Page 14 of California Waves

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Herschel settled into his seat as soon as he confirmed that Mila was an excellent driver. He didn’t make a habit of being driven by other people, and it felt strange to hand control over to someone else. However, the perks of being a passenger meant he could watch her profile as she drove. Mila had an elegant face, a determined jaw. He liked how natural she looked, skin glowing and lips shining, and he could smell the ocean in her hair. That salty scent should have repelled him, but oddly, he found it attractive.

Her vehicle was some kind of SUV that had room for surfboards or clients, depending on which activity she was doing that day. It was neat and clean, but he noticed a tiny trickle of sand on the floor of the driver’s side that revealed the other part of her personality. He’d seen her in her wetsuit, and he’d seen her dressed for an art show, and now he saw her in her business garb. She looked cool and professional. Her hands were strong and capable on the wheel, and the watch on her wrist was both expensive and the kind that divers wore when plunging to some ridiculous depth in the ocean.

She said, “I think all three of these homes give you most, if not all, of what you’re looking for. But houses are like people, in my opinion. You have to meet them and get to know them, and they either work for you, or they don’t.” She smiled at him. “Sometimes you have to date a lot of people before you find your match.”

His heart beat a little quicker. Was she flirting with him? His eyes were steady on hers as he said, “And sometimes it’s love at first sight.”

He didn’t even know what had made him say that, but her reaction was immediate. Her green eyes opened slightly wider, and maybe her breath caught, and then she laughed, but that one moment hold told him everything. She was flirting with him. She felt the connection as strongly as he did. He wondered for a second if she had entertained the fantasy of them married, the way he had. He’d have to make it very clear that marriage was not in the cards for him. Every time he headed off on a mission, he was well aware he might not come back. He wouldn’t put the people he loved at risk like that. Long ago, he’d decided it was a sacrifice he was willing to make for his career.

A few minutes later, they pulled up to the first house on her list. Hersch tried to not feel disappointed. He recognized it from his earlier online search and had decided it was pretty run of the mill. He’d been hoping Mila would perform some kind of real estate magic. But he decided to keep an open mind. If she thought there was something worth seeing here, well, then, he trusted her judgment.

Mila parked, and they stepped out of the car. She told him that the owners were on vacation for a couple of weeks, and so it had been easy to get an appointment on Saturday at dinnertime. She consulted her notes. “The house has been on the market for a couple of months, so I think they’d be flexible on the price. I’m not sure what they’re looking for as a closing date, but we’d push for an early one. Often, if you present sellers with a really attractive offer, they’ll be more flexible about things like closing dates.”

He nodded, barely taking in the words when his thoughts were wholly occupied with how incredibly sexy she looked while she delivered crisp business news. As she turned the key in the lock and then guided him around, he saw that the house was pretty much what he’d seen online. The photos hadn’t lied: three bedrooms, a two-car garage, a perfectly serviceable kitchen, and a pretty big yard. It was a solid, if unremarkable, family home. He didn’t hate it, but he didn’t love it.

After dutifully walking through every room, she asked, “What do you think?”

He told her the truth. “I don’t hate it. But it’s not love.”

She nodded at him and smiled, and he could tell she appreciated his honesty. “Well, at least you don’t hate it,” she said. “I’ll consider that a plus. Let’s go see the next one.”

The second house was only about five minutes away and pretty similar. It had been built in the late eighties, and had panoramic views of the mountains and a slightly different layout. The décor was more rustic, but it was also a solid family home. There was even a basketball hoop outside.

As they walked out into the sunshine, Mila said brightly, “You could keep in shape playing basketball. I bet my brothers would come up and shoot some hoops with you.”

Hersch laughed. “I guess that’s a selling feature.” He thought Mila’s suggestion was pretty darn cute, and he suddenly had a warm and cozy vision of meeting her family. But as soon as the image arrived, he shook it away, aware he was entering dangerous fantasy territory. Besides, if a basketball hoop was the biggest selling feature the place had, what did that say about it?

Mila didn’t look the least bit disheartened by his noncommittal comment. If anything, he detected a barely suppressed excitement. She said, “There’s one more I’d like to show you. It’s just come back on the market, and I’m curious to see what you think.”

“Great,” he said, relieved she might have something up her sleeve after all.

Chapter Eight

When Mila’s car pulled into the long drive, Hersch felt his interest perk up. He had not seen this house online. In fact, the first thing he saw wasn’t the house, but the trees, which were old and beautiful, and then the way the house almost followed the lie of the land. The house was gray, and he could see that even though it was in the trees, it was full of windows. It was beautiful.

He didn’t say anything as she let him in the front door, and he walked through as the house itself invited him in. Through some instinct, he followed his feet as they led him right into the living room and its wall of windows looking out into a forested backyard. It took his breath away.

Mila appeared by his side. “No ocean in sight,” she said. “Bonus.”

“I love the trees.”

He turned and noted the elegant tile fireplace, the sophisticated furnishings and fittings, the muted colors that allowed the space to flow. He admired the doors that opened onto a huge veranda that ran the whole length of the house. It was as much an outdoor house as an indoor one.

As they surveyed the rest of the property, he liked that Mila let him lead the way. He headed through a dining area into the kitchen, which was modeled in a classic style. He was pleased that it wasn’t modern and fancy. He disliked the trend for stainless steel and gadgets he’d never use—utilitarianism belonged in a spacecraft, not in a home in the trees. No, this was a kitchen where he pictured himself cooking—and enjoying it for once. Outside was a big seating area that had a fireplace for cooler nights and a lower deck that featured an outdoor Jacuzzi perfect for soaking in after an intense workout.

The kitchen led back to a hallway and a grand staircase. She pointed out a powder room on the main floor, and he nodded before they headed upstairs. The primary bedroom was a thing of beauty, with French doors that opened onto a large balcony overlooking the long stretch of acreage.

“Incredibly private,” Mila said, sounding pretty pleased with herself.

He had to agree. No other buildings in sight. Just pure nature. A table and chairs on the balcony looked perfect for enjoying his morning coffee, and he imagined starting each day out there, greeted by the sunrise over the hills.

Returning to the bedroom, he was pleased with the tastefully decorated ensuite bathroom and walk-in closet. The closet was divided into his and hers, but neither of them said a word about that. A gas fireplace rounded out the features. He nodded thoughtfully and headed back out to the hallway. There were three more bedrooms and a three-car garage. He tried to control his excitement. Mila had delivered everything he wanted and more. The house was definitely at the top end of his budget. But it was perfect. It held the magic he’d been after.

When they’d finished touring the house, she led him back to that wonderful kitchen and asked, “What do you think?”

Herschel was normally a man who tried to keep his enthusiasm in check and to think about things from all sides. But this time? He couldn’t help himself. He felt himself grinning. “I love it.”

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