Total pages in book: 81
Estimated words: 76347 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 382(@200wpm)___ 305(@250wpm)___ 254(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 76347 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 382(@200wpm)___ 305(@250wpm)___ 254(@300wpm)
I have a few facts. One, this woman needs help. She called me, maybe by mistake, but she did call, and I’m going to help her. Two, she’s all alone out here. This house is a dump, and its metaphysical status is questionable—she did say it was haunted. And three, there’s something about her that just…calls out to me. But not like a siren. She’s too sweet and innocent to lure a man to his death. She needs someone, and I’m in that position, here and now, and I’m not going to turn my back on her, no matter what. I don’t plan on a grand game of seduction. I just want to… I don’t know…
Maybe get to know her while I’m fixing her place or paying others to fix it because sometimes people just need a hand to get out of a shit situation. Sometimes those people go on to make a big difference in the world, and I feel like Victoria is one of them. She’s practically goodness, sunshine, and happy light personified.
“I’m not too busy!” I say with a great big smile which I hope isn’t full-on caveman. “I’ll start tomorrow.”
When Victoria looks at me, her face lights up, joy reaching her eyes and exploding out like laser beams, and not in a creepy way. I feel my heart pulsing at her look of hopeful radiance. Throbbing. Pulverizing my ribs. I know I’ll do anything to make this house a masterpiece for her. It might not make a lot of sense, but I know I have to. I took that call, and I’m here, so it’s happening. I’ll get on my hands and knees and beg Granny for the money if I have to.
“Um, what about a quote?” she asks, her voice wavering, already losing hope.
“Right. I’ll bring it with me tomorrow. I’ll make sure I undercut everyone and make it work with your budget.”
Her nose crinkles, and she looks slightly suspicious. “Why would you do that? You’ll probably lose money.”
My brain is generally a masterpiece reserved for reading, which I love, hacking, which I also love, and other computer-related things. It’s not good at getting put on the spot and saying the right thing at the right time, but I pull out all the stops, and my ol’ gray matter surprises me.
“Never done this kind of work before. I think it will look great on my resume. Website. Uh, portfolio. We’ll do before and after photos like you will not believe. It will really showcase what we can make happen. It’s also a worthy cause. You know, bringing something back to life and making it shine again. I’m a romantic at heart. I love old things.”
“For the love of cheese,” Orion mutters, just low enough that I can hear him because he’s standing just a pace behind me.
“O—oh. Okay, I really appreciate it. I…I’ll write down my budget for everything tonight, so you can compare it to your quote. I don’t want you to have to sacrifice to take on this job. That isn’t right,” Victoria whispers. “I’ve never loved old things. This house has lingered like a bad aftertaste for my whole family. My great-aunt was as crotchety as they came, and the house was like her one last parting curse for all of us. A tack in the behind, a burr in the…never mind. I don’t love it, but…but I’d like to.” She turns around, facing the backyard. “I really love flowers. I’d like to see this place full of them.”
Endless flowers. Gardens of flowers. Flowers in her hair. Flowers everywhere. A meadow of wild ones. Gardens of roses. Exotic plants…
I want to give her all that. I want to make her dream come true.
I nod and stammer out a goodbye as Orion practically drags me back to the car. He stuffs me into the passenger seat and gets behind the wheel, probably because he thinks my head is so addled that it would be dangerous to let me drive.
Can I help it if I’ve been enchanted by an angel? I feel like I’ve been waiting my whole life for this moment. For the first glimpse of Victoria’s sweet face. I feel like…like when you know you’ve met your match, you just freaking know it.
“You don’t know the first thing about home renovations!” Orion hisses as he throws the car into drive and pulls back down the long driveway toward the gravel road.
“I know a thing or two. We’ve had a few fixer-uppers in the past.”
“Not that level.”
“I’ll get proper tradespeople and cover it with my own money for the things I can’t do myself. Like electrical and plumbing.”
Orion makes a hard left onto the gravel road, and the car fishtails a little before he rights it. He guns down on the gas, and the engine roars. Oh, he’s pissed alright. He generally doesn’t stay silent with me when he is, and right now is no exception.