Page 27 of Two Weeks in Tahoe

Liam:How’s a guy supposed to compete with all these perfect fictional men?

I laugh again.

Layla:Don’t worry, you’re doing just fine;)

I shiver, realizing how cold I am sitting here. I go to check the heat, but it doesn’t seem to be working. I push buttons and fiddle with the thermostat, but nothing changes. It’s going to get freezing in here really fast if it’s broken.

I immediately contact the owner of the rental, then I open my message thread with Liam while I wait for a response. He wrote back a few minutes ago.

Liam: I’d like to see you again.

I send him an update about my heating situation, and he immediately writes back.

Liam:I’m coming to take a look.

Liam:If that’s okay…

Layla:Okay. Thank you!

I scramble to the bathroom, realizing he could be here within five minutes if he hops right in his truck. I brush my hair and add a quick swipe of mascara. Thankfully, my curls from last night held a little and I was wise enough to wash my mascara-streaked face when I got home last night. It’ll have to do. I quickly throw on a pair of black leggings and a thick, forest-green cable-knit sweater, then spritz a bit of perfume on my neck before returning to the couch. I pick up a book, but my mind can’t seem to focus, anticipating his knock at any time.

I pull out my phone and send Daniela a quick message.

Layla:Liam is coming over to fix the furnace.

Daniela:Is this an innuendo for something?

Layla:No. It’s actually broken and he’s coming to take a look. A true knight in shining armor.

Daniela:OMG. Brian would have never known how to even start fixing that. Of course that mountain man would know how to fix a furnace. Use protection:) Or don’t. xoxo

I laugh. After I calmed down from my crying fit last night, I crawled into bed and called Daniela for a quick check-in. She would have been blowing me up all night if I hadn’t updated her at all. The only way she would have left me alone is if I told her I ended up at his place, which, clearly, I did not. After I gave her a very condensed version of what happened, her voice softened, and she told me to get some rest. She added that the sunset sounded nice.

I’ve only been sitting down for a few minutes, scrolling through my phone, when a knock sounds at the door. I hop off the couch to answer it.

I open the door, and his broad figure fills the doorway. “Hey,” I say.

“I got a call about a furnace?” he smirks down at me.

“Right this way, sir.” I play into it, letting him in. “Sorry I interrupted your morning with this.”

“Not at all. I’ll tell you later what forms of payment I accept,” he says with a mischievous grin.

“Coffee?” I offer.

“No, not coffee,” he replies, still grinning.

“I hate surprises, you know.”

He shakes his head. “I know. Some surprises are good, though.” He winks.

I clear my throat. “So, no Jackson today?”

“He’s at his grandparents in Reno for the weekend.”

“Ah. Your parents?”

“Yep. They picked him up from school yesterday and took him for a couple of days.”

---