Her house wasn’t really a house.

It was basically a ranch with a giant, fancy log cabin perched in the center of it.

With a gate (obviously).

It wasn’t what I was expecting. Well, aside from the fancy part.

It was the kind of fancy that was throwing me off. And the location.

I expected Aerie to be a city mouse. Hollywood and L.A. through and through. You know, the kind of girl who liked shopping, coffee, and restaurants all in close proximity. All the conveniences at the touch of a finger. I expected sleek lines, white paint… chrome.

This was the complete opposite. There was land for miles, mountains, and reaching modern conveniences would require significant time in the car. The house itself was warm and comfortable. It was a place you could live in, not just look at. I wanted to settle in and watch football on a Sunday, play my guitar by the fire, and eat Fruity Pebbles on the couch.

What surprised me more was that she fit in. Aerie didn’t appear out of place at all in this country setting… I didn’t know her well, but I was willing to bet a corndog that she looked more herself here than anywhere else.

It didn’t hurt she wasn’t wearing pants either.

What a fucking test that was, not to stare at those damn long legs sticking out from beneath that soft-looking sweater.

There was attraction between us.

Don’t tell anyone, but it shocked the hell outta me.

Not that I was attracted to her. Um, she was hot.

But her attraction to me. I know I often say how much the ladies love the Nate Train… but you know, I might be overestimating a bit.

Or a lot.

Truth was I was kinda awkward. Goofy. Definitely not the smoothest when it came to women or talking to one. Maybe that’s why I adapted such a sarcastic personality. It was easier to have a woman laugh and roll her eyes at me than turn me down flat.

I wasn’t the best-looking guy in the room either. Definitely not like the kind of guys Aerie was used to hanging with.

Still, she was interested in me. She hated it (which oddly made me like it more), and she definitely tried to hide it, but you couldn’t hide energy. She definitely didn’t hide it by avoiding my hands earlier and then rushing from the room as though her ass were on fire.

I don’t know how the hell I managed to catch her attention, but I wanted to keep it. I probably wouldn’t. I mean, I couldn’t keep something if I didn’t even know how I attracted it in the first place.

Cheeto was a good move, though. He at least got me in the door.

You aren’t here for a date, man. You’re here for a job. For a job that will pay a shit ton of money.

“Here we go.” Aerie’s voice broke into my thoughts. She was carrying a large tray with a handle on each end.

The pink bows at the top of her socks practically teased me, but I forced my attention up to her face.

“From the bushes to dinner by the fire,” I told Cheeto. “You’re moving up in the world, buddy.”

Aerie laughed and set the tray on the brick hearth near the fire, then sank down on the rug beside me. “Can I have that blanket?” she asked, motioning behind me.

I reached into the chair and grabbed the blanket, handing it over to her. She tucked it over her lap, then adjusted her legs so she was sitting Indian style under it. When she was done, she set a small white dish on the floor between us. On it was chopped-up chicken. Beside that she placed a bowl of water and then a small bowl of what looked like milk.

“You aren’t really supposed to give cats milk, but he’s had a rough night,” she explained.

Cheeto went to the food immediately and started scarfing it down.

“He’s going to be sick!” She worried.

“He’ll be all right,” I replied. “Though, you might want to find him a litter box.”

She frowned. “I don’t have any cat litter.”

“We can shred up some paper,” I suggested.

She nodded. Her hair, which I’d only ever seen sleek and straight, bounced around her head. It was wavier and rumpled-looking today. More natural.

And her skin was completely free of makeup. No red lips tonight. But her cheeks were pink, maybe from the cold. Maybe from excitement.

She looked younger like this. Vulnerable.

“I’ll have some supplies picked up and brought out for me tomorrow morning,” she said, thoughtfully.

“You have a staff here?” I asked, curious.

“Not a big one. I have someone who takes care of the house and land. Kind of like a foreman, I guess. And I have a housekeeper who cleans and stocks the fridge. Sometimes she cooks for me. A few other people who do things like that. But no one’s here now. I sent everyone home. I meant it when I said I wanted to be alone.”

“Well, now you’re alone with me.” That didn’t come out nearly as sarcastic and nonthreatening as I intended.

She cleared her throat and then turned and grabbed something off the tray behind her. “I made you a sandwich.” She held out a white plate with a chicken sandwich, chips, and a pickle on the side.

“You made that for me?”

She nodded.

I snatched up half the sammy and shoved the end into my mouth. “Omigoood,” I said around a bite of the food. “How did you know I was starved?”

She gaped as I shoved another bite in my mouth. “You’re always hungry.”

I paused. “How’d you know that?”

“Because both times we met, you stole my candy.”

“This is good shit. It’s trending in my mouth,” I said as I chewed and pointed to my lips.

“It’s trending in your mouth?” She wondered.

“If this sandwich was a Facebook post, it would have thousands of likes.”

She laughed. I liked the sound. And by the way, she still smelled like Fruity Pebbles. It was nearly addicting.

I took the plate and finished the food in record time. Although, Cheeto was faster than me. After he ate and drank, he settled beside Aerie and began licking his paws.

“They did tell me you were coming.” Her quiet voice admitted, her gaze trained on the kitten. “I told them I wasn’t ready. I guess they didn’t care.”

“Not ready to work on new music? Or not ready have me around?”

She kept her eyes turned down, but I stared at her anyway. The firelight played across her features, creating shadows on her face and streaks of gold in her dark hair.

“Both.” I watched her throat work after she spoke. Noticed the slight tremble in her lower lip. It was one word, but it held a lot.

I felt bad for being here, bad for showing up without calling. For basically putting my paycheck above her.

“Hey, uh…” I said, clearing my throat. “I’ll go. I can put the label off a little, tell them I had a family emergency at home and buy you some time.”

Her eyes lifted. “You would do that?”

“Sure. It’s not like my dad wants me to be here anyway.”

“Your dad?”

“Yep, I still live at home,” I said. Way to sound like a loser, Roth.

A little inkling of interest sparked in her eyes. “Where is home?”

“Upstate New York.”

“You don’t live in L.A.?”

“L.A. couldn’t handle all this.” I gestured to myself.

She gave me a look that basically said to knock it off.

I sighed. “No. I’m not that established in songwriting. I’m a college student. Who lives with his dad and drives a crappy Ford.”

When she didn’t say anything, I figured that was her way of being nice and not laughing me out onto the porch. I got to my feet and adjusted my shirt. “You mind taking care of Cheeto? I think he’d like it better here than a car ride back to New York.”

“Of course.”

“Cool.” I stood there awkwardly for a few painful seconds, then started from the room.

“Did you want to use the bathroom before you left?” she asked.

I gave her a lopsided smile over my shoulder. “Nah, I peed in the bushes a few miles back.”

“I knew it!” She gasped.

I laughed.

My hand closed around the large wrought iron handle on the front door when I heard her behind me.

“Nate!”

I turned to see her at the top of the stairs of the living room, Cheeto cradled in her arms.

“Aerie?”

Her teeth sank into her lower lip when I said her name, and my hand tightened around the handle. I didn’t say anything else. I was afraid if I opened my mouth, a bunch of stupid would tumble out.

Finally, she released her lip. “Will you stay?”

“U-uh, uh,” I stuttered. I cleared my throat, rubbing the back of my neck. “Uh, yeah.”

“Just for tonight,” she rushed out. “Maybe we can talk in the morning? About work.”

I nodded.

“Help me find a litter box for this little guy, and then I’ll show you to your room.”

I blinked after her as she went from the room, my eyes drawn back to her legs. She was almost out of sight when I heard her call out, “You coming or what?”

I rushed to catch up.