Page 18 of This Time Around

My pulse pounded in my neck, but I’d come too far to back down. “Yes.”

Andy grinned smugly.

“And because Memphis is drawn to bad guys. He likes the edgy, love-them-and-leave-them types. I’m many things, but not that.”

“You loved and left me,” Andy said.

“I think you know it wasn’t that cut and dry, Andy.” In the expanse of less than a minute, our conversation took a nosedive into deeper waters than either of us had intended.

Andy leaned forward until his mouth was against my ear. My hands moved on their own volition to grip his waist. It felt natural and right. Andy’s hot breath ghosted across the sensitive shell of my ear. I closed my eyes and bit my lip to keep myself from whimpering out loud. I wanted him so fucking bad.

“I tell you what,” Andy whispered. “You’re not the only one with questions. You tell me why you gave up on us so easily, and I’ll tell you why I stayed away.” He pulled back and looked into my eyes. “Wouldn’t you say that’s fair?”

Any other time I would agree, but I didn’t want to rehash that time again—not even for Andy. It was just too painful. I saw in Andy’s eyes that he understood the struggle. Maybe I was wrong to push him to tell me why he stayed away, but my heart insisted on hearing the truth, even if it hurt me. It was the only way I could trust him enough to move forward.

The sound of other vehicles pulling up diverted Andy’s attention. “This conversation isn’t over,” Andy said.Or maybe not.“Are you truly okay with going inside?”

“If Maegan really wants to move here, then I have no choice.”

“It looks like everyone else is here except Uncle Paul,” Andy said. “Let’s go inside and get started.”

Andy only introduced Chris and Mike to Memphis and me, since it seemed like Becker already knew the electrician and plumber. Becker unlocked the door, and we all stepped inside, some of us were a little more nervous than the others.

“Is this house really haunted?” Mike asked, sounding hopeful.

“I can’t say for sure, but I’ve never heard or seen anything unusual,” Becker said, grinning big enough for the chandelier in the formal entrance hall to glint off his teeth.

“Don’t be trying to sell us a Ford Pinto when we are expecting a Cadillac,” I told him. After all, realtors were salespeople first.

“I wouldn’t dream of it. Do you guys want the guided tour, or do you just want to wander around?”

“Sorry I’m late,” said a familiar voice behind me.

“You’re not Uncle Paul,” I heard Andy say, as he walked past me to greet the newcomer. Fuck, was that appreciation I heard in his voice? If I turned around, would I catch him raking his eyes over Simon Novak from his curly brown hair to his feet? Yeah, Simon was big and brawny—just the way I liked them.

“Uncle Paul couldn’t make it, so he sent me. Is that okay?”

“Sure. You must be the nephew he mentioned last night,” Andy said.

“Oh man, was he trying to set us up on a date?”Date? They both called the man Uncle Paul.Didn’t that make them cousins? Gross.“He means well, but it’s so embarrassing. I—” His words cut off suddenly. Dread pooled in my gut when I suspected it was because Simon spotted me. “Milo, is that you? I didn’t expect to see you tonight.”

I turned slowly and pasted a friendly smile on my face. “Hello, Simon. How are you?”

“Better now.” Simon walked straight to me and kissed me on the cheek, not caring who was standing around us. “I’ve been meaning to call you, but—”

“I don’t mean to interrupt this charming reunion of hearts, but can we get started?” Andy asked snidely. I smiled inwardly at his jealous tone, more so that he didn’t bother to hide it. I thought that was a step forward until I looked in his eyes and saw anger and disgust.

“Yeah, sorry,” Simon replied, sounding embarrassed. To Becker he asked, “Which way to the furnace?”

“Um,” Becker said, looking back and forth between Andy and me like he was watching a tennis match. “How about I show you, Simon?”

“Sounds good, my man. Lead the way.”

“Does this house have fuses or breakers?” Mike asked.

“Breakers,” Becker answered. “The electrical system looks to have been updated in the last fifteen to twenty years. The panel is in the same room with the furnace and hot water heaters. Both of you can come with us.”

“Deal.” The men scurried as fast as they could to avoid the inevitable showdown between Andy and me.