“Right.” Eddie scrubs a hand over his face. “Because people never wander off.”
Nolan reaches into his coat pocket and pulls out two envelopes. “Stop looking so worried, you two. I have a team to handle all the party preparations. I’m obviously not expecting you to do anything except take the next couple of days off, and then show up as my guests of honor.”
“You want us to go?” Eddie looks positively pained. No doubt he’d rather head to the dentist than a Hollywood shindig.
Nolan nods, completely unaffected by Eddie’s lack of enthusiasm. “Absolutely, I want you both there. Think of it as a networking opportunity. Save me from dealing with those schmucks alone.”
There’s something strangely endearing about Nolan. He knows exactly how to play the game, but he’s also the first to admit the whole thing is ridiculous.
“Finish up today, then take the next couple of days off. You’ve earned some downtime. And here”—he hands each of us an envelope—“something to sweeten the deal. Happy Valentine’s Day to you both. Enjoy it.”
Just like that, he’s gone and calling for Romy, no doubt dragging her into whatever chaos he has planned for this party.
Once again, Eddie and I are alone.
We stare at each other, then down at the envelopes in our hands.
With a cautious breath, I open mine… and damn near fall over.
“Is yours a check?” I manage, my voice trembling.
Eddie nods slowly. “Our bonuses.”
“Twenty-five thousand dollars?”
“Twenty-five thousand dollars.”
A giddy laugh bubbles up from deep inside me. I know this amount of money doesn’t mean much to someone like Nolan Montague, but to people like Eddie and me? It’s one hell of a gift. Especially considering he’s already paying us handsomely for the job.
These checks easily cover my cabin repairs and Theo’s first year of private school.
But then I realize something. Eddie won’t keep the entirety of his check. He’ll split it with his crew. That’s just who he is.
And I’ll be damned if I’m left out of this part of the transaction.
I hold out the envelope. “Take mine, too. Pool the money and split it evenly between the crew.”
The look on his face is priceless. I couldn’t have shocked him more if I’d told him I was a Martian from Jupiter with tentacles instead of toes.
Eddie shakes his head. “I can’t do that. You earned your bonus, Kiki.”
“So have they,” I counter, refusing to back down. “Your guys have been nothing but kind to me. I want to do this.”
He exhales, dragging a hand over the back of his neck, frustration brewing just beneath the surface. “That’s the thing. I can’t ask you to do that.”
“You’re not asking. I’m offering.”
“Kiki…” He studies me for a second. “You need to stop being so nice. Stop giving things away like that. You need your money. Take it. It’s fine. I’ll take care of my crew.”
“Can you let me help on this one thing, please?”
He hesitates, then huffs out a breath, already knowing he’s not going to win. We could stand here for the next eight hours arguing about it.
“Look,” I add, lifting my chin. “Either we pool it, or I go cash the check myself and split it between the guys. This way, you get to look like the hero twice over.”
That does it.
Eddie laughs, the tension easing. “Thank you. I don’t feel right about this, but?—”
