The Wedding Fling

by Meg Maguire

  She combed her fingers through his messy hair. “We’re not a couple, so nobody can dump anybody.”

  “True. And maybe that’s the way it ought to stay.”

  “Maybe? Did you have something else in mind?”

  Will sighed, faking weariness. “Only to trick you into falling in love with me the next time you’re in the area, checking on your investment. But if you’d rather avoid the unpleasant chore of cutting me loose after you realize your error, we can keep it casual.”

  “Listen to you. You make it sound like I’m the one in this bed who hates feeling tied down.”

  “I’m shiftless,” Will said, “but I’m not stupid. If I thought I had a chance with a woman like you, I’d get you drunk and order a justice of the peace from the front desk.”

  She laughed. “I don’t know exactly why you think I’m so astounding, but I won’t argue.”

  “No, do. I love bickering with you.” He kissed her neck and held her close, his caresses growing lazier as the breaths at her ear turned deep and calm.

  The promise of this affair continuing one day, with the chaos of her present firmly in the rearview mirror, had Leigh breathing easy herself. She had something that made the next few weeks’ and months’ worries worth tackling head-on, a destination she could chart, not merely be carried to. As Will fell asleep against her, her burden felt light, no more than an annoyance. An interview, a house sale, the placation of her parents once she announced her retirement from the Hollywood scene. Then freedom. She nearly welcomed the stress back home, knowing the next time she touched down at LAX, it might be for the last time. Goodbye to the business, hello to the future and its blessed unknowns.

  It was so odd, lying here with Will. She’d been with Dan for over two years, trusting him implicitly, only to be hurt. But with Will...she’d known him a handful of days, their courtship as fast and reckless as hers and Dan’s had been steady, calm. Yet she felt no fear with Will. As crazy as it was, she trusted him without question. Trusted him with her life in a plane, with her body and heart in this bed. If a crash was in the cards, she didn’t want to know until the shore and sea were already rushing up to meet her.

  * * *

  LEIGH SMILED upon opening her eyes. A sleeping, slack-mouthed Will Burgess was a nice sight to be greeted by first thing in the morning. The sun was low and it couldn’t be later than six, but she was instantly brimming with energy.

  She untangled herself from Will’s arm and the covers, and padded to the bathroom, then to the kitchen to get the coffee going.

  He’d have to leave by nine for the morning flight, but perhaps she could persuade him to stay for breakfast...or another roll in the 600-thread-count hay. She grinned at such a thought. Sleeping with Will was proving a very effective mood stabilizer.

  She sat on the couch with her coffee and the resort activities binder, and even when she stared right at the television’s dark screen, she felt no desire to turn it on and scour the toxic entertainment channels. Instead she flipped through the offerings, everything now sounding as delightful as it had sounded dismal her first day. Surfing lessons, as conditions permit. If conditions permitted, she might just give that a shot.

  “Good morning.”

  Leigh jumped as Will’s hand alighted on her shoulder from behind. “Oh, jeez—don’t sneak up on me. I’m armed.” She held up her steaming mug. “And good morning.”

  He planted a kiss on the crown of her head. “Indeed it is.”

  Leigh smiled, pleased by his flirtatious tone. He’d seemed so down yesterday afternoon, but today he was a new man. She knew her offer of funding had much to do with that, and it made her proud. It made her believe that yes, this was a good decision. The right decision, and one she’d thought up all by herself.

  “Do you have time to stick around for room service breakfast?” she asked.

  “I had a better idea, if you’re interested.”

  “Oh?” She moved to her knees on the couch to face him.

  He smoothed her hair behind her ears, the gesture so fond and natural, she blushed with pleasure.

  “It’s early enough to take you out fishing, if you’d like.”

  “I’d love that.”

  He smiled, looking obscenely handsome. “Great. Let’s chug some coffee and we’ll head to my place.”

  Will fetched a mug and sank into the easy chair. Leigh took the liberty of propping her heels on his thigh, liking the familiarity of the scene.

  “You’re cheerful this morning,” he said, toying with her big toe.

  “I could say the same about you.”

  “Yeah, but you must have a lot on your mind.”

  “Sure. But after tomorrow’s interview, I’ll be free. The end is in sight for me. And at the risk of sounding too eager or jumping to any conclusions, I’m really excited. You know, about the offer I made you.”

  His smile was slow and warm. “I’m excited, too.”

  Hope did a somersault in her middle. “So you’re still interested? You’ll definitely consider it?”

  “I will indeed. It’s a tough offer to pass up, especially since that other source of funding fell through.”

  “You ever going to tell me what that mysterious gig was?”

  “Just a private contract thing. As big as the payout might have been, it wasn’t worth it.”

  “Too much hassle?”

  “Just too shady.”

  “Too shady for Captain Bribery? You astound me. What was it? Trafficking smuggled parrots or something?”

  “Or something.”

  “Well, I’m glad you’re intrigued by my offer.”

  He flexed her toes forward and back. “I find you very intriguing on the whole. The only trouble I can foresee is our romantic entanglement complicating our business entanglements.”

  “Have I entangled you?”

  “Oh yes, thoroughly. On the beach and in the shower, and the tub and your bed. And I won’t stop you from entangling me again this evening, if you’re keen.”

  “Shameless.”

  Will grinned and drained his mug. “Let’s head out.”

  As they walked down the beach, he did something Leigh had hoped he might—he took her hand in his.

  She gave it a squeeze. “This entanglement is all you.”

