A Captivating Conundrum (11 page)

Following her up the staircase I tried my absolute best not to check out any body parts swaying before me. Finding it more and more difficult to keep my gaze off the amazing legs, I stopped, took a deep breath and stared at the pictures covering the walls. I found myself smiling at the two little girls in their father's lap, looking up at him like he was the king of all he surveyed.

There was another beautiful photo of what had to be Beth's Mom and Dad. Her father wore the smile of a man who worked hard for a family he truly loved. While Mom…well, Mom was only slightly different than the woman before me. Instead of the thick, wavy mass of dark auburn hair that framed Beth's stunning face, Mom's was straight as an arrow, but the brown eyes were filled with fire as she looked at her beloved husband. It was a picture of true love.

I looked down the hallway to where Beth stood, leaning up against the wall and smiling. "You're into family pictures?"

"Yeah, actually," I replied. "Reminds me of home." 

She walked back to me, making my heart race in my chest. Lifting her hand, she pointed to a small picture of a huge dog. "That's Jo-Jo. He was my protector."

I grinned. "I wouldn't have messed with him."

Pointing at the picture of the two small girls on Dad's lap, Beth continued, "That's me and my sister, Marie. She's two years older. Real pain in the butt," she laughed.

"Why's that?" 

"She has a gift of over-talking you, so if you want to get your point out you need to be really fast. Actually," she said, tilting her head to the side, "she did get me primed for Nicole." 

I pointed to a picture of a woman in a lovely white dress standing beside a tall man who looked more than a bit like Tim McGraw. "Your sister?"

"And her husband, Keith." She pointed at the same couple standing with two children. "Maia and Ryan—my niece and nephew. They're great. Ryan is the kindest soul and Maia has my attitude."

"She's sweet and quiet, huh?" I grinned.

"Ha!" Beth threw her head back and sent the soft waves flying all around her face. "You really are going to get an education. We are both beyond determined and want nothing more than to be a burden on society. Actually, she could probably take over Nicole's business one day. That is one girl who could give old Nic a run for her money in the smartass department."

I wanted to hug her. I know that sounds ridiculous, but all I wanted was to take the beautiful lady before me into my arms and find a safe and extraordinary place to live.

Clearing her throat, Beth took a step back. "You can have the room at the end of the hall. I figure since you're a sunshine bum from California, you should have that one. The light shines in there in the mornings and it's just beautiful."

"Thanks. I jog back home, get out on the beach."

She nodded. "Well, there is a beach. We're actually sitting just a few steps away from a huge lake—white sand and everything. So feel free to take a run. Just remember, there's far more wildlife here than in your hometown." She smiled. "I mean, you have carnivores lying in wait for you there, too, I'm sure, but ours aren't wearing bikinis and dreaming of becoming a Hollywood idol's wife. Our nature actually bites."

I laughed. "The bikini-clad ones do, too."

Walking into the room, I wanted to take her by the hand and ask Beth to come sit with me so we could continue this conversation far into the night. But she stayed at the door as I took in the fantastic room with the stunning view.

"Bathroom's in there." She pointed at the door. "And there's a linen closet in there with everything you should need. My room is right across the hall if you find anything missing."

I took a deep breath, standing in the glow of the soft light above me. "Thank you for this. I'm sure you weren't expecting to have to pay hostess to two guys off the street."

She shrugged. "Bobby's right…the company should be fun."

I grinned. "Chris is happy about the company, too."

We shared a knowing smile, as if we were two single parents watching our kids fall in love. "Bobby's a great guy."

"So's Chris."

"Sounds like a perfect match."

Unknowingly, Beth licked her lips and I felt as if I was going to walk to the threshold and... The gentleman inside me was dissolving quicker than a shot of whiskey in front of a thirsty drunk. "Goodnight." I forced the words from my throat.

Beth smiled and pulled the door closed. Falling onto the bed, I realized for the first time that I was now only a few steps away from a woman I was falling desperately in love with.

~ Hers ~

I closed my bedroom door behind me and wondered what the hell I'd gotten myself into. I swear, all of a sudden it felt like Nicole and Bobby had gotten together in order to embarrass me to death—as if this was payback for all the bets I'd won and the amount of cash they'd lost over the years. But…if I were dead I couldn't write any more books, so that let Nicole off the hook.

I could hear the small murmurings coming from downstairs, knowing in my heart that Bobby and Chris were forming their own fast friendship in my kitchen. God, I was going to kill him for this.

Sighing, I headed to the serenity of the bathtub. I still maintain there are times in life when only bubbles and hot water can make you feel human again. And I don't care how 'girlie' that sounds. That's also why places like
Victoria's Secret
were built, so you could wear that soft silk against your skin and feel like a real female—even if you were only playing hostess to your laptop before turning in for the evening.

