Chapter Twenty-One
Restless after talking with Jake first, and then Marc the previous night, Wren had spent the night tossing and turning, finally reaching for the bottle of wine she’d purchased at the store. One glass along with relaxing in the hot tub where she could stare at the stars above with the French doors open had finally allowed her to get about four hours sleep.
Still feeling tired after taking a shower, she’d noticed that Jake had texted he’d be in the restaurant with Jeff, who’d be driving her to the studio today.
Wren had been pretty much prepared for that. In fact, she’d probably be moving out of the suite by tomorrow evening once Jeff’s home security was updated.
Maybe she’d talk Jeff into taking her out there tonight so she could have a look around. Giving Jeff a side glance, she had to admit that she was curious about his taste. Especially since he’d mentioned something about antiques when they’d been talking yesterday.
Which reminded her – all the purchases she’d made at the local antique mall were ready and waiting for her to decide where to ship them.
As they continued to discuss her security during the next few days, Wren figured she’d better ask for advice.
“Jake? I bought a load of items at the local antique mall when I drove into town the other day. I was planning on having them delivered to my New York apartment, but maybe that’s not such a good idea right now,” Wren admitted, pursing her lips.
Jake nodded, smiling. “I heard about that. The manager gave me a call to reassure me that no one would know you were in town. She assumed you were staying here.”
“How much stuff did you purchase?” Jeff asked, definitely curious.
She grimaced. “Too much, including some furniture.”
Jeff laughed. “That sounds like me. I’ve got a barn on my property where I store all my building supplies. There’s a cedar lined storage room I built inside. You can leave whatever you’d like there until you decide where you want to ship things.”
“Good. That takes care of that problem then,” she said.
“I’ll be sending those mattresses over tonight, Jeff. You said the bedroom furniture is arriving this afternoon?”
“Yes. After two, so maybe send the mattresses after four. I’ll be working in my home studio every afternoon, I’ve decided, after running through music and recording with Eve and Wren during the mornings. That’s my tentative schedule anyway, until we’re ready for her to record live.”
“A couple of weeks,” she said, deciding. “I’m assuming you and Eve will be rounding up some musicians?”
“Is there anyone you want to bring in from California?” Jeff asked.
“Not necessarily. We usually go with short-term contracts during tours, so everyone can move on afterwards. I do have a guitarist and drummer who I’d love to include, but they’re good, so they might not be available,” she admitted, glancing at her watch. “I suppose we’d better be on our way.”
A few minutes later, they were walking outside from the lobby toward Jeff’s truck.
“I’m assuming that big bag that you’re carrying contains your music?” Jeff asked.
“It does. You can decide what you’d like to hear first,” she said.
“Is there anything you need from your SUV?” he asked, unlocking his truck remotely.
“No. Not right now. Jake said I should pull it around to the employee parking lot later, and then just leave it there until I move over to your place.”
He held open the passenger door for her.
“I’ve got enough room in my garage for you to leave it inside,” he said. “Although it might be better to eventually park it in my barn.”
She nodded. “So that no one who might be watching sees me driving it.”
“Exactly. You might have to leave quickly if there’s trouble,” he replied, stepping behind the wheel of his truck.
“I see you have adaptive equipment here in your truck too,” she observed.
“Yes,” he answered, heaving a sigh. “Life might have been a little bit easier if I’d have lost my left leg as opposed to my right. I still step on the pedal with my invisible leg.”
She wasn’t sure whether to laugh or not until he grinned.
“You’re pretty accepting of everything,” she said, becoming thoughtful.
He shrugged. “I’m an Air Force Captain. I need to set an example. Besides, I’m not someone who likes to waste time feeling sorry for myself.”
She gave him a rueful smile. “I’ve kind of figured that.”
The morning went by way too quickly. After running through the entire portfolio that Wren had brought along, Jeff chose two songs for her to record, which he would work with next. Coincidentally, both were her own compositions.
When they finished up around noon, Jeff looked at his watch. “I’ve got a little time before I have to get home since we were here today at eight instead of nine. How about we have some lunch next door at the winery before we head back?”
“I’d love that,” she answered. “Can we sit outside on one of those little terraces that are built into the cliff?”
He barked out a laugh before answering, “I’ll see what I can do.”
“It’s sure beautiful here,” Wren observed another twenty minutes later, from where they sat high above the lake.
“Can you see past the edge of the inlet where the music camp performers are on stage?” he asked as he pointed them out. “I thought that maybe some of your video could be recorded from there along with the indoor conservatory where regular concerts are held. The acoustics are great, so we’d be able to record some of your music outside of the studio to integrate into one of your new releases, or maybe into the video.”
“I can also see a performance on the Dragonfly Pointe Inn gazebo,” she murmured. “You know what I’d really love, though? Being on some kind of pontoon in the middle of the lake, where we can be filmed from high above.”
Jeff blinked. “That’s a fantastic idea. Emily Richardson might be able to arrange something like that. That’s where she got married – out on Crystal Rock Lake. I can still remember being there when I was a kid.
“I’d better get all these ideas together for my manager. He’ll be sending a team here to direct and produce the finished product. I want to be sure that you work with them if you can.”
“I’ll begin teaching in September, but during that first month, it won’t take up my entire day,” he answered in agreement. “Let’s see how it goes.”
Lunch was great, she had to admit. Although the menu was definitely meant to cater to women, Jeff apparently didn’t have a problem eating an open-faced chicken salad sandwich served with fruit and asparagus on the side. They ate cheesecake for dessert.
She gave him a wide smile. “This hardly seems like your kind of menu.”
“I thought you’d appreciate it.” He rolled his eyes. “I’ve got three sisters and supposedly, I’m a Mama’s boy. What can I say?”
Noticing his self-deprecating smile, Wren laughed loudly.
Another thirty minutes later, they were on their way back to the Inn. As he was ready to drop her off, she turned to him with a smile.
“I’d love to see your place before I actually move in.”
Jeff became thoughtful. “You know what? Maybe it would be a good idea if you did. I’ve got that king-size bed going into the master this afternoon, but I don’t have sheets or a comforter yet. Maybe you could take a look at the room and help me choose what to put in there since that’s where you’ll be staying. There’s a home store in the next town over that’s open until ten.”
“I’d love that. Besides, I’m kind of going stir crazy sitting in my room all the time.”
“That, I can understand,” Jeff admitted. “How about I pick you up at about six fifteen? I’d like to work for at least three or four hours this afternoon in my studio, even though I’ve got those deliveries coming, but I’ll leave my place at six. We can stop for something to eat on the way back if you’d like.”
“I’d enjoy that, Jeff,” she answered matter-of-factly.
“Okay then, Wren. I’ll pick you up right here,” he said, grinning.
She winked, stepping out from the truck. “Okay. It’s a date.”
Slamming shut the door, she turned back momentarily as she headed inside the breezeway leading into the lobby.
He was looking a little dazed when he waved.
Smiling widely, she quickly waved back.