The Trouble With Snowmen (18 page)

Chapter 38

When Larry watched Haley almost fall off the stage, he’d jumped up to help her, but by the time he’d gotten there, she’d already picked herself up and sped down the runway without looking back.

She had seen him, though. He was pretty sure that was what had caused her to stumble. At least she knew he was there. He wondered if she would let Maximilian run interference again.

Why in the world had he let Maximilian talk him out of seeing her last night? Because he’d wanted to give her some space. That was, according to Maximilian, what she’d asked for. He had more hope now that she would let him explain since he knew she loved him.

Thankfully, he’d been able to get inside the auditorium. One good thing came from having a little fame. Being recognized. At the entrance, Larry had pretended to be an invited guest and, of course, his name was not on the list. The twenty-something guy, Larry’s demographic, had recognized him and apologized for the mix up. He’d let him in, and even gave him a front row seat pass.

He’d walked in to find few audience members sprinkled throughout the auditorium. All the lights were on, and the television crew moved about getting ready. Stadium seats for a crowd of a thousand surrounded a chair-lined stage and catwalk area. A band set up on the right side of the stage, and an announcer’s podium was on the left side.

But he hadn’t even entertained the idea of watching the show. He headed backstage. Except that time, neither his face nor his name had gotten him beyond the lady who guarded it. “I don’t give a flying rat’s ass who you are, if you don’t have a badge, you do
not
get on my backstage, buddy.” So his only choice had been to sit in the audience and hope Haley noticed him.

Haley had looked so beautiful up there on the runway that first time. Larry had felt a little nervous for her because of her stage fright. Watching her strut with such confidence, even though he knew she was a nervous wreck inside, had made him proud of her.

It had taken all of his being not to rush the stage or call out her name because he had to make contact today. Otherwise, there’d be no telling if he’d be able to get back inside the building tomorrow. He had no idea what hotel Haley had checked into, and she wouldn’t answer his calls.

He’d caused her to fall down in front of everyone, in front of the cameras, in front of the judges. They were live on television, so also in front of millions of people. That probably wasn’t going to help his cause.

As he watched the models now, one by one, he wondered what had happened to Haley. It had to be her turn again. He knew from the program that Maximilian’s designs were third in the lineup, but he’d lost count. What number was this girl on stage? What did the announcer just say? It seemed a lot longer this time, and sure enough, he recognized one of the models as having already gone twice and then another.

Where was Haley? His heart went out to her. Maybe she hadn’t had the nerve to walk back out on the stage again. Larry knew he wouldn’t have been able to.

His phone vibrated, and he almost ignored it because he’d been avoiding Neal all day, but something told him to look.

The text from Maximilian read, ‘Sorry. Meet Haley downstairs. She’ll be waiting.’

Without a second thought, and even though he sat in the front row, he jumped up and hurried out of the auditorium.

He didn’t wait on the elevator but took the stairs two at a time. He ran out the door and searched the faces of the crowd. He turned this way and that way, ready to retrieve the text and see if he had read it correctly, but then he saw Haley. His heart pounded in his chest.

Haley stood against the wall, watching him with a faint grin of amusement.

He shook his head and walked toward her. Haley’s hair was crazy like it had been on the runway, kind of reminding him of the first time he’d met her at the séance. She wore jeans and a T-shirt, and wiggled her barefoot toes. She’d never looked more beautiful.

Chapter 39

“Thank you, Haley.” Larry’s voice was quiet and gentle, as if he didn’t want to scare her off. “Thank you for seeing me.”

“You’re welcome.” Haley was proud of herself for keeping her cool. She didn’t want any misunderstandings this time. But all she’d truly wanted to do when she first watched him run out from the stairwell, all shook up and searching for her, was to run to him and jump into his arms. Larry talked fast and Haley tried to stay focused, but he was so gorgeous.

He was saying, “I want to explain everything. I spoke to Brenda, and she told me what she did. I had nothing to do with getting your job back. Not that I don’t want you to have a job. It’s just that I thought maybe we could do something else.” He turned his head to the side, seemingly getting his thoughts together. His eyes darted and he exhaled a couple of times before he said, “None of that matters right now. I’m so sorry that Brenda humiliated you and lied. But I swear, I wasn’t with Brenda at the Marriott. But I do want to be honest. We do have a past. But I haven’t been with her since–”

“Wait,” Haley said, stopping him from saying anything more. “I don’t need or want to know anything that happened before because we weren’t really together. It’s none of my business.”

Larry’s entire body seemed to relax in that second. He nodded and blinked his eyes several times. “I’m so sorry about Brenda. She’s out of my life forever, I swear.”

“Okay, and we don’t have to talk about her anymore,
ever
. But there is something I want to tell you.” Haley bit her bottom lip, leaned in closer. “I don’t want to play any more games. I’m going to be honest with you too and tell you what I want, or more like what I thought I wanted. I thought that the most important thing was to get married. I left you in that bed that first night for one reason. And I feel horrible, but the truth is, I didn’t think you would fit into my idea of a perfect future.”

