Page 8 of The Undercover Billionaire's Baby

I peered into the room and tried to hide my surprise. It was bare, almost spartan compared to the hall. No decorations, no pictures on the walls. Not even a doily or a book on the shelf.

“If the closet’s too small, there’s a chest I can get you. You can keep your sheets in there, or your winter clothes.”

The closet was cramped, but I shook my head. “No, that’s okay. I packed pretty light.”

“Okay, then next stop—” She flitted out past me. “The bathroom’s in here. I cleared you a shelf. I need to warn you, the water’s slow to heat up. You need to start the shower then go have your breakfast, then when you’re done with that, it’s ready to go. I thought we could time our showers so we don’t bottleneck. I’m a morning shower person. How about you?”

“Uh, night-time’s fine with me. I like a shower before bed.”

“Perfect, then, uh…” She pinched the bridge of her nose. “Oh! Kitchen. Kitchen!” And, she was off.

“It’s pretty straightforward — fridge, toaster, oven. No coffee maker, but we have coffee downstairs. What else, what else? Do you have any questions?”

I surveyed the kitchen. As she said, pretty standard. I opened a cabinet and closed it again, not to see what was in it, but just on instinct. It took me a second to realize what I was doing — another of Dad’s old tricks, his advice for living. Always kick the tires a bit. Look under the hood. Do it even if you’re ready to buy. That gets them nervous, so they’ll come down on the price. Always look like you’re ready to walk away.

“I’ll take it,” I said. “Unless, I should ask, do you have questions for me?”

Lana looked startled. She laughed, high and nervous. Her laughter was musical and somehow contagious: it made me want to laugh along with her.

“Am I supposed to do a credit check? Or check on your background? I hadn’t thought, uh, how would I do that?”

I could’ve told her that, but I couldn’t let her do it. If she did, she’d find out I didn’t exist. But I’d thought of that too, and I had a plan.

“I have references,” I said, with my best winning smile. “My last landlord and my roommate from college. You could call them up, make sure I’m not gross.”

“References, perfect!” She ran to the fridge and grabbed a pad of paper, the kind with a magnet, for shopping lists. “Just write them down here. I’ll call them tonight.”

I wrote down the numbers, relieved she’d gone for it. If she did call my “landlord,” she’d get my best friend. He’d back me up, though he thought I was crazy. My roommate from college was just who I said, and he owed me big-time. He’d make me look good.

“I can pay first and last,” I said. “And a security deposit.”

“Security deposit,” she echoed, as though the idea was new on her. It occurred to me, maybe it was. Maybe she’d lived in this place her whole life, never had to fill out a rental agreement. She was twirling her hair around one long finger, a nervous gesture I found quite endearing. “I’ll call your references and get back to you as soon as?—”

Something crashed down below and I heard a loud shriek. Lana spun on her heel and sprinted away. Then she screeched to a halt and turned back, sheepish.

“I’m sorry. Did you need to, like, see anything else?”

“No, that’s okay. I’ve got the idea.”

“It’s just, all that banging came from downstairs. I ought to get down and check?—”

“No, I get it.” I let her hustle me out and back down the steps. She broke off at the bottom and rushed away, only to pause at the end of the wall. She turned back to me and smiled like a sunrise, so sweet, so bright I could only stand dazzled.

“It was really great meeting you. Enjoy the rest of your day.”

I opened my mouth to tell her the pleasure was mine, but a crash cut me off. A volley of barking. Lana yelped something that sounded like wiener, and then she was gone. I stood dazed and grinning. What a whirlwind she was, scattered, chaotic. But pleasant as well. Kind. Genuine. Fully herself in a way I wasn’t used to. Everyone in my circle was playing some role. Wearing whichever mask fit their agenda. Actual feelings—who let those show through? I tried to picture Dad admitting he was out of his depth, and the very idea made me snort like a horse.

I’d overshot my B&B by the time I noticed. Strayed three blocks past it, almost to the beach. It hit me I’d daydreamed my way back through town, caught up in visions of my pretty new roommate.

Careful, I told myself.

Then I smiled like a fool.

CHAPTER 4

LANA

“Wiener!” I screamed. “Shoo! Shoo, get out.”

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