“I left him at home. I didn’t know how keen you’d be to having a dog in the house.”
“You can always bring Cider. I love dogs.”
“Thank you, that’s great to know.” Tyler removed his gloves. “If I can’t fix it, we can call Don.”
“Does Don own a heating and electric repair business? Should I have called him instead of you?” Lorelei asked.
“No, the Norths were specific about you calling me first. Plus, they don’t have a cell phone or a way to contact them. However, they usually leave Don’s number.”
“Seems odd. But it makes sense that someone should be reachable if a problem arose.”
“Don runs the convenience store, but he is the handiest man in Oakvale. If he’s not able to fix it, then we will need to buy a new . . . whatever is needed. But Don can fix just about anything.”
Lorelei headed down the hall, stopping at the edge of the kitchen. “Would you mind watching Mary Ann for two seconds? I need to get her playpen out of the sedan.”
“Of course.” Tyler held out his hands for Lorelei to place her daughter in them.
After she handed Mary Ann over, she threw on her jacket and scarf and snatched up the keys. Upon returning inside with the playpen, she heard Tyler talking about the thermostat to her daughter. “Let’s see if we can fix this for you and your mommy before your fingers start falling off from frostbite.”
Lorelei passed them and set up the playpen between the kitchen and living room. “You seem great with kids,” she called down the hall.
“Other than the bowling alley, my first, what I call real job, was hosting the children’s story time over at Once Upon a Book. I read every picture book in the store for sure.”
Lorelei pressed her lips together to keep from making an aw noise aloud. “And your handyman skills, where did they come from?”
As she approached Tyler and her daughter, all the blood surged to her heart, causing it to hammer. He had Mary Ann facing the thermostat while she chewed the handle of a screwdriver.
“To be honest, I’m the least-handy man in all of Oakvale.”
Before she could even ask, Tyler replied to precisely what she was thinking.
“Don’t worry. The screwdriver is clean. I always clean all of my tools. I have a neat-and-tidy disorder.” He turned to Lorelei. Her daughter kicked her legs as she sat atop his left arm, his right clamped around her like a seat belt.
“Sounds as though you have a truckload of great qualities, Tyler.” She lifted Mary Ann from his arms. "So, you and Jodi never dated in school?”
It was not any of her business, but it slipped from her mouth before she could reel it back in. Her feet stopped like she’d approached the edge of a cliff. “I’m sorry, forget I asked.” She pivoted around, facing his direction.
He glanced at the floor and then back up at Lorelei. “I don’t mind, and yes, we did date in high school.”
Her lips formed an O as she nodded slightly.
Giving his hand a wave of don’t care, he said, “I think it was three dates, and we discovered we had nothing in common other than Oakvale and decided to stay friends. And she’s a great friend.”
A smile formed on Lorelei’s face. As soon as she realized she was blushing, she spun around and set Mary Ann in the playpen. Then she brought her attention to her cell phone. She scrolled through and responded to a few of the text messages from some ER nurses back home. The room around her faded as her shoulders tensed with each continued minute tapping and swiping through the cell phone screens.
Get off your phone! Lorelei thought as she set the cell upside down on the counter and rolled her eyes at herself.
“Do you know what’s wrong with the thermostat?” Lorelei called from the kitchen, where she’d started preparing the coffee maker. She double-checked her hair in the reflection of the microwave door, fluffing it up with her fingers.
Why am I having this concern about how I look around Tyler? she questioned herself, taking a deep breath. Focus, you met him a day ago. You’re not staying.
“I think I need to go up into the attic.” His voice was closer than she expected, and as she spun around, they were nearly nose to nose.
“Hi.” Tyler’s voice was as smooth as melted butter in a hot pot.
Lorelei swallowed. “Hi.” Her cheeks instantly flushed.
In an attempt to get her cheeks to return to normal, she opened cupboards, making sure to hide her face under the guise of locating the mugs. “Want some coffee?”
“That sounds great, but let me climb up there and see if I can figure out what’s wrong first. It’s too cold in here for you and Mary Ann.”
