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As I dodged her playful swipe, I saw him looking at me, and my laughter died. He couldn’t come home with me to the guesthouse; I wouldn’t be able to eat the entire week if he was in the same room as me. My senses went haywire when he looked at me.
“How many guests are boarding with you?” he asked me.
Shuffling my feet, I knew I would have lied and told him I was full if I didn’t have Janice perched at my side. “None, at the moment.”
“Just us?” he asked, and I didn’t miss the quick glance over me, and I really wished I had gone for more than shorts and a T-shirt today.
“Your room door locks.”
In the uncomfortable silence as I wished I could levitate my way out of here, Janice’s snort of laughter broke the awkwardness.
“I’ll get Wayne to check the car,” she said to both of us. “Make sure it’s safe for everyone and see if we can move it.” She started heading back to the rear of the shop. “Got things to bake. You best get your lodger back to the guesthouse. Man could use a shower.”
With a wave of her hand, she disappeared, and out of the corner of my eye, I saw him sniff his shirt. If that wasn’t the cutest thing ever, I wasn’t sure what was.
“If there’s somewhere else I can stay,” he said with uncertainty.
“There isn’t,” Janice’s voice carried from the back.
Rolling my eyes at him, I gestured to the door, and with a small smile, he grabbed his groceries and we started to the door.
Stopping suddenly, I grabbed one of the nut loaves off the shelf, yelling to Janice I had it. When I got no reply, I left, knowing she had heard me. The woman heard everything.
“There isn’t really anywhere,” I explained as we stood out on the roadside. “My place is the only one, always has been.” He was looking up the road, taking in the buildings, noting the scattering of small businesses. “I can take you back down?” I offered.
His attention snapped back to me, and he shook his head. “No, you know, the thought of that shower kind of has me feeling desperate for hot water.”
“Well, hot water, I have.” I grinned and together we walked around the back of Janice’s store. “This is me,” I said as I pointed to the truck.
“You live far?”
“Ten minutes, further up.” I nodded towards the peak. “That okay?”
“Yeah, no, that’s fine.” He got in and strapped on his seatbelt, and I hid my smile as he made himself comfortable. Starting the truck, I backed out of the spot and onto the main road. I didn’t miss his white knuckles.
“Trust me, I won’t hit anyone,” I assured him and saw his furtive nod, but the death grip on the seat stayed.
As I drove, I wasn’t sure what to say to him. This felt awkward, which was stupid, since I didn’t know him to feel awkward with him. Was I attracted to him? Does shit stick to your shoe like superglue? Damn right it does.
“I’m Mark,” he said after a few minutes. “Not sure if you heard.”
“Hi.” I pointed at myself. “Iris.”
“Yeah, got that.” He gave me a smile, and I got caught in his stare before I jerked my head back to the road.
“Holy shit,” he breathed, and glancing over at him, I saw him sitting straight, looking out the window.
“Pretty?” I asked him knowingly as I looked out his side at the view of the pine trees, the scattering of oaks, and the mountains rising above us.
“I didn’t realise,” he said quietly. “When I was driving.”
“You don’t get the full effect until you’re higher.” We drove in silence as he kept his attention on the scenery, and I felt oddly relieved yet saddened that his attention wasn’t on me.
At the house, I parked, and again I felt nervous as he looked over my home. Yes, it was a guesthouse, with six bedrooms and five bathrooms, but to a New Yorker, would it look humble?
Why did I care?
“Wow,” Mark said as he closed the truck door and walked forward. He looked at me over his shoulder. “This place is gorgeous, Iris.”
