Total pages in book: 103
Estimated words: 96752 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 484(@200wpm)___ 387(@250wpm)___ 323(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 96752 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 484(@200wpm)___ 387(@250wpm)___ 323(@300wpm)
“Oh, I think you called it a cheap massage parlor,” he replies.
That might have been a tad over the line, but I can’t exactly take it back now. “I thought we discussed the fact that this whole project is about restoring Banover Place to its former glory.”
Reid’s eyes narrow. “No, this project is about getting Anika and Luca enough money to get their projects off the ground.”
“Yes, by restoring Banover Place to its former glory.” He’s forgetting a few important points.
“You know if we were going to do that, it should have been purchased by a historical society.” He seems to think. “Wait. It was. They sold it to Anika’s production company. So guess what—we get to do whatever we like with it.”
“The only reason they sold it to us was we promised to keep everything as period appropriate as possible,” I point out. “I sent you all of my historical research.”
“First of all, there’s nothing in the contract that says we have to decorate or renovate in any particular way. That doesn’t exist, Harper, and you’re naïve to think it does. The society we bought the house from wanted to get rid of it.”
I shake my head. “No, they couldn’t afford the taxes.”
“They couldn’t afford anything because for years it’s been held up by tourist dollars, and they don’t care anymore. I know this is some kind of magical place for you, and that’s precisely why I told Anika we should consider another contractor. You’re far too close to the project to be able to see things clearly. You’re too emotional.”
Oh, that is the last thing he should say to me. “Am I?”
“Yes,” he says with a shrug.
“What should I do about that?”
“You should probably calm down and listen to reason.”
A hiss comes from behind Reid as Jeremiah rounds the corner. “Damn, brother. You are supposed to know better than to tell a woman to calm down. She set a trap and you fell right into it. What is it with hetero men? Do you never think maybe you should sit down and figure out the female psyche? Do you enjoy getting your balls busted again and again. See, we do not have this problem. Harper, is there any way I could talk you into maybe castrating my brother in his office?”
The Dorsey men want to get me somewhere private. So I’m not going. “No. I’m not staying, and you can’t talk me into seeing logic. I know women with our tiny brains can’t possibly understand logic. Isn’t that what you think, Reid?”
He huffs and his hands shoot to the air. “Sure. I’m a misogynist douchebag, and you are named properly because you’re a harpy. Tell me something—how many men do you run off with that attitude? Is there some reason you’re the last of your friends without a date?”
“Reid,” Jeremiah says, obviously shocked.
Reid’s head shakes. “No, if she’s going to stereotype me with no real reason, I can do the same.”
“Or you could be the bigger person and maybe figure out what’s behind all of this?” Jeremiah offers.
“What’s behind it is not wanting your brother to ruin a very important job by throwing up shitty shiplap everywhere or deciding that we join the farmhouse revolution.”
Jeremiah put a hand to his chest, his eyes wide. “We never do farmhouse. Ever. We are not monsters.”
Oh, I disagree. “But you happily take out a mural that’s been in the ballroom for a hundred years to put up cheap plants and make someone feel like they’re on the set of the revival of Little Shop of Horrors.”
Reid’s spine seems to stretch, and he feels impossibly tall as he snarls my way. “It is called biophilic design, you plebian. Do I need to get you a dictionary so you can figure out how I insulted you?”
I get right in his face. I have to go up on my toes, but I do it. “Oh, I know exactly what you think of me, you elitist asshole.”
“I actually don’t think it was an insult. The show reference, not the plebian thing. That was absolutely an insult, but I don’t see why we’re hating on Little Shop. I love that show,” Jeremiah adds. “I do a great rendition of ‘Suddenly Seymour.’ My high school was progressive. I doubt in the current political climate that I would have been allowed to play Audrey, and that would be a shame. I was very good.”
We’re not paying attention to Jeremiah anymore.
“I assure you my designs are not some shoddy, off-Broadway play,” Reid replies, his face taking on some pink as he points my way. “And I don’t think I have to take this from a woman whose highest heights of taste is an apartment building that looks like it’s probably built on cinder blocks. I wouldn’t let you build a bodega much less an actual home someone is going to live in. Do you think I haven’t seen the lawsuits you’ve dealt with?”