Read Online The Imperfection of Swans by Brandon Witt - Free Book Online Page A

somehow the whole thing might fall through. Kevin might change his mind about having another business in his store, or not get the loan. If that happened, Casper would go it on his own. Sure, it wouldn’t be in a historic brownstone, but the time had come.
    He stroked the copper-green façade lovingly. It wasn’t going to be an issue. He belonged to this place. He just did.
    A labored breath sounded behind him. “Oh my gosh, I’m so sorry.”
    Casper turned to see Kevin jogging the last few feet toward him.
    “I was doing cardio when I got your text. I didn’t think about you leaving right then.” He wiped at the sweat on his forehead. “I had to get at least another twenty minutes in.”
    It took a few seconds for Casper to respond. Kevin was even more attractive than the night before, though Casper didn’t know how that was possible. But here, bundled up for the weather, cheeks flushed and eyes excited, Kevin positively glowed. Though handsome, there was also a child’s exuberance about him.
    Knock it off. There is no chance for romance here. This is going to be a business relationship, Casper berated himself mentally. Like Kevin would look twice at him, even if there wasn’t the brownstone.
    “Well, let’s go in and get out of this cold.” Kevin stepped past him, reached for the lockbox hanging from the door handle, and tapped in a four-number code.
    “I was wondering about that on the way down. If you haven’t closed on the loan yet, how are we able to get inside?”
    “My mom’s a real-estate agent. She gave me the code.” Sliding the key free, Kevin cringed sheepishly. “Not exactly legal.”
    “Works for me.”
    With two turns of the locks, they were inside.
    Pitch-blackness gave way as Kevin flipped on a switch and illuminated eight lightbulbs that hung at even intervals from the ceiling.
    Casper let out a nearly orgasmic groan. After walking a few more steps into the space, he slowly turned around. The double-level room was nearly palatial. The wall of aged windows that opened out to Tremont was indeed covered in black paper, but it didn’t hinder Casper’s view. He could see it all clearly. The windows would look like the framing of a Christmas card—the lights and streetlamps glowing against the snow, the performing arts complex across the street, expensive and beautiful. He could even make out part of the painted green carved wooden beams that made up the exterior entrance.
    Still moving in a slow circle, Casper took in the rest of the room. The wood floors were scratched and dull but looked to be strong and in good shape. Water stains covered the walls, plaster and drywall crumbling in places, but they seemed structurally sound, as far as a baker could tell, at any rate. The room was empty, save for piles of trash here and there. “This is in a lot better shape than you implied yesterday. This could be gorgeous. Kind of already is. I can totally see a wedding dress store in here.”
    Kevin beamed. “Yeah. It’s going to be beautiful. I’m glad you don’t think it’s too beat-up. It looks pretty bad to me, but nothing compared to what you’ll see next.” He pointed to the copper-hued ceiling.
    Casper followed the motion. “Holy shit. Are those tin ceilings?”
    “Well that wasn’t what I meant, but yes. Although, they’re so tarnished, I’m not sure if it will be more cost effective to repair them or just cover them up with a false ceiling.”
    “Are you—” He cut himself off. Probably not a good idea to ask if the guy were insane. This wasn’t Casper’s building, and he’d soon be renting from this man. You don’t insult the landlord before you’ve even begun. But the idea of getting rid of those ceilings was criminal. “Should we go upstairs?”
    “Yeah, this is where we’ll see if you really want to do this.” Kevin moved to the staircase that ran along the left and partially up the back wall until it disappeared into the next floor. “Luckily, all the stairs