Total pages in book: 103
Estimated words: 100713 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 504(@200wpm)___ 403(@250wpm)___ 336(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 100713 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 504(@200wpm)___ 403(@250wpm)___ 336(@300wpm)
“I’m coming.” He strolled up the walk and smiled at Maddie with his usual easy charm. “Hey, Maddie. Nice to see you again.”
“You too. Congratulations on your marriage.” She looked back and forth from husband to wife, clasping her hands beneath her chin. “I just heard the news. That’s wonderful.”
Bianca laughed and hooked her arm through Moretti’s. “It’s wonderful now. Took a while.”
Maddie looked a little confused, and the rest of us laughed.
“I’ll explain later,” I said. “For now, why don’t you take them through the house?”
“Okay.” Maddie exhaled, wrinkling her nose. “Prepare yourselves. It isn’t pretty.”
“Pretty can come later,” said Bianca confidently. “I’m actually an interior designer and I’d be glad to help you get the place into shape. Enzo and I love this kind of thing.”
“You have no idea how glad I am to hear that,” Maddie said. “I have zero experience, a limited budget, and I’m somewhat strapped for time.”
“Don’t worry.” Bianca sounded sure of herself, even as she eyeballed the sagging porch. “We can help.”
After being introduced to Elliott and saying hello to my dad, Moretti and Bianca followed Maddie through the house. I tagged along too, curious about their opinions.
Bianca chirped a mile a minute about what could be done with the interior—“I’m totally seeing a modern Victorian hideaway”—but Moretti was mostly quiet. He knocked on some walls, peeled off some wallpaper, peered into closets, opened kitchen cabinets, scrutinized ceilings, and examined wires and pipes.
Outside again, he walked around the house, studying the roof and the foundation. Then he stood in the driveway again, regarding it from fifty feet.
“Well?” Maddie said anxiously. “What’s the verdict?”
“I’ve seen worse.”
Bianca rolled her eyes. “Babe, be a little more specific please.”
“It can be renovated,” he said, walking toward us again. “But it won’t be all that fast. I can give you the best possible deal on materials, and Bianca is great at making the best use of space and getting a high-end look for less, but the labor could get costly, and I’m not sure when I can spare the guys. You said you’re strapped for time?”
“I’ve got two weeks. I have to get back for work and Elliott has summer camp.”
Moretti shook his head. “It will definitely not be done in two weeks, but I don’t think you need to be here on a daily basis as the work is being done. If you trusted me or Beckett to make decisions—”
“I would,” Maddie said quickly.
“And Bianca to get it decorated,” he went on.
“One hundred percent.” Maddie smiled at Bianca. “I loved all your ideas.”
“Then I think it would be a good investment,” Moretti concluded. “But let me get back to you with a more specific timeline, some drawings, and an estimate. I’m just going to take a few measurements.”
“Okay,” Maddie said. “Thank you so much.”
“So what else will you do while you’re here?” Bianca asked as Moretti headed inside again, this time with his tape measure and a notebook.
“Show Elliott around my old stomping grounds, take him to the beach, that kind of thing.” Maddie smiled at me. “And hopefully be a help to Beckett on the ranch. We’re so grateful to be staying there.”
“Isn’t it a beautiful home?” Bianca gushed. “I just love it. Sometimes big houses lose that homey, cozy feeling, you know? But not that one.”
“Not at all. It’s very warm and inviting. Two things this place is not.” Laughing, she jerked her thumb at her old house.
“Yet.” Bianca smiled reassuringly. “But don’t you worry. We’ll turn it into a little country oasis with just the right balance of vintage charm and modern convenience. And with a location like this, just ten minutes from town and the beach? It’ll be snapped up in a heartbeat.”
Maddie’s expression was dubious. “If you say so.”
“I do.” Bianca remained confident. “You know what? Let’s have a drink while you’re here. You need to meet Blair, who’s married to Griffin. Oh, and do you know Griffin’s sister, Cheyenne? She’s getting married next weekend to the fourth musketeer, Cole Mitchell, so she might be a little busy, but we—”
“Oh my goodness!” Maddie’s jaw dropped. “Griffin is married too? And his sister Cheyenne is marrying Cole?” She looked over at me accusingly and slapped my arm. “Beckett Weaver! Why didn’t you tell me any of this before?”
“I don’t know.” I shrugged. “You just got here.”
“I’ve been here for hours.” She exchanged a look with Bianca, who sighed in agreement.
“Men do not understand the important things. Here, take this.” Bianca reached into her purse and pulled out a business card, handing it to Maddie. “And call me. I think the girls might get together tomorrow night.”
“Great. Thank you so much,” Maddie said, tucking Bianca’s card in her pocket.
Moretti came out of the house and down the steps toward us. “Okay. I have what I need.” He squinted at the overgrown bushes and weed-ridden lawn surrounding the place. “You’ll probably want to hire some landscapers.”