Unexpected Gift(29)

My eyes drift to Molly, and her blonde hair has my fingers twitching to run through it and see if it is as soft as it looks. I rein that in real quick. It is just the situation, not her.

“Yeah, it looks great. I can’t wait to see it. Can you tell us about it?” Molly asks, taking the first step to the porch. The dark wood makes me think of her blonde hair—apparently, everything did. They are so different, but I imagine her long, platinum strands fanned out, stark against the rich, chocolate color. I shouldn’t imagine that. I shouldn’t imagine looking down at her as I lay her against the porch under the stars and slide my cock down her hot, drenched channel.

Because I am not a fucking romantic. Even though I want to be. I sigh, annoyed with the back and forth argument in my mind. I rub my temples and follow the women up the stairs to the front door.

Florence punches the code into the lockbox on the door. “I know it is going to be hard to believe, but can you believe this house was a flip? The people that originally bought it changed everything. It was built in 2005, but a storm ripped through the town and ruined it. The land though, the land cost more than the house, so they tore it down and rebuilt.”

“It’s gorgeous,” I say.

“Wait until you see the inside,” she stares at me, giving me a knowing look like I’ll like what she has on the inside.

Molly has a small smile on her face, trying to rub it away with her hand, lifting her brow at me before turning away and walking through the door. “Wow.”

“Wow, is right,” I say, staring at the high ceilings. The windows let in the sun, and I am right, the view of the lake is gorgeous. The blue water reflects the rays, and the grass sways in the breeze. I can see us having coffee on the porch watching the sun rise or set.

“Look at these floors. They are so dark,” Molly says in awe.

The kitchen has state of the art appliances, all stainless steel. The layout is open, which I really like.

“There are two bedrooms on this floor with a full bath. Downstairs was remodeled in full. Upstairs, there are three bedrooms, all with their own bath. The master is my favorite. It has its own garden tub and walk-in shower, perfect for a couple.”

Ah, she fishes.

I don’t correct her, but Molly jumps in. “Oh, we aren’t a couple. The situation is complicated, but he is up for grabs.”

“I understand. Would you like to see the upstairs, first?” Florence asks, staring at me like she wants to taste every inch of my skin. The old me would have fucked her against the wall next to us, not even bothering to take off her skirt, but now with Posie? I have to think about how she wants to be treated when she is older. And I’ll be damn if some man, like how I used to act, moves on her like that.

I can’t treat women like that while raising a little girl.

“Sounds great.” Molly shoots me a wink like she thinks she is helping me. Is she seriously trying to be my wingman?

An hour later, Florence waves bye to us and gives me her business card with her personal cell phone number written on the back. I lean against the railing of the porch, staring at Molly as she looks out onto the lake. “What did you think?”

“It’s beautiful. Perfect. I couldn’t imagine a better place.”

“Do you think we should keep looking?” I ask, wanting to know more. I want to know what she liked and disliked.

“I don’t know. Maybe we should look at three houses? Then we can really know. The idea of leaving this house though, it doesn’t sit right with me. I just hate that you are buying it.”

“Ah, don’t get all feminist on me now, Molls.”

“It isn’t about that.”

“What’s it about?”

“I just want to help. I don’t make near as much as you do. But maybe I can pay for; I don’t know, a piece of firewood.”

I chuckle, and it turns into a belly-shaking laugh. “Just a piece?”

“Well, that one piece might cost all my savings from the look of the place.” She turns her to look at the front of the house, eventually turning around completely, and leans her elbows on the railing too, mimicking my stance.

“You’re too much,” I say, enjoying the sound of the rustling grass.

“So is this place.”

My stomach turns from the thought of making her feel like she isn’t pulling her weight. “Listen, if it is that important to you, we can look for a cheaper house. I just really wanted Posie to have the best, and I can give her that. I didn’t become a neurosurgeon for nothing.”

“Speaking of brains, don’t you have some to cut into? Why haven’t you been to work?”

“Nah, I transferred to the hospital here, but I told them I wouldn’t start for another few weeks because of a recent change. They were alright with it, considering I’m one of the best neurosurgeons in the country.”

“So, they gave you whatever you wanted?”

“Basically.”

She doesn’t say anything for a few minutes and continues to stare at the house. She doesn’t know what to make of it, which is fine, but I need an answer, because I already bought this house and I’ll look like a complete dick if I went back on my offer.

“Let’s do it,” she says.

“Really?” I convinced myself to expect a fight, not an agreement. I prepared a speech and everything. I almost want to fight about it because her and I haven’t lately, and I kind of miss it. It doesn’t mean I’m going to go and tempt her, but my own temptation is there.