“Make sure you do. I have to go.” With reluctance, she stepped away, taking another long peek at him before she walked out the door.
At the hotel, Mari walked into the kitchen as Bella pulled the venison out of the refrigerator to marinate in her special concoction for the next twenty-four hours. “Someone looks happy with herself.”
“Life’s good. What’s not to be happy about?” She pulled the meat out and slapped it down on a cutting board before reaching for her knife to trim away the sinew and fat before she sliced it.
“Maybe someone is feeling the love a little bit?”
“Maybe.” It was hard to keep the heat from her cheeks. She tried to focus on the venison.
“Does he feel the same way?” Mari leaned on the counter, watching as Bella cut the meat into thick slices and layered them in a large dish.
“I’d say so. We talked late into the evening and I know he feels the same way about me. My heart is all his, Mari, but my head still has to catch up with it. We obviously have issues to deal with first. Finding the right solution may take time.”
“What are you going to do, Bella?”
“I’m going to marinate this meat and then I’m going to chase up my producer. I had an idea, which he’s sitting on, and I want to get things moving or I’ll have to come up with something better.” She proceeded to share the proposal with her sister.
Later that day, Mari took a call from the producer.
“Of course they can stay here, Mr. Woodall. Sorry, Russell. Yes, Bella did tell me that. Thank you so much for what you’re doing. We really appreciate the exposure.” Mari hung up the phone and squealed. “You did it, kiddo. You really did it.” She dropped the phone and threw her arms around Bella, dancing with glee. “My hotel is going to be on your show.”
“I was so scared you’d think I was taking over. I know I’m ultimately doing it for myself but…”
“Stop right there. You know I’d do anything to have you stay in Cherry Lake. So would Dakota. And if it means you don’t have to go back to Seattle to tape the last show over again, I think Jake’s going to be on that happy list. When you first suggested it, I didn’t hold out much hope. I’m so glad it’s all coming together.”
“Me too and I’m very grateful you don’t mind.” She wiped her hands over her face, the realization of what she’d done only now sinking in.
“So, did he say if he’s going to let you out of your contract?”
The one thing she wanted to know and he was making her wait, dragging out the anguish. Would she have to go back to Seattle at all? That was the million dollar question she wanted answered more than anything. “No, he didn’t. Said we should focus on the program and make sure we get enough footage to make up for the last show or something before we deal with that. He started doing his usual producer talk about how great my show is and I didn’t get everything he said. My heart was pounding.” She closed her eyes, breathed heavily. So much had been riding on this and finally some of it was falling into place.
“That’s not fair. Keeping you hanging like that is plain mean.”
And didn’t Bella know it but since it was her asking for the impossible, she had to accept there would be challenges. “I’ll just have to roll with it and see what he comes up with. I still have time off before I’m supposed to go back to Seattle to start shooting the next season and I kind of get the feeling he’s going to make me wait. Drag out the punishment.”
“Oh well, at least it’s in the process now.”
“Yeah. Listen, can you please keep this to yourself? I don’t want to say anything to anyone in case it doesn’t go the way I want it to.”
Mari looked startled. “You’re not going to tell Jake?”
“I’m torn, you know? I know I should because it affects him as much as me but so much could go wrong. I don’t want to say anything in case it comes to nothing. Russell might be the producer but the studio bosses may not be keen to let me go, even if he is. It wouldn’t be fair to get Jake’s hopes up until I hear more.”
“Fair enough and it’s your business so I won’t say a word.” Mari pointed at the box of ready-to-go gift packs. “What’s that?”
“Cory wanted something to give to the class tomorrow for Valentine’s Day. He has his eye on a new girl in school who’s a bit shy. He didn’t want to make it obvious to everyone in case she got embarrassed.”
“So you made something for all of them?”
“Yep.” She continued to slice her venison. “He helped though. So did Jake.”
“Don’t you ever stop?”
Bella snorted out a laugh. “What’s the point? I have too much to do and life is short. I can rest when I’m dead.”
“No wonder Russell sent you away for a break. I didn’t realize you took on so much. What with the photo shoot for your book yesterday, prep for my dinner, you still had time to bake for Cory.”
Bella put down the knife. “Have a look at this.” She wiped her hands on a towel and walked over to the refrigerator, took down the print of her and Jake she’d pinned there so she could see him while she worked.
Mari took the photo and smiled. “You can’t let him go, Bella. You just can’t.” She held her hand over her heart. “That look he’s giving you is sublime. The guy is totally smitten.”
“Yeah, me too. And believe me, I’ll do the best I can but if they won’t let
