Chapter 5

Five

"So, my house is ready for me to move up there to start the work," Kaleb told Charlie when he came down for his third doughnut trip late in the morning one day. "I'll hang out until the end of the week, like I paid out, but I won't need the room for another week after that."

"Oh." He hoped his face didn't show it, but Charlie felt his heart fall. He'd really enjoyed having Kaleb there at the hotel, and the dogs had become favorites of the whole staff, their antics making everyone laugh. "Well, we'll miss you."

"Aw." Kaleb gave him a glinting grin, those clear gray eyes, which should have been glacial somehow, heating up. "Not too much, I hope. I'll be coming in for Bridget's weekly Irish special as much as I can."

"That's good." His cheeks heated. Yes! He would get to see Kaleb, which had been a reason to look forward to coming to work even more.

"Yeah. And since I won't be a guest anymore, I was hoping to talk to you about something else."

"You were?" He stared, his heart racing. If Kaleb asked him out, what would he do? He just—He would have to say no. He couldn't do it. He couldn't go out alone with someone.

"Yeah. I was wondering if you would meet with me and Kynan about some of the house renovations." Kaleb picked what Charlie thought was imaginary lint off his sleeve.

"I—really?"

"Yes. I honestly love the rooms you've redone. I'm interested in your opinion."

He had to smile, because how cool was that? "Seriously? You know I'm not trained, right?"

"Me either, but I'm going to live there, so I want to be happy."

"I understand that." He'd redecorated the apartment he was in now, with Lukas's blessing. Most of it was removable, so he could take it with him if he had to go, and he hadn't touched the two big pieces of amazing antique furniture, but he was proud.

"Anyway, what do you think? Kynan said he would give you a ride up to the house if you didn't want to have to depend on me."

"I—" Well, fuck. He really, really wanted to check it out. The place hung up in the mountain like it had grown up there, all scary and dilapidated. "I'd like to see the place. I'll totally run up with Mr. Kynan as soon as he's heading up while I'm not at work."

His boss, Jack Harlan, came out of the office with his daughter, Elizabeth Anne, grinning at them. "Run up where? I'm nosy. Hey, Kaleb."

"Jack. Good to see you." Kaleb nodded, and Charlie had to wonder how he knew everyone in town already.

"Good to be seen. Are you having lunch with Hank today, Charlie? I found those pictures he wanted."

"Yes, sir. I am. I'll take them."

"I'm going to get Charlie to come up to the house with Kynan and work with me on the plan for the decor. I want to start doing some woodwork now that the floors have been assessed and I know all the beams are stable." Kaleb chuckled. "I forget not everyone has quit their day job."

"No, just me, Chase…really, that's it. We're the three." Jack winked at him, and Charlie fought his smile. It was impossible not to like Mr. Jack. Seriously. The man was happy, and he loved sharing it with everyone else. "I'm a lucky bastard."

"Daddy! You said a cuss! I get a dollar!" Elizabeth Anne bounced and held out her hand, that little girl as sharp as a tack. "He never learns. I'm going to be a zillionaire and buy a barrel horse."

Jack pulled out a money clip that only ever had singles in it and gave his daughter a bill. "You should run up with Kynan tomorrow, Charlie. I bet Gail would be happy to get a few hours in. Her grandkids will be coming in May, and she always saves to do fun things with them."

"Oh, I—Are you sure?"

"Of course. Kynan can take you up. You're a talented designer. You should go with it." Jack's airy wave meant more than a stern talking to, because that meant Jack meant it. What he was saying was just second nature.

"Thank you." He glanced at Kaleb. "Is tomorrow good?"

"It's great. I'll text Kynan. What time do you want to come up? I think he was planning on around nine a.m., but we can work that into something else if you need to."

Nine a.m., huh? Well, maybe he'd only have to take a half-day off. That would be nice. "That's fine. I'm free, thanks to Mr. Harlan."

"Perfect." Kaleb beamed. "Thank you. And thanks, Jack."

"Can I see your dogs?" Elizabeth Anne asked.

"Do you have time?" Kaleb looked at Jack.

