“Hush. I can grill, too, from hamburgers to salmon to chicken. I make some mean mashed potatoes and can even do a few easy desserts. So you won’t starve.”
“You’re my assistant. I can’t ask you to cook, too.”
Cassie held up a hand. “Hey, who says an assistant can’t cook? I assist you. Period. Whatever it takes to keep the Rhett Corrigan machine moving, I’ll do it.” She sized him up. “What do you like to eat?”
“Everything,” Rhett admitted. “I love seafood and steak. Lots of fresh fruits and vegetables. I am partial to whole grains. And pasta. God, I love pasta.”
“What about Randi?”
“Randi? She doesn’t eat anything except salads. She nibbles or pushes things around on her plate. It used to be just Diet Coke and cigarettes, but I won’t let her smoke here.”
“She probably sneaks some in,” Cassie pointed out. “I caught a whiff of tobacco on her.”
“You’re probably right. Don’t worry about picking up anything for her.”
“Okay. I’ll stock up your refrigerator and pantry. What does Breck like?”
“Breck would eat rocks if you put ketchup on them.”
“I’ll cook until Consuelo and her crew return.”
“I feel bad about you doing that.”
Cassie grinned. “Don’t. You’re just going to pay me even more for my time and trouble. I do draw the line at trimming hedges and swishing toilets. Do I have your go-ahead to hire someone to do that?”
“Sure.”
“Then I’ll make a few calls, take some bids, and get back to you.”
“You don’t have to. You’ve got the authority. Make the decision.” He thought a moment. “I’ll get the credit card Carreen used for my expenses when I visit her. Buy whatever you think is reasonable. Privacy is number one, though. Whoever comes in needs to be discreet and sign an NDA.” Rhett thought a moment. “I’ll need you to sign a non-disclosure agreement, too.”
Cassie nodded. “I figured as much. The rest sounds good to me. Since I’m cooking, what hours do you expect me to work? I hear you’re an early bird.”
“Hours? Carreen made her own. You do the same. I’ll make oatmeal or cereal with fruit for breakfast.” He grinned. “I even know how to scramble up an egg-white omelet if I get bored. Seriously, I don’t need you here when I roll out of bed in the mornings. I know some days will be light, so you aren’t expected to be here all day. When I’m shooting, those can be really long days, so I hope it’ll balance out in the end for you.”
“Do I go on location with you? We really haven’t talked about any specifics,” Cassie pointed out.
“Carreen came sometimes. It depends. Can we play that by ear? I don’t have another movie lined up yet.”
“Sure. I’m going to need your cell number. Landline. E-mail address. Carreen’s computer password so I can access files. Could I have a key to the house? I’d like to come and go without having to be let it. You know, by the imaginary housekeeper who takes such good care of you.”
Rhett let the sarcasm pass. “I’ll set you up with all of that and give you a cell phone to use. Since yours seemed to be having problems.” He saw annoyance flash across her face.
“Who’s your website admin? Who tweets for you? Me? Your PR person?”
“Amy Simmons created the site and handles any updates. I’m not on Twitter or Instagram. I don’t see the point. I pay Becky Bloss to keep me out of the news. Why?”
“I’m trying to familiarize myself with everyone. Who does what.”
“You’ll find Amy and Becky easy to work with. Don’t worry, Cassie. You’ll have access to whatever you need but right now, I’m starved. Want to grab some lunch? Then I’ll held over to Carreen’s and you can stock up on food.”
“That’ll be fine.”
Rhett relaxed. “I can’t thank you enough for grabbing groceries at the market. I get mobbed whenever I try to go somewhere ordinary like that. I can’t even walk into 7-11 for a Slurpee.”
“As long as you give me that credit card, I promise you’ll be a happy camper.” Cassie hesitated. “Would you like me to go ask Randi to shower so she can go to lunch, too?”
“No.” Rhett’s answer was emphatic. “We really aren’t out in public yet.”
“Then I guess we can bring her something back.”
“She wouldn’t eat it anyway. Like I said, she pretty much pretends to eat.”
Cassie heard disapproval in Rhett’s voice. She found her employer hard to read at that moment. Did he really care for Randal James? Or was he simply using the model for sex?
It didn’t matter. It was none of her business.
CHAPTER 6
They stepped out into warm California sunshine and a cool breeze. Rhett took one look at her wreck of a loaner and began laughing.
“I’ll be right back,” he told her.
Cassie knew the rental seemed pathetic, but it wasn’t as if Rhett would ride with her to the restaurant. They’d take separate cars so she could run his errands while he visited Carreen. He didn’t have to be uncomfortable with her uncool ride. Rhett could pretend not to know her.
Maybe lunch together was a bad idea, after all. Cassie decided to suggest they part ways when he returned.
She heard a car’s engine approach and turned as Rhett pulled up in a black Range Rover. He got out and tossed her a set of keys.
“It’s yours to drive. Don’t give me a withering look, Cassie. It’s not a mercy loan. It actually comes with the job. Carreen used it all the time. Sometimes, you’ll have things to pick up for me, like the mega-amount of groceries today, so you’ll need a lot of room.”
“And sometimes I’ll need to park in fancy-schmancy places, and you wouldn’t want me to embarrass you?” she needled.
Rhett mock sighed. “You’re absolutely right. You’re on to me. I am a shallow, selfish, stereotypical Hollywood star and wouldn’t want others to judge me by the broken-down mess my assistant drives.” He eyed her. “Come on, Cassie. You’ll have fun driving a Rover.”
“Hah! You have no idea where I live, Corrigan. It’ll probably be stolen from my parking lot before I make it to my apartment door.”
He shrugged. “So, I’ll buy a new one. You know us pampered Hollywood men and our toys. Get in it and follow me.” Rhett climbed into the sleek, blue Porsche and buckled up. “Let’s go,” he called out the window.
Cassie climbed behind the wheel of the Range Rover and fell in behind Rhett. Her heart pounded in her ears. How could he trust her with something so expensive, especially when she’d totaled one of his cars yesterday?
Everywhere she looked were buttons and knobs that she had no idea how to work. It even had a screen for the GPS. Her ancient car came off the factory line way before GPS became standard in cars. Her hands tightened on the wheel as her eyes cut back from the road to all the bells and whistles along the dashboard. She would never, ever learn how to drive something so complicated. Much less enjoy it.