Page 32 of This Time Around
“I’m just waiting on Andy. I can tell his delay was for a worthy cause, so I’m not upset.”
“I’m a ‘worthy cause’ now?” I wasn’t sure I liked being a pet project.
“Milo, you’ve either smoked a joint, taken a muscle relaxer, or Andy has fucked you blind. I don’t need you to tell me which one, or that you’ve done all three. I’m not here to judge you.”
“I’ve never smoked a joint, and I don’t have a prescription for muscle relaxers so that only leaves one other thing. I’m not ready to talk about what’s going on between Andy and me.” I loved my sister, and she would be the first person I talked to about Andy, but not right then.
“I didn’t come here to talk about Andy either.”
“Then whyareyou here?”
“I want you to tell me what you really think of the Bliss House.”
The truth was, the place creeped me out, but I knew Maegan better than anyone and understood why it appealed to her. And while I believed it was truly haunted, I didn’t feel a malevolent presence earlier that night. It felt more playful than dangerous. It would never be the houseIwanted, but it was everything thatshewanted. There was only one answer.
“I think you’ll create a beautiful life there, Maegan.”
“You’re the man, Andy!” Maegan said after reading my proposal the next morning. She flung her arms around my neck and hugged me tight. “Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!”
“You know, you’re not the first Miracle twin to speak those same words to me.”
Maegan snorted and released the stranglehold around my neck. “Which ones? You’re the man or thank you?”
“All of them.” Milo had told me I was the man on more than one occasion and usually followed that up by showing his gratitude. I couldn’t wait to elicit that kind of reaction from him again on our date.
“After looking at all the reports, it’s obvious that Bliss House needs work and tender loving care, but it’s nothing so significant that it changes my mind.”
“Be honest, could we have said anything that would’ve changed your mind?” I asked Maegan.
“No matter how much I loved that house, I would’ve rescinded my offer if it was deemed a money pit. The structure and major systems are in great shape, so I don’t see what there is to lose. Do you?”
“You know that house is most likely haunted, right?”
“Of course. It’s part of the intrigue to me.”
“You’re really okay with that? What if the ghost stands over top of you and watches you sleep.”
“Oh my God!” Milo exclaimed as he entered Maegan’s office. “I never thought about that.” He grinned from ear to ear. “He’s going to watch you and Elijah getting it on. He’ll knock once if Elijah is doing it right; twice if he needs to work on his technique.”
Maegan rolled her eyes. “Knock it off, you guys.” She glared at her brother before looking back at me. “I don’t see anything in these reports that will prevent the bank from lending me money to buy this house. I’m going to proceed. I know you have a lot going on, Andy, so I won’t pressure you to give me a date when you can start working on Bliss House.”
“Right now, your apartment project and Bliss House are my only projects. I recently sold a house I bought to fix and flip. I haven’t purchased another one yet, so I have time,” I told her.
“Wow, you sure like to stay busy,” Maegan said.
“It helps me work through my frustrations over a certain someone.” I reached out and snagged that certain someone’s wrist and pulled him toward me just in case it wasn’t clear who I was referring to.
“Milo, do you mind if I go see my loan officer really quick?”
“Nope,” he replied. “I can hold down the fort over here because the staff has everything under control at Books and Brew.”
“Thank you!” This time she threw her arms around her brother’s neck and hugged him. “You guys don’t make a mess in here while I’m gone,” she tossed over her shoulder.
“Screw that,” Milo said, shutting and locking the door. “We’re totally making a mess in here.”
I thought he meant he was going to shuffle papers on her already messy desk, but he dropped to his knees and unbuckled my belt.
“What are you doing?” I asked as blood rushed to my cock.