When Lightning Strikes (Whiskey Creek #1)(79)
Author: Brenda Novak

“Why? It’s perfect!”

He thought so because he was one of the most sexual creatures she’d ever encountered. “We’re aiming to convince a far more conservative crowd.” She considered her options, then made a decision. “Call your friend at  Hollywood Secrets Revealed. Tell her I’m willing to talk. It’s time Mrs. O’Neal gave her first interview.”

“Mrs. O’Neal. You’re taking ownership. I like that. But what will you say?”

“I’ll tell her how misunderstood Simon has been, how there’s been much more going on than was reported in the media, how one side of a story is never completely accurate.”

“I know the routine. But…do you really believe that?”

After what she’d learned from Tex? Wholeheartedly. Men had committed murder over less than what Simon had discovered—firsthand—about his wife and his father. It sort of made sense to her now that he’d go out looking for a good brawl, smash someone who provoked him on-set or off, pick a fight with Bella’s brother. She could even understand why he might turn to alcohol to keep from thinking about what he knew, and why he couldn’t tell the world that Bella had done her share of cheating. Imagine the media frenzy that would occur over something like that—Bella having sex with Simon’s famous father—and how the taint of it would follow her, and Ty, for years. Gail couldn’t reveal all of that information to the public, but she could certainly tell people that Bella hadn’t been easy to live with and that all the blame shouldn’t be assigned to one person.

“I think he deserves more credit than he’s received,” she said. “He’s done what he can to be gallant.”

“He’s gone from being an ass in your opinion to being gallant? Oh, Lord.”

“What?”

“You’re falling for him, aren’t you.”

She didn’t deny it. “Hard,” she admitted.

Simon walked into the room as she hung up. “We’ve got a mess,” he announced.

Of course they had a mess, but she could tell he wasn’t referring to the pictures she’d just seen. He didn’t know about them yet.

“What’s wrong?” She closed her laptop. She’d have to tell him about the media hits, but she wanted a moment to think it through first, to be sure she was doing the right thing in offering interviews.

“The plumbing.”

“The plumbing?” she repeated, somewhat relieved. After her call with Josh, she’d thought it was going to be something far more serious.

He dusted off his hands. “It’s all so old. It needs to be replaced.”

With Simon standing there in a T-shirt that stretched nicely across his pecs and a pair of faded jeans that fit him so well he could’ve stopped traffic, famous or no, it was tough to care too much about anything else. But she did her best to show the appropriate concern. “Sounds expensive.”

“It probably will be. But I’m not worried about that. I just wanted to let you know the remodel might not come together as fast as I’d hoped.”

“That’s fine.” She was about to apologize for getting him involved in a money pit. After all, he’d bought the house to please her. But then he gazed around with a speculative eye, propped his hands on his hips and said, “Maybe we should redo the electrical while we’re at it.”

“Is something wrong with that, too?”

“No. It’s just smart to update while everything’s torn apart,” he replied, and that was when she realized that he didn’t mind the extra work. The opposite was true; he enjoyed what he was doing enough to add items to the list.

“I see,” she said as solemnly as she could. “But you wouldn’t do the electrical and plumbing yourself.”

“Oh, hell, no. I’ll just oversee everything and do the finish work.” He hitched a thumb over his shoulder. “This place is going to look great when we’re done.”

“I never doubted you for a minute,” she said. Then she drew a deep breath and told him about the pictures.

“An interview should handle it.” A shrug indicated he wasn’t too concerned as he headed back to work.

* * *

When Simon returned from getting his stitches out, Ian was there, sitting in a Porsche parked in front of the house.

His business manager opened the car door as Simon approached. “Finally!” he said with mock exasperation.

“Why didn’t you go in?” Simon asked. “I told you when you called that Gail should be home.” He’d left her in the midst of her interview with Hollywood Secrets Revealed or she would’ve gone to the doctor’s with him.

“I have the ring you asked me to get.” He held up a small brown sack.

“Great. Thanks. But I was expecting that. You still could’ve gone in.”

“I didn’t want my presence to tip her off. I assume the ring’s a surprise.”

“It is, but seeing you in Whiskey Creek wouldn’t tip her off. You also brought some things for me to sign, didn’t you?”

“I did.” He scratched his head. “It wasn’t just the ring, Simon. I was hoping to catch you alone.”

“Because…”

“I’d like to talk to you.” He motioned to the passenger seat of his Porsche. “Will you take a drive with me?”

Reluctantly, Simon agreed. He knew Ian wasn’t happy with his decision to put his work commitments on hold. He’d probably get a list of all the deals that were going to hell because he wasn’t there to make appearances and so forth, and he didn’t want to hear it. He was fully aware of the risks he was taking and the losses he was sustaining. For once it was intentional. But he figured he owed his manager a few minutes. They’d worked together for a long time.

“Fine,” he said with a sigh.

Ian pulled away from the curb almost before Simon could buckle his seat belt.

“What’s up?” he asked as they gathered speed.

“This.” Ian handed him a file that had been wedged between his seat and the console.

Simon glanced through it. It was a collection of articles and pictures on him and Gail. “Why’d you bring me this? You think Gail wouldn’t show me the same thing, if I asked?”

“Have you read some of those articles?”

“Not word for word.”

“Why not?”