The Trouble With Snowmen (13 page)

Chapter 27

Haley woke in Larry’s bed, the sun shining through the window, the memory of the night fresh in her mind. She sighed, enjoying the warmth of Larry’s body against hers.

He stirred and yawned out, “Good morning, beautiful.”

“Good morning.” She leaned her chin on her elbow and stared at him. “Did you sleep well?”

Larry took in and let out a long breath before kissing her. “Never better.” They then lay there staring and smiling at one another.

Haley had no idea what ran through his mind, but she realized that even though she felt really comfortable with him, she didn’t know much about him. She had met the artist side of him days ago, but the other side of him was a mystery. “So, Mr. Larry White, the famous author, how did you become
the
Larry White?”

“
The,
huh?” He raised his eyebrows as his eyes widened. “I don’t know about that. I just do what I love, and I’m lucky a few people like it.”

“How can you be so modest? I’m in awe of your humility. You’re so talented and creative. Although gruesome at times.” She laughed.

“Stop. You don’t want to make a grown man blush, now do you? You read my books?”

She smiled. “Not until I found out who you really were.”

“And besides, you’re one to talk. What about you? Why do you keep your creativity to yourself?”

“What do you mean?”

“Your photos. I saw them hanging in your apartment. I mean, I didn’t get a chance to examine them, but I would love to come to your apartment and have a look at them sometime.”

“Really? They’re just pictures.”

“I’m serious. They’re not ‘just pictures’ if that’s your passion. You should pursue it.”

“Really? Like a job?”

“Like a career.”

“I don’t know. I’ve never thought about it like that. It’s just something I like to do. But that would be awesome. It sounds so much better than a law assistant.”

“I’ve been meaning to apologize about that. Sorry I got you fired.” He placed a strand of hair behind her ear, causing the ones on the back of her neck to rise.

“You actually did me a favor. I truly hated that job.”

“Well, you should do what you like and what you’re good at,” he whispered. “And since you decided not to pursue the other thing you’re good at.” He bounced his eye brows up and down.

“Funny.” Haley’s phone beeped. A text. She sat up. “Uh-oh. You made me forget I’m supposed to be at Maximilian’s this morning.”

“Me?” Larry feigned innocence. “What on earth did I do?”

“Everything.”

He smiled. “I’d be happy to do everything again.

“Haley’s phone beeped again, and she moaned. “I’d better get going. I’m supposed to be helping him this morning with getting ready. Oh wait! I didn’t tell you. You know how Maximilian is going on that TV show? Well, if he brings a model and he wins, the model, me, would get $50,000.”

“That’s a lot of dough,” he said but then he frowned. He sat up and scratched the back of his head. “So what does that mean?”

“I told him I would go with him and be his model. It’s being filmed in Dallas. I’ve already called Kickers and quit.”

“Right. For how long?”

“I don’t even know. It depends on how well he does.”

He opened his mouth as if he was going to say something but then shook his head instead.

“What were you going to say?”

“Something selfish. Nothing. Nothing. Never mind.”

She immediately thought he wanted her to stay, which made her feel nice but torn at the same time. She shrugged it off, in case she was dead wrong. It wouldn’t have been the first time she’d misread a man. She continued like he’d never said anything. “I have no experience, and even after I told Maximilian about my severe stage fright, he still wants me to be his model.”

“You have stage fright?”

“It came out in the third grade. We were doing a Christmas play, and I had like two words, and I freaked out. My knees got all wobbly and my hands shook, and I barely choked out the words. It was awful.”

“That explains why you didn’t get on stage with that country band. And here I thought you were embarrassed because of me.”

“Well, that didn’t help either.” She shrugged. “I’ve never been in front of an audience since that happened.” A strange thought hit her. Maybe that was another reason why the lawyer thing had never appealed to her.

“I’m sure you’ll do fine,” Larry said and touched her face. “Maximilian is lucky to have you all to himself for who knows how long. You have nothing to be afraid of. You are sexy and gorgeous and I, for one, love to watch you walk. You’re going to make an awesome model.”

“Thank you. I feel better already. I should get an earpiece and you can feed me these compliments while I’m out there in front of everyone.”

“Done.”

Haley giggled and then remembered she needed to hurry. “I’d better get up. I was supposed to be at Maximilian’s apartment like an hour ago. I swear I’m never on time for anything.”

“Care to join me for a shower?”

“I do have to shower, but I have a feeling if I get in the shower with you, I’ll never make it Maximilian’s. What about a rain check? Get it? Rain check because they’re both water.”

“Wow, if I had known you told horrible jokes, this here would have never happened.” He’d said it all with a straight face but then lost his composure and smirked.

“Is that right?” she said and tried to tickle him.

Larry caught her arms and eased on top of her.

She pretended to fight, and he held her down by her wrists.

Haley sighed. “I need to get up.”

“You shouldn’t have started something you couldn’t finish,” he said in the sexiest voice she’d ever heard.

