Nerds on Fire

by Grady, D. R.

  If possible, the chocolate cake was even better than the meal. But then he was partial to chocolate. Not like Trixi or Katy, neither of who paid much of attention to the meal, but who enjoyed the cake.

  It was amusing to watch them. “I should go exercise, but I don’t think I can move.” Trixi only made this complaint after she shoved her dessert plate away. It was devoid of all crumbs.

  He liked a woman who enjoyed dessert. It was refreshing to discover one who enjoyed baking. The oatmeal raisin cookies she baked hadn’t lasted long, nor had the chocolate chip she brought in after he cajoled her to bake something. Mark guessed this cake would last even less time than the first one had.

  “Do we have to move furniture?” Leo sipped iced tea and stared at the remaining cake as though still contemplating whether to have more.

  “No, I sold most of it with my condo. All I kept were the family pieces.”

  “They’ll all fit just fine in your area.” Katy finished gathering the dishes nearby.

  Hmm, maybe that’s why Leo was undecided about the cake. Katy had already swiped his plate.

  “Yes, you should have plenty of room for any of your own furniture.” Trixi accompanied this statement with a smile. Just a normal one.

  But his heart skipped a beat, and he paused to assess the phenomenon.

  In all his life, it had never done so. What was it about this woman that caused him to think like a chest-thumping male? Surely, his education and training had propelled him out of this realm.

  “Trixi, you show Mark his quarters,” Gran directed.

  Trixi opened her mouth to protest, he was certain, but Gran waved her away. “Most of the dishes are already in the dishwasher. All I have to do is add these dessert ones.”

  Everyone helped clean up. Leo wiped the table down. His brother looked pretty domesticated. It was amazing to discover.

  Gran shooed Katy from the dishwasher where she expertly stacked the plates. There weren’t many leftovers, and it didn’t take Trixi long to store them in containers. He took those from her so he could stash them in the fridge. It was nice to feel domesticated like his brother.

  He enjoyed doing these little things for Trixi. Her bemused state was as cute as it was appealing to him.

  After it was apparent Gran did have everything under control, Trixi indicated he follow her. They entered the hallway past the conservatory, which was a beautiful room. Instead of turning right at the intersection leading to the gym, they continued down the hallway to a massive double doorway.

  “This is the guest wing.”

  He followed her through the doorway. They stood in a foyer of sorts. Several doors branched off from here. To the right, a door opened into a bookshelf lined room. She showed him the office space first. It also emptied into the gym hall. “This was Dad’s study, but now it can be yours.”

  There was a wooden desk and a matching credenza he guessed were family heirlooms. The entire room reminded him of the office his father currently used in the de Vosse family home.

  “It’s perfect.” Mark finally managed to say. And it was. This room couldn’t suit his needs better. There was plenty of room for all of his books, medical journals, and electronics.

  Next, she showed him a small furnished sitting room that likely received the afternoon sun. There was even a chair big enough to suit him as well as a small sofa and several end tables.

  “You enter your bedroom via this door.”

  With the twist of the knob, she opened it and ushered him into a bedroom with a massive bed that would accommodate his size. Trixi also opened the doors to the luxurious bathroom and a nice closet. There was an additional bedroom and bath on this floor, as well as a small laundry room.

  “There’s an upstairs?” he asked when she led him out of the laundry to a small spiral staircase.

  “Yes.”

  He followed her, admiring her gentle form as they ascended the delicate staircase. Upstairs there was an additional bath and two bedrooms as well as another small sitting room. A narrow balcony opened off the sitting room.

  “This is nice.” Leo spoke from behind them.

  Trixi offered Leo a gorgeous smile and something deep inside Mark protested, especially when he noticed the masculine appreciation in Leo’s eyes.

  “You finished the dishes?” Trixi didn’t appear to notice.

  “We did.” Katy glanced around the space. “In all the years I’ve lived here, I hardly ever came up here.”

