Turning on my stepladder, my hands high above me holding the wallpaper away from the wall, I yelled, 'Who is it?'
'Cam!'
Nope. He wasn't going to destroy my calm. I took a deep breath and looked back at what I'd accomplished so far. I was on my last piece of wallpaper and the room looked brighter and fresher already. 'Come in!' I lined up the paper and used the brush to smooth the top of it to the wall.
Two seconds later I heard him ask behind me, 'What are you doing?'
Ignoring the effect of his voice on my body, I slid the paper slightly, checking its position before smoothing down another section. 'I'm wallpapering.'
'By yourself?' I could hear the incredulity in his voice.
I nodded, taking a step down the ladder so I could smooth the middle section. It was lining up exactly. Practice did make perfect. 'Who do you think decorated this place? The wallpaper, the paint, the sanded floors … ' I finished off the piece and stepped back, smiling at the new look.
Turning to Cam, I was surprised to find a slightly dumbfounded look on his face as his eyes searched the room and then came back to me. 'Do you know how bloody hard it is to hang wallpaper? You just did it like a pro.'
I made a face at him. I didn't see what the big deal was. 'Uncle Mick taught me.'
'When you were ten?' he asked, smiling in curiosity. 'When did you start this?' He nodded at the folding table.
'An hour ago.'
Those gorgeous eyes of his widened. 'And you're done already? Jo, this place is really nicely put together. It looks professional. You know that, right?'
I grinned at the compliment, feeling a flush of pleasure that he thought so. 'Thank you. It drives Cole nuts. He almost had a fit when he saw the stripped walls.'
'Actually' – Cam took a step towards me – 'The reason I came by was because of Cole. I got this weird text from him saying, "Jo's wallpapering. She only does that when something's up. Do you know what's going on?" '
Traitor. I sighed, looking away from Cam. So it had got to the point where Cole was now going to our neighbour for help, even when it concerned me. Was I to have no secrets?
'Well?'
I shrugged. 'Every now and then it helps me relax.' I tried to placate him with a smile. 'Cam, you of all people know my life is stressful. I just do this to relieve it.'
Seeming to have mercy on me, Cam gave me a slow nod. 'Right.' He looked at the floor now, his eyes running along it to the paintwork on the skirting board. Without saying a word he disappeared and turned towards the kitchen. I heard him in the kitchen and then watched him appear, passing the doorway to head along to the bedrooms and bathroom. I heard three doors open. Bathroom, Cole's room and my room.
Cam returned to the living room to encounter my 'look', featuring raised eyebrows and arms crossed over my chest. His lips twitched at it. Mine did not. 'Are you done, you nosy bugger?'
He grinned. 'You have a lot of books.'
I harrumphed.
'Explains the vocab.'
'Excuse me?'
'You're very articulate. Well read.'
Why did Cam's compliments always have to be the best? It was very irritating to someone who was trying to get him out from under her skin.
'You're also talented.'
Astonishment jolted through my body. 'Me? Talented?' Was he high?
His arm swept around the room. 'Jo, you should be doing this for a living.'
'Um, doing what?'
'Painting and decorating.'
I laughed at the absurdity of it. 'Oh, okay. Who in their right mind would hire a high school dropout with no experience to be a painter and decorator? Let's face facts. I'm useless, Cam.'
His eyes instantly hardened, narrowing on me and pinning me in place. 'You are not useless. Don't talk about yourself like that in front of me. It pisses me off.' It was lucky he had no intention of waiting for me to speak, since I didn't know how to reply or react to the warm fuzzies in my chest. 'You're good at this. Really good. I think Nate knows someone with his own company. I could see about getting you an apprenticeship.'
'No. I'm twenty-four. No one hires a twenty-four-year-old apprentice.'
'They do if it's a favour for a friend.'
'Cam, no.'
'Jo, come on, at least think about it. You enjoy it and you're good at it. It's better than working two jobs and dating – ' He stopped himself, blanching when he realized he'd almost crossed the line.
Well, not really 'almost'. He had crossed it. I clenched my jaw, forcing back the sting of tears in my eyes as I realized he still saw me that way – the bimbo after the rich guy's wallet. I wiped the paste off the folding table, deciding to ignore him.
'Jo, think about it. Please.'
'I said no, thanks.' I couldn't imagine anyone would ever want to hire me, and the humiliation of rejection didn't sound like a lot of fun.
'Jo – '
'Cam, why are you here?' I cut him off sharply. I immediately regretted my tone, but there was no taking it back.