Ch76: I could kiss you!

“I could kiss you!” Donny shouted.

He had just waved goodbye to the Escaleras…the very happy soon-to-be-new-owners of the house Donny had just shown them. Yes, the very same couple who thumbed their uppity noses at every house they were shown thus far. Only thing different this time was Donny left the selling primarily to Wendy.

The Escaleras finding this house irrisistable was all due to Wendy’s useful prattle as they wandered throughout the house. She couldn’t help spot the deformities of the house, all that made it a bad choice for her sister and commenting on them.

 Such were her mutterings:

 “Oh, this living room is cavernous! It’s ill-suited for intimate gatherings. You’d have to have a guest list the length of Shaquille O'Neal’s arm to make use of it. The kitchen is tremendous though. It has every possible feature and appliance a seasoned chef could think of needing—I should know as I’m the chef at The Picadillo--but again strictly made for entertaining. 

"Ooh, I do love this comfortable little breakfast nook for a small family or intimate chat with a dear friend, but I’m quite sure it’s only ever been used by servants! Can you imagine? You can’t exactly call those massive rooms upstairs mere bedrooms. Those are more like grand suites. Each one must have been modeled by the suites at the Ritz or something. There’s not a small one among them. Such lavishness! Such luxury! Donald Trump would feel quite at home here. He’d gladly pay twice the amount the sellers want for this, too. I truly can’t believe they want so little. 

"Donny, are you quite certain you’re not missing a zero at the end? They must be desperate to get it off their hands. Such a pity! This home looks freshly done over, every bit of it, and lovingly so, too. Not a detail missed. I can see my face in the hardwood floors. The marble and tile work are all splendid and the colors throughout are lovely. Really is perfect enough to just move on in as is, with no prep work at all. Quite amazing! 

"This isn’t right for my sister, but I do believe Alec would take it in a flash. You remember Alec Frank, Donny—the owner of the Picadillo and trust fund baby supreme— He’s been thinking of settling down and a lavish dwelling such as this would be just the ticket. You know how he loves to show off and this place is definitely made to inspire envy. Wait until I tell him. He’ll love it!”

Well, the Escaleras simply couldn’t risk having their perfect home stolen away right under their nose just when they found it. They put in an offer for twenty percent over the asking price sealing the deal for themselves. They were coming to Donny's office first thing in the morning to make it official.

Wendy laughed and turned her cheek so Donny could do just that, give her a thank you kiss. She was, therefore, more than a bit surprised when he took her into his arms and soundly kissed her right on the lips.

“Golly,” she said, breathlessly. “Was...uh, was that in lieu of my commission?”

Donny smiled nervously, knowing full well he’d crossed an invisible line. “Sorry, about that. I’m just so…uh… so relieved to finally…uh…”

“Yes, I can imagine,” she said stepping back, slipping out of his arms and placing some distance between them. “So, do I pass the test?”

He stared at her. If she meant the kiss and how she felt in his embrace, hell yeah! But he didn’t suppose she did. “I’d offer you a job right this minute if it wasn’t for you already having a superior one at the restaurant. Frankly, the housing market sucks right now. Wait until I tell the sellers! This has been on the market for two and a half years. Really, Wendy, I can’t thank you enough.”

“Sure you can,” she said, happily leading the way to the car. Having gotten over the initial shock of the kiss, her countenance went back to her normal bubbly self. “You can give me your first born. Unlike Rumpelstilskin, I’ll take very good care of him and will allow you visitation rights.”

Donny threw back his head laughed. “Keep it up and I’ll…” he stopped himself before saying it. Even if he truly would like to kiss her again, he knew you just shouldn’t go around kissing married women.

“You know, Wendy, I’ve been thinking of your sister and what you told me,” he said opening the car door for her.

“Yes?” she said slipping inside.

“There’s an empty building across the street from the florist shop in Port Orianco. I only just listed it about a week ago. Don’t remember what it used to be.”

“Are you talking about that adorable little book shop, For Whom the Bell Tolls? I’ll cry if that’s out of business!”

He laughed and shook his head as he went to the driver’s side and got in. “No, that would make Wes upset, too. I’m talking about the shop next to it, on the right side. I think it was a souvenir shop and years before it was a record store before MP3 players and YouTube put them out of business. It’s rather a good size store front. I think it would be perfect for an exercise studio. I can show it to you sometime…or right now if you have the time. Then you can tell your sister about it if you think she’d like it.”

“Oh, Donny, that would be great,” she said. “You sure you have time?”

“Just gotta stop by the office for the keys. You’ll be the first to see it. It may be quite a mess,” he said, starting the car and heading off.

“Oh, I can see past all that to the bare bones,” Wendy said, dismissively. “Does it have an apartment upstairs?”

“Yes, but I believe there are tenants already.”

“Oh, pooh! Well, we’ll just have to kick them out!” she said, then she laughed. “Kidding, of course. I’m sure we can find a small house for May and Tristan. You look out for one, okay?”

“Definitely. Anything for my prized unpaid agent,” Donny said.

“What’s this unpaid stuff?” she huffed. “I still want your first born!”

“Ah, yes,” he chuckled. “We’ll see about that.”

*** *** ***

“Don, where have you been?” George said.

Donny ignored him and went straight to the nearest computer.  He quickly searched for small homes in and around the area. “Where’s the key for the store front on Orianco Drive?” he said, absently, his eyes glued to the screen.

“Don’t you remember? You had me put a lock box on it,” George replied. “Hey, what’s wrong with your phone? Derek called three times looking for you. Said he couldn't get through to you.” 

“Nothing’s wrong with it,” Donny said, as he quickly scanned a few possibilities and noted them on a piece of paper. He then took his phone out of his pocket. “Crap, I had it off all this time. No wonder it was so silent.”

 “You never shut that thing off. You feeling all right, Don?”

“Perfectly well, thanks,” he answered, stuffing the paper into his pocket and smiling. “I’ll be gone the rest of the day.”

“Got a live one, do you?”

“You could say that,” Donny said, a small smirk on his face. “I just sold the Mason property… to the Escalers no less.”

“No way!” George shouted. “How’d you do it?”

“Had a bit of help,” Donny replied. “So, now I’m trying my best to help her out by showing her a few things. Even the score, you know. I'm taking her to see the store front now.”

“Her? She out there now?” George got up from the desk and spotted Wendy in the car. “Whoa… what a babe! I gotta an itch she can scratch.”

“I’ll pretend I didn’t hear that, George,” Donny sternly said.

“Mind if I tag along?”

“Yes, I do!” Don said and he went out the door, slamming it behind him.

George laughed. “About time he got some,” he muttered.