Lorelei reached out for the countertop as a wave of calmness washed over her. It didn’t take but a few seconds to realize the calm wave was a release of responsibility. Someone else to shoulder the weight of a problem for her and Mary Ann. Her daughter started to fuss in the playpen as Lorelei prepared her formula. With a warm bottle in one hand and a coffee mug in the other, she set them both on the coffee table, picked up her daughter, and sat on the couch. In front of them, the fire crackled as they enjoyed their warm drinks. Outside, snow fell in tight, tiny crystals. Leaning her head back on the couch, a smile formed on her lips. This is what small-town life was all about. A helping community, not checking her cell phone every five minutes, no running around keeping up with a constantly busy schedule. Regardless of her fast-forming crush on Tyler, she instantly appreciated the sense of friendship.
“Well,” Tyler said as he entered the living room, “looks like we’re calling Don.” He wiped his hands on a small blue cloth. “At least the fireplace is warming up this area a bit. You both look cozy.” He leaned over the couch and smiled at them.
“We are, join us. It’s far too early to be up and about.” Lorelei began rising from the couch, her mug empty. “I need a refill, and I’ll grab you a cup.”
“Stay there. I’m already up.” Tyler took her mug to the kitchen.
“Thank you. I like it black.”
“I like mine black, too.” Tyler refilled her mug and poured his own before sitting next to Mary Ann, who was propped up in a nest of pillows, holding her bottle.
“Thank you,” Lorelei said, taking her cup from him.
“I do wish you’d called me as soon as you realized the heat wasn’t working.” He sipped from the mug. “Hopefully, Don can fix it.”
As Lorelei shook her head, a large crash came from upstairs. Springing up off the couch, she nearly spilled her coffee as she jumped a foot in the air. “What was that?” she asked, raising her voice to be heard over Mary Ann’s cries due to the commotion.
“Stay here. I’ll go check.” Tyler swiftly exited the living room, his coffee steaming as it sat on the end table.
Suddenly, Lorelei wanted to be back in her tiny condo, where she knew where every noise originated. Picking up Mary Ann, she swayed her gently on the couch, calming her tears.
“It’s okay, baby. I’m sure it’s nothing.” Although it sounded like something to Lorelei—it sounded like someone or something was upstairs. Tyler had been up there only minutes before, so he would have seen if something was there. Right?
“It’s okay! But it’s not okay!” Tyler’s voice echoed down the stairs.
Lorelei stood from the couch, taking her daughter with her. As they rounded the hall to the stairs, Tyler descended them, along with an extra burst of fridge air.
“We need to call Don for two things now.” Tyler brushed snow off his shoulders.
“Why is there snow on you?” Lorelei’s brow creased.
Tyler stood at the bottom of the steps, his hand on the banister. “There is a slight hole in the roof.”
“Hole? Slight?”
Tyler glanced back up the stairs and then back at Lorelei. “Bowling ball size.”
Chapter 9
“You definitely have a hole.” Don stared up at the snow coming through the open roof.
“I don’t understand.” Lorele
i turned to Tyler. “You were up there, and you didn’t see anything right before it happened. How did it manage to happen through the attic?”
“No attic in this spot.” Don pointed. “See, this here roof angle . . . and over there, that angle, that’s where the attic stops.” He sported a red plaid ear-flap hat with matching scarf and jean overalls.
Tyler glanced over at Lorelei as she held Mary Ann, rocking her and probably trying to calm her nerves, too. While it was not her house, he could see Lorelei clenching her jaw—in less than twenty-four hours, she had no working heat and now a hole in the roof of her aunt and uncle’s house. The noise they’d heard was not the snow but the ceiling’s drywall collapsing into a vase of dried flowers. The vase set off a domino effect, leaning against a vertical stack of books which took out the classic double-bell alarm clock which toppled off the side of the dresser into the copper trash can three feet below. While downstairs, all Tyler and Lorelei had heard was a loud crash.
“You can fix it, right, Don? I mean, it’s snowing inside.” Lorelei brushed the snow off her nose.
“Yep, I can.” Don remained focused on the hole.
