back into her pocket. What could it be about? The offers were just submitted this morning and Diane had said Tuesday would be the earliest they’d know anything. She doubted anyone had swooped in and taken the house. Perhaps another house popped up in the neighborhood and Diane wanted to let her know because she knew how much she loved the area.
The next half hour was the longest thirty minutes of her life. She was dying to know what Diane had to tell her. And it didn’t help that she didn’t have a patient to attend to. Finally the receptionist up front told her it was her turn to take a break. Molly didn’t have to be told twice. She’d forgotten her lunch on the counter this morning, so she was going to head out to get a bite to eat. Once she was in her car, she pulled her phone out and dialed Diane, who answered right away.
“Guess what?” Diane’s tone was almost giddy.
Molly’s heart sped up. “What?”
“You got the house!”
“I what?”
“You got the house.”
“Really, I had the best offer?” Molly could not believe her ears.
“I don’t know. Your competition dropped out. He withdrew his offer.”
“Luke did what?”
“He changed his mind on the house. Your offer was the only one the seller received this morning and the timeframe to get in his offer is over. So yours was accepted.”
“The house is mine. I can’t believe it.” A grin spread across her face. She was getting her dream home.
Diane gabbed away, but Molly was baffled that he had done such a thing. What kind of game was this man playing?
Chapter Seven
Molly gripped the brass handle and pulled open the heavy glass door. She stepped inside the building as a rush of cool air hit her. Rubbing her arms, she took a deep breath and continued on her mission.
“Can I help you, ma’am?” The woman at the front desk gave her a polite smile.
Molly glanced around to see if she could see him, but she didn’t. “I’m here to see the sheriff, Luke Logan.”
“I believe he’s on his lunch break. Can I help you?”
“He’ll want to see me. Tell him Ms. Harper is here.”
The lady hesitated a moment but then picked up her phone and called Luke’s office. After speaking to him, she set the phone down and told Molly she could see him.
Molly remembered where his office was and made her way through the station. Of course, all the staff members fell silent and looked up from their desks as she passed by. She held her head high, her eyes firmly upon his closed door. She raised her hand to knock, but before she could, the door swung open. Her gaze drifted from his firm chest, up his neck, past his decadent lips, to his green eyes.
“I was expecting you to show up today.” He stepped back so she could step into his office. He closed the door behind her, but not all the way.
“What game are you playing?” She placed her hands on her hips.
“I’m not sure. Enlighten me to the game you think I’m playing.” Luke crossed his arms but stayed close to her, and it took everything in her to keep it together. Each time she saw him, he got more attractive.
“Why did you remove your offer on the house?”
He grinned, and, once again, his dimple appeared. Her heart sped up, and those darn butterflies returned.
“It wasn’t worth it to me. It’s just a house. I got so caught up in the thrill of wanting to win, I had to stop and wonder if it was worth it. There was a lot at stake, and I wasn’t sure if the equity was there for me to put that much money up. The more I thought about it, the more I realized this was no longer about the house, but the competition. It’s one of the reasons I have to stay away from those bidding websites. I get carried away sometimes.”
“That’s the only reason?” She wasn’t sure why she was disappointed.
“What were you hoping I would say?” His gaze locked on hers and held it.
There was no way she was going to ask if it had to do with her and the hope that they could have more. But as he stared at her with lust-filled eyes, she knew she had to say something. “I guess I just thought…from the stuff you said yesterday that maybe it was…never mind.”
Luke moved closer to her. Molly’s breath caught, and the