Total pages in book: 112
Estimated words: 105697 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 528(@200wpm)___ 423(@250wpm)___ 352(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 105697 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 528(@200wpm)___ 423(@250wpm)___ 352(@300wpm)
“You set the terms.”
“That simple?” Her laughter holds no humor, but she appears to be willing to entertain me by the gentle slope of her smile. “I set the terms, and you agree? That’s a lot of money to take that kind of risk.”
Dropping my foot to the floor, I lean forward. “What if there’s something in it for me?”
“An exchange.” Her expression lifts as if she already has an idea. “A thought crossed my mind earlier.”
“Okay, throw it out and let’s brainstorm from there.”
“I need to get comfortable for this.” She climbs to the middle of the bed and crosses her legs. Presenting her hand out like a platter, she says, “You’re helping me with my problem, which I never pay you back for in its entirety, and I help you out with your problem?”
“What’s my problem?”
“Your image.”
I sit up when the idea hits like lightning. “Oh damn, you’re right.” Her smile spreads across her face, her demeanor already shifting for the better. I cross the room in three steps and sit in front of her. “Why didn’t I think of that?” Her shrug is so blasé like this is no big deal when it changes everything. “You’re the one.”
“The one woman you mentioned, right?”
We don’t need to get into the weeds of my developing feelings. “Semantics, but yeah.”
She scoots closer. “I can be there when you need me, need to be seen, and what? On your arm?”
“On my arm, at events. Are you okay being the target of long lens cameras and being asked ridiculous questions that will sound insultingly personal?”
Pushing up on her hands, she kisses me. It’s too fast for my liking, but she instigated it, so I’ll take it. “Can I say no comment?”
“It’s best if you do.”
She grins. “Then I accept the job.”
“And the offer?”
Laughing, she playfully shoves my shoulder. “I’m not doing this for fun, you know.”
And therein lies the problem. Like she said, with good comes the reverse. I just traded a chance for a real relationship for one that’s made for public consumption.
I was never the prize. It was always the cottage. I shouldn’t be so surprised, then. I don’t think it’s a shock, though. I think it’s disappointment. Is this what heartache feels like? The connection I have . . . had with her opened my eyes to the possibility of dating.
Just like the sun setting before we could watch it, the potential for love slipped through my fingers before I got to hold on to it. Now, it’s gone.
CHAPTER 15
SUMMER
All was not lost even though we missed the sunset. “There will be more sunsets,” I say, sitting on the lawn, watching Spring push Roman on the swing.
We had a momentary break for grilled chicken and corn on the cob for dinner that he and Daniel devoured before Roman wanted to swing again—higher and higher by request. But Dolly insisted that we first go on what she calls a “digestion walk.” Fall even caught up to the group after a long shift at the hospital.
It’s hard for my sisters to coordinate their schedules and be in one place at the same time, so it was nice for Fall to show up in time to meet Daniel and Roman. And so tempting to pull her aside to share the details of the agreement. If I’m going to be photographed, I’ll need to warn them anyway. The words didn’t come when I needed them to, and where no one else would hear. If I voice it, it makes the situation real. And I think another night to sleep on it will do me some good.
We reached the marina at the edge of town, walking the docks, and having a quick chat with a friend coming off his boat before turning back. Now, settled under the moonlight in the backyard watching the lightning bugs and the stars come out, I lean forward to peek over at Daniel sitting on the other side of Dolly. She plonked her chair in the middle of us for some unknown reason. That’s what we get for trying to pretend nothing is going on between us. I would rather be in his lap than in the grass, but so much has happened that it’s probably best that we keep it low-key for now. “I said there will be more sunsets,” I say louder as if he didn’t hear me the first time.
“Gracious. What in blazes are you shouting about sunsets for, honey?” Dolly grips the arms of her chair like she needs them to ground her after jumping out of her skin.
Daniel’s chuckling before his eyes meet mine. “There will be. Every night, technically.”
“I didn’t know if Daniel heard me.”
“Who didn’t hear you? I’m sure Mr. Taylor and Mrs. Browley up the road heard you.” Patting her chest, she sits back, muttering, “About gave me a heart attack.”