Page 55 of Vegas Heat

“This one is six bed, eight bath, and fifty-five hundred square feet. All the bedrooms have ensuite bathrooms. They’re putting in a pool out back along with an outdoor kitchen and a full basketball court, and inside there’s a gourmet kitchen, upstairs and downstairs wet bars, dedicated office spaces with custom built-ins and bookshelves, an exercise room, and a huge two-story fireplace in the living room.”

“Isn’t that a little…big for you?” she asks.

“It’s ridiculously huge for one person, but I’d like to have space for when my mom comes to visit or my brother and his family,” I say. “And, you know…I’d like this to be a permanent move, so I want space to grow into should the right time come.” I chance a glance over at her, and her eyes are sparkling as she catches my drift.

I can see us in this place just from staring at the imposing black security door, and as we get out of my truck and walk around the house to the door Kaylee said would be unlocked, I get the sudden feeling like I’m already home.

Maybe it’s the Gabby effect, of listening to her oohs and ahhs with each new feature we discover, or maybe it’s because I really can see myself moving into a place like this with her.

As we walk through the house, that feeling only intensifies. Everything in the place is black, white, and gray, a perfect balance of monochrome that just somehow works. Despite the cold, raw colors, the place is filled with warmth.

And then we step out onto the balcony off the primary bedroom upstairs.

Holy shit.

I stare out over the hills and into the distance, where I have a perfect view of the entire Strip from Mandalay Bay on one end all the way to the tall tower of the Stratosphere at the other end. It’s fucking magical in the daylight. I can only imagine what this view would look like at night.

Included in that view is the House, the nickname for the brand-new stadium built for the brand-new team.

I guess this one will be close to work.

“Wow,” Gabby breathes beside me.

“What do you think?” I ask.

“I think it’s too much, but I think it’s absolute and total perfection.” She glances inside at the primary suite. “I can see myself spending a lot of time here.” She winks over at me, and I chuckle.

“Sold.”

“And bonus, it’s close to my dad’s place, too, and not too far from campus,” she says.

I pull her into my arms. “Total bonus.” I drop my lips to hers. “And there’s a market within walking distance in case it’s three in the morning and I’ve had a few drinks and I’m running low on Slim Jims.”

She giggles.

I glance around again. “I’ll just text Kaylee and let her know I want this one.”

“Don’t you want to look at the others?” she asks.

I shake my head. “Not really, but I did promise I’d lock the doors, so we can go check them out.”

The other two she sent me are beautiful homes, but my gut instinct was right. The first one isthe one, and I let Kaylee know that immediately while Gabby drives us back toward the Strip.

Me:I want the first one. I locked up the other two, though.

Kaylee:Your decisiveness is out of character. [wink emoji] Glad you’ll be close. I’ll let Kate know.

Another one comes through before I get the chance to reply.

Kaylee:She said it’ll be ready to close by September thirtieth. Does that work?

Me:I need to be back in town the first of September, but Troy said I can stay with him.

Kaylee:You can stay with us, too. If you don’t mind twin girls who don’t give a shit if you’re in the bathroom.

Me:Thanks for the tempting offer, but I’ll stick with Troy.

Kaylee lets me know that Kate will be in touch with the paperwork. I text Troy next to let him know I found a place but that it won’t be ready until the end of September, and his reply comes quickly.

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