Literary Love (Lazy Love Book 2) (10 page)

“Of course you’re not! Are you really worried about that?”

She stared at him with wide eyes. “Don’t you know me
at all
?”

“Really, what do you think is going to happen?”

“You really want to know?” At his nod, she continued. “I expect to pull up in a big black car, and hear the disappointment of the entire crowd when I’m the one on your arm and not some glamorous Hollywood actress. I will then immediately trip, falling and busting my head open. You will have to rip off your jacket to save me, ruining your black tie look for the occasion. Then people will be looking at me, trying to figure out if you’re going to be single and available again or stuck with me forever. When I finally get back up and walk into the building, I will fall again, slamming myself into a wall, but not actually hitting the floor this time, because you will gallantly catch my elbow and keep me from breaking myself. When you win the award, I will stand up and clap and jump around like an absolutely lunatic, and people will think that I’m mentally impaired.”

He blinked a couple of times, a slow smile on his face. “You
do
have a writer’s imagination. What will happen if I don’t win?”

“Well, that’s not going to happen, but if it did, I would be forced to remove my shoe and hurl it at the head of whomever did win, while screaming ‘Team Bob!’ at the top of my lungs. We would then be escorted out, and you would have to bail me out of jail when you should be at the after party with your friends.”

“You need to find some way to write that all into a book.”

“Don’t mock my pain, Bob! And I really do need to put that in a book. It’s pretty good, isn’t it? It’s too bad I only write about regular people and not actors and actresses, because I could totally see putting that in a book.”

He slipped his arm around her shoulders, pulling her closer, kissing her forehead. “Have I told you yet today that you are an incredible woman and I can’t imagine spending my life with anyone else?” He still didn’t think she was ready to hear the words ‘I love you,’ but they hovered on his lips every time.

She sighed. “You haven’t. Why don’t you tell me that? It’ll make me feel better about ruining your career tomorrow night!”

“You’re not going to ruin my career! I’ve been wanting to get into comedic acting, and my reactions to all that would be a definite in for me!”

“Oh, good point! I hadn’t even thought of that!”

“All of my points are always good.” Bob kissed her cheek. “Wanna join the mile-high club?”

She sighed, shaking her head at him. “Such a romantic.”

“It’s both a gift and a curse.”

*****

Bob’s apartment was surprisingly small. “Are you going to keep it?” May asked, looking around.

He shook his head. “I’ve barely used it in the past four years. I always kind of felt that I should have a home base. Now home base will be the house I share with you.” He pulled her to him. “Although, I think we should make sure to christen every room in the apartment while we’re here this weekend. We don’t want any rooms to feel left out because we didn’t newlywed in them.”

“Is that what we’re calling it these days? Newlywedding?”

“You get offended when I call it doing it. I thought newlywedding sounded really classy!”

“In comparison, it’s not so bad!” She sighed. “What time do we need to leave for your thing tomorrow night?”

“Five probably. That’ll get us there in plenty of time if traffic’s bad.”

“Okay.” She took a deep breath, feeling more nervous by the minute. “Are we sharing a table with Jesse and Valerie and Amber and her date?”

Bob nodded. “Yeah. I think Amber’s taking one of the cameramen this time. She hates finding dates for these things as much as I do.”

“I keep saying, she needs to close her eyes and point.”

*****

May joined Valerie and Amber the following day at a salon, getting her hair and make-up done. “I feel like such a fraud!”

Valerie laughed. “I felt like a fraud the first time I did this too. And I was nominated for an award—and won!”

Amber shrugged. “I never felt like a fraud.”

May wrinkled her nose at Amber, getting a scolding from the woman working on her make-up. “Of course you didn’t. Not all of us are born with natural beauty and self-confidence, though.”

Valerie rolled her eyes. “She talks a good game, but I remember how unsure of herself she was when she first came on set.”

May looked between the two women, but when nothing else was offered, she didn’t ask what had happened. She was sure she’d eventually find out if it was something she needed to know.

“What are you working on these days, May?” Valerie asked, carefully changing the subject.

“A romance.”

Amber rolled her eyes. “What a surprise! Don’t tell me the ending. Does the couple end up living happily ever after?”

