boxes had been in storage since she moved from Seattle to Fairhaven five months earlier.
Rachel smiled thinking of the treasures in the back of Josh’s truck. It would feel like Christmas opening all her boxes today. Not that her belongings would be worth much to anyone else, but to her, they symbolized her independence and a fresh start in Fairhaven.
Josh grabbed his baseball hat off the dashboard. “You ready to go?”
“Yes!” She hopped out of the truck and crossed the yard to greet Cam. Josh ambled over and joined them. Rachel introduced the men.
Josh smiled and held out his hand to Cam. “Good to meet you.”
Cam nodded and looked Josh over with a glint of disapproval in his eyes. He finally shook Josh’s hand.
What was Cam’s problem? How could he dislike Josh? He’d just met the man.
A horn honked. Rachel turned as a silver Mustang pulled in the driveway and parked behind Josh’s truck. Ryan Hoffman, Steve Conover and Haley Mitchell, three of Rachel’s teenage drama students, piled out of the car.
“The movers have arrived,” Ryan announced. Seventeen, tall and athletic, Ryan was a natural leader among the group.
“Hey, Ms. Clark.” Haley waved and tossed her long brown hair over her shoulder. Haley’s beautiful voice and sweet spirit often won her leading roles in the N.C.Y.T. musicals, and she wasn’t afraid to get her hands dirty when it came time to paint sets or clean up after a production.
Steve was a natural comic. He grinned and lifted his sunglasses to the top of his head, then nodded toward the house. “Nice place. You’re really moving up in the world, Ms. Clark.”
“Hey, watch it.” Josh gave Steve a playful punch in the arm. “My place is not that bad.”
Cam’s scowl deepened, and he glared at Josh, clearly perturbed about something.
Rachel stepped in front of Cam. “Great to see you guys. Thanks for coming.” Her students were well acquainted with Josh, so she introduced them to Cam. His expression softened, and he seemed to let go of whatever was bothering him.
As they walked back toward the truck to collect the first load of boxes, Josh leaned her way. “What’s up with your landlord? Looks like he swallowed a jar of sour pickles.”
“Sorry. I have no idea what set him off.” She huffed and shook her head. Moodiness was one thing, but rudeness was another.
Josh chuckled. “Don’t worry about it. I probably remind him of some guy who beat him up in sixth grade.”
“Maybe that’s it.” She sent him a teasing grin. “But don’t worry, I still love you.”
“Good thing.” He slipped his arm around her shoulder and gave her a playful squeeze.
She laughed and poked him in the side.
He jumped back. “Hey! You better be nice if you want me to cart all this stuff upstairs.”
She held up her hands. “Okay, okay. I’ll be good. I promise.”
Cam scowled at them, the
n called Sasha and put her inside.
Three hours later, Cam stopped at the bottom of Rachel’s stairs and rubbed his lower back. He thought he was in pretty good shape, but toting all of Rachel’s furniture up those stairs had been a huge job, even with five other people helping. Hopefully, they were almost finished. Steve and Ryan trotted past with a couple more big boxes.
“Are there any more out there?”
Ryan slowed on the first landing. “Yeah. One more. But Haley’s got it.”
Josh pounded down the step and met Cam on the small side porch. He leaned over the railing to gain a better view of the driveway. “Any more boxes out there?”
“No. This is it,” Haley called as she carried the last one up the sidewalk.
Josh slapped Cam on the shoulder. “Well, guess we’re just about done.”
Cam cringed. “Yeah.”
Josh cocked his head, looking as though he wanted to ask Cam a question, but then turned and jogged back upstairs.
Irritation crawled along Cam’s hot, sweaty arms. What did Rachel see in that guy? Sure, he was friendly and was built like a weight lifter. But if he didn’t have character and respect for Rachel, what good were those qualities? Cam growled under his breath and followed Josh through the door.
How could Rachel spout all that stuff about being a good example to her students and then live with her boyfriend? Talk about a double standard. It totally burst his bubble. Maybe he was old-fashioned, but he believed you should wait until you were married to live together.
Cam slowly climbed the stairs, trying to put together his first impression of Rachel with what he’d learned today. But they didn’t jive. He joined everyone in the kitchen.
“You sure you don’t want us to stick around and help you unpack boxes?” Josh leaned against the counter watching Rachel place glasses in the cabinet.
“No. I’ll be fine. You guys have done more than enough. Besides, I’ll feel more organized if I put it away myself.” She reached for Josh and gave him a hug. Her petite size next to her hulking boyfriend sent another wave of frustration through Cam. Guys were supposed to love, serve and lead. He ought to protect her, not take advantage of her.
Seeking His Love Page 4
