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

After the fifth book, he gave up his pretense of not watching, and openly enjoyed the show she put on with the little girl. Every time the woman finished a book, the little girl would pull out another, and the woman would take it and read it as if she was being paid millions to entertain a stranger’s child in the airport.

Finally, his flight was called, and he got to his feet, noting the woman beside him was getting to her feet as well, carefully tucking all the books back in the bag and putting them into the stroller for the young mother. “Let me help you board the plane.”

The mother seemed undecided. “Oh, I couldn’t do that. You need to find your own seat.”

The woman shook her head. “I’m not accepting that for an answer. Traveling with three little ones is more than anyone should have to go through.”

The mother nodded, her eyes shining with tears. “My husband is stationed in Texas, and we came to see my mother for the week. He couldn’t get off to go with us, of course, so I made the trip alone. I had no idea how hard it would be.”

“Is someone picking you up in Texas?” the woman asked.

The mother nodded. “My husband will be waiting in baggage claim.”

“Then I’ll help you get there.” While Bob continued to watch, the woman took the hand of the little girl she’d been reading to, and followed the young mother onto the plane when they called for people traveling with small children.

Bob stood waiting for first class to be called and quickly found his seat.  He had a window seat, which he preferred, because it always made him angry when people crawled over him on a plane. He sat down, thinking about the kindness he’d just watched a woman show to a random stranger in an airport, wishing he could be that casual about helping others. Wishing that everyone cared that much. More people like her would make the world a much better place.

*****

After settling her new friend with her children, May swallowed deeply and made her way back to the front of the plane. She couldn’t believe she’d sat that closely to Bob Bodefeld for close to an hour without squealing or acting like an idiot. She’d tried to just be herself, but it had been all she could do not to beg him for an autograph. She patted her cheek and was thrilled there was no drool slowly seeping down the side of her face.

When she got to her seat, she looked down. She sucked in a breath. He was there. Her seat mate for the three-hour trip back to Dallas-Fort Worth was none other than Bob Bodefeld himself. Hopefully she could prevent herself from acting like a dork. She wasn’t sure it was possible, but she’d do her best.

She sat down and tucked her purse under the seat in front of her. She put her iPad and phone into the back of the seat and then buckled, unwrapping the blanket that was provided and spreading it across her lap. She rarely got cold on planes, but she felt exposed when she wasn’t covered, hating the few extra pounds her sedentary lifestyle had added to her waistline.

Bob looked over at his seat mate and smiled to himself, pleased to be next to the woman again. Maybe, just maybe, she would live close enough that he could get to know her better. She wore shorts and a T-shirt, and didn’t wear make-up, but he didn’t care. Her heart made her beautiful. It didn’t take more than ten minutes in her presence to realize that.

May closed her eyes for a moment before turning to Bob. “I know you don’t want to be recognized today, so I’m not going to go all fangirl and freak out over you. I just want to say that you’re my favorite actor.” Once she was finished, she reached for her phone. She wouldn’t bother him again unless he struck up a conversation with her, which she didn’t expect at all. Why would he?

Bob smiled at the girl beside him. “Would you like an autograph?” He didn’t carry promotional photos with him like some of his co-stars did, but he was happy to sign anything she wanted.

May nodded, her eyes wide. “I would love that, if you really don’t mind. I know you’re just trying to get from one place to another, though, and you’re not here to sign an autograph.”

He shook his head. “Give me something to sign, and I’ll sign it.”

May unbuckled her seat belt and leaned down to pick up her purse, looking for the notebook she kept there. Sometimes she came up with crazy ideas, and she liked to be able to jot them down immediately, before they left her brain and were gone forever.

She flipped to a blank notebook page and handed him that with a pen. The pen was one with her pen name on it, but she didn’t care. No one looked at pens when they were asked to sign something anyway.

“What’s your name?” he asked.

“Mabel. I go by May, like the month.”

He thought for a moment before writing quickly, “May, I’m truly impressed with your generosity of spirit. It was wonderful meeting you! Bob Bodefeld.” He handed the notebook back to her, before smiling. “There.”

“Thank you very much. I’ll treasure it.” She didn’t add that she’d probably frame it and put it on her nightstand, since she didn’t think she should creep him out that way. She put the notebook back into her purse and stuffed her purse back under the seat in front of her, giving it a kick when it didn’t want to fit all the way.

The stewardess stopped at their seat. “Can I get you something to drink?” she asked Bob, her face impassive.

“Yes, just a Coke.” He didn’t like to drink, having been around alcohol a lot more than he’d have liked growing up with an alcoholic father.

