Page 28 of Just Beachy

• • •

I’m back upon the ladder and almost finished with the living room ceiling when another knock sounds on the front door.

“Come in!” I shout because I’m in the middle of trying to wipe yet another glob of “Extra White” from my face and am covered in too much paint to climb down or touch the front door.

I try to hold back my groan when Luke Hayes steps inside.

“Wow!” he says but it’s unclear whether he’s referring to the space or the amount of paint I’m wearing.

“Wow,” he says again as I make my way carefully down the ladder with the paint tray and brush in my hand.

I keep my “wow” to myself along with the tingle I feel as he approaches. Luke is wearing swimming trunks slung low on his hips and a muscle T that does what it’s designed to do, which means I have to rip my gaze from the muscles on display. “What are you doing here?”

“I’m off today and I thought I’d hit the beach. When I saw your car, I figured I’d stop by and make sure you weren’t fighting off felons or impersonating a police officer.”

“Very funny.”

He looks me up and down, and I tingle again. “You do know that the paint is supposed to go on thehouse, right?”

“Of course I do.” I smile, toss my head, and let loose with what’s meant to be a nonchalant laugh. A glob of paint flies off my hair and lands at the edge of the drop cloth. I laugh again. “It’s just hard to have this much fun without making a bit of a mess.”

He snorts.

“But don’t think for a minute I’m going to let you join in.” I swipe at my forehead, and the back of my hand turns “Extra White.” “I don’t think you can handle this much fun.”

He laughs full out. “Fun, my ass. Who are you impersonating now, Tom Sawyer?”

I grit my teeth and try to keep the back of my hand away from my face. Grand and Myra take pity on me and give Luke a tour of the place. The tour involves a lot of what can only be called giggling; theirs, not his.

“Thanks for the tour, ladies,” he says to Grand and Myra when they arrive back at the front door. “Pass-a-Grille will definitely benefit from having an indie bookstore. And the place is looking great.” He shoots them a wink.

I get a shake of his head and a smirk. “Have fun!”

“Oh, I will!”

“Wow,” Myra says as the door closes behind him.

“I couldn’t agree more.” Grand smiles.

I roll my eyes. But I can’t quite keep the grin off my face.

• • •

We knock offat four o’clock, and I manage to scrub most of the paint off my face and hands. Then I pull on a clean pair of jeans and a T-shirt. I look basically presentable. Unfortunately, I smell like turpentine.

It’s brisk and sunny outside. Harley’s is only a couple of blocks away, so the three of us walk over to meet Kyra.

“Well, look who’s here!” A.J. calls out from behind the bar. “How ya’ doing, Cassie?”

I sigh. “Just fine, thanks.”

“And who are these lovely ladies with you?”

I make the introductions as we take seats at a vacant table near the bar. There’s a bit of a stir as the white-haired bikers at the pool tables ogle Myra and Grand.

Kyra and Troy enter a few minutes later, and the younger males in the room snap to attention.

I, it seems, am not only the character I played, I am also chopped liver.

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