May let out an audible gasp. “Have you been reading my notes?”

The three of them giggled together, while people around them stared in disbelief. May wasn’t sure if they were baffled by their conversation or that two beautiful women were hanging out with one who was so much less attractive, but she didn’t care.

“How much longer do you have?” May asked Valerie, eyeing her stomach.

Valerie sighed, patting her baby bump. “Four more months. It can’t get here fast enough.”

“Bob said you’ve finally revealed it on the show, so you don’t have to worry about hiding it anymore.”

“Yeah, finally. The first month was a pain, because I kept having to hold things to keep it hidden. Now, I can just run around in my maternity clothes and let it all hang out.”

May laughed. “But you look so beautiful in your maternity clothes!”

“That’s what Jesse keeps telling me.”

“What are you going to do about filming once the baby’s born?”

Valerie shrugged. “We’re going to have a couple of nannies. My sister will nanny for us when we’re in Wyoming. Then we’re going to hire someone local for while we’re here.” She grinned at May. “I’d ask you, but I have a feeling that you can make more doing what you’re already doing.”

“Unless you pay me
really
good wages, I think you may be right.”

Amber shrugged. “The baby should be on set with us. You’re having a baby on the show. They need to write him or her into every scene with you.”

“You make it sound so simple. I don’t think it’s going to be nearly that easy.”

“Probably not. But it should be!”

Chapter Ten

In the back of the car on the way to the award ceremony, May took deep breaths to stay calm. “I hate being the center of attention.”

“You won’t be. I will. Think of yourself as a fashion accessory and just dangle prettily on my arm.” Bob rubbed the palm of her hand with his thumb, trying to keep her calm.

“That makes me feel so much better.”

“It’s going to be fine. You don’t even have to say anything. You just need to cling to my arm and look at me like I’m the biggest, sexiest, most wonderful man you’ve ever seen.”

“Yeah, I’m not so good at the adoring look thing.”

He sighed. “Pretend you’re an actress just for one night.”

“A professional liar? Me?”

The car came to a stop, and he grabbed her, pulling her onto his lap, and kissing her wildly. When the door was opened for them to get out, the cameras were pointed right at them.

May blushed prettily. “You’re nuts,” she hissed, climbing off his lap so he could get out and then help her. She was wearing heels higher than she’d ever worn, and she hated them. She hated how tight her dress was. She hated everything about having to look like someone she wasn’t as she stood beside him.

“You didn’t worry for a minute there.” His lips were against her ear, and he smiled and waved at the people in the front, holding up signs that read Team Bob.

May waved down low at her waist, recognizing two of the women with the signs. She didn’t want anyone to think they thought the fans were hers, though, so she kept it unobtrusive.

He stopped, one arm around her waist and smiled for the camera that was flashing in their faces. “Now we just walk on in.”

She nodded, taking another deep breath. “I haven’t tripped yet!”

He grinned, leaning down and kissing her, listening to the crowd cheer. “Sorry, I’m a newlywed. Couldn’t resist,” he said to the microphone shoved in his face.

May blushed profusely at his words, but walked along beside him. “Our table is number forty-five,” he whispered.

She looked at each number as she wove through the tables, finally finding the one they were supposed to go to. They were the first there, and she wished her friends were sitting there with them.

A famous actress whose name had once been linked with Bob’s came over and hugged him, kissing his cheek. “I heard you married. Introduce me!”

Bob smiled down at May. “This is romance author, Jolene Gold, my wife.” He said the words with obvious pride.

The actress held her hand out to shake May’s. “So nice to meet you. You must be an incredible woman to have succeeded where so many of us have failed.”

May smiled. “I don’t know about that. Just incredibly lucky, I’d say.”

“You really are. Congratulations.”

As she walked off, May smiled after her. “She’s so nice.”

“She’s a barracuda that’s off saying horrible, evil things behind your back. Don’t trust her for even a second.”

May blinked a couple of times. “Really?”

“Really.  She’s as awful as they come.”

“Is that why you introduced me by my pen name?”

He nodded. “Any publicity is good publicity, right?”

“Well, any publicity linking me with you can only be good for my career. What about yours?”

He shrugged. “I care about you so much more than I could ever care about a career.”

