Love Means Nothin'

by Markee Anderson

  “Leave him alone. This isn’t the time for any distractions.”

  Rob leaned forward. “You know, he’s been playing the best I’ve ever seen today. I think that’s thanks to Melody. She had him going over the basics, and the boy hasn’t missed a shot or a serve yet.”

  “I don’t care. She needs to go. His head needs to be in the game. The U.S. Open is Monday and I’m not going to lose my sponsors because of some groupie.”

  “Groupie?” she whispered to Rob.

  He sighed and shook his head then leaned up to Art. “What happened?”

  “Your wonder-child there tried to run away again last night. One of the sponsors saw him in at the train station when he almost was in the middle of a fight in a diner.”

  “But we got out of there before we got hurt,” Melody said. She bit her lips and felt her face heat up. Her mouth was going to get both of them in trouble.

  Art turned toward her. “He was with you?”

  She lowered her voice. “He stayed in town because of me. We just met at that diner when I got off the train. I was headed to a hotel for my friend’s weddin’, and he was tryin’ to leave. Because of me, he stayed to make sure I ate. I had a good talkin’ to him, too, and told him not to leave, because he’d always be second-guessin’ himself.”

  “See? She stays,” Rob said, grinning. “She’s good for him.”

  Art grunted. “For now. But I don’t want you at the game today. He needs to keep his eyes on the ball and not in the stands.”

  “I understand. I have a meeting with the bride-to-be anyway.”

  “Ted will take you home.”

  “I’d rather he not,” she said. “He’s not a very nice man and if I might be so bold, he’s rude. I told John about it, and I don’t want to deal with Ted any more. I’ll just call a cab.”

  “No,” Rob said. “I’ll have the driver take you back. It’s fine.”

  The sound of a camera had them all turning around. A man stood on the property, snapping shot after shot.

  Art jumped to his feet. “Out! No pictures!”

  “Who’s the girl?” the man yelled, backing away. “I need a name and that’s all.”

  Melody just stared at the man. Who was he and why did he want pictures?

  Ted came running out of the house and ran after him.

  “Paparazzi,” Rob whispered. “I have a feeling they may be hunting for you after this. Be careful out there. Since you were seen near John, you’re a marked woman.”

  She pointed toward herself. “What? Me?”

  “Definitely,” Art said. “We can assign you a bodyguard if you want.”

  Why were they all worried like this? “No, I don’t need a bodyguard. Don’t y’all think you’re overreacting? The guy doesn’t even know my name or where I’m stayin’!”

  Art and Rob started to laugh.

  “They’ll find that out,” Rob said. “Where are you staying, anyway?”

  “In the Monument Estate Hotel.”

  Rob shook his head at Art, then faced Melody again. “You’re in big trouble. John’s dad owns that place. I bet that’s the first place they check.”

  “Move hotels,” Art said.

  “I can’t. That’s where the wedding’s bein’ held. John had them upgrade me to the presidential suite, too.”

  Art and Rob exchanged glances, then both laughed. Melody didn’t see the humor, sighing her frustration.

  “You’ll stay here tonight,” Rob said. “If you keep the hotel room, it’ll throw them off, but you don’t want to be there tonight. You’ll have people knocking on your door and everything.”

  “But I have to be there today. I’m meetin’ the bride at two to see the Statue of Liberty, then John wants to go to the rehearsal and dinner with me. He knows the groom. They went to school together.”

  Art stared at Rob. “This is more drama than I wanted today. I have to fix this, you know.”

  Rob nodded. “Yep.” He turned to Melody. “You can’t go to the Statue of Liberty unless you want to be on every cover of every magazine in the nation.” He handed her his cell phone. “Call the bride and tell her you have to cancel.”

  “Cancel? I can’t!”

  He leaned up to her. “Those newshounds are relentless. You won’t even get to see the Statue if they’re around.”

  Art pulled out his cell phone. “Gini, I have a problem. Do you have any female guards available?” He stood up and walked away.

