I almost jumped him right then.
“Now. Considering you renovated the place recently, I’m assuming your builder checked the chimney so we’re going to cross that off. Next,” he reached around me and flicked open a little vent on the side of the box. “Always open the damper so smoke doesn’t fill your living room.”
I’d like to open your damper…
Instead, I said, “got it.”
“Now to starting the actual fire. Many amateurs do the ‘top down’ method. Big logs on bottom, smaller on top, bada bing. But considering you’re a doctor, I think we can skip over the easy way.”
I narrowed my eyes.
Another wink. “I’m going to show you the ‘log cabin’ method. Grab two of the logs that I’ve removed the bark from, and put them on the grate about six inches apart.”
Apparently, this was a teach-a-man-to-fish-scenario. Okay, then.
“Good, next, grab the twigs, we call them kindling, and place them between.” He looked around. “We need…” He reached back and pulled a magazine from my coffee table.
“Hey. That’s my Vogue.”
“You’ll get another next month.”
I cringed as he shredded the glossy, perfumed pages, rolling them into tight little wands.
“Add these to the kindling. Then, grab two more logs, and stack those perpendicular on the bottom two. Next, two more on top, the other way.”
I did as I was told.
“It looks like a little log cabin.”
“Nothing gets past you. Now,” he pulled a lighter from his pocket and handed it to me. “Light the kindling.”
“You always carry a lighter in your pocket?”
“Yeah.”
Five minutes later, the fire was roaring and my confidence was growing. I was actually havingfun.
“See?” He said. “Not so hard is it?”
“Not with you helping out.”
“Exactly.” He sat back on his haunches and focused on me. “Next up, I’ll show you how to work the security system I’m going to install.”
He brushed off his hands and stood, looking out the window. “Got a bit more light left. I’m going to make another dent in the tree. My brother’s dropping off a chainsaw in a minute.”
I stood, disappointed that our time in close proximity was over. “Thank you. For everything.”
“I’ll get the rest of it taken care of this weekend.”
“How can I pay you?”
He took a step closer and my heart skipped a beat. “I’ve got plenty of money, Rose.”
“What will you take as payment, then?” I whispered, stepping even closer, practically begging him to kiss me again.
He leaned down, his lips barely grazing past my lips,blazing a trail against my cheek. Goosebumps rippled as his whisper tickled my ear.
“I want you to never see Josh Davis again.”
