Brick’s face darkened but she understood his anger wasn’t at her. His frown etched lines around his mouth. “That boy.” He snorted air through his nostrils. “I’m sorry.”
“Thanks, but you weren’t the one who said it,” she reminded him gently. The sting of Holland’s accusations came back to her. She turned her head to hide her expression, but she had a feeling Brick saw it.
He exhaled slowly, shaking his head. “He’s protective. Stubborn like his mother. And dead wrong. You didn’t deserve a drive-by lecture from my grown son.”
Blaise’s throat tightened. “I just…I didn’t know what to say to you. I didn’t want to cause problems between you two.”
“Listen,” Brick said, stepping a bit closer. “Holland will just have to come around. That’s on him,notyou. Not…us.”
Us.The word warmed her and scared her in equal measure. She nodded, unable to trust her voice.
Brick’s expression softened. “How about dinner tonight? Let me make up for all of this?”
She let a breath go. He wanted to make things right. And he was actually talking to her, so that had to be proof that this was important to him. “Holland still here?”
Brick shook his head. “Nope. Left ten minutes ago.”
“Okay,” she said, a small, real smile breaking through. “Dinner sounds nice.”
Brick’s shoulders eased. “Good. I’ll text you later.”
He bent to give Beau a pat and Blaise one more lingering look, a look that said he was sorry and that he was grateful she was still talking to him.
She felt the same way. She was thrilled he wasn’t letting his son’s opinions shape what happened next.
When he left, Blaise closed the door gently and leaned against it. She pressed a hand to her chest. There was only one reason she felt this relieved. She liked Brick in the same kind of way she’d once liked Jay.
He was such a solid presence, and her life had been anything but solid for too long. She smiled, glad her nerves seemed to have disappeared.
Now she had a photoshoot to nail. She gathered her things and headed to Maude’s.
Blaise checked her sundress again to be sure Beau’s lingering fur wasn’t all over her before knocking on Maude’s door. She’d brought the cream-and-white outfit as well as the blazer, just in case she needed options.
Maude opened the door with a bright smile. “Hey, you lookfantastic.Hollywood should be calling any minute.”
Blaise laughed, warmth creeping into her cheeks. “I’d be happy with a local gig that paid, but I like your enthusiasm.”
“Come in,” Maude said, stepping aside. “Before we head to the beach, I want to show you something.”
Her tone had a spark of excitement but also held a little vulnerability. Blaise followed her inside to the small desk where Maude’s laptop was already open.
The screen displayed a homepage with a clean black, white, and gray palette and a photo of Blaise that Maude musthave pulled from old portfolio work. Beneath it, clean, elegant lettering read,Blaise Monroe: Grace, Grit & Glamour.
Blaise leaned closer, heart tightening unexpectedly. There were menu tabs along the top:
About Blaise,Book Blaise,Appearances,Press & Media,Memoir: In Progress.
Blaise’s breath caught. “Maude, this is beautiful.”
Maude beamed. “I wanted a blend of confidence and approachability. Someone booking conferences or brand representation needs to see right away that you’re the real deal. Not just for the nostalgia angle, but because you’re still very much relevant.”
Blaise felt a prickling behind her eyes she absolutely did not want to turn into tears and ruin her makeup.
“You really get me,” she said softly. “Not who I was, but who I still could be. That is…so good. Thank you.”
Maude’s smile gentled. “You’re welcome.”
Blaise stood straighter, a feeling of hope and purpose settling into place. This might actually work. “Well,” she said, clearing her throat and offering Maude a wobbly grin. “Let’s go show the camera that woman, shall we?”
