Gabi took a long look. “Wow, ’drea, your people did a great job. It looks completely different.”
As Andrea beamed, Anne pulled out her phone and took some pictures. “For Uzuri’s lease, I snapped a bunch of pictures when I came. But now you can have before and after shots for your website.”
“What a grand idea.” Andrea smiled. “Thank you.”
When Anne checked out the living room, she shook her head. The men had brought in a couch and chairs and arranged them in absurd locations.
Dan walked past and set down a chair against the wall—in the spot where the television should go.
“Honestly,” Anne said under her breath. After a second of thinking, she rounded up Linda and asked her to direct the furniture placement. “Beth, when the bedroom truck comes, can you do the same?”
“Of course.”
“Grab some coffee while you have a chance and—” Recognizing the footsteps, Anne turned.
Followed by a beautiful golden retriever, Ben carried a heavy armchair into the room all by himself. Every muscle in his upper half was so pumped up that his brown Merle Haggard T-shirt was straining over his chest.
Anne had a craving simply to bite into the curve of his biceps. Yum.
When his gaze hit her, he smiled slowly. “Anne.”
“Ben.” The growing heat in his eyes slid beneath her skin and deep into her core. Fighting the urge to pull him to her, she took a step back.
“Is this your dog? He’s gorgeous.” She held her hand out.
“Yep, that’s Bronx.”
With a well-loved dog’s confidence, the retriever trotted over, tail waving gracefully. When the dog informed her that they were now best of buddies, she stole herself a quick snuggle.
Rising, she saw Ben watching her with a half-smile and a bit of envy. The man obviously wanted his own hug.
Anne cleared her throat. “Can you—”
“Eeeks!” Sally’s shriek came from the kitchen.
Anne ran in, Ben behind her, close enough that when she jumped back, she hit his solid frame. A huge flying cockroach, half the size of her hand, was crawling across the counter. Oh, God. She tried to back up farther. Get it away!
“Ben.” She pointed to the ghastly black palmetto bug with a shaky hand. “Please.”
“Yes, Ma’am.” He swung into action.
As he disposed of the creature, Anne retreated into the dining area.
Sally followed. “Christ on a cockroach, did you see the size of that monster?”
“Nothing that size should be allowed to have wings.” Anne’s heart rate hadn’t slowed.
“I’m so sorry me and Uzuri and Rainie tried to scare you with fake bugs last spring.” Sally put an arm around Anne’s waist. “Talk about karmic justice. That thing almost gave me a heart attack.”
“I know the feeling,” Anne said in a dry voice. When she’d opened her locker at the Shadowlands and seen bugs everywhere… Well. It had taken her far too long to realize they were rubber.
A minute later, their defender returned. Hair pulled back in a rough tie, broad shoulders military straight, expression bland…and his tiger-colored eyes were dancing with laughter.
“Thank you, Ben,” Anne said. “Nicely done.”
“I swear, that’s the only reason God put males on this earth—for bug disposal,” Sally said.
Anne considered, her gaze still caught in Ben’s. “They might have a…few…other reasons.”
His eyes warmed.
“Yeah. I made the mistake of saying that to Vance and he told Galen and they spent an entire night demonstrating. Reason after reason after reason.” Sally sounded positively disgruntled. “I couldn’t even get out of bed the next morning.”
Anne’s lips twitched.
Being a clever lad, Ben didn’t say anything, but his gaze stayed on Anne’s in a way that said he’d be delighted to perform his own demonstration.
The temptation was far too appealing. She shook her head. “Ben, can you help Linda get the living room arranged, please?”
Rather than looking irritated, he came to token attention. “Be my pleasure, Ma’am.”
Hearing Anne’s request, Linda waved him into the room and pointed to a chair. “That chair should sit over there, Ben.” She indicated the far corner. “And the media stand goes against that wall.”
“Yeah,” Ben muttered. “I told Dan that.”
Anne grinned. He had a good eye—and Dan didn’t. What a nice reminder that a person shouldn’t be judged by outward appearance.
Her phone beeped and displayed a text from Nolan. She lifted her voice. “People, the old apartment is empty, and the last load is on the way.”