me. That I’d take it over
someday. He knew Joe wasn’t really interested.”
“I looked at your
company website. You co-own the business with Joe, right?”
“Yes. But he brought
me into that partnership; it’s only a verbal agreement. I didn’t buy my share.
Not yet, anyway. As soon as I have enough ready cash, I’m going to make it fair
and square.”
Willa remembered
Veronica telling her that it hadn’t been Joe’s idea to do the series. Tony was
the one who’d sent the audition tapes to the network. “I don’t think your
brother really wanted to do this series,” she said. “He’s only doing it for
you.”
Tony flinched. “Damn,
you’re smart. I think the same thing, too. I pushed hard for this. But Joe
never said no to the deal. He’s given me one hundred percent all the way, just
like he always has.” He grimaced, suddenly looking torn. “And here I go,
talking behind his back. Christ . What if there is something
deeper here... What right do I have to interfere, after everything he’s done
for me?” He gave a harsh exhale. “But what about Julia?”
Willa felt the
beginning of a headache at the base of her skull. Their conversation had
introduced a wild array of emotions into her system; it was way more than she
could handle all at once. She needed time and space to process everything Tony
had shared with her. “You’re mistaken in what you saw,” she assured him,
anxious to be alone for a while. “I’m…glad you told me about your family and Julia.
I feel like I know both you and Joe better now. And I do trust you.”
It seemed like Tony
wanted to say more on the subject. But he must have picked up on her anxiety
because he relaxed his features into his customary, charming smile. “Don’t
speak too soon. You haven’t been in a car with me yet.” He nodded towards the
park and the paved area that abutted it. “I drove down here. Trust me to get
you back to your house in one piece?”
Willa forced a
laugh. “If you don’t, Veronica will beat you up.”
“She’s not the one
I’m worried about,” she heard him mutter darkly as he followed her.
The
front yard was swarming with people as Tony pulled his car in behind the remote
video truck that was parked along the curb. “We’ve got a bunch of our guys here
today, too,” he explained. “We only have this one day to gut the place out.”
His eyes traveled over Willa’s attire. “In case Veronica didn’t tell you, you
need to wear jeans, close-toed shoes and a shirt you don’t mind getting dirty.”
“Okay,” Willa said.
“I’ll go get ready.”
Through the
windshield, she saw Joe striding towards the car with an unreadable expression.
He came to the passenger side and opened the door. He held out his hand to her.
Without a second thought, she placed her hand in his and let him draw her out
of the car.
“Hello, Willa.”
“Hello.”
He stood close to
her, keeping her hand in his. She had to arch her head back to look at his
face. But he wasn’t looking at her. He was looking over the roof of the car,
his eyes narrowed on his brother. “Where were you?” he asked Tony, his voice
sharp and intense.
“On the beach,”
Tony said, sounding defensive. “Collette told me Willa was there taking a walk.
I brought her coffee.”
Joe’s thumb rubbed
across the inside of Willa’s wrist. She gave a little start. He pulled his
glare off his brother and looked down at her. His eyes glittered strangely as
they swept across her features.
She felt her
headache expanding, clawing upwards from the nape of her neck. Her body felt
taut, stretched like the strings on a violin. Her face must have revealed her
tension, because Joe leaned closer, his face softening with concern.
“Hey, are you
okay?”
“I have a
headache,” she said stiffly.
“Have you had
breakfast?”
“No.”
He tugged at her
hand. “Come on. Veronica brought in craft services today since it’s going to be
an all-day shoot. Let’s get
someday. He knew Joe wasn’t really interested.”
“I looked at your
company website. You co-own the business with Joe, right?”
“Yes. But he brought
me into that partnership; it’s only a verbal agreement. I didn’t buy my share.
Not yet, anyway. As soon as I have enough ready cash, I’m going to make it fair
and square.”
Willa remembered
Veronica telling her that it hadn’t been Joe’s idea to do the series. Tony was
the one who’d sent the audition tapes to the network. “I don’t think your
brother really wanted to do this series,” she said. “He’s only doing it for
you.”
Tony flinched. “Damn,
you’re smart. I think the same thing, too. I pushed hard for this. But Joe
never said no to the deal. He’s given me one hundred percent all the way, just
like he always has.” He grimaced, suddenly looking torn. “And here I go,
talking behind his back. Christ . What if there is something
deeper here... What right do I have to interfere, after everything he’s done
for me?” He gave a harsh exhale. “But what about Julia?”
Willa felt the
beginning of a headache at the base of her skull. Their conversation had
introduced a wild array of emotions into her system; it was way more than she
could handle all at once. She needed time and space to process everything Tony
had shared with her. “You’re mistaken in what you saw,” she assured him,
anxious to be alone for a while. “I’m…glad you told me about your family and Julia.
I feel like I know both you and Joe better now. And I do trust you.”
It seemed like Tony
wanted to say more on the subject. But he must have picked up on her anxiety
because he relaxed his features into his customary, charming smile. “Don’t
speak too soon. You haven’t been in a car with me yet.” He nodded towards the
park and the paved area that abutted it. “I drove down here. Trust me to get
you back to your house in one piece?”
Willa forced a
laugh. “If you don’t, Veronica will beat you up.”
“She’s not the one
I’m worried about,” she heard him mutter darkly as he followed her.
The
front yard was swarming with people as Tony pulled his car in behind the remote
video truck that was parked along the curb. “We’ve got a bunch of our guys here
today, too,” he explained. “We only have this one day to gut the place out.”
His eyes traveled over Willa’s attire. “In case Veronica didn’t tell you, you
need to wear jeans, close-toed shoes and a shirt you don’t mind getting dirty.”
“Okay,” Willa said.
“I’ll go get ready.”
Through the
windshield, she saw Joe striding towards the car with an unreadable expression.
He came to the passenger side and opened the door. He held out his hand to her.
Without a second thought, she placed her hand in his and let him draw her out
of the car.
“Hello, Willa.”
“Hello.”
He stood close to
her, keeping her hand in his. She had to arch her head back to look at his
face. But he wasn’t looking at her. He was looking over the roof of the car,
his eyes narrowed on his brother. “Where were you?” he asked Tony, his voice
sharp and intense.
“On the beach,”
Tony said, sounding defensive. “Collette told me Willa was there taking a walk.
I brought her coffee.”
Joe’s thumb rubbed
across the inside of Willa’s wrist. She gave a little start. He pulled his
glare off his brother and looked down at her. His eyes glittered strangely as
they swept across her features.
She felt her
headache expanding, clawing upwards from the nape of her neck. Her body felt
taut, stretched like the strings on a violin. Her face must have revealed her
tension, because Joe leaned closer, his face softening with concern.
“Hey, are you
okay?”
“I have a
headache,” she said stiffly.
“Have you had
breakfast?”
“No.”
He tugged at her
hand. “Come on. Veronica brought in craft services today since it’s going to be
an all-day shoot. Let’s get
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