“I have a few ideas.” I kiss the back of her left hand.
“Dahlia!” Rosa runs out of the house in fuzzy slippers and a head full of Velcro rollers.
“Mami.”
Rosa pulls her daughter into a quick, crushing hug before throwing her arms around me and squeezing all the air from my lungs.
Posada: Mexican Christmas festival to commemorate the nativity story.
Guess she forgave you for the jail cell incident.
She pulls away. “You brought our girl back home.”
“She made the choice all on her own. I was only there to drive the truck back.”
Rosa stares up at me with shiny brown eyes that remind me so much of Dahlia’s. “You did a lot more than that.”
Dahlia turns away and swipes at her cheek.
“Are you crying?” I laugh.
She flips me off as she walks into her house. “I hate you.”
Some things never change.
When I helped Callahan Kane remodel his house last summer within a nearly impossible time frame, I knew I’d call in the favor he owed me one day, but I hadn’t planned on using it on Dahlia’s behalf.
My plan could crash and burn, but if it means helping Dahlia get a TV deal that makes her one hundred percent happy, then I will reach out to a man who owes me a big favor.
Callahan Kane is a difficult man to get in touch with. All of my calls go to voicemail, which only makes my anxiety worse with each passing day.
During that time, I focus on my project and getting ready for the holidays. Dahlia helps me decorate my house, and I repay her by fucking her underneath the Christmas tree and watching a few episodes of her favorite telenovela.
Sam keeps his calls to a minimum, which gives me faith in Ryder’s abilities to help me run Lopez Luxury. I know he won’t let me down, and everyone’s feedback about him supports that, so I’m feeling more confident about stepping back and starting a few private projects of my own with Dahlia.
I retry Callahan Kane’s number for a second time today, and he picks up after the third ring.
Miracles do come true.
“Julian Lopez. To what do I owe this rare phone call?”
I clear my throat. “Remember that favor you owe me?”
“Straight to the point. I like it. Reminds me of my brother—”
I stop him before he starts rambling. “Do. You. Remember?”
“Why don’t you refresh my memory?”
I tap my fingers against my workbench. “I fixed your house in exchange for a favor of my choosing.”
“Ah, right. Do you want me to connect you with Declan or Rowan?”
“I want to speak with whoever runs the DreamStream part of the Kane Company.”
“You’d like to meet with the television streaming division? What for?”
I stay quiet.
“Why would a developer like you—” He cuts himself off and makes a confirmatory noise. “Oh. I think I know why.”
“Can you help me or not?”
“Sure, but you have to answer three questions of mine first.”
“What?” I ask.
“Does this request to meet with our streaming department have something to do with Dahlia?”
“Yes.”
“Are you in love with her?”
“What does that have to—”
“Answer the question so I understand the severity of the situation.”
Este pendejo. “Yes, I’m in love with her.”
“Great. That means you’ll do anything to help her.”
“What’s your final question?”
“Are you available tonight?”
“Tonight?”
“Is that a problem?”
“No.” Although I’ll have to think up a good reason for canceling dinner plans with Dahlia.
“Great. Meet me at the private airport at seven.”
I have no idea what I’m getting myself into, but I know Dahlia is worth all the trouble, including putting up with Callahan Kane and his annoyingly sunny disposition.
CHAPTER FIFTY-FOUR
Dahlia
My phone lights up as Ryder discusses the schedule for the Lake Aurora renovation project.
“Excuse me.” I step out of the conference room and answer my agent’s call.
“You’re not going to believe who I just got off the phone with!” Jamie squeals.
I hold my phone at a distance to protect my eardrums from rupturing. “Who?”
“DreamStream!”
“The Kane Company subdivision?”
“Yes! You’ve heard of them?”
“Is there someone who hasn’t?”
Jamie laughs. “True. Well, they reached out to me, asking if you were available for a show idea they have.”
“They contacted you?”
“I know. I’m equally shocked. Not that you’re not amazing, but DreamStream contracts are huge. You’d become a household name with a company like that producing your show.”
I lean against the wall before my knees give out. “What kind of show are they thinking?”
“Well, that’s the best part. They’re willing to go along with whatever you want, wherever you want, so long as you let them produce and stream it.”
“You’re joking.” A deal like this seems too good to be true.
Probably because it is.
No. I shut down the anxious thought before it has time to fester.
But still, something about this deal seems too convenient.
Who cares? If they’re letting you take full creative control of the show, does it matter?
But I can’t help wondering how a deal like this came about in the first place.
“Who reached out to you?” I ask.
Jamie doesn’t miss a beat. “Declan and Callahan Kane.”
“Both of them?”
“Yes. Callahan Kane is doing some consulting work with DreamStream. Said he found out you were pitching a show from a town local and knew his brother would want to get involved since his wife is a big fan.”
A town local?
It doesn’t take me more than a few seconds to piece everything together.
Holy shit. This is really happening.
I must have said the words aloud because Jamie laughs and says, “Yeah. It is.”
I smack my chest to get my lungs working again. “How soon can we meet with them to go over everything?”
Jamie goes into greater detail about the offer, and I diligently listen, my excitement growing with every minute. She hangs up ten minutes later with a promise to send me the revised contract once it is ready.
Now I need to find the town local responsible for all this, and I have a strong feeling I know where he is.
When I decided to move back to Lake Wisteria, I expected Julian to resume his usual position in the business, but I was surprised when he kept true to his original plan. He only works out of his office three times a week now, while he spends the rest of his time managing builds and helping at the sites.
Plus, we’re taking on the Lake Aurora house together as project co-leaders.
I haven’t seen him look this happy since…well, ever.
I open our text thread and send Julian a message.
ME
Are you still in a meeting?
He responds only a few seconds later.
FIRST CHOICE
Nope.
I head to Julian’s office, only stopping to greet Sam before walking inside the private suite and shutting the heavy door behind me.
Julian leans back in his chair. “I thought we agreed not to see each other until lunchtime.”