Total pages in book: 103
Estimated words: 96752 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 484(@200wpm)___ 387(@250wpm)___ 323(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 96752 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 484(@200wpm)___ 387(@250wpm)___ 323(@300wpm)
Most stunningly gorgeous blondes can do that. It’s good to remember that Reid Dorsey is a man like all the rest. He talks a good game, but in the end he’ll want the sexiest woman he can find. And that is not the woman who walks around with a tool belt on most of the time. I need to get out of this conversation. I need to hold myself apart from Reid, and that means being professional. Maybe this was why their show shut down. Maybe he was so distracted by Britta, he forgot to do his job. Yes, this is what I should actually be worried about. After all, he didn’t exactly send her away. There was a picture of them sitting in a sundrenched café looking awfully comfy the next day.
Did she spend the night with him?
Suspicion is rattling around in my head. Is Jeremiah telling me what he thinks I want to hear so filming goes smoothly? How often does he have to smooth over things for his brother? An unwilling sympathy hits me. I can understand what that means. I watched my uncle walk around after my dad, making sure he didn’t do any permanent damage. It’s hard to be the one who cleans up all the messes. I had to do a bit of that as well. “It’s all okay. I’m not mad. I think it’s good that we didn’t do something we couldn’t take back. We have to work together. It’s always a bad idea to mix business and pleasure.”
His expression falls and he sighs. “I’m not going to get through to you, am I?”
“There’s nothing to get through to.” I’m not sure exactly what he wants. I’ve told him we’ll work fine together. “It’s all going to be okay. We’ve got a great job coming up, and we’ll have fun. Should we expect Britta to show up on set? If so, we should inform Patrick. He’s going to be running production. Grumpy guy, but good at his job. However, he doesn’t like surprises.”
“Well, I’ll do my level best to ensure there are no surprises.” Jeremiah stands and straightens his jacket. I can’t help but notice the deep disappointment in his expression. “We’re having a dinner party to welcome Anika and Luca back home. I don’t suppose you want to come? It’s on Friday.”
We start filming Monday. I have a lot of preparations to make. We’re all having dinner at Lydia’s Saturday night, so skipping the Dorsey brothers’ party won’t keep me from seeing my bestie. “Thank you, but I have a lot to do before Monday. Do you know when you’re going to give me the initial designs on the ballroom?”
We’re working our way through the house. I’ve already done some of the more non-interesting work like ensuring the plumbing in the powder room makes it into this century’s standards. The ballroom is our first big project, and Anika wants us to be as organic about the process as we can. So I’m basically walking in Monday and hopefully not discovering anything tragic. But I would like to know what the brothers are thinking.
“I’ll send over the files as soon as they’re ready. He’s working on it right now. He’s kind of burying himself in work. Well, I’ll see you on Monday then.” He gives me a nod and starts for the door. He’s almost out when he turns and looks my way. “Your mother is wrong, of course.”
“Always.” But I have questions. “But what specifically are you talking about?”
“Your friends are your family,” he says quietly. “Those women she thinks you’re wasting your time on when you could be hanging with Cousin Susie or whatever, they’re your sisters. They’re the people you live your life with. They don’t have to share some magical amount of DNA.”
“I find that interesting coming from a man whose best friend is his brother.”
His lips turn up in a rueful grin. “Well, part of it comes from trauma bonding. You survive some of the stuff we have and you kind of cling to the life raft that got you through. I just thought it was interesting that you’re going through something similar to me and Reid. You have parents who didn’t treat you as well as they should have.”
“They weren’t like your father. There wasn’t neglect. Sometimes I wished they weren’t all up in my business.” At least my mom and dad had been there. Mostly.
And yet when I need advice now and I want some wisdom, I find myself on Lydia Marino’s doorstep. When I need someone to tell me I can do it, Diane has become my go to since therapy taught her all the right words to say.
When I need some cash or a backhanded compliment, I go to CeCe.
“I know. Our parents damage us even when they don’t mean to. It’s inevitable, but you found a family, Harper. You’re a good sister,” he says. “I enjoyed spending time with your friends, but that’s what I got out of it. You function like a family, and it’s a beautiful thing to be with the people you pick. So when your mother complains you’re not spending time with family, you are. With her behavior, she’s chosen not to be a part of it.” He sighs. “See you Monday.”