“Nope. I’ve hardly said a word to my staff all day.” She prayed that a grammatically correct statement would pass at the PearlyGates.
“Good. Save yourvoice.”
“I plan on it.” She stared down at the white bandage, so bright against her dark skin. “Thanks for being so understanding about this little layover.”And not sending someone to check onme.
“We don’t want you to get sick, Maia. You’re important tous.”
“Thank you. I feel the same way about the studio. The movie was a huge opportunity I don’t take lightly.” She pulled back the bandage, cringing as it tugged at her skin. What she found was a tangle of black thread and skin covered in a thin layer of shiny glue. The doc swore his strange configuration would minimize scarring. She hoped it would holdout.
“I know you don’t. If you’re ready, we’ll be on a plane tomorrowmorning.”
“I think April has already made flightarrangements.”
“I’ll have my assistant call her and get the specifics. That won’t give you much time. Chicago is amatinée.”
“I don’t need a lot of prep time—it should befine.”
“If you’resure…”
“I’m sure. And I’ll make sure April texts youupdates.”
The tension seeping through the phone line like the smell from a backed-up drain disappeared. Aaron’s voice lightened as much as Darth Vader’s could. “I’ll keep an eye out forthem.”
“Great. Thanks for checking up on me. I’ll talk to you later.” They said a quick goodbye and Maia tossed her phone to the side, ticked. Not so much at Aaron, although he was pushy and insistent, and she didn’t buy his claim to have worried about her as much as he worried about Princess Fenella. No, she was more ticked at herself for signing a binding contract that took her away from London right when she’d found himagain.
She sighed. Maybe it was for the best. She could use some help taking things slowly with him—he was too darn irresistible for her owngood.
Chapter Seventeen
London was backat his mom’s flower shop. The place had been mostly cleaned up. They’d hired Maia’s driver, Allister, of all people to finish the repairs on the brick walkway. He spent his off hours on his knees doing a better job than the first installer. Mom felt safe around him, and London liked that he’d been there when the store was closed, keeping an eye onthings.
Though short, Allister was street tough. His intimidating edge probably helped him as a driver for the rich and famous. However, he also melted like a ten-year-old when Mom presented him with a plate of homemadecookies.
Today was all about finishing the last of the pallet tables and filling the yard with flowers once more. The first thing he’d done when he arrived was take the pallet that had injured Maia, and any others with sharp edges, out to the dumpster. He then called to have it emptied ASAP. After that, he donned his tool belt and got towork.
About an hour later, his phone rang and he sent it to the Bluetooth device around his neck so he could continue working. “This isLondon.”
“Hello, London. This isMaia.”
He set his tools down. “Well, hello there. Where areyou?”
“I am in a land far, faraway.”
“That’ssad.”
“I know. I thought you’d appreciate the sadness factor.” Her chipper-ness was, once again, a bright spot in hisday.
“How’s theleg?”
“Manageable.”
“You’re sotough.”
She laughed lightly. “Like someone else I know. What is it they call you? TheWarrior?”
London’s blood ran cold. He’d gotten the nickname in college because he’d been in a fight, and he showed up to a game the next day with a split lip and bruised cheek, among other injuries Coach didn’t know about, and didn’t complain once. He’d snagged two interceptions that game. They said he wasunstoppable.
“I’m guessing that’s because you conquer your opponents,” sheadded.
