Chapter Thirteen. Remi dismissed the car and took the same walk through the French Quarter but couldn’t get rid of Simon

Remi dismissed the car and took the same walk through the French Quarter but couldn’t get rid of Simon, who strode silently beside her. She rang the bell and waited while she looked at the throngs of tourists making their way down Bourbon Street and taking pictures every other foot of the decadence that made New Orleans such a fascinating city.

The gate opened and Dallas stood there, still in her casual outfit from the morning, though she’d let her shoulder-length hair down. “What, you couldn’t stay away?” Dallas asked.

“Just wanted to come by and see if you’d changed your mind, and since I’m back early we can go out. It’ll save you the time in the kitchen.”

“And they say chivalry is dead.” Dallas leaned on the open door and smiled up at her. “Would you like to come in and have a drink?”

“You’re drinking already? Bad day?” She followed Dallas back to the courtyard.

“I was having hot chocolate, but if you’d like something stronger I’ll go see what I have.”

“Hot chocolate?” Remi asked, making it sound like something she’d never heard of. “Sounds great.”

“What can I get for you?” Dallas held her hand out to Simon.

Simon shook it briefly and bowed her head slightly. “Simon Jimenez, ma’am, and don’t bother with anything for me.”

“I’ll be right back then.”

“We’ll wait over there.” Remi pointed to the chairs under the trees. She sat and leaned her head and tried to make out the noise from the street, but had a hard time.

“I’ve been thinking about you since you left this morning,” Dallas said when she returned with two more mugs, clearly ignoring Simon’s wishes. “Not the least bit curious?” she asked when Remi didn’t say anything.

“Infinitely so, but there are two possibilities.”

“Which are?”

Remi took a sip, then leaned forward, holding the mug between her knees. “It’s either a good thing or a bad thing.”

“I see.” Dallas folded her legs under her and sat back on the double seat she’d picked next to Remi’s. “Which are you leaning toward?”

“From the welcome I got, I’d go with a good thing, with a little bad mixed in.”

“Is that a description of the situation or of you, Ms. Jatibon?”

“Maybe some of both.”

Dallas nodded and ran her finger along the seam of her jeans. “I am curious about one thing.”

“Ask away.”

“Why is it I’ve never seen you, and just recently heard of you and your family, but you own the studio?”

Simon cleared her throat as Remi put her mug down. The leather of her alligator cowboy boots made a stretching noise as she crossed her legs so she could put her hand on the familiar leather bumps. “My family isn’t the kind that craves attention.”

“You’re in the movie business and you don’t crave attention.” Dallas’s laughter made Remi think she wasn’t being taken seriously. “That’s rare, because usually everyone in this business craves attention.”

“Even you?” Remi said with a hint of humor.

“Once I get to know you better I’ll tell you why I’m in the business, but for now, I’m perfectly content to sit here in my little secret garden and read books that let me escape for a while.” Dallas pointed to the basket filled with books next to Remi’s chair.

“So you only don the dress clothes and fake smile when the occasion calls for it, huh?”

“The dress was a last-minute decision and the smile was real, thank you very much. I see my new boss isn’t easily impressed.”

“After you sign the new contract I’ll be happy to tell you what impresses your new boss, but for now you’ll have to figure out any new information about her over dinner.”

The gate opened again, making Remi stop talking and Simon stand, as was her training, in case the unexpected entry was cause for alarm. “I see more than one person shares the secret garden.”

“Excuse me for a minute, would you? And no, I live alone.”

Bob stopped at the edge of the flagstone and stared at Remi. The hatred she’d seen in his face before appeared only briefly, then was replaced by a smile so wide it made him appear freakish. If he intended to join them or to spend time with Dallas, the heated but short conversation Remi witnessed put those ideas to rest. That is, until they reached the gate again and Bob held the door shut with his palm.

“No fucking way, Dallas,” Remi heard him say as she walked up.

“Dallas, you were getting your shoes,” Remi said, never taking her eyes off Bob. “Are you about ready to go?” She stepped closer. “Unless you wanted something, Dickey?”

He opened his mouth wide enough for Remi to see the fillings in his top molars, but just as quickly closed it and took a deep breath. “Just a few minutes of your time to discuss Dallas’s contract.”

“I’m sure Dallas isn’t going to have a problem getting a fair deal for the sequel, but I’m not in a position to discuss that right now.” She lowered her eyes to where his hand was wrapped around Dallas’s bicep. “Anything else I can do for you?”

“Since you’re new to this business, let me give you a word of advice.” He yanked Dallas closer to him. “It’s considered taboo to speak to someone without their representative present. Keep that up and no talent will want to work with you.”

“I appreciate your concern when it comes to my family’s business, but since you’re not familiar with the way we operate, let me give you a little advice.” Remi held her hand out to Dallas, which she quickly accepted, making Simon step forward. The actions made Bob let go.

“We don’t respond well to threats. If you don’t like the way we conduct ourselves, then I suggest you suck it up and do the best by your client, and leave your personal feelings outside the negotiations. If you can’t, then I’ll give Dallas some free advice—to find new representation.”

“Dallas doesn’t go anywhere or do anything without me,” he said, pointing at Remi. “She knows how long her leash is and isn’t likely to do anything stupid.”

Remi squeezed Dallas’s fingers when she began to say something and cocked her head in the direction of the house. Dallas took the message and started for the door, but stopped to look back every so often. “Something tells me you have a story to tell, Dickey. Do you plan to tell it willingly, or is it going to take a little persuasion on my part?”

“I did a little digging on you, and you and your family don’t scare me. You should be afraid of what I can do to you.”

His jabbing finger came within an inch of Remi’s chest, and she shook her head in Simon’s direction to keep her from doing anything. “Like I said, I don’t respond well to threats. That’s why I rarely issue any, but in your case I’ll make an exception.” She lowered her voice to a whisper. “I don’t know Dallas very well…yet. But if I find out you’re hurting her in any way, you’re going to remember today. You’re going to remember it because it’s the day you had the chance to walk away and didn’t. You’ll be thinking of that opportunity as your scariest nightmare unfolds, and it’s worse than anything you could dream up.”

“Big talk, Ms. Jatibon, but where I come from we don’t take people like you seriously. We take you for a walk in the woods and get rid of the problem ourselves. I don’t need any backup.” He pointed to Simon.

When Remi started laughing, Bob’s face got red. She heard the screen door open behind her, but Dallas didn’t move from the doorway unless she was still barefoot. “I’ll keep that in mind, and I look forward to talking to you again soon. Now I believe you were leaving.”

As Remi finally turned around to see where Dallas was, the gate closed behind Bob. The last thing she needed was someone with baggage, and she had a feeling Dallas came with a cartload. Her mother came to mind, though, and she headed toward the girl with her hand out. Ramon had taught her to be strong, but her mother had tempered that quality by preaching justice and charity.

Dallas Montgomery was beautiful, but she was clearly a woman in need of both.

Дата добавления: 2015-10-31