Page 21 of Summer Nights

We walked through the formal living room, which was sparsely furnished with a couch and a piano, then into the family room with a stone fireplace and large windows showcasing the view of the backyard.

We stood by the slider, and Ivy said," There's a small pool and hot tub on the ground floor with an outdoor shower."

She walked through the house at a pace I appreciated. I'd go through the house on my own once she was done.

I braced my hands on the stained white Formica countertops, noting the dated linoleum and cabinets.

"You'll need to do some work in here," Ivy said.

"It needs to be gutted." My niece or nephew wouldn't be crawling around on peeling linoleum.

"I'm confident you can tackle this project. Maybe it would be a nice housewarming present," Ivy said to Dalton with a wink, and I felt a twinge of jealousy.

Why was I jealous of my baby brother? "I don't think he deserves a kitchen renovation for his first house."

"What about for my first baby?" Dalton shot back.

I exchanged a look with Brady, knowing we would do anything for him and his baby.

Brady nodded. "We'll talk about it."

Dalton shook his head. "I was just messing with you. You guys don't have to do that for me."

"We'll want it to be completed before the baby comes," I said.

"Let me show you the second floor," Ivy said, and I tuned her words out. I was more interested in the sway of her hips as she made her way up the stairs ahead of us.

She opened each door, showing us the three small bedrooms, the laundry room, guest bath, and the master at the end of the hall. "You might want some new carpet, and the bathrooms are meh."

I squatted down to inspect the tile. "I don't think these would meet code. It's the same as the tile on the wall. They'll be slippery. You won't want a toddler on this when it's wet. They'll fall and hit their head."

"We'll need to gut the bathrooms then too. I don't want anything that is unsafe," Dalton said.

"You have a bit of time though because the baby won't be walking for a bit," Ivy said.

I straightened. "What if you're walking around with the baby, and you slip?"

Dalton nodded. "That's a good point."

"I like how you boys are taking Dalton and his baby's safety so seriously," Ivy said with a smile, and I was momentarily distracted by the thought of us having a baby. Would she appreciate my concern for safety when it came to our child?

I mentally shook my head as we followed her downstairs. I shouldn't be thinking about babies. Not with Ivy. She didn't want a relationship, much less a family.

Ivy mentioned the proximity of the neighbors' home, explaining that it was a vacation home for them.

"That's ideal," I said.

"You get the advantage of a lower price tag, and a neighbor that isn't present. What do you think of the pool?"

Dalton walked the deck. "I've always wanted a pool, but I'll need to get a fence to put around it."

"You're already thinking like a dad. I'm going to wait out front for you while you take a closer look. Let me know if you have any questions."

"I'm going to take another look," I said, following her inside.

Ivy moved toward the front door. "Of course."

"I thought you liked to watch me work?" I said, hoping to challenge her to stay inside with me.

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