Page 27 of Flippin' Cowboy
Winnie suddenly went on high alert. Owing Nick Evans any kind of debt seemed like a terrible idea.
Chapter 10: Cantankerous
After dinner, Winnie led Nick, Karla, and the rest of the Reviving Snowberry Springs crew to the living room. There, they would film the segment where Winnie and Nick discussed their initial restoration plan for the inn.
They had originally planned this sequence for the ranch’s office, but after looking at the tight space, with its cluttered bookshelves and desk piled high with farm and ranch supply catalogs, Karla decided to move the discussion to a roomier space in the house.
Winnie saw both Nick and her producer come to a halt and survey the living room.
Her back stiffened in anticipation of their criticism.
Maybe Mom and Dad’s living room hadn’t been designed by a professional, and most of the décor was straight out of the 1990s, but it was a warm and comfortable space filled with good memories of Christmases and Thanksgivings spent with family and friends here.
She drew breath, ready to defend her childhood home.
Then Nick said softly, “This is a great space. It looks like the kind of homey, cozy space that would appeal to the average viewer.”
“I agree,” Karla replied. “Especially with that big fireplace. Winnie, would your parents be okay with us lighting a fire?”
“I’ll ask them,” Winnie said, pleasantly surprised by their reactions. “But I don’t think it will be a problem.”
Forty-five minutes later, Nick and Winnie took their places facing a lovely, crackling fire, surrounded by all the usual lighting, microphone booms, and cameras. Winnie’s tablet balanced on her jeans-clad knees, ready to show Nick the 3D restoration plans she’d stayed up late last night creating.
She’d already sent the files to Yvette, the film editor, to include in the final footage for this episode.
Winnie, already disarmed by Nick’s unexpected reactions at dinner, was acutely aware of his hard, muscled thigh pressed against hers as they sat side by side on the sofa.
At first, everything went smoothly.
On camera, Winnie briefly described the biggest structural challenges facing them, and the tasks required to bring the building up to code.
Nick spent some time bemoaning the lack of original interior features in the house due to the horrible 1960s restoration, then described his plan to incorporate period-appropriate features based on other homes from the same late nineteenth century period.
He finished his spiel by joking, “At least there’s hardly any original trim work left for Winnie to paint white.”
And just when I was starting to think he might not be so bad!
Winnie drew an outraged breath, expecting Karla to stop the filming. But her producer motioned for them to continue.
“Wow, that was a low blow. And not funny.” Winnie set down her tablet and looked up at the camera. It took a supreme effort of will to push down her anger and speak calmly. “In case anyone’s wondering, Nick’s referring to a design decision that my former partner, Geoff Schaefer, and I made onRestoring Seattle.” She turned to face him. “Nick, you don’t seem to understand that I’m a general contractor, not an interior designer. Painting or not painting woodwork isn’t my call. Once the designer—onceGeoffdecided to paint that woodwork, I had to do it.” She shook her head. “And believe me, ithurtto see all of that gorgeous old-growth mahogany paneling and trim at the Second Street Queen Anne house covered up.”
Nick looked surprised. “So, you reallydidwant to keep the original features in that house?”
“Yes,” Winnie said, clawing at her calm with both hands.
This discussion was way off track from the plan they’d made. But since Karla hadn’t yet yelled “Cut,” Winnie decided to clear up Nick’s misunderstanding. “When Geoff and I started our business, we decided to focus on restoring historic and vintage homes because I love old houses, and restored properties are really in demand.” She forced a sweet smile. “For this project,you’llbe making those design decisions, Nick. And I’m sure that not everyone will agree with your…vision.”
Nick nodded. “Great to know that we’re on the same page, Winnie. Now let me show you what I envision for the second-floor layout. Since we’re going to have to demolish all of the walls up there due to extensive water damage, I took the opportunity to create a brand-new layout for twelve hotel rooms, each withan ensuite bathroom and all furnished with period-appropriate antiques…”
And with that, they were back on track for this scene.
When the filming finally ended, Winnie set her tablet firmly down on the coffee table, then swung around to glare at Nick.
“You know, you almost had me fooled at dinner,” she said icily. “But then your human mask slipped and you just couldn’t resist taking a dig at me, could you?”
“What do you mean?” Nick looked honestly confused.
“You’re never going to stop sniping about that damn painted mahogany, are you?” Winnie snarled. “Well, I have some advice for you, buddy. Let. It. Go. Maybe it was a mistake, but it’s in the past.”
