“Stressful.” I puffed air out of my cheeks. “I spend a lot of my time on the phone, talking to merchants and my drivers. The weather affects my line of work. You can’t imagine how many of my drivers have been stranded in the past five years.”
“I’d like to help with that, too,” she said. “I know it won’t be easy at first, but I’m really organized. You’ll see.”
“Thanks a lot, but stick to the bookkeeping. You’ll have a lot of work on your hands with the records, trust me on that one. Listen, the rain’s getting stronger. You don’t have to go back in town tonight. We can make this official right now, if you want. Why don’t you stay for dinner?”
Scarlet smiled. “Yeah, you’re right. I’d love to. I actually hate sitting alone in my loft every night.”
“Me too, Scarlet. We don’t have to be alone tonight.”
I hadn’t just found the perfect bookkeeper. I had found a woman that prompted me to look differently at the life I thought I wanted.
Scarlet
I took a moment to marvel at the furniture in my new room. The carved wood wardrobe seemed old and was a little faded. Even so, it was one of the most elegant pieces of furniture I had ever seen. The king-size bed in the middle wasn’t any different.
I sat down on the soft mattress, and glanced up at the mirror to my left. I thought I had traveled back to the early twentieth century. Everything around me had this strange, yet sweet taste of a time much simpler than today. It had taken me a while to land this job, but I had hit the jackpot. In my mind, it was perfect. I’d have to put in six or seven hours at the office, but for me, it was a piece of cake. I’d done a lot more complicated things back in Ohio.
I started unpacking, wondering just how in the world was a man like Ivan Scott still single. He had everything going for himself, but, for some reason, he was all alone. How could a catch like him not be taken? There was only one explanation: He wasn’t a catch. He had skeletons in his closet, and local girls must have been aware of that. Whatever his secrets were though, I was the last person in this world to judge him. I had kept the truth about me from him.
As I laid my sweaters down on the bed, the images of the ugly faces I worked so hard to get away from flashed back into my mind. I wished the three months I had spent in Mount Greylock would be enough for me to forget them, but they weren’t. I hoped that the next time I crossed paths with those criminals would be the last. I’d pay them every red measly cent my family owed and get on with my life.
I was still arranging my clothes in the closet when I remembered the moment I shared with Ivan earlier. I wished I could read his mind. That way, I’d know for sure what that look he had given me meant. Maybe he had found a chance to stare at me, because he actually liked me and not just what I could do for him. That last notion was enough to block every ugly thought out of my mind. I barely knew Ivan, but with my living arrangements I could probably learn a lot from a man who knew how to profit heavily from his skills.
A loud thump from the kitchen interrupted my daydreaming. I strutted out of my new room, curious about what had happened. A pan, two dishes and a pack of frozen chicken were on the counter. Ivan was searching through his cabinets, looking for all the right ingredients for a dish. Grains of rice from the pack he had dropped were all over the floor.
“Um, Ivan?” I paused. “What are you doing over there?”
“Damn it, I could swear I’d seen another pack of rice in here.” He spoke, his frustration sending his voice down an octave before he turned to me. “It’s been a while since I had a visitor.” He informed, scratching his head. “I’m not sure what to cook for you.”
“What’s your favorite food?” I asked, my cheeks flushing with embarrassment while I struggled to ignore his good intentions.
“A good hearty chili or stew, but I haven’t had that in months.” Ivan claimed, lowering his tone. “Usually, I throw a sandwich together late in the evening or just have some meat and potatoes.”
“I can cook for you when the season begins.” I suggested, pitying him for not having something as basic as a home-cooked meal. “In fact, I can cook something right now. Where do you keep the potatoes?”
“But that’s not part of your job description.”
“It’s no biggie.” I shrugged, sauntering towards him. “Now, where are those potatoes?”
“They’re in the cabinet in front of you.” He watched me walk across the room. “You know, if you’re going to cook meals, I’m going to increase your hourly pay for this.”