A phone rang in the living room.

“That’s me.” Larry sighed.

“Well now, did you start something you couldn’t finish?”

He raised a brow at her.

“Nope,” he said. And then he finished what he’d started.

Afterward, Haley lay in bed and admired Larry as he dressed. She couldn’t believe she was here with him, in his bed feeling so happy and content when just the day before she’d thought a relationship with Larry would be impossible. But then again, she couldn’t go jumping to conclusions. Nothing had been defined. That thought scared her.

Larry smiled warmly. “I’ll go make some coffee.”

She reluctantly crawled out of bed and slipped on her dress before checking her phone. Sure enough, Maximilian had texted her. She texted him back letting him know she would be there soon and then followed Larry into the front area of the apartment.

“It’s my assistant, Neal.” Larry said after he’d picked up his phone from his desk. “I’d better give him a quick call back.” He pushed a couple of buttons before saying, “What’s up?” A pause. “What do you mean? Oh. Barnes and Noble. Shit. That’s today?” Larry listened as he headed to the kitchen, his voice becoming muffled.

His assistant. Of course he had an assistant. He was The Larry White. She looked around the apartment. She hadn’t been inside Larry’s apartment since the séance, and all she’d seen last night had been Larry. The place was decorated nicely, expensively. Where she went for country chic, he was more classy male. She wondered when a guy like him had the time to shop for matching throw pillows and vases. He didn’t seem the type.

Haley wondered what his real house looked like if this was just a place to write. She strolled over to his desk. What a mess. Now this was more like what she thought his living quarters would be like. There were papers, a stapler, coffee cups with old coffee, pens, a Kindle, manila folders, more paper. And then she spotted it. A stack of paper. The top of the first page read
Chapter One
. She bit her lower lip. Should she? She could lean over just a little bit more . . .

Chapter One—Death at the Brothel

The screams and thumping had kept her glued to the bed, but after it had become eerily quiet, Lexi Dylan forced herself up onto shaky legs, and opened the door to the hallway.

She had no idea if someone was still in the house and willed herself not to scream at the sight of the blood-smeared walls and hardwood floor. When she reached the greeting room, she slapped her hand over her mouth but could no longer hold the scream inside her dry throat. There was no need to check for breathing, they were all dead. She trembled and cried as she walked past the shredded clothes, the blood-splattered walls, and the scattered limbs of her friends.

That’s when she saw it.

“You’re not the only one who forgot something today,” Larry said.

Haley jumped a foot and spun around. “No? Did I hear Barnes and Noble?” She walked away from his desk and toward him, and he didn’t seem to notice what she’d been up to. Her heart pounded from reading that little bit and from almost being caught.

“Yeah, I forgot all about a signing. Apparently, they’re already lining up, and it’s way across town. Near my house in The Woodlands. Hey, you okay?” And then his eyes widened. “Did you see her?”

“Who?”

“The ghost. Mrs. Chase.”

“Oh, no.”

“Then, is something wrong? Would you like to come with me?”

“I’d love to see you adored by all your fans, but I can’t. I promised Maximilian.” She hated not being able to spend the day with him, even if his day was going to be spent surrounded by gorgeous female fans. But the thought of girls standing in line just to have him sign a book when she’d shared his bed kind of made her feel special.

“I’ve got some coffee brewing. Would you like some?”

“No, that’s okay. I’d better get going.”

“Not before I tell you goodbye.”

He leaned in slowly, purposely, kissing her with a calm tenderness, like he had all the time in the world to spend with her.

The kiss was becoming more intense, and she finally had to pull away for the both of them.

He gave a sexy growl before saying, “Don’t think I won’t take you up on that rain check.”

“Yeah, and I’d better get out of here and let you get ready before I make you cash it in now.”

He moaned again as she backed away, and she gave him a sad smile and a little wave before closing the door behind her.

Chapter 28

Larry drove as fast as he could through downtown and to the freeway. He hadn’t had time for a run or a haircut but he’d taken a quick shower and shaved and put on a nice pair of pants and his sports jacket. When he arrived at The Woodlands Mall, his nerves were a little rattled as usual. No matter how many of these things he did, he still became antsy. Thank goodness he didn’t have to speak to the crowd today, he only had to sign and talk to fans one by one—he preferred it that way. This made him think about what Haley had said about her stage fright this morning. Huh, he thought, maybe we do have some things in common. There was that, and whether Haley realized it or not, she was an artist. They were both creative.

After he’d entered the bookstore, he made his way upstairs, locating Neal at a table talking to a man wearing a name badge, most likely the manager. When Neal spotted him, he waved him over, causing the fans to recognize him also. Thankfully, there were a couple security guards who managed to keep everyone back until he took his seat.

“It’s about time,” Neal said. Neal Parker looked more like his bodyguard than his assistant. He kept his head shaved, liked tattoos, and weight-lifted. A friend from college, a History major, Neal had dropped out when he had to help run the family roofing business that he’d tried with all his might to avoid. After the business hit rock bottom, Neal had needed a part-time gig to get him over the hump, and it just so happened Larry needed a trusted assistant.

