“And now it’s concerts?”
“Before I left New York, I was onstage for eight years, in a combination of several shows. I’d had the chance to record a couple of CDs that sold fairly well. Then, I was approached a year ago to do this concert tour, tours, really, since we’ll pick up again after the first of the year.”
“When did you get involved with Shelter for Children?”
“I had a pretty idyllic childhood, not that I realized it at the time,” he said with an engaging grin that almost cost Laura her hard-won poise. “My last year on Broadway, I was asked to perform in a benefit concert for Shelter. I met some of the kids, heard some of the horror stories. I couldn’t forget them. I have an eleven-year-old goddaughter who could have easily ended up like one of them. So, I began to help in whatever way I could. Now I’m ‘president’ of the organization. Mostly it just means I lend my name for fund-raising, but I spend time with the kids when I can.” As Laura glanced down at her notes, Taylor was grateful for the break. There was something about Laura Collins that he found disturbing. She had a way of really listening to his answers, and he realized he’d been telling her more than he’d ever let out in an interview before. He’d have to be careful that he didn’t reveal too much. When she raised her head and her deep green eyes met his again, he forgot all about being on his guard.
Laura smiled at him. “How does it feel to be the ‘Sexiest Man Alive’?” she asked as she pulled out a copy of People Magazine that had been published a few weeks ago.
“Embarrassing, if you want to know the truth.”
“Does this have anything to do with those guards outside your door?”
Taylor was silent for a moment before he answered. “I guess it does in some ways. I’ve got a pretty large fan base, and not all of them are stable. There have been a couple of incidents that have made security a necessity.”
Laura said, “What about family, friends? What do you do in your downtime, Taylor?”
“My best friend and her daughter—my goddaughter—live near me. I spend a lot of time with them when I’m home. I do a lot of in-line skating and reading, too.”
A woman? His best friend was a woman? An unexpected bolt of pure jealousy ran through her before she continued.
“What about on the road? You do a tremendous amount of traveling. Do you ever get to really see any of the places you visit?”
“Not often. There’s rarely time, always somewhere else to be. I wish I could. For example, here in Albuquerque. It would be great to really take some time and explore it, share it with someone.” His eyes softened as he looked out the window, like a child forced to do piano practice when others were outside playing. Laura heard a note of melancholy in his voice, and she found herself unexpectedly filled with compassion for this man whose life was not really his own. She’d never felt this way about any other interviewee, and she found it disconcerting. She changed the subject back to the concert and the plans for the post-concert charity benefit.
Finally, closing her notebook and turning off the recorder, she said, “Thanks for your time, Taylor. It’s been a great interview. I hope you’ll be pleased with what we finally publish.”
He stood and watched as she gathered up her recorder and notebook. More than once during the interview, he had been distracted by her beauty. But, it was more than that. He felt a kinship with her, a connection he couldn’t really pin down. All he was sure of was that he wanted to spend more time with her. Quickly, before he could reason himself out of it, he said, “Laura? Would you like to come to rehearsal tonight? And have dinner with me afterward?”
Laura was surprised and more than a little wary. This wasn’t the first time she had been hit on by an interview subject, but it was the first time she’d ever been tempted to say ‘yes’. Something in his eyes told her that this wasn’t the usual come-on and she said, “Taylor, I’d love to. Should I meet you back here before you go to the theatre?”
“That would be great. Around six?”
“I’ll be here.” Laura picked up her things and headed for the door.
As he opened the door for her, he told the security guards, “Ms. Collins will be back tonight to go to the theatre with me.”
“I’ll see you then, Taylor,” she said, and he watched as she entered the elevator and, with a wave of her hand, was gone.
He turned and re-entered the suite, closing the door behind him. Walking to the window, he stared out toward the mountains, his hands unconsciously caressing the back of the chair where she had been.
Chapter 2
Beth was waiting at her desk. “Laura, how’d the interview go? Is he really as sexy as people say?”