"Sure. I'll get those pictures for Charlie, if you don't mind taking her. I can meet you out in the courtyard."

"Yay!" Elizabeth Anne took Kaleb's hand, dragging Kaleb away.

Jack chuckled. "She does love animals."

Charlie shook his head, but he had to admit, he loved those big buffoons. They were sweet and goofy and gentle. "They're good dogs."

"They are. Kaleb seems like a real decent guy, too. I met him a few times back when I was doing investing in Denver." Jack watched him rather carefully, he thought.

"Did you? So you were okay with him?" He wasn't scary?

Charlie didn't feel particularly scared of him, to be honest.

"He's a solid citizen, as far as I could tell. He ran a tech company. I understand he sold it and is basically living off investments from that now." Jack grinned. "Hell of a job."

"Yeah." He was never going to be that guy. He was going to be on a time clock until he died. It had been a fantasy that it would ever be different.

"Well, anyway, I think you'll love that damn house. I thought about buying it and making it into a B-and-B type situation. It's got something like twenty-four rooms. But I decided it needed too much work. Glad to see it go to someone who will make it shine."

"Yes. I love how it hangs up there, like a growth on the mountain." And he had to admit he was curious to see inside.

"It does kind of look like that from down here, huh? I always imagine how tough that had to be to get to when it was built. Be right back." Jack disappeared back into the office behind the desk, then emerged with a stack of old photos. "For Hank."

"Oh, he'll be over the moon. He loves this?—"

"Daddy!" Elizabeth Anne came running in, feet slamming on the floor like she was as heavy as an elephant. "Daddy, they're Nana dogs! Daddy, I love them, and Mr. Kabob says I can visit them and they'll be my friends!"

"That sounds amazing, kiddo." Jack grabbed her hand. "Did you run away from Kaleb?"

She frowned. "Um."

"We were all supposed to meet in the courtyard."

"Miss Antonia came with me."

Jack sighed. "Honey, ghosts don't count on the buddy system, okay?"

"Oh, okay. Daddy, will you be my buddy?" Butter wouldn't melt in that child's mouth.

"I will. Let's go get your dad." Jack looked at Charlie. "He's bothering Ryan in the kitchen. Holler if you need anything. I'll get Gail in for tomorrow."

"Yes, sir. Thank you." He chuckled and shook his head at himself. He did not need to get all excited. He was not a designer. He was not trained. He was a guy who liked to decorate things.

He had an enormous Pinterest board collection and he bought all of the vintage house magazines. But surely Kynan knew more than he did.

Kaleb came back through with the monster dogs. "When do you head out for lunch? I won't horn in, but I could walk with you. These guys need a long trek."

"I'm meeting Hank at David's Pizza. Would you—" Come on. It's lunch. He's checking out. "Would you like to join us?"

"God, yes." Kaleb grinned. "Though it might be best to leave these guys here. Do I have time to run them out to potty?"

"Of course, but…look, that's way out of your way, if you're heading to your house. You can let them stay at my apartment, if you want."

"That sounds great, if you don't mind. That way I can drive us to lunch instead of walking back here after, huh? Can Hank bring you back, though?" Kaleb frowned, clearly trying to figure out how to achieve getting him back with an escort.

"If he can't, I'll walk, but usually Hank stops here so he can make sure things are ready for the ghost tour."

"Oh, good. I met, uh… Stone? I met him a few nights ago."

Stone worked with Hank giving tours and doing his podcast.

"Yeah, he's amazing. He stayed in my apartment before I did. He actually still lives in my building with his husband and their baby." Demetrius and his sister owned the corsetry shop downstairs, next to the gym.

"Oh, wow. This small-town stuff is all new to me. And that's not being mean. I think it's really cool." Kaleb oofed as Neo tried to pull him over to get to a guest who walked in with a box of doughnuts.

"Neo. Stop it. I have a cookie in my pocket." Silly, goofy boy. Charlie adored them both.

Neo's ears perked up, and he swiveled, lunging to sit at Charlie's feet.

