A Captivating Conundrum (39 page)

The small body disappeared into the kitchen, adding her loud laugher into the mix.

I tried to follow, but Matt stopped me with his arm and pulled me back against him. "I think she's right."

I swallowed hard. "Yeah, Bobby and Chris
have
been heading down that path." 

The moment I felt those lips on my neck, I suddenly felt like the next thing to go down the stairs would be me…ass-over-teakettle.

Thirty

~ His ~

I felt like a kid. Seriously. I hadn't felt like this since the crew and I used to pop-and-lock on basketball courts while talking about the hot chicks, the cool bands, and the things we wanted in life. I would like to say the exhilaration all came from Amber—from how excited that precious little girl was at the chance of seeing her dream come true. She radiated pure joy and it was addictive, yet the thrill I was feeling came from Beth being on my arm. When she was there, everything was right with the world. In fact, as far as I was concerned, all things bad or negative simply melted away when I escorted her anywhere.

Is it possible to feel like you have a warrior who'll defend you standing directly by your side, and at the same time a beautiful woman who looks at you as if
you're
the protector? I never knew what it meant until now, and it probably sounded like something any sappy guy would say, but with Beth beside me I felt like a truly great man—not an actor, singer, dancer, friend—a great
man
. And that title encompassed everything I ever wanted to be.

"Star!"

Amber came flying around the corner and Beth pushed us both against the wall. "INCOMING! SAVE YOURSELVES!"

Amber laughed loud and flung herself into the air as Beth tried to catch her and landed with a thump. "Ouch! I think I broke my butt that time."

I held hands out to both girls and helped them back up. Amber jumped into my arms and I held tight to her all the way down the stairs and into the kitchen, as she gabbed at Beth over my shoulder.

"Did you hear? They're called Mr. and Mrs. Prescott. Isn't that great? Amber Prescott sounds nice. AND…," her voice was so loud in my ear, I knew I would most likely be tone deaf for the show. "They want me, Star!
Me
!"

I felt Beth's hand on my back, as if balancing me so I could hold on to the flopping fish in my hands. Her voice was so filled with life again that my heart almost broke with happiness. I know how special Jerry had been, but I was sure—even though faith was a bit of a conundrum for me—that wherever Jerry was he was looking at our group and smiling wide.

"Of course they want you, honey. I told you. It takes time to find the right one."

I looked at Beth as she stared up at me. A strange, brief moment of confusion seemed to pass through the dark brown orbs, as she quickly turned back to Amber.

The little girl shook her head. "No, Star. They came in to look for a baby and they met me. It was like…" She frowned at her fingers as she tried desperately to snap them together. I added the sound effect. "It was like that," she said, pointing at me. "They fell in love with me at first sight."

"Not a surprise, kiddo," Beth said with a wink. "I fell in love with you the minute you smacked me the very first time."

Amber laughed. "Well…we're partners. Remember? We're a team."

"We definitely are."

A frown appeared on the little lady. "What if the Prescott's won't let me see you? I don't even know where they live…where they'll take me."

I placed Amber on the floor and Beth opened her arms. "They could move you to Mars and I would make sure I see you. You got that?" 

Amber smiled and linked her pinky finger with Beth's. "Forever promise?"

"Forever promise." 

The only thing I wanted to do was head back to the city and go shopping with Chris…immediately.

~ Hers ~

The night was pure fun. It was so nice to have Amber babbling away, and when she and Matt did their performance there wasn't a dry eye in the house. As far as I was concerned he was the one—the only one who could get a standing ovation every night. In fact, it was his heart that made my material seem good enough to be among the big names. In other words, Matt made me better.

As the night wore on and Amber fell asleep against Chris—two people who seriously looked like they could be poster children for the Von Trapp family—the atmosphere in the house was serene. I sat on the couch with Matt's arm around me and stared at Bobby. His face was absolutely glowing when Chris lovingly sang a lullaby in order to give Amber the sweetest dreams possible. 

And as Amber's eyes closed, Nicole waved her hands in the air. "Just did my nails," she whispered.

I laughed, and began to rise from my seat, but Matt beat me to it. Kissing me quickly, he carefully wrapped Amber in his arms and headed upstairs. My heart grew even larger with the picture. "He should at least be an uncle," I whispered.

Chris shot me a look. "Why an uncle?"

I shrugged. "Good with kids."

"I'm sure he has fatherhood in his future." His eyebrows rose. "Hmmm…perhaps he's even picked out the receptacle."

"Receptacle?" I offered a very grossed out face.

Chris leaned across the coffee table. "I'm afraid if I use the 'W' word there will appear a Beth-size hole in the wall as she bolts."

I rolled my eyes. "We've only known each other—"

"Yeah, yeah, I know." Chris sighed. "And Bobby and I have only known each other…yada, yada, yada."

Bobby grinned.

"Yada, yada, yada, what?" I asked, looking back and forth between the two. I glanced at Nicole but she was sitting quietly on the edge of her seat. She loved new information; it made her feel like a journalist tripping over a million dollar news story.

