The Summer of Sunshine and Margot(70)

Bianca studied her. “Are you all right?”

“Not really, no. I’ve totally failed you. I thought we were making progress. I thought I was getting through to you.”

“This isn’t your fault,” Bianca told her. “And it’s not a bad thing.”

“It’s your bare ass on the front page of the Los Angeles Times. I’m pretty sure that’s not the kind of publicity you need right now.” She looked at her client. “Do you really think this is okay?”

Bianca studied the picture. “I look fabulous, so yes, I’m fine with it.”

“And Wesley? Is this what he wants? What about the government back in Cardigania? What are they going to think? Or say? What about the prime minister? How do you meet the prime minster after that? What do you say to him? This picture will live online forever. Wesley has adult children from a previous marriage and they’ll see it. His grandchildren will see it. Bianca, this is not acceptable behavior. If you two were married, he could lose his job over this.”

“That’s ridiculous. I told him about it and he said he was fine.”

“You told him there was a picture before it hit the front page of USA TODAY. Knowing it exists and seeing it in color are two very different things.”

Bianca went pale. “He won’t lose his job. That would be ridiculous. I raised a quarter-million dollars for charity. That has to count for something.”

“Sure, it’s wonderful, but the money isn’t the point. Why can’t you see that?” Margot tried to figure out what to say to make her understand, only to realize Bianca wouldn’t get it because she didn’t want to.

“Bianca, why am I here? What do you want from me? You said it was because you wanted to change yourself, but I don’t think this is moving in that direction. And if it’s about fitting into Wesley’s world, then this was a total disaster.” She tapped the picture. “People in his world don’t flash their butts at people, even for money.”

Bianca stood and glared at her. “Well, maybe they should try it now and then. At least for a good cause. Do you really blame yourself more than me?”

“Of course.”

“I don’t know what to do with that. You’re right. I want you to help me fit into Wesley’s world, but I can’t do that and not be myself.” She sighed. “I really thought it was fine. I thought I was doing a good thing. Now I just don’t know. I need to think about this.”

“Fine. We can talk later.”

“No. I need more time than that. I’ll see you in a couple of days.”

She walked out before Margot could figure out what to say. A couple of days? What did that mean?

Margot supposed she should assume the obvious—that their work together would pick up in two or three days. In the meantime, she could take the time to go to her office and have a long talk with her boss about the assignment. While she really liked Bianca, she wasn’t sure she was the best one to help her. And if she wasn’t, then it was time to get someone else to take her place.

“I’ve never failed a client before,” she whispered. She’d always been successful, had always done so well. But Bianca wasn’t like her other clients and everything about this situation was rapidly spinning out of control.



Chapter Seventeen


Declan found his business partner waiting impatiently for the Keurig to finish brewing a mug of coffee. While Heath had on a suit, as per usual, there was something disheveled about his appearance. Or maybe it was simply the dark circles under his eyes.

“Rough night?” Declan asked, trying to remember how long Heath had been going out with the woman he was dating. Six months? Eight?

“Brandi and I broke up.” Heath grabbed the coffee and cradled it in his hands. “Things have been bad for a while and last night it all came to a head. We talked until two in the morning and when I suggested we table things so we could get some sleep, she told me I was an insensitive asshole, that it was over and she hoped I burned in hell for eternity.”

Declan put a pod into the Keurig and slid his mug into place before starting the machine.

“You okay?”

“Exhausted mostly. A little relieved. Brandi was a lot more volatile than I expected. The longer we were together, the more, ah, free she was with her emotions.”

“No regrets it’s over?”

Heath shrugged. “I don’t want to get back together with her, but I did like being in a relationship.” He drank his coffee. “Why is it we always hear that it’s so easy for guys? Just have a decent job, be a good guy and be slightly more attractive than dirt and women will be throwing themselves at us. But they’re not. At least I can’t find anyone I want to be with. I’m not looking for a one-night stand—I want a relationship. Why is that so difficult to find?”

“You’re asking the wrong guy,” Declan told him. “My last date was with Iris.”

“You’re kidding.”

“Nope.”

“And not, you know, before?”

When they’d been separated? Because he’d told Heath a little of what had happened back then.

Declan shook his head. “It didn’t feel right.” Iris might have pulled out of their marriage, but he hadn’t. Besides, things had been complicated enough without bringing a third—make that fourth—party into things.