Chapter 28
28
EMBER
I wake up to a leakage. Okay, so it’s not me – it’s the motel sink in my room. A very ugly puddle is forming around the sides of the sink, and it’s getting alarmingly larger .
I try to fix it in the only way I can, by calling the motel manager. She literally just shrugs at me down the phone. I can practically hear her eye roll.
“Can I at least move to a different room?” I ask her earnestly.
“We’re fully booked,” she replies curtly.
“Really?”
“Don’t you remember our conversation when you checked in? You have our last room.”
“I thought that was just a ploy to swindle me into paying for the expensive room,” I say. “It doesn’t matter, though, because the sink is still leaking.”
There’s an indecipherable grumble of exasperation from the other end of the line before the motel manager speaks again.
“Deal with it yourself, maybe. You city girls are good with a spanner, aren’t you?”
“Isn’t it your issue if the sinks are leaking?” I ask her.
“Complain, then,” the manager retorts. “Write it down on a piece of paper. We’ll safely put that complaint in our complaints jar.”
“You mean the trash can?”
“You’re smarter than you look, city girl.”
Ugh.
I hang up.
I didn’t know I was dealing with a motel cartel here.
So... I’ll have to do this myself. And I don’t have the first clue about plumbing. I am a dumb city girl, after all.
But I do have an idea...
“Thanks for coming around,” I say to the man as I open the door for him.
Connor grunts as he stands there in the doorway in his casual jeans and shirt.
“Show me this sink, then,” he says as he takes a step into my room, scratching his beard as he glances around the place.
“I didn’t think you’d turn up,” I remark.
Another grunt.
“Let’s just get this over then, Ember.”
I guide him to the puddle. Connor scoffs at it.
“Motel management doesn’t want anything to do with it,” I tell him as I point at the damn thing.
Connor chuckles.
“To be honest,” he says, “I’m actually surprised you even got the chance to talk to management. They are famous around this town for their magical disappearing acts.”
“I guess being the only motel in the town means they have somewhat of a monopoly,” I add.
“Exactly.”
“I’m sorry for bothering you,” I tell Connor. “I knew no one else to call.”
The man glares at me.
“Maybe a plumber, Ember? They are usually good to call for these kinds of things.”
“Well, you’re here now. Can you do it?”
Connor grunts yet again.
“Of course, I can do it. At least I’ve brought along my tools. Let me get them from my pickup.”
“Sure.”
The man goes to his truck and returns promptly.
Now armed with his tools, Connor bends down on his knees to really get under the sink.
Which gives me a good look at him.
His black tattoos all over his forearms.
His firm, toned body shape that’s irresistible to not admire.
That sexy manly beard.
That lovely bum...
He turns around.
“Were you looking at my ass, Ember?” he asks me, eyes narrowed suspiciously.
“No,” I lie.
It’s like he’s got a camera attached to the back of his head.
“Isn’t this the start of some kind of porn?” he queries. “The handyman coming over to help?”
“It is,” I reply with a laugh. “The city girl and the tradesman...”
The man grunts again.
“I prefer the city girl and the firefighter ,” he corrects.
“I prefer firefighters too,” I reply instinctually.
And I’m immediately blushing at my stupid comment.
Did I really just say that...
Why, oh why?
“Are you blushing, Ember?” the firefighter asks me, a smirk forming on his tough lips. He knows he’s just caught me out.
“No... I...”
“I like you blushing, Ember. It shows you’re human. You’re not the high-achieving robot I thought you might be.”
I roll my eyes.
“Gee, thanks for that compliment.”
“Well, it seems like we’re all done,” Connor says as he tightens some bolts under the sink. “There shouldn’t be any leakage from now on, thanks to me.”
“Do you need payment?” I ask him. “You’ve done a good job. You’ve saved my sorry ass from living with a growing puddle that I was dangerously close to drowning in.”
“No, Ember,” the firefighter says sternly as he brushes his hands on his jeans. “I don’t need anything.”
He stands up and faces me. We’re very close. I can smell him – oaky and hard. Like a deep, dark, quiet forest. There’s something so innately tough about him. Rough. Powerful .
“Nothing?” I ask him. “Are you sure?”
“Well,” he whispers, “a kiss would be nice.”
Oh?
A kiss? Is he being serious?
I don’t need him to say another word. I’m going to be bold. I like being bold.
I lean in close to him and kiss him... on the cheek.
I move away from his face to see Connor smiling. It’s a genuine, happy smile that doesn’t suit his usual grumpy face at all.
“That’s all I need from you, Ember,” he whispers.
“Good,” I whisper back.
He walks past me to the door, but before he leaves, he turns around one last time.
“There’s a country fair happening in town tomorrow,” he says. “At the main park. I’m going. You should come along too. Might be good to spend some time together... for your article , I mean.”
I nod.
“That does sound like a smart idea.”
“I’ll see you there, Ember,” my plumbing savior says. “Don’t cause any more leakages, okay?”