How to Love Your Neighbour(60)
Grace
Hmmm?
Noah
Birds?
Grace
Right. Birds. My bad. But flamingos don’t really count, do they?
“What?” Noah did a double take, staring at his phone.
Everly looked over. “You okay?”
“I think so. Flamingos are birds, aren’t they?”
Everly’s laugh suggested she thought he was joking.
Noah
YES. FLAMINGOS ARE BIRDS.
Grace
You’re so fun to tease. Get back to work so you can’t blame losing on texting me.
“Brat,” he muttered but couldn’t stop the laugh that escaped.
“You keep chatting with her, she’ll beat you for sure,” Everly said.
Right. Back to work. He continued on, getting a fair amount of wall painted before his shoulders started to ache. Another twist—liking the feelings, physical and otherwise, he got from doing the work.
Music from the other room interrupted his thoughts. Thinking to take a break, he told Everly he’d be right back. Morty had taken up residence in the great room, barking orders at the others, telling them to use a drill, work together, slow down, speed up.
His bushy brows pushed together when he saw Noah. “You’re not done painting yet.”
“No, sir. Just coming to check on things.”
Morty shifted in his chair. “Ought to order that pizza early. A man could starve.”
Noah’s grin came slowly, like the idea. “I’m sure I can rustle you up something.”
Chris’s head snapped up. “When was the last time you rustled anything?”
“Wouldn’t you like to know?”
Josh made a dismissive sound. “Weak comeback.”
Rosie was whipping along on the desk she was making. She didn’t seem to need any help. Which meant she was distracted. Noah walked over to Morty. Didn’t hurt to play to the judges, right?
“Get you something to eat? You shouldn’t have to sit here with no food or drink.”
Morty looked up without lifting his head. “Wouldn’t say no.”
When he didn’t find beer in her fridge, he slipped out the patio door. He’d go to his place, grab a couple of premium beers, a little snack, and Morty would be “creatively” entertained. Bonus points.
As he slipped in through his own back-patio door, he heard the movements and noises of the others upstairs. Quickly, he grabbed some chips and nuts from the pantry, then went to the fridge. He had two bottles in his hand when Stacey walked in.
“Hey! Cheater.”
Noah looked around quickly. “Shhh. I’m not cheating. I’m getting a damn beer.”
Stacey jutted her chin in his direction. “You guys so sure of yourselves that you can waste time on snacks?”
“Who has snacks? I want something. My blood pressure goes wonky as a turntable if I don’t eat regularly.”
Noah winced as John came into the kitchen area. “I don’t know what that means, John. But help yourself.”
He turned to leave, needing to get out of there before Grace found out he was in enemy territory. It’s just for fun. Relax. Straightening, he pushed his shoulders back.
“How’s it going?”
Stacey’s jaw dropped. “Seriously? You want intel? How about this? You better make sure you do it up good because your girl is a freaking design genius.”
His girl. Damn. That burrowed in under his heart. Noah cleared his throat, hoping to dislodge the feeling.
“Whatever. We’re doing just fine. I gotta go.”
“Hey, babe, can you grab me a . . .” Rob’s sentence trailed off when he saw Noah. “Hey, cheater.”
Noah groaned. “I am not cheating.”
Rob crossed his formidable arms over his chest. The guy owned a gym, but Noah just scoffed at the show.
“What? You gonna bounce me out of my own house?”
John rooted through the fridge, pulling out a bunch of items, making Noah wonder if he’d need to shop when this was all over. You mean get Josh to shop.
“I’m leaving.”
“I’m telling Grace,” John said, his arms laden with pickles, yogurt, a bag of carrots, two sodas, and a container of red-pepper spread. What the hell kind of mix was that?
Noah cringed. “Nothing to tell. I’m leaving. And maybe put a puke bucket by your judge.” He saluted Stacey and Rob and hurried back over to Grace’s.
The tensions were running higher, giving him that rush of adrenaline. He couldn’t remember a time a woman had managed to infuse him with energy when she wasn’t even touching him. When he got back, Morty was snoring in the canvas chair. Chris and Josh were lifting a shelving unit upright. Rosie was securing the final shelves inside the desk Grace had purchased.
“Where were you?”
He grinned. Even his own team was suspicious. “I went to get Morty a snack. Can’t hurt to keep the judges happy.”
“It can if we lose because you were sneaking into enemy territory,” Chris said.
Noah laughed loudly, making Morty snort himself awake. “It’s my house.”
Noah looked down at the old guy, who looked momentarily confused. “You should really get that checked out. Here, I brought you snacks and beer.”