Passionate Pleasures Read Online Free PDF Page B

key from the key rack on the wall by her desk. “My car’s the one right in front of yours,” she said as she locked up her office.
    He got Rowdy back in the car, and followed Mrs. Kirk, who drove a BMW convertible. Business must have been good for Country Real Estate, Tim thought wryly, as he followed her off of the main street, down another street to the right, turning right again, and then finally left onto Wood’s End Way. It was a dead-end street that ended in a treed woodland. The few houses on the street were neat and nicely kept. They stopped at the last house on the left, and to his surprise Tim felt an immediate affinity for the dwelling even before going inside.
    It was a cottage, but it had charm and had been very well kept up. Getting out of his car, he opened the back door and took up Rowdy’s leash to let him out. There was very little front lawn to the house because the garden beds on either side of the structure were wide and filled to overflowing with plants, giving them the appearance of English gardens.
    The cottage was white painted brick with a dark slate roof. There was a bay window with a copper roof on its left. The window on the right was a four over four with black shutters on either side. The front door was painted red, and had a large brass knocker.
    Mrs. Kirk took out her key, and opening the door, ushered them into a small central hallway. It was painted a cheerful pale yellow and had a white chair rail. “The living room is here to the left,” she said.
    Tim stepped into the room, which was also painted pale yellow. The bay window had a window seat with a tufted floral cushion. The fireplace mantel and its surround were white. The floors were wide board and varnished. Properly furnished, it would be a charming room in which to entertain.
    “The smaller bedroom is directly across the hall,” Mrs. Kirk said as she led the way. The room had two windows: the large one facing the front, and a small one on the side of the house. It was paneled in a light wood. “I think this would actually make a wonderful den,” the real estate agent said. “Mrs. Torkelsen used it as a dining room because her kitchen is directly behind it.” She opened a second door at the rear of the room, and they stepped into a very modern kitchen. The stove had six burners and a grill, along with two ovens. The refrigerator was large. There was a dishwasher and a double sink, one side of which was deep. Mrs. Kirk pulled back a louvered door, revealing a stackable washer and dryer. “As you can see, the kitchen has everything—even granite counters.”
    “It’s very nice,” Tim said. He had never expected to find anything quite like this in Egret Pointe.
    “Let me show you the master bedroom,” Mrs. Kirk said. “It’s got a wonderful walk-in closet. Did I mention the house has a cellar beneath it? And there is some storage space above. The entry pulls down there.” She pointed as they reached the rear of the center hall. “And here’s the larger bedroom.”
    Tim stepped into the room and looked about. There were three windows: one on the side, and two at one end that looked out into a rear yard with woods behind it. Mrs. Kirk opened the door to the closet and turned on a light. Then she pointed out the house’s single bathroom, which, like the kitchen, was quite up to date, with a claw-foot tub, a separate glass and tile shower, a sink set in a cabinet, and a commode.
    “Any thoughts?” Mrs. Kirk asked him as they came out into the hall again.
    “How much?” Tim inquired.
    “The heirs want a thousand a month,” Mrs. Kirk ventured.
    “I’ll want a two-year lease with an option to purchase,” Tim told her.
    “They only wanted to rent for a year,” Mrs. Kirk said in a regretful voice.
    “I have a co-op in the city I have to sell,” Tim told her. “The market is poor right now. Two years will give me a chance to see if I like Egret Pointe, and if Egret Pointe likes me. That’s the term of my