Bad Behavior (Bad in Baltimore) Read Online Free PDF Page A

said to Eden, who produced a key that admitted them to the building.
    As Beach held the door for the lady, he passed her his card. Gavin moved on ahead of him, inspecting the wood-paneled hall.
    “If you ever have trouble contacting Mr. Montgomery, I’m sure I can track him down for you.” She accepted the card and his flimsy excuse with a coquettish nod. Last night had been amazing—even if the morning had held a rather rude reintroduction. This was an entirely different kind of game, and Beach liked his odds of winning, especially when she tucked the card inside her camisole.
    Gavin finished his inspection of the stairs and came back toward them. The entryway was solid at least—the stairs free of gaps or holes with double-sized archways to either side—but through the archways, stacks of rotted boxes decayed against peeling walls.
    “It’s fortunate to find a gas-furnace conversion in a building of this age,” the realtor pointed out. “A real savings in the long run.”
    “And what age would that be?” Beach asked.
    “The original building dates back to 1894.”
    “Any problems with the original owners?” Beach poked his cane at the boarded-up window.
    “Excuse me?”
    Beach was getting that a lot today. Must be his charm was in need of rebooting.
    “Beach is referring to ghosts. He’s a little obsessed with them.”
    “They are obsessed with my family home. Can’t stand to share it.”
    Eden split her attention between them as if she were watching a tennis match, no doubt trying to determine if this was a scam to drive down the asking price. “There’s been no report of—”
    One of the boards Beach had poked snapped in two, making all three of them jump.
    “This is really a charming place, Gavin. What does your foundation expect to do to get it at all useful?”
    Gavin clapped Beach on the shoulder, forcing him to put more weight on his cane. “We’re looking forward to a lot of volunteerism. I know you’ve got all that free time on your hands, given your inability to leave the county.”
    “Thank you so very much for mentioning it.” Beach could read faces like Gavin read poetry, and Eden was about to leave his card on the floor with the rest of the ancient rubble. “I don’t have a phobia or anything so dire,” he offered in clarification, then stopped, realizing a phobia might sound eccentric while being bound with a tracking anklet in lieu of sitting in jail came off as dangerous.
    “Christ, Gavin, what the fuck are you thinking with this shithole?” The complaint could only be from Gavin’s bantam rooster of a boyfriend, stomping his way in. Clouds of mortar dust sprouted under his shoes, glowing in the single beam of light from the window. For the first time in their brief acquaintance, Beach was happy to see the arrogant prick.
    “Actually…” Beach turned to Eden with the first genuine smile he’d felt all day, “…I’m thinking I’ll be able to take my yacht out on the bay very soon. Or perhaps make a weekend trip to Saratoga when the races start.”
    There was a slight thaw from Eden as the bellicose presence of Jamie made it clear she would need additional allies.
    “It’s a multiuse space. Some of it could be turned to investment opportunities.” Eden indicated a side door that appeared to have at one time had a garage-sized opening, now bricked to a standard size. Judging by the sheer amount of crap left behind, Beach was guessing a former life as a warehouse.
    “We won’t be renting any of the space.” Gavin’s voice was firm.
    “You never said what your foundation intended to do with the building, Mr. Montgomery.” Eden led them back toward the hall.
    “The foundation is establishing a shelter—”
    “For rats?” Beach murmured to Jamie. As sweet as the rear view of Eden Hadley was, Beach had come here to pursue a more pressing need, and as much as he loathed the necessity, he had to make an effort to endear himself to stompy and short.
    Jamie snorted