How to Love Your Neighbour(57)

They joined the rest of the group just as Stacey and Rob let themselves in.

“Did we miss anything? Hey, Noah. Wicked place,” Stacey called out, stretching her hand up to wave. Rob jutted his chin in Noah’s direction.

Waving, Noah joined Grace by the fireplace. She’d pulled two clipboards from somewhere.

He leaned down, caught the scent of something sweet, like strawberries. “What are we doing, Gracie?”

Tilting her head toward him, which brought their faces closer, she whispered, “You’ll see. You wanted normal. That means rolling up your sleeves, letting the people who love you pitch in. With a twist.”

That weird feeling invaded his chest again. She was unlike anyone he’d ever met. “I hope I don’t regret this.”

“That’s what she said.” She bumped his hip and slapped her hand a couple of times on a clipboard, commanding attention easily. “If you guys can spread out a little, I’ll introduce everyone quickly. I’m Grace. I’m Noah’s interior designer and you’ll have to excuse me for how big I’m smiling because that’s the first time I’ve been able to use those words for real. I also live next door.” Their friends and family laughed while stepping back. They created a loose definition of a circle.

“I won’t make us play any icebreaker games or anything like that, I promise,” Grace said.

“Thank you. We get enough of that in school,” Rosie said.

“That there is my bestie, Rosie. Beside her is Noah’s assistant, Josh.” Both Josh and Rosie waved. Grace pointed to Morty. “That’s Morty, his fiancée, Tilly, their friend John, who is Shane’s dad.”

“Noah, you introduce your team.” Grace nudged him with her shoulder.

Team? Interesting. “Sure. I’m Noah. Nice to meet all of you. Right there is my brother, Chris, his girlfriend, Everly. Everly’s bestie, Stacey, who some of you might recognize as the voice of 96.2 SUN radio. That’s her guy and a friend of mine and my brothers’, Rob.”

“Okay. I’m sure everyone wonders what we’re all doing here so I’ll get right to it,” Grace said. She looked so excited, a little zip of energy flared through Noah.

Grace passed one of the clipboards to Morty and one to John. “Hopefully, you guys have seen the show Trading Spaces. This is going to be a little like that with the addition of a good old-fashioned painting party. Noah and I both need some work done in our homes. He wanted to know how people do this without hiring a band of merry men who cost a fortune.”

The back of Noah’s neck heated. That wasn’t exactly it.

“Investments falling flat, man?” Chris’s voice was thick with humor.

“As if.”

Grace took command again, bringing Noah’s attention back to her. Not that it was ever far away. “In the short time since Noah and I have become friends, I’ve learned that he likes a challenge and a bet almost as much as I do. We’re going to break into teams. Each team has to transform one room in the other person’s house. Everything is set up and ready. We have three hours. Morty is on our team, so he’ll stay here, watch to make sure there’re no violations, and vice versa for John, who will hang with us. They’ll be our judges. When I moved into my place, I treated my helpers to pizza and beer, which is pretty standard. So, Noah will do that as well. It’ll arrive after the reveal.”

“At least I’m generous.” Noah was trying to absorb all of the information.

The group laughed at his surprise.

“That you are.” She winked at him and, this time, lust fired through him. What the hell had he gotten himself into?

Just like that, she split everyone into two groups. His team was Chris, Everly, Rob, and Stacey. Her team had Rosie, Josh, Tilly, and Shane. They were all talking when Noah put a hand up.

Grace bit her lip. Noah wanted to do the same, but for now he’d keep his head in the game.

“You don’t have to raise your hand, Noah. We’re not in school.” Grace’s gaze sparkled with amusement.

“He never raised his hand in school,” Chris offered.

Noah ignored his brother. “The groups aren’t fair.”

“I knew you were going to say that,” Grace said, a sly smile on her lips.

“Why aren’t they fair?” Stacey looked around like she was trying to figure out the advantage.

“There are two design people and Shane owns a construction company.”

Grace nodded. “True, but since you and I are doing a side bet, I can’t be on your team. You take Rosie and Josh. Stacey and Rob can switch to my team.”

“What am I supposed to do for three hours? Think I got nothing better to do than hang out with a bunch of kids?” Morty’s voice was gruff but held no rancor.

“We’re adults. Also, I’ve met you, so, no, I didn’t expect you to just sit around. You’re like the foremen. You’ll need to check the clipboard every so often and make sure we’re following the rules. There’s also a television in each house if you’re not needed. You’ll live, and get beer and pizza as a reward.”

“That’s fair,” John said, looking at his friend.

“Fine. Which rooms and what’s the side bet?” Noah was pumped to get started. He’d enjoyed being more involved—he liked working with his hands more than he’d expected. But some of the home-reno jobs were tedious. Grace managed to spice up even the littlest things.