  “I know. I never visit either.” Trixi glanced around the rooms. “I guess because it’s intended for guests.”

  “I’m going to enjoy my time here.” All this space as well as Trixi and Gran for company. I am one lucky man.

  “Let’s get you moved in,” Leo said.

  “Sounds good.” With him in residence, he hoped to learn plenty more about Trixi Duvall.

  Chapter 19

  “Are you okay with Mark moving in?” Katy pulled her aside while Mark and Leo conducted a low conversation.

  Tilting her head, Trixi tried to sort through her chaotic thoughts. “Yes. I’m happy.”

  Katy nodded. “It will be safer.”

  “That’s the part I do like.”

  “What part don’t you like?” Katy knew her far too well.

  “I’m still trying to figure that out.”

  Anyone who didn’t know her might have questioned her, but Katy just nodded again, satisfied with her answer. “I’ll be interested to hear your take on the situation after he’s been here a few weeks.”

  For some odd reason, her heart flipped. “Right. I’ll be interested in the same report.”

  “What report?” Leo curved an arm around Katy and tugged her against him. Katy snuggled into him as though they had been doing so for years.

  Trixi glanced at Mark. His eyebrows bounced before he sent her a speaking look. She stifled a chuckle at his obvious amusement of Katy and Leo’s obliviousness.

  “Are you leaving soon to pick up Mark’s stuff?” Katy ignored Leo’s question as though he never asked it. Trixi stored this avoidance technique for future use.

  “Yes. We’re leaving now.” Mark indicated Katy and Leo lead the way.

  They thundered down the stairs to the main floor then into the kitchen. Gran was busy wiping down the island. “I’m done.” She deftly retained possession of the sponge when Trixi tried for it. Gran continued to the end as though never interrupted.

  “I can finish this.” Trixi put up a token protest, not certain how she felt about all this help. She followed Katy to the table where they sat while Leo dug out his keys. He carried a lot of things in those spacious pockets men enjoyed. “Do you want to take the Duvall SUV?”

  Both Leo and Mark surveyed her. They exchanged a glance before Mark paced to the door leading to the garage. He opened it to study the huge vehicle at the far end. “You know, if we took it and Leo’s, we could do this in one trip.”

  “Let’s take both vehicles.” Leo made the decision as he tugged Katy out of her chair.

  “We’ll be right behind you.” Mark lifted Trixi out of hers. She didn’t even have time to squawk as he nudged her toward the mudroom. “You need your jacket, it’s cold outside.”

  She glanced down at her Sunday clothes. “I am not moving your stuff in high heels.”

  Katy also dragged her high-heeled feet. She eyeballed Leo. “Neither am I. If we’re being roped into doing some of this work, we need to change.”

  “How long is that going to take?” Leo didn’t sound hopeful.

  “Five minutes,” Trixi replied dryly.

  From the corner of her eye, she caught Katy stick her tongue out at Leo, whose face wreathed into amusement. He tried to catch her, but she danced out of his range and instead made for the stairs, laughing. Trixi shook her head at them, smiled at Mark, and followed her.

  True to her word, it didn’t take long to change into more appropriate clothing.

  She met up with Katy by the stairs. “Do you think Mar
k has his stuff packed?”

  Katy’s eyebrows surged upward. “Probably not.”

  “Yeah.” She sighed. “It means we’re going to spend the afternoon packing.”

  Mark and Leo met them at the bottom of the stairs. “What took you so long?” Leo grumbled as he plucked Katy off the stairs.

  She ruffled his hair and went along for the ride. Casual and easy as though this behavior was perfectly normal.

  Contemplating them, a wave of fruitless wishes washed over her. She stood on the third stair from the bottom and observed her best friend in the arms of the man she would probably marry. Trixi shoved her useless longings aside because now was not the time.

  Looming in front of her, Mark swung her off the stairs, and not expecting it, Trixi yelped as she clung to him, heart racing. “You can put me down now.” She only managed to say this after she caught her breath.

