going to see if you wanted to look at it tomorrow, but I can send you pictures since you have plans.”
Shea could hardly believe his luck. “Hell yeah, I’m interested. I don’t even care what it looks like. I’ll take it.”
Pedro chuckled. “Word of advice, if you’re going to live here, don’t sound so eager about things, or they’ll see you coming a mile away and you’ll be paying through the nose.”
“Yeah, I know.”
“Pedro, really?” Alejandro snickered. “With that accent? As soon as he opens his mouth, they’ll know.”
They all laughed, and Shea tipped his hat. “Glad to give y’all somethin’ to laugh about, but I got to catch some winks. Nice to meet you, Alejandro. And Pedro, don’t be forgettin’ to send me the apartment information.”
He walked out of the club and called for a car. If he could get this apartment, he’d move to New York, and he and Jake would be able to spend more time together. Maybe even think about a future.
He couldn’t wait to see what tomorrow would bring.
* * *
At noon, Jake was waiting for him in a car downstairs.
“Howdy. Sorry if I kept you waitin’.” He slid into the front seat since Jake, Stacey, and the dog took up the rear, along with her pink backpack and Jake’s black one. Kiss gave him a panting doggie smile.
“Not a problem. Got your bathing suit on?” Jake craned his head as they drove away.
“Yeah, but I’ll probably just hang out.”
“Aw, don’t want to get your hair wet?” Jake teased him.
“As if.” Shea winked at Stacey, who followed the conversation between them. “Stacey, you see the way your daddy makes fun of me? You ’n I might have to put our heads together and figure out a way to get back at him.”
She blinked and twirled the end of her braid, but he could see something in those green eyes that were so much like Jake’s as to be uncanny. It hurt to see a little girl like that so silent, so afraid.
He’d watched Jake with his daughter and how he treated her like a pretty glass doll. Shea decided to treat her no differently than any other little girl, hoping it might go a long way toward getting her to feel comfortable and begin to trust him.
“What did you end up doing last night?” Jake asked.
“Oh, my agent took me to a club. I met some of the other models he works with.” Why did he feel uncomfortable, like he’d done something wrong?
“That’s nice.”
“How’d you know I went out?”
“If it was my first Saturday night in the city, I wouldn’t spend it sitting in a hotel room. I’d have been more surprised if you hadn’t gone out and had fun. Where’d you go?”
“One Oak.”
Jake whistled. “Nice. I’ve never been, but I hear that’s the scene.”
Recalling the crush of beautiful people, loud music, and dancing, Shea had to agree. “It was a scene, all right. I’ve never seen so many people crammed into one spot.”
The driver snorted. “Have you ever taken the subway at rush hour?”
“Sergie, have pity on him. Man’s from Texas. The town he’s from has less people living there than you have on your block. He’s not used to this.”
“Stop makin’ me out to be some kinda hick,” Shea grumbled, but when they bumped onto the ramp to the bridge, his mouth dropped. He fumbled with his phone. “Oh, is this the Brooklyn Bridge? And the Statue of Liberty? Damn.” He winced and turned around. “Sorry. Didn’t mean to say that in front of her.”
Jake’s smile was sweet. “It’s okay. And what was that about being a hick?”
“Oh, you hush up now.” Shea peered over his shoulder. “See what I mean, Stacey? Your daddy thinks he’s a funnyman.”
She bit her lip and concentrated on the dog snuggled up against her.
Shea took some pictures, then put the phone down to enjoy the view. Being in New York, seeing the sights, it was all part of his dream. He checked his phone to see if Pedro had sent him the specs on the property, but nothing as of yet.
The drive took them through streets lined by apartment buildings and storefronts, followed by an area of surprisingly spacious residential homes, with well-tended lawns. Old trees canopied the streets, creating shade, and Shea saw women pushing baby strollers toward a park they’d passed a few blocks away.
“Looks a little like Dallas,” he remarked. “I thought New York was all apartment buildings.”