The blush rose in Chris's cheeks as he stared at Bobby, as if allowing him to finish his sentence. 

Bobby cleared his throat. "Well, Miss Busy-Body," he began, reaching out to grip Chris's hand. "I have to admit to my best friend that I think—no, I am—very much in love with this man."

I was speechless. Nicole jumped off her chair, sent the nail polish flying and threw her tiny body onto Bobby's lap.

"Ouch!" Bobby yelled, as Chris was pulled into the group hug and Nicole plastered his face with kisses.

"YAY! I am SO excited! We should have the ceremony at—"

Bobby put up his hands. "Whoa, girl." Carefully he removed the small form and placed her back on the couch. "We're quick but we're not that quick."

Chris patted Nicole on the knee. "I was thinking about a stunning place out in Malibu."

And just like that, the planning committee was formed.

Bobby stepped over the coffee table and landed beside me. Sitting silently, we tried not to laugh at the two wedding planners already sharing their ideas, color schemes and themes.

I whispered, "I actually expect Joan Rivers to walk in at any moment."

He laughed. "I know it's silly, Beth. I know you don't believe that…"

I hit him on the leg. "It is definitely not silly. I pretty much thought you were a goner the minute Chris walked into this house."

"I've never met anyone like him. I mean…he's outspoken, strong, kind, and his brain is so fast he can come up with words, phrases, jokes and answers in seconds. He actually reminds me of you in that way."

"Poor guy."

"You know what other trait you both share?" 

"Oh, no. He's obsessed with Kiefer Sutherland, too?" I snarled. "Because if he is, whether you love him or not, I'll fight him to the death for that guy."

"Funny," Bobby said, sending an elbow into my ribs. "Chris is like you because underneath all the strength and bravado there's a quiet, shy, loving person who just wants to be romanced. He wants to be a part of something bigger than himself, and I love that. A total geek, like you."

"There is no way I'm going to talk about 'time limits' when I see that face you're wearing," I said. "I love you. Always have. And Chris is something special. Heck,
I
even love the guy." I looked over at the duo and almost burst into laughter. Nicole already had out her briefcase, pens and organizer jotting down notes. The laptop was open as they discussed everything from the newest line of tuxedos on the market to the best venues available to proclaim your lasting love. "And anyone who can put up with her is definitely a genius."

Bobby laughed. "How true."

"So," I stared up at him. "Marriage?"

He sighed. "Well…I wouldn't say no."

I raised an eyebrow.

"But, of course, we have to actually certify in a state that allows us to claim 'forever.'"

"You will. And one of these days all the morons out there will realize it's none of
their
damn business
who
gets married."

Bobby grinned. "Maybe you should write a book about it. The masses seem to be listening to you right now. And," he continued, taking my chin in his hand, "Miss Queen of Deflection, if I feel all these things about Chris and I'm thrilled with not knowing what's coming next, I have a feeling that man upstairs feels the same way about you. And he's allowed! Please don't dismiss this, Beth.
Please
?"

I tried to pull away but his grip was strong. "It's not the same situation, Bobby. We don't feel that way about each other."

"You sure about that?"

"Come on." I sighed.

"I mean it. I've seen him by your side, and when he's there you smile more, laugh more, and have such a huge arm of support that you didn't even need me, pal."

"Of course, I do."

He rolled his eyes. "That's not what I mean. I'm not replaced as, 'The Bud," I'm simply saying Matt has brought you out of that writer's shell and made you live a little. I admire him for that. And I've also never seen you let anyone get remotely close to you before. So, whether you like it or not, I'm betting he's the one."

"After only days I should be the receptacle?"

Bobby laughed. "No, I actually like the "W" word. Wife seems prettier. Oops," he said, offering me a teasing smile.

"Bobby," I began, taking a deep breath. "Matt has an entire life on another coast; a large life filled with friends, a girlfriend, fans, cameras, a huge career—the guy has it all. He certainly doesn't need yet another entanglement in an already really busy life."

Bobby sighed. "Girlfriend or no girlfriend, I'm telling you, Matt has been looking for you forever. And now that he's found you, I don't see him walking away anytime soon—big life or no life." His voice grew serious. "Matt didn't sign on to all this for Amber. No offense, he did this to get closer to you."

"Tomorrow we go back to New York," I announced.

Bobby took a deep breath. "And what? Everything simply disappears? Matt turns back into a hardworking actor chasing his dreams and you turn back into a writer who wants to save the world one reader at a time? Come on. You're not this stupid."

Leaning forward I put my head in my hands, trying desperately to get my brain to stop spinning from the whirlwind of the past few days. 

"Just try? For me? Even if you're right and I'm wrong." Bobby glanced at a smiling Chris who was shaking his head on the far couch, obviously hearing Bobby's speech. "Well, not wrong about everyone, but if I'm wrong about you and Matt…"