A Sweet Mess - Jayci Lee Page 0,24

my dream. I can’t imagine going away for so long, but that doesn’t mean I’ll half-ass my way through the show to finish early.”

“I can understand that.” Relief washed through him in waves of giddiness. Huh. Setting things right for Aubrey meant even more to him than he’d thought. “And you wouldn’t be at the peak of your craft if you hadn’t given it your all. I doubt you’re capable of half-assing anything.”

“Thanks. Okay.” Splashes of pink bloomed on her cheeks. She was lovely. “So where will I stay? I’m going to need a full kitchen to work on my recipes.”

“I’ve arranged for a villa, and I’ll make sure you have everything else you need.”

“Everything? You’ll make sure?” Aubrey’s eyebrows climbed to her forehead. “You got me the guest star opportunity through Aria, right? Your job is done. Shouldn’t the show take care of everything else?”

“Aria came up with the idea of inviting you on her show. I’d like to take care of everything else for you as the show’s executive producer.”

“The executive producer?” She sank down in her seat when heads turned at her raised voice. “You didn’t tell me that. Why didn’t you tell me?”

“I’m telling you now.” He scanned her pale face. There was panic in her wide, darting eyes. “It’s a minor detail to our business arrangement, and it won’t affect your work. Other than hiring you, my duties won’t intersect with yours in any way. I’ve been on plenty of food shows as a judge, but this is my first time producing one, so my involvement in the show isn’t widely known. Aria is my coexecutive producer, and she’s the face of the show, not me.”

“But does this mean you’re going to be in Bosque Verde, too?”

“On and off,” he hedged as he analyzed her reaction.

Then the puzzle pieces slid into place. She hadn’t realized she would be spending time with him. She looked terrified at the idea. Landon couldn’t blame her—he had been an asshole—but her reaction stung. Which went to show he was out of his mind.

If she found out he would be in Bosque Verde for the duration of her stay, she would bolt out the door. He couldn’t let that happen. The show was the only way he could help her. To fix what he’d inadvertently stolen and nearly broken.

But he couldn’t stay away from the filming. Some might think him neurotic, but he wasn’t ready to relinquish control until he decided the production was running smoothly. He planned to monitor the construction and stay until the first few episodes were shot. They were filming in a brand-new kitchen, which was no more than a blueprint and some tile samples at this point. With all the variables, he’d be shocked if nothing went wrong.

“How much on and how much off?” Aubrey seemed to be holding her breath, waiting for his answer.

“Which would you prefer? More on or more off?” He grinned wolfishly before he caught himself. Flirting with her was the dumbest move he could make, but he’d forgotten himself for a moment. She was distractingly beautiful.

“Why would I have a preference?” She huffed and crossed her arms over her perfect breasts.

Goddamn it. I need a cold shower.

“I was only asking as a professional courtesy.”

“I’ll be at Bosque Verde as long as necessary to make sure everything goes smoothly.” He managed to sound professional but vague.

“Okay, then. We’re in agreement, and everything is set.” Aubrey shot to her feet. “I really need to get going.”

“Not interested in how much you’ll be making for the two episodes? Or when you start?” He should have let her go, but he wanted her to stay just a bit longer.

“Sure, I’m interested.” She plopped back into her chair, the tips of her ears turning red. “Go on, then.”

When he told her how much they were offering, Aubrey’s mouth dropped open. Landon grinned despite himself. If he wasn’t certain before, he was now positive she hadn’t approached him with an ulterior motive. She didn’t seem capable of subterfuge.

“Just so we’re clear,” he said, “the show will get equal rights to the copyright on the two recipes, including online reproductions and potential cookbooks.”

“Yeah. I’d figured that since I’m going to share the recipes with all the viewers. When do I start?”

“Next week.”

“That soon? I don’t know if I can take care of everything by then. Well, I guess it depends on when I get paid.” She pressed her lips together and glanced down at her hands. “Not