by J. H. Croix
“How did you find out about this place?” he asked.
“Janet gave me your mom’s number. I was staying at her B&B, but she's got it rented out to somebody else for the winter.”
Russell nodded slowly. “Well, you're upstairs, and I'm downstairs. The only space we have to share is the kitchen. There’s still a TV up there, right?”
I almost laughed aloud because he looked slightly panicked about that. I cleared my throat and nodded. “Yes, that's part of the reason I jumped on this when I heard about it. It's furnished, and there's a television. I didn't bring much with me when I moved here.”
His eyes, piercing and dark, felt like a laser beam on me. “Why did you move to Alaska? If you don't mind me asking.”
I did, in fact, mind him asking, but it wasn't because of him. That was all on me, but I wasn’t about to get into that with him. “I wanted a change of pace, and I love the outdoors. Anyone who loves the outdoors knows that Alaska is the crown jewel of the wilderness. When I saw this open position, I applied. I know you didn't want them to hire me.” As soon as that last part slipped out, I wanted to snatch the words back.
Russell was shaking his head. “Not true.”
“Don't bullshit me, Russell,” I countered. At that moment, my stomach growled, and his lips kicked up in a smile.
His smiles were dangerous, and thankfully, he rarely directed them at me personally. For the most part, he seemed like a friendly guy around the station and with the rest of our crew. Ever since Graham had forced us to chat, he’d been scrupulously polite with me.
“I suppose you’d like to eat,” he commented.
“Well, yeah,” I replied with a shrug.
“I'll give you the quick kitchen tour,” he began, just as there was another knock on the door. “That must be my pizza.” He smiled again.
This time, my belly executed a quick flip, all atwitter with excitement at a smile from Russell. Not one, but two whole smiles. I seriously needed to figure out somewhere else to live. I didn't think I could keep my sanity if I tried to stay here with him. That elicited a sigh because it was a really nice place. It was perfect for me.
Another moment later, he was waving off the pizza delivery guy. “Thanks,” he called as he closed the door. Turning back, I noticed he had two boxes of pizza in hand.
“Two pizzas?” I asked.
He gave me grin number three, looking a little sheepish. “I eat a lot, and it's great to have leftover pizza. Wouldn’t you agree?” I nodded because, of course, leftover pizza was great. “Now, let me finish that kitchen tour.”
He set his boxes of pizza on the counter beside mine. He began opening cabinets and drawers and pointing out what was where. I had silently decided I was going to take my pizza back upstairs, but before I could do that, he pulled out two plates and asked me if I wanted something to drink.
I didn't need to create more tension between us by refusing that. Surely, I could handle sitting down and eating pizza with him. A few minutes later, I found myself sitting across from him at the round table. It was situated in a bay window that offered a pretty view of the lake with moonlight glittering over the water in the darkness.
“What lake is that?” I asked as I took out a piece of pizza and reached for a napkin from the stack in the center of the table.
“Lupine Lake.”
“It's beautiful.”
He nodded while he chewed on a bite of pizza.
“Considering how hard it is to find a rental around here, your mom didn’t ask many questions.”
His lips kicked up in a half-smile, sending my belly into a shimmy. “That's my mom for you. She trusts everybody.”
I felt myself bristling, and before I could hold it back, I said, “You think I'm not worth trusting?”
Russell had been in the middle of lifting a slice of his pepperoni pizza to his mouth, and he lowered it. His eyes narrowed as he looked at me across the table. My body felt as if sparks were bouncing around inside, colliding with each other and setting little bonfires everywhere. Trying to live with Russell was out of the question. I'd probably go crazy.
Chapter Four
Russell
Paisley stared at me across the table, her eyes almost daring me. She lifted her chin a little, and I tried not to notice the pink tinge on her cheeks. I definitely tried not to notice her full lips and those freckles dusted across her nose.
Fuck me. How was I supposed to deal with Paisley living here?
Paisley cleared her throat, bringing my attention back to her question. I had to reach to remember what she’d asked. She was that distracting.
“That comment wasn't about you. It was about my mother. She's the kind of person who takes in strays—animal, human, or otherwise. I'm not implying you're a stray or that I don't trust you. But leave it to my mom to rent out this room without bothering to mention to you who I was.”
“She didn't tell you she was renting it out?” Paisley squeaked.
I shook my head. “She's rented it out before, but she usually lets me know. This time, she told me after the fact. She's good friends with Janet, so I'm guessing Janet let her know you were looking for a place. As I'm sure you've already figured out, rentals aren’t easy to come by around here.”
“Yeah, I figured that out,” she replied dryly.
“We'll make it work. Have you had pizza from here before?” I asked.
Paisley lifted a slice of pizza, shaking her head before she took a bite.
“It's a newer restaurant in town, and they’d better not ever close,” I said.
She took a bite, closing her eyes after she finished chewing. She opened them, offering, “It's delicious.”
“Right?”
We ate in silence for a few minutes before she asked, “Do restaurants come and go around here often?”
