Chapter 14
Where did this tension come from? I’ve about had it with men for today. First, Rex acts like I shouldn’t be here, because I’m infringing on his brand-new fling, and now the Airbnb guy, who’s apparently the same guy I’ve been fantasizing about for the last twelve hours, seems to be confused about why I chose his rental. The rental he didn’t even know that he owned until now.
“This place was less than half the cost of other Airbnbs and sits directly on the beach. I booked it on a whim after my boss gave me a two-month sabbatical while I took a break from the show.”
He sits back cautiously, still watching me closely.
“I checked in with Phil right after we talked,” he admits, slowly. “He’s at his niece’s wedding in Alberta.”
I sit up, feeling vindicated. I knew it was a good move to speak straight to Dom yesterday.
“Phil let me know that his new assistant added my name and number to this rental listing accidentally. That’s why you got me on the phone and not him.”
“Oh, well, it was nice of you to speak with me for, um, for so long yesterday—”
“I’ve already had him fired for making that mistake,” he continues coolly.
“What? You didn’t have to fire Phil!” I feel responsible, even though I did nothing wrong. “And you did it while he’s at his niece’s wedding? That’s awful.”
“No, I didn’t fire Phil,” he clarifies. “I fired Phil’s new assistant, the one who made the mistake.”
“Oh.” I still feel racked with guilt.
“He let me know that this building is a new acquisition of mine, priced well to drum up business and keep it filled while he gets some of these little odds and ends fixed up. So, I’m sorry, there’s a few maintenance items to be done.”
“Like adding window blinds?” I ask, smiling lightly.
“That, and some other things. Like the front door sticking.” He gives me the same mischievous grin that made my toes curl yesterday. I bite my lip as he goes on. “The listing mentioned the cheaper price was due to some improvements needing to be made.”
I chide myself for not reading the fine print before booking. I picked it so fast that I didn’t even notice it was a shared townhouse, and in need of minor repairs. This whole situation keeps getting worse, but at least it’s led me to sitting here with this Greek God in my living room.
“I didn’t see that in the description.” I flop back against the couch cushions again. “I’ve been trying to stay off my phone as much as possible. The internet in general. It’s not really my thing lately.”
His face softens.
“I get that.” He reaches out to pat my knee. It’s innocent enough, but it sends a jolt of electricity through me just the same. Even sitting, his limbs take up about a third of the tiny room. “If you’re really desperate, I suppose I could let you go.”
A pathetic bubble of hope pools up inside me.
“Thank you,” I say quietly, before looking away. I should be happy to hear that, but my mind immediately spins with the idea of going back to New York.
As much as I’d fought to get out of this, I’m suddenly feeling stubborn about riding it out. There’s no way Rex wins here, especially now that I see he’s already moved on to someone new. I came here with a purpose. I just need to think about how to make this work without bringing myself down.
“I already checked to see if I could place you elsewhere, but all my other rentals are booked solid for the next eight weeks. I could refund your fees though, if you decide to stay.”
My eyes shoot to his.
A free stay? That sounds far too generous.
“That’s too much. I can’t stay for eight weeks for free.”
“Consider it my ploy to get a better review, considering there’s still some work to be done.”
Can I really turn down a free two-month stay? Even with Rex next door? I don’t think I can. Sure, it’s ridiculously generous, but it would also be an amazing gift, while allowing me the time to get the script done and let everything simmer down back at the station.
“Either way, I’m happy to install these as fast as I can to give you some privacy from . . . that while you decide.” He pauses, throwing a thumb toward the shared wall. “Did you know he was already in a new relationship?”
“Nope.” My voice wavers. “And definitely not with a woman like that.”
“Nah, you’re way cuter than her,” he says absent-mindedly, as he examines an ancient-looking hammer before exchanging it out for a drill. They could pass for children’s toys in his enormous hands.
I crack a half-smile, though I don’t necessarily believe him. Juju is the very definition of attractive.
“I can’t believe we talked on the phone right after you helped me get the front door open. When did you figure out that it was me calling you?”
The corners of his lips turn up slightly, like he’s been caught. I watch him lick his lips before continuing.
“Toward the end of our call,” he admits. “When you finally read me the address of your reservation.” He gives me a cocky grin. “Why else do you think I ran over here with a stack of window blinds first thing this morning?”
