Page 39 of Two Hearts' Ploy

A few minutes later, they were walking outside from the lobby toward Jeff’s truck.

“I’m assuming that big bag that you’re carrying contains your music?” Jeff asked.

“It does. You can decide what you’d like to hear first,” she said.

“Is there anything you need from your SUV?” he asked, unlocking his truck remotely.

“No. Not right now. Jake said I should pull it around to the employee parking lot later, and then just leave it there until I move over to your place.”

He held open the passenger door for her.

“I’ve got enough room in my garage for you to leave it inside,” he said. “Although it might be better to eventually park it in my barn.”

She nodded. “So that no one who might be watching sees me driving it.”

“Exactly. You might have to leave quickly if there’s trouble,” he replied, stepping behind the wheel of his truck.

“I see you have adaptive equipment here in your truck too,” she observed.

“Yes,” he answered, heaving a sigh. “Life might have been a little bit easier if I’d have lost my left leg as opposed to my right. I still step on the pedal with my invisible leg.”

She wasn’t sure whether to laugh or not until he grinned.

“You’re pretty accepting of everything,” she said, becoming thoughtful.

He shrugged. “I’m an Air Force Captain. I need to set an example. Besides, I’m not someone who likes to waste time feeling sorry for myself.”

She gave him a rueful smile. “I’ve kind of figured that.”

The morning went by way too quickly. After running through the entire portfolio that Wren had brought along, Jeff chose two songs for her to record, which he would work with next. Coincidentally, both were her own compositions.

When they finished up around noon, Jeff looked at his watch. “I’ve got a little time before I have to get home since we were here today at eight instead of nine. How about we have some lunch next door at the winery before we head back?”

“I’d love that,” she answered. “Can we sit outside on one of those little terraces that are built into the cliff?”

He barked out a laugh before answering, “I’ll see what I can do.”

“It’s sure beautiful here,” Wren observed another twenty minutes later, from where they sat high above the lake.

“Can you see past the edge of the inlet where the music camp performers are on stage?” he asked as he pointed them out. “I thought that maybe some of your video could be recorded from there along with the indoor conservatory where regular concerts are held. The acoustics are great, so we’d be able to record some of your music outside of the studio to integrate into one of your new releases, or maybe into the video.”

“I can also see a performance on the Dragonfly Pointe Inn gazebo,” she murmured. “You know what I’d really love, though? Being on some kind of pontoon in the middle of the lake, where we can be filmed from high above.”

Jeff blinked. “That’s a fantastic idea. Emily Richardson might be able to arrange something like that. That’s where she got married – out on Crystal Rock Lake. I can still remember being there when I was a kid.

“I’d better get all these ideas together for my manager. He’ll be sending a team here to direct and produce the finished product. I want to be sure that you work with them if you can.”

“I’ll begin teaching in September, but during that first month, it won’t take up my entire day,” he answered in agreement. “Let’s see how it goes.”

Lunch was great, she had to admit. Although the menu was definitely meant to cater to women, Jeff apparently didn’t havea problem eating an open-faced chicken salad sandwich served with fruit and asparagus on the side. They ate cheesecake for dessert.

She gave him a wide smile. “This hardly seems like your kind of menu.”

“I thought you’d appreciate it.” He rolled his eyes. “I’ve got three sisters and supposedly, I’m a Mama’s boy. What can I say?”

Noticing his self-deprecating smile, Wren laughed loudly.

Another thirty minutes later, they were on their way back to the Inn. As he was ready to drop her off, she turned to him with a smile.

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