Page 64 of Power Play Pursuit

“Um, how is that relevant?” I ask between gritted teeth, forcing a fake smile.

James shoves his hands in his pockets. “Don’t those places have a tendency to draw in a bad crowd?”

“Oh, don’t worry,” Kirsten says, as if suddenly remembering she has a job. “This is a perfectly safe neighborhood.”

“Right. Should we go upstairs?” I ask, suddenly eager to get this over with.

“Absolutely. Follow me.”

We take the stairs to the second floor, and Kirsten’s hips are swaying so much, I’m afraid she’s going to bump the walls.

“Stairs aren’t ideal,” James says from behind me, and I turn to look at him.

I shrug. “Yeah, I guess that’s true.”

We finally reach the threshold, and Kirsten unlocks the door, inviting us in first.

“So, James,” she says, flicking the lights on. “Which hockey team do you play for?”

“Oh, um, the Raptors,” he mumbles back, examining the electricity panel as if he’s some kind of home inspector. “Is this up to code?”

“Yes, absolutely. Everything is up to code. They just installed new smoke detectors too.”

James runs a hand along the edge of the panel, his brow furrowing, like he has a personal stake in this decision. He glances at the ceiling. “I’ve heard these new smoke detectors are sensitive. Wouldn’t want them going off every time someone makes toast.”

“Oh, I’m sure they work just fine,” Kirsten reassures him, stepping closer to James. “They’re top of the line.” She grazes her fingers along his shoulder. “And let me know if you ever need recommendations for good places to eat around here.” Her eyes linger on him a second too long.

Thank goodness those detectors don’t get triggered by flirting.

“Can we see the kitchen?” I ask, plastering on my fake smile again.

“Certainly. Right this way,” she says, leading the way.

James makes a beeline for the cabinets, opening each one and checking the hinges. Kirsten watches him, her gaze flickering between him and the appliances he’s now examining. “The appliances are in good condition,” she says, clearly hoping to steer his attention back to her. “Pretty modern, right?”

“Yeah. They look great,” I exclaim, even though I barely looked.

“Oh, and the kitchen’s close enough that you could bring your breakfast straight to bed!” She sneaks a glance my way, adding quickly, “If that’s something you’re interested in.”

I grind my teeth. “Great. Should we see it, then?”

“Sure. It’s the most important room of the house, after all,” she adds, winking at James. But he doesn’t notice, too busy studying the ceiling with a deep frown.

“Are the vents in good shape? A place without proper ventilation is a nightmare.”

“Everything’s up to code,” she assures him again as she saunters to the bedroom, hips still swinging like a pendulum as she describes the “charming character” of the older building. I’m not sure if she’s talking to me or James at this point. Probably James.

We reach the bedroom, and James marches to the other side, squatting to check the baseboard heater while muttering something about potential air leaks from outside.

“It sure is a big bedroom,” I say honestly, looking around. “I love that.”

“It is.” She nods before giving me a rundown of the closet space and the lighting. She tries to re-engage James every few seconds, but he’s busy tapping on the window frames, checking for drafts.

He hums in thought. “This insulation feels thin. That could mean higher heating bills, Elizabeth.”

Kirsten waves away his concern. “Oh, it’s nothing you couldn’t fix with some cozy blankets, right, James?” She smiles, but he doesn’t seem to notice.

“Right,” I say, struggling to keep my frustration in check. “Well, thank you, Kirsten. I think we’ve seen enough.”

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