  Melody opened her purse and fished out the number for Elsie. She dialed it and hoped the poor girl would be awake. She also hoped she could find the words to tell her she’d just been the subject of a cameraman. Her. Little old Melody Gray from West Virginia. Unbelievable.

  ~~~~~

  Chapter 3

  “Elsie! I mean, Elise!” Melody gave her redheaded friend a hug as she stood in the doorway of Elise’s house. A blond-haired, blue-eyed bodyguard by the name of Dennis stood behind Melody, protecting her from reporters. At least Dennis was a nice man, which is more than she could say about Ted.

  “Melody!” Backing away, Elise took her arm and walked her inside the beautiful home. “What’s going on with you?” Her southern accent was almost gone, and Melody hardly recognized the girl. She was paper thin, and it looked as if she’d had collagen put into her lips. “Who’s this?” Elise pointed toward Dennis.

  “This is Dennis. He’s my, uh, bodyguard.”

  Elise’s eyebrows rose considerably in surprise. “Bodyguard? You didn’t say anything about a bodyguard over the phone.”

  “It’s a long story.”

  “Is it the same story for why you can’t go to the Statue of Liberty with me?”

  “Yes, ma’am,” Melody said. “I was visitin’ John this morning—”

  The woman’s mouth hit the floor. “John Spencer? The one we told you to get away from?”

  Melody nodded.

  Elise turned around and yelled into the kitchen. “Honey! I need you.”

  A good-looking dark-haired man walked into the room, wiping his hands on a tea towel. So Elise was training Chuck early, having him do the dishes. It almost made Melody laugh.

  “What’s the matter?” the man asked.

  “Melody was visiting John Spencer this morning.”

  He faced Melody, looking perturbed. “But I told you he was a playboy, didn’t I?” The man walked to her and shook her hand. “I’m Chuck, by the way.”

  “Nice to meet ya,” Melody answered.

  “Won’t you have a seat?” He glanced up at Dennis, who towered over the man by a good foot. “Who’s your friend?”

  “A bodyguard,” Elise whispered.

  Chuck looked the man up and down, shaking his head. “Interesting. Well, won’t both of you be seated?”

  Melody and Dennis sat down on an overstuffed couch in a beautiful living room, decorated in dark blue, tan, and white.

  “Y’all have a beautiful home,” Melody said, looking all around. At least it wasn’t all beige or brown.

  “Thank you,” Elise answered. “So tell me what’s going on?”

  “Well, I was at John’s house this morning, and a reporter ran onto the property and took pictures.”

  “Uh, oh,” Chuck said. “Need a lawyer?”

  “No, I don’t think so.” Melody glanced at Dennis. “I don’t see what all the fuss is about. It’s not like I’m going to be stalked or anything. I don’t exactly stick out in a crowd and they’ll never find me again, right?”

  Chuck and Elise stared at each other.

  Chuck sighed, shaking his head. “Don’t let your guard down or go anywhere without a bodyguard. I’ve seen things happen first-hand, and with your red hair, you’ll stick out.”

  “I’ve seen it happen, too,” Elise answered. “To me.”

  Melody faced her. “What?”

  “That’s how I met Chuck. I moved here to become a dancer, and on my first tryout, the son of billionaire Cooper Clarkson showed up in the theater. He was looking for
a girlfriend to take to a party. He chose me.”

  “He what? You never told me.”

  “It’s not something I want to remember. I went to the party, as naïve as I was, and the reporters followed us around. He was nice and all, but I was written up as a sleazy dancer and eventually had stalkers trying to hurt me. They followed me everywhere, and once, one of them showed up at my apartment with a gun.” She wiped a tear. “It was horrible. That’s when I hired an attorney. Chuck. He took me in and protected me, hiring bodyguards and surveillance cameras.”

  “From one party?” Melody asked. “How did they know your name?”

  “That’s why I changed it to Elise and learned how to speak without the accent. I began wearing more drab clothing and dyed my hair darker red, so no one would recognize me. It ruined me, and I have to be very careful where I work now. The stalker is still hunting for me, so it’s rumored.”

  Melody looked over at Dennis, who had crossed his arms. “Is that gonna happen to me?”