  His eyebrow rose. “No, I can’t.”

  “Why not?”

  “Because you’ll think of six other things to do and we’ll never get me moved.”

  “I will not.” But she did settle against his impressively hard chest and enjoyed the ride. She might never get to be carried like this again, so better to savor the moment.

  Mark didn’t reply, but he did squeeze her. She enjoyed it very much. Maybe too much. Chaotic thoughts broke like billiard balls, rolling in turbulent disorder and clicking against each other, bouncing around in her brain.

  Soon this man would be sharing her house. It was weird, but nice. She had never shared space with a man other than her father and brother. At least Gran was here. If anyone could steady the awkward moments, it was that stellar lady.

  And there would be awkward moments. Cringing, she flipped through scenes of herself with wet hair or in her jammies...

  “Would you two hurry?” Leo’s voice cut into her unsettling thoughts. Trixi was grateful.

  In the mudroom, Mark set her on her feet so she could retrieve her jacket. She also scooped up her purse and after ascertaining her phone was in her pocket, followed Mark into the garage.

  “Let’s get this done so we can enjoy the rest of the day,” Leo stated, only the wind gusted leaves and some ashes at them.

  None of them lingered. Mark swung her into the passenger seat of the SUV and took a lingering look at the small car parked closest to the kitchen door, in the smallest bay. A workbench and extra fridge took up the remaining space. “The littlest vehicle is yours?” He slid into the SUV driver’s seat.

  The big machine suited him.

  “Yes. It’s my daily driver. This is for when the weather is bad.”

  A sedan resided between her puddle-jumper and the SUV. “The car in the middle is Gran’s.”

  He nodded.

  Mark glanced around the SUV interior. “You can haul a lot of stuff in here.”

  “Sometimes we do.”

  “What do you haul?”

  “In bad weather, people. Whenever Dad and Reed have projects, they take this for their supplies. You can fit a stack of dry wall in here diagonally and a bunch of tools.”

  “Excellent news. Leo’s house is coming along, but it still needs work.”

  “Feel free to use this whenever.”

  He sent her a look she couldn’t interpret, but didn’t have time to say much because Leo drove up beside them in her driveway. The two men discussed logistics for about a minute before with a nod, Leo turned onto a side street and then onto a main thoroughfare in town.

  “Leo lives here?” She was surprised when Mark pulled into the driveway of a stately old home not far from hers.

  “Yes, this is our de Vosse grandparent’s house. Actually, it was my de Vosse grandmother’s mother’s house, and she left it to my grandparents who lived here until about a year ago. They’ve moved into a smaller place and were really happy when Leo expressed an interest in buying it.”

  “How long has he been here?”

  “He’s owned it less than a year.” Mark backed the SUV to within an inch of a garage door. She could see why when the door raised to reveal a stack of furniture and boxes directly on the other side. “My grandparents left a bunch of stuff here for us. This stack is mine.”

  He pointed to the door beside his. “To the right is what they left my parents, and Leo’s stuff is still scattered all through the house. Plus there are some things in the shed.”

  “Your parents live here in town?”

  “Yes. They’re sorting everything so they can make room. My sister’s things are also interspersed throughout their stack.”

  “You have a sister?”

  “Yeah, Jessie. She’s almost three years younger than Leo.”

  “I’ve never heard of her.” Why didn’t they ever talk about her?

  “Right now she lives in Australia.”

  “Wow, she’s a long way from home.”

  “Yeah, but she’s doing important research and needs to live there.”

  “Does she miss home?”

  “Sure, but I think she likes living in Australia. It’s a totally different place and what she’s doing is really helping her research. Our parents are planning a trip to see her soon.”

  “Have you ever been there?”

  “No, not yet. I’m hoping to visit sometime this year. We’ll see how it works out. You need at least two weeks, because it’s so far away.”

  Trixi nodded. “Australia would be wonderful to see someday.”

