Chapter 20
Slade
I openly stared at Austin, hopefully masking the stunned expression I felt forming on the inside.
Austin’s small office inside a studio dedicated to a fellow Texas native, Willie Nelson, was anything but cozy.
It was more like a conference room based on the large oval table and lack of anything office related, like chairs, which we had to wheel in before beginning our meeting.
After the initial few minutes where Austin laid out all his intentions, I was swept away in awe at the planning he’d put into this pitch.
The positive feelings that I’d had throughout the entire studio tour held as Austin explained how he wanted me to star in a series of Westerns he planned to make.
If it played like Austin suggested, it’d be a multi-year contract, bringing in as much money as I made last year, then every year after, guaranteed.
Austin had done his homework where I was concerned.
The offer was so good I gave my tentative acceptance on the spot.
Honestly, if he’d put a contract in front of me, I’d have signed it without any of my team involved.
I’d half expected this to be an invitation to audition, but instead, the role was mine for the taking. Nothing had ever flattered me more than knowing my body of work was valued to such a degree that Austin put his faith in me to carry the powerful films.
Austin and I now sat together on one side of the table in view of the camera on my laptop which I had opened in front of us. The screen showed a split image of eight different people, five on my side, three on Austin’s currently battling out a contract to suit both sides.
“Let’s go get something to eat while they haggle out the details,” Austin whispered, leaning back in the chair which gave a solid squeak at his movement.
Since I hadn’t yet told my team that I was prepared to take the offer as presented, I gave a single nod, thinking it was funny to watch them all haggle.
They were the best of the best in our industry.
They’d tear this apart until it made us all crazy.
Honestly, it felt like I was giving them a bit of the turmoil they always dished out.
Austin ducked out of the frame. I went the other way, hoping we went unnoticed. Our departure had no impact at all based on the way no one stopped talking over the others. Austin held a finger to his lips, sending the quiet message as he slowly opened the door, ushering me out first.
Once outside of the office, I followed Austin until we reached the outside doors. The bright warm sun had me squinting as the hot winds stifled my breath. I reached for my cell in vain. There was no way I could read the screen until my eyes adjusted.
“What time is it?” I asked, shielding my eyes.
Austin’s quick draw had his sunglasses falling in place as he pulled his phone from his pocket.
“Based on the sun, it’s later than I realized.
Almost six. We should probably head over to the bar.
Kitt and I try our best to have dinner together every night.
It doesn’t always happen, but you need to taste the food I’m tryin’ to win you over with.
Kitt and Mace dropped your bags off at the house we assigned you.
” The entire time he talked, he walked to the UTV.
This one must be the Lamborghini of rides with its tricked out, aerodynamic exterior shell and open, airy top.
“Are the accommodations also part of the contract?” I asked, teasingly. I saw no world where I decided to stay here instead of going back home to Mace.
“The house, yeah. The food, no. The chef’s expensive and uses real high-dollar ingredients. You’ll be paying for that,” Austin said and slid into the driver’s seat.
“Cheapskate. How long do you think they’ll continue battling it out before they realize we’re gone?” I asked, a little less practiced at taking my seat.
“It’ll be hours for my team. They’re vultures.” Austin had his own predatory agent, manager, and attorney group to rival mine. “It’ll be interesting to see the bloodbath after they’re done.”
I reached for my sunglasses I’d left inside the cubby. The hot metal stung as I put it over my ears to check my messages. I wondered what Mace had accomplished today.
There were no new texts from him.
“If you’d like to move to our place, we have a guest suite there. It’s yours if you want, but the place Kitt set for you is nice and quiet and private,” Austin explained, starting the engine and backing out of the parking lot.
He barely had the gear out of reverse before he pushed the gas pedal, jerking us forward. I grabbed the ‘oh-shit’ bar not for the first time since riding with him that day as I tried my best to stay seated inside the vehicle.
“At our place, we have a pretty decent view of a ridge that Kitt and I have camped on. It’s a beautiful view, especially at dusk.”
The ride was rocky at best. Austin darted between the streets, over the gravel, and through a couple of dicey looking water spots with more confidence in his driving ability than I had.