“Ivan…that’s not necessary. We both have to eat, and I don’t know if I’m just that blind, but I didn’t see any burger joints. It’s not like I can eat out every day.”
He shrugged. “We’ve got some diners and bars out here, but you’re right, you’ll hav full use of the kitchen to make whatever you like.”
“It would probably save us both some money to split the grocery bill while I’m here too. What do you think?”
“Sounds like a plan, but I’m still increasing your pay.”
“If you say so, but I actually enjoy cooking.”
“Nina didn’t even cook for me,” he said. “But I do have to admit, she had duties and instructions that she never deviated from. I guess you can tell by the way the home looks that a woman hasn’t lived here in many years.”
I looked around the kitchen and then said shyly, “I noticed.
“The guys even joke about me having all this to myself. This place could use a woman’s touch though so I can actually find things when I need them,” he added.
“Don’t worry. The next time your guys come in here, they’ll think you got yourself a new woman.”
Our gaze met the moment my statement was made, but the look on Ivan’s face surprised me. He was grinning from ear to ear.
“So uh…if you’ll allow me, I’ll get started on dinner,” I said, breaking the thick wave of silence.
“I can help,” he offered.
“I’m guessing that you have things do since you took time out to show me around. Show me where everything is and I’ll do the rest.”
No opposition came, so I figured Ivan was grateful for the break. He mulled inside the house a bit, shuffling through some papers in his home office while I got started on dinner. The weather had improved a bit, so less than an hour passed before he ended up going back outside. It looks like he enjoyed the outdoors between than staying indoors.
So as the daylight faded and the evening hours rolled in, I familiarized myself with Ivan’s pantry while cooking our meal. I was grateful for the distraction from my problems for a change. Cooking didn’t seem like work to me. I couldn’t do much with the small double burner in the loft apartment. Ivan’s huge gas stove was made for big gourmet meals and several pots going at once. I was going to have fun with this and I’d certainly make the most of this time in Ivan’s cabin. Once the season was over, there was a chance that I’d be back at square one again. In a loft apartment. Skimping on meals. Saving money as fast as I could. And lonely.
The front door swung open and I caught a glimpse of Ivan hanging up his coat. “It smells delicious in here,” he yelled from the foyer.
“You’re right on time,” I called back. “The food’s almost ready.”
He came into the kitchen and set his hands on his hips and observed me at the stove. “I can’t thank you enough for this.”
“You’ve been really kind to me. This is a win-win for both of us, I think.”
“I think you’re right.” He cracked a smile. “I’m going to go wash my hands. I’ll be right back.”
Over dinner, we chatted a lot about Mount Greylock, the rise in tourism during the spring, and it’s history. I also learned about how Ivan’s great-great grandparents migrated over from Russia decades earlier, speaking very little English at the time. The Scott men were lumberjacks way before they ever became tree farmers. There was even a carpenter in the family at one point who moved away when Ivan was a young boy. Felling trees
was in Ivan’s blood. I almost couldn’t believe that he had thought about selling the business after his brother deserted him for the city. All he needed was some help and a little more encouragement along the way and I wanted to give that to him.
By the time we got done eating, I was extra tired. Between the tour of the Scott property, settling into my new room, and cooking, all the excitement had done a number on my body. My mind was racing with the possibilities here, but my body was too weary to formulate any kind of plan just yet about how I was going to help Ivan streamline his business.
Ivan insisted on cleaning the dishes himself while I finished unpacking. Realizing that it was way past my bedtime, I didn’t protest much. But, instead of putting my clothes away, I filled the oversized bathtub with steamy water and immersed myself in the feel of the water blanketing my entire body. The loft only had a shower, so I had forgotten what taking a hot bath felt like.
How did I get so lucky? I’d been on my last thread of hope when I called Ivan about the job and he’d been seconds away from calling the bank to entertain buyers for his business. I guess we were both lucky. I wasn’t going to mess this up.
