Excerpt: Homeward Bound by Toni Noel
At the head of a curving staircase six open doors invited the prospective stager's inspection. The first, a good size bedroom, held a treadmill, and nothing else. Further down the hall a solitary laundry basket commanded the center of interest in an otherwise empty room.
Appalled by the red color seeping into the wide hall from inside a room further along, giving the hall a rosy glow, Krista paused just outside the door of what must be the master suite, and peered inside.
Heavy drapes covered the window wall. Curious, she strode just far enough into the room to gape at the oversize four poster bed complete with ruffled tester, silk bed skirt and bright scarlet floor-length drapes to match.
Am I ready for this?
She'd need at least a month to right the wrongs committed by Luke's decorator and put this house in shape.
A wonder he hasn't smothered under all that ruffled silk. How could the poor man possibly sleep?
Krista moved across the room and opened the door to a large walk-in closet obviously designed for his and hers, the woman's side well appointed but depressingly empty, the well-tailored Italian suits hanging on the man's side neatly arranged. Shiny pairs of dress shoes lined a low shelf. Recently laundered shirts still in plastic bags from the cleaners matched a rack of expensive looking suits and ties.
The lucky spouse who moves her Jimmy Choo's in here will feel like a queen.
Backing out, she closed the closet door.
Even with the red glow this room is gloomy. She crossed the room and opened the drapes. The sudden wash of sunlight blinded her.
She staggered back as a door opened.
Surprised, she turned toward the sound.
A trim man stood in the bathroom doorway wearing a lecherous smile and nothing else.
"Uhh!" Krista stumbled over her feet in her hurry to hide behind the window coverings.
My face must match these ugly drapes.
The man's hearty laugh followed her. "Okay. I get it… Give me a sec to get decent."
The bathroom door clicked shut.
One moment passed. Two.
Get out of here while you can.
Krista stepped out from behind the drapes just as the bathroom door swung open again.
She froze.
The same well-built man, now wearing a towel around his hips, emerged.
"Morning, beautiful. Did my brother put you up to this? If he did, I swear I'll--"
Giving her a hasty appraisal, he cleared his throat. "On second thought, I'm indebted to Kurt."
Her skin heating, Krista headed for the hall. "You have your realtor to thank. I'm your stager. I'll wait for you downstairs."
Homeward Bound is available from in print or eBook from Amazon and other book sources.
At the head of a curving staircase six open doors invited the prospective stager's inspection. The first, a good size bedroom, held a treadmill, and nothing else. Further down the hall a solitary laundry basket commanded the center of interest in an otherwise empty room.
Appalled by the red color seeping into the wide hall from inside a room further along, giving the hall a rosy glow, Krista paused just outside the door of what must be the master suite, and peered inside.
Heavy drapes covered the window wall. Curious, she strode just far enough into the room to gape at the oversize four poster bed complete with ruffled tester, silk bed skirt and bright scarlet floor-length drapes to match.
Am I ready for this?
She'd need at least a month to right the wrongs committed by Luke's decorator and put this house in shape.
A wonder he hasn't smothered under all that ruffled silk. How could the poor man possibly sleep?
Krista moved across the room and opened the door to a large walk-in closet obviously designed for his and hers, the woman's side well appointed but depressingly empty, the well-tailored Italian suits hanging on the man's side neatly arranged. Shiny pairs of dress shoes lined a low shelf. Recently laundered shirts still in plastic bags from the cleaners matched a rack of expensive looking suits and ties.
The lucky spouse who moves her Jimmy Choo's in here will feel like a queen.
Backing out, she closed the closet door.
Even with the red glow this room is gloomy. She crossed the room and opened the drapes. The sudden wash of sunlight blinded her.
She staggered back as a door opened.
Surprised, she turned toward the sound.
A trim man stood in the bathroom doorway wearing a lecherous smile and nothing else.
"Uhh!" Krista stumbled over her feet in her hurry to hide behind the window coverings.
My face must match these ugly drapes.
The man's hearty laugh followed her. "Okay. I get it… Give me a sec to get decent."
The bathroom door clicked shut.
One moment passed. Two.
Get out of here while you can.
Krista stepped out from behind the drapes just as the bathroom door swung open again.
She froze.
The same well-built man, now wearing a towel around his hips, emerged.
"Morning, beautiful. Did my brother put you up to this? If he did, I swear I'll--"
Giving her a hasty appraisal, he cleared his throat. "On second thought, I'm indebted to Kurt."
Her skin heating, Krista headed for the hall. "You have your realtor to thank. I'm your stager. I'll wait for you downstairs."
Homeward Bound is available from in print or eBook from Amazon and other book sources.