Tyler patted Don on the back. He’d taken about thirty minutes to arrive after Tyler called. Don had finished ringing up the customers at this store, flipped the sign to Closed, and then bundled up to make the short drive out to the Norths’ home. While Don was skilled in all things repair, he never succumbed to stress or troublesome situations. Which meant, while he could help, he didn’t have the urgency of most. Things were done and done well but at a leisurely pace.
Lorelei’s eyes jetted to Tyler, and she elbowed him.
“Don, what can I do to help? Bring in some supplies from the truck?” Tyler placed his hand on Don’s back.
“That’d be nice.” Don peered back up at the hole. “I’m trying to think what we’ll need.”
“It would be great if we could have you look in the attic at the furnace, too, since the thermostat is on the fritz.” Tyler directed Don, ushering him out of the room.
“Yep, it is a might bit chilly in here. Let’s get the stuff for the ceiling, and then we’ll tackle the heat problem.” Don’s feet shuffled down the steps.
Tyler followed behind but turned back over his shoulder to Lorelei. “It’s going to be okay,” he mouthed.
He saw her pinch her eyes closed as though she might be wishing for a miracle. And he completely understood. As he helped Don unload supplies from this truck, Tyler couldn't erase the image of Lorelei when she’d opened the door this morning or the way he felt the second he was with her. His mind focused on how she walked with graceful but freeing, almost childlike steps, her genuine smile, and how he already recognized when something frustrated her. Never in his life had he paid attention to how someone walked before. Even thinking of it now seemed odd. Yet, the thought of how her shoulders squared up with confidence and her feet, joyful with each step, caused his dimples to appear.
“Tough break for Lorelei. This house has never had an issue that I know of, and now two things fail.” Don fastened his tool belt around his waist. “I’ll fix everything, and she’ll be able to enjoy the house. And maybe you two can spend some time together.”
Tyler’s mind was lost on Lorelei, and he nodded his head in agreement without listening completely to Don’s words.
“You should have her and the baby head into town today. The house will take a while to heat up once the issues are fixed. It might be good if she met more of the residents before she starts work come Monday.”
Tyler pulled himself from his thoughts of Lorelei. “Sorry, Don, I only caught the last part of that.”
Don placed his hand on Tyler’s shoulder. “Less than a day, and you’re already daydreaming about her.”
Tyler waved off the comment. “No.” Although, as the word lifted his mouth, it sounded more like a question. “She’s only here temporarily. Regardless, you and I both know there’s not a vacant house in town. Plus, Oakvale only needs one doctor.”
As Don and Tyler reentered the home, Lorelei popped her head from around the kitchen wall. “Don, would you like any coffee?”
“No, thank you. I had three already this morning. It’s nearing lunchtime.” Don headed up the stairs.
Tyler checked his cell phone. Two minutes to ten. Don always closed the convenience store from eleven to eleven thirty so he could enjoy a nice leisurely lunch and read a few chapters from a book. Tyler knew this because most of the books Don read ran about thirty chapters. And he noticed every fifteen days Don would exit his store, cross the street, and headed into Once Upon a Book. After a good ten minutes, Don would leave the bookstore with a satisfied smile and a new book in hand, heading back across the street. Tyler also knew Don didn’t read after work or on the weekends, or he would finish a book much sooner. Thinking of how much he knew about each Oakvale resident based on their book habits sparked a fire inside him. Tyler had developed a special skill, but he wouldn’t win any game shows with it. Sharon loved sweet romance and cozy mysteries. Jodi devoured thrillers. His mom loved anything with an animal in it, and his dad a huge nonfiction fan. The townspeople often asked for book recommendations, and he used his skills readily to help Oakvale residents who were big booky fans. Not to be confused with bookies. And those hungry readers were what made Once Upon a Book a continuously thriving business.
“I can manage this alone if you want to head into town with Lorelei and her daughter.” Don popped open his toolbox on the bedroom floor.