She bit her lip, looking into his eyes. She was starting to believe those sweet things he said, and it scared her that she was. “You’re more important to me than my career too.”

He leaned over then, catching her lips with his. His hand going to her waist and pulling her as close as he dared. He felt something hard thought her dress. “What are you wearing under that thing?”

She laughed softly. “It’s a corset. Keeps me slim enough for this dress.”

“I don’t like it. I like to be able to feel you through your clothes. Don’t wear it again.”

A moment later, there was a microphone shoved in her face. “Is it true that you’re romance writer Jolene Gold?”

“I am.” As she spoke, she felt Bob’s hand reach out and take hers, giving her the confidence she needed to be interviewed on television. For a moment, she thought about raising her hands above her head in victory and screaming “Team Bob!” but she immediately squelched the idea.

“And you’re also Bob Bodefeld’s extremely mysterious wife?”

She laughed softly. “I don’t know about being extremely mysterious, but I’m most definitely his wife.”

“How did the two of you meet?” the man with the microphone asked.

Out of the corner of her eye, May saw Valerie and Jesse take their seats on the other side of Bob. “We were in New York at the same time, and we met on the plane, flying back to Texas. I live just a few minutes from the
Lazy Love
set.”

“That’s interesting. How long did you know Bob before the two of you married?”

“Less than a week. I’m so glad, though, because he’s made me the happiest woman alive.”

“Would you say it was love at first sight?”

“For me it was. I’ve long been a fan of his, and when I met him, I knew that I would follow him anywhere. He’s just as incredible as I’ve always imagined he’d be.”

The microphone was transferred to Bob. “What about you? Was it love at first sight?”

“No, it wasn’t. I watched her in the airport for at least five minutes before I knew I had to make her my wife. It was close, but it wasn’t first sight.” His eyes stayed steady on May’s, letting her know that he meant what he said.

The reporter moved around the table to talk to Jesse and Valerie, leaving May to stare into Bob’s eyes. “You meant that, didn’t you? You fell in love with me at the airport before we ever really even met.”

He nodded. “I’ve wanted to tell you a million times, but I didn’t know how. I was afraid you’d think I was lying to you.”

She was the one to lean forward and kiss him then, wishing desperately they were alone, so she could climb into his lap and just be close to him. “I love you, Bob Bodefeld.”

He smiled, his eyes lighting up. “I love you too, May Bodefeld. You make my heart happy every day that we’re together.”

Amber slipped into her seat behind May then. “Break it up, you two. You’re just too happy. You’re married! Start fighting already!”

May looked over her shoulder at Amber and recognized one of the cameramen she’d seen on the times she’d visited the set. “Hush up, you. You’re just jealous that you don’t have a man who thinks you hung the moon.”

Amber sighed heavily. “Yes, I am.”

*****

Two weeks later, just before Bob was due home from work, May received a phone call that stopped her short. “Your dad called me today. He wants me to arrange a meeting between the two of you,” her aunt told her.

“But he ran out on me. He just left me there in that apartment all alone.”

“I know, sweetie. He’s got an explanation. It’s not a good one, but it’s an explanation. I think you should hear him out.”

May closed her eyes. “I don’t want to see him, Aunt Sally.” Her hand moved to her belly, where the child she and Bob had made together was growing. “I can’t imagine abandoning my baby the way he abandoned me.”

“Please, May. I think this is going to be just as important for you as it is for him. You need to understand what happened all those years ago.” There was a short pause, and then Sally said the only words that could convince May. “If you won’t do it for yourself, then do it for me.”

May sat silent for a moment, not wanting to agree to anything. Finally, she whispered, “I’ll meet him. Where and when?”

“How about this evening? He’s here in town, staying at the hotel in Wiggieville. Bob can come with you, right?”

He’d better be able to. She knew she couldn’t do it alone. “Yeah. He’ll be home any second.”

“Come to my house at seven.”

May dashed away a tear and hated herself for it. She’d promised herself almost twenty years before she would never shed another tear over her father, and here she was, crying again. “I’ll be there.”

When Bob walked in the door a few minutes later, he found May sitting on the sofa, staring into space. Her laptop was on the floor in front of her. He was immediately alarmed. “May, what’s wrong?” He’d never seen her look so sad. “Did something happen to the baby?”