  “Not if I can help it,” Dennis answered. “I’ve been told to protect you at all costs, straight from John.” He then looked over at Chuck. “Oh, and I’m to tell you John has never been a playboy. That was a joke they had just to get you upset. He hasn’t dated since high school, because the manager won’t let him.”

  “But the tabloids and magazines…he was seen playing tennis at his house with Nadia Jaffee.”

  “Hype. They practice together all the time, but she’s dating a man in Connecticut. John and she are only friends. Her boyfriend won’t let her go anywhere without him.”

  Chuck looked at Elise. “I guess I was wrong.” He faced Melody. “So how do you fit in?”

  “I have no idea. He was droppin’ someone off at the train station and I met him. He helped me find something to eat and get to the hotel. He’s a nice guy, and I think you’ll see that. He wants to join me at the rehearsal and the weddin’, if that’s okay.”

  “I think you’ll need him, for protection,” Elise said. “His bodyguards will be there, too, right?”

  “Yes, we will,” Dennis answered. “He’s usually not without at least one of us.”

  “Where is he now?” Chuck asked Melody.

  “He’s playin’ in a tournament so he’ll be ready for the U.S. Open on Monday. He’ll be with me tonight and tomorrow.”

  “It doesn’t seem fair to me that you can’t see the Statue of Liberty,” Elise said. “Chuck, do you think it’s possible—”

  “No.”

  “But Dennis will be with us,” Elise argued. “Don’t you think it’ll be okay then?”

  “No.”

  Elise rolled her eyes. “Want my dad to join us?”

  Chuck nodded. “That might be okay, since he’s in law enforcement.”

  “Law enforcement?” Melody asked. “He’s a prison warden.”

  “Not anymore,” Elise answered. “He was a cop and now he’s the sheriff. He just got the new job last week.”

  Melody felt her face heat up, almost cringing. Now that Elise’s father was sheriff, Melody was sure her father was marked and she was going to be in trouble. She always worried about such things, though.

  Elise picked up the phone beside the couch and dialed the number. “Dad, it’s Elise. Want to see the Statue of Liberty with Melody and me?” She glanced at Melody. “Sure. Bring him.”

  “Your brother?” Melody whispered.

  Elise nodded. Melody knew it wasn’t going to be good. She lowered her head in her hands and took a deep breath.

  “What’s the matter?” Dennis whispered.

  “Her brother Bobby has the hots for me,” Melody whispered, leaning closer to him. “I can’t stand him.”

  “I can protect you from him, if you want.” He glanced down at her lips. “We could always make believe I was dating you.”

  “How would that look to the press? Wouldn’t I be a floozy then?”

  “I guess so, but it would throw them off. They might even think you were at John’s house to see me.”

  This was getting weirder by the minute. Melody thought about it, then turned to Dennis, just as Elise got off the phone. “Can I call John to ask him what he thinks?”

  “He’s in the tournament, and he’s not to be bothered. I can call Art, though, and ask him.” Dennis pulled out his cell phone and got off the couch, walking away.

  “Are you ready to go?” Elise asked.

  “Sure. Dennis has this wild idea that he’s going to be my ‘date’ on this trip, so Bobby won’t get the wrong idea.”

  “What’s wrong with Bobby?” Chuck asked.

  “That’s a long story,” Elise answered. “I’ll make sure he knows you’re taken. Dennis is bigger than Bobby anyway.”

  After Dennis walked back into the house with a grin, he sat down on the couch and put his arm around Melody. “We’re engaged.”

  Melody spun her head toward him. “What? Are you nuts?”

  “Nope. That’s what we’re to tell the press, and that’s why you were at John’s house. Now, act like we’re getting married, and it had better be good. Art wants a picture of us kissing on the cover of the next issue of Sports Scandal Magazine.”

  “Why?”

  “To cover your love affair with John.”

  She felt her eyebrows careen toward her hairline and her mouth drop. “Love affair? I just met the guy.”

  Dennis gave her a knowing look. “Not according to Rob.”

  “Who are Rob and Art?” Chuck asked.

  “Rob is John’s trainer and Art’s his manager,” Dennis answered.

  Chuck took Melody by the arm and pulled her to her feet. “I think you need a lawyer.”

  Dennis stood up and took her other arm. “No, it’ll be fine.”

  They each pulled her toward them, until Melody finally whistled. “Look! I’m a big girl.” She turned toward Chuck. “I don’t need a lawyer.” She faced Dennis. “I’m not havin’ a love affair with anyone. We’re good friends out to see the statue, and that’s it. I was visiting you at John’s house because we’re friends. End of story.”

  They each let go of her arms, their mouths agape.

  Dennis sighed. “I wanted to kiss you and be on the cover of a magazine. It would’ve done wonders for my career.”

  “Yeah, mine too,” Chuck said. “Taking a celebrity to court for abuse in the public eye.”

  “Is that even a viable charge?” Melody asked. “John did nothing wrong and you’d take your friend to court?”

  “No, it’s not a viable charge, but it would make others sit up and take notice until it was settled out of court. It would also put my name on the map as a lawyer who goes the extra mile.”

  Melody blew out a huge breath. “You’re both incorrigible!”

  “I agree with you,” Elise mumbled. “Let’s go.” They walked out of the house and got into Chuck’s car. He pulled out of the driveway and into the steady stream of New York traffic.

  “So where are you working these days?” Elise asked Melody.

  She didn’t want anyone to know, embarrassed by her job. “Oh, here and there. How about you?”

  She glanced at Chuck and smiled. “I’m working for Chuck. I’ve given up dancing and am his secretary.”

  “That’s great,” Melody answered, knowing it wasn’t. She knew her friend too well to know she wasn’t going to settle for being a second-class citizen to any man.

  They talked for the rest of the trip, while Chuck stayed under the speed limit and other cars sped past him, the drivers yelling obscenities out the window.

  After arriving at Battery Park, they all got out of the car. While Chuck went to get tickets for the ferry, Melody looked out over the water, watching a ferry return to the lower end of Manhattan. She could see the Statue of Liberty fairly well in the distance, making her feel very fortunate to be at the site.

  “Isn’t that the girl?” someone asked from behind Melody.

  She turned her head, and two big men with cameras heade
d toward her. “Yes! It’s her! Get a shot!”

  Dennis grabbed her and pulled her to his chest. “We have to get out of here,” he said to everyone in the group.

  “But my dad’s not here yet,” Elise said.

  Other reporters started to run toward them, and Melody peeked out from under Dennis’ arm.

  A large man walked toward Elise, staring at the reporters. Behind him was a gangly man with red hair. “What’s going on here?” His accent was pronounced, and Melody knew who he was. She hid her face in Dennis’ chest.

  “Are you okay?” Dennis whispered.

  She could only nod, then turned and looked back at the huge man.

  “Daddy! I’m so glad you’re here,” Elise said.

  He thrust his hands on his hips. “Who are these people?”

  “Reporters,” Elise whispered.

  The man faced the people gawking at Melody. “Look. My name is Hank Johnson and you’d better be leavin’ my daughter alone, or you’re going to have to answer to me.”

  “Who are you?” a reporter asked.

  “I’m her dad,” he said, pointing at Elise.

  “And I’m her brother Bobby,” the gangly man said.

  “We don’t care about her,” a reporter answered. “It’s the other redhead we want. Melody Gray.” His cameraman took pictures of Melody, so she closed her eyes and buried her face in Dennis’ chest. Tears filled her eyes as she covered the sides of her face with her hands so they couldn’t get a good shot of her.

  “Mel? Is that you?’ Bobby asked. “Gosh, I’ve missed you a lot! We have to go out sometime.”

  “No, she’s taken.” Dennis leaned down to her while Elsie’s father and Chuck argued with the cameraman. Melody could only glance out at the group, terrified of the reporters surrounding them and shouting questions.

  “You are?” Bobby asked Melody, then pointed up at Dennis’ face. “By him? I can beat him up if you want, to prove I’m the one for ya.”

  “No, Bobby,” she said, turning her head. “Let it go. Please?”

  “Is this a lover’s quarrel?” a reporter yelled. “Where’s John Spencer?”

  Melody covered her face and hid in Dennis’ chest again.