“I introduced her to a few residents yesterday. Unfortunately, I need to head over to work and get everything up and running. By the time everyone finishes their weekend chores and errands, they will be looking for something to do.” Tyler itched at the morning scruff on his chin. Typically, he shaved his face before leaving the house each day, but in his mad dash, he hadn’t taken the time.
“Good point, Tyler. I’ll give you a call if anything comes up.”
“Thanks, Don.” He smiled and made his way downstairs to Lorelei.
Upon entering the living room, he found Lorelei and Mary Ann wrapped under a large throw blanket facing the fireplace. Her right hand was outside of the blanket, her thumb scrolling on the cell phone’s screen.
He cleared his throat, and she tossed the phone next to her.
“I need to learn how to ignore my phone, or I’ll never relax.” Lorelei turned to Tyler. “How does it look?”
“Don can fix anything, even if he doesn’t spring into action immediately,” Tyler stated. “He did make a great suggestion. How about you head into town with Mary Ann and get to know everyone and look around the stores.”
“It would be warmer than here.” Lorelei’s smile was weak but visible. “Will you be joining us? Maybe show me around my new office, too, unless you need to stay and help Don.”
Tyler gasped internally. Oofta! Somehow, he completely forgot he needed to show her around the doctor’s office before Monday. “Yes, I have the keys at my office, but no, sorry, I won’t be able to join you.” Though he wanted to! “Whenever you’re ready, stop by to grab them. I’m heading home to pick up Cider, then straight to the office.” He rested his hand on the edge of the couch. “Bye, Mary Ann, I’ll see you and your mommy later.”
“You’re leaving already? You can’t stay to finish your coffee?” Lorelei pivoted her upper body on the couch.
At that moment, he finally understood why being an adult sucked at times. He would love nothing more than to spend the day with Lorelei and Mary Ann. In fact, he couldn’t recall the last time he’d strolled around town enjoying the day. “Did you need me to stay?”
She opened her mouth and then brought her finger to her chin. “No, I guess not.”
“You can trust Don. Your stuff is safe. And he can lock up when he’s finished, drop off the key with me, and I’ll track you down in town.” Tyler pushed his hand into his pocket.
Lorelei batted her hand. “I’m not worried about any of that. Self-defense cla
sses, remember.” She stared at him as though she had something else to ask or say.
“Are you sure there isn’t anything else?”
Running her hand over her neck, she removed the throw and stood up. “Nothing at all, thank you for everything. I’ll get ready. Heading into town sounds like a great idea. Do you think I need to put the fire out?”
“No, but let Don know so he can make sure it’s out before he leaves. He should be here a few hours, and by then, it’ll have long died down.” Tyler headed to the front door, but the weight of whatever Lorelei was holding back remained with him.
“See you shortly,” she called from the kitchen. “Thanks again.”
As he started up his truck, he couldn’t help but pause, staring at the house. Between his heart and his mind, it felt as though a string was being tightened. Could he be missing Lorelei? Because it sure felt like it. The string drew tighter, and he took a deep breath, trying to loosen it without success. He was nearly certain he couldn’t miss someone he’d only known for a day . . . could he? Reluctantly, he put the truck in drive and headed to work.
Chapter 10
The heat blasted through the sedan’s vents as Lorelei turned onto the main road into town. Her fingers were nice and warm by the time she pulled into a slanted parking spot in front of the bowling alley. She noticed Tyler’s truck and saw the lights on inside of the office. It’d stopped snowing for the moment, but the clouds warned it might start again at any minute. Thankfully, with the sidewalks cleared, she could use the stroller today.
Leaning over the steering wheel, she spent a few moments taking everything in. Without the modern cars parked along the road, the town looked the same as it might have in the 1950s. Lining the sidewalk, glittery green Christmas trees were attached to light poles, while wires running across the streets held oversized cherry-red bells and twisted silver garland. Every storefront had multicolored lights running along the borders of the windows.
After she loaded Mary Ann into her stroller, she waved at Tyler, who happened to be milling about inside, Cider at his side. He waved back. She wanted to give him his space to work on whatever he needed to get done, and after all, she had seen him less than an hour ago.
The Christmas Rental Page 6