Insecurity and a Bottle of Merlot (8 page)

Max watched, amused by how animated she was when she talked. Her arms flew in every direction. Her eyes lit up when she was excited, and her voice rose a few octaves. He couldn’t hold it in anymore, and laughed out loud.

“What? Did I say something weird?” She caught her breath long enough to ask the question.

“No, it’s just that you’re very animated when you’re on a roll, that’s all.”

“I’m friggin Puerto Rican for Pete’s sake. What do you expect?” she asked, her eyes bulging.

He laughed again. “I expect to be surprised by you every time I see you. Not only are you gorgeous, but you’re funny too. I like that about you. You’re going to keep me on my toes, aren’t you?”

“Well, Max Cole, I guess you’ll have to figure that one out on your own,” she said, making sure to smile with her teeth showing.

Chapter Eleven

Sasha set the morning aside to make calls to a few real estate agencies in Tarrytown. She was hoping to work with a buyer’s agent, and wanted to get a feel of their personalities and commitment to the home buyer. She didn’t like the vibe she got from the first real estate agency she called. The woman on the phone sounded distracted and rushed, like she had somewhere else to be. She didn’t take any time to ask Sasha what she was looking for in a home, or even what neighborhoods interested her. Sasha hung up and scratched that company off her list. There were three more agencies to go. She poured another cup of coffee, gave it a stir, and sat back down at Tina’s kitchen table. Redmond Brother’s Realty on Locust Street was number two on her list.

“Hello, Redmond Brother’s Realty. Josh Redmond speaking, how may I help you?”

He had a nice voice, a plus in her opinion. Sasha would take notes if the company got past the introductions.

“Hello, Mr. Redmond. My name is Sasha Renaud, and I’m fairly new in Tarrytown. I’m interested in looking at some homes. Does your company have a buyer’s agent?”

“Well, first off, Mrs. Renaud, welcome to Tarrytown.” He wrote down her name, and noted she was new to the area. The personal touches were what always reeled the clients in.

“I’m sorry, I don’t mean to interrupt, but it’s Ms. Renaud. I’d rather we got started off without any mistakes. I’m looking to buy a home for myself. I’m single so it’s only me you would be dealing with. I’m looking to buy an older, traditional home in a nice neighborhood.”

“That sounds great, Ms. Renaud. I’m sorry about the assumption. May I call you Sasha so we can be more casual?”

“Of course, that’s fine,” she responded, flicking invisible crumbs off the kitchen table.

“Well, back to your initial question, yes we do have a buyer’s agent. That would be myself, Josh Redmond. This agency has been in my family for thirty years, so we’re very familiar with the Tarrytown housing market. Our company is run by my brother Jake, and me. We have several agents that work with us part time, too. Jake works with the sellers, and I work with the buyers. What I would like to suggest, Sasha, is to meet near our office and go over what you do, and don’t want in a home. There’s no point in wasting your time showing you something that doesn’t fit your personality and lifestyle. We always take our potential clients out to lunch, as a way to welcome them to the neighborhood. That way, we’re in a neutral environment with no pressure and no expectations. What do you say? I have today at twelve-fifteen open if you would like to meet at Tony’s Club downtown. You can tell me everything you’re looking for in a home and I can give you some recommendations. We can start the ball rolling and find you just what you’re looking for.” Josh doodled on his notepad as he went through the script he had programmed to memory.

“Okay, I can do that,” Sasha said, sounding hopeful. “I’ll have on a yellow dress.”

“Wonderful. I’ll be watching for you at twelve-fifteen. Bring your wish list. Tarrytown is a great place to live. We’ll find you the house you want. I’ll see you in a few hours. I’m looking forward to meeting you.”

Sasha began writing down the type of houses she liked. She needed three bedrooms, two baths and a backyard that would be perfect for entertaining. She wanted to live in an older neighborhood where there were a lot of trees. The house had to be original to the neighborhood, a bungalow or a craftsman style, preferably. She looked at the clock on the microwave: 10:15 a.m. If Mia was available, there just might be enough time to check out Aaron’s house before she met up with Mr. Redmond. She wanted to see the neighborhood Aaron lived in since Mia described it to her in detail. That area might be exactly what she was looking for.

As she ran dripping wet down the hallway, trying not to slip, Mia caught the phone on its last ring. She and Reggie had a nice run earlier, and the morning was a hot, sticky one. A shower was in order before she sat down to send out her photography invoices today. She held the towel around her body, hoping all her vital areas were covered. The blinds were open and Mia would be visible to any passerby on the sidewalk. Luckily, the large towel covered her well. “Hi, Sasha, what’s up,” she asked, while walking back to the bathroom as she talked.

