Bidding Wars (Love Strikes)

chapter Five





Inside the coffee shop, Diane was already seated at a table in the corner. Molly ordered her drink and was thankful the barista got it to her quickly. She sat down with Diane and took a long sip of her coffee, not caring it was hot and slightly burnt on its way down.

“Long day?” Diane asked.

Molly nodded. “God, yes. My feet ache and now I’m wishing I asked for an extra shot of caffeine.”

“I made sure to get one. So, I heard that you met with your competition.”

Crap. “I did.”

Diane took a drink of her coffee as well. “I can understand if you just ran into him and recognized him and had a little chat. But you went to his workplace? And then you never told me. I was embarrassed when his agent called me yesterday.”

“I don’t really know what to say. But we seem to keep bumping into one another. It’s weird.”

“You’ve seen him again?”

“His kid was sick and he came to the clinic today. And the night we got the news we had the same offer, he was at the same bar.”

Diane scratched her head. “That’s odd. You need to stay away from him. I don’t think we would be sitting here if this hadn’t turned into a competition.”

“Not necessarily. We could still be in this position.” She couldn’t take all the blame, however if she hadn’t gone up to his workplace, Diane might be right. She did up the stakes that day.

“Either way, this whole thing is bizarre. Right down to you two putting in the same exact offer. I don’t think that’s ever happened before. The seller must be loving this. So what did Gail say?”

“A big fat no.”

Diane sighed. “I almost hate to ask, but do you know if the sheriff maxed out his offer yet?”

“I wish I didn’t know the answer, but when we talked about it last night, I got the impression he still had wiggle room. I don’t know how much, but he has some and I don’t.”

“Do you have access to more money?”

Molly nodded. “I could put forward a generous earnest amount, I think.”

“That is our best option at this point. More on down payment is only good if you get the house. A high earnest shows them you’re serious and taking a big risk. And that you do realize you’re taking a huge risk. If your loan falls through, you’re out of that money.”

Molly was aware, and it scared the crap out of her. If she offered the eight thousand dollar earnest and for whatever reason, her loan fell apart, she’d have to hope the seller had a kind heart and gave it back. She was confidant in her loan, though. Gail had reassured her she was certain there wouldn’t be a problem when the loan when to underwriting.

“Let’s do it. I have to fight for it. I love that house and if I don’t give it my all, I’ll always wonder what if.”

Diane leaned down and pulled some papers from her briefcase. “What is the earnest amount going to be?”

“Eight thousand.”

Diane’s eyes widened, but then she filled in all the places on the form that needed to be. She pushed the papers to Molly. She signed and then gave them back.

“You’re sure?”

“Yes.”



* * *





Sunday had gone by way too fast, and Molly had done absolutely nothing but lounge around in the most worn-out pajamas she owned. Her stomach rumbled loudly as she waited on the delivery person to bring her dinner.

Tigger smacked her foot and stared up at her.

“Do you want to play?” Sandy reached toward the coffee table and picked up the laser pointer the fat cat loved.

As she pointed the little red light on the carpet and watched the cat chase it, she found her stress begin to lift a bit. Her cat had a way of doing that.

Finally, the doorbell rang and Molly dragged herself off the couch. She’d ordered Chinese. Her stomach rumbled, confirming that she was starving.

She grabbed a twenty from her purse and then went to get her food. She swung the door open and her mouth fell open. She certainly was not expecting to see him.

“What are you doing here…and how did you know where I live?” A feeling of uneasiness swept through her.

“It’s one of the perks of my job. Oh, and you’re in the phone book. You happen to be the only Molly Harper in the area.” Luke gestured with an upturned palm.

“So not only do you want my house, but you’re a stalker.” She crossed her arms and leaned against the door frame.

He was just about to speak when the delivery boy came up with her food. She handed the money to him and took her bags. The delivery boy looked at them with a quizzical look before thanking her for the tip and departing. Damn, she gave the kid a twenty and didn’t get any change. No wonder he thanked her.

“Make this quick. I don’t want my food getting cold.”

“I’m sure you know what I’ve come to talk about.”