I wiggled my free hand back and forth. “Sort of. Alaska's weird when it comes to the economy. Even in less populated areas like here, a lot of tourists visit from spring through fall. Sometimes, places open with a plan to cater to tourists. That works in some areas, mostly the busier towns where cruise ships dock. Willow Brook is sort of an in-between town. We're not too isolated, and we're close to Anchorage, but cruise ships can't get here. So, places need to plan to cater to locals. Pretty sure this place will stick around because locals are their main business. Speaking of staying, what's your plan? You just doing some firefighter-see-the-world kind of thing?”
She finished chewing and took a swallow of water. “Is that a thing?” A smile teased the corners of her mouth.
I shook my head. “Nah, I made it up. Hotshot firefighting isn't for everyone, though.”
I was more curious than I should’ve been about her answer. I was more curious about everything about Paisley than I should’ve been.
“I love the area so far. I don’t have a firm plan, but it all depends on how things work out. I like our crew so far.”
I figured I might as well be honest. “Now that I'm not being a cranky ass, you mean?”
Her cheeks went a little pink, sending a jolt of lust down my spine. “It's okay. I snapped at you too. We sorted it out, right?”
“After Graham made us talk,” I reminded her with a wink.
She laughed a little before glancing down at her plate. I opened my mouth to explain further, but I snapped it shut. I was relieved she wasn’t looking my way then. I couldn't exactly tell her I was seriously in lust with her, and she was distracting as all hell. Because that would be crazy. I was pretty sure she couldn't stand me. Her eyes lifted again, and she nodded. “I hope so. I really want this to work out.”
I shifted gears in our conversation, figuring it was best not to dwell on the tension between us. “Alaska is full of transplants.”
Her brows hitched up in question. “Transplants?”
“People who move here from out of state and make it their home. Some people are running from something and figure they'll get far enough away here. Others just love the wilderness.�
�
“Oh.”
That one word had an edge to it, and it piqued my curiosity. Paisley didn't seem like the kind of person with a problematic past. I knew she was as clean as a whistle as far as her background went. Before we even interviewed her, they ran a background check on her. She didn't even have a speeding ticket on her record. Although, she was obviously daring. One had to be, as a hotshot firefighter. She was also thorough and careful when we were out in the field. As much as I didn’t want to admit it, my mind kept cataloging details about her.
“I’m going to see how it goes. I'm used to the winter because the Cascades in Washington get plenty cold. If things work out, I might stay.”
We got through dinner, and I actually relaxed a little, which was a miracle, considering Paisley left me tied up in knots physically. After we finished eating, she asked if there was an assigned section for her in the refrigerator.
All I said was, “Just take the bottom shelf,” because I knew it was empty. With just me here lately, I didn’t need all the space available, although I enjoyed cooking. Thanks to my mother's insistence, I was a pretty good cook. But life was busy, and I didn't have time to cook often. Cooking for myself also tends to make me feel lonely.
“Thanks for having dinner with me,” Paisley said. “Oh, and I'll pay you back for that pizza.”
I shook my head quickly. “No need.” Paisley opened her mouth to protest. “Seriously. My mom would lecture me.”
She blinked up at me. For just one second, I wanted to close that distance between us and kiss her lush mouth. But I had enough control to keep my feet where they were and didn’t move, not an inch.
Paisley cocked her head to the side, a glint entering her eyes. “So if I want something, I just need to mention your mom. Is that how it works?”
“Well now, I think you're teasing me, Paisley. Don't go crazy.”
She bit her lip, and her cheeks flushed again. “I won't.” She paused, glancing down where she traced her toes in a circle on the floor before looking back at me. “Honestly, if it's weird for me to be here, please just say so. I'll find a way to back out of it with your mom so she doesn't hold it against you.” At that, she practically dashed out of the kitchen and up the stairs, calling, “Good night!”
I took a breath and rested my hips against the counter, running a hand through my hair. It would be fine for her to be here, but holy hell, I needed to quench this relentless desire for her. She'd been with the crew about a month, and I’d only become more attuned to her with each passing day.
Leaning my head back, I stared up at the ceiling, muttering, “Fuck.”
The ceiling had no answer. In fact, it rather felt as if the ceiling were mocking me. My mother had been on my case about a relationship lately. I felt like I’d been thrown back into the era when mothers hounded their sons to find a good marriage and paired them off with whoever had the best dowry.
When I’d shared that with my mother, she’d glared at me. “No, it's just, you're a nice man, and I don't understand why you hardly date.”
I hewed to uncomplicated, casual relationships. I'd let it slip, and things had gone a little further with one woman last summer. I should’ve known better. She’d graciously accepted my explanation that I wasn't looking for a relationship. Even though she'd insisted we could stick with our arrangement, I hadn't wanted to string her along. It was already getting awkward.
I snagged a beer out of the fridge and went downstairs. The house was built into a sloping hill with the main entrance to the home on the center floor. My parents used to rent this house out with the central floor offering a shared kitchen and half-bath, and the upper and lower floors set up as two private apartments, each with a living room, bedroom, and full bathroom.
I made sure to close the door to my apartment and kicked my feet up on the coffee table. Beer in hand, I flipped through the TV channels and tried to forget Paisley was in the same building. It was to no avail.
