Victor Cross pulled his black Audi RS 5 off the road and glided in behind a dark blue BMW SUV parked just outside the driveway gate of a large three-story home. He shifted into park but left the engine running while he studied the house. Not terribly impressive from the front, and a little large for his taste, but not unreasonably so.

The moss-covered stone façade gave the home a dated appearance, and the dense landscaping was in serious need of attention. It did have a pair of impressive heritage trees out front that spanned the width of the property providing ample shade, which he appreciated. Okay, so maybe the curb appeal wasn’t the greatest, but, based on the listing photos at least, the house had potential, and he had high hopes for what lay in the back. That’s what had piqued his interest in this property to begin with, and where he would end up spending most of his time anyway.

He checked the minimalist Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso on his wrist. He was a few minutes early. The Beemer, he assumed, belonged to the realtor. The house was supposedly empty and had been for quite some time. It showed in the wild, untrimmed bushes out front. Hopefully, the inside had been better maintained. He was counting on the apparent lack of interest from other buyers to allow him to negotiate the two point eight million dollar asking price down to something a bit more reasonable.

Killing the engine, he stepped from the car and checked himself in the reflection of the tinted window to make sure he was presentable. He wore a tailored Brunello Cucinelli sport jacket in a deep navy, paired with slim-fit trousers from Ermenegildo Zegna in charcoal gray. A crisp, white Isaia button-down peeked out from beneath the jacket, the top two buttons casually undone, while his polished Berluti loafers and a custom leather belt from LeBlanc Atelier completed the ensemble. He slipped on his Persol aviator-style sunglasses. With a quick brush back on the sides of his dark, styled haircut, he made his way through the open gate, his footsteps crunching on the decomposed granite driveway.

“Hello?” he yelled, simultaneously opening and knocking on the oversized front door.

She appeared from around the corner with a wide, easy smile on her face, drying off her hands on her hips. The smell of baking cookies permeated the house. That old realtor’s trick. Her eyes twinkled when she saw him.

“Oh, wow, I hope you’re Victor.”

“You must be Molly,” he said, removing his sunglasses and offering her his hand.

“Oh, please, we’re huggers around here,” she said with a hearty laugh and walked straight past his hand for a welcoming embrace that caught him off guard.

When they separated, he took her in. Big was the word that sprang to mind. Molly Deighton was a hell of a lot of woman. Not just heavyset, but tall too. She wore cheetah-print flats and yet was still as tall as him. Six foot, easy. The rest of her was clad in a three-quarter-sleeve black blazer over a white, V-neck blouse and stretchy black capri pants. Her shoulder-length, kinky red hair was shot through with gold highlights, providing a distinctly metallic luster. Her wide, oval face was filled with expressive details, from smiling azure eyes that crinkled at the corners, to an open-mouthed smile that revealed oddly-straight upper teeth which closed with a pronounced overbite, and her easy laughter was infectious. She was utterly charming.

Boldly slipping her arm around his waist, Molly spun him to take in the entryway, sweeping out her hand with a practiced flourish. “So, this is the place. Didn’t I tell you it was amazing?”

They stood hip to hip. This woman was anything but shy. Victor tucked his sunglasses into his chest pocket and stepped further into the house, stopping at the top of the raised entryway steps. Molly’s team had tastefully staged the home for viewings, but the interior was otherwise ho-hum. Not a dump, but nothing to get excited about. Very early 2000s. He’d need to bring in a designer and redecorate from floor to ceiling. It was the view to the backyard, however, past the living room and through the glassed-in sunroom, that excited him. The reason he agreed to view the house in the first place.

“I should be honest with you,” he said, turning back to her, “I’m a little uneasy about this whole dual agency situation. I’ve never used a realtor who was on both sides of a deal before.”

Her smile disarmed him. “Oh, come on, where’s your sense of adventure?”

“Hey, don’t get me wrong. I love adventure, but what about conflict of interest?”

