Page 118 of Arranged Obsession
We leave the building together. The realtor’s waiting out front, checking her phone, and she brightens when we approach. “What did you two think?”
“Make an offer,” I tell her. “Two percent below asking. But give them whatever they want.”
She laughs, tapping at her screen. “Sounds good to me. I’ll be in touch soon.”
We watch her stride off to her little fancy car. Jessica squints at the sky and checks her notes. “I should get going. Are you headed back to the office?”
There’s a black BMW with dark tinted windows parked nearby. I smile at it and shake my head toward Jessica. “No, I don’t think so. I’ll probably take a walk around the neighborhood and get a feel for it.”
“Are you sure? I can come with.”
“No, that’s okay. Take an early day for once. You’ve more than earned it.”
She nods sharply, tucking her clipboard under her arm. Then she pulls me into a quick hug, which is a surprise. Jessica’s normally so reserved.
“This is going to be good,” she says. “I’m really excited to build something great.”
Once she’s gone, I stroll over to the car. I lean against the driver’s door as the window rolls down.
“Fancy seeing you here,” I remark, eyebrows raised.
Cormac grins, casually leaning against the center console. “You spotted me right away.”
“You’re not subtle these days.”
“Maybe I wanted to be found.”
“How do you feel about a walk?”
He pushes the door open. I step back to let him out. “I feel good about it.”
I slip my arm through his. We head down the block together, going nice and slow. He asks about the building, about everything we’ll have to do, but mostly we stroll along in comfortable silence.
Nobody bothers us. They wouldn’t, not in this neighborhood. Some of the shop owners nearby recognize Cormac as we pass, and they nod respectfully. Most people have no clue the greatest killer of his generation is wandering among them with his loving, doting wife.
“I have a deadline for you,” I tell him once we’re on our way back to the car. The sun streams through the trees, and a couple of younger kids on bikes glide past.
“Really? I didn’t know we made those for each other.”
“Now we do.” I pat his arm softly. “I know you’ve been wanting kids.”
He tilts his head to the side. “Might be true. Who’s to say?”
“Again, not subtle.”
“You’re busy. We both know it’s not the right time.”
“But I’m trying to say… the right time’s coming.”
He watches me. The excitement in his eyes makes my stomach flip. God, I love this man so much, it kills me.
“When?” he asks, sounding eager.
“Once Elena’s is officially open. Then we’ll start having kids.”
“How many?”
“One at a time, I figure.”
