27
“You sure about this?” Jay asked from the front seat. “It looks kind of small.”
“Surely you’re happy about that?”
The way his forehead wrinkled told me otherwise.
“It’s gated,” I pointed out.
Before he could reply, we both turned at the sound of a black sedan pulling up beside us.
“That will be Aaron.”
Kaden. Jay had been consulting with Aaron Kaden on the purchase of my new property and today I would get the chance to meet him. The house we were currently parked in the driveway of was on my consideration list and we wanted Aaron to review it from a security point of view.
Jay and I got out of the car and watched as Kaden came around to greet us.
Gosh. And I’d thought Jay was big.
Kaden was a mountain of a man, tall like Marc, but that’s where the similarities ended. Where Marc had the grace of a panther, Kaden’s physique was like a tank. He walked over to us with a confident swagger. The sparkle in his blue eyes was the first thing I noticed after his stature.
“Ms Lyons. It’s a pleasure.” His deep voice was smooth and strong.
“Likewise.”
Jay and Aaron shook hands and then stood back to take in the view of the house. It had a lot of similarities to Marc’s ranch but on a smaller scale. The Californian Mission architecture looked comfortable in its surrounds and well-established gardens sympathetic to the West Coast climate bordered the house. It gave it a feeling of protection while still being welcoming.
“It’s small,” Aaron commented.
“Jay’s already raised that. I thought that would be a good thing.”
Aaron gestured for us to follow him up the stone drive. As we walked, I saw him taking everything in. I had the impression that, like Marc, this man didn’t miss a thing.
“Small can be good and bad,” he said. “It gives you a sense of security but it can actually make you more vulnerable.”
“In what way?” I stepped onto the small landing outside the front door, so different to the magnificent entrance of my current house.
Jay slipped between us and opened the door.
Aaron held an arm out and indicated I should enter the house. “Fewer places to hide.”
I ignored the unsettled feeling his words created and entered the house.
Inside the realtor was waiting for us. The middle-aged woman’s heavily made-up face looked almost clownish as she smiled in welcome.
She rushed over. Her shoulder-length black hair didn’t move at all on account of generous hairspray application. “Ms Lyons. Wonderful to meet you. I’m Diana Reeve. Isn’t this place just charming?”
And indeed it was. As she led us around, it was difficult not to be captivated by it. The polished wooden floors and windows complemented the earthy tone of the walls, and the timber featured in the kitchen as well. Like Marc’s house, this one had cathedral ceilings, but on a more modest scale. They’d been painted white in the living areas and left natural in the bedrooms, of which there were only three.
“Now, for me, this is one of the biggest highlights of this gorgeous house,” gushed Diana, leading us into a long, rectangular room. “The library. Isn’t it fantastic?”
It was better than fantastic. It was heavenly. Timber shelves went all the way to the ceiling on the interior wall and I brushed my hand against the rows of books as we walked. Opposite the shelves were wooden French doors that ran the length of the room. In the center, sat a traditional rug and a couple of armchairs. I could easily imagine myself sitting here for hours reading scripts.
“I’ll be honest with you. I know the house is a little on the small side but I believe this room makes up for it,” Diana went on.
“I don’t have an issue with the size of this house, but yes, I agree with you about this room. It’s lovely.”
After that, Diana showed us the outdoor area at the rear of the property. A grassed area and some tall palms surrounded a sparkling swimming pool. It was all very tropical and low-key, and if I bought it I’d probably end up putting some stone pavers down.
Aaron walked around the pool, obviously scoping out the land. It was protected on all sides by layers of shrubs and tall trees, which looked to be masking a high wall.
“It’s very private,” Diana said. “And of course the compound is entirely gated. I know Coldwater Canyon isn’t the Hollywood Hills like you’re used to, but it’s a Beverly Hills address. And as I’m sure you’re aware these properties are very tightly held.”
I nodded. “Yes, I know. If you wouldn’t mind giving me a minute with my team?”
“Certainly.”
Diana wandered back into the house and I joined Jay and Aaron by the side of the pool.