“Mia, hi. Do you have anything urgent to do this morning?”

“Urgent? No why?”

“I’m sorry it’s last minute, but will you call Aaron and ask if I can take a quick peek at his house? I’m meeting with a Realtor at twelve-fifteen and if Aaron’s house and neighborhood is like I’ve envisioned, then that’s the area I want to see.”

“Sure, no prob. I’ve got some paperwork to do, but that can wait. I’ll call Aaron now, and get right back to you. I have a key to his house, so I’ll pick you up and we’ll head out. Believe me, you’ll fall in love with the neighborhood. It’s like you’re in a Currier and Ives print.”

“Oh goody, that’s what I pictured. We can be neighbors soon. How fun would that be?”

“To be honest, Sasha, I can’t wait to sell my house and move in with Aaron. You’ll understand what I mean as soon as you see his place. Okay, get ready. I’ll call you back in ten minutes. Out.”

Sasha tossed her wish list in her purse and threw on shorts and a tank top. She sat at the bathroom vanity and braided her long, black hair. The humidity did strange things to it otherwise. Mia called back and said she was on her way. Sasha went outside and waited on the porch for the familiar sound of Mia’s Camaro to come up the street. That car couldn’t be confused with anyone else’s. The deep sound of the exhaust was as distinct as a person’s fingerprint.

“Hey, Mia. Thanks so much for doing this, I really appreciate it. I want to have a vision in my head when I explain to Mr. Redmond what I’m looking for,” Sasha said, as she climbed in the passenger seat. “Ouch! Son of a bitch, this seat is hot. I think I just burned the back of my legs off.”

“Sorry, hon, the seats are black leather. It’s also ninety degrees outside. So you’re meeting with one of the Redmond brothers?” Mia asked, with a smirk on her face as she backed out the driveway.

“Yeah, why? Is there something wrong with them?” Sasha was worried now, and having second thoughts.

“Which one are you meeting with?” Mia asked, still smiling.

“Josh. I guess he takes care of the buyers, and his brother Jake takes care of the sellers.”

“Oh, he’ll take good care of you, I guarantee it,” Mia said, with a chuckle.

“What the hell does that mean?”

“Okay, I’ll stop toying with you since you haven’t lived here long enough to know the stories. I’ll give you a quick rundown of the Redmond brothers of Tarrytown. Josh and Jake are twins. They’re fraternal twins, so they don’t look that much alike, but my God.”

“My God, what?”

“Those boys are the Tarrytown tramps. Every woman in Westchester County that has a pulse, has either had sex with one, or both of them, or wished they had.”

“Oh gross. That sounds too much like Jack. I’m going to cancel the appointment with him,” Sasha said, now thoroughly disgusted.

“No, go ahead and meet with him. It should be a real trip. They’re both good at what they do,” Mia said. “In real estate, I mean,” she added, laughing. “You have to meet them, Sasha. They’re both really gorgeous. Even if you don’t hire Josh, you’ll get a free lunch. Where are you meeting him?”

“At Tony’s Club. Should I cancel?”

“No, just go. Take notice of all the women staring at you though. Tony’s fills up at lunchtime. It should be a real kick to see how many girls are drooling and wishing they were in your shoes.”

“Oh for God’s sake Mia, how hot can he be?”

“Hotter than that seat you’re sitting on. He’s smokin’ hot, sister… and I mean smokin’ hot. Wavy blonde hair with summer streaks in it, enormous brown eyes, dimples to die for, and a perfect tight ass. You get the picture.” Mia turned onto Aaron’s street. “Okay, enough about the Redmond boys. Pay attention now. Isn’t this the prettiest street you’ve ever seen? Living on Oak Terrace Lane is like announcing you’ve arrived. It’s one of the most beautiful streets in town. And check out the houses. If you want traditional, here it is, sister. There’s cottages, craftsman style, Victorians and awesome bungalows. Okay, here’s Aaron’s house. What do you think from the outside?”

“Oh my God. This is exactly like the image in my mind. It’s like a storybook house.”

“Isn’t it? In my opinion, Aaron has one of the nicest houses in town, other than the big mansions, that is. This home was his grandparents place, then he bought it after they decided it was too much for them. They were so happy to keep this wonderful house in the family.”

