The Man Cave Collection: Manservant, Man Flu, Man Handler, and Man Buns

by Ryan, Shari J.

  “Yeah, yeah, I have a cold sweat but isn’t from the ice cream. I—”

  I read between her lines and cup my hands around her face, taking her lips back as my own. I touch my tongue to her bottom lip, tasting more hints of the spice. It burns, but like any addiction, I want more.

  She breaks away this time. “Austin, I can hardly stand.”

  “I’ve got ya.”

  “You have a little more spice in you than I gave you credit for,” I tell her. “I’m impressed.”

  “And you have a bit more sweetness that I thought,” she says. Our words are soft and more like whispers that seem to be stolen by the breeze whistling through the tree limbs above us.

  I press my lips to hers once more, just for a small second, before I have to end the moment and take her to find us some drinks. Personally, I’d rather suffer from this lingering burn for as long as possible.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Scarlett

  Two Weeks Later

  Not only is it way easier getting to work on time when I live forty seconds away, but all the guests here like to have long conversations when they pass by the desk. It makes my shifts go by quickly, which is nice.

  “Good afternoon, sweet pea!” The voice is unfamiliar but vaguely familiar at the same time. I look up, finding the girl I met the first night I arrived here in Blytheville. Crap, what is her name. It’s two words, I remember that much. Lori … that was the first name. Laurie-Anne? No. Laurie-Jenn? No, that wasn’t it.

  “Good morning!” That’ll have to do.

  “It’s me, Laurie-Cate. Remember, we met a few weeks ago?”

  Laurie-Cate, right. “Of course, I remember. How have you been? Are your parents enjoying their stay?”

  “Oh, yes, yes, of course. However, I reckon they have a wee bit of a problem, but they couldn’t figure out how to come all the way down here to the front desk to tell you.”

  “Oh no, what’s going on?” I ask her. While I’m talking, I pull up all guest records, but I have no clue what either of her parents’ names are. “What is the last name?”

  “Gilly; G-i-l-l-y,” she spells out. “Daddy said the shower won’t turn on and the faucet is leaking brown, dirty water. Would you believe they’ve gone a whole three days without bathing or calling me for help? Aside from the fact that they could have dragged their ole’ behinds down here themselves and told you, they know I live just down the road.”

  “Oh geez,” I exclaim. “Parents know how to push our buttons, huh?”

  “They sure do, Scarlett. Are your parents old and naggy too?” Laurie-Cate asks.

  “Yes, they are, which is why I still haven’t told them I moved down here yet.”

  “Heavens to Betsy, how have you managed to keep that from them all this time?” She places her hand on her heart as if she’s shocked and appalled that I could such a thing. Except, she doesn’t know Dad, and probably wouldn’t understand.

  “Oh, they’re so wrapped up in their own lives. We just do our own things.” I’m an utter embarrassment to Dad who would rather cut me out of the family than let anyone know I didn’t follow in his career path.

  “Oh goodness, that’s just terrible!” she says. “How could anyone forget about their daughter?”

  “Well, seeing as I’m twenty-nine now, according to my dad, I should be a high-level executive in one of the city’s corporate high-rise buildings, but here I am. The rest is just dirt swept under the rug. No biggie.”

  “At twenty-nine?” she questions. “You’re a lady. You have far better things to do with your time than wear a hideous pant suit and answer to a bunch of crabby old men.”

  I laugh quietly. “Oh, it’s not like that up north. Women are in charge almost as much as the men are. We push the whole gender equality thing.” I honestly feel like I’m talking to a woman back in the forties. “What do most women do around here?”

  She huffs an aggravated laugh. “Well, most women in their mid-twenties are typically expected to be married, and at least working on baby number one.” I know my eyes are bugging out right now.

  “Expected?”

  She shrugs. “It’s kind of the way of life around this neck of the woods. We stay at home and raise babies, and if we live on or near farms, we help manage some of that on the side too.”

  “I’m still trying to wrap my head around this lifestyle. I can’t lie,” I tell her.