Molly stepped closer and rested her hand on his chest. She looked him in the eye. “Listen, even when I swing both ways, I always make sure both parties come away completely satisfied. You have my word on that.”

Victor appraised her earnestness, doing his best to remain impassive, but when she smiled at him again, he couldn’t help but smile back. How could he say no?

“Fine,” he said, and her smile grew into a grin.

“You won’t be sorry.” She rubbed her hands together. “So, shall we start upstairs and work our way down?”

“Actually, I’d prefer to take a look at the rear first,” he said, gesturing for Molly to lead the way.

“Straight for the backdoor, huh? I love it!” She let out a gregarious laugh then guided him through the living room.

Molly Deighton certainly had a marvelous rear of her own, perfectly encased within those snug, hip-hugging pants, and she knew how to work it too. It was mesmerizing. She threw open the double French doors and led him out onto the back porch. He stopped and gazed. This is what he came to see. Across the flagstone patio, over the inviting swimming pool, past the short, wrought-iron fence in the back, and down the steep, tree-covered hillside was the shimmering lake. Molly stood a few feet in front of him with her hands on her generous hips, taking in the same view.

“Well?” she asked, spinning to face him. “What do you think?”

“Gorgeous,” he said with a smile. “The front’s fine, but this, right here, this is what it’s all about.”

“Oh,” she said with another one of her lovely smiles, “Well, I’m glad you like it.”

“Like it? I love it. The only question now is, how do I get in?”

She lifted one of her russet eyebrows and laughed softly. “My my, eager are we?”

“Very. Once I make up my mind about something, I don’t like to waste time.”

“Ooh, I love that. Still, why don’t I show you the rest of the house anyway, while we discuss the details?”

“What else is there to see that’s better than this?”

“Maybe I’ll surprise you,” she said with a mysterious smile.

He lifted his eyebrows, then looked around and lowered them again. “What about outbuildings? Any other little structures on the property?”

“Nope, just the house. Why, were you expecting some?”

“I mean, no, not necessarily, but don’t you think it’s a little unusual for a house like this to not have at least one?”

“I think the sellers had plans for some, but never got around to it.”

“Oh, that’s a shame. “ His eyes moved around the backyard. “There’s certainly plenty of space. I could see myself putting up at least one in the next couple years.”

“Only one?”

Victor shrugged. “Maybe two.”

“Hm. Shall we?”

“Lead the way.”

Victor followed her back inside, pausing at the transition through the French doors. “You know, this back door seems a little narrow,” he observed. “Is this as wide as it opens?”

“Why, what are you planning to bring through there? A pool table?”

“Who knows? Maybe a piano,” he said to more of Molly’s laughter. “I ask because I like to entertain. In fact, I intend to spend most of my time in the rear, so I’d like for the backdoor to be able to accommodate that, especially if I have a lot of guests over.”

“Well, you’re in luck.”

Molly unlatched bolts in the lintel, then squatted down to unlatch others one near the floor. She pushed. What Victor thought were static glass panels accordioned open, effectively doubling the size of the opening.

“As you can see,” she said, “with very little effort, the back door expands wide enough to accommodate anything that needs to come in or out.”

“Very impressive.”

Leaving the sunroom behind, Molly led him down the hall and through a heavy door that opened to a darkened room. She flipped on the lights.

“Oh, wow,” he said in an echoing voice.

“Yeah, it’s a really nice three-car garage. Epoxy floors, as you can see. Fully finished and super clean.”

“Very clean.” He sniffed the air. “Smells clean, too, but it looks a little tight in here for three cars.”

“Oh, it’ll fit three just fine. Trust me. I tested it myself just to be sure. Besides, what it lacks in width, it more than makes up for in depth.”

“Really? How deep is it?” he asked, trying to gauge the distance to the doors.

“How deep do you need it to be?” she asked with a cheeky grin.

“Pretty deep. I’ve got some really long toys that I’d want to park in here.”