I had never felt like such a girl before. I was almost nervous, which was absolutely ridiculous. The guy had been polite, classy, asked about my family…which means he's not a total jerk.
But there is no attraction on his part
, I kept repeating in my mind. His eye contact was simply a courtesy that he'd learned from his acting training.

I sank into the water and tried to force my mind back into Book Two of the famous series Nicole was waiting for me to finish. I knew these characters inside and out, and all I had to do was find the end—the perfect end that would lead to the final book of the trilogy being a heart-stopping, must-read experience! I knew I had this. Writing was the one thing I understood and had a passion for, but the thoughts just wouldn't come.

In fact, all I could think about was how in the
hell
I'd ended up with a man right across the hall who made me feel like a teen in heat? Talk about not being prepared.

…I hope Bobby enjoyed his evening, because in the morning he was a dead man!

Eight

~ His ~

Morning came to the Litchfield Hills and,
boy
, was Beth right. I had never woken up to such a sunrise before—and I lived in California, so that's saying something. 

From the beautiful bay window of the room, I stared out at the sun shining down on a calm, gentle lake surrounded by thick clusters of pine trees. Here and there everything from lovely mansions to small cabins dotted the landscape. I could hear everything from dogs barking to children playing as I looked out on a lone boat with an old fisherman inside, rod and reel in hand, waiting for a bite.

I laughed a little, thinking to myself how Rockwell-'ian' it all was. Those old
Saturday Evening Posts
that showed small, happy communities…the whole scene was a magnificent picture. The gardens around the house were in full bloom, and I noticed that the yellow rose bushes that were scattered almost everywhere.

I located the small white sand beach and suddenly wondered if Beth and I would ever be able to have a dinner down there…maybe stare up at the stars, which you could actually see here in the big, smog-free sky…and make love. I sighed heavily, still wrestling between the man I knew I was, and the hungry side that was screaming at me to remember him with kindness.

Throwing on the shorts, throwing off the shirt, I stopped for just a minute outside my neighbor's door to see if I could hear her soft breaths of sleep.
Man, I have
got
to stop acting like a guy stuck in a romance novel!

I practically ran down the stairs and out into the sunshine, trying my best to sweat off everything that was pent up inside me. I turned my thoughts to the script; work—a much tamer subject than the one I couldn't seem to let go of.

Beth's writing was outstanding, like a sonnet set to the perfect music. I thought about the man I had to be. I could relate to how the guy felt. He was over thirty-five with a failed relationship far in his background that he'd truly thought was the 'one.' The character remembered the whole thing, from being over the moon the day his love told him she was pregnant to coming to the conclusion that he just wasn't ready for the title of 'father' back then. The guy had been young, just out of high school, but had to forget about the dreams he desperately wanted for his future. Quitting the path to fame, he got a job to make sure he could provide for whatever little person they were bringing into the world.

But his 'supposed' true love hadn't felt the same way. Choosing to give their child up for adoption, she completely helped him, yet annihilated him with the decision. I could feel the heartache the guy must've experienced, but at that young age he still had the chance to shine…and he'd taken it. He got out, hit the big time and was happy with his life, until one day—like all 'magic bubbles'—everything popped and he found himself all alone. 

Beth's words were a restoration of faith. They were the words that spoke to millions of souls who regretted a decision they made long ago, and were now at that point in their life where they craved the family—a child to call them Dad.

And then…a little girl; a little girl who had no one and wanted the same exact things as the man. She was a child who needed hope, help and support, but without a Mom to tie up the package, the man knew it was wrong. After all, a little girl needs a Mom.

It was a true look into everything from being a single parent to failing at love, and regaining spirit and faith through the eyes of a child who offers unconditional love. 

I had been floored the first time I'd read it, and had felt very close to Lily Stone. Even though I had hardly any interaction with children, being an only child myself, Beth's words spoke to me about the thrill and excitement of being a parent.

I sighed, thinking back to the conversation I had with my best friend, Chance, before I'd gone to bed last night…

~***~

I had dialed the phone as fast as possible after Beth had closed the door and disappeared, trying to find some normal, steady ground that I understood.

"What's up, man?"

I breathed a sigh of relief. "Dude, I'm stuck."

"Huh? I thought you were Big Apple bound?"

"I was. I mean, I got here…there. Look, I got a role I wasn't expecting for this charity thing and it comes with a…woman."

"You mean a hot leading lady, dog?" Chance laughed like the eighteen-year-old semi-slut that was still living inside his thirty-three-year-old body. 

I could hear the game running in the background, and I almost felt like getting on a plane back to California…to what I knew. My small circle of friends were the ones I could count on; my crew made me feel…insulated from the world.

"No, not a leading lady. She's the writer."

"Oh, sorry. Aren't writer's like chicks with specs, big butts and gray hair?"

I smiled, envisioning the stunner that was sitting just two closed doors away. I could only imagine how Chance would trip over himself to get to Beth. In fact, I could see him bustin' every move possible to try to impress her. "Not nearly."