“You know, my realtor wouldn’t be happy about you being here.”

“Yes, and mine wasn’t happy with you coming to my workplace. But this has become personal, so it’s only fitting I come to you for a change. Can I come in?”

“You’re a stranger.”

“I’m hardly a stranger. And besides, I should be scared of you and your temper. I promise, this won’t take long and when you want me to leave, just say so and I’ll go.”

She shrugged. What the hell? What could it hurt? At least now she could call Diane and tell her he had approached her, proving she wasn’t the only nut job out there. “I don’t know why I’m doing this, but OK, you can come in.”

He followed her in. Molly took a seat on the couch, and he followed suit.

“How’s Sammy?”

“Much better. And you were right; it was just a bug. I just dropped him off with his mom. She doesn’t live far from here, actually.”

“What a coincidence.” Her voice was full of sarcasm. “So…talk.”

She stared at him, trying to figure out what he wanted and what was left to discuss when it came to the house. Maybe he was here to gloat or ask her to withdraw her offer.

As she waited for him to speak, she studied him a little more carefully, but all she could see was a very attractive man who was gazing at her with kindness. He looked nervous, but his eyes were speaking to her as though they were trying to look through her own eyes and deep into her soul.

A fluttery feeling started in her stomach, and her heart rate sped up. She wasn’t sure what had come over her, but she was seeing Luke in a new way. That way Theresa had wanted her to look at him. And she wasn’t sure why.

“What did you want to talk about?” She glanced away from him.

“Did you want to eat while we talk?” He motioned toward her food.

“I don’t want to be rude and eat in front of you.”

“I see two pairs of chop sticks. I could join you.”

Eating dinner with him would be too personal. She didn’t want to get on that kind of a level with him. He was her enemy. She had to remember that. But the way he was looking at her, she wasn’t so sure he was feeling the same about her. In fact, she couldn’t quite pinpoint why he was staring at her the way he was. God knew she looked a wreck. Her hair was in messy bun, and she’d had these pajamas for years.

“I can wait.” But after she said it, her stomach rumbled, betraying her once again.

Luke leaned forward and took out the first box and handed it to her. “Eat. I don’t think you’re being rude. I actually ate with Sammy before I took him back to his mother.”

She took the food from him, and her hand lingered a moment too long. He had a spark in his eyes. Crap, that’s what she was worried about. He was attracted to her. But why? Maybe he’d come over here to seduce her and make her fall in love with him, and in return he was going to steal her house.

She shook her head. She was being crazy.

“So why are you here?” She took a bite of her food.

“You’ve been on my mind since I met you.”

“Well, we have something in common we both want.”

“If things were different and I asked you on a date, would you go?”

She dropped her chopstick into the takeout dish, not expecting him to ask her such a question. “I don’t know you.” She tried her best to focus on picking up her chopsticks with shaking fingers and not on the man in front of her.

“Would you want to know me?”

Yes! She took another bite and shrugged her shoulders.

“I want to know you.” He leaned toward her a bit and panic set in.

“Stop right there. Don’t get any closer.” She brandished a chopstick.

He didn’t say anything, instead he added the distance she needed back between them as he rested in to the couch cushion. She wasn’t ready for this. A man hadn’t come on to her in years. Her ex-husband was the first and only man she’d ever dated or been with. This was a new territory for her. She had to get in control of this situation.

“I’m sorry.” He spoke softly.

“I don’t understand where this is coming from. I thought you were here to talk about the house, not to come onto me. If I let out some vibe that I was easy, I apologize. I’m not looking for any hanky-panky or a relationship.”

“I can’t get you out of my mind. And I wanted to know if things were different, would you give me a chance. That’s why I came here today.” Luke moved farther away from her, giving her the space she desperately needed.

“Things aren’t different, so I can’t answer that.” Molly set the food down and stood up to put more distance between them. She couldn’t breathe being so close to him.

“What if I walk away from the house? Take away my offer. Would you give me a chance?”

Did she just hear him right? Had he said he’d withdraw his offer if she gave him a chance? She bit her lip. If she said yes, she would get her dream home and the bidding war would be over. But was that what she truly wanted?