Ivan
Last night served as a reminder of how nasty merchants can be. Not that I needed one. I knew them all like the back of my hand. Most of them wanted to purchase Christmas trees in bulk and demanded huge discounts, because they were planning on selling at ridiculous prices. According to them, this was an ideal way to make a good profit. They had done this again, three years ago. Back then, I told them a big, fat “no,” but it seemed they hadn’t learned their lesson. Now, they sounded like broken records. In any case, I wasn’t going to indulge them. I was running a business, not a charity foundation.
What kept me sane was the prospect of working with Scarlet. At last, I would have a helping hand, someone I could vent about my problems, and that someone would completely understand me. I did that once with Martha, but her reaction made me regret it. I hadn’t taken into account her age, and the poor woman’s blood pressure got so high that I had to take her to hospital. After that, I never spoke to her about my merchants’ ways. All I did was hand over to her the delivery data.
After an almost sleepless night, I woke up early in the morning to make some breakfast and coffee. I turned on the radio, and opened my fridge. Jam, peanut butter and some orange juice would do. There was a lot more to choose from, but I preferred to keep this light. Within minutes, the news on the radio gave me cause for concern. A blizzard was on its way to New York. It would be there by nightfall. Phenomena like that often plagued Adams, too. In a way, I was relieved that it wouldn’t hit my town, but that didn’t change the fact that it would cause huge problems.
“Good morning.” Scarlet said in a somewhat hoarser voice, joining me in the kitchen. Her tight jeans hugged her waist like a second skin. She also had an orange sweater on and a pair of white socks. “I think you’re up awfully early.” She remarked, glancing out the window. The city girl had a point. Darkness was still fading into daylight.
“That’s because of the ‘merchants’ effect.’” I complained, setting two, blue coffee mugs down on the counter. “They got me so worked up that I couldn’t sleep last night.”
“Let me guess. They’re trying to rip you off.” She presumed, crossing her arms over her chest.
“Pretty much.” I sighed, pouring coffee into the mugs. “Sometimes I wonder just what the hell is going on in their heads. I mean, what do they think? That I crap trees or something?”
At that, Scarlet burst into loud, hearty laughter, covering her mouth with her hand. Her spine flexed and extended as she shook her head in amusement. Even the way she laughed was elegant. She didn’t cackle or snicker for that matter. She slid her hand up her face first, and then ran it through her hair, her eyes still glinting.
“I’m sorry, but…” Scarlet faltered. “I couldn’t help myself. It was just too funny.”
“Never apologize for being yourself.” I advised, a big smile forming on my face. “I’m glad something good came out of my frustration.”
“What, the laugh?” She wondered, pointing up at her face.
“Yes.” I affirmed, handing over a mug of coffee to her. “Your whole face lit up, not to mention it wasn’t annoying. Whenever I attend family reunions, I think I’m in a henhouse.”
Coffee rushed out of her nose at the end of my sentence. Scarlet bent down over the counter, laughing even louder than before. Just then, I realized how good it was that standing beside her, and not behind her. I couldn’t predict how I’d react at the sight of her ass in those tight jeans. That woman was a breathing, walking temptation.
“Oh, my God…” She chuckled, straightening herself up. “A henhouse? Really?”
“You have no idea.” I snorted. “Anyway, we need to head into town. I just got some bad news about the weather. It’s going to be snowing tonight. I need to get you a pair of snow boots.”
“Why?” Scarlet asked, her face twisting into an expression of surprise. “I’ll be in the house all the time.”
“Maybe, but you might need them one of these days.” I told her, slipping my hands into my pockets. “Trust me, you don’t want to walk in knee-deep snow, wearing flats or high heels.”
“Knee-deep?” She muttered, tapping her index finger on her chin. “I did not see this coming. I thought it was a little too early for that.”
