Page 21 of Pressure

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 whilehe 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.”