He let out a laugh. He’d caught some of the highlights of the interviewer grilling Bar on why he’d lied and what he was really hiding, and it had been extremely gratifying to watch the senator squirm. “Have you gotten any of the clients who canceled back yet?”
Her smile wavered a bit. “Not yet. But it’s still early. Even if they never come crawling back and begging for forgiveness, Bell Planning should make it. This year’s financials might be a bit tight, but I’ve had worse years.” She looked him over. “You better beware of Andre. He told me that the second he sees you, he’s giving you the biggest hug of your life.”
“Oh really? I didn’t realize I made such an impact.” He thought back to the minute he’d spent with Grace’s right-hand man. The young, well-kept man hadn’t seemed like the hugging strangers type.
“You saved his job. He was already sending out applications when I convinced you to help. I think he was terrified of going to another company.”
Simon frowned. “Terrified? What would he be afraid of?”
“The event coordinating world is equal parts creativity and business. It’s hard to find two creative minds that mesh. Andre and I are perfect together. We don’t always agree but we can talk through our disagreements fairly easily. You don’t always know if you’re going to get that.”
He grunted. “I feel the same way about some of my clients.”
“Really?” she asked. “I was under the impression you don’t have disagreements. You’re just always right.”
He maneuvered the car onto the freeway and shot Grace a quick grin. “Well, I know that and you know that. It’s convincing the client that can be the challenge.”
“I know the feeling,” she muttered, turning to look out the window as they fell into a companionable silence.
After a few miles, Princess shuffled in the backseat, trying to get more comfortable.
“What’s the deal with Princess?” he asked.
She raised a brow. “What does that mean?”
He shrugged. “You’re a cute blonde party planner. She’s a pit bull who looks like she’s seen shit. How did you two end up together?”
She frowned at his quick analysis. “I’m not a party planner, FYI. I’m an event coordinator. And Princess found me.”
“She showed up at your door?”
“No.” She shook her head. “Six years ago, my father and I got into a really bad fight. He’s always thought I’d make a better housewife than businesswoman, and on top of that he’s fully convinced you can’t have a career as a ‘party planner.’ In the thick of it, he said he was a pit bull and I was an ankle biter. Well, I stormed out of the house and promptly binged on my favorite fast food. I drove around for a few hours, not really paying attention to where. I ended up in a bad neighborhood and what did I see? A Chihuahua chewing on some scraps on the street while she chased away a starving pit bull.”
“Really?” Simon tried to keep the skepticism out of his voice.
“Oh yeah. Chihuahuas can be bad ass. And that’s when I realized that I might be blonde and spend way too long getting ready in the morning, but that doesn’t mean I can’t be good at my job, business owner or not. I am a bad ass Chihuahua.”
“And I’m assuming the pit was Princess?”
“Yep. They’d both obviously been on their own for a while, so I took them home on a whim. I really didn’t plan to keep either. I’d never had a dog and never saw the point. I was able to find Duchess a home right away, but I couldn’t bring myself to try too hard for Princess. I just connected with her. We both found each other at our worst.”
Simon glanced in the rearview mirror at the now sleeping dog. He’d never really bought into that whole man’s best friend thing. They were the illusion of unconditional love when really all they wanted was a full belly and a warm place to sleep. Nothing was truly unconditional. “So you have a pet friendly place you’re staying at?”
She crossed her legs as she shifted in her seat. “Well, the event is a Summer Blowout Bash held by State Financial First Bank. They invite all their executives and pretty much anyone who owns shares or sits on the board of a Fortune 100 and higher company. It’s employee appreciation and marketing all at the same time. I work mostly with Sarah Cliff, who’s married to the chief operating officer, Dennis Cliff. They have this massive place on the beach that’s probably a bazillion times bigger than my apartment.”
She shifted again, recrossed her legs, and Simon struggled to keep his eyes on the road instead of the toned thighs revealed as the shorts rode higher and higher. “Is that a scientific measurement?”
“Very scientific. Anyway, since she pays our travel costs and happens to like me, she lets me and Princess use her guesthouse. It’s two bedrooms, so it’s plenty of room for Andre and me.”
His hands tightened on the wheel. “Andre is staying with us?” He didn’t know why it bothered him. The few times he’d mentioned making their fake relationship not so fake, Grace had recoiled faster than a bullet. He supposed he was a bit too used to getting the women he showed interest in.
But it made no sense. She was an attractive, single woman. He knew she at least approved of his looks, even if she might not feel the same way about his personality. But she was a modern woman. She could appreciate no-strings attached sex.
“We’re getting a free cottage on the beach in the Hamptons, Simon. If you want to complain to Sarah, be my guest.”
He set the cruise control and relaxed a bit into the seat. “So if there are two bedrooms, where am I sleeping?”
She shrugged. “That sounds like a question you should’ve asked before you invited yourself over. But don’t worry. The couch is extremely comfortable.”
“You’re enjoying this too much,” he said with a smirk.
“You’re not upset?” She lowered the seat to a reclining position.
“I’m not such a big snob that I can’t sleep on a sofa.” He’d been accused of a lot of things, but snobbish was a new one. He was able to walk on the factory floor or in the executive offices and get anyone to talk to him. What else did Grace think about him?
Damn it. He didn’t care what she thought. She already agreed to help with DuFord and refused to sleep with him. What the hell did he need her approval for? “As long as the dog doesn’t try to sleep with me, we’re good,” he added for good measure.
“Don’t worry about Princess.” She set her notebook on her lap and pulled out a pen. “Let me know when we get closer and I can tell you how to get to the cottage.”
He nodded, eyes once again shooting to her toned legs. It was going to be a long ride.
CHAPTER SIX
“Grace! You poor thing! I can’t believe all those horrible things the news was saying about you!”
Grace forced herself to smile at the high-pitched, screeching voice. Normally she didn’t mind Sarah Cliff, but she’d rather not talk about her recent events.
Sarah stood from the rocking chair that rested to the right of the front door of the cottage, and Grace tried to guess how long she’d been waiting. “It’s been a crazy few days,” she said as she hooked Princess’s leash on and guided the dog out of the backseat.