Page 21 of Necessary Roughness

“I thought you were kidding about that.”

“The people who sold me the house had a mother-in-law that had a tough time with stairs. She was a nice lady,” he said. He nodded at a black-lacquered wooden door with the same type of glass and wrought-iron inlay as his front door. “The elevator’s right there. Want a ride?”

The elevator was smaller than a coat closet and didn’t look like it would fit both of them. “I can walk.”

He gestured for her to precede him inside. “Go ahead,” he said as she pulled the protective door open.

Smaller than a coat closet? It was smaller than a shoe box. Even worse, she was wedged into one corner while Tanner maneuvered his way inside. He hit the button to close the elevator door, and she was hit by a wave of his scent. He smelled like soap, and aftershave that smelled like water, only better—a fresh, clean smell that she wanted to keep breathing in. If they got stuck in this elevator, she might get her wish. He hit B.

“This should take about a minute. You okay back there?”

“I’m fine,” she said.

She was not going to lean forward, bury her nose in his clothes, and breathe deeply. How could someone she wanted to get away from smell so good? She clasped her hands behind her back before she gave in to the urge to wrap her arms around his waist and lean into him.

Tanner let out a grunt as he shoved himself out of the car. “Let’s go.”

Jordan trailed Tanner as he moved through a huge combination family room and media room. It was dominated by another large flat-screen TV, a red sectional couch covered with fluffy, colorful throw pillows, and a wooden coffee table. A fully stocked kitchen and bar area with seating took up the opposite wall. She followed him into a short hallway as Tanner opened a door at the far end.

The guest room was a pale shade of aqua with clean white molding, warm gray hardwood flooring covered with an area rug in shades of blue, and a tray ceiling with recessed lighting. The king-size bed was draped in white—white sheets, comforter, and an excess of fluffy pillows. The bed skirt was embroidered with aqua thread, and a canvas painted with an Impressionist beach scene hung over the bed.

She turned to see a small seating area with two patterned slipper chairs in front of a gas fireplace.

“There’s a connecting five-piece bathroom over there,” Tanner said. “Jacuzzi tub.”

Every reason why she should not live in a house with a guy who worked her last nerve for the summer came to mind. She’d already had a collection of the world’s worst roommates. She’d like someplace to retreat to when her workday was over that did not belong to a tall, handsome client with an attitude problem. Her resolve weakened as the seconds passed.

She glanced around again at the beautifully decorated, luxurious bedroom. Maybe she should check out the bathroom before she made up her mind. Maybe she should get her ass in the car and leave before she did something stupid.

Tanner raised one eyebrow and gave her a smile. “The price is right. There’s no damage deposit. You can move in tonight too. How about it, Jordan? Want to live in my guest room for a few months?”

Before she could bite the words back, she said “I’ll do it.”

***

JORDAN WENT HOME to pack a couple of bags. She didn’t need much. A few changes of clothes, another pair of shoes, some socks and underwear, her laptop and her toiletries. She could get the rest of her stuff on Friday after work. She was rolling the dice, but more than a chance to save some money this summer and live in Tanner’s beautiful house in exchange for a few extra PT sessions during the week, she had to admit she was curious about him. Who was he—the grumpy guy she’d met the first time he came to the clinic, or the warm, kind of funny guy he’d been lately?

She was tempted to chalk up his change in disposition to painkillers. She had to admit she enjoyed the verbal sparring. He really needed to quit calling her DP, though.

She glanced around her basement apartment to see if she’d forgotten anything she’d need before Friday. There wasn’t a lot in her refrigerator, so it wasn’t like she was worried about rotting food or wasting stuff.

Twenty minutes later, she drove through the open security gate at Tanner’s and parked in front of the garage. The early evening sun painted everything gold as it sank slowly on the horizon. The sparkle of sunlit water was so bright, she shaded her eyes with one hand. She stared at the garage door as she muttered, “What am I doing here?” She’d had only one glass of wine earlier, so it wasn’t like she could blame this decision on being drunk. She couldn’t blame it on anything rational, either. She’d always been somewhat anal-retentive about having a plan. It was a hell of a time to decide to take a risk.

She shoved her keys into her pocket and got out of her car.

“He’s in his room sleeping,” the nurse called out from the front doorway. “The coast is clear.”

In for a penny, in for a pound, as her grandma would say. Jordan popped the trunk of her car and pulled out her suitcases, her purse, and her laptop bag. She dragged her stuff to the front door. The nurse reached out to grab the rolling suitcase handle.

“You don’t really hate him, do you?” Jordan said.

“I’ve worked with guys like him before. He’s an ass. I won’t be responsible if someone shoves him into Lake Washington one of these days,” she said.

Jordan stifled a laugh. She came to a stop halfway across the huge entryway of Tanner’s house.

“Maybe we should introduce ourselves if we’re both going to be living here. I’m Barb.”

Jordan reached out and gave Barb’s hand a brief shake. “I’m Jordan. Nice to meet you.”

---