Page 30 of Hale Yes
Taking the stairs to the second floor, I find the living room, dining room, and kitchen exactly as they looked on my virtual tour. Except now there’s furniture. Bonnie had told me they have a warehouse of furniture and sent me color palettes to choose from. I’d selected one with lots of blues and yellows.
The couch is plush, a deep royal-blue—the same as the adjacent armchair—and butter-yellow throw pillows add a splash of brightness. It’s homey and inviting, and I like it. The coffee table, two end tables, and six-seat dining set all appear to be made of rustic wood, but they are smooth to the touch. There’s a small powder room tucked down a short hallway next to a laundry room.
I place the cookies in the kitchen and scoot up the stairs, where I find the master suite. The microbiologist in me is thrilled to see the queen-sized mattress still has tags on it. The furniture up here is also wooden, a couple shades darker than the honey-hued, wide-plank flooring.
The attached bathroom has a pretty goldenrod and cream pattern with an ivory lavatory and claw-foot tub. The shower isalso tiled, and though it’s not fancy, it is bigger than the one I had in Brooklyn.
Satisfied that everything is in order, I head back downstairs to retrieve my two suitcases of essentials from the car. I grab a cookie on the way out and groan. They’re still slightly warm, and the chocolate melts against my tongue as I haul everything inside, including a small bucket of cleaning supplies.
Bonnie told me the place would be professionally cleaned before my arrival, but I’m going to clean my bathroom and kitchen anyway before using them.
Forty minutes and three cookies later, I’m sinking into the sparkling tub, surrounded by the scent of the lavender and eucalyptus bath salts I remembered to tuck into my suitcase. The movers will be here tomorrow, but for tonight, I’m going to enjoy my bath and my new bed.
I smile and recline as I close my eyes, letting the water and salts soothe my tired body.
“Hello, Texas. I’m here.”
CHAPTER EIGHT
That could spell trouble
Helix
It’s Wednesday, and Phoenix, Dutton, and I lounge on the pool chairs while we watch Reece and River running through the sprinkler I set up for them. River is Dutton’s son, who is only three.
Our cousin has been through some shit in the past five years. He’s no longer the fun, light-hearted cowboy he was at Phoenix’s bachelor party. Hell, none of us are the same as that night, but Dutton has changed the most. He’s dark now, only showing his softer side when he’s with his little boy. But I guess that’s understandable after what happened to him.
“When does the new lab manager get to town?” my twin asks.
“She arrived in Houston yesterday to get settled,” I say, taking a swig of my beer. “She starts work on Monday.”
“Hopefully she’ll work out. I know it’s hard losing Abigail.”
“Definitely, but she deserves to retire.” Abigail has actually been with the company longer than me but had no interest inbecoming the director, so that position went to me when our old director had to retire for health reasons.
“What about you, Dut?” Phoenix turns to our cousin, who’s staring at the kids. “Anything new with you?”
“No,” he says gruffly. “River, the ranch, that’s it.” He sits up as his little one runs over.
“Daddy, we want to go shwimming,” he announces in his adorable little voice.
“I’ll get in,” I offer, but Dutton shakes his head.
“I got it.” He takes River’s tiny hand and pads across the stone to put his arm floaties on him.
“Poor guy,” my brother mutters, watching him kneel and gently get his boy ready to swim.
“How’s the ad campaign going with the football player?” I ask Phoenix, and he grimaces.
“She’s a pain in the ass and so damn hostile toward me.”
That surprises me. Everyone likes Phoenix, especially those of the female persuasion. “What’s the problem?”
He shrugs. “Hell if I know. I’m charming as fuck, but it doesn’t seem to work on her.”
I roll my eyes. “You’re not hitting on her, are you? She’s pretty young.”
“Not at all,” he says quickly. Maybe a little too quickly. “Jordie just isn’t a makeup kind of girl, so I’m trying to make her feel more comfortable.”