“Oh, well, that shouldn’t be a problem. It’ll fit just about anything you’d want to stuff inside. Anything too big, though, you can always store out back.”

“That’s good to know,” he said, stroking his chin.

The kitchen was serviceable but needed updating, much like the rest of the house, except for the appliances, which were top end.

“Eat-in kitchen, as you can see. Large center island, built-in Thermador refrigerator and freezer, wine fridge, La Cornue double oven and stovetop. Do you cook much?”

“Occasionally.”

“Ah. Does that mean you leave the cooking to Mrs. Cross?”

The oven timer beeped just then. Molly quieted it and donned an oven mitt. Bending at the waist, she opened the oven door and removed a tray of what turned out to be one giant cookie. She carefully pinched the corner of the parchment paper to slide it off onto a cooling rack before setting aside the empty sheet pan.

“I’ll let you know when I find her,” he said.

“Oh, so you’re not married then?”

“Haven’t found the right one yet. How about you?”

Molly’s smile broadened. She lifted her left hand and wriggled her naked ring finger. “Married to my practice,” she laughed.

“I know exactly what you mean.”

“And what is it that you do, Victor?”

“I run a small wealth management firm. CrossPoint Capital Advisors.”

“Oh, how impressive!”

“Thanks, but we’re still pretty new. It’s an old boy’s network, as I’m sure you’re well aware. Anyway, it’s not nearly as impressive as your real estate practice. Everyone I talked to said the same thing.” He put his hand on his chest and tossed his head. “Oh, you just have to go with Molly. She’s the absolute best!”

Molly’s delighted laughter filled the kitchen. “We do our best.”

“Well, I’m thoroughly impressed already.”

She smiled warmly. “Aw, thank you.”

Victor leaned over the cooling rack and inhaled deeply. “Wow, your cookie smells delicious. I’d love to taste it.”

She prodded it with her finger. “I think it needs a little more time to cool down. Why don’t we take a peek upstairs while we’re waiting?”

“After you.”

The view as he climbed the steps to the second floor was fantastic, and Victor became acutely aware of just how fitted his slacks where by the time they reached the top.

“This home has four beds and six baths. Three of the bedrooms are on this floor, and the master suite is upstairs on the third.”

“In that case, let’s keep going.”

“You don’t want to look at these rooms first?”

“A room’s a room. They’re all getting redone anyway.”

Molly’s eyebrows lifted and her mouth formed a small, tight smile. “Oh. Well, okay then.” She made a playful come-hither gesture. “Follow me.”

“With pleasure.”

The climb to the third floor was markedly slower than before, with Molly gliding her hand loosely along the railing. The exaggerated movements happening just beneath the stretchy fabric of her pants captured Victor’s undivided attention.

“Wait’ll you see the view from up here,” she said.

“I’m already impressed.”

The primary suite took up the entire third floor, and the view, as promised, was breathtaking.

“You’ve got his and hers walk-ins, dual vanities, a three-head shower, soaking tub. Oh wait, you have to check this out. You’re going to love this.”

She led him out through a door in the bathroom to a second, alfresco shower nestled within a low-walled garden overlooking the pool and the lake beyond.

“Is this amazing, or what?” she asked.

“Let’s do it,” he said when they were back in the bedroom.

Molly’s face brightened with excitement. “You sure?”

“Absolutely. How do we get it done?”

“Well, I don’t think I’m breaking confidence by telling you that the sellers are highly motivated.”

“How long has it been standing empty?”

“Far too long for something in this condition,” she said with a sad expression and a shake of her head. “Seven months.”

“That’s a really long time.”

“Tell me about it.”

“Well, I’ve been on the hunt myself for almost four months. I just can’t ever seem to find the time, and the ones I’ve looked at so far have been underwhelming to say the least.”

Her eyebrows parted. “Aw, you poor thing. You must be feeling pretty frustrated by now.”

