Chapter 50
Lily
When I hear the knock at the door, I leap out of my chair. "Siobhan's here!" I squeal to no one in particular. Jakob and Mini are far less enthusiastic about my friend's visit. Jakob actually changed the subject this morning when I mentioned that Siobhan was on her way. I tried not to let it get to me because I've missed that crazy lady even though Jakob doesn’t seem to see her appeal.
I throw the door open and we leap into each other's arms. "There's my reformed country girl," she laughs, giving me a tap on the ass.
I tip my head back to look at her. "Ohmygod! I'm loving the pin waves!" I gush, taking in her glossy, stiffly-moulded hair. The saccharine scent of styling product makes me instantly dizzy. “A bit much for the countryside but still!"
"Isn't it chic!" she laughs, fluffing it with a careful hand.
"I just got chased by damn chicken!" a man voice explodes from just behind her. I glance beyond her shoulder and see a handsome, sharply-dressed older man in an expensive-looking suit approaching the front stoop.
That's when I notice about a dozen or so busy-looking people scoping out the yard. Some hold cameras and clipboards. A few of them sport massive headsets. There’s a man speaking animatedly into a voice recorder.
"Uh...Siobhan, who are all these people?" I ask sceptical that I even want to know the answer to my question.
She taps me playfully on the shoulder. "The film crew, silly."
"What film crew?”
She furrows her brows at me. "Didn't Jakob tell you what's going on?"
I step out onto the porch and look around at the commotion. "No, he didn't. I didn't even know that you and Jakob were in contact."
"Hmm..." she says with pursed lips and an arched brow. "Honey, maybe you should get him out here."
I stick my head into the house. "Jakob, babe," I grunt through gritted teeth, "Can you come out here, please?"
I need to get to the bottom of this. Fast. I need answers.
Mini comes out, wheeling her chair onto the porch. Jakob follows her carrying a tray of lemonade and biscuits. A smirk is painted on his lips as he sets the snacks on the porch table.
"Hello darling." Siobhan leans in and gives Jakob a hug which he reciprocates! — Do I know this man at all? — before turning her attention to Mini. "Well aren't you pretty today, Mini. Got a date or something?"
Mini rolls her eyes. "Save the flattery. Did you walk with a check?"
Jakob, Siobhan and Mini chortle like besties sharing an inside joke.
Now, I’m just annoyed. “Anybody care to tell me what's going on here?" I fold my arms above my big belly and wait impatiently for an explanation.
Jakob gives my stomach a quick caress. "Sit down, babe."
With a wary eye on him, I sink into one of the rocking chairs. The man in the suit climbs the stairs and introduces himself as Rick, Siobhan's sugar daddy — okay, he doesn't say, "Hey, I'm Rick, the sugar daddy," but I can put two and two together. Everyone takes a seat and pours a drink.
Jakob begins to explain how Siobhan showed Rick photos and videos she took the last time she visited the farm. His media company was immediately interested in using the farm as the location for a mini-series that they're shooting, a regency piece about a wealthy, young maiden who escapes the confines of her family's estate and runs off to live in a cabin with a serf who tends to the land. A Maiden Fond of Mischief, it's called.
Anyway, Jakob has agreed to let them use the fallow land surrounding the cottage for the production. In return, all of our financial problems will be solved.
"We have a fairly tight production schedule and a large budget. Shooting begins next week," Rick informs us as he slides off his Ray-Bans and snaps his briefcase open in his lap. I can't help the antsy feeling that crawls into my limbs when he pulls out his checkbook and starts scribbling away.
Mini grins from ear-to-ear, peeking over Rick's shoulder. She throws me a wink and I attempt a scolding glare but burst into excited giggles instead. Siobhan reaches over and squeezes my hand.
Rick stretches the check out to Jakob who takes it and glances at it. I can see him fighting off the smile creeping up the corners of his lips. "Just need to make sure this figure is fine with my little lady," he says handing the check off to me.
I read the number and it makes my head spin. But I can't encourage him to accept just based on the money at stake. It wouldn't be right.
"Babe, can I have a word with you? In private?" I ask sweetly.
He obliges and just as we're about to excuse ourselves, Rick adds in a desperate tone. "We're flexible about the money, if that's the issue."
Jakob's eyes glint slyly. "Good to know, Rick." His hand settles on the small of my back and we make our way into the kitchen.
"It's good, right? They're offering a lot of money." He leans against the stove, folding those strong arms across his chest.
I sigh, dropping into a kitchen chair. "Yes, it's a lot of money. But I know you. You don't like strangers hanging around. This farm is your sanctuary." My voice holds so much uncertainty. We do need the money but it's not worth it if Jakob is walking around unhappy about the small army that comes along with a film production of this scale.
One corner of his mouth tips up. "I'm so ridiculously happy, Lily. You're here and the baby is coming soon and Mini's doing great. We're a family. I couldn't ask for anything better. And if I have to rent off a piece of land to make it happen then so what? I don't care. As long as I have my family."
With a smile ripping clear across my face, I stand and waddle over to him. "Are you sure?" I ask, snaking my arms around his waist.
He pulls me close, pressing his lips to my scalp. "I'm sure. One hundred percent. Besides, Rick’s lawyer is drafting up the contract. One of my terms is that his people stick to that side of the property. I don't want anyone wandering around here, disturbing my animals."
It seems like he's thought this through. Excitement forms in my gut. Maybe we can do this after all.
I bury my face in his shirt. He smells so freaking masculine. "You think we can get some more money out of that rich fucker?" I ask, feeling kinda-sorta guilty. Not really.
He chuckles into my hair. "Fuck yeah! Did you see how desperate he looked?"
I pull away. "Maybe just another ten percent or something..."
Jakob takes my hand, leading me back to the porch. "Maybe..."
We step outside and all eyes lift to watch us.
Jakob wears a solemn look. "Rick — we're going to require another thirty percent," he says, "y'know — to accommodate for the inconvenience." I give Jakob's hand a tight squeeze. Greedy bastard. I love it.
Rick's eyes bounce from Jakob to me and back. "Fine," he concedes on the tail of a sigh. He grabs the check from Jakob’s hands and signs off on the changes.
He doesn't notice the grin that Jakob and I share.