“I’ve been trying to get hold of you for days.” Neal’s voice was loud, even though Larry could tell he was trying to keep it down. “Don’t you check your emails or texts, or phone messages, or door for that matter? I went by your house this morning. I went by your lawyer friend’s to drop off your wallet, but she wasn’t even there, so I couldn’t ask her what was going on. Where the fuck have you been?”

“I’m sorry, man. We talked about this this morning. I’m here now.”

After Larry sat down, the first person approached, handing him her book. “I can’t wait to read it, Mr. White. I loved
Night of Dismemberment
.”

“Thank you, and what is your name?”

“It’s right there on the stick-it note,” Neal said. “I have people working the line, as usual.”

Larry read her name. “Okay, Missy. For Missy,” he said as he signed the book ‘Best Wishes.’

He looked up at Neal. “I appreciate all your help and work. I’m sorry. I’ve been out of town.” He greeted the next person who’d stepped up in line and glanced at his name on the sticky note. “Good afternoon, Sam.”

“Dude, you’re my favorite writer. My favorite scene is where that guy got his guts ripped out by that zombie dude.”

Neal huffed. “You could at least tell someone next time. I got an ass chewing from your publicist, you know.”

“You told me. I’m sorry. I know.” Larry then spoke to Sam, “Then you will freak over Chapter 8 of this book.”

“Well,” Neal said, “I sure as hell hope you didn’t forget the thing at the Marriott tonight.”

“Refresh my memory.”

“What the hell, man,” Neal whispered under his breath.

Thankfully, something caught Larry’s attention. Brenda was waving from the sidelines, a security guard doing his best to hold her back.

“Brenda!” Larry said. “Look, Neal, it’s Brenda.” He nodded to the guard to let him know that she was cool.

“Hey there,” Brenda said after she approached the table.

“Hi, how are you today?” Larry asked the next person in line while Brenda and Neal shook hands and introduced themselves.

“Neal? You’re Larry’s assistant?” Brenda dropped her sunglasses to the bridge of her nose before examining Neal up and down.

“You remembered the signing,” Larry said, even though Brenda didn’t miss very many of them.

“Of course. I told you I would.”

“At least someone remembered,” Neal said. “Okay, I’m going to tell you one more time. You must be at the charity horror event at the Marriott, tonight.”

“I’ll be there,” Larry said, and Neal seemed to relax a little bit.

“Me too,” Brenda whispered, leaning over with a little suggestive arch of the eyebrow. “I’ll book us a room.”

Uh-oh, Larry thought. This wouldn’t do at all. “Brenda, we need to talk. Neal, I need a break.”

“What?” Neal squeaked. “No, no break! You just got here. Larry, shit, they’re not going to let you come back!”

“It’s okay. Calm down. I’ll be right back.” Larry got up and motioned for Brenda to come with him. They huddled in the small little V-shape a few steps behind the desk.

The up-to-then-patient crowd began to stir.

“I need to tell you something,” Larry said.

“Okay.” Brenda was all smiles and sultriness. She looked cool and casual today, wearing a low-cut blouse, tight white jeans and heels that brought her almost up to Larry’s chin.

“I hate to do this right now, like this, but I have to tell you that I’m with Haley now.”

“What do you mean, with her? She here?”

“No, I’m mean like a couple, together.”

Brenda pressed her lips together. Cocking her head to the side, she asked, “Really? My ex-assistant who you thought was a whore? And after what she did to you?”

“It was all a misunderstanding. None of that matters. Brenda, I like her. I mean,
really
like her. So tonight can’t happen. We have to cool it. You can’t come to the hotel.”

Brenda seemed frozen. Her brows were tight and her arms were crossed over her chest. She stood there like that, staring at him for a second until her face began to relax a bit. She finally responded with a tight smile. “Will she be there tonight?”

“No.”

“Well then, what’s the harm?”

“I don’t want to mess this up with her. You understand, right? So we can’t stay the night together.”

“Break’s over.” Neal had walked over to them.

“Look,” Larry said, ignoring Neal. “I appreciate everything you’ve done for me. I don’t want to seem ungrateful. If you want me to get my shit and move out of the house, I’ll understand.”

“Don’t be so dramatic. Stay. Finish your book. Besides, I was about to tell you that I didn’t want to have sex with you anymore either.”

“You’re the best.” Larry sighed. They were both adults. He knew she’d understand. Larry then acknowledged Neal with a nod, letting him know he was getting back to work.

Neal shrugged and whistled silently, apparently more intrigued by their conversation than the signing now.

Larry took a step toward the table, and Brenda grabbed his arm.

“I’m having a formal dinner party tomorrow night and you are my guest of honor.”

When he hesitated, she added, “It’s the least you can do.”

He nodded. “I wouldn’t miss it.”