The Boys Who Loved Me - Krista Wolf Page 0,85
and damp. The smell of old earth and oil assailed my nostrils.
“Need help with that?” I heard Soren ask as Lucas approached the panel.
“Nope,” our friend replied.
“Because last time you did electrical work you remember what happened?”
“Lies,” replied Lucas. “Vicious lies.”
“Not lies,” Soren countered. “You blew out every light bulb in the whole—”
The creak of metal being screwed into metal was worse than nails being dragged down a blackboard. After a moment or two, it was interrupted by a sudden explosion of light.
“Ah! There we go.”
A single bulb now illuminated the almost-crawlspace, hung from the slatted wood ceiling that dangled at eye-level. Somewhere behind us, Candy was clapping her hands together.
“My heroes!”
We took the stairs one by one this time, swiping away errant cobwebs as we went. A minute later we were standing in her kitchen, looking over the quaint but adorably-decorated cottage.
“Seriously, thank you so much,” Candy said again. “You guys really saved me.”
“Well you saved me from that plastic sword,” Lucas countered with a wink. “So I owed you one.”
I walked a slow circle through the kitchen, which looked as if it hadn’t been updated since the 1960’s or 70’s. There were laminate yellow countertops. A matching ceramic stove. Formica mixed with brick, and a lamp hanging over the kitchen table made of colorful glass panes.
“Nice place you’ve got,” I smiled.
“Yeah,” smirked Candy. “It’s groovy.”
“Not yours, I take it?”
She laughed musically. “Oh hell no. I’ve been house-sitting for someone else.” She paused. “Well it was me and my friend Stacy, but she took off before the summer even got started really.”
“Stacy…” I said, drawing out the name. “The short blonde that was here a few months back? With the glasses?”
Candy’s eyes went wide with wonder. “Yes! How’d you even know that?”
“I saw her working the park a few times,” I explained. “She wasn’t a local so she stood out.”
“And so you’re all locals?”
“We are,” said Soren, jerking a thumb between his chest and mine. He nodded in the direction of Lucas. “He thinks he’s only here for the summer, like you.”
Lucas raised an eyebrow. “Thinks?”
“Yeah,” I chuckled. “He’s an old college roommate of ours, came down at the end of May. He planned on being gone by now, but we’re keeping him on as some extra help.”
“More like an indentured servant,” Lucas lamented.
“Anyway, enough about us,” said Soren. His eyes scanned the doorways into the back rooms, where just about every light was on. “We need to hear more about you, I think.”
Candy shifted from her position, leaning against a nearby counter. She pulled the towel from her head and began scratching vigorously at her hair.
“I uh… should probably be finishing my shower,” she said. “So itchy. Tons of soap in my hair still.” She paused awkwardly. “Other places too.”
Lucas nodded. “So? Go for it.”
“Well I would,” she faltered, looking confused. “Except that would require you guys to leave.”
I looked back at her and shrugged. “Why?”
“Well, because—”
“We could help if you like,” Soren offered hopefully.
“No, thank you.”
Peering into the hallway I could see her Bavarian maid’s outfit, crumpled up in a pile on the floor. “You just got off work, didn’t you? When the power went out?”
Candy nodded. Her damp hair was thick and curly, and looked much darker while wet.
“Then why don’t you go finish your shower?” I told her. “Rinse off, get dressed, and come back here. In the meantime, we’ll scare you up something to eat.”
Before she could say anything I pulled the fridge open. It was such a dinosaur it was actually an icebox that had been converted; retroactively fit with some sort of ancient refrigeration unit.
“You…” she squinted skeptically. “The three of you?”
“Yes.”
“You’re going to make me dinner?”
“That’s right.”
Fresh out of protests, Candy let her arms drop to her sides. “Ooookay.” She backed up into the hallway, kicking her clothing into one of the side rooms before closing the door.
“Go on,” said Lucas. “I’ll make sure they don’t burn the house down.”
It was adorable, the expression of hesitation on her face. She looked half-embarrassed, half-surprised. But only until she regained control.
“There’s not much to eat around here,” she apologized. “Much less cook with.”
“We’ll figure it out.”
She nodded, retreating into the bathroom. Eventually the shower kicked on. I continued rummaging through the fridge, while Lucas started ransacking the pantry. That’s when the door reopened just a tiny bit.
“I’ll be out in a few,” she said, peering through the crack. I could imagine her on the other side, already shedding her sweat-clothes. “Don’t break or steal anything.”
“Will you just shower already?” Soren ordered her.
Our host smiled and began shutting the door for good. Before she could, I stopped her.
“Oh, and Candy?”
She glanced back at me, a distinct vulnerability — that probably came from being naked — in her eyes. “Yes?”
“This doesn’t count as our date,” I winked.
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About the Author
Krista Wolf is a lover of action, fantasy and all good horror movies… as well as a hopeless romantic with an insatiably steamy side.
She writes suspenseful, mystery-infused stories filled with blistering hot twists and turns. Tales in which headstrong, impetuous heroines are the irresistible force thrown against the immovable object of ripped, powerful heroes.
If you like intelligent and witty romance served up with a sizzling edge? You’ve just found your new favorite author.
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