I pushed on the back panel of the wooden fence to test its stability when the entire six panels attached to it all fell to the ground. It failed.

“I grew up in the church. Lost my way for a while, but eventually found my way back. If you and your husband ever want to come by and check it out I could sponsor a visit for you. Ministries of Christ, over on Bayshore Drive,” East said kindly.

“Thanks so much. It’s not really for us, but I do appreciate the offer,” I said.

“Never hurts to ask, right?” East pointed to the plastic piping sticking up in the corner of the yard. “Did you notice that the well and well equipment is fairly new? It was probably put it in right before the last occupants left.”

It took a while to go through my checklist of things I needed to see before I made any decisions. I was standing in the living room looking at the cracked front window when Preppy came through the front door, a joint dangling from his lips, one side of his shirt untucked. He smirked when he saw me.

Looking hella sexy.

“There you are,” he said, pulling me in for a quick kiss then keeping me tucked tightly to his side.

“I thought you were with the guys,” I said, although I was happy to see him. I couldn’t wait to show him the house.

“I was, but this is a big deal. I wanted to be here,” Preppy answered, giving me another sweet kiss. He smelled like cigarettes and whiskey. His words were slightly slurred and his eyes slightly glassed over.

“How did you know where to find me? I never gave you the address?” I asked.

“You should know by now that I have my ways, Doc. I’ll always find you. Always.”

“You drove?” I asked, while swooning.

“I walked,” Preppy said. “You know, you’d think walking two miles in the blazing sun would make the shit just sweat right out of your system. Well, it turns out that’s not fucking true. Fuck, I’m higher now than I was before.” He glanced over to East. “Hey, does that guy look purple to you?”

“Nice to see you again,” East said, extending his hand to Preppy, his eyes darting down to the joint at his lips.

Preppy held it out, offering it to East. “You want?”

“No, thank you,” East declined. “I don’t imbibe in narcotics.”

“Oh, it’s not narcotics, it’s just weed,” Preppy replied, holding the joint out further. “Although if you want narcotics, last night I had a table full of...”

East held up his hand. “Still, no, but thank you.”

“So what do you think, Doc?” Preppy asked, looking around the house. “Think you can work your magic on this one?”

“Yeah. I really think I can,” I said, excitedly. I turned to East. “Before I forget, the contract would also have to be contingent on me being able to obtain financing. I’ll schedule an appointment at the bank this...”

“No, it wouldn’t,” Preppy said. I hadn’t realized he wasn’t standing next to me until he came sliding down the banister, landing on his butt in front of me on the ground. “You won’t need any financing. It’s covered.”

“Preppy, it’ll be over a hundred thousand dollars,” I whispered out of the side of my mouth thinking maybe he read the price wrong or the effects of last night somehow has him thinking he sleeps on a bed of hundred dollar bills.

He pulled himself up and took a drag of his joint. He looked down at me and placed his hands on my arms. “I know how much it is, and I can’t wait to see what you do with the place.”

“How high are you?” I asked, turning my head to the side.

He chuckled and scratched the back of his neck. “On a scale of one to ten? I’m sure I’m somewhere around a forty.” He turned to East. “Not from weed though, mostly blow. I just lit this walking up the driveway,” Preppy explained, turning back to me. “But not high enough to say shit I don’t mean. You got this, Doc. I know you do. And I’ve got you covered.”

Swoon.

I turned back to East. “Offer the sellers twenty under asking. We’ll put ten in escrow. Let’s see what they counter with. Once we reach an agreeable price, I’ll have an inspector over to verify the structure. As long as a quick title search can be done we can close in two weeks.”

East tapped on his phone again, happily nodding while writing down my requirements. I turned back to Preppy, only to find him staring at me with his mouth open.

“What?” I asked, wondering if I still had cobwebs on my shirt.

“Holy fucking shit, babe. I’m rock fucking hard right now,” Preppy said, planting a kiss to my lips. He pulled back. “She’s so fucking smart, isn’t she?”

“That she is. She’s been looking around here like an expert. I almost thought she was lying when she said she’d never done this before,” East said. “My assistant is drawing the paperwork up. I’ll bring it by tomorrow.”

“Thanks, man.” Preppy leaned over and picked me up by my waist, throwing me over his shoulder. I shrieked in surprise as he hauled me out the front door toward the car.

“Okay, I’ll be in touch,” East called out from the front porch.

“Thank you!” I answered, lifting my head off Preppy’s shoulder. He put me down next to the car, opening the driver’s side door for me to get in.

I sat and swung my legs in, Preppy closed the door behind me. “Listen caveman, why the carry off?” I asked.

“I had to show him who you belonged to. I saw how he was looking at you,” Preppy said, glancing back up at the house where East was struggling to shut the stubborn front door.

“He wasn’t looking at me like anything,” I said, rolling my eyes.

“Dre, you don’t see what I see. Or what anyone with eyes sees. You are sexy as fuck and as your equally sexy as fuck husband, it’s my job as the alpha to make sure everyone knows you’re mine.”

“You could have just peed on me and gotten it over with,” I snorted, starting the engine.

Preppy rounded the car and got in the passenger side. “I mean, if you’re into that kind of thing, then sure. I’m game if you are. There’s very little I’d say no to if you asked. Although, I didn’t take you for a golden shower kind of girl, Doc.”

I gave him a sideways glance. “You are really high,” I said, backing out of the driveway.