“Cool.”She checked her watch.“I’d better get back to work.We’ll talk soon, okay, Nick?”
“You bet.”
As she walked away, her round ass drew his gaze.Damn.It was perfect.Everything about her was perfect.His hands were already itching to touch her, and he was fantasizing about how soft her skin would feel.
He shook his head, clearing it of its X-rated thoughts.
If someone had told him a month ago that he would have willingly made himself the butt of a joke to make a woman laugh, he would have scoffed.
But with Claire, he realized he would gladly act as a punchline to get her to laugh again.
Chapter Five
On Friday afternoon, as the crew was starting to pack up for the weekend, Lacey excused herself to take a call on her cell.Nick was busy bundling his stuff into his pickup truck, but couldn’t help noticing when her voice rose with controlled excitement.She glanced over at him, smiled and continued with her call.He was just tossing his hard hat into the cab when his brothers walked over.
“Lacey looks happy,” said Eli.
She finished her call and joined them at the pickup, practically bouncing with energy.“Nicholas, are you ready to receive some amazing news?”
Nick hadn’t received a response to his pitch yet, and quite honestly was starting to wonder if the executive producers had ditched the idea.“Is it what I think it is?”
She nodded.“They loved your pitch.They had to take some time to think it over, of course, but the producers want to move ahead with the show, with you as the host.”
“Yeah!Good stuff, little brother,” said Michael, grabbing him around the neck and giving him a noogie.
Eli hugged it out with Nick as well.“That’s awesome!”
Nick had to close his gaping mouth.He was going to have his own show.“Wow.Thanks, Lacey.I don’t even know what to say.Did they like the idea of me showcasing fantasy decks?”
“They did, and they definitely want to incorporate more of your deck work, but they had some ideas of their own.”She held out her hands, as if framing a movie marquee.“Picture it.We’ll have families all over North America who are dealing with renovation disasters.They’re already on borrowed time.You and your team will swoop in to provide assistance.In other words, you’d be arriving just in thenick of time.”She waggled her eyebrows.“Get it?They want to call the showNick of Time.”
“I’m speechless.That’s so cool, Lacey.”
“This is going to be your baby, Nick, so the name of the show should reflect it.The executive team is thrilled to work with you.”
“Your own show,” said Michael.“I’m proud of you, bro.”
“Yeah, same here,” said Eli.
“Thanks, guys.Thanks for believing in me, Lacey.”
“I knew you could do it,” she said.“So, of course we’ll have to get all the pesky stuff out of the way, contracts and such.We just have to get this lastHandymenepisode in the can, and we can start filmingNick of Time.This is so exciting!”
As soon as the words were out of her mouth, everyone paused.
The lastHandymenepisode.This was it.Claire would be the last guest they helped as a team.
Only now did it start to hit home.
“Well.”Michael was solemn.“I think this calls for a celebration.”
“What are we celebrating?”Claire approached the group, hands shoved into her shorts pockets.
Nick turned around and his breath caught, much as it had been all week.Even now, at the end of a grubby day, Claire was luminous.Her hair was up as usual, but several strands had escaped her bun.They framed her face, hanging delicately around her ears.Aside from her rubber boots, her usual sanctuary attire, she wore denim shorts and another T-shirt with a slogan.This one saidCat ladyover the tantalizing mound of her left breast.
“Nick’s going to be the star of a new show,” said Eli.
“Really?”Claire smiled.“That’s great.Congrats, Nick.”
