He blew out a breath. The senior Mr. McNeil. One day April would learn the importance of actually identifying the caller. “You think?”
“Doesn’t matter what I think. It’s what the customer thinks that’s important, son.”
“Yes, sir, I guess it is.” Mr. McNeil was a great businessman and an inspiration to him over the years.
“Damn straight. Now, I’m calling because that son of mine has a birthday coming up.”
“What can I do?”
“Find him a house,” Mr. McNeil stated.
“A house? I’m… hmm, I don’t really do that, Mr. McNeil.”
“Tanner, my boy, I know you don’t mess around in residential properties, but I need your help. Since it’s for Jake, I figured you wouldn’t mind.”
“It’s not that I mind. I’d be happy to help, but I’m surprised Jake wants a house. He hasn’t mentioned it to me.”
“I didn’t say he wants a house. I said I’m buying him one for his birthday.”
He settled in his chair and propped his feet on his desk. This was interesting. Jake lived in the same two-bedroom apartment they had shared upon returning to Slidell from college years ago. While Tanner had long ago moved up and out, Jake remained right where he was. Jake could have moved on by now. He’d been with the Slidell Police Department a long time and had progressed through the ranks. But he seemed content.
“Well, that’s quite a gift, Mr. McNeil. Don’t you think Jake would want some say in picking out a house?”
“I’ve tried to talk him into moving a dozen times. He’s over thirty. About damn time he took some responsibility.”
“Mr. Mac, I think Jake shows a lot of responsibility.”
“That’s not exactly what I mean. He needs a house. Hell, he needs a wife and kids too.” Mr. McNeil chuckled. “Well, at least that’s my opinion.”
The statement made him sit up. He and Jake were both over thirty, but he had to admit he’d never given a wife and kids much thought himself. Not lately.
“Mr. Mac, I’ll do whatever I can to help, but I doubt Jake’s ready for that kind of responsibility.” He chuckled, but it seemed hollow to his own ears.
“You boys are not going to be young forever. You need to start thinking about settling down too, young man.”
“I’m much too busy,” he said quickly. “Now, what exactly are you thinking of for Jake?”
Mr. Mac gave him a hefty price range and a few of his specifics for the house. When he mentioned a big yard, the idea lightened his mood and made him laugh out loud. Jake hated cutting grass when they were teenagers, used to bribe him into doing it for him. He was sure Jake didn’t like yard work any better these days.
“And because I am paying for this house, Tanner, I want it to be something Jake can raise a family in, even if it takes him another ten years to settle down.”
“I understand. A family house. I’ll see what I can come up with and give you a call so we can go check out a few properties next week.”
“You don’t understand. I am not house hunting. Call Misty. She’ll know what a woman would want in a house.” Mr. Mac paused. “I’ve seen that bachelor pad of yours and know you don’t have a clue. You’ll need the help of a woman. And not a word to Jake. It’s a surprise.”
They said their goodbyes, and he pushed away from his desk. House hunting with Misty sounded intriguing. He grabbed his gym bag. A workout would help him concentrate on work. Not the woman who’d been invading his dreams for the past couple of nights.
Chapter 2
Misty opened her front door to an impatient courier. He shoved an electronic signature device in her hand, then replaced it with a bulky envelope. She opened the package and, closing the door, shook her head. It contained her locket encased in a velvet jeweler’s cloth, the clasp fixed.
How Tanner had managed to get inside Josh’s apartment and lift the locket was anyone’s guess. She slowly opened it. Her miniature sand dollar was still in place. She closed it and slipped the chain around her neck.
Her ringing phone pulled her from any further thoughts. She picked up the handset. “Hello.”
“Misty McNeil?”
“Yes, this is Misty.”
“This is Mr. Johnson, your landlord.”
“Yes, sir. Is there something I can do for you?”
“Glad you asked, missy. You can start packing.”
“Excuse me?”
“I’m renovating the building, turning it into efficiency apartments. Lots of workers around these days. I can make more money leasing to them.”
What about her? She’d lived here for the past few years and had returned immediately after the last hurricane had destroyed most of the area. “I have a lease.”
“Your lease has been on a monthly basis for the past fourteen months. By law I am required to give you a five-day notice. Just so happens I’m giving you seven days to move. Be out by the first.”
“Uh...” She was talking to a dial tone. The old man had hung up on her. Was what he doing even legal? It didn’t matter. She needed to move. This place wasn’t exactly in good shape.
Seven days.
She’d been searching the real estate section for the past couple of months. Of course, there weren’t many prospects unless she wanted to buy a house. Those were available by the truckloads around here, the only problem—most of them needed work. She wasn’t very handy, and finding a good carpenter who’d work cheap would be like winning the lottery.
The latest hurricane had ripped a hole right through the area. The real estate market was only a good place right now for an investor with a lot of money to spend.
Tanner…
It didn’t take much for her to think of him lately. She absentmindedly ran the locket along its chain. She could call and thank him for returning the locket and fixing the clasp, and of course for bailing her out of jail.
She leaned against the counter. Knowing Tanner and his business connections, he could find her a place to live easily enough. If it took more than seven days, she could con Jake out of his spare room for a few weeks. Inspired, she phoned her office and told them she needed a couple of days off. While she didn’t necessarily like to admit it, working for her father had its advantages.
She changed clothes and headed for her brother’s place. Once there, she realized she should have called first. She didn’t know her brother’s schedule. Jake’s door was propped open. She slipped inside. A woman’s soft laughter floated from the direction of the kitchen.
Intrigued, she slowed her steps and tried to hear what was being said. No such luck. A small boy ran past her, interrupting her attempt at sneaking in.
“Hey, Mr. Jake, there’s a lady in your living room,” the boy hollered over his shoulder. Jake appeared around the corner and was physically taken aback when he saw her. “Misty?”
She held her hands palm side up. “Yup, just me.”
“What are you doing here? Why aren’t you working?”
“Uh, happy to see you too.” Sometimes her brother was harder on her than their father.
“That’s not what I meant. I’m glad you’re here. Why in the middle of the week? What’s going on?”
“We need to