Falling in a Fortnight

Chapter 1

It wasn’t often that I was able to treat myself to lunch at Swansie’s Diner in the middle of a workday. But our latest job had wrapped up early, I’d checked off all the items on the punch list by twelve-thirty and was back on the road only a few minutes later. Fairville was just over an hour’s drive from Landry’s Fall, and I pulled into the diner parking lot just before two. Having missed the lunch rush, it was easy to find a parking spot big enough for my pickup.

When I pulled open the door, I was immediately greeted by the mouth-watering scents of fryer grease, the spices of Leo’s signature meatloaf—which had to be the special today—and the cheerful voice of my best friend.

“Jaymithy! You gorgeous, amazing human.” Kyle’s voice carried, but none of the patrons even so much as flinched, which meant they were locals or regulars. Kyle owned the diner with his father, and his outgoing nature was well known. “Your timing is impeccable as always.”

I rolled my eyes and turned in his direction. Kyle stood next to a booth in the back corner, clearly having just been speaking to the customer seated there. They had their back to me, and I didn’t recognize the dark hair. That didn’t mean anything. Landry’s Fall had a permanent population of around five thousand, but it was also a hotbed for tourists. Given Kyle’s ability to make friends with anyone, the customer could well be one of those tourists. But even if they were a local, chances were decent I’d never met them. I knew a lot of people, but not everyone.

Kyle waved me over and I reluctantly went. I didn’t want to interrupt this person’s lunch, but I knew if I didn’t at least go say hi, Kyle wouldn’t stop. He was just that kind of guy.

“I’m so happy you’re here because, really, your timing couldn’t have been better.” Kyle gestured to the customer. “Do you know Leith?”

I turned my attention to the customer then, and for a split second, time stood still. He had high cheekbones and a tapered chin, giving him a fae sort of look I’d always been drawn to. His hair, which I’d thought had been brown, was actually dark auburn, the copper highlights standing out in the afternoon sun streaming through the window. But what really caught my attention were his eyes. The irises were mostly blue, but each eye had a pie piece shaped wedge of brown on the outside. He was stunning.

I realized I was staring a second too late and quickly blinked, then tried for a smile. “Uh, no. We’ve never met.”

“Aces. Let me introduce you. Ahem!” Kyle made a show of clearing his throat. “Jay Turner, it is my pleasure to introduce you to Leith. Leith Porter, my amazing, wonderful, kind and helpful bestest friend on the entire planet, Jay.”

“It’s nice to meet you,” I said to Leith, and as soon as he nodded, I turned just my head to squint at Kyle. His theatrics were to be expected, but it was over the top even for him. “What do you want?”

Kyle gasped and pressed a hand to his chest, making his eyes wide and innocent. I wouldn’t fall for his puppy dog eyes. They hadn’t ever worked on me. They didn’t work on his father either. The only one susceptible to them was Kyle’s boyfriend Xavier, but I suspected that was more because Xavier would do anything for Kyle and not the expression itself.

“I have no idea what you mean,” Kyle insisted, acting affronted. That lasted all of three seconds before he caved. “Okay, fine. But not me. Leith!”

“Kyle! I don’t…you don’t…I just—” Leith sputtered.

“Shhh. It’s fine. Sit, sit.” Kyle directed the last to me, shoving me into the booth opposite Leith. Kyle was stronger than he looked and I nearly fell into the seat but caught myself. I glared at him, but Kyle either didn’t notice or didn’t care. His attention didn’t waver from Leith. “You need help, hon. And Jay here is just the one to provide it. Do you see these muscles?”

“Uh, yes.” Leith’s cheeks tinged pink for a moment. “They’re, uh, very nice. But I can’t just ask—”

“I know, hon.” Kyle patted his hand. “That’s why I did it for you. Trust me, Jay will be happy to help. It’s exactly and particularly right in his wheelhouse.”

Leith’s mouth worked like a fish, those amazing eyes wide. Kyle simply batted his own eyes at Leith, then turned his attention to me. “You help my friend. And as a reward, I’ll get Uncle Darien to make your meatloaf sandwich extra yummy. Be right back with iced tea for you and a refill for you.” He pointed at first me, then Leith.

We both watched him sashay away, and I knew full well he put extra sway into his hips because we were watching. I snorted out a laugh and shook my head, but when I looked at Leith, his expression was still one of shock and disbelief.

