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Jeremy whistled. “I take it the kid hasn’t said anything to you about the show.”
“She has the right to have additional representation.” But there was an edge to his foster sister’s tone.
“Or maybe she and Aisha are talking again?” Jeremy ventured. “That would be a plus.”
Molly had been rather put out Aisha and Rey hadn’t asked her to go to Paris with them as Mitch’s nanny. In fact, the Franklin-Garcias had tried to encourage Molly to go to school and do something with her life than just superheroing. Especially since her twin sister had moved out of their grandmother’s house and was attending classes at a local automotive servicing school.
“Aisha would have said something to me if that were the case,” Harri murmured.
“Oh, geez, woman! Are you still jealous Aisha has the people skills?” Jeremy complained. Harri was a brilliant attorney and a good person, but her E.Q. was practically nonexistent.
“No, it’s…” Slurping came over the receiver. “I trust Ultra to look out for themselves. Molly can be a little naïve.”
He knew exactly where Harri was going with this, and he didn’t like it. Not one bit.
“No, no, no. I revamped her costume and look. I am not going to babysit Nix for you.”
“She’s not going to listen to me if I try to talk her out of joining this reality show,” she said.
Jeremy pinched the bridge of his nose. “Her whole life has revolved around rebelling against female authority figures.”
“That’s because her mom abandoned her,” Harri snapped.
“Oh, and Rue Liberty’s overprotectiveness had nothing do with it?” Jeremy immediately regretted his mocking tone. At least, Rue fought for her granddaughters. None of his extended family would have anything to do with him after his parents kicked him out.
“I’m sorry,” he said. “But make sure she’s actually going to be a judge on this show before you freak out. Producers sometimes dangle big names to land other suckers, and Nix is a big name thanks to you and Aisha.”
“You’re not going to take any responsibility?” Harri mocked.
“I was trying to be a little gracious here,” he shot back.
“All right, all right.” Harri’s sigh whistled over the receiver. “Let me talk to Molly and have Susan and Aisha look over your contract.”
“And I want more money if I have to babysit Screaming Orgasm again.” Jeremy grinned at Harri’s groan of despair. She and Aisha worked hard to convince Molly the moniker she chose to piss off her grandmother wasn’t doing the kid any favors.
“Fine.” Harri chuckled. “Then I’m claiming one of the dinners at La Churro’s you owe me for tonight.”
“You have to pay for your own husband this time,” he shot back, though he knew he’d pay so Leonardo didn’t give him grief about being cheap. Besides, he rather liked lording it over Harri’s ex-billionaire husband.
“Fine. How’s seven sound?”
“Don’t let me forget some takeout for my own husband. He’s stuck at the salon until closing.”
“I’ll leave mine at home, and if I have news, I can pick up dinner as a business expense,” Harri said.
Jeremy laughed. “You’re incorrigible, sister of mine. I’ll see you at seven.” He pushed back from his desk, grabbed his coffee cup, and headed for the kitchen.
Leonardo sat on a stool, bent over the breakfast island and intent on something. The rough scratching of pencil on paper came from the same direction.
Jeremy brushed back his husband’s electric blue-highlighted hair and kissed his neck.
Leonardo jumped and slammed his notebook shut. “Quit trying to sneak a peek!”
“I wasn’t. I swear.” Jeremy circled the island and reached for the coffee pot. “What did Elaine say?”
“About freakin’ time.”
Jeremy paused in pouring his coffee and eyed Leonardo. “Excuse me?”
“That was a direct quote.” Leonardo grinned. “I told you she needed to be promoted.”
Jeremy leaned his elbows on the granite surface of the island. “Maybe I didn’t want to replace my one and only.”
Leonardo narrowed his eyes. “The only place I’d object to being replaced is in your bed, love boy.”
“I’d never dream of anyone else with me between the sheets.” Jeremy took Leonardo’s hand in his and kissed the back. “When I said forever, I meant it, baby doll. By the way, what do you want me to bring you from La Churro’s?”
Leonardo laughed. “Harri’s collecting again, isn’t she?”
“It depends on if she has news about the TV deal for me by seven.”
“I was teasing this morning,” Leonardo said. “Are you really going to do this? Months in California?”
“Bernhardt let a few things slip in his email to Harri.” Jeremy repeated the tidbits his sister found in the first two pages.
Leonardo whistled. “I admit I feel better about shooting the series here, but Burnhardt really has no idea that you and Lady Jaye are the same person?”
“Oh, he’s done his research, all right.” Jeremy shook his head. “He knows Jeremy Harkness is Lady Jaye, but he doesn’t know Jeremy Harkness is Mel’s designer.”
Leonardo frowned. “Are you sure this is a good idea?”
“I don’t like the idea of a supervillain finding out who I am.” Jeremy tapped his fingers on the countertop. “If one of those bozos decides I’m worth kidnapping, or worse goes after you or the sibs, to try to force me to give up my client list—”
Leonardo exhaled gustily. “But Harri wants you to keep an eye on Molly if she really is a judge, doesn’t she?”
“The kid is sweet, but there’s a reason the other Canyon Pointe supers make sure she’s teamed up with one of them when stuff happens in the city.” Jeremy rolled his eyes.
“I’m sorry about the money crack I made earlier,” Leonardo said. “I know you wouldn’t risk me or your foster family.”
“It’s okay.” Jeremy leaned across the island and kissed his husband. Maybe they were still in the throes of being newlyweds, but he was so damn lucky to have Leonardo in his life. “You’re right. I have been obsessed with money the last twenty years. I need to get over myself.”
“But you’re still going to do this reality show to make sure Molly doesn’t get in trouble, aren’t you?” Leonardo asked.
“I won’t if you tell me no, darling,” Jeremy replied.
Leonardo shook his head. “I’m not going to tell you what to do.”
“But—” Jeremy drawled.
“I know you’ll do the right thing.” Leonardo made shooing motions with both hands. “Now, go change so we can have lunch with Elaine.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Jeremy winked before he strolled to their bedroom. Leonardo was right. He would do the right thing, and the right thing was to keep the naïve Nix from getting herself into big trouble.
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