perfect example of how one can rise to the top. If you handled it right, it could do big things for you."
"I'm not the agent; you are."
"You can be my coagent," she said, with a decisive little nod. "I think it would be a good thing for you to get out from behind the desk and start meeting people. I see lots of men in my job, successful men, just the sort you need."
I glanced at the house, unable to keep from smiling to myself. "I appreciate the offer, Diamond, I really do, but I just don't think that some sexy, urbane man is going to want either this house or me."
"You don't know until you try. I'll tell Dee that you're going to handle the sale of this house. It'll do you good, and he won't make a fuss when I tell him how much you need a man."
I groaned to myself. That's all I needed - Dermott knowing how desperate I was for a man in my life. Still, it was a nice offer, and I didn't want to hurt Diamond's feelings by turning it down. "I'll think about it."
"You'll do more than think about it - you'll make this your debut into the fabulous world of real estate. And, of course, man hunting."
I laughed and pulled my hair back into a ponytail, checking my digital camera to make sure I had enough charge on the battery to take a good four or five dozen pictures. "It's just a derelict house that's been tied up in some huge probate battle for decades. It's hardly going to work miracles either for my career or love life."
"You'd be surprised what it could do," she said with a little smile of her perfectly plumped lips.
She glanced at me as we bounced our way to a halt at the side of the monstrous old Victorian house. Once, perhaps, it had been the home of a lumber baron or railroad magnate.... Now it was falling down, its wood weathered and mottled with peeling paint, the windows boarded over, bits of shingles from the roof scattered around the unkempt and overgrown grounds.
"Don't believe me?" Diamond asked.
"Fraid not."
Her blue eyes narrowed on me. "You're not one of those skeptics, are you? The people who don't believe in anything supernatural?"
I clamped my lips together to keep from laughing hysterically. Part of me, what my mother used to call my little devil, wanted to tell her that anyone who had a shape-shifting sister married to a vampire could hardly be a skeptic. I squelched my devil and just smiled. "Not particularly, no."
"Oh, good. I know I should be more tolerant, but really, how people can close their minds to the wonders of the world is beyond me. My great-grandmother once told me that a closed mind would be the death of me, and do you know, she was right? The only time I closed my mind to the possibilities, I died."
I stared at her as she got out of the car, wondering if I had heard her correctly. "You . . . died?" I asked, getting out, as well.
"Yes. I got in trouble with - " She shot me a quick, unreadable look. "Well, let's just say I got in trouble, and I paid the price for it. Although the near-death experience was very interesting, I learned my lesson, and ever since then, I've kept my mind open to everything and everyone, humans and other beings." She hoisted her bag and pulled out her camera, giving the house an assessing look as she jangled a set of keys. "My, this is a big one, isn't it? There should be four floors. How about you shoot the basement and first floor, and I'll do the second and attic?"
"That's fine. Er . . ." I followed after her as she tripped lightly up the front steps to the big double doors. I picked my way carefully, not trusting the half-rotted boards of the steps and porch to hold up under my more substantial weight. "When you say other beings, you wouldn't happen to include vampires in that, would you? Or, what do they call them . . . er . . . ?"
"Dark Ones? " She unlocked the door, pausing on the threshold to close her eyes and breathe deeply. "I always try to attune myself to the house before entering. It gives me a better idea of what sort of family would be perfect within its walls. How