Later on, I found myself in bed thinking about her plump lips and the way her T-shirt stretched across her breasts. Before I knew it, my hand slid over the aching length of my arousal. I found my release swiftly with Paisley filling my thoughts.
Chapter Five
Paisley
The following morning, I tiptoed down the stairs, pausing at the bottom and holding my breath as I listened for any motion in the kitchen. There wasn't a peep, so I finally mustered up the courage to peek into the kitchen. Finding no sign of Russell, I hustled outside.
After I climbed into my car, I realized he must have arrived last night after I'd gotten here. I experienced a stab of disappointment that he didn’t know what kind of vehicle I owned. Seeing as we worked together and parked in the same parking lot, I knew what he drove. But maybe there was more to it than that. I tried to think if I knew what any other people drove. I’d recognize Maisie’s vehicle because I'd seen her arrive. Aside from that, I was only familiar with Russell's truck. What did that mean?
“Now, you’re being ridiculous,” I said to myself as I started my car.
Once I turned out of the driveway, I headed toward Firehouse Café because I needed coffee. I was trying to figure out a way to tell Janet I needed another option for a rental. I already knew there weren't any. If she hadn't already rented the B&B for the winter, I think she would’ve let me stay.
I jumped out of my car and walked quickly across the parking area, my breath misting in the cool morning air. The bell above the door gave its friendly jingle as I stepped inside, the low hum of voices reaching me instantly. Even though it was early, this place was already busy. I waited in line, and my stomach growled audibly. When I got to the counter a moment later, Janet grinned. “Shall we start with your food order?”
“Please. How about two bagels with smoked salmon cream cheese? I'll have one now and then one at lunch.”
“You got it.” She called my order over her shoulder and then looked back at me. “Coffee?”
I paused, contemplating what I wanted. “Can you do that mocha thing you made me the other day?”
“You got it. No sugar, though, right?”
“Definitely not. I don't like my coffee sweet, but your mocha with that touch of chocolate is perfect.”
Janet smiled as she rang me up and began to prep my coffee. “So, are you all settled?”
“Yep. It's a nice place. I didn't know Russell lived there.” I’d abandoned the idea of asking her about other options since I knew she’d offered me the only one she knew of.
When her eyes met mine, I could’ve sworn I saw a glint of calculation, but it disappeared as swiftly as I imagined it, and she didn't say another word. She simply shrugged. “He lives downstairs, and you've got the upstairs all to yourself. You work with him, so sharing the kitchen shouldn't be a problem. Russell's a nice guy.”
Janet's tone was a little too innocent, but I didn't know her well enough to call her out on it yet. “His mom seems really nice.”
Janet nodded. “She is, and she could use that rental money.”
I decided to push it a little. “Are you sure? Because it doesn’t seem like she was renting it out before, and rentals are pretty hard to come by around here.”
Janet looked the slightest bit guilty. “You needed a place to stay, and his mother mentioned it.”
As I nodded, I heard the bell over the door jingle again and reflexively looked over my shoulder to see Maisie Steele walking in with her husband, Beck. Maisie worked as the dispatcher at Willow Brook Fire & Rescue and was becoming a friend, or so I hoped. Their hands were linked, and I couldn’t help but take in how cute they were as a couple—Maisie with her brown curls and freckled cheeks and Beck with his rumpled dark curls and flashing green eyes.
“Well, hey,” Maisie said when she stopped beside me at the counter, releasing Beck’s hand. “Are you all situated in your new spot?”
“How did you know I was moving last night?”
“Janet told me.”
“Where are
you staying?” Beck asked. “Not easy to find a rental around here this time of year.”
“Is it ever easy?” I returned.
“Definitely not.” He chuckled.
“I didn't know it when I rented it, but I'm staying in the upstairs apartment where Russell lives.”
“Oh, that's a sweet spot.” Beck nodded. “Their family used to rent that out every summer to tourists, but they don't do that anymore, not since his dad passed.”
He went quiet for a moment, almost like a brief gust of cold air passing through the conversation. There was a story there, but I sure as hell didn't know what it was. I simply nodded. “Well, it’s a nice place.”
Janet handed me my coffee. “Your bagels will be out in a minute.”
I waited at the end of the counter, and Maisie came to stand with me while Beck ordered. “I'm so glad you found a place. I don't know what I would have done if I didn't have a place right off when I moved here.”
“What do you mean?”
“I inherited my grandmother's old house and her job too. I was kind of a bitch when I first moved here. I think it's a good thing they felt bad for me and gave me the job anyway,” she offered matter-of-factly.
I sputtered on a sip of coffee. “Seriously?”
She shrugged. “Oh, I can be moody.” She paused, glancing at Beck when he stepped forward to wait with us. “Right?”
“What?” Beck prompted in return as he immediately reached for her hand.
“I was kind of a bitch when I first started working at the station,” she explained.
Beck's eyes bounced from Maisie to me and back again. He appeared to be attempting to assess the situation. She smiled encouragingly when his eyes met hers again. “It's okay. You can be honest.”
His lips kicked up into a grin, and he nodded. “I thought she hated me. Secretly, she wanted me bad.”
