Chapter 18
“Now that the unhappy family hour is done, you think we can get down to business?” Jasper said.
Leila let out a long breath. So far this had been the longest of mornings, she thought, and the day had barely gotten started.
Carter slid Jasper an impatient look. “Can this wait? I need to get going. I’ve already had Karen postpone one of my morning meetings. I can’t move another.”
Carter looked Leila’s way, his eyes softening. She had to admit he had come through for her this morning after catching her off guard and getting her off balance. She smiled to herself. He had also caught her father and brothers off guard, and that was something that rarely happened. She’d never seen any of her exes stand up to them the way Carter had. And though they weren’t technically together, he had stood up for her in a way that she’d always hoped someone in love with her would. That thought left her feeling both hollow and angry over all her time she’d wasted.
She turned to Jasper. “Yes, can it wait? It’s been a long morning, and I don’t have much time to get ready for my fittings that I have later. Plus, the plumber will be here any minute. And I have my acting workshop.”
Her father had offered to stay and fix the shower himself, but she had had enough and had sent him and her brothers off to their respective jobs. No use pushing her luck. Better to end, if not on a high note, at least on a plateau.
Jasper shook his head and waved the paper he’d flailed about on the elevator. “No, this can’t wait. It seems our statement about being happy and in love and having no further comment only went so far, and then we have photos like this one.” He placed the paper on the counter for both her and Carter to see. “Of you and Mr. Sunshine here looking anything but in love. With this, you make me and my statement a joke. Read the caption.”
Leila leaned over the photo and read the caption aloud. “Is the honeymoon over for Darling before it begins?” Her eyes now thoroughly examined the photo, and she let out a sigh. It was of her and Carter and had obviously been taken at lunch yesterday. She was waving her fork at him in a way that looked like she was about to stab him with it, and he was looking at her with that stern expression of his that she’d come to know as nothing more than his resting “nope” face. The man looked at practically everyone like they were getting in the way of something he had to do. With her gesture and his expression, the photo told the story of a couple clearly not in a state of wedded bliss. She looked up at Jasper and shook her head.
He nodded. “See what I mean?”
They both turned to Carter, and he frowned back at them, then shrugged. “So it’s not my best photo.”
Jasper snorted. “Not your best? Dude, I’ve seen corpses in more animated shots than this one. If you’re going to be in this, then I need you to be in it. You’re playing on my team now, and I don’t go for half-assing.”
Leila watched as Carter’s brows drew together and his nostrils flared. “You know me, and I don’t half-ass anything.”
Jasper pulled his shoulders up and back. Pulled at the cuffs of his snowy white shirt. “Well, then, I’m glad to hear it. Because you made a big show about making Leila a priority with her father, and for your sake, it better be true. Because if you think he can be tough, you haven’t begun to deal with me. I made it clear before that Leila is my client, as well as my friend, and two things I don’t like a person to screw around with are my money and my friends. As to what comes first, you take your pick. They’re equally as precious.”
Carter took the bait and took a wide step, ending up just about nose to nose with Jasper. “Are you trying to call me out or something? Because I’m not appreciating what you are insinuating about my integrity or intentions. As a matter of fact, I’ve had enough of it for one morning.”
Leila let out a long sigh. They both looked incredibly handsome, all well-groomed and impeccably dressed, but at the same time they were absolutely ridiculous for standing in the middle of her kitchen, going at it as they were. At this point she wouldn’t be surprised if one challenged the other to a duel, demanding satisfaction.
She took a step toward them, pried them apart by wedging her hands in between their hard chests, and looked from one to the other. “As cute as this gentlemanly pissing contest is, none of us have time for it. So let’s stand down, boys.” She was relieved when both men parted, neither really wanting to go at it and both just wanting to do business, and that business was getting the best out of her. Leila looked toward Jasper. “So where do we go from here?”
He nodded. “From here we follow a plan. You two are to go out and are to be seen at only the best places. You keep mum and reserve your comments for when they matter. We set up an interview regarding your Sundance nod, and there they’ll ask questions about you two. You will be coy but will say something about Carter being the one you’ve been waiting for. He’ll just so happen to be on set to pick you up, and so he can slip in for a quick Q & A.”
He turned to Carter then. “Finally, when you’re out with her, you can cool it on the ‘resting bastard’ face and try to soften it, make it something a bit more mysterious so that when you’re with her, people get the idea that this at least looks like something that resembles love. Not sure if you’ve ever experienced that emotion, but if not, go and watch some old romantic comedies then do your best to wing it. I’ll have a guy I know, a photographer who freelances out and about, to counteract any of these awful pics. He’ll be taking photos of you all, too.”
Carter grumbled, “Do we really need yet another parasite on our tails?”
Jasper frowned and then let out an impatient snort. “You still don’t get it, and if anyone should, it should be you. The media will be there, anyway, so we might as well at least have someone in the trenches we can control.”
Carter shook his head, and Leila could tell he was about at the end of his patience for one morning. She reached over and put her hand on top of his closed fist. “Are we good, Hubby?”
He looked at her and gave a half smile. Before he looked back at Jasper, his lips thinned, but still he gave a nod of acceptance. He then turned back to Leila. “Sure, Wifey. We’re perfect.”
Jasper clapped his hands together loudly. “I’m glad we’re all in agreement. You’ll have your first road test tonight down at the Everleaf Gallery.”
“What and why?” Leila asked.
Jasper gave her an incredulous look. “Because instead of club hopping, this is what you’re doing now, and besides, it’s trending, so on brand. A hot up-and-coming designer is showing there, and instead of using regular models, he’s supposedly showing his clothes in some new and exciting way. I hear it will be the place to be.”
Carter looked at Leila. “So then we shall be there.” He reached for his jacket and bag and headed for the door. “I’ll pick you up here at eight thirty?”
Leila nodded.
“What? No kiss?” Jasper yelled after Carter.
Carter raised a brow. “For that, Jasper, you’d have to at least buy me dinner first.”