The stewardess nodded, her gaze turning to May. “Something to drink?”

May nodded. “I’d love some juice.”

“Pineapple, apple, or orange?”

“Apple.”

The flight attendant wandered off to get their drinks and Bob looked at May. “Do you live in Dallas-Fort Worth?” He ran the two cities together, just like most people who’d lived in the area for a while.

“I live in Wiggieville.” Normally, May would have felt the need to explain that Wiggieville was a small town between Weatherford and Stephenville to the west of Fort Worth, but since
Lazy Love
was shot in Wiggieville, she knew the explanation wasn’t needed.

Bob grinned. “Really? You know that’s where we film, don’t you?”

May nodded. “I do know that. I actually own the house just north of the set.”

“Really? I had no idea!” He’d never seen anyone come and go from the large ranch house, but there was always a blue compact car in the driveway.

“Yes, I’ve lived there for about six years now.” She wanted to make it clear that she’d moved there before the show was filmed, so he wouldn’t think she’d moved there just to stalk him.

“You’ll have to come visit us on set one day. I can get you a pass.” Because of the trouble one of his co-star’s, Valerie Savoy, had with an ex-boyfriend, the set had been closed since they’d begun filming the show four years before. He could bring someone on anytime he wanted though.

May looked at him for a moment, contemplating. Finally, she nodded. As a writer, she liked to learn as much as she could about everything. Watching a show be filmed would be good for her. Not to mention that she’d get to be close to Bob again. She wondered if he’d even remember her or his offer. Probably not. Someone like her just wasn’t memorable to a man like him.

The flight attendant came back then with their drinks. She stood for a moment. “I’m really not supposed to talk to people who I recognize, but I just can’t help myself. Can I get your autograph?”

May smiled at Bob, waiting for him to respond.

He nodded, hoping it wouldn’t turn into a bunch of people asking for autographs. He really didn’t want to be bothered by anyone while he got to know May. “Sure. I can do that.”

The stewardess stepped back, looking between them. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean you. I mean Jolene Gold. I’m your biggest fan, Miss Gold. I’ve read every one of your books, and I follow your Facebook page religiously.” She looked at Bob. “I’m sorry, but I don’t know who you are!”

May felt a laugh bubbling up inside her. It was so rare that someone would recognize her. Writers just weren’t noticed everywhere they went. “He’s an actor on
Lazy Love
.” May reached down for her purse, pulling out one of the books she always carried. “Who should I make it out to?”

Chapter Two

After the flight attendant had walked off, clutching the romance novel to her chest, Bob looked at May. “Jolene Gold?”

“My pen name. I’m a romance writer.” She waited for the man beside her to make a snide remark about romance novels, but he didn’t.

“That was kind of embarrassing,” Bob said, rubbing the back of his neck. “I just assumed she meant me when she asked for the autograph.”

May laughed softly. “I did too! I never get recognized. I mean, this is probably the third time ever, and I’ve been writing for ten years!” She took a sip of her juice, watching him over the rim. He was so personable. She hadn’t expected him to give her the time of day if she’d ever been fortunate enough to meet him.

“Well, I guess that’ll teach me not to assume anything.”

“I guess so.” She pushed her purse back to the floor.

“You’re not going to offer me an autographed book?”

She shook her head. “Nope.”

“Why not?”

She raised an eyebrow at him. “Are you trying to convince me you read romance novels?”

He shrugged. “Well, no, but I would like to read one of yours.”

“Why?” she asked, flabbergasted.

“Because you fascinate me,” he said softly. “You were so kind to those kids in the airport.”

She shrugged. “I can just imagine how hard it would be to travel alone with three kids. And her husband is a soldier. I can show appreciation in a small way for his service by helping his wife.”

“That’s a really good attitude to have.” He looked at her. “How are you getting home?”

“My aunt is going to pick me up.”

“My car is at the airport. Call her and tell her that you’ve got a ride. No need for her to drive all the way from Wiggieville when I’m going right next door.” And if he dropped her off, they could spend more time together. He felt like he was racing against time, trying to get her to realize he was interested in her. She didn’t seem like the type that would accept the direct approach well.

“I can’t ask you to do that!”

“You didn’t ask. I offered.”

She reached for her phone, quickly punching in the number for her aunt. “Aunt Sally. I’ve got a ride from the airport, so you don’t have to come get me.” She waited a moment and listened. “Sounds good. You can even go home if you want. Fudge will be fine until I get there.” Another momentary pause, and then, “Thanks, Aunt Sally. I love you.”

“Who’s Fudge?” he asked, making no secret of the fact he’d listen to every word of her call.

