Page 16 of Two Sticky Nuts

“Mila! You’re back!” Dick comes sailing in, wearing a red-and-white argyle sweater and tan pants. “I’m never letting you have a vacation again. What a mess.”

“Geez, thanks, Dick,” Coco says.

“No offense, but you’re no Mila.”

“That was rude,” I tell him. “And thank you. Feels good to be appreciated. Oh, and you need to hire another staff member because I do plan on taking the four weeks I’m owed throughout the year.” If everything goes right with Carter, I hope to be doing a little traveling.

Dick’s mouth falls open.

I add, “And I want three weeks of vacation per year going forward like Coco has.”

He gives Coco a mean look, and she replies with a coy shrug.

I’m on such a happiness high, I decide to push the envelope. “And if I’m going to keep doing both your job and mine, I want a raise. A big one.”

He’s about to say something.

“Before you speak, Dick, I know Larry has an opening on his side, and the job pays twenty thousand more per year for less work.”

“Larry loves her,” Coco says, piling on. “And he gives me summer Fridays and brings me lunch once a week.”

Dick snarls. He knows he’s beat. “We’ll see.” He walks into his office and shuts the door. We immediately hear him screaming at Larry over the phone. “Who do you think you are, trying to hire Mila? She’s on my team!”

Coco sighs contentedly. “My work here is done.”

And I think I just got myself a juicy raise with more vacation time.

Things are really starting to turn around.

That night, as I’m unpacking my new set of dishes I bought at the home goods store, my cell rings, and it’s Carter! My pulse races.

I smooth back my hair and take a slow breath before answering. “Hello?” I say, my voice peppy.

“Hey, I’ve been thinking of you.” His voice is effortlessly sexy, all deep and silky.

Goosebumps explode on my arms. “Same here. How’d everything go after Jamaica?”

“Well, not so great. The producer’s mind couldn’t be changed. He had some other project he wants to bankroll. His cousin or something.”

“Oh no. That’s awful,” I say.

“It’s the way it goes in the film industry, but we’ll find another backer,” he says glumly. “This’ll just delay filming a few months.”

“I’m sorry to hear that.”

He goes on for several minutes about how the actors are in a tizzy about changing any dates. My eyes start to glaze over. It’s strange how he has that effect on me when he gets into the weeds about his work. So much detail I don’t need to know. I instantly feel guilty for not being more into it.

“Anyway,” he says, “I’m going to be in Dallas next week. I’m pitching the film to some guy who sounds really interested. Wanna meet up?”

My heart flutters.He’s coming here? To Dallas? Get out the good undies!

“Yeah. That would be great,” I say, forcing myself to sound relaxed. “You can see my new place.” In Jamaica, I told him I was going to be apartment hunting when I returned home. “It’s a house. And I might even buy it after a few years. I think I’m going to go for it sooner though. I really love it.”

“You want to buy a house?” he says disapprovingly, which stops me cold. I wasn’t expecting him to react that way.

“Yeah. Why?”

“It’s a big financial burden, and I thought you wanted to audition.”

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