"It'll cost you," the older man warned, running a hand over his short gray hair. "I'll have to bump another job, use equipment from another job as well. My men will have to work overtime and..." He paused to do some figures on the pad he'd been making notes on as they'd toured the house and property, then mentioned a figure that would have made most people pale. However, it was no more than she'd expected and Jackie glanced at Vincent, who had joined them for the end of the tour.
"Can you afford it?" she asked bluntly.
Vincent scowled as if offended, then growled, "Do it."
Jackie turned to Allen and nodded. "Do it."
"I'll call the office and have the men and equipment out here within the hour." Allen Richmond walked away toward his car, pulling a cell phone from his pocket as he went.
"Well..." Vincent frowned. "I guess that puts a spanner in the shopping plan."
"I can keep an eye on the house while you and Jackie shop," Tiny rumbled as he joined them under the portico.
Jackie frowned at the suggestion. The last thing she wanted to do was go shopping with Vincent Argeneau. Unfortunately, it was after four o'clock and heading for dinner time. They'd need food... and coffee. She lived off the black liquid and couldn't go all night without. Giving in with a sigh, she said, "I'll get my purse."
"I should warn you, Jackie hates shopping," Tiny informed Vincent as she headed into the house.
Jackie rolled her eyes at the understatement, but didn't get the chance to comment. The telephone was ringing as she opened the door.
"I'll get it." Vincent was suddenly rushing past her toward the office.
Jackie followed him and grabbed her purse off the desk as he picked up the receiver and said hello. She'd turned to leave the office when he said, "What?" with such distress that she paused and turned back with concern.
The man looked both stunned and horrified.
Chapter Two
"So the call was from your production assistant, telling you that the lead in the play who was supposed to open tonight has quit and the play can't open?"
"Yes," Vincent answered wearily, his gaze on the road ahead. Jackie was driving, but he was supposed to be directing her to somewhere to buy kitchen appliances. He didn't have a clue where people bought such things. He hadn't told her that, however, but was hoping to spot a likely store before she realized it.
"I was under the impression you'd permanently closed down all of your plays until you sorted out the matter of who is sabotaging them?"
"No, not exactly," Vincent murmured and wondered what Bastien had told her before sending her out here.
Before he could voice the question, Jackie answered it by saying, "Bastien wasn't very specific about details. He just said that someone was sabotaging your plays. I was hoping both Tiny and I could sit down with you later this evening to go over the particulars, but wanted to get the urgent matters out of the way first."
"The urgent matters being securing my home and seeing to the shopping," Vincent murmured, a faint smile curving his lips as he glanced her way.
"You may be able to live and function without food, but we can't," Jackie said defensively. "And I positively cannot function without coffee."
"Of course not. I wouldn't expect you to," he assured her quickly. "It's common sense to see to the basics first. A safe roof over your head and food are basic needs."
"Not for you. At least not the food," Jackie pointed out. Before he could comment, she suddenly braked and swerved into the driveway of a mall.
"Sorry, I guess I got distracted," he muttered, glancing over the large complex.
"No problem," Jackie said as she parked. "I almost missed it myself and I was paying attention."
Vincent merely grunted and slid out of the car to follow her inside. He really expected the next little while to be boring and possibly even annoying, but soon learned differently. As he concentrated on selecting items to go in the kitchen, Vincent found his frustration slipping away.
"I don't know why you don't like shopping." Vincent commented as he snatched the cheap white plastic coffeepot away from Jackie and set it back on the shelf. He then picked up the more expensive chrome and black model and dropped it in the cart.
Not sure what would be needed in the kitchen, Vincent had simply been picking up one of everything; one blender, one mixer, one crockpot, one juicer, and so on. He'd have asked Jackie what she thought he needed, but Tiny hadn't been kidding when he said she hated shopping. She'd been snapping and growling since they'd arrived. He thought it was kind of cute. Jackie was like a little snarling Chihuahua... but much cuter.
"Please do not tell me you are one of those people."
Jackie sounded disgusted and it made him hesitate warily. "What people?"