Blind Wolf (A Werewolf BBW Shifter Romance #1)(8)

"This is a bed and breakfast," Granny Dee said, scolding the men. "You can't come waltzing in here and make a commotion. You'll wake people up!"

"We're here to look at the house," the younger man said.

"It's not for sale," Dee said.

"Granny Dee—" Julia said.

"That's not what the sign out front says," the dark-haired man said, pointing behind him with his thumb.

"Whatever that sign says," Dee spat, "It's my house, and it's not for sale."

"I just spoke with the bank representative," the dark-haired man said. "He told me that open hours were eight to noon on Saturdays."

"They must be wrong," Dee said, crossing her arms.

"Granny Dee," Julia said, pulling her by her arm back towards the screen door. "We'll get in trouble if we don't keep open hours. We agreed."

"I agreed to nothing," Dee said, but Julia could see her shoulders slumping.

"It's alright," Julia said. "I'll show them around and get them out of here before anyone wakes up. Okay?"

In response, Dee simply opened the door and went inside.

"Granny Dee—"

"I'll be waiting in my bathroom until they're done," Dee said, waving one hand in the air dismissively. "Don't let them come in, unless the bank says they're allowed to see my wrinkled rear end."

Julia sighed and turned back to the men.

"Charming place," the dark-haired man said with a smirk.

"Follow me," Julia said. She led them through the kitchen and living room, pointing out the fireplace and guest apartments.

"Is this wall insulated?" the young man asked, rapping his knuckles on the wall of one of the guest rooms. Julia cringed.

"No," she whispered, hoping that they would get the hint. "None of the walls are. This house was built in 1923, and it's never been updated except for the electrical stuff. Air conditioning costs are horribly expensive. You'd probably have to install central air. And the toilets run to a septic tank." She waved them through to the back porch. At least there they could speak loudly without waking up the guests.

"How about the beams here?" the blonde man asked, pointing to the porch supports.

"Yes, any reinforcements?" the older man asked.

"No, it's all wood and brick," Julia said. "Insurance is more expensive, too, because the foundation is unapproved slab. Is there anything else I can show you?" She wanted them gone. She hoped that her answers had been enough to drive them away. The longer it took the bank to find a buyer, the longer they could stay.

"That's all we need, really," the older man said. "Thank you."

"You're welcome," Julia said curtly.

They both followed Julia down the stairs and back out to the front yard, where she didn't bother to offer any goodbyes, simply opening the gate for them.

"It's really perfect," the young man said.

"Perfect?" Julia asked, spinning back around. That was the last word she'd use to describe the house.

"Sure," the blond man said. "It would be easy to tear down, no asbestos in the walls or anything. And the septic would be good to run to multiple cabins when we build them out." He nodded towards the older man. "What do you think, Jordan?"

"Looks good," the man said, glancing at Julia. Her face was burning hot, and she was pretty sure her normally fair skin was as red as a summer tomato. "We'll need to check out the other places first, though."

"But it's on such good land—"

"Just so you know," Julia said, her hands in fists at her side. "This is my grandmother's house, and we don't want to leave. We'll fight the eviction. Squat if we have to. It won't be an easy sale." Her voice trembled as she spoke.

"You're messing with the wrong people," the younger man snarled. "What kind of threat are you making?"

"Easy, Kyle," the older man said, putting a hand on his shoulder. The young man relaxed his posture. The old man adjusted his glasses, looking up at the house.

"It's a beautiful place," he said. "I understand why you'd hate to lose it. But if you're in dire straits..." He held out his hands in a gesture of supplication. "It might be better for you to take a good deal than to fight with every possible buyer. Just so you know."

Julia's breath hissed between her teeth, but she did not say another word until they had left the front yard and driven away.

'They're gone?" Granny's Dee voice called from across the living room.

"They're gone," Julia said, looking back out to where their black luxury sedan was speeding over the hill away from the house. "Here, let me help you with breakfast."

The morning passed quickly, and soon Julia was back to work and avoiding her boss. It was late in the day when she finally finished shelving all of the new books. Her break was way overdue, and she stretched her arms as she walked back to the break room, eager to sit down and rest her feet for a moment. Just as she rounded the corner, she felt something very strange come over her, a sense that somebody was watching her.

"Julia?"

Julia spun around, startled by the voice. It was the man from the day before. Damien. He held his cane in both hands in front of him loosely, leaning slightly onto it. His dark glasses made him look casual, even though she knew that wasn't the reason he wore them.