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I let my own admission sink in as Victoria led me into the first gray condo. She was right, in that it definitely was older, but the inside was surprisingly modern. A few years behind, sure, but doable. Livable. Especially if my goal was to make this a weekend home or, at the very least, rent it out for the summer.

“So,” Victoria began as she took a keychain filled with a variety of keys and proceeded to unlock the door her first try, “this condo is listed at two-fifty but I’m positive we can cut that down by at least ten grand. This place has been on the market for months and I know the seller is highly motivated.”

“Oh?” I pulled my eyes away from the off-white walls and dropped them to the wood floors. “Wants to get out of dodge?”

“More like wants to retire closer to his family,” she replied, her tone slightly disapproving of my judgment. “Marvin actually loves it here. He plays Captain Bart at our pirate festival.”

My brow shot up. “Pirate festival?” I asked. “Not that it’s any of my business, but you seem like the last person to attend a pirate festival, Vicki.”

Victoria clenched her jaw at my usage of her nickname, but I pretended it was a slip of the tongue. “Trust me,” she said, one hand on her hip, “if my daughter didn’t like pirates, I wouldn’t attend at all. Took her to Disneyland last year and she has been obsessed ever since the ride. Made me go on it seven more times.” She rolled her eyes.

I felt the corners of my lips twitch up as I watched her speak. For some reason, I could not get a read on Victoria. Typically, I figured out everyone I met in a few minutes or less. It was why I was a good son, a good brother, a good business partner, and a fucking good lover. But Victoria threw me off. Who wore Ann Taylor, drove a Porsche, but went to Disneyland? Not only that, but she attended pirate festivals and went on the ride seven times?

I remained silent, but let myself seriously consider this place. The living room was quaint, maybe a fourth of what my current living room was, but there was a fireplace, a mantel that would accommodate a flat screen, and enough room for a sectional couch and a coffee table without making it appear cluttered.

I followed a long hallway, stepping into a downstairs bathroom and then a closet to hang up clothes and umbrellas. It was surprisingly spacious.

When I walked into the kitchen, my eyes widened. It was huge, with a marble bar separating the dining room and the kitchen but which also housed a sink and drawers to store utensils and pots and pans. The kitchen surfaces were Carrera marble and the wood was dark oak.

Victoria followed me into the kitchen, but remained silent. She let me look at it myself, which I appreciated. I slid my hands into my slacks pockets and walked over to the sliding glass door to check out the backyard. There wasn’t much of a yard, but only because this condo was on the water.

I wasn’t going to lie, I wasn’t expecting much of a view, but I was sorely mistaken. There was a little dock in the harbor for residents who might own a boat. The sun made the surface of the ocean sparkle like glitter on a woman’s evening gown. The view instantly had a calming effect on me and I imagined myself coming home to this every night, after a long day at the office.

“What do you think?” Victoria asked. She quirked a brow, a small smile on her face as if she knew how I would react to this, even though I was doing my best to hide my impressions. “Breathtaking, right? Will is a talented guy.”

“Will?” I raised a brow. I didn’t like to admit that hearing her say another man’s name wasn’t something I liked which was ridiculous since I just met her and I had no claim on her whatsoever. And I didn’t even know if I wanted one. All I did know she was gorgeous.

“He’s the contractor who designed and built this place,” she said. “He actually did a lot of the houses and condos here.”

I nodded, pursing my lips.

I walked up the smooth oak stairs. Not one squeaked under my weight, something I was impressed with. The second floor was amazing; three bedrooms, a master with walk-in closets, an attached bathroom with his and hers sinks, and a Jacuzzi bathtub. The second room was two-thirds the size of the master, with a walk-in closet and views of the ocean, and the third bedroom was smallest of all, but would be perfect for an office. There were spacious linen closets in the hallway and another bathroom with only a shower rather than a bathtub.

By the time we finished, I didn’t think I wanted to see any more properties. I had never been one to believe in love at first sight, but after seeing this condo, I could admit that I stood corrected.

“You were awfully silent,” I noted, holding the front door open for her and allowing her to walk outside before I shut it behind us. “Aren’t you realtors supposed to tell your potential buyers square footage and dates and what type of wood the floor was made from?”

“You’re from Seattle.” Victoria smirked as we stepped through the manicured grass and over to her Porsche. “You know everything already. There’s nothing I could tell you. I wouldn’t want to waste my breath, or your time.”

I paused just before I opened the driver’s door for her, taking a moment to assess her mood. She had a look of annoyed disinterest on her face, but I could see the sparkles in her green eyes, whether she wanted me to or not.

“Touché, Vicki,” I said. “Touché.” Once I was in the passenger seat, I rubbed my hands together. “Where to next?” I asked.