Page 15 of Kiss Me, Darling

Just like that? A realization? That’s all it took? I knew it was more than that. It was weeks of reflecting and thinking that led to that moment, but it was going to take me a little while to process everything Scott just said and really understand it.

“Thank you for telling me.” I was grateful for the information even if I was also confused.

“You’re welcome to ask me anything any time.” And just like that he picked up the paint roller and got back to work. “What about you? What projects are you lining up?”

I knew he was giving me space to think and a way of changing the conversation, but it was still hard to find words that made sense. “Uh, we’re uh, getting ready to launch another Zoe Hyde project.”

He froze, turning just his head my way. “Ransom Due at Midnight?” His eyes blazed with excitement.

“Yeah. The whole series. The team wants to start with the prequel.”

“Makes sense. I think it will flow well on the screen that way. Books can be more creative with world building and timelines than we can.”

“True.” Did that mean Scott was excited to work on the project too? I missed brainstorming with him, the entire creative exchange process, actually. We were such different people with very different strengths (no one will ever be seeing me on screen!) which was part of the fun. Bantering about ideas was like...like foreplay for us. We got so excited, we fed off each other, until we burst into a fit of passion.

“And actually, the kids in the prequel could really be spun off into a separate side series.” As he mused aloud he managed to smudge paint all over his cheek. Again.

At least it wasn’t the tip of his nose.

“I worry that would detract from the main project.”

“No. It’s different audiences. The main series is so separate from the prequel. You’re focused on the adult audience. The spin off would be younger. Teens.”

I saw his point. I just wasn’t so sure it was worth splitting our energies. “It might cause brand confusion.”

He shrugged, picked up a paint brush and attempted to cut in a corner. “Maybe the confusion is part of what makes it all work. I don’t know. I think this project is worth going all-in on. Gambling everything.”

“Maybe you should write it.” He sounded like he had a clear vision. Far more than I did.

“Hmmm. Maybe. I’m working on something at the moment, but I’ll keep this in mind.”

I couldn’t hold back my curiosity. “What are you working on?” Lily was the writer, but Scott had stories too. Sometimes it was big ideas and word pictures that the teams could mold into stories, other times it was more. He could dictate out a whole movie when the mood struck him.

He froze for a moment. “You know that paranormal I’ve been talking about forever?”

“No! Really?” It was one of the projects that was always on the back burner. Something he’d get toone day.

“Yeah. I have no idea if it’s any good, but it feels nice to be putting out the ideas.”

“This is fantastic, Scott! I’m so happy to hear this!” I was a really,reallygood sign his creativity was back. And having his creativity back meant his mind wasn’t blocked by thoughts of the gossip floating around about him.

He blushed a little. “You’ll be the first person I let see it.”

* * *

We finished the living room.There would be touch ups. (So many touch ups.) But it was done. We ordered pizza, then I hopped in the shower. I was opening a bottle of wine when Scott appeared in the kitchen looking, well, sheepish.

“I need your help.”

“My help? With what?”

He pointed at his hair. “I can’t get all the paint out and I don't know what to do.”

Oh.

“I really suck at painting.”

“You really do. Let’s see what we can do about the hair before we tackle any more painting projects.”

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