Page 93 of Ten Beach Road

Thirty-one

The move into the pool house didn’t take long. They had little baggage, Avery thought, except for the emotional kind. Chase, Giraldi, and Robby, who was back, along with the current Dante family member, moved the rest.

Following Deirdre’s direction, they crammed the couch, TV, chair, and Kyra’s futon into an approximation of a living area at the end overlooking the pass. Maddie, Avery, Nicole, and Deirdre’s mattresses filled in the center of the space and left just enough room to fit in three barstools at the oversized kitchen counter.

“Well,” Deirdre said, having to step back into the doorway to study the space. “As design styles go I’d have to label this ‘jam-packed.’ ”

“No kidding. When we get in bed we’re going to look like sardines wedged into a tin,” Nicole said.

“It does give downsizing a whole new meaning,” Maddie said. “But I think it’s kind of cozy.”

“Claustrophobic is a better word.” Kyra had her camera out and was already panning across the row of mattresses.

“No, seriously.” As always Maddie seemed determined to put the best spin on things. “It’s kind of like a tree house without the tree. Or a clubhouse.”

“Do you really have to shoot in here?” Nicole asked. “It’s bad enough having to be the sardine. I can’t stand having it broadcast all over the Internet. My reputation is already shot. I don’t know how I’ll ever show my face again in Palm Beach or L.A. Why don’t we just keep this final humiliation to ourselves?”

“I don’t know,” Maddie said. “We’re up to fifty thousand views, which means Bella Flora is getting some pretty broad exposure. And most of the comments have been really positive.”

“Some of us don’t see ‘not bad for a bunch of old broads,’ as particularly positive.” Nicole’s tone was dry. “Ditto for ‘where’s the button to vote people off this reality show?’ ”

“I thought the ‘we want more of the hunky guys’ comments were pretty positive,” Chase said, coming to join them.

“I’m pretty sure they were referring to Giraldi and Umberto,” Avery said.

Giraldi, who now stood in the open doorway, took a mock bow and struck an exaggerated muscle pose. Nicole gave Giraldi a once-over. “Don’t let it go to your head.”

He just smiled and flexed. Once again Avery wondered what was up with them.

“My favorite was ‘almost as entertaining as Foreman vs. Frazier,’” Deirdre said. “I’m pretty sure that one was about you and Chase.”

Everyone got a big yuck over that, but Avery was not amused. She didn’t have the energy to argue about video and was far too busy thinking about what still had to be done and how they were going to accomplish it to get sidetracked by all the weird vibes zinging between her and Chase. Not to mention living in even closer proximity to Deirdre, who’d turned out to be not at all as expected. And far more valuable to all of them than Avery would have liked.

Today Deirdre had gotten Chase and Giraldi to mount an additional towel bar and decorative hooks in the tiny bathroom. With Maddie’s help she’d organized a rolling clothing rack, a dresser, and a temporary shelving unit for their clothes, somehow managing to fit in the necessities and still make the space surprisingly stylish.

She did all this while impeccably dressed and in full makeup. But although she looked like the Design Diva the television shows and magazines had always made her out to be, she didn’t actually whine, demand, or complain. She just got things done. Her determination to establish a relationship with Avery hadn’t wilted under the living or working conditions. When the going had gotten tough, she’d gotten going. What she hadn’t done was turned and run.

“I think we need to put a big sign outside that says, Girls Only, No Boys Allowed,” Avery said.

“Yeah and we can have a secret handshake. Maybe even a password.” Nicole’s tone remained dry.

Avery looked up and noticed that once again Kyra was filming it all.

Broad shouldered, Chase and Joe pretty much filled the doorway. “That’s all right. We don’t want any of those girl cooties anyway,” Chase said. “Do we, Joe?”

“I don’t know, I’m thinking panty raid.” Joe grinned and shot Nicole a look, which she pointedly ignored.

Avery wished she could tune out Chase as easily, but she always felt so damned . . . aware of him. Pretending to ignore someone wasn’t at all the same as actually not noticing them. Still, she couldn’t let her adolescent reactions or the fact that she’d been stupid enough to kiss him keep them from doing what had to be done, not when they were getting so close to the finish line.

She caught up with Chase beside the pool. “When will we be able to start on the floors?” she asked, careful not to get close enough to get caught up in all that zinging.

“The belt sander’s up in the master,” he replied. “I’ve got my floor guy scheduled to start first thing in the morning.”

Avery nodded. After the initial sanding, a coat of stain would be applied, then a coat of polyurethane, which would sit for twenty-four hours. This would be followed by a light sanding and a last coat of poly. All in all a week to ten days should see the floors ready for foot traffic.

“Of course both sets of stairs and the edges and thresholds will have to be sanded by hand.” Chase looked her in the eye, and she caught herself remembering the way he’d looked at her as he moved in for the kiss. “I figure if we put all five of you on that, we can get the first pass done in two days and be ready to stain.”

Avery closed her eyes and groaned, though a grunt would have been more appropriate. “Oh, God. I don’t have the heart to tell Nicole or Maddie just how tedious and backbreaking a job that is.”

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