Page 76 of Idle

Quinn walks into the room and I breathe a sigh of relief. “Alright, folks, contest is over!” The camera crew claps and we join in. Despite everything, we made it through. We survived. Our rooms look damn good.

Paige turns to me and opens her arms wide for a hug. In spite of my misgivings, I give her what she wants, allowing myself to enjoy the feel of her body pressed against mine. Aware of the cameras, I kiss her cheek instead of giving her the inappropriate kiss I know she’d prefer.

Maybe it’s better this way?

22

Paige

Isavor how Jesse’s body molds to mine. His sweet kiss warms me from the inside out. We did it! The primary suite is completed and I’m proud of what we did in here.

So what if the bathroom doesn’t have a double shower head? Or the headboard is painted rather than stained? At least we completed everything. My lungs expand as I take pride in what we accomplished. I bet Bo and Mary Ellen’s suite doesn’t look this good.

My eyes scan our room, landing on slight missteps. Perhaps the judges won’t think too much about them. My gaze swings toward my partner, standing tall and proud. I know exactly how sexy this man is. I want more.

“Congratulations on finishing the primary suite! Why don’t you gather your stuff in the living room and go tour what Bo and Mary Ellen did while they check yours out?”

Heeding her advice—rather, direction—I grab my design notebook with my assorted pens and colored pencils while Jesse gets his tools together. I follow Quinn into the living room. “Nice job, Paige.”

Shocked at the compliment, especially after our last exchange about her and Bo, I reply, “Thanks.”

“I think you two were the best teams on the show, by far. I’m glad you were in the finals. The audience is going to eat you two up, considering your fledgling relationship. As for Bo and Mary Ellen, who doesn’t love exes working together? Yes, the network’s very happy with this final round.”

“Does Renovation TV have a preference as to which one of us will take home the title?”

She slants me a glance. “No. The judges, who are all respected in the industry, will make the decision without our input.”

I hope she’s not lying, but having grown up around VOW-cubed, I’m aware of how things can be manipulated. While I’d love to win and start a career on television, I know Jesseneedsthis with his whole being. He doesn’t want to return to banking, and I believe in him. In his skills, both in and out of the bedroom.

Jesse joins us, depositing his tools on the floor. I want to rub myself all over him, but that’ll have to wait until our tour is complete.

Quinn says, “Go to Bo and Mary Ellen’s apartment. The camera guys will follow you and get your unvarnished reaction.”

“Sure thing.”

I allow Jesse’s response to suffice for the both of us. With one final glance around, I precede Jesse out of 1626, and take the elevator to our rival’s floor. Before we can open the door, it swings wide and Bo exits. Tipping his hat at us, he offers, “Check out the winning digs.” His chuckle follows him out of the apartment.

“Please don’t go anywhere until we’re all set up, okay?”

“Sure thing,” Jesse responds to the camerawoman.

Standing in the middle of the living room, I check out what they did. Since we haven’t been in here for a week, it’s good to get a refresher on their entire design aesthetic. I reach for Jesse’s hand, which, after a brief pause, closes around mine. Leaning over, I whisper, “I like ours better.”

“Yeah.” He lifts our joined hands and kisses mine, then releases me. Inane cameras.

Once we’re given the go-ahead to start touring their primary suite, I nod and begin walking. I point to where we relocated our laundry room, stealing square footage from the primary bathroom. Stopping outside the bedroom door, I glance at the floor then at Jesse.

“Ready?”

His warm tenor sends a ripple down my spine.For more things than touring this stupid room.“Let’s do this.”

He opens the door and allows me to enter first, like the gentleman I didn’t think he was. The walls are painted a royal blue, the bed has an upholstered cream headboard. A bench is placed in front of the footboard. Shit. Benches are a good accessory for a bedroom.

We go our separate ways, and I examine the window coverings, which are cream plus a darker shade of blue than the walls. They’re nice, but don’t have the same heft as ours. Underneath the bed, a wool patterned rug in varying shades of blue anchors the room. Mismatched side tables sit on either side of the king-sized bed. Placed over the light blue duvet and cream sheets, a wooden tray with an empty coffee mug and a book completes the vignette.

Jesse and I trade places, and I check out the dresser plus a niche they created for a television. This is a good idea.One I should’ve thought of. A divan fills out the corner in front of an old-style screen. Not carved. Painted, with a scene of birds in a Western motif. Makes sense, considering from where they hale.

I meet my partner in front of the bench. Knowing we’re expected to give our appraisal of the room for the cameras, I begin with a compliment like Quinn taught. “I like the color scheme of blues. It’s calming.”

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