Page 36 of We Own Tonight
That has to be the deepest few sentences we’ve ever shared. I’m a private guy, you have to be in this world, but Noah is perceptive. Penelope married another actor—one more successful than I am—and lives her perfect life with her perfect bullshit. I refuse to let myself get close to anyone because I can’t affordto.
“I’m working on it,” I tellhim.
“Yeah?”
I need a girl who will be there forme.
Stick out the hard times because life is chock-full ofthem.
Actresses are as fake as the characters they play, I want a realwoman.
I smile knowing exactly what woman I want. The blonde who has invaded my mind. The girl who has no problem slamming the door in my face, telling me to leave, pushing me away, and making me want tostay.
I drain the remainder of my beer and slap Noah on the back. “There’s someone who I have inmind.”
He shakes his head. “She must be special to make you evenpause.”
She’s more than special. Heather is the complete contrast to every woman I’ve ever known. She’s strong, sexy, determined, and I don’t care that she has some preconceived idea of how this is going to go. Too bad her idea is completely different from mine. She’s about to see how persistence will always winout.
Chapter Eleven
Heather
Aweek passes,and I’ve finally stopped looking over my shoulder, waiting for Eli to magically appear on my doorstep. It’s clear that whatever infatuation he thought he felt for me has passed. I’m not surprised. Eli doesn’t seem like the patient kind of guy anyway. Friends myass.
It’s fine. I don’t need friends. I’ve done fine on my own for this long, sans the complication named EllingtonWalsh.
After telling Stephanie how I felt about the deteriorating state of the house, she pushed me to do a few projects. There are so many, but I decided to focus on the main living area. I’m spackling nail holes, painting the kitchen cabinets and the living room, and updating the light fixtures. Nicole said she had a few pieces of furniture from a staging she wanted to get rid of and was happy to donate them. Luckily, my best friends agreed to come help and bring their jackasshusbands.
I may hate Scott and Peter, but they’re good with tools, so I’ll play nice for anafternoon.
I hear the doorbell, and I rush over, excited to see mygirls.
“Hey!” I smile and we do a big grouphug.
“Morning, Heather,” Peter says and gives the customary kiss on thecheek.
“Thank you for doing this,” I say to all of them. “I appreciateit.”
Scott grunts and pushes through. “Let’s get this going, I have a game towatch.”
This is why I hate him. Peter is at least nice to us on the surface, but Kristin’s husband is a prick all thetime.
“Don’t mind him, he’s crabby because the Gators lost,” Kristin says, gesturing in the direction where her husband just sulkedoff.
I touch her arm and shake my head. “It’s fine. I appreciate any extra hands, and I’m good at ignoringhim.”
Nicole makes her way to us with her two guys on her arm. “I brought extra help!” I hope they’re contractors she works with, but with her, we never know. “This is Jake and Declan, they worked with me on my last redesign and graciously offered to donate theirtime.”
There’s no way they willingly offered, they were incentivized, I’m sure. However, I’m not going to look a gift horse in the mouth. The number of things I’d like to do to this house is never-ending, it’s my cash flow that has alimit.
“Great!” Ismile.
“We have a few of the pieces I was telling you about in the truck. I think the new tables will help, and I found arug.”
“You’re the best,” I say as I kiss her cheek. “Thankyou.”
“You’re welcome. You should’ve told me earlier, I would’ve given you anything you wanted.” She walks into the living room and pushes the guys aside. “Hold please. I need a minute to absorb the aura of a God,” Nicole says as she flops on the couch and starts tosquirm.
