Page 35 of Mountain Dreams

They got out of the truck and went up the walkway to the rental office.

“Let me do the talking,” she reminded him.

He mimed zipping his lips and followed her inside.

“Welcome to Mountain Stream Apartments. How can I help you?” said the young male clerk.

Once again, Cody stood slightly behind her, and he pressed his lips tightly together to prevent himself from interfering.

“I was wondering if you had any one- or two-bedroom units available,” she replied.

“You’re in luck! Someone backed out of a one-bedroom earlier today.”

“Great! Can I look at it?”

“Absolutely. I’ll get you the key.”

The man turned and rummaged through a desk, and she glanced at Cody over her shoulder. She seemed excited at the prospect of living here, while he felt deflated. Maybe she’d change her mind once she saw the unit.

“Here you go. Don’t forget to bring it back.” The guy winked at her, and Cody struggled to keep himself in check. Was this doofus flirting with her right in front of him? How did he know they weren’t a couple? After all, they were apartment hunting together. He shot the guy a frown, but the clerk was too busy grinning at Maddie to notice.

“I promise,” she said.

He gave her the key and directions to the unit. When they turned to leave, the guy had the audacity to look at her butt! Cody immediately placed his hand on the small of her back, stood behind her to block the jerk’s view, and ushered her out the door.

The vacant apartment was in the building across from the office, which in his mind was strike one. He didn’t like the way the office guy had leered at her, and if she lived there, he’d probably ogle her every time he saw her coming and going. There was no way he was letting her live here.

The unit was a second-floor walk-up with stairs on the outside of the building.

“Hmm,” he said as they went up. “These stairs won’t make it easy for you to bring in groceries.”

“I probably won’t have many groceries, since it’s only me,” she countered.

They reached the landing, and she paused to unlock the door. Maybe the place would be so repulsive she’d reject it on the spot. However, when they stepped inside, the apartment was clean, bright, and airy. It smelled like fresh paint, and the wood flooring was buffed to a high sheen. Dammit!

She went over to a large window on the back wall of the living room. “Look at the view,” she trilled.

He came up behind her and peered out. True to its name, a stream ran through the backyard, the water gently tumbling down from the mountains above. Soon the water would flow with more force, the flowers would be in full bloom, and the scene would be even prettier. Dammit!

“What do you think?” she said.

He hated to burst her bubble; however… “It’s kind of small, don’t you think?”

She turned and surveyed the space. “Well, yeah, but it’s not bad for one person.”

“Wait until you put furniture in it.”

She eyed him quizzically. “You don’t like it.”

“I didn’t say that…”

“Let’s look at the rest of it.”

“Okay.”

He followed her through the kitchen, which was small yet well equipped with modern appliances and down a short hall with three doors off it. Behind the first door was the bathroom, which contained a sink, cabinet, mirror, toilet, and shower stall.

“There’s no tub,” he pointed out. Aha! Strike two.