“I am so, so sorry,” he whispered. “I never meant for…I was just telling him about things and the next thing I know—”

“Hey,” I interrupted gently, and Leith jerked his gaze to meet mine. His eyes were really something. I’d never met anyone with heterochromia before, but Leith’s were special. I mentally gave myself a shake, getting my brain back on track. “Kyle’s just being Kyle. There’s nothing to apologize for.”

He studied me for a long moment and then took a breath, his shoulders relaxing a fraction. His lips quirked in the tiniest smile. “Thank you.”

I watched him for a few seconds but when it was clear he wasn’t going to say anything else, I decided to poke a bit. Kyle wouldn’t stop until it was all out in the open anyway, and if I could make it easier on the clearly uncomfortable Leith, then it was the least I could do. I settled back into the booth, getting comfortable, and Leith glanced over at me. I offered a smile.

“Why don’t you tell me what Kyle’s talking about?” I kept my voice low and friendly.

Leith blinked. “Oh. No, really. It’s fine. You don’t have to worry about it.”

I chuckled, shaking my head. “I’m not worried at all. And I’m not going to force my help on you if you don’t want it. Hell, maybe it’s not even something I can help with. But you could tell me and we could see.”

“I can do the talking if you want me to,” Kyle said in a sing-song voice as he sidled back up to the table. He placed my tea in front of me, then topped off Leith’s water from a pitcher. He set that on the table, then slid into the seat next to me, bumping me hard to give him more room. I scowled but scooted over a couple of inches.

Leith shook his head. “You’re insufferable.”

“You said adorable wrong,” Kyle said, cocking his head, brow creased. Leith chuckled. Encouraged, Kyle continued. “I’m pretty sure you meant enigmatic. Insightful? Maybe charming.”

Leith’s full out laugh made Kyle join in and I couldn’t help but smile, too. Kyle’s ridiculousness got Leith to fully relax.

“Want me to explain?” Kyle asked once they both recovered from the giggles. Leith waved a hand and Kyle took it as permission. He leaned against me. “So, Leith here has only lived in town for a couple of years, right? Because he took over from ancient Mrs. Dobbs as the elementary school librarian when she retired two years ago. Or was it three? It doesn’t matter. But Leith bought the Carmichael house few months ago.”

I could only give him a blank look. Kyle snorted.

“Heathen. The old Craftsman over on 2nd Street. You know the one. With the big front porch that’s sat empty for the past five years because Mrs. Carmichael had an affair and ran off with a younger man and Mr. Carmichael decided to move to Florida but didn’t want to sell the house,” he said to jog my memory. It took me a second—I didn’t know people the way he did—but that I remembered. I nodded, and appeased, Kyle continued. “Well he finally agreed to sell it and Leith got it for a song because it’s in serious need of repair.”

Kyle wasn’t wrong. Any time I’d driven by that house, I’d been saddened by the state of it. Once upon a time, it had been a stunning piece of work. But over the last decade or so, nothing had been done to it. The outside needed a new coat of paint at the very least and that big front porch Kyle had mentioned sagged on one side. I could just imagine the amount of work the inside needed if it had been neglected for so long.

“Anyway,” Kyle said, picking up the thread of his story. “Leith’s been working on fixing it up, one project at a time. But then! Leith went and injured himself! And now his brother is coming for a visit and things are in shambles, and Leith is just bereft and in an impossible spot.”

“Simmer down there, drama queen,” I murmured, with a nudge to his ribs. Kyle squawked but before he could say anything, Darien called out. Kyle hopped up, since an order was ready. I was hoping it was mine. I was starving.

“I can do some things,” Leith said, and it took me a second to catch back up. “I was hiking and my foot got caught on a root…my left knee is the problem, as I have a partial tear in a tendon, but my right is fine. I can drive and I can bear some weight, so I’m able to do a bit of painting and put together some of the furniture. It’s all the other stuff that’s a problem.”

“What do you mean?” I sipped my tea, never taking my gaze from Leith. He was dang pretty, but also, now that he’d relaxed, there was a lightness to him that really drew my attention.

