Every House Has a Secret - 1

 

"If I buy one more book…" Rand grumbled as he tried to find space in the bookshelves for the one he'd just finished reading.

 

Brady laughed. "You say that every time and you still insist on buying them instead of using the library, or getting an E-reader."

 

"I like owning them. The real thing," Rand retorted. "After all these years you should know that."

 

"I do," Brady replied, smiling at his husband. "I suppose we could buy another set of shelves but where the hell would we put them?"

 

Rand looked around the living room in their apartment, sighing. Then he brightened. "Maybe it's time to do what we've talked about and buy a house."

 

"It's a nice dream, it always has been, but it's not in the budget and you know it."

 

"Only because we keep thinking about something that's ready to move into." Rand dropped down beside Brady on the sofa. "What if…?" He tapped a finger to his lips.

 

"Don't stop now."

 

"We're both fairly handy. We did some work on your office before you moved in."

 

"Painting and building the partition so I'd have a separate space other than the coat closet off the waiting room to store my surveillance equipment."

 

"It was a wall, and we did a damned good job of it, too."

 

"We did," Brady acknowledged. "But if you're going where I suspect you are." He shook his head.

 

"Think about it," Rand persisted. "We find a fixer-upper that's basically solid but in bad shape. Maybe it has tiny rooms or old carpeting over decent flooring. Or the paint is peeling and the kitchen has appliances from the forties."

 

"Or all of the above?" Brady replied with a laugh.

 

"Maybe. But if we found someplace like that, and put our minds to it, we could turn it into the house we want. It would cost a lot less to buy than one in good shape. Right?"

 

"Presumably." Brady slanted him a look. "You've been watching those home improvement shows again, haven't you?"

 

Rand grinned. "Caught me. Still, it's a feasible option, I think."

 

"First we have to see what's out there and what kind of prices they're asking."

 

"Yes!" Rand hugged him.