“If I tell you no, you won’t believe me anyway, so, yes, he is definitely as sexy as they say he is.”
Beth moaned. “Why did I decide to go into graphics? You reporters get all the good stuff!”
“Sure we do. Following the mayor around is so exciting.” Laura logged on to her terminal and opened her notebook, ready to write up her notes. She had a four o’clock deadline to meet if this was going to run tomorrow. That would give her barely enough time to get home and change before she was supposed to meet Taylor.
“Oh, Laura,” Beth said, reminding Laura that she was still standing there. “Cary called. He said to tell you that he’d pick you up at seven.”
“Who?” Laura looked at Beth as the message got through to her. “Oh, no! I forgot!”
“So, now you remember. What’s the problem?”
“The problem is,” Laura hissed at her, “I told Taylor I’d go to rehearsal and dinner with him tonight. I completely forgot about Cary.”
“What?” Beth’s voice startled most of the newsroom.
“Hush!” Laura shook her head. “Beth, I don’t really want this to get around.”
“Good Lord, why not? Everyone will die of envy.”
“Except for Robert and Henry. I don’t think they are going to be pleased that I’m dating one of my interview subjects.”
“Dating? You mean this isn’t business?”
“No…yes…Beth, I don’t know what it is! He kind of blurted it out at the last second and I decided to say ‘yes’. And, if you don’t leave me alone, I won’t get my article done and I won’t get home in time to change and I will have nothing to report so that you can have a vicarious life. Go away!”
Beth said, “Fine, I’m going. But you will owe me details, girl, lots of them. Call me when you get home no matter how late it is.” Beth paused, then grinned as she continued, “Of course, if you don’t call, I will assume…”
Laura glared at her, then waved Beth away as she picked up her phone to dial Cary. They’d been planning dinner for between the early and late news broadcasts, so he should be at the television station by now. He wasn’t going to be happy.
“Cary Edwards.”
“Hi, it’s Laura.”
“You got my message? Seven should work out about right.”
“Not for me, Cary. I have to work.”
She heard the disbelief in his voice as he said, “Work?”
“You television people aren’t the only ones to keep late hours. The flu has half the newsroom out sick, so I’ve got to cover for someone. It’ll be late before I’m done, so we’ll have to take a raincheck on this evening.”
“Sure, Laura. Just let me know when.” His words were reasonable, but his tone made it clear he was annoyed. Cary Edwards was not used to being stood up.
“I’ve got to go, Cary. Can we set a new time later?”
“I’ll talk to you later, then.”
He hung up without waiting for her response, but Laura didn’t have time to think about it—she had a deadline to meet.
* * *
Cary Edwards was a reporter for a local television station. Tall and deceptively slender, he had black hair and dark blue eye
s. The camera loved him… and most of the women around him had the same reaction at first. He took full advantage of the benefits his looks and high-profile job brought, and he was never with any one woman for very long. He preferred to “love ’em and leave ’em.” The chase was a game; bedding a woman was the prize. Once he’d had someone, his eye usually began to rove right away.
He’d met Laura a few weeks ago at a party, and he’d been immediately attracted to her beauty. While she didn’t mean any more to him than any of the women in his past, she was proving difficult to get close to. That only made the game more interesting. Cary had no doubt he’d win in the end, but his tentative job offer from The News Channel—TNC—narrowed the time he had to make the conquest.
“Cary!”
He looked up to find the assignment editor at his desk. “Sorry to do this to you,” he said, tossing a folder onto Cary’s desk. “I need you to do a stand-up tonight. Here are the details. Jon’s on camera. We want it for ten and will probably run it again tomorrow. Try to get a few words with him.” He headed back to his desk without waiting for a response.
Cary didn’t really mind working late. A last-minute gig like this always got his adrenaline going. He opened the folder, then stared in disbelief at the picture inside.
