Page 1 of Idle

1

Paige

Iwave at the hostess and breeze into the restaurant. Theo told me we were meeting at our “usual spot,” so I pass through the main dining room and make my way into the back section that’s set up to look like an old railway car. Sliding the pocket door open, I slip into the room and am shocked to realize I’m the first one to arrive.

Pulling out my cell, I double-check the time. Should’ve stayed home and played today’s Wordle, since I’m a full five minutes early. I tap my finger on my bottom lip, then drop my phone onto the table and wander around the room. The fake pull-down beds are a nice touch, although the oversized handles are way out of proportion.

Perhaps if I’m seated, a server will stop by and bring a breadbasket or something? I grab the back of an overstuffed chair and sit facing the doorway so I can see when someone enters.

Several people pass by, but no sign of my brother and his fiancée, or Xander and his. They foisted this meeting on me, telling me their friend needs help I’m perfectly suited to give, and now they’re late? Even though they couched it as I was doing them a favor, I think it’s more they wantmeto become what they consider to be a “contributing member of society.” I huff. I’m happy with my life, thank you very much.

A tall guy with sandy brown hair stops outside the door. He has a perfect Roman nose and is wearing a suit, beneath which I can tell he’s well built but not with the oversized bulkiness from a gym. He pulls out his phone and checks it, looks at the sign on the wall, and then directly at me. Bless everything holy. This man has the most unusually colored eyes I’ve ever gotten lost in. I’m drawn to explore their khaki depths when his gaze drops to the phone again, and his hand slides the door open.

I straighten my spine, deciding to remain in my seat, although I don the practiced smile that reels in most men. He enters the room, his head at a tilt. “Paige?”

He knows my name?Who is this specimen? He looks like a man who knows how to make a girl sing. And by “girl,” I mean me. And I don’t mean sing either.I rise. “Yes.” He should be at my side in three, two—

The mystery man inclines his head to the right. “We’re meeting your family in the next room over.”

I can’t help it. Everything inside me flags. Why does this god have to be the dolt my brother and “cousin” want me to meet about a stupid Renovation TV show? More importantly, strike one for his not crossing the room to me.

“Oh.” With dragging feet, I follow him out of our “usual spot” and into a larger space. At least this guy has a nice ass. I stifle a snort. Jerk didn’t even have the manners to allow me to enter the room first. Strike two.

Theo jumps up. “Paige! Jesse! I see you’ve met.”

“Yeah, she was sitting next door. Thanks for texting me her picture—that’s how I knew who she was.”

Kudos to my wonderful brother.Not. He comes over and gives me an embrace as if we hadn’t seen each other in weeks rather than a couple of days. But he’s a good guy. He’s let me crash at his place when I reach my limit with Mum and Father. Not to mention he filled out my college applications for me when I was otherwise occupied with my high school friends. I relent and return his big hug. But I do whisper in his ear, “Should’ve given me the correct room.”

He squeezes me. “Sorry, Little Bit.”

Dumb nickname. Although, truth be told, I do like to graze. A little bit of this, a little bit of that . . . I step back and stare into his chocolate brown eyes, slightly darker than mine. “Forgiven. Mostly.”

Hugs are shared all around. Amelia, Theo’s fiancée, and Madison, Xander’s fiancée, are super sweet, even though they share a baffling hard-nosed work ethic. Xander, my oldest “cousin” is the final person to approach me. Given our ten-year age difference, we’ve never been too close, but recent events with our fathers have brought us together. His dad and Father are best friends who started VOW3Media ages ago, plus Xander’s uncle Ward. Since the FBI arrested all three of them at the Tinsel and Tatas Gala last winter, we’ve all been riding a hellish rollercoaster. Despite the circumstances, I’ve enjoyed getting to know my cousin.

Who messes up my pixie cut. “How are things going, Little Bit?”

I fix my hair and cross my arms, pretending to be annoyed at his use of my brother’s nickname for me. “Why can’t the family drop that pet name?” I skewer Theo with my gaze. “It’s all your fault.”

He throws his head back and laughs. I’m still jarred by how open and happy he is, thanks to Amelia’s influence. “You’re stuck with it, I’m afraid.”

“Dare I ask?” Jesse wades into the conversation. I’d almost forgotten he was here. I glance over to him.Almost.

“No.” I respond, causing the two dummies to chuckle.

Madison enters the breach. “Why don’t we all take our seats? Paige, you’re here,” she points to one chair. “And Jesse, you can sit next to her.”

Oh joy.At least he can help me into my seat. Not a chance in hell my brother or cousin would. I walk over to the spot Madison indicated and stand behind the chair. Jesse walks around me and pulls his own back and sits.Seriously?He failed the easiest items on my checklist in record time. Well, it’s not really a checklist, but that’s what my “cousin” Chloe—one of Uncle Ward’s daughters—dubbed my preconditions for someone to achieve boyfriend status with me, and I never bothered to rename her term. Besides, I’m not here looking for a date anyway.

With a huff, I pull my chair out and plop into it. If memory serves,heis the one my family wants me to help—hence today’s meeting. Good luck with that.

Unaware of my internal ire, Xander starts the conversation. “Madison and I got a text from Jesse, which led us to set up this dinner. Jesse’s looking for an interior designer to join forces with him for a new Renovation TV competition show. Since you already flipped a house in Brooklyn and have been looking for a fresh project, we automatically thought of you, Paige.”

As I expected, they want me to get a job—like them. I don’t need my brother and cousin meddling in my life. I’m an independent twenty-three-year-old.Who lives with her parents. Jesse drops his napkin on the floor and leans over to pick it up. My eyes roll. How much fun would it be to spend any amount of time with this good-looking Neanderthal anyway? Zero.

Back upright, Jesse takes a sip of his water. “Yes, that’s true Xander.” He looks around the table, his gaze finally landing on me. “I saw a post on their website that they’re casting a brand new show to take place right here on the High Line. The pay’s solid.” His long index finger taps his glass. “Apparently, they’ve purchased an apartment building in need of renovation, which is what the show will feature. The teams—five of them—will be housed in an apartment there, which the network’s already fixed up, like a lot of reality shows do.”

Can this get any less enticing? This guy’s actually suggesting that I move into some rinky-dink apartment on theWest Sideto live and work with him and a bunch of other strangers? Not my jam.

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