Chapter 5
Our block association meeting was wrapping up.
So, I asked Xander to assist everyone with their coats while I recruited Drew and Garth to help me carry the used plates and mugs into the kitchen.
Once I was alone with my BFF and his husband, I took the opportunity to float the idea that was beginning to take shape in my mind: Maybe I could strike a barter with Xander for his repair services.
“I don’t like it,” said Drew with a shake of his head as he loaded the last of the dirty dishes into the dishwasher. “I don’t think bartering is a good idea.”
“What are you even talking about?” I asked, closing the old appliance’s door.
This time, I had to give it an extra bump with my hip to get it to lock properly.
“Small businesses make barters all time. Like, you help Angie and Miles with their website. And in return, they give out coupons for the bakery.”
“Not the same thing,” said Drew. “For starters, I’ve known Angie and Miles since I was a little kid—”
“You’ve known me since you were a little kid,” I said, cutting him off. “So, maybe you should have more faith in my judgment?”
Garth huffed out a laugh from over by the fridge. “She’s got you there, babe.”
Drew shot his husband a narrow look. “Do not tell me you’re on board with this harebrained scheme of hers.”
“Oh my God, did you seriously just say harebrained scheme?” teased Garth. “Are we in an I Love Lucy rerun now?”
“Well, the situation seems pretty black-and-white to me,” grumbled Drew.
“Okay, cut it out, you two,” I said, stepping between them like a referee.
“Look, all I’m saying is, the Sunny Side needs a bunch of repair work done.
And since it looks like Xander might need a place to stay, I don’t see why I shouldn’t make him an offer and propose a little trade.
I mean, it couldn’t hurt to ask. What’s the problem? ”
“The problem is,” said Drew, “you don’t know him.”
“I know him just as well as I would any other contractor,” I said.
“But any other contractor wouldn’t be spending the night in one of your guest rooms,” said Drew.
“Any other contractor would laugh in my face if I suggested they work for room and board,” I said. “Besides, it’s a bed-and-breakfast. Strangers spend the night here all the time.”
“But usually,” said Drew, “your parents are around.”
Perhaps I was reading too much into that last bit, but suddenly, I felt defensive. “You know, I’m perfectly capable of making good business decisions without my parents around,” I said. “I can run this place on my own.”
“Of course you can,” said Garth, interjecting before Drew could say anything else.
Apparently, it was Garth’s turn to play referee.
“And I think it’s about time we left you to it.
” He looked past me to meet his husband’s gaze, and they had one of their married-people, talking-without-talking exchanges. “Right, babe?”
I watched as Drew opened and closed his mouth a couple of times, clearly choosing his next words carefully.
“Call if you need anything,” was what he finally said to me.
Then, he stomped off, pushed the double-action swinging door open, and headed back out to the lobby.
“And don’t forget,” he added loudly—probably hoping Xander would overhear. “Garth and I are right next door.”
* * *
Wills and Paulette, Rita and Mavis, and Angie and Miles said goodbye and left.
Drew, Garth, and Millie took their leave shortly thereafter.
With his canine crush gone, Casey had his mopey, sad-dog face on.
And maybe it was just my imagination, but now that everyone else had departed, Xander seemed to have a bit of a hangdog expression as well.
“So, I suppose I should be going too,” he said.
Now or never, I silently coached myself.
“No, wait,” I said. “With all the interruptions, we never got a chance to finish our conversation. And if you don’t mind, there’s something I’d like to talk to you about.” I motioned toward the wing chairs. “Will you sit with me a little while longer?”
Xander immediately brightened and nodded happily. “I enjoy sitting in chairs,” he said. “It’s quite comfortable, getting off your feet that way, isn’t it?”
It was a strange thing to say, but I barely even noticed. I was already getting used to his non sequiturs and quirky turns of phrase. Maybe even starting to like them.
We took our same seats from earlier, and Xander seemed quite at home in his, occupying the wing chair like a king commanding his throne. The fire had died down a while ago, but the embers were still giving off a smoky scent, making the spot in front of the fireplace feel warm and cozy.
“So, as you’ve already noticed,” I began, gesturing around us, “this place isn’t in the greatest of shape.”
His pale skin got paler. “I’m sorry,” he said quickly. “I shouldn’t have said anything about the rotted floorboards. I didn’t mean to insult you in front of your friends. Especially not when you’ve been so thoughtful and accommodating.”
“What?” It took me a moment to understand his reaction. “Oh, no. No, you didn’t insult me,” I said. “In fact, I could really use more of your expertise. So, I, uh…I have a proposition for you.”
His dark-red brows scrunched together in question. “Proposition?”
The word, echoed back to me in his deep, resonate voice, sounded suggestive.
I felt my face heat. I cleared my throat.
“A business proposition,” I clarified. He didn’t say anything else, so I drew a deep breath and barreled ahead.
“I’d like to hire you to do some repairs around here.
Only, I’m not sure if I can afford your, uh…
usual rate.” I rearranged myself in my chair as the awkwardness of what I was about to suggest sank in.
“Of course, I don’t want to make any assumptions,” I said, powering on.
“But if you maybe needed a place to stay for a while, I’ve got three floors of guest rooms, and there are always vacancies in the off season.
So, in exchange for the work, I can offer you a place to stay, plus meals.
” There. I’d said it. I exhaled in sheer relief. “What do you think?”
“Stay here, you mean?” he asked.
“Yes.”
“At your family home?”
“At the B and B, yes,” I said.
“With you?”
“Well, yes.”
“Okay,” said Xander with an eager nod.
Okay?
I’d been expecting a few more questions.
Possibly a counterproposition, a negotiation of the terms. Maybe even an angry I-don’t-need-your-stinkin’-charity smackdown.
What I hadn’t expected after my long-winded, self-conscious speech was his immediate and unconditional agreement. I couldn’t believe my luck.
“So, that’s a yes?” I asked, just to be sure.
Xander gave me a confused look back. “Isn’t that what okay means?” he asked.
“Uh, well…yes,” I said, a little flustered.
“Then, okay,” he said, nodding more firmly. “Yes, thank you,” he continued, his voice sounding more authoritative. “I accept your proposition.”
“Great,” I said. “That’s…so great.” It took a few more moments for his answer to register.
But when it did, I felt suddenly…lighter.
I gripped the arms of the wing chair, like I was afraid I might float away.
Until now, I’d had no idea how much my concerns about the Sunny Side Bed-and-Breakfast had been weighing me down.
“You’re a total lifesaver, Xander,” I said, beaming at him. “You know that?”
He grinned back, as if I’d said something funny. But then, while he continued to peer at me, his smile softened, and his gaze became more serious. “And now, you’re a lifesaver too, Hannah,” he said.
I supposed it was his way of thanking me. Even so, the intensity of his attention was beginning to stir up a lot of feelings. The kinds of feelings an employer probably shouldn’t have for her employee, even if the arrangement was just a bartered exchange.
Second thoughts about my whole plan—my harebrained scheme, as Drew had called it—started to niggle at me. Was this really such a good idea? Working—and living—together?
Well, it was too late to worry about that now. Xander and I already had an agreement. And a deal was a deal. I wasn’t the kind of person who went back on their word.
Doing my best to wrangle all my feels, I stood up and put on my best professional face. “Okay then,” I said. “Why don’t I show you around the rest of the Sunny Side?”