After a turn, then another, a small housing community popped up.
I’d only seen those from the hill overlooking the studio community.
A couple of dozen small homes, the bar and restaurant Austin mentioned, and about a dozen oversized pickup trucks were sprinkled around.
My Jeep was conveniently parked in front of the bar.
“Kitt’s stepmother, Lily, and one sister—Kylie, the vet you met—live in the main house about a quarter mile away, closer to the main road.
It’s where Kitt grew up.” He nodded in what I assumed was the direction of their home, then he pointed in the other direction, shifting my attention that way.
I caught view of a nice size home in the distance.
“That’s our place. Lily handles meals for the hands.
We have craft services for the studio. The restaurant on the studio grounds serves a wide variety of food. I landed Chef Grant. Do you know him?”
I shook my head no. “He came this far out?” I asked.
“Chef lives on the property. You’d be surprised at how many people yearn for a simpler life. He was one of them.” Austin gave me a wink as he turned hard into the parking space next to my Jeep. The guy was a terrible driver.
“The main road’s pretty close.” Austin pointed in a different direction again. “My foreman, Mike, married Kylie. He lives in the main house with her and Lily.”
“Your foreman? Does that mean you have two foremen?”
“Yeah, with different titles. We have a lot going on around here. Kitt handles the entire property except for the land the studio is on. Both foremen work directly under him these days. Mike’s better with the animals.
Kitt’s newest foreman handles the crops.
He’s planted corn, wheat, and cotton. He’s added watermelons, pumpkins, and a pecan grove.
It’s already turning a profit so that’s something.
” He cut the engine and jumped from the vehicle, hightailing it into the building labeled Grant Bar/Café, reminding me of the simple sign above Mace’s liquor store entrance.
The country living was strong with these people.
“Come on,” Austin said, pulling open the front door. “They’re already here.”
He disappeared inside as I got to my feet, wanting to drop to the ground and kiss it for allowing us to make it there in one piece.
Music played from the bar. A fast beat country-and-western tune that Mace listened to regularly.
Austin gave the door his back, facing me again, spreading his arms wide.
Mace stood a few steps behind him. “You have to come inside to eat and see Kitt dance. My husband should be on Dancing with the Stars. He’d take the whole thing. ”
The happy grin Mace gave was everything right in my world. I started his direction.
I smirked as I sidestepped Austin to get inside. “You still whipped?”
“So whipped,” Austin said good naturedly. “I was really into Kitt from the jump, but once we began workin’ together, building this life… He’ll never shake me loose. He’s my foundation.”
Mace took a step back, allowing us through the doorframe. His gaze searched mine. He was different here. Happy. Maybe motivated too.
“How was your day?” he asked. The twinkle in his eyes said his day was great and wanted mine to be too.
“Really good. I might sign contracts while I’m here.”
Mace’s handsome face lit with excitement.
“How was your day?” I reached out, taking his hand into mine. More than anything else that happened, I saw a way for us to be together for the long haul. My joy was real.
“Good. I’ll tell you later, but it was really good. I’m glad I came.”
A sudden piercing whistle drew every eye in the place to Austin.
He waved us his direction to the seat opposite where he and Kitt sat in an oversized booth. A large digital jukebox took up the corner directly across from them. It was the source of the happy tune. Other men and a few women were scattered about the restaurant and bar, paying us no real attention.
What a shockingly great atmosphere. Privacy sweetened the deal.
“We serve burgers, both beef and vegetarian, chicken fried steak that’s so good it has to be artery clogging, fried chicken, T-bone steaks, and a signature lobster fried rice that might be the best food I’ve ever eaten.
The rest of the chef’s daily specials are on the chalkboard on the bar.
In my effort in tryin’ to sway you my direction, your meals are free this evenin’.
” Austin winked, settling back against the booth, patting his belly.
“Also, a couple of pretty good cobblers. Greasy, bad for you food.”
Mace scooted to the far side of the seat to allow me room beside him. My eyes narrowed at all this closeness as he gestured for me to sit, wondering what had taken over my guy’s body.