Read Online Can't Get Enough by Connie Briscoe - Free Book Online Page B

the house?”
    Bernice waved her hand irritably. “Oh, Barbara, I’m sure you understand what I want. Nothing all that different from what you and Bradford have, just smaller since it’s only me. I’m really all talked out about houses now.” She smiled at Noah. “I want to relax and enjoy the company.”
    “That’s fine with me, Barbara,” Noah said gently. “I’ve got a pretty good idea what she likes. And as I show her a few houses and get her likes and dislikes, I’ll have an even better idea.”
    “You got the right approach, baby. Now, tell me, Noah, how do you like to spend your free time?”
    Barbara settled back and took a sip of her latte. She glanced around discreetly. The way Bernice was acting was embarrassing. She had seen hookers show more restraint.
    Barbara almost felt sorry for Noah. He would have to put up with this outrageous behavior for weeks if not months while Bernice shopped for a house. If a male client had flirted with Barbara like that she would have walked out on him by now. But not Noah. That was probably why he sold so many more houses than she did. He could put up with this kind of nonsense from clients. Maybe he even enjoyed it.
    After coffee the three of them stood outside the restaurant in a heavy downpour, Bernice under one umbrella and Barbara under another, as Noah stood at the curb in an all-weather coat and hailed a taxi for Bernice. He walked her to the cab and held the door open as she climbed in, then he rushed back to the sidewalk and stood under the umbrella with Barbara. His coat was dripping wet as he took the umbrella handle and held the umbrella over both of them.
    “That was quite an experience,” he said, shoving one hand into the pocket of his khakis.
    Barbara shook her head. “I had no idea she was like that. But you handled her perfectly.”
    He shrugged it off. “Don’t worry about it, ma’am. I’ve dealt with her type before. It goes with the territory.”
    He called her “ma’am,” but he flirted with Bernice, she thought wryly. For some reason she felt really old at that moment. She adjusted her Hermès scarf around her neck. “I hope you’re wrong about that. I couldn’t handle a male client if he acted that way.”
    “You’d better prepare yourself, Barbara. You meet all types in this business. Sometimes you have to let it wash off your back if you want to make the deal, then move on to the next one.”
    Barbara looked at him doubtfully. “I couldn’t put up with behavior like that.”
    “Even to sell a million-dollar house?”
    “Not even to sell a
five
-million-dollar house.”
    “You’re not as hard up as I am,” he said, only half jokingly. “Still, sometimes I think you should lighten up a bit. What do you do for fun? You know, parties, games? Something besides getting manicures and pedicures.” He smiled down at her teasingly.
    “Very funny.”
    “I’m just kidding, trying to get you to loosen up. But I’m going to have to give up for now. It’s nasty out here, and we need to get out of this rain. Where are you parked?”
    “A few blocks that way,” she said, pointing north.
    “I’ll walk you to your car.”
    “Thanks,” Barbara said as they headed in that direction. “You can walk me to my car and then take the umbrella. I’ll get it from you next week when I go into the office.”
    “You’re not going back into the office until next week?” he asked as he casually draped his free arm around her and rested his hand on her shoulder. The move surprised Barbara. But she supposed it made sense to walk together this way, to keep from bumping each other as they shared the umbrella.
    She shook her head. “I have a meeting tomorrow with the literary committee that I’m on and some other things to take care of on Friday.” Like shopping for the party on Saturday at the new mansion in Silver Lake, she thought. She already had a stunning new Bill Blass silk chiffon gown, but it needed accessories. Probably better not