May shook her head, her hand going to her stomach again. “No, she’s fine.”

“I’m glad
he’s
okay!” He sat down beside her, his arm around her shoulders. “Tell me what’s going on.”

“My dad is in town, and he wants to see me.”

Bob nodded slowly. She had never spoken of her father to him, and he’d wondered often what had happened. Of course, he had yet to tell her of his own father. “Tell me about him.”

Her eyes were swimming with tears when she looked at him. “He disappeared. When Mama was diagnosed with breast cancer when I was nine, he just faded away. He was a great father before that, but suddenly, it was like he could no longer function. Oh, he went to work, and he came home, but as Mama lost her hair, I was the one helping her. When she threw up from the chemo, I was the one cleaning up the messes. He moved into the spare room and did nothing but work and go into his room when he got home. Mama said he loved her so much he couldn’t stand it, but if you love someone, you stay by them!”

He kissed her forehead. “Yes, you do. How did you end up being raised by your aunt?”

“Mama was lots older than Aunt Sally, and Aunt Sally had just graduated from college and started teaching here in Wiggieville. We lived in the country between Wiggieville and Weatherford. Anyway, after Mama died, Daddy said we could never live in that house again. He sold our horses, and sold the house, and we moved into an apartment there in Weatherford.”

Bob nodded. He knew she loved horses, but she’d been reluctant to ride with him. He thought he understood why now. “How long were you in the apartment?”

“We were there for about three weeks, and one day I came home, and he was just gone. I’ve never seen him again.”

“So he disappeared when you were ten, and you never saw him again? That’s crazy.”

She nodded. “I didn’t know what to do, so I dug through a box of my mom’s things. He’d gotten rid of most of her stuff, but I’d hidden a few things under some of my toys in a box when we moved. I found Aunt Sally’s phone number, and I called her, because I didn’t know what else to do.”

“And she came and got you?” he asked.

“Yeah. She had to jump through a bunch of hoops to become my legal guardian, because he was just gone. She was able to find a will that would give her custody if my parents both died, so the courts took that and let her raise me. She did her best, but she was only twenty-three or twenty-four. She was so young. She never married, because she always put me first. I felt like I’d ruined her life, because she had to devote so much time to me, and not to what she wanted. She had a boyfriend when I moved in with her, but he didn’t want to help raise a kid, so he broke things off.”

Bob shook his head. “You don’t still blame yourself for that, do you?”

She nodded. “Of course, I do. And I guess I always thought I’d end up alone, because I was unlovable. You have to be unlovable for your father to leave and never come back, right?”

“Wrong. That was him, not you. He obviously couldn’t deal with life, so he just left. Jerk.”

“Aunt Sally wants me to meet him at her house. Tonight.” Her eyes landed on the award he’d won the previous month. That night had been so much easier than tonight would be, and she’d gone into it kicking and screaming.

“Why?”

May shook her head. “I have no idea. She said I need to see him. That I need to let him explain.”

“Is that what you want?”

She shook her head. “I don’t know what I want. I can’t imagine leaving our baby. I already love her so much. How could he just leave?”

“I don’t know.”

“I bet your dad was great. You’re going to be a wonderful father.”

He laughed, a harsh sound. “My dad left too. He was a drinker, and he liked to hit my mom when he had a few too many. I tried to get between them for the first time when I was eight. He beat me to a pulp. But I kept trying. Finally, when I was thirteen, I was bigger than him, and I hurt him. I remember standing over him and telling him to get out. I told him if he ever came back, I was going to kill him with my bare hands.” He looked at her, hoping she would understand. “I meant it too.”

“He never came back?”

“Never. I don’t know if Mom was mad at first or relieved. Oh, I know later, she was glad. She never had to hide her bruises at work again.” He sighed. “I worked really hard after that to be who I wanted to be. I remember feeling so much rage within me, that I knew I never wanted anyone to see me that way again. So I started acting. I started training myself to not show any emotions. I was sure if I could hide it, then the emotions wouldn’t really be there.”

“That’s why you wouldn’t tell me why you decided to be an actor.”

Bob nodded. “It is. I’ve never told anyone that whole story before.”