Page 4 of The Playboy's Most Unexpected Baby

“You’re going home with Rachel after school, right?” Olivia asked her sister.

Izzy pulled her blue-streaked hair back into a ponytail. “Yeah,” she said. “And she’ll drive me home after.”

“And her mom will be there?”

“We’re just going to be studying, Liv.”

“Right.”

“And besides, I’m seventeen.”

“Yeah, and I know what I was doing when I was seventeen.”

“And did it kill you?” Izzy asked.

It hadn’t, of course — Izzy had a point. Running around with boys in her teen years might not have been Olivia’s finest hour, but she’d certainly survived it. Still, she wanted better for her sister. She would have liked to see Izzy focusing on her schoolwork, making responsible choices. She wondered whether this was how it felt to be a parent. It must be, right? She had practically raised Izzy herself thanks to the amount of time her single mother had needed to devote to working two jobs to keep food on the table.

“I wish I had a car,” Izzy grumbled now. “Then I wouldn’t have to beg my friends for rides.”

“I wish you had one too,” Olivia admitted. “I’d feel better about you driving than getting into cars with other teenagers.”

Izzy rolled her eyes. “You’re such a mom.”

Olivia felt the familiar sting of discomfort combined with flattery at her sister’s words. She’d worked hard to be a good mother figure to Izzy, and she was glad to have been successful. At the same time, she mourned the damage to the sisterly bond they should have had. They were very close, but they would never be just sisters to each other. There would always be this wrinkle.

“Have a good day at school,” Olivia said to Izzy. “I’ll see you tonight. Call me if you’re going to get home late.”

“Yeah, yeah.” Izzy got out of the car, her ponytail swinging behind her as she went.

Olivia watched her go for a moment, then she looped around and pulled out of the Old Prescott High parking lot, making a left turn instead of her usual right. She would be late to work today, but she simplyhadto see it.

Marge Coldwell’s death had been on everyone’s lips for the past couple of days. She was an institution here in Old Prescott, and it felt weird and wrong to know that she was gone. Also, she had left behind the largest estate in town, and as a realtor, Olivia couldn’t help being curious.

She had always wanted to get a look at the place, but she’d never had the chance. Maybe now the family would want to sell. There might be an open house, and she could actually get inside and see it for herself. Or maybe…

It seemed almost too wild to hope for, but… well,someonewas going to have to handle the sale of the house, right? Some realtor was going to get that commission, and why not Olivia herself?

Her mind reeled at the thought of the money she’d earn. Her mother would probably be able to quit her night job. They could get Izzy that car and actually put some money in her college savings account. It would change everything.

Don’t be crazy, she cautioned herself.This is the Coldwell family you’re talking about. They probably already have a realtor they use for the sale of their many, many properties.

That was speculation on her part, of course. Olivia didn’t know how many houses the Coldwell family owned. It had to be several, though — everyone knew how rich the Coldwells were. They probably sold property all the time. They would be well prepared for a moment like this one.

But she couldn’t resist taking a look at that house now that it stood empty.

She drove down the winding lane that led to the address. The estate was so vast that there were no other houses surrounding it — the Coldwells owned miles of beachfront property, and Olivia nearly moaned at the thought of how much a place like this would sell for. And it would sell itself, too. The realtor would hardly have to do anything. This place wasn’t going to be on the market for more than a minute before it got snapped up — though the Coldwells would probably get less than what it was really worth. They weren’t a family that would be worried about maximizing their profits, she thought, because they had so much money already. They’d probably just take the first offer.

If they worked with me, though, I’d get them a great deal, she thought wistfully.

Reaching the house, she pulled the car to a stop and gazed up at it. The place was as old as the town of Old Prescott, and it was beautiful. She could really spin this estate, make it appeal to someone with romantic sensibilities who would appreciate it for what it was…

A knock on her car window jolted her back to reality, making her jump.

A man was standing outside. He had untidy blond hair and aviator sunglasses. He motioned to her to roll down the window.

Olivia frowned. She hadn’t expected to see anyone here. She cracked the window, unsure about opening it to a strange man. “Can I help you?”

“I was going to ask you the same thing.” He glanced over his shoulder. “Come out here to check out the old Coldwell place?”

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