“My dog. My aunt has been dog sitting while I’ve been gone.”

If she had someone dog sitting for her, it was unlikely she was in a relationship. “Were you in New York for business or pleasure?”

“Both actually. My assistant lives in Upstate New York, and once a year, I fly into the city and she buses down, and we spend a few days together, and then we go our separate ways.”

He looked at her for a minute. “What exactly does an author’s assistant do?”

“Everything! If I hate doing it, but it needs to be done, she does it. She’s a miracle worker. I wouldn’t trade Sara for all the tea in China.”

“So how do you have an assistant that lives so far away? Isn’t that hard?”

May shook her head. “Actually the hardest part is just missing her. We’ve become very close over the years. I give her instructions on Facebook or through email. We talk on the phone once a month or so.”

“Sounds like you’ve got it figured out.”

She nodded. “I have most things about my business figured out. I am a well-oiled writing machine.”

“Then I can have an autographed book?” he asked again.

“Why do you want an autographed book? I don’t mind giving you one, but are you really going to read it?” She’d rather he didn’t. The book she had in her purse had been written thinking of him. When she thought of the very steamy chapter she’d written, imagining him, she blushed, not wanting him to read a word of the book.

He watched the play of emotions on her face. “You don’t want me to read it, do you?”

She shrugged. “I—they’re romances. I write sex scenes, and the idea of a man reading one embarrasses me a little.”

He grinned at that. “Well, I like the idea of reading one you’ve written. It will feel like a window into your mind.”

“That’s not helping at all!” she protested. “How about this? You can have an autographed copy if you promise not to read it.”

“You want me to lie to you?”

“Yeah, that would be great. Aren’t actors just professional liars anyway?”

He shook his head. “No. Not at all.” He took her hand in his, squeezing it gently. “I want a copy of your book. I will read it. I want to get to know you better.”

“And you think reading a romance novel will help you get to know me better?” It would. She poured her heart and soul into her books. It would help him to get to know her better, but she didn’t want him to know that.

“I think so. There’s something about you that seems very real to me.” He shook his head. “I’m not sure if I’m explaining this well.” He handed their empty glasses to the flight attendant who was still watching May with stars in her eyes. “I live in a world where everything and everyone is fake. Since you’re a fan of the show, I think you know that our stars are pretty down to earth. Jesse and Valerie are as real as can be. But most people—most are one way in front of the cameras and another when they’re off. You don’t seem to be that way. I think if you have no one watching, you’ll be just as kind, generous, and loving as you are when you have an audience.”

May nodded slowly. “Do you know the scripture that says, ‘Don’t let your right hand know what your left hand is doing?’ I’m not quoting exactly, I don’t think. Anyway, I believe that. If you are going to give, you don’t do it for people to see. You do it, because it’s the right thing to do, and it needs to be done.”

He nodded. “That’s the kind of thing I mean.” He looked down at her hand in his, a hand with no rings on it, and unpolished nails. Slowly, he laced his fingers with hers, holding her hand tightly. “I haven’t dated a woman who wasn’t part of the Hollywood scene in over five years. It’s time.”

May nodded. “That’s probably a good idea. You’ll find more normal women away from actresses. I can introduce you to some women around Wiggieville.” She tugged at her hand a little, wishing he’d give it back. His touch was sending little sparks of electricity through her, something that had never happened. She’d daydreamed about this man one time too many.

He blinked at her a couple of times. “Maybe I wasn’t clear. I want to date away from Hollywood, but I want to date
you
.”

She stared at him for a moment of disbelief, before she chuckled softly. “You almost had me going for a moment there.”

“I’m not joking.” He looked out the window across from them, just then realizing they were in the air. He only had a few hours to convince her that he was serious. “I would love to take you out dancing. Or to the steak house in Wiggieville.” He shook his head. “We could go horseback riding or on a picnic. I don’t care what we do really. I just want a chance to get to know you better.”

“Why?”

The word was short, simple, and shot straight to his heart. What kind of woman asked why when a man asked her out? “Because you’re attractive. Because you’re special. Because I want a chance to get to know you better.”

She shook her head. “I—I think you have me confused with someone else. I’d be happy to be friends, but I don’t think dating would be a good idea.”

“Why not?” She was obviously attracted to him. He’d never met a woman who looked at him the way she did, as if she would like to keep him forever. Most wanted to take him home for one night, so they could say they’d slept with a star.

“Because I’m just me. Boring Mabel Newman.” She’d never been on a date in her life. Never kissed a man. Never even tried to. It wasn’t that she was against romance, because obviously she wasn’t. She wrote romance novels, for God’s sake! She just had always known, somewhere inside her, that she was the one who was meant to write about others’ romance. The one who was meant to watch others as they fell in love and married. No, romance wasn’t for her.

