Granddad's House (On Geneva Shores) by Kate Vale Read Free Book Online Page A

being the professional, trying so hard to convince him she was all business.  Maybe an invitation to dinner after the seller accepted his offer would make amends. I’ll treat her like a lady. The lady she is—even if she can’t manage barstools.
    Lips begging to be kissed . The phrase just came to him. First time, post-Heidi, anything like had come to mind. Maybe he really was over the conniving bitch. He rang the bell.
    An elderly gentleman answered the door and peered out at him.
    “Mr. Brown, sir. I’m Beau James. Your realtor said you wanted to meet me.”
    The white-haired man nodded. “Come right in. By the way, who was the fourth president of the United States?”
    “James Madison, sir. Why do you ask?”
    “Just thought I’d check to see if you know your U.S. history.” The man led the way to the sunny garden room off the kitchen. “I guess you already know this place since you were here the other day.”
    Beau nodded. “It’s a classic beauty. Well loved.” He took a seat after the older man did so. Might as well cut to the chase. “What did you want to ask me, sir?”
    “No need to call me sir, though I ’ preciate the thought.” Robert Brown seemed to study him for a long minute. “Nice jacket you have there. I just wanted to see you, now that you’re interested in buying the place. Olivia, my granddaughter, she isn’t so sure about you, if you must know.”
    Beau smiled, pleased to have guessed correctly. “So I gathered. I’m sorry she feels that way. It is a very nice property.”
    “Tell me what you like about it, if you don’t mind my asking.” Robert poured two cups from the silver coffee urn and motioned for Beau to help himself to cream and sugar.
    Beau reached for a cup and outlined his plans. “I’m sure you’re aware of the infill opportunities the city is pushing. I want to make those buildings at the back of the property into a duplex and a triplex. There’s enough space for that to happen without destroying the gardens or the exterior look of the buildings.”
    “Oh?”
    “I’m an architect. I like working with older buildings, retaining them for contemporary use—so they won’t go to wrack and ruin. Not that your property is in any danger of that. I can tell you’ve taken good care of it.”
    “How do you know that?” Robert looked back at him squarely.
    No defensiveness there. “I know where to look. In older homes, the closets, for example. In places where the inner structure is sometimes exposed, but where people tend not to look. Sometimes the builder wasn’t careful or didn’t complete a job—that’s a sign of shoddy workmanship. And, your granddaughter—”
    “Olivia. She was named after my wife, Esther Olivia.”
    “Your wife must have been a beautiful woman.”
    “She was. So is Livvy. A man’d have to be blind not to see that.”
    Beau looked down and cleared his throat before replying. “My eyesight is twenty-twenty.”
    The old man seemed not to have heard. “But she is a handful, that one. Her red hair—she comes by it honestly, if you get my meaning.”
    Beau nodded. “I know she’s not happy that I want to buy your home. But when I asked, she showed me the carriage house. It’s a great building, too. May I show you what my client has in mind?” Beau pulled out plans and spread them over the table, allowing his words to reflect his enthusiasm for the project. “These aren’t the drawings I will use with the contractor—assuming we come to agreement—but they’ll give you an idea of our thoughts about the place.” He paused. “Actually, after I saw the interior, I came up with an alternate plan, one that might work even better.” From his pocket, he pulled out a page of penned sketches.
    “Those look like something Livvy and I talked about a while back. Are you sure you weren’t listening through the keyhole?” Robert Brown asked, a smile warming his lined cheeks.
    “If you thought of this, it shows you know the potential