Page 36 of Fresh Canvas
I took a deep breath and heaved my shoulder into the wall, but it only budged an inch. Was this wall built with different materials or something? Why was it so much heavier?
“Hang on, maybe this will help.” I kicked off my loafers and slipped out of the cardigan covering my tank top. Then I threw myself against the side, again pushing with all my might, but it only moved less than a foot.
What in the world?
It dawned on me then that he was messing with me. Irritation flared in my chest as I met Val’s smirk around the wall. He had been standing with an amused smile, watching me fail my butt off like there wasn’t a giant timer ticking down until the art handlers would arrive.
“Admit it, Adams. You need me.”
I scowled. “Are you serious right now?”
His grin widened to reveal perfect white teeth. “As serious as you are about getting this finished on time.” He rolled his shoulders with an easy sigh. “But if you’re too stubborn to admit you need me, I’m happy to take a break.”
Tipping my head back with a frustrated shake, I spit the words out as if they tasted bitter. “Fine, Russo. You’re right. Idoneed you… to get your butt back over here and help me with this freaking wall!”
My next words died on my lips as Val’s playful brown eyes locked with mine, his mischievous grin widening into a full-on smile.One corner of his mouth lifted slightly higher in an almost lopsided, boyish quality, while the edges of his eyes crinkled up into adorable ripples of amusement.
I blinked back, dumbfounded, something stirring deep in my belly, until Val disappeared behind his edge and broke me out of my stupor.
Wordlessly, I pushed, he pulled, and we didn’t stop until the wall was in position. I tried not to make eye contact after that.
Once the last screen billowed from the ceiling, we all stepped back to survey our work. The Vanderbilt hall looked identical to the event designer’s blueprint. Pride radiated in my chest as I slicked a sweaty wave behind my ear.
I found a set of curious brown eyes watching me, Val’s forehead holding a sheen of sweat like mine. Tentatively, I offered a tiny smile of my own.
“I guess I should thank you, Val. I couldn’t have done this without you.”
His lips twitched. “No, you obviously couldn’t have.”
I shook my head in exasperation, though a small laugh puffed out of me.
“And you’re welcome, Adams.”
“Time to celebrate.” Rick interrupted us as he ambled out of the depths of the supply closet clutching—much to my surprise—three icy bottles of lemonade.
The condensation on the glass slipped between my fingers as I accepted one.
“What else do you keep in there?” Val wearily eyed the closet before accepting one.
“You don’t want to know.” Rick clinked Val’s drink with his own.
The unorthodox image of the two grumpy men, decades apart in age, chatting like old friends was perhaps the most charming thing I had ever laid eyes on.
ten
VAL
I’m going to kill Rick.
My so-called “friend” and Amantha stood near the entrance of the Vanderbilt hall, shooting the breeze like two damn peas in a pod.
It wasn’t a crime for him to talk to beautiful women—last I checked—but spilling embarrassing stories about me to one deserved jail time. He was currently regaling her with his favorite tale about me.
“Last time I go golfing with you, Rick,” I grumbled under my breath as I stalked toward the last remaining ladder.
I didn’t mean to drive that golf cart into the pond. Really, it was the bird’s fault. I don’t know what that crow thought I had, but the memory of wild wings and the smell of bird feathers still made my skin crawl.
I had stood dripping with pond water while explaining what had happened to the country club clerk, but I wasn’t sure he could even hear me with Rick howling in the background.