"Ooof. You are so going to stay in Charlie's apartment. And be good."

"They don't chew furniture, right?" There was a big wardrobe that was irreplaceable…

"No. And I'll give them their rug and a couple of big dental chews to make sure they're comfy and busy."

"There you go. They'll be fine, and Lukas—he's the building owner and the tattoo artist in the studio downstairs—doesn't open until three p.m. on Thursdays." So if they barked, it would be fine.

"Oh, wow. Does that get weird if you're trying to sleep, him being open late?" He could tell Kaleb was just curious, so he didn't tense up about his private life.

"No, I never hear anything upstairs."

"Neat. It looks like an old building, so I didn't know."

"Fuel is way louder."

"Oh, I bet. People leaving the restaurant, right? I used to live over one of those fancy burger places for a while, when I was still starting out in Denver. People have no idea how loud they talk when they leave a restaurant, because they've had to talk louder to be heard inside, huh?"

"Exactly! But it's insanely clean down there. I mean, the smells are enough to make you feel like you're starving all the time." Jesus, Charlie. Shut up.

"The food is amazing. I ate there with Kynan last week. I mean, damn." Kaleb shook his head. "Listen to me going on. Are you ready to go to lunch, or should I walk them around until you get off?"

"Let me make sure my coverage is here."

Speaking of, Gail walked in, a smile on her face. "Hey, you. I'm here for your lunch."

"Thanks, Gail. I'll be back in an hour and a half, give or take." He grabbed his coat from underneath the desk, then followed Kaleb out of the hotel, the big dogs greeting everyone they passed.

"I bet the other guests will be glad to get rid of these guys." Kaleb led him to a big truck, putting the dogs in the back seat.

"Once they figured out they weren't horses, they were fine." Charlie figured it was safe to tease.

"This is true. I can't believe someone reported them as ponies." They headed across the river and up Main. It was such a short drive compared to walking, and in no time, they were stashing the dogs in his apartment.

"This is a great apartment!"

"Thank you. I like it. It's warm and cozy."

"It is. I mean, it's really neat. Look at all of that woodwork. And I love the colors of the cushions and the drapes." Kaleb looked around, then let the dogs off their leashes. "Do you have a sheet I can cover your couch with?"

"Of course." He went to the little linen closet and pulled out his spare clean sheet. "They'll be fine."

But he thought it was so sweet how Kaleb worried and loved them.

"Oh, I don't worry about them, really, but this is your place. I'm not going to let them destroy it." Grinning, Kaleb helped him drape the couch, and then he got a bowl of water to put out on the hard floor in the kitchenette.

"We'll be back in a few, guys. Don't worry, all right?"

They headed over to David's—the walk was short, and the sun kept things reasonable. It wasn't warm, but it didn't suck. And Kaleb was a large, solid presence, but he wasn't looming or trying to dominate in any way. He was just sharing space and chatting.

It made him ache a little, because he really liked Kaleb, but he didn't…he wasn't…dammit.

He just couldn't go there.

"Hey!" Hank met them outside. "Kaleb, hi. Charlie." Hank gave him a hug.

"Hey there. Is it okay that Kaleb comes for lunch?"

"Of course. You're always welcome." Hank shot Kaleb a grin. "How goes the house?"

"Good. We're go for the stairs now. The electrical is mostly up and running, and I'll be up there in an RV now until we make sure the roof is totally solid. I want Charlie to come up and look at the woodwork and make some recommendations for the bathrooms."

They got into the line to order, and Hank beamed at Kaleb. "Oh, that rocks. Have you seen the ghosts yet?"

"Nope." Kaleb chuckled. "Lots of chipmunks."

"Darn. I was hoping for all these wild encounters." Hank grinned over at Kaleb. "You're going to let me come up, though, right? Do a podcast?"

"Of course. Anytime. God, it smells good in here."

"Yeah. Did you want a sub or a pizza? They're both amazing." Charlie wanted a meatball sandwich, he thought…

"I think a sub. I love an Italian." Kaleb's grin was so infectious.

"So when are you going up, Charlie?" Hank asked. "Today?"

