Chapter 5
CHAPTER 5
B lake had thrown his duffle in the back of Lukas’s car when they left because he didn’t know how long the trip would take, so he had no reason to go back to Lukas’s house for anything. Lukas decided that Paige was safe and now that Blake was staying here, they wanted to get home to Jack.
Blake still wasn’t certain this was a good idea, but if he had a little sister like Paige he’d want someone looking out for her as well. He just had to keep his thoughts brotherly. He had no idea how old she was. If he had to venture a guess, he’d say late twenties, but she looked much younger.
Paige bounced down the stairs. She’d pulled her hair back into a messy ponytail and had changed her clothes. Her eyes were red as if she’d been crying. His gaze floated down to her shapely legs. Brotherly thoughts were going to be difficult.
She glanced at his duffle bag and then glared at Lukas. “This isn’t necessary.”
Lukas leaned down and kissed her cheek. “Yes, it is. Remember the deal. Blake stays here or I tell Mom and Dad.”
She pouted. “That’s not fair.”
“But you’ll be safe and have food in the house.”
Tess gave her a big hug and whispered something in her ear. She flushed, and Blake found he desperately wanted to know what she’d said. He was more than a little intrigued by this somewhat eccentric but beautiful woman.
Lukas opened the door and called for the dogs. Tria raced in and set herself at Blake’s side.
They all said a few more awkward goodbyes, and then they were gone.
Paige stared at him for a moment, and he stared back.
“What’s your sign?” she asked.
“Excuse me?”
“Your zodiac sign.”
He rubbed the back of his neck. She was one of those. He shouldn’t be surprised. “Virgo, I think.”
“You think?” she asked with a raised eyebrow.
“I don’t really care much about my zodiac sign.” He was never one to care even when people were asking just for fun. But he was a man of science, not fake signs and all that.
She sniffed. “Well, then you are definitely a Virgo. I wonder what my psychic will have to say about this.”
“Why would you have a psychic?”
“You mean you don’t? I never make a decision without consulting mine.”
Beautiful or not, no way in hades would he fall for this woman. She was about as opposite of him as things got and not in the good “opposites attract” way. He liked his women grounded and with an appreciation for facts—like science, not zodiacs or psychics.
“We still don’t know for sure. When’s your birthday?”
“September fifth.”
“Yep. Virgo. I’m an Aquarius, we will not get along. But maybe if we sit down and talk about the differences between our signs we can work something out.”
“Can you show me where I’ll be staying?” he asked in hopes that maybe she’d stop talking about fortune-telling.
She turned and started up the staircase that still impressed the hell out of him. It seemed to float even though it was made of half logs. The spindles were all made of twigs and branches of various sizes. He felt like he was in a forest. Halfway up the stairs he stopped. “Are all those plants real?” There were dozens beneath him and hanging from the ceiling.
She nodded. “I don’t like fake houseplants.”
Maybe they did have something in common after all. “Anything that can hurt a dog?” He glanced down at Tria.
The plants he’d seen weren’t bad, but he was certain there were things hidden amongst them.
“No. Everything is safe. Lukas brings Dio here, and I would never want to hurt her.”
“You know I was a botany major in my undergrad work and then got my Ph.D. in medical plant science.” They started down another winding hall which continued with the motif from downstairs. Someone had woven trees together then smoothed the floor out. He’d never seen anything like it before.
“That’s impressive. But then you went and sold yourself out.”
He resisted the urge to roll his eyes. “We can agree to disagree on that. What about you? What do you do?”
She pushed open the door to a room with a huge four-poster bed and wide windows with a great view of the lake.
“There’s a bathroom through there. I’m sure you’ll have plenty of room.”
He would. It was a nice room, with a large king bed and a comfy sitting area. “Thank you. But you didn’t tell me what you do.”
“Oh, I’m an artist.”
Of course she was. Anyone with a house like this would be.
He dropped his stuff on his bed and his phone buzzed.
When do we get to see you? The text from Anna wasn’t a surprise. She was one of his best friends though they only talked once every couple of months. He planned on spending some time with her while in Mackinac, but now he was stuck here.
He didn’t want to tell her though because he was afraid that she would take it the wrong way. She was always pushing him to find a new woman, and this would be too good of a setup.
I decided to stay up here for a bit and explore. I’ll come back for the fourth.
Blake! That’s not fair. You were supposed to stay here.
I’m sorry. I’ll see you in a few weeks.
* * *
Tria bounced down the stairs in front of him. She hadn’t left his side. She traveled well, but most of the places they stayed were apartments or townhouses, places she could easily keep an eye on him. Here, she’d lost him a couple of times and howled like mad until he called for her. Since then, she’d stayed right by him. He should’ve kept Dio here to babysit her.
After Paige showed him to his room, she disappeared, and so he decided to explore the rest of the house on his own. Almost every room had a stunning view of either the lake or forest. Outside he found a deck with chairs and a pool in its own little house with windows all around. He supposed it probably never got warm enough here to swim outdoors.
After he’d seen most of the house, he found another door that led to a basement.
He made it to the bottom of the stairs and was shocked to find a fully outfitted gym with a nice weight machine, an elliptical, and a barbell set. Dust covered the weights, so he’d have to wipe them down. And maybe find some oil in case the equipment hadn’t been lubricated in a while. He’d find some at the store and set to fixing it up tonight, and then he could be back to morning workouts tomorrow.
He still didn’t know what to make of Paige. She seemed nice enough, if not a little odd. But he wasn’t sure if they would ever become friends or if they would always have an awkwardness between them. He hoped things would become easier. Otherwise, this would be a long summer. Maybe he needed to stop judging her opinions, but he couldn’t help himself.
Who decided someone’s character based on the day they were born? That was utterly ridiculous.
He tested out some of the equipment and then headed upstairs and into the kitchen. Paige stood there in a t-shirt and leggings. He didn’t know who decided leggings were pants, but the entire male race owed them a debt of gratitude.
“Gym good?” she asked.
“Yeah. Your husband must’ve been quite a gym rat.”
She shrugged. “Not at first. He only decided he needed to buff up a few years after we were married.”
“You must’ve appreciated that.”
“Not really. I liked him better when he was skinnier.” Her hands gripped tighter on the mug she held.
Blake almost asked why, but then thought better of it. He didn’t want her to relive painful memories.