Page 63 of Tempting the Goalie
“I couldn’t afford that, and I doubt Phoenix would want me and a baby living over his garage. Braden cries at night. It’d be a hassle for him,” Elyna says.
“Stop being stubborn, Elyna,” Luc cuts in. “Let’s hear what the rent is first.”
“The place would be free. We offer housing to our seasonal employees, so you would be no different,” I explain.
“Only that isn’t a cabin. I’ve walked by Phoenix’s house. It’s huge and fancy. There is no way on earth he has agreed to this arrangement,” Elyna insists.
“You’re wrong. He has agreed it would be rent free and it’s available immediately,” I say to her.
“Elyna, say yes. This place is safe. It will be good for you and Braden,” Luc urges.
“No, Phoenix really dislikes me. I just can’t imagine he’d agree to this and, if he did, I would want to pay him rent. It may not be what the place is worth, but I don’t want any handouts.”
Luc groans beside me.
“I’m sure we can work something out. Please just say you’ll take it,” I urge.
“I’d need to speak with Phoenix and hear it from him,” she insists.
“Sure, we can arrange that. I’m pretty sure he’s at the restaurant now. Let’s take a walk,” I suggest.
“Okay,” she agrees, turning her stroller around. We head away from the orchards where Elyna must be coming from and take the path the other way toward the microbrewery.
Elyna mumbles to Luc that this is a bad idea. Luc tries to convince her it’s her best option and he’s right.
When we get to the microbrewery, Phoenix is at the bar looking at his phone and having a beer.
“Hi, Bean,” he says. “Luc. Elyna,” he says curtly. He shakes Luc’s hand and gives Elyna a head nod.
“Hi,” I say to my eldest brother. The man is handsome but he’s also a big introvert, so peopling isn’t on the top of his list. “I was just telling Elyna the loft is hers if she wants it. She wanted to hear it from your mouth though,” I explain. Phoenix looks over at Elyna and scowls. I internally cringe.
“The place is yours for as long as you need,” Phoenix says.That a boy.
“You do realize I have a baby who can cry loudly?” Elyna says to him.
Luc hisses beside me. “Are you trying to convince him not to give you the place?” he asks Elyna.
“Won’t matter, place is hers if she wants it,” Phoenix says matter-of-factly. He reaches into the pocket of his jeans and passes her a key. “The place is furnished, but I don’t have a crib.”
Elyna extends her hand and he drops the key in her palm. Elyna’s mouth falls open and then her lower lip quivers. “Thanks, Phoenix. I appreciate this, but I’m paying you rent.”
“I don’t want your money,” he tells her.
“I won’t take it for free. Tell me what I can do,” she says to him.
Phoenix narrows his dark eyes on her. “Fine, if you really must do something, then you can fill in when one of the servers calls in sick.”
“As long as I have a babysitter for Braden, you got it,” she assures him.
“I’m happy to babysit him. He’s the sweetest baby I’ve ever seen,” I volunteer.
“He’s probably the only baby you’ve ever seen,” Luc jokes.
“He is not. Young families come here all the time,” I feign.
“But you don’t watch their babies,” Luc says.
“Can you believe these two?” Elyna suddenly says to Phoenix.
