Two
CLAUDIA
The guys stared at me for a long while, like they were witnessing the creation of some paint-splattered goddess. It was Colin who eventually put down his own boxes to help clean up the mess.
“Thanks,” I said, tossing him a clean rag.
“No problem.”
I explained to them how I’d been tasked with fixing up the place, and how I’d only just begun. I left out the money part. As an adjunct professor my salary wasn’t much, so I took whatever extra hours I could. Not only was this some good supplemental income, it also kept me out of my own house for as long as I wanted.
Out of the house and away from Garrett.
“So you’re the one fixing up the old DDT house, huh?”
Hunter circled the foyer, being careful not to track through any of the spilled paint. There was a definite swagger in his step. His walk was cocky, if not outright arrogant.
“Cleaning and painting more than fixing it,” I admitted. “But yeah, that’s me.”
I didn’t know much about repairs, but I could certainly paint and decorate. And thanks to my neurotic grandmother, I could clean circles around just about anybody.
“And you just started, right?”
“Yup.”
“Good. Then you don’t mind me saying it looks like shit.”
His attitude amused more than offended me. In the six years I’d been teaching, I’d learned to grow a thicker skin.
“It looks like shit,” I replied, “because it’s been pretty much abandoned since the 1980’s. All the more reason you guys can’t live here.”
Brandon and Colin exchanged concerned looks. Hunter only folded his arms.
“And why not?”
I sighed in frustration. It was getting later by the minute. I was losing the natural light, and I hadn’t gotten even half of what I wanted done today.
“Is the electricity on?” Hunter asked.
I reached out and flicked on the light switch. The antique chandelier that dominated the upper foyer lit up, even with half the bulbs missing.
“Good. What about heat? Gas?”
“Yes and yes,” I said. “But—”
“So what’s the problem?”
He was smirking at me now. Looking down at me with two thick forearms folded across a very sculpted chest. Hunter’s dark goatee matched his black tattoos. My eyes were drawn to them.
“Look, the place is a wreck,” I said. “There’s no cable, no internet — every room is full of dust and debris.”
I was a sucker for tattoos. Always had been.
“Only half the furniture is salvageable,” I went on. “I still have to get a dumpster, carry all this crap out of here and then—
“What if we helped you?” Brandon offered suddenly.
I blinked and turned to look at him. His expression was genuine.
“And why would you do that?’
“Because this is the third place we’ve been sent,” said Colin. “And you’re kinda our last resort.”
I still didn’t understand. “What do you mean last resort?”
He shrugged and his blonde mop shrugged with him. “The Dean said this ‘might or might not’ be ready,” Colin acknowledged. “And if you turn us away we’ll have to find off campus housing. Which will suck, because it’s expensive.”
“And which will double suck,” Hunter added, “because by now most of it is already taken.”
My first instinct was to shake my head, but something stopped me. I found myself putting my hands on my hips.
“You’d really live here?” I asked.
They nodded in unison. Hunter seemed somewhat detached, but I could see pleading in the other’s eyes.
“And you’d help out?”
Three helpers! I thought to myself. Three very big, very strong helpers. I imagined all the work I could get done. All the money I could save… money the university had already allotted to me for cleanup and repairs.
“Alright,” I sighed. “If you’re willing to live here I’m willing to work around you. And with you, now that you’ve all agreed to help out.”
In a way it was perfect. Not only would I get the house ready three times faster, I’d also have some company. It had been lonely so far, working all these extra hours by myself. And at night?
Well at night the place could be downright creepy.
“Fine,” I said, pointing up the staircase. “Each of you can take a spare bedroom. Leave the master though, I’ve been piling all the extra stuff in there temporarily. We’ll clean that one out last.”
Brandon’s face lit up instantly. “Yes!” he exclaimed. Grabbing his box, he sprinted up the stairs.
Colin smiled and extended a hand. “Thanks so much…” He paused, and his eyebrows knit together. “Ummmm….”
“Claudia,” I said, putting out my own.
“Claudia,” he repeated, shaking it happily — paint and all. “You’re really saving our asses here.”
His touch was warm and welcoming. It sent a little jolt of electricity up my arm.
Someone’s gotta save those asses, I thought wickedly, watching them from behind as they headed up the stairs.
Reaching for the brush again, I tried pushing those thoughts away.