Trials and Tiaras (Untouchable #7) - Heather Long Page 0,95

look at it.”

“She’s on the waiting list…” But I had my suspicions.

Especially when he grinned and spread his hands. “It’s me.”

Yeah, it was him.

“You know what, fuck it. Let’s do it.” I wanted to see her smile. Really smile, not the shadowed smile she’d worn for the last forty-eight hours. I wanted the triumph and the light back in her eyes. I wanted the giddiness she’d worn like a sparkly dress when we’d been at the karaoke club after she won her emancipation.

Before I could head back inside from the chilly balcony where we’d taken our coffee to talk, he’d put up a hand. “Have you talked to her about the contract yet?”

While we had discussed it briefly, Archie had been letting me sort it out with Wittaker and the entertainment attorney he’d hooked me up with. It was a slow-moving process, but I’d rather take my time and understand the nuances before I pulled Frankie into it.

“No,” I admitted. “I wanted to have all the answers before I got her hopes up, and after the last few weeks…”

He nodded slowly. “Agreed, but don’t take too long. She hates when we make decisions without her, and while she’s reeling at the moment, she’s relying on us to keep her steady.”

Something we’d definitely been doing, but he was right. “I’ll talk to her this week.”

“It might perk her up,” Archie suggested, smiling faintly. “And if you and Wittaker don’t trust these guys, we send your demos elsewhere. Hell, I’ll provide the finance, and we’ll find someone to produce it for you. Go indie and keep all the control.”

The thing about Archie, that grandiose plan might sound like he was just making it up right now, but I was on to him. He’d done his research, and he wouldn’t make the offer if he didn’t have faith in us.

As if reading my mind, he locked his gaze on mine. “I’ve listened to you both. You’re really good, and you bring out something spectacular in her.”

It wasn’t hard. Frankie had a gorgeous voice, it held every bit of her heart when she sang. “Thanks, man, I really want to make this happen. Maybe the hard way first.”

“You think I’m not the hard way?” But the laughter in his voice told me he got it.

“No, I think you’re every bit as invested in her happiness as I am.” While Coop and Jake had found a near perfect balance with us on their own, it had taken Archie and me a little more work and finessing. The fact I punched him the day after he first had sex with her probably hadn’t helped.

“Good,” he said, one corner of his mouth kicking a little higher. “Best investment ever, in my opinion.”

I chuckled. “You think more about her birthday?”

“Yep.”

“And?” I raised my eyebrows. We’d gone back and forth on this for four weeks. Negotiation, discussion, limits—everything. He’d seemed even more interested after the visit to the demo, but I’d put money that was more based on Frankie’s reaction than anything else.

He lifted his coffee. “Count me in.”

“Yeah?”

“Yeah,” Archie said. “Why the hell not?”

“Why the hell not…”

Laughter carried through the glass doors from inside, and we both turned almost at the same time. Frankie was squealing where Jake had her pinned on the sofa, tickling her, but he couldn’t see Coop coming behind him.

“Oh that’s not going to end well,” Archie said.

“No,” I agreed, just as Jake jumped to the side and Coop dumped the water he’d been holding. It missed Jake by a mile and doused her.

His eyes went comically wide, and Frankie was off the sofa like a slingshot and after him. Jake threw his head back and laughed before trailing behind the pair where they vanished into the bedroom. Archie glanced at his watch.

“We have time for more coffee and probably time to talk contracts if you want.”

I chuckled. We definitely weren’t going to be leaving anytime soon. “Yeah, let’s do that. Maybe downstairs,” I suggested as he opened the door and her sudden groan echoed from down the little hall toward the oversized bedroom the honeymoon suite boasted.

“Yeah, I’d rather not spend the whole drive to Cambridge with a hard-on.”

We set the mugs aside and grabbed room keys and wallets before we were out the door. The last time Jake and Coop disappeared with Frankie it had been easily an hour. “Ninety minutes?” I suggested.

“More than fucking fair,” he agreed as he hit the elevator button, and I grinned. He shot me a look,