I feel myself redden. “Well, I’m glad you did.”
“Do you have any plans for later?” Dom lifts another long shade out of its box. The question catches me off guard. “You need to get out of here if you’re going to enjoy yourself.” He pulls out a tape measure and gets to work again. I’m definitely enjoying this whole hot handyman thing he’s got going on. I sit back to watch him manhandling his tools.
“Other than shutting off all the lights so no one can see me sit on this couch while I spy on my ex and his hot new girlfriend?” I grin at him, knowing full well how ridiculously serious I am about my plan for later.
Dom sets the tools down, not bothering to hide his amusement. His eyes crinkle at the edges, but he doesn’t break into a full-blown smile just yet. “You’re not spending your evening sitting here alone in the dark, watching your ex outside with that woman. Juju .” He whispers her name like it’s a cuss word and we both stifle a laugh.
“Wanna join me?” I ask, half-sarcastically, and half meaning it.
“Not a chance,” he shoots back, not skipping a beat.
Ouch.
When I don’t say anything else, he adds, “You should have fun while you’re here. Not sit in the dark pining after some guy like that. The best revenge is living well, right? You deserve better. Which is why you should come to Cliff’s with me tonight.”
“I should probably stay a good distance away from any cliffs for the time being, thank you.”
“Cliff’s is a bar .” He laughs, then leans across the floor and pats my knee with his free hand again. The same jolt of energy rushes through me — I wish he’d just leave it there. “It’s just up the road. Some of my friends like to go after the surf lets up. Right around sunset.”
“Oh.” I picture a tiki hut full of shirtless surfers, their boards all piled high by the door. It could be a good research spot for my script, and a balm for my wounded heart. “Maybe.”
“Maybe?” he repeats in disbelief. He picks up a long box and points it at me, then jabs me on the arm with it. “I’m making a command decision. You’re coming. No way I’m leaving you here alone to spy on your ex in the dark.”
“It’s not just that,” I admit. “I don’t want to be recognized.” He frowns. “People have been pretty harsh since that clip went viral. Most guys that recognize me in public take it as an opportunity to either hit on me, or insult me. It’s made me into a bit of a hermit.”
His eyes darken, and his smile disappears. “You’ll have me with you.”
I let out a soft, nervous chuckle, but he doesn’t join in. He studies me more intensely.
“Trust me, no one is going to hassle you. Not while I’m there. You’ll have my friends there with you too. They’ll bring their wives. It’ll be fun, I promise.”
I squeeze my eyes shut. His words mean more to me than he knows. I’ve been facing this whole mess alone for the last four weeks. I’d have given anything to have Rex or someone else by my side to stop every asshole who took my presence as a cue to say their most jarring one-liners to me.
He frowns. “Unless . . . you want him back?”
“Do I want Rex back?” I repeat, considering the question. Imagining us returning to New York together, like none of this ever happened. It should feel right, considering I proposed to him a month ago. But for some reason it doesn’t. Not anymore. “I don’t think so. No.”
“Do you at least want to make him sorry that he left?”
I laugh. “Of course. Who wouldn’t want that?”
“And what’s the fastest way to do that?”
“Move into the townhouse next door to him for eight weeks?” I laugh sadly at my own ironic joke.
“That part is inevitable at this point, but he’s not going to think twice about you if you’re sitting here like a bump on a log while he’s making out with Juju right outside your door. Why would he?”
I roll my eyes at him. “I don’t have any plans to sit like a bump on a log. Just spy on him a little.”
His eyes roam over mine.
“Guys want what they can’t have,” he goes on. “Every one of us loves a good chase. But, more importantly, we always, always want one thing.”
If by one thing he means . . .
“Oh my God, I’m not sleeping with Rex just to get him back.” I chuck a throw pillow at him, but he catches it with one hand and tosses it aside. I find it oddly attractive. Still, I’m about done with this conversation, if this is the only wisdom Dom is serving up.
“I’m not talking about sex.”
Something stirs in me, just watching the word sex come out of his mouth.
“Then what else does every guy want?”
His eyes start dancing, as if suddenly lit on fire.
“To win,” he tells me. “We all want to win .”