Besides, upgrading the house was a good investment.
“Nope,” Vincent countered, also digging in heartily. “This one is on me. Statler will give me a great price, I already know that. And if it weren’t for me moving in, you could just keep the door shut and ignore that bathroom for years.”
He had a point, but any upgradeswouldadd to her equity.
She’d let him continue before she shot him down.
“I also insist on being the one to pay for the swing-set, and I’m sure my mother will be swooping in to take care of any additional linens and things that will be needed to accommodate two extra bodies around here.”
Yuck.He’d probably noted the threadbare towels, and the chipped dinnerware, but Lace just hadn’t had the wherewithal to replace her grandparents’ old things,andshe wasn’t much of a shopper. Having Ellen Sothard take charge, would be a dream come true.
“I’d like that,” she agreed.
Lace sat there, being pretty blown away. Vince was not only thinking logistically, he was willing to go the distance and put money toward stuff she should have done a long time ago.
That didn’t mean, however, that she wasn’t going to be stubborn on a few things. But since she knewhewould be obstinate, too, a compromise was necessary.
“Okay,” she partially conceded, twirling a noodle onto her fork. “I like what you’ve proposed, but only if we split everything, fifty-fifty.”
Vince looked like he was about to argue, then must have seen the unrelenting look in her eyes, because he backed off. Sort of.
“I tell you what,” he placated. “Let’s find out what it’s all going to cost first,thenwe’ll continue negotiating.”
Lace snorted, his tactics clear as day. “Which means you’re going to ask your friend to bill you a different amount than you’ll tell me he’s charging.”
Vince didn’t look the least bit embarrassed at being caught out.
“Well, wewillbe getting a bargain,” he told her pragmatically, “and since I’m putting you out, I think my shareshouldbe larger. Don’t worry, though. I’ll make sure you get to contribute.”
Lace didn’t like to give in, but she wanted Vince here, and discouraging him wasn’t on her agenda. She thought up a solution on the fly that she hoped would work.
“I’ll agree tothat,” Lace told him, “if you agree to let me buy all the groceries and do all the cooking for both of us.” She used her firmest tone.
A huge smile lit up his face.
“If this supper is any indication, I’d be a fool to turn that down. I’ll be getting one hell of a deal. But…”
Lace could almost see him mentally rubbing his hands to continue their parlay.
“Youbuy groceries,I’llbuy take-out when you don’t feel like preparing food. Also, you get to do all theindoorcooking, but I’ll be in charge of everything outside.” His smile grew wider. “AndI get to buy the new grill.”
Lace snickered. “You drive a hard bargain, but… deal.”
She stuck her hand out to him over the table, and they shook.
Vince suddenly adopted a deer-in-the-headlights look.
Gulp.
If it had to do with the sparksshejust felt when they touched, she understood his sudden intake of breath.
“Umm,” he began again, this time losing his brassy edge. “We actually need to address…that.”
“Right.” Lace agreed, not even pretending she didn’t know what he was talking about. “Where is this…thing between us going, and how do we proceed to navigate it while living under the same roof?”
Vincent’s shoulders relaxed a little that they were on the same page.
“I have a few ideas, but how about this? We both come up with a list of expectations, our dos and don’ts, then we share them after work tomorrow night?”