Read Online Heating Up by Stacy Finz - Free Book Online Page B

between the wall and ceiling but made real progress with a big roller. In no time, the pink began to disappear. Before getting her license she’d worked in a real estate office that did a lot of its own house staging for clients. That was where Dana had learned to paint, as well as a handful of useful decorating tips.
    By the time the room was primed, her bed came, and Dana had the delivery men set it up in the middle of the room so she could continue painting. In the heat, the primer would dry fast, and she might even be able to get on the first coat of color—a hydrangea green that would complement beautifully her new pink-and-green-striped bedding.
    Not long after the bed guys left, Aidan’s moving truck appeared. Like with her bed, she had them cluster the living room furniture in the middle of the room. She hoped to have it painted before Aidan returned. He actually had some pretty nice things, including a sectional sofa that looked like it came from a Pottery Barn–type store. The ex-girlfriend must’ve picked it out, she told herself, and again wondered what the story was there.
    She wasn’t sure if he wanted to paint his room—the color was nice and already went with his stuff—so she directed the movers to set the sleigh bed against the wall with the nightstands on each side. Okay, Dana was probably being sexist, but his bedroom furniture also had the mark of a woman. Not that the pieces weren’t masculine enough, just a little too matchy-matchy. Aidan didn’t strike her as the coordinated type.
    Although he’d been pretty good about marking the boxes. Still, she would’ve used a black marker with a fine point. Less likely to bleed that way. All the cartons were starting to make the small house claustrophobic, so Dana went outside to get a breath of fresh air. That was when her phone rang.
    Hoping that it was the listing agent on the Griswolds’ property, she checked the display. New York.
    â€œDana Calloway,” she answered.
    â€œHi, Ms. Calloway. I’m planning to visit next week for a few days and was wondering if you could show me some properties.”
    â€œAbsolutely.” Dana hadn’t had any clients from New York yet. “Did you get my number from Carol at the office?”
    â€œNo. I tried the office and got a machine. Your number was on the ad in the Nugget Tribune .”
    Good , Dana thought. Advertising in the online newspaper was bringing them business. It amazed her how many people across the country subscribed for the real estate listings. Nugget might not be Tahoe or Palm Springs or the Napa Valley, but slowly it was starting to attract buyers looking for vacation and retirement homes at a good price.
    â€œWhat specifically are you looking for? Houses, property, something in an upscale planned community with lots of amenities?”
    â€œA place for horses with a house.”
    â€œDo you have a number of acres in mind?” The more information Dana got up front, the better she could narrow down the options.
    â€œNo, not really. I’ll know it when I see it.”
    In Dana’s experience, people who said things like that just wanted to play. But you never knew when a lookie loo might turn into a real buyer. “You want to go out next Friday? I could make arrangements for a few viewings. Once we see a couple of places, I’ll get a better feel for what you have in mind.”
    â€œWonderful,” the woman said, then briefly paused. “I will need you to sign a confidentiality agreement, however. Will that be a problem?”
    Confidentiality over what ? Who was this woman ? “Are you a celebrity?” Dana couldn’t help but ask.
    â€œSomething like that.” She laughed, but Dana thought it sounded harsh and bitter. “It’s difficult on the phone . . . and I can’t explain it unless you’re willing to sign the NDA.”
    â€œI’ll be perfectly frank with you: