“It’s not. You let me touch you in bed, but if there is no chance of a quick fuck, you keep your distance.”
“I don’t think you could call anything we do in bed as quick.”
I expect at least a smile. I get nothing. Fear races through me but I push it back. I have to.
“Ever since the night of your grandmother’s birthday party, something has been off.”
“I’ve had a lot on my mind.”
His features soften just a bit, and suddenly, I want to hurl myself into his arms. I don’t know why, but I am so close to crying that I’m not sure I can keep it from happening.
“We both have.”
There is a long beat of silence.
“What’s going on, Travis?”
He shifts his weight again, and I know at this point that it has to do with what is on his mind. Whatever it is, he doesn’t want to talk about it.
“I think maybe we need to do something. Maybe get out of town on a trip.”
That was not what I was expecting.
“Josh said—”
“He said to do what you normally do. You usually go on vacation somewhere. Syd and you go do the spa, or the three of us go somewhere.”
That’s true. “I want to avoid the press. If we’re seen together, people will start gossiping.’
“They already are. And it doesn’t matter, really. We tend to take vacations together, so the tabloids wouldn’t pick up on it.”
“Yeah, but Syd usually goes with us. If we went by ourselves, they would notice.”
He studies me for a long moment, the air heavy with tension. “Midge called and wanted to know what the hell was going on.”
His agent. I hadn’t even thought of that, but that’s because my brain is mush. For the last four years, all I have cared about was this show. Even before we got the gig, it was all I could think about.
“And?”
“What can I tell her? You aren’t on the show anymore.”
He crosses his arms over his chest and stares at me. I can read the challenge in his eyes, and I want to surrender. I didn’t want to leave the show, but I didn’t think I could take another season. Now that we’re together, it would be so easy just to accept the contract. There is one thing I have never been and that’s easy.
“And you want an answer? Is that what this is all about?”
Yes, I know it’s a big jump, but talking about not working together anymore makes me sad. I want to tell him that I want to stay. That’s what I’ve been trying to talk to Marty about and that I forgive him. But there is that shadow in the background, hovering over any of my decisions. It makes me even angrier that it was my grandmother who put the doubts in my head. But, as much as I hate to admit it, she usually has my best interests at heart.
“What is all this is about? What are you talking about?’
I know it’s stupid, I know that my grandmother’s nasty whispers aren’t true. I hope they aren’t, but there is that little niggle of doubt that’s leaving my stomach in free fall.
“This,” I say pointing between the two of us. “Us.”
His eyes narrow, confusion marring his expression until the meaning of my words hit him.
“Are you fucking kidding me right now? This is what you want to argue about?”
His voice rises with each word he says, and it fuels my anger and fear. I don’t notice anything but the fact that he didn’t deny my accusation.
“Yes. I think it’s something we should talk about. I mean,” I say, knowing in my heart I shouldn’t do this, but knowing that it’s easier to push him away than to watch him walk away, “I shouldn’t be surprised that you jumped at that chance to fuck me to save the show. You know it will fail without me, and once I sign that contract, you will probably be onto the next groupie and leave me in the dust.”
His face goes blank, but his eyes…damn his eyes go hot. I don’t think I’ve ever seen him this angry before in my life. And I’ve thrown things at him and purposely sprayed paint on him.
“You think I would do this, that I would start something up with you for the show?”
Every word sounds like it’s wrenched from a deep, dark well of pain. I’m not listening though. That fear is turning to outright panic, and I tend to lash out when that happens.
“It’s the most important thing in the world to you, right?”
He doesn’t say anything for a really long moment. Like there is a good chance that it’s only a few seconds, but it feels like hours.
“Why are you doing this?”
I step back, but he grabs my arm. Not in a threatening way, but it’s like I’m a lifeline for him.
“I’m just stating facts.” That’s a lie and from the look in his eyes, he knows it.
“You’re scared.”
“I am not.” More lies.
He shakes his head and releases me. The look of pity and disgust leaves a sick feeling in the pit of my stomach.
“If you think the show is the most important thing to me, you don’t know me at all.”
I open my mouth, but he turns away from me and stalks away.
“Where are you going?”
“Out.”
“So, I question your motives and you abandon the idea that you’re here to protect me?”
He stops at the door and looks back me. “Security detail has been here over a week. I could have left the day they showed up.”
Then, he slips out the door and I draw in a deep breath. What the hell did I just do? I just started a fight for no reason. Instead of asking him what his intentions are, I accused him. Isn’t that always my way? If I have something good, I blow it up. My friendship with Syd and my show is the only things I haven’t ruined. Well, I did sort of blow up my show, so just Syd and that’s because she’s more stubborn than I am.
I sigh and grab my phone. I can’t call Syd. She’s his sister and while she can be objective, I don’t think I can put her in that spot. I guess I could hit Becca and Everly up. But before I can text them, there’s a knock at the door. No neck Ned, my favorite of the security detail, is there. “Hey, Nancy, there’s a guy here.”
