Page 127 of He's The Reason Why

“Um-hmm.”

He clicked to the next sheet. It detailed the budget for each scene. If he cut one, maybe two, it might get him close to the number he needed.

“Blake,” Piper said.

“Hmm?” Every scene felt crucial. “I can’t cut one of these. It’s like cutting out a piece of flesh.”

“Blake,” Piper said a little more firmly.

He looked up.

“How do I become an investor?”

It took two seconds to go from confusion to comprehension, and another two seconds for him to say, “You don’t.”

He instantly regretted the tone of voice he used, but not the message.

“Why not? I have the money, and I believe in this project. Iwantto invest. Give me one good reason why I shouldn’t.” She watched him with concern and challenge in her eyes.

“Because I like you too much.”

“You like me too much,” she repeated. “What’s that even mean? How can you like someone too much?”

He rubbed his face, willing blood circulation and inspiration to strike. “You know how they say the number-one cause of divorce is money issues?”

“That, and cheating. So? We aren’t married, in case you haven’t noticed. And what’s that have to do with me investing in your movie?”

They weren’t married yet, but he could envision a future that involved an altar and her in a white dress. It was just a flash right now, and it was way too soon to think about that. Hell, they hadn’t even said the word love yet.

“I like spending time with you. You’re playing an important role in the story. If you invested money in it too, and it went south, it would always be a sore spot between us, and that’s the last thing I want.”

She had the cutest wrinkles on her forehead when she looked at him like he was nuts. “You think I’ll be mad at you if I invest in the movie, and then it tanks?”

“I’ve seen it before. Nothing breaks up a relationship or a friendship faster than a project that fails, especially when large amounts of money are on the line. I don’t want to risk it.”

She glanced at the back door. “What about Marshall? He invested. Aren’t you worried about ruining your friendship?”

“That’s different. We’ve known each other since we were four.We cooked this story up together ten years ago in my backyard. Not to mention I’m not sleeping with Marshall. Besides, I couldn’t get rid of him if I tried. He’s like a brother or an annoying cousin.”

She stood up and paced across the floor. “What a load of crap.”

He’d never seen that spark of fire in her eyes directed at anyone, let alone him. “You’re mad at me.”

“Yes!” She glared at him. “What are you really afraid of? You think a girl investing in your boy movie will taint it somehow?”

She could project her voice to the back of a stadium filled with people, and it showed.

“That’s not what I meant and you know it.” His voice rose to match hers.

“Hey, you two trying to wake the neighbors?” Marshall asked from the patio door. Water dripped down his bare chest onto the dining room floor.

“We don’t have any neighbors,” Blake retorted.

“Tell him he’s being a stubborn ass,” Piper said. “Turning down money from a friend just because we might fight about it later is the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard, and I grew up with Della.”

Marshall glanced from Blake to Piper. “Um, maybe I should stay out of this.”

Blake rubbed the back of his neck, trying to relieve the growing tension. It was late. He was tired, and he didn’t want to fight.

---