Chapter 10
CASH
“Ithink you’re rushing this, Cash,” Braxton said as he turned his car onto the road leading to Equinox.
“Brax, we’ve been through this off and on all summer. I don’t want to go back to law school. Period.”
“You don’t even know what kind of job they’re going to offer you. It could be some total shit job or something you’ll end up hating.”
“Then I’ll discover that on my own.”
“What about your folks?”
“They don’t give a fuck about my happiness. They’ll survive.”
Braxton brought his car to a stop at the entrance of the resort. I opened the door and stepped out into the cool air.
“Text me when you need me to come get your ass,” he said.
“I will, thanks.”
I closed the car door and made my way toward the lobby.
As I walked, I looked down at my shirt to make sure it was tucked in and free of lint before meeting with the two six-foot-fuck-me-three Silver Fox Daddies.
As soon as I stepped inside the lobby, I saw them.
Both Joel and Tristen were waiting for me.
I figured they’d be by the restaurant or would text me with their location. But no, they were both right here.
“Hi, Cash,” Tristen said and stretched his hand toward me.
I made eye contact with Tristen as I shook his hand and returned the greeting politely. My focus shifted to Joel. This guy was intense to stare at for very long. His demeanor was calm, but I also thought he looked every bit of powerful intimidation at the same time.
“Thanks for meeting with us, Cash.”
I nodded and then added, “Thanks for the invite and for keeping me in mind.”
As we walked to the restaurant just off the lobby near the bar, I noticed how quiet it was. When I was here for the first interview, there were a lot of people moving around in the lobby. But today was super quiet and calm.
Suddenly feeling somewhat nervous around these two men, I commented, “It’s a lot calmer in here today.”
Joel and Tristen smiled and looked at one another. Was I out of line to make that comment? Had I said something wrong? Was business bad or tapering off since the summer was coming to an end?
“We hosted a private event that started Thursday and ended today,” Joel explained.
“Pretty much all of the guests who were here for the event have all checked out,” Tristen added as we arrived at our table.
I sat and picked up the conversation. “Was it a big event?”
“No. We hold a private event for up to thirty people every other month. During that weekend, we don’t have any other guests onsite,” Tristen answered.
“Same type of event?” I asked.
“Yes,” Joel replied.
“Same people attend?”
“For the most part, yes,” Joel said as a waiter headed toward the table. Joel looked at Tristen briefly again before elaborating. “Occasionally there are some new guests, but it’s few and far between.”
I nodded and took a sip of water from the goblet before picking up my menu.
After I ordered steak, a baked potato, and asparagus seasoned with brown sugar, Tristen ordered the same.
Our drinks were different, though. I ordered a rum and Coke while Tristen ordered a vodka and 7-Up.
Joel also ordered steak with a side of steamed vegetables.
To drink, he ordered a glass of red wine.
Once the waiter left the table, we continued our conversation. “The summer season is coming to an end, and I know your friends will be leaving at the end of next week,” Joel began. He paused when I nodded, and I felt the need to verbally agree with him.
“That’s right. They’re heading back to Los Angeles.”
“What about you?” Tristen bluntly asked.
I sighed, exhaled, and shrugged. “I will probably go back, but I wanted to see if I had any other options first.” I looked at the waiter who had just set my drink on the table. I smiled and said, “Thank you.”
“You don’t want to go back to L.A., do you?” Though Joel asked, his tone was confident as if he already knew the answer.
I shook my head. “I don’t.”
“Any reason?” Joel inquired.
“Simple. I don’t want to go back to law school.
But if I don’t, my parents will cut me off financially, and it’s really expensive to live in Los Angeles.
But I can stay with my friend until I get on my feet, if it comes down to it.
I have an economics degree, but it would probably take me a while to get a decent paying job. Degrees are a dime a dozen out there.”
Tristen and Joel looked at one another before Joel took a sip from his glass. He peered over the glass and held my gaze. Without breaking eye contact, Joel set the glass on the table and leaned back in his chair.
“You’re quite the artist,” Joel said.
Quite the artist? I was confused as to why he’d say that, and I was sure my expression didn’t hide the fact that I was puzzled.
“You’re familiar with Frank and Trudy, correct?”
“Yes. They’re the older couple who spend the summer in the cabin on the opposite side of the lake from where I’m staying. They’re leaving today to go home to Arizona to see their grandson.”
“That’s right. Joel and I watch over their place while they’re gone for the winter,” Tristen explained.
I remembered Trudy telling me that a while back. All the other cabins by the lake belonged to Equinox Lake Tahoe and, thus, Tristen and Joel.
“I collected the keys from Frank and Trudy this morning, and they showed me the sketch you drew of their back deck,” Joel stated.
Heat quickly went up my neck and settled uncomfortably on my face.
He’d seen my sketch.
One of the six-foot-fuck-me-three Silver Fox Daddies saw my artwork.
Not only had he seen my work, but he’d complimented it.
He said I was a talented artist! Joel called me an artist!