“So, what’s the verdict?”
“There’s no gatehouse,” said Jay, who was used to having one at my current property. I couldn't blame him—it was his office and this smaller house essentially had no place for him to work.
“You construct one,” Aaron told us. “Which is better anyway. That way you can ensure it’s set up exactly how we need it.”
Jay nodded.
“I’m fine with that,” I said. “What else?”
“The outside is fine,” Aaron replied. “I’ll be suggesting a few tweaks, but I’ll put that in my report to Jay.”
“But?”
Aaron gave the house a wary glance. “The inside. Like I said, it’s small.”
“I know, but that’s what I want. I want to feel like I’m living in a home.” Not a movie set, but I didn’t say that.
He blew out a breath. “Yeah, I get that. But you have fewer places to go if you are in trouble.”
“But surely that’s better? At my current house I’d have no chance of getting to Jay in the gatehouse quickly if I had to. Here it will only be a short walk.”
“The basement,” he said. “Would you consider securing it?”
“Why?”
“It would be somewhere for you to go if you got in trouble. You could wait there in safety until the threat was resolved.”
“A panic room?” I recalled the way I’d shut myself in my bathroom to protect myself.
Aaron shrugged. “If that’s what you want to call it. By the looks of the floor plan we could make it accessible from various places in the house. Your bedroom and the kitchen would be a good start. But it will cost you.”
“That’s not an issue.” And it wasn’t. I intended to sell my Hollywood Hills estate and this house was going to be a fraction of the cost even with Aaron’s suggestions. “I’d like to make an offer on this house. Is there any reason I shouldn’t?”
“Apart from those I’ve outlined, all of which can be addressed, I don’t see why not,” Aaron replied.
“Good. And I’d like to officially appoint you to work with Jay to make everything we’ve just discussed happen.”
“I appreciate that,” said Aaron. “And so does Marc.”
At the mention of Marc’s name, I felt a flutter in my stomach. I was sure it was just because I hadn’t eaten all morning and was probably hungry. “Until the other week I had no idea he had a business partner.”
A wide grin split Aaron’s face. “I’m not surprised.”
“I’d suggest you don’t put him in charge of sales,” I added.
Aaron laughed softly. “No, I’m well aware of that, but it’s good to have the customer feedback.”
“He said the business was your idea?”
Aaron’s smile faltered. He appraised me openly, his blue eyes suddenly cool, as though I was a risk to be assessed. “He told you that?”
Well, this was interesting. You didn’t need to be a security specialist to know Aaron had just gone into protective mode about his business partner and friend.
I glanced over at Jay. “Jay, would you mind getting a contract from Diana?”
Jay looked between the two of us then nodded. He’d sensed the change in the atmosphere but knew I’d call out if I needed him.
When he was gone, I turned back to Aaron. “Yes, Marc told me that. Why, is that a problem?”
Aaron was still studying me, but I wasn’t intimidated. If anything, this was too good an opportunity to pass up. Yes, I’d told myself Marc wasn’t a character to figure out, but I still couldn’t help myself. “He also told me you served together in Afghanistan. That you got him out.”
Aaron’s eyebrows shot up and he was too shocked to hide it. “He told you that?” he said again.
“He did.”
Respect replaced the wariness in Aaron’s gaze and he let out a low whistle. “Now I know why he was so grumpy. You did get under his skin.”
“He’s always grumpy.”
His laughter echoed around the pool area. “You got that right.” Then his gaze turned serious. “Lena, I’m going to tell you something and I suggest you listen carefully, alright?”
“Alright.” I was too intrigued to be worried about his change in tone.
Aaron leaned in so I could see the flecks of hazel in his blue eyes. “Marc Romero is a good man. The best I know. But you’ll hurt him, and yourself in the process, if you get much closer. So, my advice? Deal with me from now on.” He flashed me a smile and I was amazed at how quickly he’d gone from stern to affable good guy again. “I’m the people person of this operation. Now, let’s get you inside and close this deal.”