Authors: Francis Ray
Sierra rolled her eyes. “He’s already been in yesterday when I first got the listing, and again this morning. I told him if he wanted to be sure of my safety, he should have cut the grass.”
Naomi smiled. Richard’s lips twitched.
“Come on, I can’t wait for you to see inside.” Sierra stepped on the porch. “I love the arched door, and the little courtyard off the front porch. You can plant cacti or put a water sculpture there that you can view from the living room.”
Naomi reached out to take Richard and Kayla’s hands as she stepped inside. She wanted to like this house. She wasn’t sure if it was the yellow roses or just the desire to keep moving forward.
Early-morning light bathed them. She glanced up to see a skylight.
“I had them cleaned, and the French doors in the master bedroom as well,” Sierra explained, then leaned closer. “Despite what I told Aaron, I would have had the yard cut as well, but I didn’t want to alert any other Realtors or homebuyers.”
Releasing Kayla and Richard’s hands, Naomi stepped down into the open living area. Beneath her feet was badly scuffed wide-plank flooring.
“The open area allows for entertaining or just enjoying the family. The breakfast bar has enough space for three or four chairs, and on the other side there’s lots of hidden storage space for kitchen and home needs. I love the window seating in the kitchen.” Sierra nodded to the padded seat just off to the right. “Kayla and Teddy can sit here and keep you company or do her homework.”
Kayla promptly plopped down on the faded material. Dust wafted up.
“The rods and curtains are custom for window shades, but I have a guy who can change out the rods to a simple draw or transverse rod. You can use a matching material to cover the chair seats or you could contrast.” Sierra stared at the lighting fixture. “The reindeer chandelier has to go.”
“Agreed,” Richard said, his mouth a bit tight.
Naomi walked over to the curtain treatment and looked beneath. “It looks stylish and simple. Roman shades aren’t that complicated, if you know what you’re doing. I used to do a little sewing.”
Richard and Sierra joined her. Sierra spoke first. “Try it out with an old sheet first.”
“We can pick up a board and material after—”
“Whoa.” Naomi laughed, but it was high-pitched and nervous. “It was just a thought.”
“Let’s look at the bedrooms.” Sierra headed toward a short hallway. “While we’re just talking, Richard, don’t you think these floors can be stained a dark brown to hide the scuff marks? The color would also hide any future spills and scuff marks.”
“I was thinking the same thing,” Richard said.
“Painted a light blue-green, the walls would give the place a restful, open look,” Sierra went on to say. “I’d keep the white trim. Here we are. The master bedroom.” She waved Naomi inside.
The master bedroom had nothing in it except an upholstered headboard. The material matched the Roman blinds at the two windows on either side of the headboard, and the pole draperies at the French doors.
“A custom headboard makes a room feel luxurious.” Sierra trailed her fingers over the nail heads on the curve of the headboard. “The slate-blue material held up well and wouldn’t have to be redone. They probably didn’t take the headboard because it wouldn’t have matched. Isn’t your bed a queen, Naomi?”
“Yes.” Her heart was beating fast. She who couldn’t decorate a box could actually see her things in this room. It had a real fireplace, not a kiva. There was one problem. “The house has a lot of windows.”
“Security system and double-paned windows,” Sierra told her.
Naomi could see her dream slipping away. “Those would be costly, and before you say you know someone, I want to do this on my own … at least as much as possible. I hope you understand.”
“I do. That’s why I was glad to find out that Mr. and Mrs. Allen had double-insulated windows installed two years ago, which, while not unbreakable, will give anyone trying to break in a lot of trouble and enough warning for the home occupants and certainly the alarm system company.”
“I can’t ask Rio to do the alarm,” Naomi told her.
“You won’t have to,” Sierra told her with a smile. “I checked yesterday. The installer, quite a reputable company I might add, will be only too happy to restart service. Because you’re a new customer, and the fact that they don’t have to go through the trouble of rewiring the house, they will give you a special monthly discount.”
Richard chuckled. “Told you she was good.”
“I’m not sure why I doubted,” Naomi said, but she was smiling.
“Let’s take a look at the second bedroom, which has its own bath for a very special young lady,” Sierra said.
“Like me?” Kayla said.
