Thewepart in that sentence threw her off. Marissa must have sensed that, because she tapped Kira’sshoulder.
“Python’s Finny’s partner now. Businesspartner.”
Monty gave her asoak-in-thatlook while Kira’s jaw clenched. “What doyoubring to the table?” she couldn’t help but ask. Last she looked,dumb and brokeweren’t the best traits one could offer an already successful businessowner.
“The charm,” Finny said. “People lovehim.”
“Notallpeople,” Kira corrected with aglare.
“Hey, I said I’m sorry for doing that, okay? That’s why I’m here. To make it right.” His accent was gone. “I regret saying that those pictures weremine.”
Kira stared at the look on Monty’s face as he popped a cigarette in his mouth and lit it. “Andyou abandoned me,” she said. “Left me stranded and fending for myself in a foreign country. And then youliedabout it in court. I didn’t get paid for the shoot. I didn’t even get reimbursed for my flight.” She turned her attention back to Finny. “The least you could’ve done is give me what I was asking for in court. Not make me look like a fool for suing such a bigname.”
“You’re right,” she said. “I feel so horrible about wronging you. I cannot tell you how awful it makes us feel.” She and Monty shot one another a glance before Monty gave her a nod. “We’re going through a rehabprogram.”
Rehab?Kira wasstunned.
“We’d appreciate it if you allowed us to make amends. If you agree to shoot at out next fashion show, I’ll not only pay you twice what I pay other photographers, I’ll give you everything I owe you and add twelve percent interest toit.”
Marissa shifted in her seat. “Kira, you can’t pass up this opportunity. There’s noway.”
She thought about the publicity the case received. “Would you guys do something to clear my name? Like contact the press and explain whathappened?”
Finny thanked the waitress as she brought their drinks then leaned over the table once more. “The six major networks, yes. And we’ll also clear your name with the agencies who caught wind of things and explain that there was a critical error in the processing department, but that it’s since been discovered and maderight.”
Kira lifted a brow. “Criticalerror?”
“Python is a partner in Finny Shea,” the woman explained. “We couldn’t likely smear his name and build our line at the sametime.”
“That’s true,” Finny said. “I tried to think of a way to reimburse you without strings attached—that being committing to the upcoming shoot—but for both legal and tax reasons, Ican’t.”
Excitement started like a tiny blizzard in Kira’s chest, whirling and growing until it gripped hold of her every limb. Making it feel like she’d entered a walk-in freezer suddenly. It’s what happened when Kira was about to do something life-altering. She couldn’t believe she was even considering it. But to clear the Moretti name once and for all … she couldn’t turn a chance like that down. “When’s the fashionshow?”
“In five days,” Montysaid.
“What?Oh my gosh. There’s no way I could make thatwork.”
“But if you come with us,” Finny added, “we’d need to leave tomorrow evening on the privatejet.”
Kira shot her sister a look. “What about Marissa? She just gothere.”
“We’ll pay for her to come back after your return, since we hijacked her visit this time,” Finnysaid.
“And when would I be back? Like, a week orsomething?”
“We’d need you to commit to the entire tour. First New York, then Paris, Milan, with the last stop in Barcelona. You’d be back in about forty-fivedays.”
“No.” Kira shook her head. “Sorry, no. I just started my life here. I’m reallyhappy.”
“Running your grandpa’s little studio, Kira?” Monty blurted. “Come on. Youknowsmall-town life doesn’t suit you. It’s the reason you left the firsttime.”
“He’s right,” Finny said. “If you stayed on with us, which we’re willing to entertain after this run, you’d be paid generously and enjoy the life of a high-profile photographer in the industry. This could be the start of a very promisingcareer.”
“Or …” Marissa said, “she could do the forty-five-day tour and comehome.”
Home.Marissa had called Cobble Creek Kira’shome.
“Correct,” Finny said. “We already have the papers drawn up in an offer. You’re welcome to have a lawyer look over it, but we need you to sign before flyingout.”
