Page 2 of Tangled With You

“Don’t I know it.”

“Why don’t you hire someone to come in and get it finished?Jackson could recommend a zillion contractors,” she added, referring to Nikki’sbrother-in-law, a world-renowned architect.

“Because he wants to do it himself,” Nikki said. “I getthat.”

“Yeah,” Jamie said with a shake of her head. “Not so much.But whatever floats your boat.”

“Seriously, though,” Nikki said, “put us to work. Or isgetting out of your hair the most useful thing we can do?”

“Maybe we should open a dozen colors of paint and let thegirls create abstract art.” Jamie’s eyes danced with amusement. “Actually, thatsounds fun. I might just help them.”

“Interesting, but no. I think I’ll forgo the abstract andstick with solid cream walls in this room,” Ollie said. “Except for that one.”He gestured to the wall to his left, perpendicular to the balcony door. “I wasthinking of painting it that shade of blue,” he said, indicating the one swathof color he’d spread as a test.

“I like that,” Nikki said. “It’s like the blue you see on agas flame.”

“Exactly.” He knew she’d get it. “And it matches the blueflecks in the hearth tile.”

She glanced around the room. “This place is actuallylivable. You’ve come a long way.”

“Um, hello?” Jamie chimed in. “Did you not hear me? Nothingdown that hall is even close to ready.”

“Nothing on the two lower levels, either,” Ollie said.“Except my bedroom and most of the en-suite bath.”

“Kitchen, living, bedroom.” Nikki counted the rooms off withher fingers. “That’s all you need right now.”

“Exactly,” Ollie said, with more than a little pride. He’dbought the place a few years ago when he’d made the move back to Los Angeles tojoin the FBI full-time after a stint in Manhattan as an attorney. Located inthe hills above Universal Studios, the place had been in terrible shape, whichwas why he’d gotten it for a song. For the last few years, it had sat empty,the improvements coming slowly as he had time.

“I’m almost completely moved in now. And it’s a huge relief.Especially since the drive from Marina del Rey to downtown is a nightmare withall the construction.”

“What’s Jackson going to do with the houseboat?” Jamieasked.

“I’m not sure.” The architect had lived on the houseboatwhen he’d first moved to LA, but now he had a house in the Palisades with hisfamily. When Ollie had moved back, Jackson had offered Ollie the use of it, whichwas fabulous while he was renovating, but now that Ollie was no longer rentingit, he had no idea what Jackson had planned. “I’m just glad this place isfinally fixed-up enough that I can move in.”

Jamie made a face as she pulled a hair-tie out of the pocketof her jeans and tugged her mass of dark hair up and into a messy knot. “Theplace is fabulous, no doubt. And I’m terribly excited about your three rooms.But did you forget about air-conditioning? Because it’s suddenly stifling in here.”

“Yeah,” he said with a grimace. “I’m having issues with theAC. It has a mind of its own.”

“I guess so.” As she spoke, she lifted her shirt and startfanning herself, coming pretty damn close to flashing him.

“You want to be careful before this turns into a peep show…”

She waved his words away. “Not anything you haven’t seenbefore.”

“And I’m pretty sure Ryan doesn’t want me to see it again,”he countered as he went to open the huge sliding glass door to the balcony andthe incredible view of the San Fernando Valley and Universal Studios below.

Her husband, Ryan, knew about their ill-advised tryst adecade or so ago. And thankfully that was long behind them. Even so, it was anawkward memory. They’d had fun, sure. A few rounds of guilt-ridden, confusing,sweaty fun. But sleeping with Jamie had been a mistake. And even though theycould joke about it now, it wasn’t something he liked to think about.Especially not now that he was single and, frankly, more than a little confusedabout what he wanted.

No, about who he wanted.

His body warmed in a way that was pleasant, but alsoperplexing, and he was grateful for the cool breeze.

The truth was, he’d been confused back then with Jamie, too.Apparently, he made bad choices when he was confused. But he was in hismid-thirties now, dammit. He didn’t have time to be befuddled by life andrelationships.

Besides, it was damned exhausting.

He dragged his fingers through his hair. He was wearing itshort again, and somehow the habit was less satisfying than when it had beenlong. Then again, the habit wasn’t going to help anything. But talking to hisfriends might.

He just needed to suck it up and start the conversation.