Gray
“What the heck was going on between you two?” Eli asked as we drove away from Tessa’s house and back toward a world that held the promise of more sanity and fewer green-eyed crazy women who filled the boredom of their days by toying with reasonable, hard-working designers seemingly to amuse themselves.
“Not a thing. Not one damn thing,” I said, staring out the window while I replayed the visit with Tessa in my head, trying to figure out what had happened. “I took time from my busy schedule to pick up her van. I had her van converted to her specifications. I personally delivered said van—which looked fucking awesome, thank you very much—to her doorstep. We had a perfectly reasonable conversation about dog biscuits. Examined the van—which she loved—down to the spray plastic liner I thought to add for easy clean-out. Met some guy named Paul who’s sniffing after her. And then—bam. She’s done with me. I mean SBC.”
“Well, I was talking about the way you two were touching noses,” Eli said. “It looked kind of cute from where I was sitting.”
“Nothing about me and Tessa Madigan breathing the same air is cute.” I slipped my sunglasses from my shirt pocket and slid them on to cut the glare of the late afternoon sun slicing into my eyes. I stewed half the way back to the office, until it hit me. Tessa Madigan deciding not to hire us was a good thing. No. It was a great thing.
Wasn’t it exactly what I’d wanted after the very first meeting with her? I’d known she was nuttier than a jar of peanut butter. Hadn’t I begged Beck not to put in a bid? We didn’t have a shortage of clients wanting our services. Hell, we even had to turn some away. Once I remembered this was what I’d wanted all along, I was fine. My anger smoothed out and I was fine.
So fine that when Beck asked about the Madigan job during the weekly strategy meeting my blood pressure didn’t even spike.
“Gray, the Madigan job?” Beck looked down the table at me.
“The Madigan job is on hold for the time being.” I sat back with a grin. “She’s decided she may not be interested in a proposal from us after all and is thinking about getting other bids.”
“So, you’re saying we may lose this job?” Ash leaned forward, his arms crossed on the table. “Please tell me you didn’t piss her off on purpose.”
“Not on purpose. And I apologized.” I shrugged. Although, thinking back, maybe I didn’t actually apologize. “Honestly, the woman has no idea what she wants. She’s not ready to commit to any design yet. I think she might be bored and just amusing herself at our expense.”
Beck’s gaze took me in before he nodded. “I guess time will tell.”
I guess it would. Either way, I was looking at enjoying a stretch of peace without having Tessa Madigan’s shenanigans making a mess of my schedule.
“If that’s it, we’re down to grievances. Anyone have any grievances this week?”
“I do,” Eli said. “Gray, you’ve been a pain in the ass around here. You got very pissy with me two days ago in the break room.”
“I don’t do pissy.” I crossed my arms and frowned. “I do remember getting grouchy with you, and have a slight memory of being a bit of an asshole, but not pissy.”
“You’re being kind of pissy right now about the word ‘pissy,’” Ash said.
“Eli, I’m sorry I’ve been bad-tempered and took it out on you. I will try to be better.” I ran a hand down my face. “It’s this damn insomnia.”
“Sex always works,” Eli said.
“Seconded.” Ash added with a wink.
“Fuck off, you two,” I growled.
“Oh, right. Guess that’s not an option.” Beck grinned at me.
I’d give Beck a hard time back, except I loved seeing him happy. And his thing with Samantha was still shiny and new, so I let that one slide.
“I did a little research for you,” Wyatt said. “There’s a list of things you can give up that might help: caffeine, alcohol, electronics an hour before bed, and stop eating two hours before bed.” Wyatt was the nicest guy I knew. When Wyatt said there was a list, he meant he made a list from his research.
“That’s all the good stuff,” I said.
Wyatt shrugged. “Sleep’s good too.”
“Along with not being pissy to your brothers,” Eli added. “You know what helps me? A warm bath. Or a glass of warm milk. Sometimes I even drink a glass of warm milk in the bath.”
“I’m not drinking a glass of warm milk in a bathtub. That’s not going to happen.”
“Sam suggested you change the paint color in your bedroom, but you know all about Feng Shui, so just throwing it out there.” Beck tipped his head toward Ash. “I suggest working out with Ash at his gym a couple times. Last time I did that I slept for days.”
I could do that. “Ash?”
Ash nodded. “Sure. Call me.” Ash wasn’t looking any better than me, so I didn’t hold much hope. What were the odds after doing one of Ash’s hard-core workouts that all I’d be was wide awake and sore?
Beck’s phone rang, and he glanced at the caller ID and then up at me before taking the call.
“Ms. Madigan, what can we do for you? Tessa.” Beck tilted his head as he listened.
Ha! Look who was coming back already. I leaned back in my chair, my hands clasped behind my neck, elbows splayed wide, cocky grin on my face.
“Looks like Ms. Madigan can’t quit you,” Eli said.
“Excuse me, Gray?” Beck pulled the phone away from his mouth, using his hand to muffle the sounds the caller might hear. “Tessa would like to know if you can recommend any kitchen designers.”
“She wants me to recommend our competition to her?” The woman was unbelievable.
Beck nodded. “That seems to be the case, yes.”
“Why didn’t she just call me if she had a question for me?”
“She said, and I quote, you were rather ‘pissy’ the other day.” Beck tried to stifle a grin. He failed.
Ash laughed.
Wyatt snickered.
“Told you so,” Eli said.