Page 23 of Snow, Ice, and Spice
“Trying to clean up your image?” Tyler chuckles.
Gage elbows him, but I tell him it’s okay. As uncomfortable as this conversation is, I’m a grown man. I should be able to answer for all the messy and irresponsible shit I’ve done.
“Something like that.” My cheeks go hot.
“Good for you,” Tyler says in a chipper tone. “You know, if you really wanted to go all out, you should do something like rescue puppies and kittens. That’s, like, Mr. Rogers-level of wholesome. People would be all over that…oof!”
Gage elbows Tyler again. As the two brothers quietly grumble at each other, I catch eyes with Maya, who’s sitting on the opposite side of the table as me. I notice her gaze on me is focused, like she’s trying to decipher something.
“Enough with your unsolicited life advice, Tyler,” she says.
Becca and Tori nod along.
“When can we have a tour of the place?” Becca asks.
“When we clear the table and load the dishwasher,” Maya says. Tyler, Austin, and Declan groan.
She rolls her eyes. “You guys are such whiners. Come on, the faster we get it done, the quicker you’ll be able to see the heated deck Ingrid has.”
That seems to be the motivation everyone needs because the kitchen and dining table are cleared in minutes. Maya leads everyone to the deck and I hang back to push in the chairs and wipe down the dining table. I glance over at Maya, who’s now on the deck and pointing out the property to her family. They’re looking at the small frozen pond and the small guest house in the back.
I think about how I brought up overhearing her last night. I scrub a hand over my cheek and bite back a groan just thinking about it. What the hell was I thinking telling her that?
Honestly, I wasn’t going to. I planned to never, ever tell her that I heard her last night. But then she made that cute joke about me hibernating and I couldn’t help but think of last night, specifically how well I slept after cranking one out to the sound of her…cranking one out.
I press my eyes shut, feeling the fire on my cheeks once more. I must have the world’s worst poker face judging by how quickly Maya was able to figure out what I was trying to hide.
Guilt throttles me at how mortified she was when she realized I had overheard her touching herself. Embarrassment follows close behind when I remember admitting to her how hot it was…
Eyes still closed, I pinch the bridge of my nose and let out a breath. Fuck, I’m a dumbass. I actually thought that would make her feel better. Behind the darkness of my eyelids, I can picture perfectly Maya’s shocked expression when I told her that. She looked horrified.
Can I blame her? Hell no. I just proved what an unbelievable perv I am.
The door to the deck opens and they all file back inside and crowd around the fireplace to warm up. I join them on the sectional.
Austin pulls Maya into a side hug. “Pretty cool gig you’ve got, cuz. Wanna trade? I’ve gotta teach thirty middle schoolers the Pythagorean Theorem tomorrow morning and I’d much rather hang out in this cozy place with Theo.”
I flash a thumbs up at Austin as Maya laughs. “No way. Remember how I was always epically bad at math? Your students would be so screwed.”
“So is this a new business venture for you? Housesitting?” Gage asks.
Maya shrugs. “Not sure.”
I notice how Maya doesn’t look at her brother when she answers him. Her shoulders stiffen the slightest bit too.
“Once this gig is up, you think you’ll go back to San Diego with Ingrid?” Tyler asks.
Maya chucks a heavy log into the fire. “That’s the plan.”
Gage and Tyler exchange a look. Tyler’s brow lifts and he looks like he’s about to say something, but Gage shakes his head. Tyler raises an eyebrow at his brother and sighs.
“I made an appointment for you to get winter tires on your car,” Gage says to Maya.
She looks surprised. “Why?”
“Because I knew you wouldn’t have time since you moved back so quickly. Drop it off next Tuesday first thing in the morning at Linus Auto. Gary will take care of you.”
She aims a tight smile. “Thanks.”