“I see,” he said with a little frown.

“But after everything that’s happened, I’m okay if you’re not the marrying kind. I don’t care. I know now that the most important thing to me is being with you right now. And whatever happens in the future, is just that, in the future. I want what we have now. That’s what I want. I want you. Larry, I love you.”

“Oh,” he said and clicked his tongue and shook his head. “Married?” he grumbled with a gleam in his eyes. “That’s too bad you don’t want to get married because I love you too, and I would love for you to be my wife someday.”

Larry’s words and warm smile gave Haley tingling goosebumps. Joy swelled up in the pit of her stomach, and she had to bite her bottom lip to keep quiet and let him finish talking.

“I definitely want you,” he said, “and I want something else too, and I hope it won’t scare
you
away because I’m afraid you’ll have to give up that gorgeous figure for a while, and there goes your modeling career.” Larry winked.

Haley’s smile broke free and so did a giggle.

Larry eased toward her and put his hands on her waist. They were face to face, noses almost touching.

“I want to have kids with you,” he whispered, “at least three kids. Does that make
you
melt?”

She took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “No,” she said. “You. You make me melt.”

That seemed to be the signal he’d waited for. He drew her close and kissed her, and she kissed him back, all the craziness of the last few weeks being purged from her body and replaced by a euphoric calm. She was completely and utterly in love with this man.

She had to make herself pull away because she had one more question that had to be answered. “The book, is it true that the main character, the hooker, was based on me?”

“Yes. Lexi Dylan slept with men for money because she was an insecure mess.”

Haley frowned and tried to wiggle out of his arms.

He gave her a sly grin. “I’m not finished.”

“Hmmm,” she said, curious as to where he was going.

“Through the course of the book, she changes. She becomes a strong, resilient, independent, kick-ass, sexy-as-hell champion who knows exactly what she wants.”

A smile sprung across her face. “Well, that’s not so bad.”

“If you’d like, I can burn it. It never has to go to print. Neal will totally freak out, but I don’t care.”

“No-No, it definitely sounds like a bestseller to me.”

Larry moved in for more kissing, but then Haley remembered Maximilian. “Oh shoot. I have to go see how Max did!”

“Max?”

“Yes, I’ll tell you about that later. But I feel so bad. I hope I didn’t mess everything up.”

“He should do fine. His clothes are nice. Besides, he should get
all
the sympathy votes.”

“Hey!” She swatted at him.

He caught her playful hand and kissed it. “Shall we?”

It felt amazing as he interlaced his fingers in hers and they walked to the elevator.

When they reentered the hall the contestants were lined up on the stage. Max was among them, a huge fake smile covered his face.

As Haley stood there beside Larry at the very back of the room, his arm now snug around her, she was so happy, so comfortable, like that was how it had always been.

“The judges have made their decision as to who will advance to the next round,” the host said. “As I call your name, please step forward.”

A drum roll sounded from the band. “Patricia Long, Gordon Sutherland, Maximilian . . .”

Haley clapped and jumped up and down and Larry whistled. From being on the stage earlier, she knew Max couldn’t see them, but she would go backstage and congratulate him as soon as she could. She was so happy for him and grateful that she hadn’t destroyed his dream. She knew he had a great chance of winning if he had made it through
that
round.

They were still announcing names, but Larry nudged Haley out the door. They stood out in hallway and he brought her close.

“You wouldn’t happen to have a room around here somewhere, would you?” he asked.

“Maybe. It depends. Are you going to make me breakfast?”

“Breakfast, huh? You assume a lot.” He smiled before giving her a quick kiss.

“Before we make love,” she whispered, “there’s something that you might want to know about me. I don’t have any money or a job. I’m completely broke.”

“That’s okay,” he said as he came in for another kiss. “I’ll give you a freebie.”

“And I’ve decided to become that starving artist. Really starving now since I didn’t win the money. I seriously want to see about that photography thing you talked about.”

“That is terrific because I happen to need to photographer to go on tour with me.”

“Is that right?”

He nodded. “Ms. Bombshell Haley Monroe, will you be my photographer?”

She threw her arms around him. “Yes, I will!”

Haley had been dreaming when she heard her phone ring. She felt for it without opening her eyes and finally found it on the bedside table. “Hello,” she croaked out. “Okay. Be right there.”

“Who was that?” Larry asked as he rolled over and snuggled close to her.

“Max.” She let out a long yawn.

“Maximilian? Is everything all right?”

“Everything is fine. I just have to go do him a favor.”

Larry looked over at the bedside clock. “At three o’clock in the morning?”

“Yeah.” Haley sighed and yawned again. “He has an imaginary billy goat that needs walking . . . don’t ask.”