“I can’t believe the things coming out of my mouth,” she answered quietly.
“Well I happen to like them, so keep ’em coming. Now, what can I get you to drink?”
“Wine, white.” My lady loved her vino.
I signaled for the bartender and ordered another round for myself and a sauvignon blanc for James.
“Hard day?” she asked, eyeing my almost empty drink.
When I’d texted her around six, she said she had to finish looking over a grant application, and I let her know I’d wait in the bar. It was a win for me after a mammoth day on set, which had started at five o’clock in the morning and ended with my mom calling me as I heard, “That’s a wrap.”
Billy had told me to shrug off my mom, but I was already fuming over an incident from earlier in the day when Bella called James my “plump high school prom date.” God help that woman. She’d only seen James from a distance, and she was the most judgmental piece of work I knew.
“Par for the course,” I told James. No reason to upset her with the gross details.
“Par? Are you challenging me to another round of golf?”
This was the ease we’d fallen into over the last few days. We knew when to joke and we knew when to be serious. Mostly we knew what the other wanted in bed. I liked all of it. “We should golf this week. Maybe an evening nine?”
“Sounds good—but seriously, if you want to talk about your day, I’m here.”
“I’m good, promise. Shaking off a million personalities ruling the set. I want to hear how your day went and then let’s go eat.”
As a production, we’d taken blocks of rooms in two separate hotels. All except Bella who was in a house—she insisted on needing a private kitchen for her private chef and, of course, a spot for her private yoga teacher. The executive staff were at the Hyatt Regency, and the crew was set up in long-term villas by the airport. With the last-minute notice, we had to take what was available. James was happy with the Hyatt due to their business center, which she’d been utilizing every day.
“We are planning a gala for the beginning of fall, but putting a new and different twist on it. It’s going to be a formal dinner with a pajama after party for those who want to stay and jam to tunes.”
Jamie went into more details over her glass of wine. The usual speeches and stuffy dinner, followed by pajamas for the guests, desserts and after-dinner drinks passed while they relaxed on couches.
“The survivors and their families deserve to have a relaxing evening, not have to sit through speeches and more speeches. This gives everyone a chance to enjoy. After everyone endures the type of night your mom loves, music will play for those who want to dance, and a movie will play on a big screen. We’re thinking something likeTitanic.”
This made me laugh. “I’m sure the men will be happy with the movie choice. For the record, I don’t love the same events as my mom.”
“I know, and as for the movie, it’s a small price to pay for keeping their women healthy.”
“Either way, I’ll be there, and I can arrange for you to show the movie at no cost.”
“You don’t have to do that. I mean, of course, I’d love that.”
“I’m not having to do a thing. It’s a quick call for me, and I want to be there. And Scotty will be there too. We will get him and his cavalry to support it.”
“No, I don’t want you to throw any more of your influence around.”
Getting close, my lips tickling her earlobe, I could smell the liquor on my breath, and my nerves settled. “Not my influence. Yours. You grew up with us, and we cannot resist your magnetic pull. Especially me. But Scotty too.”
I almost said he owed her, but I wasn’t going there. She’d ask too many questions.
As I sat back and finished my scotch, I thought about sending a personal invite to my mom. She could buy a table. After all, she owed James too.
“That dinner was too good,” James said as we made our way back to our suite.
We’d eaten in the hotel. I wasn’t meant to drive on this evening, and I could tell James was horny even though she didn’t dare mention it.
“Best fish I’ve had in a while.”
“When in Rome,” I told her. “But hold the shellfish.”
Her arm draped through mine, we made our way around the pool and toward our private tower. “You’re never going to let me live down that spring roll.”
