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“Yeah, he’s getting cleaned up.”
“I didn’t know you had someone staying in your pool house,” Merritt commented.
“Our families have known each other for years.” She let out another sigh. “I don’t know what I’m going to do with him. He really should go home and spend Christmas with his family, but he’s being so stinking stubborn.”
“Isn’t he always?” Giovanni asked.
“More so than usual,” she replied.
“He didn’t look dressed for a party.”
She rolled her eyes. “He forgot I was having people over.”
That seemed to fit with what little Merritt knew of the man. “Sounds like an inconsiderate jerk if you ask me.”
“Well, she didn’t.” That voice she’d heard not an hour before interrupted their conversation.
She turned to see the very person they were talking about—now dressed in chinos and a wrinkled button-down shirt with the sleeves rolled up—looking down at her with disapproval.
“I’d say Adelia’s a good friend for letting you stay here, and if you were a good friend to her, you would’ve respected the fact that she was having a party, instead of showing up late and covered in sweat like you just ran a marathon.”
His eyes narrowed. “You don’t know anything about my friendship with Adelia, so you should probably keep your opinions to yourself.”
Merritt huffed, and her blood began to boil. “And maybe you should’ve put a little more thought into your attire, rather than picking up the first thing you found laying on the floor.”
His mouth was now agape.
Adelia cleared her throat to break up their little spat. “Augustus Schultz, this is Merritt Christianson. Merritt, meet Gus.”
He reluctantly held his hand out between them, which annoyed her, so she didn’t bother reaching out to shake his.
“Spoiled brat.” He lowered his hand with disdain.
Her eyes shot to his. “Excuse me?”
“You’re not excused.”
“You know nothing about me, except my name.”
“And the fact that you’re as fake and pretentious as the rest of the people at this party.”
“Gus!” Adelia snapped.
He rolled his eyes as he walked toward the bar.
“He has some nerve.” Merritt was fuming.
Adelia raised an eyebrow at her. “Well, you didn’t exactly give him a warm welcome.”
Merritt shrugged.
“I don’t know what’s gotten into you, but he’s been through a lot lately. Maybe cut him a little slack.”
Merritt knew nothing about his troubles, but she knew how to be a decent human being, which was a skill he seemed to be lacking. She looked across the yard to where he stood, chatting with some other guests. His sandy brown hair fell loosely around his ears, and she noticed it was damp—at least he’d showered the sweat and dirt off. It was clear he took care of his body, which she’d noticed earlier, in spite of herself. She pushed that thought to the back of her mind, remembering how rude he’d been to her.
Gus glanced in her direction and caught her watching him, and she turned her attention back to Giovanni, who was chatting with Adelia. She was glad they hadn’t noticed her staring at him.
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw him coming toward them, and she was relieved when he moved to the other side of the table to sit next to Adelia.