Chapter 60
Selma is on her third bottle of wine by the time we’ve finished dinner. Quinton has had at least four bourbons. Dom is tipsy from trying to keep up with his brother. And I’ve been sneaking cans of ginger ale into my glass of white wine each time I go to the fridge for more water. The yellowed liquid mixed with chardonnay passes off as white wine quite well, especially to my liquored-up hosts who haven’t noticed the difference. I know they’d likely feel awkward if they knew they were drinking each other under the table while I snuck nearly virgin drinks, so I keep it to myself.
Quinton has thoroughly warmed up to me after the discussion about the finale of Forget Me Evermore , which has made Selma pink with envy. However, I’m somewhat convinced that poor Selma deals with fangirls fawning all over her husband not infrequently — her jealousy quickly turned to boredom.
“I’m going to bed,” she announces suddenly, after we’ve all had dessert.
It’s only nine thirty, but I take it as my cue to head out as well.
“Goodnight, Selma.” I’m half-panicking that I’ll be leaving without pitching Quinton my script. I feel like I’ve made a high-powered friend in the industry, and, for tonight, that may need to be enough. “Thank you again for having me. It was so nice to meet you.”
“Let me walk you back,” Dom says to Selma. “I’ll show you where I’ve been storing all the new towels and linens you had sent over.” He winks at me subtly, then rises from the table.
He’s giving me one last shot. His absence will give me the opening I need to pitch Quinton after all.
“Take your shot,” he whispers to me in the kitchen, before disappearing down the hall with Selma.
I’m left standing in the kitchen with Quinton.
“Since you seem to have an eye for beautiful things, I’d like to show you my plans for the pool.” Quinton’s eyes shine at me like a kid waiting for his friend’s approval.
“Oh, um, you’re not . . .” I point my thumb toward Selma and his bedroom. I thought he might follow her to bed after saying a quick goodnight to me.
“No. She’ll be snoring by the time her head hits the pillow. You’d never imagine a woman like that snores like a freight train, but with a couple of drinks in her, she’s frightful to try and sleep next to.”
I hold up my phone. “I was actually just requesting a ride.” My plan was to head back to the rental again tonight, giving Quinton and Selma space. “But I’ll cancel it. For now.”
“Yes, cancel it. I want your opinion on some plans.” He wraps one arm around my shoulders and starts walking me toward the lanai, leading down to the garden.
“What about Dom? Have you gotten his opinion yet? He’s done a beautiful job on the garden and—”
“Ah, yes, Dom the gardener. Come on, let me show you.”
Dom was right about Quinton’s ego if he can refer to his immensely successful brother as the gardener . The tiny pit in my stomach grows to a crater.
We cross the threshold into the dark, lit only by the collection of firepits and solar lights leading toward the pool.
Something about this doesn’t feel right.
I stop in my tracks.
“Let’s bring Dom with us,” I say. “I’d love to hear what he thinks too.”
Quinton’s breath tickles the inside of my ear as he leans down to whisper. It smells of sour whiskey and the chocolate from dessert. “I thought you wanted a moment alone to discuss something with me. Selma mentioned you wrote a script? But if you don’t actually want to . . .”
He waits for me to either walk with him or turn around and go home.
I look behind us, hoping to see Dom reappear in the kitchen, ready to join my solitary walk with his brother down to the pool. But no such luck. He’s giving me that space he promised to play the game with Quinton.
“Come on, I won’t bite. It’ll give us some time to talk about your little project.”
Of course I’m not going to turn down the opportunity to have Quinton Rockwell listen to my pitch at his estate. Every opportunity comes with some type of price. Sometimes, the price is just taking a little risk. I’m not about to turn around and walk away from my lifelong dream potentially coming true.
“Show me the pool,” I tell him.