So the choice was a fruitless, awkward lunch with his secretary or a sweaty, frustrating morning with Ace.
Really not a choice.
“Nicole, could you call Mr. Phipps and reschedule his Saturday appointment?” He saw Nicole’s hopeful expression fade from her face and felt a twinge of guilt for once again dodging her attentions.
“Is that what all the texting was about?” she asked, typing loudly on her keyboard to pull up Mr. Phipps’ phone number. “Got a big date tomorrow or something?”
No. Well, yes. Well, not really.
“Family emergency. Sort of. My presence has been firmly requested.”
Nicole was somewhat mollified. “Hard to say no to family.”
“You have no idea.” He pulled out his phone and turned to go back into his office. “Let me know when Mrs. Donaldson arrives.”
He pulled out his phone before Holly could devise more punishments for him.
I’ll be there. Call off the dogs already.
As he shut the door, he heard Nicole pick up her previous phone conversation.
“Well, that was a bust,” she sighed. “He’s either just not interested in me or he’s gay. Those are the only two options.”
Paul’s heart stopped. The last thing he needed was his gossipy secretary discussing his sexuality with everyone she knew.
“No, I don’t think he has a girlfriend. Or, you know, a boyfriend for that matter. I don’t think he has anybody.” She sighed dramatically. “But oh he could have me with just a word.”
‘I don’t think he has anybody.’ That cut sharply into Paul’s gut. She isn’t wrong, though, is she?
“That’s a good idea, I’ll try that next time,” Nicole giggled into the phone.
Oh Lord, she’s planning something. Probably a lower cut blouse or something else similarly ineffective.
He was going to have to tell her, one way or another.
But one way was definitely scarier than another.
Paul might be running away from one issue, but the direction he was heading was so much more appealing. And it was starting to feel inevitable.
********
When Ace arrived at Steven’s on Saturday, Paul wasn’t there. Ace didn’t know whether to sigh – or sigh.
Ace hauled some cans of paint out of his truck bed, along with a box of well-used painting supplies. Steven had given him free reign to buy neutral, warm paint colors, which was a nice change from the overly obsessive clients in his portfolio.
“Hey Ace!” Steven caught up with him as he neared the open garage door. “Glad you could make it.” He looked at Ace’s bundle. “Got more of that?”
“It’s all in the truck.”
Steven headed toward the truck while Ace gratefully set down his heavy load and worked some feeling back into his fingers.
“So, I hear you’re the one who objects to my choice of wall color.”
Ace turned around to find the woman who had drawled those words, heavy with amusement.
Oh, this must be the fiance. She was, in a word, pretty. Blonde hair that looked expertly dyed, long and flowing past her shoulders. Big hazel eyes full of laughter. And an easy smile that she was struggling to hide so she could look ticked about the burgundy.
Ace laughed. “Hand to God, I love it. I just worry about timid buyers.”
She made a pouty face. “So we have to erase it?”
“Actually, I have a plan to just tone down its volume.”
“Oh,” she said, appeased. “Okay. You can stay.”
Ace grinned. He instantly liked her.
“I’m Ace Hoffman,” he said, shaking her small hand.
“Holly Shipley. And I really wouldn’t have kicked you out, not after what you’ve already done for Steven’s house.”
“That good, huh?” Ace knew he had an eye for this work, but it was always nice to hear it from others.
“I didn’t even recognize the bedroom,” she insisted. “You’re a magician.”
“Not really,” Ace demurred. “Just German. My mom says it’s the German efficiency in me. Always wanting to find the most optional arrangement in a room, not wasting space. Then when I told her I was gay, she said this was the perfect job for me.”
Ace smiled to himself, thinking of how quickly his sweet little mother came to terms with that bombshell. It took his dad a lot longer.
“I’m telling you now, as soon as Steven sells this place and moves all this stuff to my house, I’m hiring you to be my move-in day foreman,” Holly said. “I want to get everything right from the start.”
“I’ll be happy to,” Ace said. “I’ve never worked with anybody on day one like that.”
“Well, after seeing this transformation here, I’m a little sorry he has to sell it.”
“You know, that’s happened before.” Ace led them inside. “I’ve had a couple of clients who decided not to move after I staged their house. Pissed off the realtor something fierce.”
“Well, David couldn’t say enough good things about you,” said Steven, who came in with the rest of the supplies.
“He’s a good guy,” Ace said. “And a successful realtor. You’re in excellent hands.”
“He’s gay too, right?” Steven said. “I mean, I got that vibe.”
“Steven!” Holly exclaimed, smacking his arm.
Ace grinned faintly. David was a little more … exuberant. Nearly anybody’s gaydar would have gone off.
“Does it bother you?” Ace asked carefully. At this point, he didn’t think Steven was a homophobe, but you never knew.
“Oh, no. Nothing like that,” Steven said quickly. “I just thought, are you two, you know, seeing each other?”
“Steven!” Another smack from Holly.
“What?” Steven rubbed his arm, perplexed.
“Not every gay man is boffing every other gay man, you dumbass!” she hissed at him.
Ace chuckled. “Well put. No, we’re not dating. And, for the record, in case you were thinking of setting us up, he’s not really my type.”
“Oh?” Holly asked, taking Ace’s arm confidentially. “What is your type?”
Your future brother-in-law, sweetie. Mr. Film Noir. Mr. Pretends He Hasn’t Met Me.
“Oh, Lord,” Steven moaned. “You’ve done it now. You’ve unleashed the matchmaker.”
Ace decided it was time to change the subject. “Maybe after we finish this house, I’ll tell you all about my perfect guy,” he told Holly. “The way things are going, I could probably use a good yenta.”
Holly clapped her hands in childlike glee. “Then let’s get to work so we can be finished!”
“What’s the plan, boss?” Steven said to Ace. “And Paul should be here soon, so don’t leave him out of your assignments.”
Ace fought to keep a flush at bay. So, not off the hook after all.
“He’d better come,” Holly said darkly. “I warned him there would be an ‘or else’ in his future.”
“Well, my plan is first to paint, starting in the new man cave. Then paint up here, and by then the basement will be dry and we can build a cave.”
“Oh, and I’ve bought some throw pillows and artwork and stuff,” Holly added.