  “Well, between you, me, and the lamppost, I’m jealous that you’re making your own money. You have something to work toward and can feel accomplished. As for me, I’m not married yet. I don’t even have a boyfriend, and according to my parents, I must have committed some kind of horrible crime seeing as I’m clearly being ‘punished by the devil.’”

  “That’s insane,” I tell her. “Want me to talk to your parents?” I’m joking, but I’d be happy to tell them what’s what. What is with people?

  “Oh goodness gracious, no. You’d lose your job.” She waves me off. “Thank you for your kind offer, though.”

  “So,” she says while tracing her finger up and down the counter. “You said that man you’re living with is not your boyfriend, right?”

  “Brendan?” I ask.

  “Yes,” she answers, shyly. Her cheeks brighten and I notice she’s fighting against a smile. Poor thing.

  “No, Brendan is not my boyfriend.”

  “Is he seeing anyone?” she continues.

  “He was before we left Boston, but not anymore.”

  “So, then, he’s single?” Oh boy.

  “Um, kind of.”

  “I’ve seen him around town a few times. He’s so friendly and … ” she leans over the counter and wraps her hands around the side of her mouth. “He’s fine, gorgeous actually. I’ve never seen such a good-looking man, except for our town’s most wanted bachelor.” She giggles and waves me off. “Oh, listen to me. I promised myself I wouldn’t start with the gossip so soon after meeting you. Sometimes, I just can’t help myself.”

  I’m not buying into her gossip. I don’t want to know who she’s talking about even though I’m fairly certain it has to be Austin after she mentioned his name the last time we spoke. In any case, gossip is a no-no for me and my position at this hotel. I don’t need it in my life either. I had enough of that in Boston. “Well, Brendan is certainly a nice sight to view,” I tell her, refusing to give her any further insight into Brendan’s love life.

  She shakes her head, probably realizing this conversation is getting mildly awkward.

  “You know,” she says, looking from side-to-side as her lips purse. I know this look. It’s the I heard gossip look. What is with people and their gossiping habits around here? It’s way worse than Boston, and I thought it was bad up there. “I know someone who knows someone, who might have seen you and Austin Trace making out at the Ice Cream Festival.” Her eyes are full of questions as she looks back and forth between my eyes. Now, she just looks crazy. “So, is it true?”

  “I—can’t be discussing my personal life at the front desk. I don’t want to get in trouble, you know?”

  “Oh. Come. On. No one is here. Just tell me,” she insists.

  Unfortunately, while I’m typically good at keeping a straight face when needed, I can’t seem to control the stupid smile creeping up from the corners of my mouth. “Laurie-Cate, I—”

  “Say no more, your smile says it all,” she says, waving her hand at me along with a dramatic sigh. “Well, I won’t ask any more questions, but I hope that’s going well for you both.”

  “Actually, I haven’t seen him since that night.” Yup, that’s the story of my life.

  She leans forward, placing her arms down on the counter. “You don’t say? Well, does he have your number?”

  “He didn’t ask for it,” I tell her.

  “That’s just crazy. I can’t believe he didn’t ask you.”

  “It happens,” I tell her. To me. All the time.

  “Well, you never know when you’ll run into him I suppo
se,” she says with a wry smile.

  “That’s true around here.” Time to switch the topic, like now. “So, I’m going to call maintenance and have them come and check out your parents’ villa. We’ll have that fixed up for them in no time.”

  “That would be just lovely. Thank you,” she says.

  “No problem.”

  “Oh, Scarlett, you know, there’s a few of us gals who have dinner once a month down at The Tavern in the square. I’d love for you to join us next time. We’ll be going there on Thursday night at six.”

  That sounds like absolute hell. I’d rather take this pen, jab it into my eye and pull it out the back of my head. “You’re so sweet for inviting me. I’ll see if I can get out of work a little early that day. If not, I’ll have to catch you ladies next time.”

  “Of course.” Her smile has contorted at least ten times during this awkward conversation, and I can’t figure out what any of the different looks mean.

