Page 67 of Summer Heat
I'd consistently posted one new clip a day on the company's social-media pages, but they hadn't gotten much traction. I wasn't sure people were even aware that we were doing that. I quietly opened a channel on a streaming service, wondering if that platform would be better for something like this.
But the landscape was so glutted with similar options, I wasn't sure that it would be seen. But what would happen when it became public?
Would the women show up at the gate wanting to spend time with Shep? Would he see that there were other options out there for him and take them?
It was probably better that no one was interested in our little renovation. It could be something that we shared, that no one else could pick apart.
Our little secret.
Today, Elena was stopping by with Hudson and a wedding planner. Linnea wanted a tour of the property so she could plan the ceremony and the reception.
Elena assured us that we didn't need to do anything for the wedding itself except for finishing the renovation and being a guest.
I was nervous that Hudson would know that there was something going on between me and Shep. Would there be some kind of blowback at work if everyone found out?
Jon was so hard on Shep. Would he use this as one more reason to believe he was irresponsible? I didn't want to be a problem for him.
We cooked breakfast together, and I tidied up the house while Maya played in her room. When the doorbell rang, I was a mess of nerves.
Shep got the door, and I hung back. I was just the roommate, not the girlfriend. Should I even be here? Before I could decide, Elena approached me, hugging me. "How are you?"
"Good," I said, wondering if anyone would ask if I'd found a place to live yet. Because the truth was, I hadn't even looked. I was content here and in no hurry to move out.
I couldn't imagine not living with Shep. If we didn't have our nights, we'd only see each other when Derek had Maya, and I couldn't go that long without my fix.
Elena pulled back. "This is Linnea, our wedding planner. We wanted to show her the venue."
Linnea shook Shep's hand. "Your home is gorgeous."
She was professional in a pencil skirt and silk blouse. I couldn't believe she'd worn heels to tour a wedding venue on the beach. She probably didn't have a child at home or an ex to deal with.
She seemed enamored with Shep, standing close to him and holding his hand a beat too long.
"Thank you," Shep said, pulling back his hand. He led the way onto the patio. I followed at a slower pace, unsure if I was even supposed to be here. We hadn't discussed my role in the wedding.
I hovered on the edge of the group, listening but not making any comments.
Linnea walked the patio. "There's plenty of room for a cocktail party. The bar can be set up here." She stood at the edge of the grand stairs that led to the beach. "These are magnificent. Can you imagine what your pictures will look like with the photographer standing there?" She turned so that she faced us. "You're so lucky to have this house in your family."
"My grandmother entrusted me with keeping it," Shep said.
Linnea smiled. "You were close with your grandmother."
Irrational jealousy bloomed in my chest and threatened to choke me with its intensity.
"I was," Shep said simply.
Elena went down the stairs, meeting Linnea on the soft sand. "We were thinking of having the ceremony in front of the house, and the reception off to the side."
"We could rent a tent, tables, chairs, and linens. We'll bring everything in." Linnea tapped out something on her tablet.
Should I move out before the wedding? Would people think it was weird that I lived here when we weren't technically dating? I didn't want anyone to be upset.
"What happens if it rains?" Elena asked.
"It depends how set you are on having your wedding outdoors. There really isn't an indoor area to take your guests unless you're okay with them in your house."
And it wasn't their house. It was Shep's. I wasn't sure how he felt about hosting a wedding.
