Page 66 of Seized by Love at Seaside
“Lizzie, you’ve proposed a sale of the rights to the program, but you do realize that youarethe program, don’t you?”
Lizzie’s mouth opened, and her brain scrambled to find an answer. She and Blue had talked about this. Duke had given her tips on what to say, but her brain had gone completely blank. Her pulse sped up, and she felt her cheeks flush. She was in for a full-on panic attack if she didn’t get a grip on herself soon.
She dug deep, remembering what Duke and Blue had told her.She’s a hard negotiator. Be ready to negotiate as if your life depends on it.Blue’s words came next.You make the decisions. They need you more than you need them.
In their advice, she found her voice—and her answer. “Yes, up until this point the show has been all my doing, from planning to taping, editing, and analyzing. But I wear a blond wig and thick dark glasses, and as you pointed out, my identity has been kept secret. If you hire the right actress to play the part, so the sensual side of the program remains essentially the same, viewers will never connect the dots. Furthermore, I only have the ability to tape the shows twice a week, because I do have another business to run, but another person might be able to film seven days a week, generating even more income.”
“Seven days a week is the plan,” Carly said with a sophisticated tone and a wry smile.
“I’m also willing to consult on a limited basis, with meetings handled at such times that they will not negatively impact my other business.” She had no idea where that came from, but it sounded well thought out and that was a feather in her cap. They began ping-ponging questions at her again, and as she volleyed answers, surprising herself with her abilities, she realized that if she had the confidence to do theNaked Bakerprogram, she could sit at this table with sophisticated city people and handle herself just fine.
NIGHTCAPS BAR WAS a favorite gathering spot among Blue’s brothers and their friends. It was owned by Dylan Bad, a guy who knew how to make anyone feel welcome, and because of that, the place was always jammed. This afternoon was no different. Blue had been sitting at a booth with his brothers Cash and Duke since he’d dropped off Lizzie, and there hadn’t been a quiet moment since they’d arrived.
Normally crowds and noise wouldn’t bother Blue, but his attention was already stretched thin, as he was worried about how Lizzie’s meeting was going with the FCN executives.
“B, your leg has been jumping up and down a mile a minute since you got here. Would you relax? She’ll do great.” Duke sipped his beer and checked out a brunette at the bar. He’d come from the office, still dressed in his suit and tie. Duke was the sharpest dresser of the Ryder men, and Blue had come to realize that it didn’t matter if Duke was working or not. He was always dressed nicely, preferring polo shirts to T-shirts and slacks to jeans.
“I’m not worried about how she’ll do,” Blue said honestly, knowing she’d do just fine. “I’m nervous because I knowshe’snervous about how she’ll do.”
Cash ran a hand through his dirty-blond hair. His eyes held Blue’s with an assessing gaze. “Holy mackerel.”
“What?” Blue shot a questioning look at Duke, who shrugged.
“You’ve fallen for her.” A knowing smile spread across Cash’s face.
Blue couldn’t hide the grin pushing at his cheeks. “I’m not even going to try to deny that.”
“The first Ryder man to get tied down.” Cash slapped him on the back.
“First you buy the property we were supposed to share, and now you’re in love with the woman I was going to ask out?” The raising of Duke’s brows told Blue his oldest brother was just giving him a hard time.
“You’re too slow, too old, and not quite as handsome as me,” Blue teased as he checked his phone for at least the tenth time since they arrived.
“Please. I am in no way, shape, or form looking for love. You enjoy that monogamy nightmare.” Duke lifted his chin toward the woman he was eyeing at the bar. “Plenty of fish in the sea.”
“You’re missing out, man. There’s nothing like having that one special person to share your life with.” Blue sucked back his beer. “Speaking of which, I can’t sit around here waiting for her to text. I want to be there when she comes out of the building. I’m going to head over now. Meet you at Mom and Dad’s?” He tossed money on the table and waved to Dylan behind the bar.
“Wait up,” Cash said as he and Duke joined him, as he’d known they would. “You’re only here for a few hours. Do you really think we’re going to go our separate ways? Duke’s going to drive us over to Mom’s. Let me just text Jeremy. He and Susan wanted to meet up with us since Mom’s been helping them plan the wedding. Where’s Lizzie’s meeting?”
Blue gave him the address, and Cash texted Jeremy on the way outside. They walked the few blocks to where Lizzie’s meeting was being held, and on the way Blue stopped to pick up a Snickers bar and a bouquet of roses.
“Snickers?” Cash laughed. “What is it with girls and chocolate?”
“The Snickers is in case it didn’t go well. Roses are in case it did.” They passed a jewelry store and Blue stopped to look in the window, which took not only him by surprise, but his brothers, too. As he stared in the glass at the sparkling engagement rings, he had no doubt that a lifetime was exactly what he wanted with Lizzie. But buying one of these glitzy rings was not.
“Seriously, dude?” Duke slung an arm over Blue’s shoulder. “Look at you, all grown up. Wow. I’m impressed.”
Blue slid him a shut-up look.
“Go on in. See how you feel.” Cash nudged him toward the door.
“Nah. I just wanted to look. I’m cool.” Blue began walking again, and his brothers fell into step beside him. Boy, he’d missed being around them, seeing their smart-aleck smiles, and even just feeling their energy as they talked. It had been hard not to tell them about Lizzie’s webcast, but although Duke knew, he was professional enough to keep her business to himself, as he would any proprietary information. Blue knew Lizzie was nervous about the rest of his family finding out, and although she’d never asked him not to tell them what type of show she hosted, he respected her enough not to bring it up—even though he had complete faith in his family not to give her a hard time about it.
Just as they arrived at the building to meet Lizzie, Jeremy stepped out of a cab. He had come from the office, and looked professional in his slacks and tailored shirt as he helped Susan from the cab. She looked as gorgeous as ever in a pair of skinny jeans, high heels, and an oversized knit shirt. She was a top fashion blogger, but she was so down-to-earth and family oriented that she never flaunted it.
“Thanks, babe,” she said to Jeremy as she wrapped her arms around him and they kissed like almost newlyweds should. Then she turned her crystal-blue eyes on Blue and hugged him, too. “I’ve missed you so much! And I’m so happy you’re bringing your girlfriend to the wedding!”
“Thanks, Susan. Me too.”