* * *
Taylor wondered what had possessed him to ask Laura to the rehearsal. It was something he never did. He preferred to have only those necessary around while he prepared. He’d never asked anyone, let alone a reporter, to a rehearsal. And dinner? He rarely ate much after a rehearsal; he was usually too tired and keyed up to eat.
There had been a progression of women over the years, even a brief engagement, but Taylor tended to be a loner for the most part. He avoided the party scene and preferred staying in when he wasn’t on the road. If he was alone, it was by choice, not from lack of opportunity.
So, why now? Why this woman he knew nothing about? For all he knew, she’d agreed to go to get some kind of exclusive story. Briefly, he considered calling and canceling or having Christine do it for him. But the look he’d seen in her eyes—when he talked about sharing with someone—kept coming back to him. There had been something more than a reporter’s curiosity in her eyes. “One night,” he thought. “How bad could it be?”
* * *
“My God, what was I thinking?” Laura stood in front of her closet trying to decide what to wear for an evening with a superstar. “He’s probably a Lothario with a girl in every town, and I’m it for Albuquerque.” She added another shirt to the pile of rejects on her bed. “Why am I so wound up over this? He just wants some company and my question put it into his head. Rehearsal and dinner, that’s all it is. He didn’t ask you to run away with him!” Her image in the mirror shook her head. “Oh, great! Now I’m talking to myself. That’s not a good sign!”
She turned back to the closet and pulled out a deep green silk shirt and black leggings. Quickly, she dressed and stepped into a pair of green suede shoes. Glancing at the clock, she realized that she had better leave if she didn’t want to be late. Taking a matching scarf from the rack on the wall, she pulled her copper-hued hair back into a simple ponytail, picked up her purse, and headed out the door.
Chapter 3
As it happened, she got caught in one of the city’s nightly traffic jams and barely made it to the parking garage before six. Consequently, she was a bit breathless as she stepped out of the elevator just as the door to the suite was opened.
“Taylor! I’m sorry I’m late.” Laura launched into an explanation without giving him time to say anything. “There was another traffic jam. They happen all the time, and I got caught in this one. I really hope I haven’t held you up.”
“Laura! Slow down. They can’t start the rehearsal without me, and we have plenty of time.” He was laughing as he took her arm and led her into the suite. “Come in and catch your breath.”
“I’m babbling, aren’t I?” Laura returned his laughter. “I do that when I get in a hurry, especially if I’m violating some time frame I’ve set for myself. I promise, I’ll stop.”
Taylor found himself laughing with her. She was so different from all the others who treated him as something special, someone to be set apart. She was treating him as if he was… well, as if he was a friend. It had been a long time since he’d had that feeling with anyone new.
“Come sit down for a minute. Let me get you something to drink.”
“Just water, Taylor. I don’t think I could handle anything else right now.”
She watched him as he moved to the bar of the suite and opened a bottle of water. He was wearing a black T-shirt with black jeans and loafers. The color intensified the red highlights of his hair and the unique, brilliant turquoise of his eyes. There was a natural grace to his movements, and he didn’t seem to be uncomfortable under her gaze. In fact, just as she realized that she was staring, he looked at her and grinned. “Well, do I pass inspection?”
Laura blushed. “Sorry…but you are rather easy to look at.”
Taylor burst into laughter. “Well, you’re honest, I’ll give you that.” He handed her a glass and sat down on the other end of the sofa. “What else are you, Laura? You already know everything there is to know about me. I think it’s my turn to do the interviewing. Tell me about yourself.”
“Me? There’s nothing exciting about my life.”
“So, bore me then. Turnabout is fair play.”
“All right, but remember you asked for it. I was born here in Albuquerque and have never lived anywhere else. I went to school at the University of New Mexico, then went to work for the Herald. That’s about it.”
“You were serious…your life is dull!” Laura was startled by his comment until she saw the teasing look in his eyes.
“So, where do you want me to start?”
“Tell me about your family.”
