Free Bad Attitude by Tiffany White

next words had her suppressing a laugh. “Your idea about keeping my mother busy backfired. Do you know she’s making me come to dinner every night to eat the recipes she’s test-cooked?”
    â€œThink of it as a good way to save money on expensive dinners out. With the money you save, you can afford to maintain your temperamental sports car.” It amused her no end that a powerful man like Peter Ketteridge couldn’t control his determined little slip of a mother.
    â€œDon’t talk about my car—my mother’s gotten involved with it now, too.”
    â€œGood, then she did find a mechanic for you.”
    â€œI’m glad you think it’s good. I’m appalled.”
    â€œWhy? What’s wrong with the mechanic your mother picked out?”
    â€œShe picked out a woman,” Peter said with a heavy sigh.
    â€œSo … ”
    â€œA single woman mechanic.”
    This time Molly’s laugh escaped. “Are you telling me that the next time you call, it might be to announce your engagement?”
    â€œI am not amused, Ms. Hill.”
    â€œSorry, sir.”
    â€œI keep telling my mother I have no intention of marrying anytime soon. Why won’t she listen?”
    â€œI don’t know. I keep telling my mother the same thing. I guess it’s not what mothers want to hear from their only children.”
    â€œWhat’s new otherwise?” Peter asked.
    â€œYou tell me. I’m the one stuck out in the boonies, without the niceties of civilization like Variety and Hollywood Reporter. How did Unexpected Pleasures do, by the way?” Molly asked. Peter’s pet project had just opened.
    â€œIt grossed $10.4 million.”
    â€œI guess your star director is flying high—and so is his new asking price.”
    â€œI hope Jesse does as well.”
    â€œDon’t worry, it will. I’m willing to bet it will blow the lid off previous grosses for Mitch Marlow films. All it needs is a really good trailer to go with the theme song Mitch wrote.”
    â€œHow do you know about the theme song?”
    â€œHe sang it for me the other night. It’s beautiful.” She didn’t mention it wasn’t the love song everyone was expecting.
    â€œI told you not to go and get personally involved, Ms. Hill.”
    â€œI’m not. I told you I wouldn’t, didn’t I?”
    â€œThen how come he’s singing you love songs?”
    Molly took a deep breath. “He only sang it for me because he wanted my opinion, and he figured I would tell him the truth if it stank. What’s that noise?”
    â€œAlka-Seltzer fizzing in mineral water.”
    â€œWhoa, you need to relax. I’ve got an idea. Why don’t you get tickets to a Lakers’ game? You can go relax and make your mother happy at the same time.”
    â€œWould you explain to me how my going to a Lakers’ game is going to make my mother happy?”
    â€œI was thinking you could take that single lady mechanic your mother found for you.”
    Peter Ketteridge hung up.
    D ASHING THROUGH the raindrops, she passed Angie on the way back to their trailer.
    â€œHey, you didn’t happen to see Heather, did you?” she asked. Angie was polishing off the last Danish, licking the crumbs from her fingers.
    â€œAs a matter of fact, I did see her when I headed over here. She was leaving Mitch’s trailer. You want me to tell her you’re looking for her?”
    â€œNo. No, that’s okay. Look, we’re both getting soaked. I’ll catch you later, okay?”
    Angie nodded and continued on her way while Molly headed for Mitch’s trailer.
    She didn’t have any idea what she was going to say to him. How was she going to warn him about spending time alone in his trailer with Heather without appearing to be jealous? But all jealousy aside, her main concern was keeping him out of the tabloids.
    Reaching his trailer, she