Page 38 of Four Dates and A Forever
“He’s drilled and banged through my writing time for six days straight. Today makes seven.” His expression turned dead serious. “Red, I have four weeks left to pull an album out of my ass and it’s already not going well.”
She felt a punch of guilt. “I didn’t know or I would have reined in Big Pete.”
“I know.”
“But I have been trying to make sure that they are following the plans precisely so there won’t be any surprises, like a staircase that leads to nowhere. Which takes me to my offer.” She pulled in a deep breath. “If I’m selected, the house needs to be finished. Big Pete will still be here for another week and I can act as the general contractor, keep them in line and quiet. Most of the work from there, I can do myself and do quietly.”
“In return?”
“In return I get to stay here until I close escrow on my new house and if I’m selected, you’ll vacate the house while they shoot. A favor for a favor, so we’re square.”
“And if we have a disagreement on style choices?”
Naivete had Elsie’s heart hammering. While plotting her elaborate plan, she’d never imagined a situation when Rhett wouldn’t like her choices. But if this were to work, she’d need control of the direction—not complete control, but the freedom to make the right choices for the project.
“I will, of course, update you on every decision, but if you give me creative control, anything you don’t like I will buy back from you when the house is finished and photographed.”
Had she just said that? It was a huge commitment. She was placing her financial future on the miniscule chance that she was picked for the article. Then again, she was going to have the house photographed for her portfolio anyway, and she knew Rhett’s style. She could do this.
“This project will need to be carte blanche,” she said with as much bravado as she could muster.
“Deal.”
Excitement and surprise filled her every cell. “Seriously? You’d give me complete control?”
“What can I say? I’m a sucker for a woman in leather pants,” he said. “Plus, you’re that good, Red. Magazine quality good.”
She swallowed back the emotion that was building. “Thank you.”
“I’d say let’s seal it with a kiss, but we both agreed that would be a bad idea.”
“Lola 2.0 might get jealous,” she said, pointing to the mannequin in the car, still dumbfounded by his confidence in her.
He winked. “Back to the problem at hand, will you get over yourself and let me help load up so you’re not late?”
Before she could answer, he shouldered past her and easily lifted Lola 2.0 by her hips and placed her in the center seat.
“Be sure to strap her in. I don’t want to risk getting a ticket.”
“Noted.” He straightened and rested his arm on top of the door, bringing himself right up against her. “How was your date? I mean, you didn’t even leave time for the carriage to turn back into the pumpkin.”
She could go two ways with this. Tell him it went fantastic so he’d leave it be, or tell him the truth and open herself up to a possible onslaught of B-team jokes. But he’d just been so honest with her, she decided to meet him on the same level. “It went awful. The music was awful. And loud. The venue was standing room only and Pierce was, well, he was sweet and boring.”
“He seemed like a nice guy.”
“He was a bit too nice and broke rule number four on myWhy I’m never datinglist.”
“And what’s rule number four?”
“He used lofty words.”
“Says the girl using the wordlofty.”
“Well, if lofty language doesn’t bother you, I’m sure he’d say yes to a date. He spent the night saying how sublime it was to meet you.”
Rhett didn’t laugh, instead his expression became serious and heated. “What are the other rules?”
She swallowed. “Rules?”
