said as a beep sounded, indicating another call on the line.
Tanya pushed a button. “Hello?”
“This is Samuel. I’m glad you’re home, Tanya. I’ve got a friend coming over right now to see your apartment. He’s going to be here for a while and needs a place to stay.”
“A tenant! I was just talking to Zoey about not having shown the apartment to anyone yet.”
“Then this is your lucky day. He’ll be a great tenant. His name is Chance Taylor.”
The sound of the doorbell ringing drew Tanya’s attention. She walked toward the front door with the cordless phone still in her hand and noticed through the frosted glass a large man on her porch. “Looks like he’s here. Thanks, Samuel. I really appreciate the referral.” She laid the phone on the table in the small foyer, then hurriedly opened the door.
Before her stood a man several inches over six feet tall with broad shoulders, a narrow waist and muscular arms. His large presence dwarfed her small porch and blocked her doorway. Her gaze flew to his face, taking in his hard, square jaw, his nose that had been broken once, his vivid blue eyes and his short black hair. All his features came together in a pleasing countenance with just a hint of sadness in it. Surprised by that thought, Tanya wasn’t sure where the impression came from.
His neutral expression evolved into a half grin. “Tanya Bolton?”
His presence filled her vision. “Yes,” she managed to say, stunned by how overpowering Samuel’s friend was.
“I’m Chance Taylor. Samuel was supposed to call you about me. I’d like to rent your apartment.”
The deep, baritone of his voice flowed over her, smooth like a river of honey. Slowly his dark blue eyes lit with a gleam like periwinkles basking in the sunlight. Then his mouth lifted in a full grin, causing dimples to appear in both cheeks.
“Is it still for rent?”
She nodded, for some reason her voice still unable to work properly.
“How much?”
She mentally shook herself out of her daze. This was business. “Three hundred a month plus utilities.”
He dug into the front pocket of his black jeans and withdrew a wad of cash. After peeling off three one hundred dollar bills, crisp and new, he handed them to her.
She peered at the money, thinking of all the bills she needed to pay. Then common sense prevailed. “I don’t want to take your money until you’ve seen the apartment.”
“I’m not choosy about where I stay.”
“The apartment is open. It’s above the detached garage at the side of the house. Why don’t you go and take a look at it? I wouldn’t feel right if you didn’t do that. I’ll be along in a moment.”
After repocketing his money, he tipped his head toward her. “I’ll do that, Mrs. Bolton.”
She watched him descend the steps with duffel bag in hand, then head for the garage. When he disappeared from view, she went into the kitchen and grabbed the lease that Beth had insisted she needed a tenant to sign and left the house by the back door.
Her daughter would be home from school in half an hour, and she hoped to have this all settled by then. After she crossed the driveway, she climbed the stairs to the apartment over the garage at the side of the house. The door stood ajar.
Inside Chance slowly turned in a full circle, surveying the place, no expression on his face. When he saw her, he stopped, one corner of his mouth hitched in a half grin, dimpling one cheek. She was beginning to wonder if that was his trademark.
“This is nice.”
His compliment caused a catch in her throat. She’d worked hard on the apartment with some help from her friends and was proud of what she’d accomplished on a limited budget. “Thanks.”
He faced her, his large presence filling the small two-room apartment—much like her porch—his shoulders set in a taut line, his arms straight at his sides. His gaze lit upon the paper she held in her hand. “Do you want me to sign a lease?”
“Yes. This is for six months.”
“I don’t know how long I’ll be here. I’ve got an interview with Nick Blackburn about a job, but nothing’s definite.”
Tanya glanced at the standard lease and folded it several times. “Then we won’t use the lease. Where did you come from?”
“Louisville.”
“Why did you come to Sweetwater? Because of the possibility of a job with Nick?”
“No, actually Samuel has always talked so highly of Sweetwater that I decided to come pay him and the town a visit. He knew I was looking for a job and mentioned the one with Blackburn Industries.” Again Chance withdrew the wad of money from his pocket and unrolled it. Covering the short distance between them, he thrust the rent toward her. “Three hundred. Do you require a deposit?”
Deposit? Tanya bit her lower lip. She hadn’t thought about that. Having never been a landlord before, she realized how new this all was to her. “I guess a hundred. That should cover minor damages if there are any.”
“There won’t be.”
“Not from what Samuel says. He basically told me I couldn’t go wrong with you being my tenant.”
Chance glanced away for a few seconds as if embarrassed by what Samuel had said. Clearing his throat, he returned his attention to her. “Samuel does have a way about him.” He gave her the money for the deposit, then immediately stepped back as though he was uncomfortable getting too near her. He looked toward the kitchen area in one corner with a two-burner stove, a sink and a small refrigerator. “Can you give me directions to the nearest grocery store?”
Tanya thought of the bare kitchen and blurted out, “Why don’t you have dinner with me and my daughter tonight? That’s the least I can do for someone new to Sweetwater and a friend of Samuel’s.”
Chance plunged his fingers through his black hair, then massaged the back of his neck. “I don’t want you to go to any trouble, Mrs. Bolton.”
“My name is Tanya and it isn’t any trouble. I have to warn you, though, it won’t be anything fancy.”
“I’m not used to fancy.”
The tight edge to his words made her blink in surprise. “Well, then you’ll fit right in. Sweetwater’s pretty laid-back. We only have one expensive restaurant that I’ve never seen the inside of.”
“What time is dinner?”
Tanya checked her watch and realized that Crystal would be home from school soon. “Give me a couple of hours. Say six.” She backed toward the door, a sudden, awkward silence electrifying the air. “See you then.”
Out on the landing she breathed deeply. Chance Taylor wasn’t a chatty person. She would have to quiz Samuel about him. For some reason she didn’t think her new tenant would tell her much about
