Spark

by J. P. Scott

  Spark

  Burning Desire Series Book 1

  J. P. Scott

  A J.P. Scott Original Publication

  Copyright 2019 J.P. Scott

  All rights reserved. Except for review purposes, the reproduction of this book in whole or in part, electronically or mechanically, constitutes a copyright violation.

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, places, events, and characters are fictitious with the exception of Payson, Phoenix, ASU, Philadelphia, and the Mogollon Rim. Any similarities to actual events or person, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

  All characters depicted in this work of fiction are 18 years or older.

  Acknowledgements

  Thank you to Shut Up & Write at the Mesquite Library that gave me a dedicated place to write every Tuesday; to Postino where I drafted many pages alongside a glass of wine; to Jenn Q who helped edit; and to my husband Dylan who has encouraged me to write, publish, and “Make that money, baby.”

  Chapter One

  I slowed to turn left off Arizona 260, a two-lane highway that slid through the Arizona pines. It was two hours from Phoenix up to cooler temperatures and starry skies. Beau, my chocolate lab, woke from his slumber and panted at the passenger window. I pressed the button to lower his window and then mine. The air here always smelled different—and better—than down in the Valley. My summer home away from home—so close, but a world away.

  This was my fourth summer coming up to the Mogollon Rim to rent at Lakeside Estates. When I was working on my second novel, I found myself struggling to be motivated at home. In a fit of procrastination, I loaded Beau, my laptop, and a suitcase into the SUV and took off on an impromptu road trip. I wanted a place near hiking and seclusion. Lakeside Estates fit the bill.

  The north side of the highway had two sections: family owned cabins on two to five-acre lots on the west end and rental cabins to the east. Between the two a small restaurant, market, and fire department made their attempt at making the place a town. South of the highway was a campground for people traveling through with their RV’s and fifth-wheels.

  I finished that second novel, sketched the beginning of a third, and drank a lot of wine. Every summer I came back to focus on my current project. I would probably be okay back at home, but why tempt fate?

  The cars traveling westbound finally provided an opening and I turned onto the road to the cabins, a road that turned to gravel shortly passed the edge of the highway’s pavement. The first cabin also housed the office and I pulled to the front.

  “Stay here,” I told Beau. He whined as I climbed out but obeyed.

  I entered the office expecting to find George Dawson at the desk, finishing a crossword puzzle and counting the minutes until his next cigarette. Instead, I bumped into a couple in their 40’s that I recognized from last summer.

  “I can’t believe they lost our reservation!” She was tapping her fingers on the counter while he scrolled through his phone.

  “I know I have the confirmation here in my email somewhere. This has never been an issue before. George always had everything in order.”

  George had owned these cabins for years—he knew what he was doing. He was low-tech and liked it that way. He kept detailed ledgers by hand and tried to keep the front desk tidy.

  No one was behind the counter, but I did see a computer. The monitor was slightly turned towards the guest side of the counter—it was a blue screen. High-tech only works when it does not crash.

  “Where is George?”

  “Not well, apparently,” the wife said to me. “His nephew’s in charge and lost our reservation.”

  I stepped towards the counter. George should have all of his files right there, neatly organized by date and cabin. Instead, I found papers scattered.

  “I recognize you both from last year. What’s the name on the reservation?” Whenever George had to step away from the property but was expecting guests to arrive, he would ask me to man the office. I also lent a hand on the big weekends when there were a lot of guests coming and going. I was well-versed on his system. I scanned the piles and tried to make sense of the papers I was seeing. If I could find the color-coded forms that matched them…and me…we might get everyone checked in.

  “Farnham.”

  It was starting to come back to me, “David and Leah, right? I would see you when I walked my dog.” David stared at me blankly and Leah rolled her eyes. I returned my focus to the papers. I began to sort based on the check-in dates I saw on each form and created piles across the counter.

  “David, this is crazy. What if we don’t find it?”

  He held his hand up as he continued to search his phone.

  I found my slip and set it aside. I grabbed another stack and continued the sort, amazed at the disorder. Something had happened to create this chaos—George would never have left it like this.

  Finally, I saw David and Leah Farnham’s slip. “I got it!”

  David exhaled and Leah said, “Thank goodness!”

  I checked the slip for their cabin number and retrieved the keys. “For the remaining balance, how will you be paying?”

  David produced a credit card and laid it on the counter. I moved the check-in slip towards him with a pen for him to sign. I grabbed his card and processed the purchase on the card reader. I presented the receipt for another signature.

  “Thank you for helping,” David said.

  “I’m glad I found it.” I laughed, “I wanted to make sure I could check in, too.”

  The Farnhams left the office and I looked around at the mess. Where was George? And where was the nephew? The door to the back office opened.

  “…sorry…I was hoping the paperwork was in the back…” He stopped and looked where the Farnhams had stood and then over to me.

  “Hi…I’m Alex. I found their paperwork and checked them in.” I grabbed my paperwork. “I also found mine if you want to get me checked in, too.”