“Extremely, but I’m loving everything you’ve shown me so far.”

“Oh, excellent! Who knows, maybe I’ll be the one to finally break your dry spell?”

“God, I hope so. Why do you think it’s been on the market for so long? I mean, sure, it’s a little rough around the edges and could use some updating, but it has great structure.”

“If you want my honest opinion, I think it’s just too big for most people. I mean, you’ve got to admit, it’s a lot of house. I think that can be intimidating for some buyers.”

Victor scoffed. “Pussies.”

That pulled a laugh out of Molly. “Wow, okay. So, you think you can handle a house this size all by yourself?”

“Oh, trust me, I know I can.”

“I don’t know,” she teased. “Big houses require a lot of upkeep. Even though this one’s not very old compared to some of the others in the neighborhood, it’s still going to require lots of TLC and plenty of elbow grease. Are you sure you’re prepared to put in that kind of sweat?”

Victor chuckled. “If I didn’t know any better, I’d think you were trying to talk me out of buying the place.”

“Oh, you’ve got me all wrong,” she said with wide eyes. “I think you’d absolutely love it here. Especially out back. It’s like a playground for adults and, I mean, that view, right?”

“Stunning,” he agreed. “Absolutely stunning.”

“I just want to make sure this is the perfect house for you,” she said, placing a finger on his chest. She looked around the bedroom, and her eyes settled briefly on the king-size bed before returning to him. “That said, if you’re willing to make the investment, I have no doubt that this house will make you a very, very happy man.”

He put his hand over hers. “Listen, Molly, I understand that a house this big isn’t for everyone, and not without it’s challenges, but I’m a very capable man who knows exactly what he wants, and I want this. I want it today. I want it now.”

“Now? Like, right now?”

“Right now.”

Molly’s face flushed and she swallowed hard. She snaked her free arm around his waist. “We’re not talking about the house anymore, are we?” she asked in a low voice.

He put his hand on her ass and pulled her tight against the bulge in his slacks. “No, we’re not.”

“Oh god.”

She tasted of cookie dough, which made Victor smile against her lips. She pulled her head back.

“What?”

“Nothing. You just taste sweet.” His eyes dipped lower. “Makes me wonder what the rest of you tastes like.”

That brought her tongue back into his mouth and her fingers into his hair. He helped her out of her coat and she out of his, then their fingers fumbled with the buttons on each other’s shirts, but she was quicker. She yanked his shirt tails from his slacks and pulled his collar down to mid-back, pausing to take him in. She gliding her painted fingernails over his firm abdominal ridges and looked into his eyes.

“Are you shitting me?”

Victor lifted his lips as he undid the final button and slipped her blouse over her shoulders. With a blind, one-handed move that surprised her, the band on her bra popped free. Soft kisses covered each freckled shoulder as he pushed the straps aside, until they rested on her forearms and the cups balanced precariously on her breasts. Holding her bra in place so that she could pull her arms out, he finally lifted it away.

“Beautiful,” he said, tossing aside the lacy garment.

He covered her breasts with his hands and explored them, gently lifting and supporting them as their lips moved over one another. Nimble fingers worked to loosen his belt and open his fly. She reached into his briefs in search of her prize and her eyes widened when she found it. Molly broke their kiss to look down as she pulled him out, and her mouth fell open when she saw what was in her hand. Her eyebrows parted and she bit her lip.

“Oh, dear god,” she breathed.

Their lips found each other once again, the fervency of their kiss now greatly intensified as she glided along his impressive length, hardening his shaft to its maximum firmness until it pulsated in her hand. Victor located her zipper on the side of her pants and slowly pulled it down her sloping hip to reveal the orange of her panties. Kneeling before her, he gripped the back of her waistband with both hands and worked the skin-tight capris over her ass and hips, kissing each patch of alabaster skin he uncovered, all the way to her knees, where he removed her shoes for her and then helped her step out of her pants.