“I’ve been watching tutorials, so I know how to repair most of the things that need fixing. But one of the bedrooms needs new drywall on one wall, and the bathroom vanity needs to be replaced. There’s a leak under the kitchen sink….” He fiddled with his napkin. “I’ve been out of commission for almost a month, and, according to the doctor today, I’m still on crutches for another fortnight.”

“That means two weeks,” Kyle stated helpfully, placing my delicious looking sandwich in front of me. The house made chips beside it were perfectly crispy. My mouth watered.

“I know what a fortnight is,” I grumped. Then I poked him. “Go away. Leith and I are talking.”

Kyle let out a melodious laugh, the bright sound ringing through the nearly empty diner. It was one of my favorite things about him. Always had been. Kyle was a force of nature, an outgoing and exuberant man, and a hopeless flirt, but he had the biggest heart and I was proud to call him friend.

The door opened just then, stealing Kyle’s attention and that was the only reason he gave us a reprieve. I dug into my food because my stomach had to think my throat had been cut with all the noise it was making. But as I chewed, I gestured for Leith to go on. It took him a moment to continue.

“I was hoping to be healed enough to complete most of the repairs so that my brother and his children could at least be comfortable.” His voice was soft, but sure. “They’ll be here before I’m off crutches at this rate. And it’s not like it’s not livable, because it is. I was just hoping to have all these things done before they visited, which is what I was telling Kyle before you arrived. It’s not quite as dramatic as he made it out to be though.”

I swallowed my bite and grinned. “It never is. But I can help you.”

Leith sputtered. “I couldn’t ask that of you.”

“You didn’t. Kyle did.” I winked and Leith blushed. I shoved a chip in my mouth, chewed and swallowed, before continuing. “But really. I’m happy to help. I mean, not all day. I have a job. Which, for the record, is exactly this kind of work. I work for Valenti Renovations. But I can give you a few hours in the evenings, if that would help.”

For a minute, Leith was too stunned to speak. At least that’s how it seemed. Then his expression shifted, and it was clear he was thinking it over. I kept eating, letting him work it out. If he said no, I’d leave it at that. I wasn’t going to push. But if he agreed, I would be there. I knew what it was like to be laid up, and to have the weight of responsibility pressing down on you.

“If you’re sure?” Leith glanced at me, and I nodded, my mouth too full to say anything. He breathed out a sigh, and I could practically feel the relief flooding off him. “That’s really very kind. I appreciate this more than I can say. I can pay you—”

I held up my hand. “Don’t even worry about that. I’m just helping out. I have plenty of time in the evenings.” It wasn’t like he was actually hiring me, and I didn’t feel right taking money from a friend of Kyle’s who was injured. That just wasn’t right. “Do you want to start today?”

His eyes lighting up was all the answer I needed. But his tone was more tempered, “Would you mind?”

“Not at all. I wouldn’t have offered if I didn’t mean it. You can always take me at my word.” I looked him dead in the eye, trying to convey my sincerity. It took him a second, but I could tell he got it.

“Thank you. So much. I-Oh!” Leith’s face suddenly lit up. “I can feed you, if you won’t take payment. I’m a rather good cook. I promise.”

I had to hold back the chuckle, because he was just so damn earnest and cute. He had to be around my age, maybe a little older, but there was a gentleness to him that I really liked. If Kyle hadn’t already told me he was a librarian, it would have been on the shortlist of guesses for his profession.

“I won’t say no to food.” I grinned and took a large bite of my sandwich, just to prove the point. After a second, Leith smiled back.

“Wonderful. Show up whenever. I’ll be there all evening.”

I nodded. “Just let me finish my food. And then I have a couple of quick errands to run. Say about two, two and a half hours?”

Leith leaned forward, and then his hand shot out to grip mine in a fleeting gesture. “Thanks, Jay. I really appreciate this.”

Before I could think of anything else to say, Leith started scooting out of the booth. It was only then that I realized how carefully he moved and when he shoved himself to standing, my gaze dropped to the complicated looking brace he had wrapped over his knee. I immediately dropped the rest of my sandwich, ready to help, but it only took a second for me to realize he didn’t need it. His crutches were propped up behind the booth and he got them underneath his arms.

I watched him hobble to the door and pull it open. He was actually pretty good with the crutches, but given that he’d already been using them for at least a few weeks, that made sense. Just before he exited, he shot me a smile over his shoulder and my heart stuttered in my chest.