“Go get your coat, city girl.” I urged, tossing a quick glance over at her door. “I’ll be waiting for you in my truck.”
“Okay.” Scarlet chirped, sipping some more coffee. I tore my gaze away from her when she turned around. God knew how much I’d like to watch her swaying her hips as she made her way back to her room. Nevertheless, this was torture. Every time I stared at her, I felt like a beast in its cage, a beast that was dying to be unleashed. Therefore, I strode out of my house. The cold was guaranteed to help me cool off.
I looked up into the overcast sky, when it dawned on me that this torment would soon be over. In a matter of days, we would both be swamped with work. My lovely merchants would ensure that I had neither the time, nor the energy to bother with my personal life. I would only lay eyes on her whenever I needed to talk to her about deliveries or anything else work-related.
“It’s tragic. I mean, relying on a bunch of greedy merchants to help you take your mind off of her? Whatever it is, I’ll take it. Staying away from her is the right thing to do…”
Scarlet
.
Ivan’s offer to buy me snow boots hadn’t come as a surprise. He had already shown me how generous and thoughtful he could be. He was just trying to protect me from my ignorance. I could still recall his words:
“I already have one housekeeper in hospital. I’d hate to see you end up there, too.”
His sense of humor was a shocker. I didn’t expect him to say something like that in his frustration. I thought Ivan was all business, but I couldn’t be more wrong. Neither did I expect him to make fun of his relatives like that. All the same, the biggest surprise of all was his compliment. The joke about family reunions couldn’t have come at a better time. Why? Because he had left me speechless. My limbs had paralyzed, and I honestly believed I wouldn’t be able to force a single word out of my throat for several seconds. I might have been complemented before, but appraisal means more when it comes from a stud like him. If I could work up the courage to speak to him, I would tell him just how sexy I thought he was. Yet, that was a big “if.”
A few minutes later, Ivan’s pickup truck rolled into town. Though the shoe store couldn’t have been more than a mile away, getting there proved to be quite difficult. Like a true gentleman, he slowed down, because almost everybody either waved or honked at him. Comparing this scene of insane love from his compatriots with the welcome I received was inevitable. The same people were nasty and condescending to me, and their filthy ways were still lingering in my mind. On the other hand though, they treated Ivan like royalty. He looked lik
e a celebrity amongst his most avid fans. And, when he spotted an elderly man outside the local supermarket, he even brought his truck to a gentle halt. The stranger in question moved around the vehicle, maintaining eye contact with him.
“Morning, kid!” He said, leaning his elbows on the open window. “How have you been? It’s been a while since we last saw you around here. How’s your brother?”
“Good morning, Lucas.” Ivan tipped his head down in a polite manner. “I’ve been busy with work. You know how crazy it gets this time of year. Alan’s fine. He’s living the big life in the city as usual.”
“If you ask me, you should be there with him.” Lucas spoke his mind, still smiling down at him. “Life’s too short, kid. Anyway, nice seeing you. You take care.”
“So long, Lucas.” Ivan dismissed him with a nod, and drove off. “He used to be my father’s best friend. He’s a good man. Bad gambler, but a good man.”
“You’ve never mentioned your brother.” I remarked, turning my head to face him. “Why’s that?”
“Let’s just say we’re different.” He uttered, his voice bass-deep. “He thought the family business was below him. He moved to the city about a year ago.”
“Below…” That word slipped right out of my mouth. However, I didn’t force the issue. I could tell he was still a bit disgruntled over it. Any further questions would upset him more.
“People come and go, Scarlet.” Ivan went on, a hint of bitterness in his tone. “Family ties and close friendships don’t matter much to them these days. They’re just too self-centered to put them ahead of their own needs.”
If I was suspicious of his feelings towards his brother before, I was positive about them now. It didn’t take Einstein to understand that those two were in bad terms with each other. And it didn’t Einstein for me to realize how much I needed to change the subject.
Trapped with the Mountain Man Page 3
