“Here we are,” he said.
He got out and started unloading my suitcases while I studied the house. It was a cute, Cape Cod style home, likethe few neighboring houses I could see. While I scoped out the house, Diablo visited a few trees and bushes.
When we went inside, I was taken aback by the interior. It was decorated with neutral grays and browns and felt very inviting. It wasn’t the decor one would associate with a bachelor biker.
Dice’s chuckle caught my attention. “Before you ask, Ember is responsible for all this,” he said and waved his hand to indicate the area. “When she updated the vacant residential properties a few years ago, I asked her to include my house.”
“She did a great job. Is she an interior decorator?”
“No, she’s … well, I don’t know what her title is. She oversees the businesses on the farm, coordinates new projects, and manages the employee residential program.”
“So, she runs the place?”
“Pretty much,” he said. “Let me show you to your room.”
I followed him through the living room and down the hallway to an average size guest room. “Congratulations. You’re the first one to use this room.”
“I’m honored,” I teased.
“The bathroom is the next door on the right, and my room is directly across the hall. I’m not sure how well the kitchen is stocked since I haven’t been here much, but you’re welcome to whatever’s in there.”
“Thanks.”
“If you need anything, let me know.”
“I think I’m good. I’m going to change and probably go to bed.”
With that, he left me to get settled in my new room.
The next morning,Diablo woke me up wanting to go outside. I glanced at my phone and groaned at the time, but dutifully got out of bed and slipped on my shoes.
“Come on, Stinker,” I said quietly and trudged to Dice’s back door. The back door led to a large screened-in porch which opened to a large back yard with a fire pit and seating area in the center.
Diablo was running around sniffing what seemed like every single blade of grass when he suddenly stopped, and his entire body became rigid. I turned my head in the direction he was looking to see a completely naked Ink peeing off his back porch. I squeaked, Diablo barked, and Ink turned his back to me before he awkwardly shuffled out of sight.
“What’s going on?” Dice asked as he threw the back door open and rushed outside where he found me bent at the waist, covering my mouth trying to stifle my laughter.
Ink’s head appeared around the corner of his house. “My bad, Daphne,” he called.
Dice joined me in laughter. “Never mind. I know what’s going on.”
“Can y’all turn around so I can go back inside?” Ink asked.
“Yeah, man,” Dice said and gently turned me in the opposite direction. “Go ahead.”
Moments later, we heard Ink’s door close. Then we both cracked up laughing.
“Would you like some coffee?” Dice asked once we were back inside.
“I’d love some,” I said. “I hope we didn’t wake you. Diablo isn’t usually up this early.”
“I know. That’s why I thought something was wrong when I heard him barking from outside. And no, you didn’t wake me. I was awake, I just hadn’t gotten out of bed yet.”
A few minutes later, he placed a large mug of coffee, with cream and sugar just the way I liked it, in front of me. “What’s on the agenda for today?”
“Thanks,” I said and pointed to the coffee. “I guess I need to pick a house to stay in, but other than that and maybe a grocery run, I don’t have any plans.”
“About that … we can go look at the available houses, but you’re welcome to stay here if you want to.”