  I moved around the counter but took a minute to look him up and down. He was an inch or two shy of my height but seemed bigger because his chest pulled his shirt tight across. There was a gym body beneath that cotton.

  “I’m Josh…George’s nephew. Thanks for helping. I’ve been trying to update everything on the computer,” he pointed to the blue screen, “and you can see how that was going. Then trying to go through the files they ended up all over the place. I had more in the back and I just could not get make sense of it all.”

  “Well, if you need help getting it back together, I have helped your uncle out before in the office. I’d be happy to help do anything you need.”

  Josh winked at me, “I appreciate it. I think I’ll be able to handle it. At least for today.” He looked me up and down, “But I’ll keep you in mind.”

  I felt a tingle spread as his eyes moved. I would get an admiring eye in the big city from time to time, but I did not expect to find it up here. The surprise of it knocked words out of my brain and I could not come up with a reasonable farewell. I waved and stumbled through the door.

  I drove an excited Beau to my cabin, just up the hill and in view of George’s cabin and office. I wanted to get settled and then find out more about how George was doing. And maybe get another glimpse of Josh.

  Chapter Two

  “So, what happened, George?” I found him on his back porch of his cabin. He had a newspaper with various sections folded and read while others waited for his perusal.

  “Isn’t it obvious?” He looked down at himself and then to the walker parked to the side of his chair. “I got old.”

  “You’ve always been old. But you took good care of this place…and yourself.” With the exception of smoking.

  “It was after season; the summer folks had returned to the Valley. There are a few clingers who just don’t
want to go home. But it was a quiet, peaceful afternoon. I decided to take a walk. Right around cabin nine I couldn’t catch my breath.”

  The road by cabin nine had an incline as it approached the rear of the property before looping around and back down to meet the road at the entrance. Families with their ATV’s loved coming down the slope because of its steep grade and would scream and hold their hands up as if they were on a roller coaster.

  “I remember grabbing my shirt and falling to my knees.”

  I could imagine the quietness that surrounded him in that moment. I had walked the loop many times when I needed to think or work out a scene in my head before I could get it out on paper. Along with my thoughts, I had the dog and his sniffs and barks. On a day after the crowds went away, there would only be the wind in the trees.

  “Thank God the Van Waartens were still here.”

  They always took an evening walk. Eve Van Waarten said it helped clear the afternoon wine before they opened the evening bottle.

  “Eve yelled to Howard to call 911. He normally didn’t carry his cell phone, but he had it in his pocket that day. In those hideous cargo shorts he wears with sandals and socks.”

  “Fashion won’t save you, I guess.”

  I refilled our waters as he continued the story, “They stayed all night at the hospital in Payson to make sure I pulled through.”

  “They’re good people. Are they booked for the summer?”

  “I offered them a discount, but they said they booked a cruise and had a kid getting married.”

  I looked at George as he sat in silence.

  Finally, he said, “I think they’re scared to come back.”

  “Give them time.”

  George grunted, “I don’t have time. This place stays open if we have paying customers in the cabins all summer.”

  “Send them a picture of your nephew…shirtless.”

  “Eve would have the heart attack then.”

  “They’re all the rage right now.”

  George slapped his knee and chuckled. “He’s a godsend. I wouldn’t be open this summer if he hadn’t moved out here to help. There was no one else available…or at least willing to try to make it work.”

  “He does seem to be in a little bit over his head.”

  “All of his fancy computer software. He’ll learn.”

  Would he learn too late? George had always said the resort barely covered his bills. A misstep in management could run some regulars out. Would there be others to replace them?

  “I can help.”

  “What?”

  “I’ve been here enough summers that I know how you run things. I know when we should expect influxes of guests and can lend a hand. I probably don’t know everything, but I could fill in some of the gaps.” I observed for a living and used details in my writing. “Remember that time I helped you that Fourth of July weekend when it seemed like everyone showed up at once? You had a line out your door.”

  “That’s right. I had forgotten.” He looked out from the porch at the quiet park. In a short time, there would be kids on bikes and the occasional off-road vehicle kicking up dust. The calm before the storm. “I do remember that you had refused payment before.”

  Of course, he would remember that detail. “If you wanted to compensate me…maybe a discount on my cabin.”

  “I think that’s up to my nephew now.”

  “I’ll have to turn on my charm to convince him.”

  “I think you’re barking up the wrong tree. I’ve only ever known him to date women.”

  “Well, barking is half the fun.” I had not forgotten the look Josh had given me. There was definitely flirtation between us in the lobby. To be fair, I have been wrong before about people, but it seemed like Josh was interested in taking me up on my offer to do anything

  “I’ll leave it up to Josh. If he doesn’t mind you helping out, I don’t have a problem with it.”

  On cue, the screen door squeaked open and Josh stepped out. “Can I get you anything, George? Did you eat lunch?”

