Read Online Anything but Love by Beth Ciotta - Free Book Online Page A

five-year-old’s tears. “So what? You’ve been bargaining with Mina? Don’t cry tomorrow and I’ll buy you this or that? How’s that working out?” she teased gently.
    He turned now, smirking. “You see all the boas and crowns?”
    “I’m sure it’s just a phase. The crying thing. I don’t know about the boas and crowns. I was never into all that girly stuff.”
    That drew a slight smile out of Sam. “I remember your fondness for Tonka trucks and Legos.”
    Now Rocky frowned. “When the time comes, I hope Jayce and I have boys.” Rocky had always been a tomboy. Tailing after her brothers and boy cousins … Jayce.
    “Boys come with different challenges,” Sam said. “It’s all good.” He dropped an armful of toys into a jumbo plastic pink bin. “You mentioned needing a favor. Want to talk about it over coffee?”
    “Sure.” Rocky followed Sam into his spic-and-span kitchen, draped her jacket over the back of a kitchen high-back chair, and took a seat. “How booked are you right now?”
    “What, with custom orders?”
    Sam crafted beautiful furniture. Painted it, too. Intricate stenciled and freehand art. A beautiful pine armoire he’d made for Rocky had burned up in the fire. She shoved that depressing thought aside. “That and carpentry work.”
    “What do you need?”
    “It’s not for me. Well, it is for me. In a roundabout way. I need to get a client off my back for a few weeks, turn her focus to something other than
the
perfect décor for her vacation home.”
    “I take it she’s picky.”
    “More like anal.”
    “And you want to turn her loose on me and my designs?”
    “Actually, the house needs a few interior repairs before we decorate in earnest.”
    “What house?”
    “The old Rothwell Farm.”
    Sam raised a brow.
    “You’ve always been fascinated with that place,” Rocky pressed. “Here’s your chance to make your mark.”
    “Your client’s not spooked by the legend?”
    “She’s too pragmatic to believe in ghosts.”
    “Anal and pragmatic. Fun.”
    “She’ll pay cash.”
    Sam sipped his coffee.
    “More money for boas and crowns.”
    His lip curled. “Smart ass.”
    “So you’ll do it?” Rocky whooped. “Thanks, Sam. This way I can distract Harper with another kind of renovation. Just until I get past my wedding. She’s really not that bad. Just used to a faster pace than we are. Although this job
has
been dragging on since November. She purchased the farm as a second home and, so far, she’s only flown in for a few days here and there. She’s a bit of a workaholic and easily distracted by phone calls. I take it back. She is that bad.” She smiled. “But she’s nice!”
    “Molly described her as a flake.” Sam shifted his weight. “Last time I dropped off a piece of furniture at the Antique Barn, your client had just left.”
    Crap. “Would it help if I said Harper is a
nice
flake?”
    “She’s from California, right?”
    “I think she’s Canadian, but yeah, she’s been living in L.A., working as a publicist. Speaking of L.A., did you hear the gossip?”
    “Can you narrow it down?”
    “Rachel’s back in town. I mean Rae. Damn. I have to get that in my head. Not sure why she’s back, but she called me a little earlier. Asked if we could meet this evening. I have to say, I’m dying of curiosity. Hey, do you think she knows Harper?”
    “Why would you think that?”
    “They’re both from L.A. Harper’s a Hollywood publicist. Rae’s mom is a Hollywood star.”
    “More like a tabloid curiosity,” Sam said. “Famous for being famous.”
    “And gorgeous. If you go for that sort of overt sex kitten look. Olivia, I mean. Not Rae. Hard to believe they’re related.”
    “Not so hard,” Sam said with an enigmatic expression.
    Rocky narrowed her eyes while Sam refreshed their mugs. “So have you actually seen Harper Day?”
    “Nope. But I heard she’s pretty hot.” Sam angled his head. “This carpentry gig. You’re not trying to set me