The Blossom District was loaded with old homes, all unique and different. It was fun just to stroll the sidewalks and take in all the charm.

“Ready, honey?” He gave her a little side hug.

“You two are the cutest,” Indira said again.

When she turned her back, Leo fake-strangled her.

“Do you always act like you’re twelve?” she asked when she’d finally wrested free.

He laughed. “No, but I admit, when I put my arm around you back there, I really was secretly thinking of strangling you.”

“Why does she think we’re a cute couple?” Tessa asked on the way to the car after she’d finally wrested free. “All we’ve done is argue.”

“Do you always act like that?” he asked pointedly.

She stopped walking. “Like what?”

“Negativity, negativity, negativity.”

That shocked her. Was she negative? Had she become accustomed to things not turning out her way?

Maybe she had. “I’m sorry I’m not Mr. Sunshine like you.”

“All I’m saying is,” Leo continued, “it might be good to look on this as an opportunity. Make the best of it. And let people think we’re a couple.”

“We never really discussed moving in together.” She’d just come along for the ride. Literally.

“Well, since we’re in this together, I want your expertise. I want you to look at these awful spaces and envision the most beautiful kitchen that you can. That’s what I’m looking for.”

“All right. I’ll give you my opinion.” She crossed her arms obstinately. “Uncensored.”

Before she could open the car door, he was already at her side, opening it for her. “Somehow that doesn’t surprise me.”

The final house, a cute century-old colonial with scalloped wood trim and blue shutters, sat on a street with big oak trees planted on the parkway, their roots making some of the sidewalk crooked. Full of charm? Yes, definitely. A money pit waiting for some suckers to buy it? Absolutely.

“I love this neighborhood,” Tessa said as she took in the cute street. “Lilac lives a few houses down.” But Leo was busy examining if the front porch steps were crooked. And viewing a few missing tiles on the slate roof. And checking to see how old the windows were. She could practically see him adding up the dollar signs.

The house was a century old, with a nice fireplace, built-in bookshelves, and wooden floors. It was light and bright, and Tessa felt like it was a perfect little dollhouse. The kitchen had clean, simple white wood cabinets…and zero counter space.

“It’s so adorable,” Tessa said, looking at the moldings and a tiny little alcove in the hallway that must have housed a phone.

“The kitchen doesn’t have an island,” Leo said in a practical tone. “And we both love to cook.”