“My parents are both professors here at the university. Dad teaches European history, and Mom teaches women’s studies. I get my coloring from Dad’s side of the family, the Irish. My mother is pure New Mexican as far as we can trace back. Her family, the Armijos, received one of the original Spanish land grants, and they helped settle this part of the world. Her name was María Consuela Bernadette Genevieve Armijo. You can imagine the fuss when she fell in love with her penniless Irish professor! But, they’ve always said it was love at first sight, and they were married six months after they met.”
“Are you an ‘only’, too?”
“Only? Oh! No, I had one brother, but Tomás died of cancer two years ago. I miss him terribly.” She could feel her throat tighten as it always did when she talked about Tomás, and she was grateful that Christine chose that moment to come into the room to remind them it was time to leave.
* * *
Downstairs, a limousine waited to take them to Popejoy Hall on the University of New Mexico campus. Laura was a bit intimidated. The only other time she’d ridden in a limousine was for her senior prom, and that had been with a whole group of friends. Taylor waited until she and Christine were seated, then got in beside Laura, perfectly at ease in an environment he was used to. For Laura, it was a perfect example of how far her world was from Taylor’s.
On the short ride from downtown Albuquerque to the university, Laura played tour guide to cover up her nervousness. The love she felt for her city clearly showed and, for the first time in a long time, Taylor felt a wave of homesickness for the place he had grown up in. He’d never gone back to Woodland after his parents’ funeral. The house had been sold, what few things he’d chosen to keep had been put into storage, and the memories, he thought, locked safely away.
The limo turned off of Central Avenue and onto the campus. The concert was scheduled at Popejoy Hall, the only indoor performance venue of any size in Albuquerque. “Unless you count the Pit, Taylor.”
“The pit?” His face clearly showed his amusement at
the name. “People actually perform at someplace known as ‘the pit’?”
“Sounds pretty awful, doesn’t it? It’s really the university basketball arena. Not too conducive to an intimate concert, but it does okay for the more raucous stuff and high school graduations.” Taylor and Christine were still laughing as the limousine pulled up to the rear entrance of Popejoy. Laura was surprised at the number of people waiting. “Is it always like this, Taylor?”
“It has been the last few years. That’s one of the reasons why I have so much security. Sometimes these people tend to forget that they don’t own me. A few have even been threatening. For the most part, though, they seem to genuinely care about my well-being. Still, it gets a bit much to have to deal with it all the time. Are you ready to run the gauntlet?” he asked as the chauffeur came around to open the door. “I didn’t think about this when I asked you to come with me. Some of those people are your peers, other news people. Would you rather wait in the car until the worst of it clears?”
“I’m fine, Taylor. Maybe my being with you will keep some of my fellow jackals in line.”
As the driver opened the door and Taylor emerged, Laura was overwhelmed by the wave of sound that engulfed them. Fans were waving flowers or begging for an autograph; reporters were yelling questions; photographers shouted for him to look this way or that. Laura was embarrassed to realize that, most times, she was as bad as any of them out there when it came to getting her story. Taylor waved to the crowd, then turned and helped Christine, then Laura, out of the car. The intensity of the crowd was frightening when seen from this perspective, and Laura was grateful for Taylor’s security people who sheltered them to the door. She and Christine were escorted inside as Taylor turned to speak to the crowd for a moment.
* * *
“There’s Taylor Morgan’s car now,” Cary said with a brilliant smile. “He obviously has a lot of fans who will be attending tomorrow night’s benefit concert and reception for Shelter for Children.” The camera cut away from Cary and came in close on the limo as Taylor exited and waved to the crowd. Cary turned to watch, keeping a running voice-over going as Taylor helped a pretty woman from the car. Cary noted to himself that Taylor evidently still had a taste for blondes, then found himself momentarily speechless as Taylor held his hand out to another woman, a redhead, who was emerging from the car. Laura? What the hell was Laura doing with Taylor Morgan?
Timing Is Everything Page 2