  I took him in while his attention was on his uncle. He wore a tight-fitting blue V-neck t-shirt that hugged his pecs and the bumps of his nipples. I wondered if they were sensitive. How loudly would he groan if I licked them? Did he want soft or hard bites? I looked away, reminding myself that we were not in some bar somewhere but on George’s porch.

  “Yes, I ate the sandwich and veggies you set out—even tried that paste.”

  “Hummus,” Josh corrected.

  “Paste.” George looked at me, “He wants me to eat healthy. A little too late for that, if you ask me.”

  “It’s never too late. And hummus is delicious.” I knew Josh and the rest of the family would be grateful on all fronts for support in getting George to make good decisions. I was also pretty sure George had tried and liked hummus when I invited him to dinner one time.

  George rolled his eyes, resigned that I was not going to be on his side for this battle. “Josh, you’ve met Alex. He’s stayed here for many summers. He’s even helped me in the office.”

  “He helped me out today, even. How’s that cute dog?”

  Half of the reason I have a dog is to meet men who like dogs. “Beau is good. I’m sure you two will get the chance to meet formally sometime over the summer.”

  “I want Alex to lend you a hand in the office this summer, just to make sure everything goes okay.” George interjected. He probably felt he needed to mark some territory and make it clear to both of us that he was the one in charge even if he was not involved in any of the actual work.

  Josh looked at me with a raised eyebrow. “I think I got it, Uncle George. The computer crashed today but I have everything up and running.” He held up his hands in my direction, “No offense. I appreciate the offer.”

  “Things are calm now, but a lot will come at you all at once. There are big holidays and times when large groups of tourists sweep through. It doesn’t hurt to have some extra hands you can rely on.” George was making a good case, but I wondered if he would have taken this advice himself if the roles were reversed. My assistance in the office had come after a friendship and a proving myself that I could be trusted.

  Josh shifted his weight from one foot to another as he contemplated the idea. Did he see the offer as George’s doubt that he could handle it? Were we damaging his pride? He was probably capable of taking care of things on his own and most likely everything would be fine. Still, the unexpected happened as evidenced today with the computer problems.

  “You call the shots—you need me, I’m happy to help. You don’t? I’ll be on my way doing my own thing. Consider me backup.” If he knows that I am not a threat, maybe he will be more receptive.

  “So, like at check-in, if it’s busy…” he crossed his arms and his muscles bulged. I steadied myself in my chair and tried to focus my attention elsewhere.

  “Exactly. I know the lay of the land, so you won’t have to train me. Just call me and I’ll head down when you need me.”

  “And he’s cheap,” George said.

  I laughed, “Yes, I’m…cheap.” There was part of me that hoped he read that as easy—just in case I was not barking up the wrong tree. It did not hurt to let a guy know there was interest and that most requests would not be denied.

  “I suppose that could work. Just in case it gets crazy. How about you come by in the morning and we can talk details.”

  I nodded and hoped it did not look too eager. I had plenty on my plate with writing my latest book—I did not actually need a part-time job. Still, there were times when writing that I hit a wall and needed a distraction. Also, a summer at the cabin could get lonely without some human interaction—which is why George and I started hanging out. It was also why I tended to eat dinners at the restaurant along the highway. It invariably led to conversations with fellow customers and the staff that satisfied the need to talk to someone.

  “It’s settled then,” George said. “Alex will be your slave this summer.�
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  I coughed at yet another double entendre from George. He must be enjoying making this all a little awkward for me and his nephew. If Josh was picking up on any of this, he was not giving any indication.

  “Sounds like a plan. Let me know if you guys need anything. I’ll be right inside.”

  Josh disappeared and I could not help but watch him go and groan on the inside. He was a good-looking man. Any time spent with him was sure to be enjoyable. When I turned back to George, I caught a mischievous twinkle in his eye. “You enjoyed that, didn’t you?”

  He shrugged, “I don’t know what you’re talking about. If you’re embarrassed in front of your crush, that’s on you, not me.”

  That was why I loved George.

  Chapter Three

  Beau slumped down on the cabin’s front porch as I settled into a chair with my morning coffee and a notebook for sketching story ideas. There was a slight breeze that felt good against my damp skin. Beau loved a morning walk and I wanted to make sure he got an extra-long one today since I was going to be gone for the morning.

  I heard Josh before I saw him. The crunch of gravel beneath his sneakers was faint but grew steadily louder. I tried to guess which direction the runner was coming. He came down the road to the left of my cabin. He was dressed in running shorts, sneakers, and sweat. The light and sweat combination highlighted his muscles which proved to be better than I had imagined yesterday. It did not surprise me that Josh was a runner. He was trim and fit. Nature was the best fitness equipment there was up here.

  Beau perked up but did not stand. My mission to exhaust him seemed to be successful. I waved at Josh but he did not seem to know I was there. He kept his eyes forward and his feet continued their rhythm. He did not let anything distract him as he concentrated on his run. Was he thinking about something? George and the cabins? Something back home? Or just on getting through his run?