“Exactly like you.” Sierra took her hand and stepped into the room next door.
“Look, Mama, it has shelves for my books and toys,” Kayla said.
Naomi noted that, but also that it only had one high window. “Yes, I see.”
“Mrs. Allen liked to collect crystal and ran out of room, but wanted to keep it where she could see it every day,” Sierra explained.
“Did you know them?” Richard asked.
“No. They contacted me when their last Realtor didn’t work out for them,” she said. “Their exclusive contract with him expired early yesterday and I was able to change the lockbox on the door and see the place without his permission. Other Realtors can show the house, but they have to ask my permission first.”
“Do you think that other Realtor might have a buyer already?” Naomi asked, worry creeping in. She liked this house. She just hoped that she could afford it.
“Highly unlikely. We’ll pop into the small guest bedroom and then we’ll go back though the kitchen to the outside. The previous owners liked to entertain so they had a bricked patio and a small built-in barbecue grill, and the rest of the yard has motion lights.”
The guest bedroom was small, but adequate. Naomi was anxious to see more. They followed Sierra back to the kitchen. She opened the back door.
Naomi couldn’t believe it. Her amazed gaze swung back to Sierra. “The yard has been mowed.”
“I knew how important the back was to you and Kayla, so I wanted you to be able to see its appeal.” Sierra glanced down. “With the bricked patio, no matter how much it rains, you won’t track in mud. The grass is struggling, but the two golden rain trees are beautiful by themselves with their yellow flowers, or you could plant a mixture of green and flowering plants beneath. In the morning, you could come out here and relax with a cup of coffee before work. In the evenings, return to wind down while you grill and watch Kayla play.”
Naomi walked to the edge of the bricked patio. She could easily visualize everything Sierra had just said—with one addition. Richard. The yard stretched at least seventy-five feet both ways. A few steps away, a Chickasaw plum tree was loaded with fruit. She could try her hand at making preserves. This could be their home.
“I bet a doghouse would look real good out here,” Kayla said, going to stand by her mother and slipping her hand into hers.
There was certainly room enough for a doghouse—and the swing set she’d already set aside money for. She glanced around the patio again. She could probably buy some secondhand patio furniture, paint it, and make some throw pillows out of brightly hued fabric scraps.
“Naomi, is this your house?”
Naomi opened her mouth to answer, but before she could she heard loud, angry voices coming from the house. Instinctively, she pulled Kayla closer. Richard and Sierra both moved toward the kitchen door.
“No!” Naomi cried.
“It’s all right,” Richard soothed, stopping to look back at her.
“Please excuse me.” Sierra never paused. Entering the house by door they’d left open, she started to swing it shut only to have Richard catch the door and enter behind her.
“Touch me and I’ll have you arrested,” yelled a slim, middle-aged man in a tailored suit.
“Mrs. Navarone is the exclusive Realtor of this property as of eight yesterday morning,” Aaron said, blocking the man. “You have to have her permission to be on these premises.”
“I haven’t seen any papers to that effect, and until I do, I’m still the exclusive Realtor, so get out of my way.”
Sierra’s eyes narrowed. “Richard, please go back with Naomi and Kayla. I’ll be with you in a moment.”
The man’s fuming gaze zeroed in on Sierra. “You won’t get away with this.”
“George, I personally sent you a certified copy of my agreement with the Allens, plus his son said he was going to call you. Since you’re here this early in the morning, I’d say you were lying about not knowing you were fired,” Sierra told him.
George Bryant tried to go around or shove Aaron aside. It wasn’t happening. George wasn’t smart enough to realize he’d only gotten that far because Aaron allowed it. He didn’t want neighbors to see the scene that was going to play out
“Don’t you dare insult me. I’ve been in this business twenty years,” Bryant snarled. “Isn’t it enough your husband owns God-knows-what without you trying to cheat and undermine the rest of us? You probably badgered
my
clients. They’re old and easily influenced. I’m reporting you to the board. I’ll have your license. You won’t get away with this.”
Sierra’s temper spiked. She was not taking another insult from this fool. “Stand aside, Aaron.”
“Mrs. Navarone.”
“I’m not asking,” Sierra said, her voice precise and cool.
