The Renovation (Contemporary Reverse Harem 2)

“So, Wyatt, you’re bringing plumbing skills to the table, I’ve been told,” Carter said.

“I am. I look forward to diving in next door.”

“So do I. I mean—so do we,” Carter said, looking at the other guys.

Tanner, the one with the glasses, spoke up. “Yeah, I’m ready to pitch in, learn a bit of the trade. It’ll feel good to do something with my hands other than sit on my ass at a desk and type on a computer keyboard all day.”

Dig, the one with the black hair, nodded. “Me too. I mean, I know a little, having worked summers for Carter’s dad. But I’m rusty and need a refresher. Just put me to work, guys. I’m all yours.”

Carter laughed. “You might be sorry you offered, dude. We may give you all the shit work, ya know.”

“Okay. I’m ready,” Dig said, laughing.

“So, what’s everyone think of our little arrangement?” If I had to be the one to call out the white elephant in the room, I was okay with that.

The guys all looked around at each other.

Who was going to go first?

But we didn’t have to wait long.

Dig took a swig of his beer. “Well, Carter and I have been in arrangements like this before.”

Tanner turned to him. “No shit. Seriously?”

“We realized we both liked the same woman. When we talked about it, we didn’t see why we both couldn’t date her, if that’s what she wanted. And she did.”

Dig shrugged. “Worked out great.”

“Yeah,” Carter continued, “some women are into it so they can say they had a threesome. You know, check that off their bucket list. The first woman we dated ended up really falling in love with Dig. I was kind of the third wheel toward the end.”

“Yes, she did. I mean, we both loved her back. But when she wanted to be exclusive with me, I just wasn’t ready. I was still building my real estate business. Still am, really.”

Huh. Intriguing.

“So what do we do when Jayma picks one of us? I mean, isn’t that the point of all this?” I asked.

“Sort of,” Tanner said. “We all wanted to pitch in and help her with the house. And if one of us ends up with her in the end, we’ll wish that guy well. If not, then we’ll all be friends. And have some great stories to tell.” Everyone laughed.

Dig spoke up. “I was sort of thinking this could be good for business for us, too. Wyatt, Carter, I can refer business to you. I have homebuyers all the time looking for people to work on their houses. And when you see clients getting ready to sell, you keep me in mind.”

Carter turned to Tanner. “Sorry dude, but this doesn’t exactly do you a lot of good at your ad agency.”

“But it does, at least indirectly. If it makes Jayma happy, I’m all over it.”

“Cheers to that,” everyone said, clinking their beer bottles.

“You guys know my dad used to work on the plumbing next door. I’d been in the house years ago when a Mr. Wagner lived there,” I said.

“Wait a minute,” Carter said. “Are you Wyatt Deer from Deer Plumbing? Holy shit, I don’t know why I didn’t put that together. Back in the day, before he passed, my dad and yours referred each other business. How is your dad?”

Ugh. I’d just seen Dad that afternoon. We were losing him fast. And shit, I was in no shape to talk about it.

“Um, well, my dad has Alzheimer’s. Pretty bad. I don’t think he’ll be with us for much longer.” I couldn’t look up from the floor.

Carter patted me on the back. “Geez, I’m sorry. I had no idea.”

“Thank you.” Time to change the subject. “So, do we think we can get Jayma’s house fixed up before the bank comes for it?”