  “Let me know if your parents continue to have any issues once maintenance has been by.”

  “Will do.” She blows me a quick kiss and flips her hair over her bare shoulders, then scurries off toward the villas in her A-line, knee length, fruit-bowl-colored dress.

  I think I’ve watched enough TV and seen my share of movies to figure this all out. Austin is a good-looking, single man. In fact, he’s one of the only good-looking men I’ve seen in this town. Laurie-Cate is a single, good-looking woman. I’ll just go out on a limb and assume they were together at some point. Maybe that’s why she’s so interested in Brendan. She probably thinks there’s more going on with us since we live together, and it’s the perfect plan for payback. That’s cute.

  “How's it going today, Miss Scarlett?” Ellis asks, walking through the front doors.

  “Everything is going well so far.” I’m just entering my notes on Laurie-Cate’s parents’ issues into the computer. Then, everything from today will be noted and documented.

  “You’re about done here in a few minutes, aren’t you?” Ellis asks.

  “Yes, sir. I have an appointment down at the hospital. Got to get this baby checked out again,” I tell him, lifting my cast-encased arm.

  “Well, I’ll keep my fingers crossed for good luck and that everything is healing well.”

  “Thank you, sir.”

  “Say, Miss Scarlett, does your friend, the one who lives with you, have a job of his own yet?”

  I look up from the computer, finding Ellis directly in front of the counter. “Actually, he’s been having a difficult time snagging a job anywhere. We don’t have a car yet, so he’s exhausted options that are within a walking distance or close enough for a cheap Uber ride. I’m sure he’ll find something soon, though.”

  “Well, I was going to say, we’re in need of a new bellhop. Ralphie was let go this morning, and I’m going to be hiring.”

  Rather than jump out of my pants with excitement that Ellis is considering a job offer for Brendan, I’m wondering why Ralphie was let go. This hotel isn’t very big and layoffs don’t sound like something of the norm around here. “What happened to Ralphie?”

  Ellis squints his eyes and his lips unfurl into a straight line. “I’m not sure if you know, but he’s older, going to be seventy soon. Anyway, he was having difficulty lifting bags, and I had a number of complaints from guests that he was asking them to help with their own bags. I feel terrible, but I need a capable person for that type of job.” For a man who looks like he takes baths in hundred dollar bills, I’d think he would try to find a more suitable position here for Ralphie rather than just kick him out, but what do I know?

  “Well, as sad as I am for Ralphie, I’m sure Brendan would be honored to fill out an application.”

  “Great,” Ellis says. “Have him stop by my office when you see him next.” With that statement, he taps his hand on the counter a few times and walks off, leaving a trail of clacking echoes from his designer shoes in his path.

  I guess job security isn’t a thing around here. I’ll keep that in the back of my mind as we come closer to the one-month mark of me figuring out if I’ve transitioned to a normal life here, or if I’m still homesick. I’m hovering somewhere in the middle, leaning toward the side of homesick at the moment.

  The hour hand on the grandfather clock hits five, and I grab my belongings to head off toward the hospital.

  For the last week, I’ve debated how this will turn out. If Austin is there, do I act like nothing happened? Or do I give him the cold shoulder? I didn’t give him my number. He didn’t ask for it, but I also didn’t offer it. However, Brendan did inform me that Austin has his number, which solidified the fact that Austin didn’t intend to contact me. Though I could have contacted him since I have his number, I felt like I needed to wait it out and see where his thoughts were at. I don’t like to be forward, not after my track record.

  I can’t say I haven’t been wondering how two people can share a kiss like we did, then find their friends, go in two separate ways, and close the book. I shouldn’t have let him kiss me in the first place. Maybe he’s avoiding me. He could have come to his senses, especially seeing how we haven’t run into each other in this teeny tiny little town. Whatever. I’ve put him out of my mind, and he can stay there. Hot lips or not, it was just a kiss, and it was just one night. I’ll live.

