Loving Piper Read Online Free

was eco-friendly, non off-gassing and dirt resistant, with a warm matte finish.
    “And to think that two hours ago,” Rob said, “I thought paint was just…paint.”
    “No, sir, no such thing as ‘just paint,’” Darlene said, still enthusiastic. “But you’ve got a leg up on that now, so you’re good to go!” She slapped the lid of the last can of paint, gave it three knocks with a hammer and loaded the purchases back into Rob’s cart. Her attention was immediately snagged by a woman holding up two brushes, a perplexed look on her face. Rob thanked her again and headed for his car with paint, rollers, blades and stirrers, wondering how he could have already forgotten the name of the chosen color, the one that was head and shoulders above all others.
     
    Rob tried to tamp down on the pride he felt and was quite sure was leaching out of him as he opened the side door to his first prospective tenant. A young woman, so close—how would he handle this interaction right under his own roof. Speaking with her on the phone had been matter-of-fact, but now he noticed self-conscious nerves surfacing. He did not welcome this and he certainly didn’t want it to show through while interviewing her today. He took a step back and the young woman passed in front of him into the hallway.
    Victoria seemed pleasant enough and, a recent graduate of Seneca College, she had two part-time jobs—working reception for a nearby legal clinic and at a real estate office. She had been guaranteed eventual full-time employment at the real estate office. Rob thought that sounded promising. In person, Victoria was of medium height and build, pleasant looking and reserved. Her light brown hair was pulled back in a clip and she wore horn-rimmed glasses, a white cotton blouse and peasant skirt. A wholesome look. Rob decided immediately that she fell nicely within the parameters he had set for his dream tenant and was relieved that he felt no physical attraction to her. Too young, too reminiscent of fumbling college romances.
    He led her into the apartment and they sat on stools at the island counter. Victoria was chatty and, after answering some questions about the water pressure and the nearest subway stop, Rob doodled on his clipboard and allowed his mind to wander. He gazed affectionately at the clean white stove and fridge, recently installed in the freshly painted kitchen. He imagined Victoria had good housekeeping instincts—non-greasy ingredients in her cooking, lots of carrots probably, not someone who’d set off the smoke alarm. He’d bet she took cleanliness seriously, maybe had a schedule for regular housekeep—
    “…cats seem like a lot.” Victoria paused and appeared to wait for his reaction.
    “Excuse me, did you say nine cats?” Rob was all ears now.
    “Well, yes, there are nine, and a couple more on the way, but they are sweet little kitties and really are no trouble. I have a litter box for each one, and separate food bowls, too.”
    “That means nine litter boxes right now, and more later,” he said, and rubbed at his chin, thoughtful.
    She was an earnest advocate for her cats. Rob experienced a squeeze between his empathetic nature and his desire for a trouble-free rental.
    He surveyed the small apartment, and said, gently he hoped, “Look, Victoria, I’m sorry. In the ad, I forgot to mention anything about pets. I like cats, I even like dogs, but look at this place—it’s small, a nice size for one person, maybe even one cat, but, well…it’s just that nine is so far from one.”
    He stopped talking. It was likely the only way he could prevent himself from renting the apartment to her. For the first time, his confidence faltered. He needed a time-out.
    “Would you like a cup of tea, Victoria.”
    An hour later, he waved goodbye as Victoria pulled away from the curb in a subcompact car. He wondered about the likelihood of fitting nine cats into it. They had walked up the stairs into the kitchen. He had made