It was something I was actually good at, but kept it hidden because my parents didn’t support it. I felt extremely awkward and maybe even a little embarrassed. I was unsure of what to do or say, so I looked down at the tablecloth and brushed away an imaginary crumb.
“Cash.”
I looked up at Joel, and the corners of his mouth were turned upward in a grin.
“Yes?”
“That’s not a bad thing.”
I could have said something, but my mind was drawing a blank.
I was just comfortable basking in the compliment from this near stranger that I was good at something I loved doing.
All I could do was smile at Joel. We talked about my love of sketching until dinner was brought to our table, then the conversation shifted.
“Would you like to help Tristen and I take care of the rental cabins around the lake? We’ll pay you top dollar plus twenty percent.”
Damn! Top dollar? I had no clue what this type of job paid. Did it have a position title or was it more like cabin caretaker? Fuck it. It didn’t matter what it paid as long as I could make ends meet.
“Twenty percent extra?” I asked to make sure I heard them correctly.
Joel grinned and reached for his glass. “We’ll pay you handsomely.”
I’d do anything that would keep me from going back to L.A.
and law school. But I didn’t have the first clue how to take care of cabins.
How did I do that? And where would I live?
Were there even affordable small places here in Lake Tahoe?
Was there transportation that could get me from wherever I’d be living to the rentals?
“By the looks on his face, I’d say he’s swimming in questions and thoughts,” Tristen said.
“You always have been good at reading faces. I’d say you’re right,” Joel confirmed.
“Asking questions is so much better than trying to figure things out on your own,” Tristen began as he looked at me while he reached for his glass. He took a long sip, and when he set the glass on the table, he encouraged me to, “Ask away.”
“First off, I’m very interested. I think.”
Joel and Tristen chuckled quietly as they exchanged looks. “He thinks,” Tristen repeated.
I leaned back in my chair as the waiter set our plates in front of us. I was so hungry, but eager for this conversation to continue.
“What are your concerns?” Joel asked as he cut into his steak.
“I don’t know the first thing about taking care of cabins.”
“Well, I can say that I’d be surprised if you did,” Joel said. “Tristen and I will show you anything and everything you need to know.”
“For the most part, after a renter checks out, you just need to do a walkthrough of the cabin and grounds to make sure nothing is broken or in need of repair. Joel and I will do them with you until you get the hang of it.”
“After you’re sure things are in good order, you call the company that does the cabin cleaning. You schedule for them to clean and be onsite at the cabin to let them in. They’ll text you when they’re done, then you’ll go back to lock up.”
“Sounds easy, right?” Tristen asked.
“Yeah.”
“Sometimes we can do some of the basic maintenance ourselves, but we have companies who come out to do things that need more specialized hands.”
Like a hundred and five mile an hour fastball headed straight for the batter, the image of the heating and cooling service technician on his knees sucking these two guys burst into my mind.
I tried so hard to not laugh out loud but an uncontrollable laugh escaped.
They grinned while I coughed and reached for the goblet of water.
I kept the rim of the goblet on my lips until I was certain that I was under control.
I covered for my laughing outburst with, “You guys have a lot of faith in me. I’m not very handy. In fact, my father would tell you how unhelpful and clueless I am around the house.” I completely meant it as a joke, but their reaction wasn’t met with laughter.
“I don’t think that’s true at all. Besides, I’ve seen for myself how talented your hands are,” Joel said. The heat returned to my face as he complimented my artwork again.
“Besides,” Tristen paused to take another sip of his drink before he continued. “We’re not interested in your father’s opinion.”
Good fucking god. These two six-foot-fuck-me-three Silver Fox Daddies were going to have me eating out of their hands and hanging onto every word that tumbled out of their mouths.
“This sounds good, and I am interested, but are you able to recommend an affordable apartment close to the rental cabins? I don’t have a car of my own, so I’ll need to be within either walking distance or the public transportation routes.”
I paused to see if either of them had anything to say or recommend, but neither spoke up or said anything. They just kind of stared at me with the slightest of grins and looks of amusement maybe? Was I amusing to them?
“What?” I asked and quickly smiled when I realized my tone sounded kind of rude or like a teenager with an attitude. Their expressions hadn’t changed, though. “I assume there is public transportation in Lake Tahoe.”
After more silence that seemed to last forever, and more glances between them, Tristen finally answered my question. “Yes, there’s public transportation.”
“How about you stay in one of our A-frame cabins? It’s next to the rental office so you’ll be on-site and won’t have to rely on public transportation.”
“How much is it?” I asked.
Tristen looked at Joel and then said, “You can stay there while working for us.”
Did that mean for nothing?
“That sounds great. I loved being here this summer. But, how much?” I asked again for clarification.
“Lots of employers cover the costs of living as part of their employment contracts. We’ll work that into your contract, Cash,” Joel confirmed.
The offer sounded good. Living on the calm and quiet lake was amazing all on its own. But throw in a decent paying cakewalk type of job for two hotter than fuck men who saw talent in my sketches was something else on a whole different level.
“Where do I sign up?” I asked. It was my way of telling them that I accepted the job. My acceptance confirmation was met with smiles and handshakes.