Aaron moved to stand between her and the angry man. That was as good as she was going to get. She stepped closer to the incensed man.
“I don’t have to undermine. I simply do my job better than you.” She placed her hands on her hips. “You’re lazy and sloppy, and your abysmal sales records show it. You’re a disgrace to our profession. Good people depend on you and you don’t even try to do a first-rate job. I should report you to the board for your ineptness and unprofessionalism. You couldn’t sell ice water in hell.”
With each word, the man had become more enraged. “You take that back.” Hands raised, he lunged for her.
Sierra slipped out of her backless heeled sandals and raised her hands palm-out.
Richard, who had remained, moved to intercede, but Aaron was faster.
The livid man found his path blocked by two hundred pounds of coiled muscle. “You do not want to make that mistake.”
“She can’t talk to me that way,” he shouted.
“Aaron, get out of the way,” Sierra ordered. “I’m not afraid of him.”
“I’m trying to protect him,” Aaron said easily. “If you take him down, he’ll have to deal with Blade, and your brothers will take care of what’s left. Then Rio will want to know why I let it happen and our loudmouthed friend here will then have to deal with me.”
“You forgot Mrs. Grayson,” Richard supplied.
Aaron grinned. “Yeah. You really stepped in it this time.”
“I—I’m not afraid—”
“Then you’re a fool.” A cold voice cut the Realtor off.
The man spun around to face the newcomer, then took a step backward. All eyes in the room watched Rio as he silently crossed to them, his gaze never leaving the now quaking man.
“Did he touch her?”
“He’s breathing, isn’t he?” came Aaron’s matter-of-fact answer.
The man staggered back. “You—you can’t threaten me. I know people.”
“Rio, I—”
He held up one hand.
Sierra pressed her lips together. Rio only took orders from Blade, and then only to a point. “I should have snuck out this morning. I could have taken care of this,” Sierra muttered.
“And Blade would have become involved and none of us would have liked the consequences, least of all Mr. Bryant,” Rio answered without looking at her.
Sierra groaned inwardly. She’d forgotten that nothing much got past Rio’s keen hearing.
“You—you know my name?”
“A better question is, what don’t I know?” Rio said, his voice void of inflection, his black eyes emotionless.
“You—you think—”
“Shut up and listen,” Rio said quietly, again cutting the man off. “You can’t reason with incompetence or stupidity, so I won’t waste my breath. You will apologize to Mrs. Navarone and then leave. Don’t get in her way again.”
“You—”
Rio moved so quickly the man didn’t have time to evade the unrelenting hand holding his suit jacket. Rio whispered something in his ear, then released him. The man’s eyes were huge as he staggered back, then turned and ran out of the room. Aaron followed.
Rio faced Sierra. “Please excuse us, Dr. Youngblood.”
Sierra saw Richard hesitate, then he left as well. She was on her own. She folded her arms. If she could stand up to her brothers and Blade, she could do the same with Rio. Although, she usually could tell what they were thinking, with Rio you never knew, which put the other person at a distinct disadvantage.
As silently as a cat on the wooden floor, he came to within a foot of her. He simply looked at her.
She lasted for only three seconds before unfolding her arms. “Don’t give me that look. It wasn’t my fault.”
“I’ve heard that before. I’d like not to hear it again.”
“It’s not my problem some men are cowards and fools. Bryant is both. You were right about him.”
“Knowing that, you should have let Aaron handle things. Instead, you provoked him.”
“It’s a gift.” She grinned. She didn’t expect him to grin back. He didn’t.
“What you do affects Blade. Let Aaron and Paul do their job.”
“I don’t need—”
“True, so you shouldn’t be so quick to try to prove it and put Blade in jeopardy.”
Her mouth opened, then she snapped it shut. You couldn’t argue against the truth. Blade wouldn’t allow any man to touch her, no matter the provocation, and not pay him a visit.
Rio wasn’t finished. “Use that brilliant brain of yours for purposes other than having your way.”
She took immediate exception and stepped to him. “You calling me spoiled?”
“Headstrong. Courageous. Unpredictable. Loyal. But those same qualities made Blade fall in love with you.”
The fight went out of her. “I was ready to take you on.”
“Learn to think with your heart and make life simpler for all of us,” Rio said.