Page 56 of Jonny’s Redemption

I thought back over the time I’d spent in Dewey with Jonny. There were a lot of good parts, there were some really great parts, but there was only one best part. And I knew that was what Evie was after.

“He told me he loves me and I believe him. He thinks I’m beautiful and smart and funny and loyal. Oh, and wise.”

Evie pursed her lips and her pretty golden eyes danced with humor.

“Wise? That’s laying it on thick, don’t ya think?”

“What does that mean? I’m totally wise.”

“A wise-ass, maybe.”

“Whatever.” I rolled my eyes.

“I’m happy for you,” Evie whispered.

“I’m happy for you,” I returned.

My cell shrilled, interrupting our moment, and when my gaze hit the screen I groaned.

“It’s Leslie,” I announced and tagged my phone off the coffee table.

I’d barely swiped the screen to answer the call and I already heard Leslie babbling.

“Hang on, Les, I need to put you on speaker,” I said loud enough for her to hear even though the phone was nowhere near my mouth. “I’m with Evie and you’re on speaker.”

“Sean and Bonnie Lovette would like to visit The Farm,” Leslie cut straight to it.

“Well, hello to you, too, Leslie,” Evie drawled.

It wasn’t a stretch to imagine Leslie rolling her eyes to the ceiling and shaking her head. Leslie was all business all the time. Before she’d come to work for Evie she was with a record label, a highly sought-after label, full of stick-up-their-asses artists. The woman had been with Evie for years but still had not shed her all-business-all-the-time attitude.

“Hello, Genevieve,” Leslie returned.

I didn’t have to imagine Evie rolling her eyes, because there was no way to miss the over-exaggerated movement.

“Did he say when he wanted to come?” I asked.

“Next week. He has a break in his schedule and thought Genevieve would be more comfortable rehearsing there.”

Sean was correct and it was nice of him to think of that, but then he’d been in the business a long time and understood why Evie had backed away.

“Next week works. We don’t have anyone scheduled to come in,” I told Leslie.

Evie gave me big eyes coupled with her brows scrunching up. I knew that look and I knew it well. She’d scheduled someone to come in and since that booking hadn’t gone through me, it meant it wasn’t a booking. It was an off-the-books session with Evie.

“Actually, Les, before you call Sean’s people back I should double-check the schedule. I’m not at my desk. I’ll call you back in ten.”

“Um-hm,” Leslie hummed. “Who’d you book, Genevieve?”

“I don’t know why’d you ask such a thing.” Evie’s singsong lie was mixed with a low chuckle.

“For starters, I know Bobby. She doesn’t need to be at her desk to look at a calendar. She has it in her phone and she doesn’t need the phone because she has everything memorized and does not make scheduling mistakes—ever. Which means, my dear friend, you gave her a look. My guess? It was the wide eyes and the eyebrow thing you do. Oh, that reminds me; I called your normal makeup artist, she’s free to do the concert. I assume you’ll be waxed and polished before you come.”

“Sure,” Evie huffed.

“Bobby?”

“She’ll be ready,” I promised. “And I approved the wardrobe.”