The Girl He Needs Read Online Free PDF Page A

together.
    “Let me show you the apartment. Like I said, it’s over the garage, but you’ll have a separate entrance and one of the garage spaces is for you. I certainly don’t need three spots.” She leads me through the house, where I see several landscape paintings. Through the French doors off the living room, I catch a glimpse of a pool. The backyard is fenced, offering privacy, but a gate in the back opens to the dock on the river. I cross my toes and hope the pool’s included.
    “What brings you to Daytona, Josie?”
    “I thought I’d come and try to spend some time with my brother.”
    “Does your brother live close?” Following a quick smile, she leads me through the kitchen, stopping to pull a set of keys off a holder by the backdoor before going outside. Across a breezeway is a side door that opens into a well-lit garage. Stairs are tucked along the side wall.
    I don’t want to lie, but I’m not sure how to explain the situation with my brother without sounding crazy.
    “Are there two entrances?” There’s an additional set of stairs outside her backyard fence with access from the driveway.
    “Yes. One to the front of the apartment and this one is private. If you decide you want it, I’ll include the pool. Since it’s just you. It is just you, correct?”
    I can’t contain my smile. “Yes, it’s just me.”
    “The rent also includes all utilities, cable, and I’ve a dock to the river if you have a boat.” She leads me upstairs.
    “I love the idea of a pool. I’m originally from New England so weather for pool opportunities is limited.”
    “The pool will be happy to know it. My grandkids come on holidays only, they’re at the age where hanging out with their grandma isn’t cool, so aside from their visits and my morning swim, it rarely gets used. New England, you say?” She pauses a few steps up to ask.
    “Yes, ma’am. Stamford, Connecticut.”
    “Oh, I’ve been there. It’s lovely. Lots of big houses. McMansions, I think they’re called.”
    I stifle a laugh because the first time someone called our house a McMansion my mother nearly lost her mind. “That they are.”
    At the top of the stairs, she fits a key and swings open the door to present a small but functional laundry room. Painted a soft blue with two small white cabinets and crown molding, the space is large enough for a full-size washer and dryer and holds an abundance of character. I clutch my hands together in delight and to contain the rush of hope and fear. I can’t afford to fall in love with a place I’ll be leaving. That’s why renting a room was always the smartest option.
    “The apartment comes furnished and that includes the washer and dryer. Some of my children lived here while they were in college though my mother was last to live here before she passed.” She turns and places her hand on my arm. “But I don’t want you to worry. She didn’t pass here.”
    “I hadn’t given it a thought,” I say, which is true. I’m completely captivated by the place and if need be would share it with a ghost. Sold by the simplicity of a laundry room. When I entertained the idea of an extended vacation rental, I never imagined I’d get so lucky.
    A pool? My own laundry room? In the last two years I rarely had both if either at all.
    “We’re coming in at the center of the apartment so I’ll take you to the front and we will work our way back.” She turns right out of the laundry room and walks down a bright hallway into the living room.
    It’s small but larger than any place I’ve stayed since I started my journey. The ceilings are high and large solid planks of wood, stained a dark espresso, make up the floor. The apartment is tastefully furnished like her house. It runs the length of the garage and is longer than it is wide with the front door centered on the end wall and large windows on both sides of the living room. One set of windows allows for views of the river.
    “Is that the ocean?” I ask as