I walk forward and when I see the balding head of Garrett Howard, I want to scream. The universe is paying me back for picking a fight with Travis. I guess I deserve it. I study my old producer and wonder about him just popping up in Juniper. He looks a little worse for wear, dressed in an old pair of jeans, a Flipping Texas shirt, and scruffy sneakers. He’s got a bit of a beard going too, but that’s not abnormal. I know a lot of people in the business let themselves go right after the season ends. He might have been behind the camera, but Garrett is the type of producer who garners attention in the press.
“What the fuck do you want, Garrett?”
“I want to a-apologize.”
I frown at him. He does look a little apologetic, and if the rumors Syd talked about are true, he might have just lost his last chance at saving his career. And I want to tell him to fuck off, but I don’t. I started a fight with Travis over nothing, other than my own cowardice.
“I’m not sure I can help you, but sure.”
I need all the karma I can get.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Travis
After I leave the house, I head to the police station. I know that we just talked to Josh about the investigation, but I need to do something…anything.
I know I need to go back and deal with the fallout from that fight, but I’m trying to wait it out. Nancy’s reaction came out of nowhere. A few weeks ago, I would have definitely expected it. But, from the moment I kissed her, I felt in rhythm with her—until her grandmother’s party. I’d been thinking she was worried over the break-in and irritated with having more security. Now, though, I’m thinking it has to do with that meeting she had with her grandmother. She doesn’t approve of me. At all. Estella is okay with a date rapist courting her daughter, but an upstanding citizen is out of the question. It irritates me even more that she’s even listening to
her grandmother. But that’s the only person I can see who would suggest that I was sleeping with her to get her back on the show.
I snort at the thought. Like I would ever need another reason to sleep with her other than the fact that she’s my heart. Also, I ignored my need for her for years to keep the show running, so the idea that I’m doing it now to tie her to the show is laughable. A dribble of sweat slides down my back and I roll my eyes. I’m sitting in my hot AF truck thinking about a woman.
Slipping out of the truck, I ignore one of the LOLs, who tries to get my attention, and hurry into the police station. While Josh will admit to using them, he limits when they come into the police station. Unless it is an emergency, they have to contact him through email or a call. Otherwise, those women would be in here every damn day.
There’s not much going on in the office, but that’s normal. The summer tends to bring them more issues. Tourists can be jerks, and Josh takes his ‘keeping the peace’ policy very seriously. Still, it’s a lazy, late afternoon, almost too hot for people to be out causing issues. A couple of deputies are busy at their desks, and I know another couple are out on patrol. I know it may seem a little like overkill, but they are not only responsible for things around Juniper, but also in the surrounding area. There is no real county sheriff here, thanks to the mandate. So, Josh works as peacekeeper to all of it. It sounds like a nightmare to me, but he loves it.
“Fillmore, what’s up?” Josh says.
“I was wondering if you had a chance to chat with Andrews.”
He sighs and I know I’m not going to like the answer. “I can’t find anything on him, other than what we already knew about him. Also, he apparently has his eyes on some other woman to marry.”
I blink. “What? Someone is marrying him?”
Josh shakes his head. “They aren’t engaged. But he’s already headed up to Dallas where she lives. Nancy is apparently too much work.”
I rock back on my heels thinking about our fight. “Yeah, I can see where he would say that.”
Josh’s trademark smile fades. “Trouble in paradise?”
That wound is too fresh to talk about, and especially right now with two deputies and now the secretary listening. “Naw. We’re both just getting antsy.”
“Where is she?”
“Home.”
His eyes widen, then narrow. “Alone?” His voice isn’t friendly at all.
“No. She has a full security detail.”
His expression clears, and he leans back in his seat studying my expression. I have to fight the urge to look anywhere but at him. Pride keeps my gaze trained on him.
“And you had a fight and ran away.”
Mike, one of the older deputies’ snorts behind me, and I toss a glare over my shoulder. He holds his hands up as if in surrender, so I turn back around to Josh. I take a seat in front of his desk. “We had an argument or whatever. I don’t even know what it was about. She got mad about something—she didn’t tell me what—then accused me of sleeping with her to get her back on the show.”
And I just blurted out the information we’ve been trying to keep under wraps. I sigh, thankful Mike is the only other person to overhear the conversation.
“Don’t tell anyone, Mike,” Josh says. “They’ll work it out. And then you left?”
“Yeah. I just had to get out of there because fights are never good. You say things you regret.”
“True, but they can also clean out a lot of problems.”
“And you know this from your many long-term relationships?” I ask, sarcasm lacing my words.
“My parents. God, they like a good fight.”
I hear Mike chuckle. “Your dad slept here more than once.”
“Remember that time he spent a week here, Mike?”
“Yep, forgot their anniversary.”
Josh chuckles. “She still brings it up every August fifth. Still together though. Humans make mistakes.”
“Fights end relationships. Both of you say things to hurt and you never get over it. Just like you said. Your mother brings it up every anniversary.”
