Free Love By Design by Liz Matis Page A

levels must be dangerously low. “Brady, when do you think you’re going to find Jamie’s replacement?”
    “Tell you the truth, I haven’t been looking.”
    “Damn it, I told you this was just temporary.”
    “What’s the matter, mate? This is easy money and the women. We’ve got it made.”
    “My heart is not in it.”
    “Or it’s with that sheila?”
    “Victoria?”
    Brady shook his head. “She is a sweet piece of American pie.”
    “You’ve seen the show?” Russ’s brows knotted in confusion. He couldn’t quite picture Brady having HGTV on his favorites list.
    “Yeah, in a moment of weakness. I was going out with this chick who was in to all those makeover shows.”
    “And?”
    “I forget the name of the show, but we used to argue over which house a couple should pick, a couple of days later a commercial came on showing these cozy couples doing the exact same thing. That’s when I realized I was being sucked in.”
    Russ laughed. “I’m not being sucked in. I’m doing you a favor but it’s not going to help my creditability with the label ‘stripper.’”
    “Russ, you’ve won awards for design.”
    “Doesn’t mean squat over here.”
    The rest of the guys milled out of the back room and they filed out into the alley. A flock of groupies was waiting and fluttered about the men as they left the building. Some wanted autographs, others a quick photo, and a brazen few offered lap dances. A tall, leggy blonde approached Russ as he tried to escape the mob.
    “I liked what I saw.” She was supermodel beautiful and obviously looking for a good time.
    “Um, thanks.”
    “A man of few words. I like that.”
    Normally Russ would be happy with a woman who valued that trait in a man. He certainly did so in a woman. After pretty and uncomplicated, that is. Victoria was plenty pretty but complicated as a computer manual written in Spanish. And she was opinionated and mouthy like a political radio host.
    So why wasn’t he throwing on the charm with the lovely lady right in front of him? Because he didn’t need too. It was just too easy.
    “My place?”
    “Sorry, luv. I have a prior engagement.”
    The blonde shrugged her shoulders and set her sights on Brady.
    Brady gave him a disapproving look. Russ didn’t care if his mate thought he was whipped. He knew better. If Russ went home with the groupie he’d prove Victoria right that a woman kept him from the set. And he couldn’t have Victoria being right. That’s all there was to it.
    A cab pulled up to the curb, Russ climbed in and gave the address for the Johnson place out in Staten Island instead of the apartment he shared with four of his co-workers. He’d finish his project tonight so Victoria had nothing to complain about. One of the crewmembers should be there to guard the house in case the homeowners tried to sneak back in to take a peek before the reveal.
    The cab pulled up to the house. The lights were on so he paid the cabbie and tried the door. Unlocked. He opened the door and closed it behind him gently so as not to wake anyone who’d stayed behind.
    He heard Victoria’s laugh. From what he knew of her it was a rare occurrence. He knew he shouldn’t eavesdrop, but he wanted to know what made her laugh. And if she said anything about him, it would be a bonus. Russ crept up to the back of the house where the family room was and realized it was a one-sided conversation. She must be on the phone with Ava, but then Victoria said the words that sent a stab of unexpected jealousy to his heart.
    She missed who?

Chapter 13
     
    V ictoria lounged on the comfy white sofa. Covered in automobile grade vinyl, it was custom made for the Johnson’s living room. She almost got lost in the overstuffed pillows strewn across the back. She stared up at the chrome track lighting dimmed to a soft glow as she spoke to Neil on her cell phone. Her lifeline to sanity.
    She was relieved to hear his mother was doing well, but Victoria still held back on a