“I don’t think you’re boring at all, Mabel Newman. In fact, I can’t think of anything I’d like to do more than kiss you right now.”

She stared at him, her eyes mesmerized by his. “You want to kiss me?”

He nodded. “I do. A great deal.”

“Please don’t.”

He frowned. “Does the idea of me kissing you abhor you so much?” Was he reading her wrong?

She shook her head. “Of course not. To the contrary, I can’t think of anything I’d like more.”

“Then why tell me not to?”

She frowned, looking down at her hands, and then her eyes met his. She might as well just spit it out, and then he’d understand. “Because I’ve never been kissed. No man has ever asked me out or even tried to hold my hand before. I—I wouldn’t know how to react.”

He frowned at her. “So you’re writing sex scenes in romance novels, and you’ve never even been kissed? How does that work for you?”

She shrugged. “I read a lot. I have some movies that I’ve watched over and over almost like I’m analyzing the kisses. I can handle it.” The way Jesse and Valerie Savoy kissed when filming
Lazy Love
had gotten her through a lot of kissing scenes. The two were just magic together.

“Later, when we’re alone, I’m going to kiss you,” he told her. “I’m driving you home, and I’m not leaving you at your door without a kiss. You have a few hours to mentally prepare yourself, so you can start now.” He leaned back against his seat, and breathed heavily. “I need a quick nap if I’m going to drive when we get home. I was planning on sleeping the whole way, but then this incredible woman sat down beside me, and I could think of nothing but her.”

She tugged at her hand. “I would like my hand back, so I can play mindless games on my iPad the whole way home.”

He frowned. “I like it.”

“You like my hand, so you think you just get to keep it?”

“Well, when you put it that way, I can see that it’s unfair.” He released her hand. “Wake me up when the food arrives, will you?”

He turned his head toward the window and closed his eyes.

May stared at him for a moment, dumbfounded. Why he was being so kind to her, she didn’t know, but it was starting to scare her a little. Men weren’t interested in women like her. Were they?

*****

Once the flight landed, May waited until most people were off the plane, before walking to the back to help the young mother. She took the hand of the little girl she’d read to and smiled down at her. “Are you ready to see your daddy?” She tried not to think about Bob getting off the plane without her and promising to meet up with her in baggage claim.

The little girl nodded happily. “I am. Will you read me another story?”

May laughed. “There won’t be any time before you see Daddy. We’re going to get off the plane and go straight to baggage claim, and that’s where your daddy is going to meet you!”

The little girl looked up at May with big blue eyes. “Oh! Daddy!”

May nodded, her whole face lit up. She knew the girl was excited to see her father, and she was glad. She glanced over her shoulder to make sure the girl’s mother was doing all right with the two boys as they got off the plane, and then she led the way to baggage claim.

May traveled to conferences more than she would have liked. At least four or five times per year, she was at the airport flying off somewhere. She was giving keynote speeches at writers’ conferences and always teaching classes. She was becoming well-known for writing humorous romance.

The flight attendant smiled at her as she left. “Thank you again for the book.”

May smiled, her best author smile. “You’re so welcome! I’m happy any time I get to meet a fan!” And it was true. Mostly. She did love to meet her fans, but it was also hard at times. She was an introvert deep down in her bones. She’d rather be at home, sitting around in her pajamas writing than doing just about anything else in the world. Being around people was just plain hard.

Once they got to baggage claim, she relinquished her hold on the little girl’s hand when a young soldier came over and the girl cried out, “Daddy!”

She walked over to stand beside the luggage carousel then, watching for her obnoxious luggage with huge flowers on the side. When she’d first bought it, her aunt had laughed at her, but after they’d traveled together just once, she’d understood. No one else had the same luggage, and it was very easy to spot!

She felt a hand on her shoulder, and without looking, she recognized Bob’s touch. She wanted to rest her cheek against his hand. She wanted to tell him she’d been in love with him for years, but truly? She’d only been in lust with him for years. She didn’t know the real Bob well enough to love him. She doubted she ever would.

Instead of responding with the affection she wanted, she turned to him. “Hi.”

He smiled. “Did you reunite your family with their daddy?”

She nodded. “I did. Everything is right with their world again, because they’re together.” She believed in true love. She believed so strongly that some people were meant to be together, and no happiness could be achieved while they were apart, that it hurt sometimes. That family belonged together. But where did she belong? May had never really belonged to anyone. Not for a lot of years, anyway.