"Oh, no. No, I have to go back to work." Meatball sub. That was the ticket. "Gail will cover for me tomorrow morning and I'll ride up with Kynan."

They ordered then, with David himself prodding Kaleb into trying the half and half salad with his sub. They settled at a booth, and he found himself sitting with Kaleb because of all of Hank's paperwork and books.

"Are you going up today, Kaleb?" Hank's eyes shone with unholy curiosity, which was always a bad sign.

"I am, yes. I have an electrical hookup now, and I'm renting an RV."

"Well, then. Let me call Gail, Charlie. I bet she can cover you this afternoon. I'm free, and I can drive you up."

His eyes widened. "Hank?—"

"Hey, that would be awesome. That way, I would have some intel before I meet with Kynan tomorrow." Kaleb grinned at him and Hank like they were geniuses.

Hank pulled out his phone and scrolled through his contacts. "Gail… There she is." He hit call. "Hi, Gail. Hank Vargas-Graham. Yes. I'm with Charlie at lunch, and he was wondering if you could—Exactly. Uh-huh. Perfect. Thanks, hon. Bye." Hank beamed as he hung up. "She says that's better for her than tomorrow."

Charlie felt a little as if he'd been run over by a truck.

"That's great. In fact, my dogs are at Charlie's." Kaleb nudged Charlie gently with his elbow. "You can ride up with me and ride back with Hank."

"I—Um."

"And you can grab a notebook or a sketchbook or whatever at your place too, right?"

"Of course, but?—"

"Then it's settled." Hank clapped his hands. "I'm so excited."

Charlie sat there, blinking and trying to figure out how he'd been so outmaneuvered until the food came.

Then he sat there watching Kaleb eat and wondering why he'd never noticed what a disturbingly attractive thing it was to see a man moan over a mix of pasta and green salad.

Hank chattered enough for all of them, and it wasn't until he was in the truck with Kaleb and on the way up to the mansion that he caught his breath.

"I hope this is okay," Kaleb said. "I know we kind of browbeat you into it."

Charlie clutched his notebook in his lap. "No, it's fine. I'm just a little bit of a routine guy. It takes me a minute to adjust if my plan goes awry." He said it wryly, but it was true. He had a well-ordered life, and he'd just been sent sideways.

"Ah. Yeah. I was very much that way when I was working all the time. I forget that not everyone can just hare off on a weird mission." Kaleb gave him a little smile. "I'm sorry."

He took a deep breath, determined to enjoy the ride up the mountain. "No, it's fine. Really. The view is breathtaking from up here."

"It really is." Kaleb turned off on a road marked private, and wound up to the house, which was…crazy. Pictures didn't even come close to doing it justice.

It hung off the mountain like a natural outcropping, three stories of house with towers reaching even higher. It wasn't Addams Family dark, but intimidating? Hell yes.

"Wow." Charlie laughed, because what else could he do. It was a decorator's dream, really. And it had to be a logistical nightmare for Kynan. Or a challenge, he supposed.

"Yeah. From here, you really see how freaking huge it is," Kaleb said, his chuckle joining Charlie's as they parked. They climbed out of the vehicle and Hank bounced over to meet them.

"Oh my God, I've always wanted to see this place," Hank said.

"There's a lot to see." Kaleb said it wryly as he let the dogs out.

"Seventeen bedrooms, a ballroom, a conservatory, a billiards room, a two-story library—" Hank sounded like he was going to cream his jeans.

"Seven—Did you say seventeen?" Houses didn't have seventeen bedrooms. Hotels did.

"Yep. And there are a few water closets, but I'm having to put in real bathrooms. So a couple of those bedrooms will probably become bathrooms and closets, but there is a ton of storage. And did I mention the dumbwaiter? Trinity, leave Hank alone."

Hank chuckled softly. "She's in love with the peanut butter snacks Antonia keeps in my backpack."

"Well, make sure we put that high up on a counter. They can reach, but they know they're not allowed to." Kaleb led the way up the stone stairs to the front entry, then unlocked the door with a flourish. "Enter, my friends."