Page 33 of The Invitation
Sorry, buddy. Not this time.
I want to poke him in the chest, but I know better. Instead, I narrow my eyes and appear as menacing as my five-foot-two-inch frame will allow.
“I’m certain where I stand, Mr. Brewer. And let me tell you one more thing. I’m going to do everything in my power to make Sutton look like a genius, whether that’s with a man off the street worthy of me … or you.”
He snorts. “Better be sure you can handle this, big girl.”
“Oh, little boy, you don’t know what you’re getting yourself into.”
Our gazes are electrified, the air crackling between us. In the distance, a door opens, and Sutton’s and Myla’s voices break the silence.
“I see you two have met,” Myla says. “Are we ready to move on to the contracts phase?”
Ripley grins. I smile, too.
I lift a brow, and so does he.
“You sure you’re up to this?” he whispers.
I wink at him, a sign of indifference, but meanwhile, my legs wobble beneath me.This is going to be an absolute disaster, but I’m not going to back down.
I’m not lettinghimwin.
“Myla, where is the pen?” I ask.
His eyes sparkle back.
I’m so screwed.
Chapter Nine
Ripley
“Hey, Waffles, my man!”Tate crouches, catching my puppy mid-leap. “Did you get a new collar? You’re looking good. The red makes you look ferocious.”
The red makes you look ferocious? Whatever, Tate.I march past the love fest and head straight for my brother’s office.
“Bad day?” Tate asks.
“Oh, you could say that.”
I fling open his liquor cabinet and find his most expensive bottle of bourbon. Two fingers are poured into a glass before Tate and Waffles find me.
My body is hot, and I can’t decide if my blood is actually boiling, or if I was so distracted on the drive over that I forgot to turn on the air-conditioning. Pain emits from my jaw from clenching my teeth, and I struggle to keep my breathing under control.How did this happen?
Since leaving the Canoodle office this afternoon, I’ve replayed Saturday’s conversation with Jonah a hundred times. It was straightforward. He explained that a production he feltcould be the next big thing for his company was in limbo. He suspected this could happen, and when he reached out to Tate initially, it was to gauge interest.Would any of us be interested should Jonah need a backup?
Jonah contacted our family because we owed him a favor and because he knew we could use the boost in public opinion. Word travels fast, and Jonah would definitely be saying lots of good things about us if we help him out.
Both were true. There was no way I could say no.
But there was no mention of Georgia; it was simply a note that his team was in the process of securing the female lead.
No one ever said that I would be fake-datingher.
“I’m not judging you when I say this,” Tate says. “But isn’t it a little too early on a non-holiday Monday evening to pour bourbon?”
The liquor is sweet and smoky as it goes down. I pray that its effects hit me hard and quick.