“I can see why. Look at that porch, Mia.” Sasha gasped as she got out of the car. “It’s huge and welcoming with the wicker chairs and table. Look at the ferns.” Sasha was beside herself with excitement. “Do you think there are other houses this nice for sale, in this neighborhood?”

“Well, that’s what Mr. Hot Stuff is going to find out for you, if you decide to hire him. Tell him you want a house similar to the ones on Oak Terrace Lane. He’ll know what you mean.” Mia unzipped the side pocket of her purse and pulled out Aaron’s house key. “C’mon, let’s go inside.”

“Why don’t you have Aaron’s house key on your key ring?”

“I will eventually. I’m going to wait until I actually live here. Then, the house will feel like mine too. Right now, I’m a very privileged visitor. Hold your breath, Sasha, you’re going to love this place.”

Mia pointed out the original hardwood floors and elegant crown moldings. Even the hanging light fixtures were period pieces. The banister and newel post to the second floor was hand carved walnut.

“Come outside and see the backyard, it’s gorgeous.” Mia led Sasha back down the stairs and through the kitchen to get to the beautiful red brick patio in the back. They sat for a while, each enjoying a Diet Coke. Ancient oaks shaded the entire yard, cooling everything down. “This is the primo place to have a party. You can do something like this too as long as you find a house with big trees. A deck, or patio off the kitchen would be perfect for entertaining. Well, it’s almost noon. Do you want me to drop you off at Tony’s?” Mia asked, as they locked up Aaron’s house and walked down the driveway to her car.

“I guess so. It would be rude to cancel at the last minute, right? Crap, I told Mr. Redmond I’d be wearing a yellow dress. I wasn’t thinking when I threw on shorts and a tank top.”

“Who cares? You’ll get there early so you can sit and watch. Believe me, that player will be hitting on the ladies, at least until he thinks it’s time for you to walk through the door.”

“How will I recognize him?” Sasha asked.

“Hang on.” Mia spun the car around and turned left on Locust Street. She pulled up to the building where Redmond Brother’s Realty was located. “There, on the window.”

Mia pointed out an advertisement showing a picture of both brothers shaking hands with prior clients. “The one on the right is Josh,” she said, with a chuckle, waiting for Sasha’s reaction.

“Holy shit! Thank God they aren’t identical twins. Who could handle two of anything that gorgeous? They’re both perfect.”

“Ya think? I told you so. Does Josh know you’re single?”

“Well… yeah I told him because he called me Mrs. Renaud.”

Mia cracked up laughing. “Girl… with your beautiful face and his ego, all I can say is, look out.”

Chapter Twelve

Mia dropped Sasha off near the front door of Tony’s Club. “He’s here already, probably prowling for his next conquest,” she said. “See that gray Infinity across the street? That’s his car. Good luck. Don’t get sucked into his charm and keep your legs crossed. Those shorts are pretty skimpy. Call me once you peel him off of you.”

“Eww, that’s so wrong, Mia!”

Mia laughed and gave Sasha a thumb’s up as she pounded her car through the gears and barreled down Main Street.

Sasha walked into Tony’s. She had never been there before and didn’t know the layout of the place. She crossed through the old squeaky doors, to find a darkened, but rather upscale bar area. It was nothing like she pictured in her mind. The bar was horseshoe shaped with about thirty barstools cozied up to the rail. It reminded her of an old school, Frank Sinatra, type of supper club. It was a hidden treasure you might come across somewhere on a side street in Manhattan. The dining area was to her right, a little brighter and decorated nicely. Sasha was lucky to find a vacant barstool as Tony’s appeared to be the happening place for the lunch crowd. She sat on one of the remaining stools and scanned the bar. She was looking for Josh. She wanted to see if Mia’s assessment of him was accurate or not. He might be a decent guy sitting alone somewhere, going over the current listings he wanted to show Sasha. In the far corner of the bar, in the darkest area, she saw him. She had to take off her sunglasses just to make sure. There, sandwiched between two barely legal young ladies, was Josh Redmond. He was flirting shamelessly, and the women were eating it up. Each was trying to outdo the other with their wit and charm. All he had to do was stand between them and laugh at the appropriate times.

Hmmm… he is pretty gorgeous, but Mia was right. He’s not even preparing for my arrival.
Sasha looked at her watch: 12:02 p.m.
I guess as long as he can see the entrance and watches for a woman walking in wearing a yellow dress, he’s got his ass covered. He can act like he just got here himself. What a jerk!