  Leo and Katy joined them and while the men discussed logistics, Katy helped her fold the back and middle seats flat. They started tucking boxes into the vehicle before Leo noticed and he and Mark then loaded the bigger items. It didn’t take long and they had it packed. The garage bay was now empty.

  “You know, Leo,” Katy said, glancing around the garage. “You could get some of those garage organizers and clear out this second bay as well.”

  He stopped beside her and contemplated all the stuff blocking the other half of his garage. “I would love to be able to park in here. Especially with winter coming.”

  “He’s been so busy inside he hasn’t ventured out here much.” Mark and Leo inspected the stuff.

  What was the big deal? Trixi scooped up a box and positioned it on the long workbench at the back of the space. Then she stacked the next and the next before Katy caught on and joined her. They soon piled the furniture and other items against another wall and Mark joined in while Leo directed their efforts and still managed to clear out more boxes.

  “I don’t even need to buy additional organizers. I had Trixi.”

  She blushed, but smacked him. Leo danced out of her way, laughing, but it did improve the space. Now he could park two cars easily in the over-sized garage.

  “It’ll be nice for you to use this.” Katy beamed at the cleared area.

  Leo nodded as he patted Trixi on the head. “I’m happy.”

  She managed to sneak in another smack.

  “Let’s get the rest of my stuff.” Mark headed into the house.

  They didn’t take much time to view the place, but Leo did give them a quick tour. The bones of the house were good, and many of the rooms were in great shape. Some of the wallpaper needed removed and there was some missing trim work. The bathrooms were the biggest project.

  All of them were outdated, although still functional, except for where Leo had removed some of the essentials. One didn’t have a toilet, another lacked a bathtub, and yet another was missing the vanity and sink. Only one bath contained all the necessary components, but it was clearly the oldest.

  “I love this house.” Katy trailed through the high ceilinged rooms.

  “The only room that’s finished, or nearly so,” Leo said, “is the kitchen.”

  “You still need a range and refrigerator.” Mark blocked the doorway as he dug into a cupboard. They peered around him. The cabinets, countertops, floor and ceiling were all finished. Even the sinks and faucets were new and perfect for the house, but the appliances, other than the new dishwas
her, hadn’t been replaced yet.

  “Why didn’t your grandparents update all these rooms?” Katy’s hair caught the sunlight as she tilted her head.

  “Because they couldn’t agree on what should be done.” Leo exchanged a wry glance with Mark.

  “They saw their current place when a widowed friend of theirs was looking at smaller homes and instantly decided to buy it.”

  “It was the first time they agreed in years,” Leo said.

  “They moved in a month later and have been really happy there ever since.” Mark strolled to the pantry and started packing a box he carried in from the garage.

  “How did you buy this place then?” Katy played with the sprayer faucet.

  Trixi trailed along the space, liking the finishes and she could picture a range like hers in the niche created for the appliance.

  “I was living here with them when they bought the other place, so it was easy for me to make an offer.” Leo shrugged.

  “They accepted his offer and made him help them pack,” Mark added as he stuffed a box of pasta into the cardboard box.

  “It all happened really fast. We settled on this house and they settled on their new one the same day. It was pretty painless.”

  Trixi turned toward Leo. “So because you were already living here, you figured out what changes you wanted to make.”

  “Yeah, by the time we settled I already knew I had to gut the bathrooms. None of the plumbing has been touched in forty years.”

  Mark snorted. “Probably even longer than that.”

  “Neither of them could remember the last time it was updated, since my great-grandmother lived here until she died. My grandparents gave the larger family estate to Dad and Mom and moved here a few years ago.”

  “It’s a shame to replace this tile.” Katy fingered a perfectly intact one piled on a nearby countertop.

  Leo tucked her close. “We did save a lot of it. We’ll just use less.”

  “This is going to be beautiful when it’s all done.” Trixi could picture it. Leo’s kitchen would rival hers. They all tromped to Mark’s room where he quickly packed and they carried his possessions downstairs as he finished. It kept them busy.