Morning, Jed, thanks so much for coming in and agreeing to help us out. Hopefully, this will be a mutually beneficial relationship.”

I was being led through the Camu house on the first day of production. I felt a mixture of excitement and nervousness and was interested to see how this would all work out. The Camu place was an old farmhouse, with great bones and a lot of potential.

I couldn’t help but think how I’d love to be restoring this place on my own, but those dreams would have to be realized later, which was one of the reasons I’d agreed to this project.

“Jed, this is Kylie, our beautiful host and the face of Fix it Up.”

A beautiful, but very made-up blonde turned to me with a smile. Once her gaze landed on me, that smile turned up a few notches, and I knew she was the kind of woman who was used to getting what she wanted from men.

Kylie stepped closer and extended her hand, palm down, as if she wanted me to kiss it, rather than shake it.

Obliging, I took her hand and bent my head to kiss the top of her fingers, then shot her a grin as I rose and released it.

“Ohhh, a gentleman,” Kylie cooed, and although I wanted to give her the benefit of the doubt, she struck me as being completely fake.

That was okay, I could fake it right along with her.

“Only for beautiful women,” I replied, then lowered my voice and said, “Nice to meet you, Kylie.”

Her eyelids fluttered, and that wasn’t fake, but she quickly composed herself and said, “Welcome to Fix it Up. I look forward to working with you.”

The last she said with an invitation in her tone and a wink, then turned to go back to what she’d been doing.

“Be careful of that one, she’s a bit of a man eater.”

We continued through the house, then stepped out back where a barn sat with a bunch of people milling about. I could see the table saws set up, lots of materials, and plenty of tool belts, and knew this was where I’d be spending most of my time.

“The redhead over there, that’s Sadie, our head of design, but right this way is where you’ll be working, with Jose, our lead carpenter. Let me introduce you, and then I’ll leave you to it.”

We walked over to the hustle and I noticed a tall, dark-skinned man with a friendly grin and a commanding presence. I recognized Jose from the show and was excited to work with him during the filming.

Once we’d been introduced, the producer in the suit who’d been showing me around left to go do whatever producer’s do.

“So, I looked over your resume, and then popped on Instagram to see some of your stuff. You do great work, I’m excited to get your input on this project,” Jose said once we were alone.

“Thanks man, that means a lot coming from you. I love the ideas you come up with to make each property unique.”

After our little lovefest was over, Jose introduced me to the other guys, and then explained the course of events.

“So, today for filming, it’ll be just Kylie and the family, going over their must-haves, wants, and dreams for this place. Tonight, Kylie will sit down with me and Sadie to let us know what the family said, then Sadie and I will spend most of tonight and tomorrow spit-balling ideas and finalizing plans. That’s when you guys come in and we’ll get started on the demo, refurbishing, and building. That usually lasts a full forty-eight hours. While we’re doing that, Sadie and her team will be finding what they need to pull it all together and decorate the house of the Camus’ dreams. All in all, we’ll have six days to finish everything, and on the seventh day they will film the big reveal.”

Jose looked around at us, his crew, and added, “They’ll film us throughout the day and night, sometimes with stationary cameras, and others with a cameraman. Just pretend they aren’t there unless you’re asked a question. All right?” When we all concurred, he grinned and said, “Well, you’re free for now, but you may want to rest up, cause once we have a plan in place, things will get pretty crazy around here. I want you all back tomorrow at noon, ready to rock.”

I decided to walk around the house, rather than through it, and as I rounded the corner, I almost smacked right into Serena.

“Whoa,” I said, my hands coming to her shoulders to steady her.

I saw her blink, then look up. When she realized it was me, a shy smile flitted across her lips, causing me to grin in reaction.

I liked that look on her, especially in response to seeing me.

“Hey,” I greeted.

“Hi, how are you?”

“Great.” Even better now that I’d seen her, although she didn’t need to know that. Not yet, anyway. “You almost done here?”

Serena nodded.

“Yeah, I just met with Sadie, and she suggested I go inside to meet the others, and then I’m free to go. You?”

“Yeah, I already met everyone, except Sadie, although I saw her … I’m off until noon tomorrow.”

“Me, too. Which is good, cause I can go get stuff done at the gallery.”

“I heard about Reardon and Chloe, congrats on being … well, I guess not an aunt, more of a second cousin?” I said, unsure of how that all worked out. “Anyway, congrats on another baby in the family.”

Serena smiled. “Thanks. He’s so small and cute. Have you seen him yet?”

I shook my head.

“Not yet. I always think hospitals are for the family. I’ll wait until they’re home, then stop by to congratulate the new parents and see little Skywalker.”

Serena laughed, and I really enjoyed the sound, and the look of laughter on her. She looked lighter, somehow, and looser than her usual ultra-composed self.

“You heard about that, huh?”

“Yeah, I gotta hand it to him, he’s really committed to his fandom,” I said with a chuckle. Then, unthinkingly, my hand raised to her face, and I ran my thumb gently across her cheek. I barely registered how silky soft her skin was, before I realized what I was doing and lowered my hand.

I didn’t apologize, not only because I wasn’t sorry, but because her lids had lowered and her breath had caught, and the ways she was looking up at me really made me want to kiss her.

“I know you have to work, but what do you say I bring dinner by the gallery,” I suggested, needing to see her again. “I promise to bring whatever you want, and not to stay long, just long enough to make sure you’ve gotten your nourishment for the evening.”

Serena nodded slowly, still dazed from my touch.

“I’d like that,” she murmured.

“Perfect, text me what you want, and I’ll bring it by. Say, six o’clock?”

“Sounds good,” Serena replied, and I gave her one last grin before moving past her to leave and go to my truck, a little happier than I’d been before I’d almost bumped into her.

“Great, see you then.”

“Bye,” she said softly, and I swear, I saw her gaze flit to my ass before she blushed and turned to go in the house.