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“Say no more. We’regoing.”
“Right after I finish the bedrooms!” Marina said, spinning on her heel to head up the curved staircase to the second floor.
Wade pounded up the steps right behind her. “You take the right side and I’ll take the left.”
“Deal.”
“But,” he added, wagging a finger to tease her. “You promise to get breakfast with me. No changing your mind when we finish here.”
“You drive a hard bargain. Okay. I promise. Cross my heart.” Then Marina grinned. “But it’s called brunch since it’s almost ten o’clock.”
“Touché!”
“First one to finish gets the biggest beignet,” Marina said, taking the staircase two steps at a time.
Wade’s laughter was infectious as he let her win that round. Fifteen minutes later, they met in the upstairs hallway to compare notes.
Marina’s scribble was like chicken scratch, but she announced, “Three bedrooms, one sitting room, and three modern bathrooms. There aregorgeousrosewood half tester and full tester beds, four-poster beds, canopy beds, antique tables from Europe, hand-painted ceramic basins for washing—merely decorative now, of course—and dressers and writing desks are huge. I’m going to need to rent a warehouse.”
“Mine is only slightly smaller. Two bedrooms, three modern baths, and despite some modern sofas and desks, lots of amazing beds with beautiful linens. Oh, there was also a small study. I suppose for that studious guest, or a son who was in university.”
Marina put a finger to her chin and pursed her lips. “What do you think the third story contains?”
“Let’s find out together?”
“The staircase doesn’t curve around quite like the other two,” she noted.
After they walked through, there were two more guest bedrooms, but also a working bathroom, a small music room with another, later-model piano, and a large attic.
Marina blew out a slow breath, causing her bangs to fly from her forehead. “I think I need to hire an assistant for the next few months.”
“It’s overwhelming. And we forgot to inspect the kitchen and pantry,” Wade reminded her.
“I did peek while we were in the dining room. There’s a small butler pantry, a larger food larder, and a spacious kitchen. All the kitchens and bathrooms appear to have been updated in the last ten to fifteen years.”
“That will help significantly with selling the house—andcut down on the remodeling aspect. I also did a quick look at the plumbing I could see and tested the faucets and tubs. They are all in working order. An official inspection will tell us if any wiring or plumbing needs to be replaced.”
Marina tucked her notebook under one arm. “I think we made quick work of this—and nowI’mstarving even more. Lead the way to sustenance, Mr. Kennedy.”
“With pleasure, my lady,” Wade said in a gallant voice, tucking Marina’s arm into his elbow to return down the wide staircases. “I counted fifty steps altogether. What a chore for the time of lady’s maids and housekeepers. Probably how they kept in shape,” he said, chuckling quietly.
Marina heard his words, but her brain had stopped working.
The touch of Wade’s warm fingers on hers sent an explosion of tingles through her arm—up her neck—and all the way down her back.
At the bottom of the two staircases, Marina surreptitiously slipped her arm out from his. She had to keep reminding herself that Wade Kennedy was engaged to be married. She couldn’t have too much fun with him despite the ease with which theyhad picked up their friendship exactly as they left it eight years earlier.
“Oh!” Marina burst out. “We forgot to peek out the rear door from the drawing room. Let’s do that super quick, then go before I faint from lack of food—and these too tight stays my maid pulled on for ten solid minutes.”
“Good one, milady,” Wade chuckled.
Walking through the drawing room, Wade stepped forward to open the large double doors—which merely emerged into another room instead of the rear yard.
Marina sucked in a huge breath and pressed a hand against her chest. “Oh my, oh my,oh my,”she repeated. “This might be the loveliest room of all!”
They had entered a spectacular garden sunroom. Overstuffed love seats upholstered in a fabric of lovely spring flowers sat about the room in intimate cozy corners. Flowerpots, crawling vines, and even miniature trees shimmered in the warm air.
Glass surrounded the entire space, as well as a tall ceiling overhead where a blue sky shimmered.
