The Baby Truce by Jeannie Watt Page B

he’d suspected, he couldn’t find a month-to-month rental, or even a six-month one. It was a year or nothing.But the half year sublease on his New York apartment paid the entire year’s lease on the average Reno house. With change.
    Pete would have had a cow at his poor business sense, but Tom had no problem signing a lease on a house he was going to abandon once he and Reggie were on terms he could accept. Civil terms conducive to raising a child together. Although right now, he couldn’t say that he and Reggie were doing the civil thing well.
    He was pissed over the reason she’d slept with him. He felt used. Definitely a first for him.
    Trees hung low over the street as Tom cruised toward the address of the third rental on his list. He’d visited two the day before and was squeezing this one in before heading to work.
    The neighborhood seemed nice enough—one he wouldn’t expect to be robbed in. If he had something worth stealing. A couple houses had toys in the yards and the lawns were all well kept.
    He parked in the double drive, and before he could get out of the car, the real estate agent pulled in next to him.
    â€œI see you found the place all right,” she chirped.
    â€œI used to live in Reno.”
    â€œAre you sure this is the neighborhood you’re most interested in? I mean, we do have other options in areas more conducive to say, entertaining.”
    â€œI’m not planning on entertaining,” he said. The woman’s smile ebbed slightly. “I want a quiet area with a small house.”
    Because he wasn’t used to living in many more thanfour rooms. Five at the most. All he really required was a decent kitchen and a bathroom.
    â€œWell, this is quiet,” the woman conceded. She pulled a key out of her blazer pocket. “Shall we take a look?”
    â€œYes. Let’s.”
    The house was a house. The kitchen was adequate, as he’d suspected from the photos on the real estate website, and the rest of the house livable. It had a small backyard that Tom stood in for a moment, looking up at the leaves of the one giant tree. Shade. Cool.
    The house was on a corner lot with a cinder block wall separating it from the street and a cedar board fence too tall to see over dividing the property from the house next door.
    The real estate lady—Sharon somebody—hovered on the steps. He hadn’t responded as she’d pointed out various features, and finally she’d quit talking.
    â€œI’ll take it,” Tom said.
    â€œWonderful,” she gushed. “If you wouldn’t mind following me to the office, we can fill out the lease there and…no?” she asked when Tom shook his head.
    â€œI’ve got to get to work. I’ll stop by this afternoon.”
    â€œVery well.”
    Sharon had the look of someone who’d almost made a sale, but hadn’t, which prompted Tom to say, “Honest.”
    She smiled. “I believe you.” She went to her car, then before she got inside, she said, “What made you decide to settle in Reno, Chef Gerard?” She’d been studying him as he’d looked at the house, and he’d wondered if she’d recognized him. If she hadn’t, then the namehe signed on the lease later would have been a dead giveaway.
    â€œI’m taking time out from the rat race. No restaurant. I’ll only be in town for a few months.” He approached her car, gave her one of his best smiles. “I’d appreciate it if word didn’t get out that I’m here.”
    â€œNot a problem. And maybe if you decide you like living in Reno and want to trade up, you’ll remember me?”
    He smiled for real. “It’s a deal.”
    Â 
    â€œT OM’S NOT HERE ?” R EGGIE ASKED as she walked through the kitchen. In the two days since the showdown in the alley, he had been there exactly on time, not more than a minute or two early. He smoldered