Seven Night Stand by Nicole Helm Read Free Book Online

Our viewers might enjoy people making fools out of themselves, but I don’t know many people who enjoy watching a sick elderly man struggle. It doesn’t work that way.”
    It shouldn’t bother him that she was looking at his grandfather through the eyes of whether or not he was TV show material, but for some reason it did.
    “If the show comes to fruition, we’d focus on your parents and you. Now, if that’s your only concern about the show—”
    “Definitely not my only concern,” he muttered, turning his back on her and staring out the window. Outside was the parking lot, Vivvy’s rental car, and then empty space as far as the eye could see.
    Why did he love this place? It was what he’d spent his life dreaming about and making a reality. He’d gone beyond making Harrington enough to get by. He’d made it into something lucrative.
    But he’d gone as far as he could as it was. Bob wasn’t getting any younger and he constituted a hefty chunk of Harrington’s income. Nate needed to diversify, to broaden his horizons. The show she was talking about could do that.
    He ran a hand through his hair. But if he went with this idea, he’d give up the right to live his life as he wanted. He’d give up the reputation he’d worked so hard to build in spite of his father. And with Jed and Annie Harrington anywhere near the picture, this show would make asses out of all of them.
    So, of course it made total sense to sleep with the woman trying to do just that. If Ryan were here, Nate would be on the receiving end of a “you’re an idiot” speech. And he’d deserve it.
    “Nate.” She waited until he turned before she continued to speak. “Tell me what your concerns are. I’m sure I can alleviate them. If you’re worried about the family dynamic, let’s discuss this. I need—”
    “Millard.” The low growl was punctuated by the slam of a door. “Nate!”
    “You’re about to see some family dynamic in action.” Nate trudged out of his office toward his mother’s voice.
    Mom stood in the entryway of the office smoking a cigarette. Her dark blond hair was a haphazard mess and the Mickey Mouse T-shirt she wore was stained with who knew what. Her jeans were worn down to the fraying edges.
    It was impossible not to feel embarrassment when Vivvy was such a complete opposite to the disaster before him.
    “Grandpa’s out back.”
    Annie took a long drag of the cigarette, but her eyes weren’t on Nate—they focused behind him. He looked back and saw Vivvy standing right there.
    “This the TV lady?”
    Vivvy stepped forward, all smiles as if the woman in front of her couldn’t be an ad for why you shouldn’t drop out of high school. “You must be Nate’s mother. I’m Vivvy Marsh.” She held out a hand to shake and Nate winced as their palms met.
    “Annie Harrington.” She gave Vivvy the once-over. “So, if we decide to do this, how much money we talking?”
    “Mom, go get Grandpa. Take him home.”
    She waved him off. “Jed got us into this mess. I want to know what we’re gonna get out of it. I’m part of Harrington. I ought to know. Nothing wrong with asking a question.” She turned her attention back to Vivvy and blew some smoke in her face.
    Nate stepped between them, jamming his hands in his pockets so his mother wouldn’t see they’d curled into fists. “I’m handling this, Mom. Me. You go handle Grandpa. You got questions, you tell me and I’ll ask Vivvy.”
    Annie clucked her tongue. “You got a thing for this one already? You did inherit your dad’s can’t-keep-your-dick-in-your-pants gene.”
    “For fuck’s sake, Mom.”
    Annie moved around Nate and closer to Vivvy. “Don’t fall for a Harrington, honey. Bad news.”
    “You’re married to one, aren’t you?”
    Nate turned. He and his mother stared at Vivvy with slightly gaping mouths. Nate knew he shouldn’t be so surprised she’d be straightforward and unafraid of his mother’s crazy ramblings. And yet, here he was,