Page 33 of Second Act
Chapter 8
Jessica plodded down the stairs from her bedroom the next morning, a headache wrapped around her temples like a vise. She had dragged herself out of the giant, warm hotel bed when Hugh got up to shower well before dawn. He’d insisted on coming with her in his limo, where they’d nearly made love again. Then she’d stumbled into her own bed for a couple of more hours of sleep. Now she could feel the twinges of soreness in private places that had gotten an unaccustomed workout the day before.
The smell of coffee drew her like a magnet. She followed the delicious scent into the living room, coming to an abrupt halt when she saw the furniture shoved to the center of the floor and covered with drop cloths. “Aidan?”
“In the kitchen, big sis. I have scrambled eggs.”
Jessica groaned at his cheerful voice and trudged into the kitchen. “What’s going on in the living room?”
“Good morning,” her brother said, standing in front of the stove, dressed in ripped jeans and a bleach-spotted green T-shirt. “Pour yourself a cup of coffee. I’ll tell you after you’ve drunk at least half of it.”
He knew her well. She followed his instructions without argument, stirring two spoonfuls of sugar into the fragrant brew before she took a large swallow and sat down.
“You look wiped. Late night?” her brother asked with a teasing glint in his eye. He plunked a plate of eggs in front of her before he sat across from her at the small oak table with his own breakfast.
“Yeah.” He knew who she’d been with, and she didn’t want to talk about it—or even think about it. “What’s with breakfast? And the living room?” she asked again, tasting the eggs. They were surprisingly good.
“I got to thinking,” Aidan said. “I’m unemployed and living here rent-free. I should contribute, so I’m going to finish stripping the wallpaper and redo the floor.”
Jessica raised her eyebrows in surprise and disbelief. “Do you know how?”
“YouTube,” he said without batting an eye.
Since she’d used the internet for her home improvement projects as well, she had no grounds on which to object. “I’d appreciate that.” She also wondered where this uncharacteristically constructive urge had come from.
“Just want to be useful.” His tone was breezy, which made her look at him with suspicion. “Okay, so Hugh might have said something to me yesterday when he was here looking for you.”
She closed her eyes on a wince at the sound of Hugh’s name. It had been darned hard to say good-bye in the wee hours of the morning. She knew it was just familiarity, but she’d felt so comfortable and safe cradled in his arms.
“Didn’t go well?” Aidan asked. “I figured since you hadn’t come home, maybe...” He shrugged. “Sorry, Jess.”
“It was...fine. But he’s off to film in faraway places, and I’m back to being a hardworking vet. That’s the end of it.”
Curiosity was written all over Aidan’s face. To his credit, he didn’t pursue it. “Do you have any supplies for the wallpaper stripping?” he asked. “I want to see what I already have to work with.”
But Jessica couldn’t stop herself. “What did Hugh say to you?”
Her brother shifted on his chair. “He pointed out that I had some free time and that it was clear you could use a hand. I’d forgotten that he did carpentry to make money before he got famous. He gave me some tips on repairing the floor and the wood trim.”
And she’d forgotten that Hugh was one of the few people Aidan would listen to. Her brother had always been dazzled by her ex-fiancé’s glamour. The effect was probably even greater now that Hugh was a superstar. She was both grateful to Hugh and embarrassed that he’d seen her shambles of a living room. She hoped Aidan didn’t feel free to ask Hugh for more advice on home renovation just because he now had her ex’s current phone number.
In truth, she didn’t have much faith that Aidan would finish his do-it-yourself project, but any progress was better than the way the room looked now. “The stripping supplies are in the basement under the steps. You’re great to do this, bro. By the way, the eggs were delicious.” She stood and picked up her empty plate.
“I’ll do the dishes,” Aidan said. “I know you need to get to work.”
She gave an exaggerated start. “I don’t know what alien stole my brother and left you in his place, but I’m going to send her a thank-you gift.”
“Ha-ha.” But he grinned. “What kind of gift would an alien want, anyway?”
“Depends on where in the universe she’s from.” She set her plate in the sink before coming back to ruffle her brother’s hair. “Don’t let the chemical fumes damage your brain.”
“So I hear some fancy Manhattan vet checked up on Khonsu and Shaq yesterday,” Carla said, standing in the surgery room doorway while Jessica prepped for her first case. “And I hear some hot movie star swept you away from the Carver Center in a limo.”
Heat flushed Jessica’s neck and face. “Yeah, Hugh’s an actor, so he believes in making a dramatic exit.”
Carla walked into the room and peered at Jessica. “Girl, you got a dreamy little smile on your face that tells me he didn’t just give you a lift home.” She held up her hand. “It’s none of my business, though, so you don’t have to tell me any details about where you went or what you did with the hot movie star.”
Jessica pulled out a fistful of paper towels and focused on drying her hands. “He’s my ex-fiancé. We were engaged for about six months and haven’t seen each other for eight years. So yesterday was just nostalgia.”
