“Are you?” I crossed my arms, trying to project confidence rather than the sinking feeling of dread in my stomach. “I couldn’t tell.”
“Quick question. When you were ordering a vanity long enough to fit the space, did you also take into account the width of the opening and the depth of the vanity?” he asked.
“Yes. Pfft. Obviously. The width of the door is thirty inches, and the vanity is thirty inches?—”
“Uh-huh. Was that with or without the custom cement counter that’s been welded in place?” he shot back.
“With…” I began.
Brewer shook his head once.
“…out,” I finished meekly. “Fuck.”
Brewer nodded. “That about sums it up. This thing is fucking enormous?—”
“Hey! Don’t shame the vanity for being girthy, Brew.” Theo patted the countertop like its feelings might be hurt. “Some folks like ’em big. Right, Delaney?”
I narrowed my eyes, but Theo merely smiled back innocently.
“Girthy or not, can’t you guys, like, maneuver it?” I asked Brewer.
He folded his arms over his chest, copying my stance. “Maneuver a thirty-four-inch vanity into a thirty-inch opening?”
“I mean, finesse it and guide it and move it around.” I made a twisting motion with my hands to demonstrate. “Sometimes you can fit a big thing in a tight space if you find the right angle.”
Theo coughed lightly. Brewer’s cheeks reddened, and so did mine.
I tried glaring at Theo again, but he seemed to be inspecting the ceiling.
“We’ve tried that, and it doesn’t work. Besides, the issue isn’t just getting it in the… in the opening.” Brewer glared angrily at Theo, though Theo hadn’t said a word. “It’s that the space isn’t deep enough to accommodate it, even once we get it in.”
“Actually, Brew,” Theo began. “If properly motivated and with the right thrusting?—”
“Theo,” Brewer and I said in unison, and Theo grinned.
“The vanity sticks out from the wall about six inches too far,” Brewer said impatiently, “and?—
Theo opened his mouth.
“Theo Ross, if you say one word about six inches, I will call your mother!” After a pause, Brewer added, “Or Bennett.”
Theo laughed. To me, he added, “Bennett’s my partner. He owns the observatory house we live in across the lake. You’d like him, Delaney. He lived in New York for a while, like you did, and he’s smart like you, too.”
“Oh?” I blinked. “That’s?—”
Theo’s smile turned a bit sly. “And he also likes ’em girthy.”
“Theo,” I said impatiently, “could you give us a minute to discuss this?”
“Sure.” Theo waved a hand. “I’ll just stand here. Feel free to?—”
“Theo,” Brewer snapped.
Theo gave us both a grin so full of mischief and good humor that I nearly smiled back. “Come to think of it, why don’t I step outside?” His boots clomped cheerily out the front door, and he closed it with aclick.
I met Brewer’s gaze. “So, what would you suggest we do?”
“Me?” Brewer pressed one big hand to his big chest, and his eyes widened. “Oh, gosh, that’s above my pay grade, Delaney. I mean, I’m not paid to have an opinion, right? ’Cause you’re the boss?” He leaned against the wall. I tried not to notice the way sweat dampened a little curl of hair above his ear or the way his biceps muscles strained the fabric of his shirt.