  The walk to the hospital is just about twenty minutes, but much easier on me now that I’ve purchased flat shoes—they’re the trendiest ones I could dig up. I’ve been against this style for a long time since I’m just over five feet tall, but heels do not work in this town with its cobblestone streets and sidewalks.

  I walk through the main entrance of the hospital and check in at the ER’s front desk with Daisy to ask where the Orthopedic department, so I can say hi to Daisy. By the time I greet her, I realize I feel mildly awkward around her now too.

  “Scarlett, how have you been?” she asks with excitement.

  “I’ve been well. How about you?” I’m unsure of what she knows about the happenings that night with me and Austin, but hearing the excitement in her voice, I assume she knows more than I wish she did, so I’m going to keep our conversation brief.

  “I’ve been great. What can I help you with?”

  “I was wondering if you could tell me where the Orthopedic department is?” I should have just looked at the map in the lobby.

  “It’s on the third floor,” she says.

  I’d like to know if Austin is working right now, but I’m not going to ask. It will open a dialogue I don’t want to have.

  “Thank you,” I tell her while turning toward the elevators. “Scarlett?”

  Dammit.

  “Yeah?” I turn back.

  “I know this is none of my business, but did something happen between y’all that night of the Ice Cream Festival?”

  You’re right, it isn’t your business. I’d say that if I was up north and someone asked me, but Daisy seems like the type to tear up if I were to talk to her that way.

  “Nope,” I tell her, lying through my teeth.

  “Oh,” she says, pressing her lips together as if she’s trying to hold in her words. She quickly glances down at her papers and ends the conversation, making things far more awkward than they were a second ago.

  “Is he working tonight?” I ask her. Might as well know now since I’m already feeling nice and uncomfortable. At least she brought it up first.

  She looks down at her watch. “Yes, ma’am. His shift ends in about an hour.”

  “Cool,” I say, making it look like I don’t care.

  I don’t care. Nope. Not at all.

  I head over to the elevators and try to put everyone in this town out of my mind for the time being.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Austin

  “You’re really just going to avoid her?” Daisy asks me.

  “Yes, I am really just going to avoid her,” I tell her for the third time today.

  “That is the dumbest thing I�
�ve ever heard, and I’ve heard a lot of dumb things,” she continues.

  “Will you just trust me?” I ask her.

  A deep belly laugh erupts from Daisy. It’s not that funny, but whatever is going through her head evidently is. “You want me to trust you?” She covers her mouth and continues laughing away. “Hush your mouth, Austin. We both know that is crazy.”

  “You know what? I don’t go callin’ you crazy when you decide you’re in love with some guy after just two dates, so I’m not about to take advice from you of all people. No offense.”

  “None taken, but you are just downright rude, Austin Trace.”

  “I’m right, though.”

  “Whatever. You may want to go back to your hiding spot before Scarlett comes back downstairs and mistakenly runs into your dumb butt.”

  “Clara said she’d warn me if she saw Scarlett,” I inform her.

  “First, Clara is on break right now. Second, Clara is not on your side, Mr. Austin.”

  “What’s that supposed to mean?”

  “Clara likes you, Austin. She always has. She’s got it stuck in her head that you shooed Scarlett off because you have feelins’ for her. I told her that wasn’t the case, but Clara is lost in that head of hers somewhere, and who knows what’s really goin’ on with her?”

  My stomach turns into a giant knot while listening to what Daisy is saying. Why wouldn’t Clara talk to me? We tell each other everything. I’m not sure I can pinpoint a time when anything changed between us, which is a little worrisome I suppose. “So she talked to you about her and me?” I ask, prying for more information.

  Daisy rests her elbows on the desk and pushes up her thick, black-framed glasses that I’m pretty sure she doesn’t have a prescription for. “Not exactly, but I have intuition, and I know she’s got feelings for you, so I just put it in her head in case that’s what was going on.”

  “So, you brought it up to her is what you’re saying?” She looks guilty enough to avoid answering me directly. “Daisy, it ain’t happening with Clara and me, so if you can avoid the topic, that would help me out a great deal.”