“She laughs when she says it,” Josh says. “They both do. Fighting can end a relationship, but having arguments is an important part of relationships. If you can argue but still stay together, you know you have something worth fighting for. At least, that’s what Dad says.”
I sigh and roll my shoulders. “I guess I need to go back there.”
“Yeah, that would be better than staying here whining like a little bitch.”
I toss him an irritated look. “I’m not in the mood.”
“Think of it as penance. You want her in your life, you have to figure out how to deal with each other. Y’all haven’t been together that long, and it’s a high stress situation. When this blows over, things will get easier.”
I nod. “I know that we might head out of town. There’s only so long I can keep her tied down.”
“Please, I don’t want to know about what you guys do in the bedroom.”
“I do,” Mike says.
I flip them both off and head out of the office. I know we’re going to fight, but maybe Josh is right. Getting to what is worrying her out into the open might help. I get into my truck and notice people looking at me. I’ve gotten good at ignoring stares. It has nothing to do with my stardom and everything to do with my childhood. Being the son of addicts—who served time for various offenses—and the grandson of the meanest bastard in town tended to garner attention. They were always waiting for me to pop off.
I only wave at Everly and Becca across the street, then start back to Nancy’s.
Is it as simple as that? I need to ask her what’s bothering her. I did do that, but she didn’t say anything. Why not? I mean, it’s not like she doesn’t know how I feel about her. My phone rings and I see Syd’s face, so I click it on. I have it hooked up to my speakers.
“What are you doing?”
“Hello, Syd. How are you tonight?”
“Ugh, stop it. What’s going on?”
The urgency in her voice hits me and my smile fades.
“What do you mean?”
“I got a strange message from Marty saying that he couldn’t discuss anything with me about the show until he talked to Nancy.”
I frown as I turn off Main Street and into Nancy’s neighborhood. “That’s really weird. Nancy’s been saying that she can’t get hold of him.”
“That might be true, but he was trying to find out some information. Like what was going on with you two.”
“Going on with us? What does that mean?”
“Like the two of you are having hot monkey sex.”
There’s a murmur in the background that I know is Grady. That man is going to have his hands full for the rest of his life.
“I will say what I want, Grady. And it’s not unprofessional. I’m calling him because Nancy’s not answering her phone. Where is she?”
“Uh, at the house.”
“You aren’t there?! This is why I should have brought her to me. Only I can take care of her.”
Jesus, seriously?
“The security detail is with her and she’s at home working on something.”
She sighs, relief easy to hear over the speakers in the cab of my pickup. “Oh, yeah, I forgot about them. Stop laughing Grady or I will tell Carter to come with us to Italy.”
“Hey, text me Marty’s number. I have a few things I need to talk to him about.”
“You can’t do that.”
“I will not ask him anything about the show. This is personal about Nancy.”
“Oh, okay. I’ll text the number.”
We hang up and my text pings. I click on the number and wait for it to connect. “Hello?”
“Yeah, Marty, this is Travis. I wanted you to know that Nancy’s been trying to get hold of you.”
“Yeah, I just found that out. Apparently, my former assistant—as in she is cleaning out her desk at this moment—had blocked her number on
my phone.”
“What?” I say, something niggling at the base of my spine. Something is off, I can feel it. Nancy always answers her phone for Syd, no matter what time of day it is.
“Yeah, well, she was paid off to block Nancy because some asshole wanted to get back in her good graces and work on her show. If it was with you or someone else. He wanted back in. Or that’s the story he told her.”
My blood ices over. “Who?”
“Garrett Howard. But I don’t know how that would work because the bastard isn’t going to be working in this industry again. I heard there’s at least two women who are filing restraining orders on him.”
“Stalking?”
“Not of the sexual kind. He apparently can’t handle things when he gets let go or someone says they can’t work with him. There are rumors of more women coming forward, along with other people to back up their stories. His career is over.”
“Why didn’t you tell us?” I demand, as I run a stop sign.
“Because I didn’t know. I just found out and started making calls. TMZ just posted a story less than an hour ago.”
“Fuck.”
I hang up without saying anything and try calling the security detail, but it keeps ringing. I give up, gunning the engine, and call Josh.
“I thought you were going to make up,” he says, chuckling.
“Listen, I think it’s Garrett Howard, the producer we had fired from the show. Just…get the fuck over to Nancy’s house right now. Her security detail isn’t answering any of my phone calls.”
I’m turning on Nancy’s street, ignoring the disapproving looks as I speed down the street.
“I’m coming, Nancy.”
And if Garrett Howard is there, I’m going to make him regret everything he’s done in his miserable life.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Nancy
I decide to drag Garrett out back because it’s hot as balls even this late in the day. I know that he hates anytime the temperature is over seventy-five. The fact that it’s still in the nineties with high humidity makes me happy. I know I’m an asshole, but I think I deserve this small payback.
Love to Hate You: An Enemies to Lovers, Best Friend's Brother Romantic Comedy (The Fillmores Book 2) Page 23
