“Kind of cold to be hanging out here this morning,” Matthew said as he approached and sat beside Fitz on the bench.
“It’s not that bad. I don’t mind.” Fitz reached out to pet an ecstatic Theodore, who had collected his ball and his limbs after his tumble and then recognized Fitz as an old friend and came racing over. “Hey, buddy. You’re a really good boy, aren’t you?”
Theodore panted blissfully in what was clearly an affirmative.
Matthew reached over to scratch behind the dog’s ears before he threw the ball again.
“Where’s Skye this morning?” Fitz asked.
“Oh, she and Madeline and Ria are over at Belinda’s. It’s all I’ve heard about all week.”
“What is?” It bothered Fitz that Matthew had evidently heard a lot about something he was completely unaware.
“The big makeover.”
“Makeover?” Fitz was frowning now.
“Yeah. They’re giving Belinda a big makeover or something. I don’t know.” Matthew shrugged, obviously both amused and clueless on the topic. “Anyway, that’s what they’re all doing this morning.”
“A makeover? Why are they giving Belinda a makeover?” Fitz was only vaguely aware of what a makeover consisted of, but it sounded unnecessary and intrusive.
“She wanted one, I guess.”
“For what?”
Matthew suddenly looked uncomfortable, as if he knew the answer but didn’t want to tell Fitz.
Fitz might act laid-back and disinterested in the world, but he’d never been stupid. He was still as quick and observant as he’d been when he’d been a powerhouse businessman ten years ago. It only took a few seconds of witnessing Matthew’s suppressed discomfort for him to understand what was going on.
It was Charles Kensington. The new man in town. The one he’d caught Belinda eyeing more than once.
She was interested in him. So much so that she was going through some kind of entirely unwarranted makeover to impress him.
The clench in his chest hurt. It hurt a lot. For obvious reasons, he’d done his best to avoid any hopes in her direction. As far as he could tell, he’d never entertained even the faintest dream of her having feelings for him. But it still hurt. This proof that she was already slipping away.
Fitz stared down at the sidewalk, took a couple of long breaths, and came to terms with it.
It was fine.
Just fine.
Probably good. Good for Belinda anyway. She deserved a happy life with someone she loved. And it was better for Fitz not to have anything that he wanted to hold on to.
“You okay?” Matthew asked. Very softly.
Fitz glanced over and saw the other man was giving him a look of reluctant concern. As if he was worried but wasn’t sure what to do about it. Matthew had always been a good guy but was also one who didn’t express emotion easily.
With a huff of dry amusement, Fitz shook his head. Then realized the gesture might be misinterpreted, so he said, “Of course. What else?”
“I think she likes... someone.”
“Of course she does. I don’t know Charles very well, but he seems like a decent sort.” Fitz was relieved that his tone was casual. Uninflected.
“Yeah.” Matthew winced slightly. “Sorry.”
“What are you sorry for? It makes sense. They’d fit.”
“Yeah,” Matthew said again, this time sounding almost tired.
“She really thinks she needs a makeover?” Fitz hadn’t intended to say that, but the idea really bugged him. Belinda was beautiful and intelligent and sexy and amazing exactly as she was. Why would she need to change for some guy?
“I don’t know. Women do that kind of thing, don’t they?”
“Maybe.”
Fitz wanted to say more—wanted to make sure he’d convinced Matthew that he wasn’t stupid or pitiful or needy or disappointed about something he’d never been fool enough to hope for—but he didn’t have the chance.
Matthew’s phone buzzed, and he pulled it out of his pocket. He frowned as he read a text.
“Something wrong?” Fitz asked.
“I don’t know. Skye says there’s a flood at Belinda’s house.”
Fitz stood up. “What?”
“I don’t know. She says they can use some help.”
“Well, let’s go.” Fitz didn’t care if he wasn’t invited. If Belinda needed help, then he was going.
Matthew didn’t argue. He rounded up Theodore and then gave Fitz a ride in his SUV for the few blocks over to Belinda’s house.
She still lived in the old Victorian where she and Ria had grown up. Everything looked fine about the small picket-fence-lined front yard, big porch, and white paint on the wide-plank siding. Jacob and a very pregnant Ria were walking down the porch stairs.
“What’s going on?” Matthew asked, getting out of the SUV.
Fitz forced himself not to hurry. Not to push past the others to get his eyes on Belinda and make sure she was all right. How the hell could there be flooding? There wasn’t a river or creek or even a stream anywhere nearby.
“The hot-water heater died,” Ria explained, “and it exploded all over the hallway.”
“Leaked,” Jacob added with a fond smile at his wife.
She made a face at him. “With the amount of water that ended up everywhere, it was more of an explosion than a leak.”
“It is a mess.” Jacob shook his head. “But Belinda has already ordered and paid for a new water heater. She’s pretty amazing. We’re heading out to pick it up for her now.”
Fitz really wanted to get inside to where Belinda was, but he could hardly shove the others aside when he hadn’t even been invited to go in.
“You need some help?” Matthew asked. “I don’t think Ria is in any shape to help you handle a water heater.”
Ria was softer and gentler than Belinda, but she had her share of the same spirit. She scowled. “I’m in very good shape. I’m just pregnant.” She paused. “But I’m definitely not going to haul a water heater. Maybe one of you guys could go with us so Jacob doesn’t have to wrestle with the thing alone.”
Fitz should probably volunteer, but he didn’t want to. He waited to see what Matthew would do.
“I’ll go,” Matthew said, glancing over at Fitz. “Unless you’d rather go, in which case I can help with the cleanup.”
“I can help clean up,” Fitz said mildly. “No problem.”
“Thanks,” Jacob said, giving Matthew a light punch on the shoulder.
They started toward Jacob’s pickup truck, so Fitz turned toward the house, finally able to escape and get to Belinda, but Ria put a hand on his arm to stop him. “Hey.”
He paused, his eyebrows pulling together in an unspoken question.
“She’s upset,” Ria murmured. “Don’t tease her.”
Fitz’s heart gave a little clench. “I won’t. Promise.”
“Thanks.” Ria smiled at him, looking momentarily just like her sister. Then she put her hands on her rounded belly and hurried to the truck to join Jacob and Matthew.
Fitz went inside.
The living room looked normal—perfectly clean and well furnished with comfortable pieces in earth tones and dark wood. Open french doors led into the dining room, and from there a wide opening led into the kitchen. There wasn’t a basement in this house, so the water heater was in a closet in the hallway near the downstairs bedroom and bathroom.