The Marriage Bargain. Stephanie Dees

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       Chapter Two

      Cam stepped out of the rental car and squinted up at the house he’d come to see. He’d called a real estate agent about looking at some properties. Jules had said last night that the girls needed someone who would stick around.

      He’d spent his entire adult life traveling from one exotic locale to the next, moving on just when things started to get real. He was good at short-term relationships, sliding in and out of other cultures with ease.

      It was the long-term ones that gave him pause. But that would have to change if he wanted a relationship with his nieces.

      Tires crunched on the driveway behind him and he turned to see a patrol car cruising toward him. Perfect. Just what he wanted to do today: deal with a cop who wanted to bust his chops for no reason.

      A muscular man with short-clipped hair and mirrored aviator glasses stepped out of car. “Cameron Quinn?”

      “That’s me.” He walked closer to the huge cop, eyes on the hand closest to the service weapon still snapped in the guy’s holster. Cam was a black man on someone else’s property and, like it or not, that made him a target. “Can I help you?”

      The hand slowly extended and a smile spread across the cop’s face. “You don’t remember me, do you? Joe Sheehan. We were in the same class in the fourth grade.”

      Cam gripped Joe’s hand, hyperawareness slipping away as he laughed. “Oh, yeah, it’s been a while. I’m not sure you had those biceps in the fourth grade.”

      Joe chuckled. “No, I was pretty hungry in those days. I heard you were back in town. Planning to stay awhile?”

      “Thinking about it. My nieces are here.”

      Joe nodded. “I know. They live with my sister.”

      “I forget just how small small towns are.”

      The cop laughed again. “Yeah, I moved back a couple of years ago and it was definitely an adjustment. Fortunately, there are some advantages to everyone knowing everyone else, especially if you have teenage kids. Ours can’t do anything without their mom and me hearing about it.”

      “I guess that would be an advantage...if you’re the parent.”

      Joe’s rolling laugh bounced off the house behind them as a black sedan pulled into the driveway. The real estate agent, Cam assumed.

      “So, you interested in this place?”

      “I haven’t looked at it yet.” Cam glanced again at the house behind him. “I guess we’ll see.”

      “Well, it’s a beautiful place. Good luck...and welcome back to town, however long you decide to stay.” Joe backed toward his patrol car. “If you’re around on Saturday afternoon, some friends and I play a pickup game of soccer down at the park. And tell my sister I said to bring you to Sunday lunch at the farm.”

      “Thanks, I will.”

      The real estate agent walked up to Cameron and held out a hand. “You must be Mr. Quinn. Hey, Chief.”

      “Marjorie Ann, good to see you. I was just leaving. Nice to see you again, Cam.”

      The agent, an older lady with a short white bob, had a perky smile on her face. “Shall we?”

      “Sure.” Cam followed her through the front door. He’d asked for something near his nieces—which the agent had delivered—but this house was massive.

      “The whole estate’s in perfect condition and it comes with the furnishings. Everything’s included, right down to the dishes in the cabinets. I know you said you have young nieces. There’s even a beautiful nursery and a playroom.” She walked toward a wide bank of windows and pulled open the curtains.

      It was definitely way more house than he needed. When she’d emailed him the possibilities, he’d almost rejected the property without looking at it because of its size, but wow—that view made him glad he’d reconsidered.

      Rolling pastures stretched out behind the house, swirling fog still lingering. A clear blue pond reflected the slightly rosy sky. In that second, he could see two little girls cartwheeling on the lawn. “It’s very nice.”

      The agent’s heels tapped across the wide pine plank floor. Her thick Southern drawl drifted back from the kitchen. “Gourmet eat-in kitchen. Top-of-the-line appliances. Fully stocked with anything you might need, except the food, of course.”

      He followed her into the expansive room. Once again his eyes were drawn to the windows and the large farm table in front of them. A family could sit and linger around that table. “And that building down the hill, that’s the barn?”

      “Yes. There’s a small apartment on the second floor. Any questions so far?”

      “Do you think it would it be possible for me to rent the place until the closing date if I make an acceptable offer?”

      The older lady turned to him, a delighted expression on her face. “Why, yes. I think that could be arranged. I don’t believe the owner has any interest in the property at this point.”

      “Write it up at full price. It’s worth that, probably more.” He could see the dollar signs like stars in her eyes and smothered a laugh. “Let’s try and get this done today. I’ll come by your office in an hour or so to sign the paperwork.”

      That brought an instantaneous furrowed brow. “That timeline’ll be pushing it, but I’ll do my best. Feel free to look around. I’ll just head back to the office and get started.”

      He walked her out before turning back to the great room to look around. The space had warm wood tones and comfortable furniture. He envisioned a puzzle on the round table in the corner and a cozy fire burning in the fireplace. Laughter echoing off the vaulted ceiling.

      Half-embarrassed, he shook off the thoughts. He couldn’t shake off the longing as easily.

      Cam tried out the word: СКАЧАТЬ