“What? I can’tbring in some morning tea without it being a big deal?” He made hisway past Samantha’s desk and headed back to his office, leaving thedoor ajar.
“It’s not somuch the morning tea as the random whistling and the big smile onyour face at nine am, Todd.” She adjusted her screen to view heremail.
He sat down athis desk and cupped one hand around his ear. “Did you saysomething?” The glass wall provided an uninterrupted view of thegeneral office space.
“No, nothingimportant. Thanks for the extra calories with my morning tea, Todd.My lips are clapping in anticipation but my hips are already indenial.”
“You’re verywelcome. Please help yourself when you make the coffee. And whenyou do, I would like the strawberry tart with mine …please?
When he glanced up andnoticed Samantha shooting a death stare in his direction, he gaveher his best mischievous grin.
Todd glanced over asSamantha, tottering on impossibly high heels, made her way towardsthe filing cabinet. Why women wore such uncomfortable-lookingfootwear was beyond him. He did have to concede the heels made herlegs look longer and the black pencil skirt, although verybusinesslike, hugged her like a glove. As a man, he couldappreciate having an attractive office manager, but as a boss, shewas strictly off limits. Instead he observed the admiring glancesfrom the ever-hopeful male clientele and thanked his lucky stars hehad an office manager with brains as well as beauty.
There had beena time, when they were both fresh out of university and hangingaround in the same crowd of twenty-somethings, that he had thoughtof Samantha with a touch more lust than admiration. A verybusiness-savvy woman with a high IQ was exactly the type to incurhis interest. He could have pursued this line of thinking, but whenshe met her husband that window of opportunity closed, never to bereopened. She had been the first person he approached to be hisoffice manager when he opened his business. They worked welltogether. Respect for all she achieved became part of the glue thatkept them together. They had moved on, and would never be anythingmore than friends and business colleagues. He enjoyed his lifewithout the added complication of an office romance.
Todd stood on thepavement checking out the Beach Road property. The double-storeyCalifornian bungalow, which featured a gable over the main portionof the house, appeared a little run-down. Several steps led up fromthe concrete path to a covered porch. The front door, flanked oneither side by large picture windows, indicated formal roomssituated at the front of the dwelling. He glanced behind him at theuninterrupted view of the bay, and smiled at the thought of thepremium he could ask for this vista.
He took adeep breath, pulled back his shoulders, straightened his tie, andmarched forward. Showtime. As he made his way through, the gatesagged a little, its hinges creaking noticeably. The rose garden tohis left, partially obscured in the tangle of shrubs, was in needof a severe pruning. Roughly cut, but still recognisable, a lawnseparated the house from the boundary wall.
A large pottedplant propped the front door open. The permeating smell of paintand varnish hung heavy in the warm air. He recognised the familiarvocals of Tina Arena singing “Sorrento Moon” emanating from anancient portable radio on the hall table. As he pressed thedoorbell, he noticed the “No Hawkers” sign attached to the wall andinstinctively took a step back. While he waited for someone toanswer his ring, a very friendly, large cat appeared on the porchbeside him. It gave a low rumbling purr and rubbed its sleek blackbody around his legs, its tail wrapping around his calves as iftesting out an uninvited guest. Todd attempted to move out ofrange. Cat hair on his suit was the last thing he needed orwanted.
He heard footsteps on thefloorboards somewhere inside, and a female voice called out fromdown the hall.
“Coming … hangon!”
Compulsivelychecking for messages before muting his iPhone, he tucked his phoneand car keys into his pockets to free up his hands. He lifted hisgaze in time to see a young woman walking slowly down the hallway.The light behind her cast her face in shadow until she stepped upbefore him. Immediately struck by her pale green eyes, highcheekbones and wide guileless smile, he swallowed the lump in histhroat. His attention moved to the good muscle definition in herbare arms, and her long legs. She carried a long-handled roller inone hand. She ignored him, leaned over, and switched off themusic.
She was very attractive,nearly as tall as him, maybe just under six foot, and slim. Whitepaint splatters dotted the tight grey leggings and tank top shewore, and continued over the exposed skin on her arms. A generoussprinkle of paint freckles adorned her nose and forehead. A redkerchief knotted on top covered her hair.
“Can I helpyou?”
The cat sat down andlooked discerningly at Todd, clearly offended by his lack ofaffection.
“Hello there.Miss Armstrong, isn’t it? I recognise you from the article in thelocal paper. Sorry to disturb you while you’re painting. I shouldhave called first. I was just passing when I saw the door open, andheard the music.”
He smiled. She offered noreaction. He ploughed on.
“Todd Baker,from Baker Real Estate. My office is in Bay Street. You may haveseen it in passing?” He offered his hand.
She gave him adisinterested stare.
“It’s rightbeside the post office.” He paused to see if she registered hisaddress.
The woman kept her eyeson his face, and did not accept the proffered hand.
“What can I dofor you, Mr Baker?” The open, smiling face had gone. In its placewas an all-knowing look of annoyance.
“I read aboutyour father’s passing. We were acquainted, you see, and thought Iwould come and offer my condolences. And, of course, offer myservices when you decide to sell the property.”
“What makesyou think I want to sell, Mr Baker?”
“Well, Iimagine you will be returning to Paris soon, and I don’t expect youwill want—or need—the upkeep and expense of this large propertyback here in Australia.” He smiled at her with what he knew to behis full-wattage persuasive smile.
She still had that lookof annoyance, now combined