  “We’ll need to disentangle when we get close to the town, so we don’t cause any more scandals.”

  “Have you taken much flak from the others, for bringing me to that party and making everyone complicit?”

  “No. I mean, nobody’s names were given in the story. And no one’s going to rat anyone else out, not in this crooked little burg.”

  “Not even the person who spoke to the press?”

  “I doubt it. I’ve known everyone on this island for years, and I think whoever’s doing it, it’s only out of desperation. I honestly don’t think they’d say anything to hurt anyone. Any of us, I mean. Sadly, they were willing to hurt you.” His expression darkened.

  “At least it’s only been the one story. Maybe they just needed easy money.”

  “Let’s hope so.”

  The edge of town came into view and Leigh regretfully dropped Will’s hand. He stopped walking to face her.

  “Yes?”

  “Thank you,” he said firmly. “For the offer. And for last night.”

  “Thank you for considering. And for last night. Especially for last night.”

  He took a step closer. “In just a few yards we’ve got to go back to faking innocent acquaintance.”

  Leigh looked down and drew a line in the sand with her toe. “We’re still on this side.”

  “Yes, that’s true.” Will glanced along the beach before he reached out and grasped her by the waist, lowering his mouth to hers.

 
Leigh melted. From the contact, and the openness of it, and from the way it felt like so much more than a mere fling now. She wrapped her arms around his shoulders and deepened the kiss, loving his height and warmth as she stood on her tiptoes and pressed herself to him.

  This interesting, passionate, surprisingly driven man... Better than anything she’d hoped to find on this tiny island. The present felt like clear skies, with doubt and clouds blown far away.

  10

  “EVERYONE, please join me in welcoming Leigh Bailey to the show!”

  Leigh smiled through the applause. She needed no set; the villa’s living room was already perfectly styled. The staff had added extra flowers to the table beside her and arranged the video linkup. She’d be live in the eastern and central times zones, then two hours behind, farther west. Jen Landis’s beaming face stared at her from the monitor. Thankfully, this was the only angle Leigh got, so she wouldn’t have to see herself or the audience during the live interview. That’d be too weird to handle. But she felt prepared. She knew her script, as it were, the healthy mix of evasiveness and honesty she and Angela had hashed out.

  “Hi, Jen. Thanks so much for having me.”

  “Thank you so much for sharing your story with us.”

  Leigh smiled, letting her shyness show.

  “To say you’ve had an interesting couple of weeks is an understatement. America is itching to know why you ran out on your fiancé, Dan Cosenza, the morning of your very public and very expensive wedding. Not to put you on the spot, but let me ask the question everyone is dying to have answered—was it a publicity stunt?”

  “Definitely not. I like to think I’m pretty low-key. For an actress.”

  Jen laughed warmly and Leigh relaxed a little.

  “As much as I’ve enjoyed working in front of cameras, I’m pretty cagey about the spotlight, even the red carpet. Trust me, it was never my intention to cause a stir.”

  “Why, then?”

  Leigh bit her lip. “Forgive how ridiculous it might sound, my saying this when I’ve agreed to an interview...but the reasons for the change of heart are private, between Dan and myself. Like any other couple, we had our issues. I take responsibility for downplaying those issues, and winding up with enough doubts that I had to call things off the morning of my wedding.”

  “That can’t have been easy.”

  “It’s hard to describe, to people who aren’t part of the celebrity culture.” She caught herself fussing with her hair and willed her hands to behave. “There’s just so much swirling around you, so much chaos. It’s easy to get swept up in it and not notice the more subtle things happening in your life.”

  “Problems in your relationship, you mean?”

  “Absolutely. The energy of the city and the job can drown everything out. And that morning, for whatever reason, I just couldn’t ignore the little whispers in the back of my head any longer.” She felt her first twinge, confirming her fears—she’d probably wind up crying on national television.

  “But why go on your trip, Leigh? Surely it’s got to be a painful reminder of your failed relationship, sleeping in the honeymoon suite without Dan?”

  Without Dan, but certainly not alone, Leigh thought, with a flash of not entirely unpleasant guilt.

  “It is, but... We don’t have any memories together here. Staying home after I chose to not go through with the wedding would have been too confusing and painful. I hoped taking off would give both of us time apart to think, and for me to get myself calmed down before I came home and faced the media. I hadn’t planned on doing any interviews, to be honest...and no offense to you, Jen.”

  “Of course not.”

  “But when things started getting leaked and blown out of proportion, my family got frantic from everyone inundating them with questions about me. I had to just get it all out there, officially.”

  “So are you and Dan speaking?”

  Leigh nodded. “We are. There are hurt feelings on both sides, but we’re talking.”

  Jen’s angular eyebrow rose as high as Botox allowed. “Any chance of a reconciliation?”

  Leigh laughed, more nervous than surprised. “No. We both agreed that we need things we just weren’t getting from each other. The decision was mutual. And final.”

  Jen pouted. “You two seemed so happy.”

  “I know we did. And for the first year and a half, we really were. When he proposed, I was absolutely head over heels in love with him. But anyone will tell you, people change. Especially people in the spotlight.” The first tears arrived and she wiped them with her wrist. “Sorry.”

  “Not at all.” Jen smiled. “I’d hand you a tissue if I could.”

  “The celebrity thing is a tough storm to weather, and Dan and I just weren’t strong enough to make it through as a couple. We’re both still young and have a lot of growing up to do before we can make that commitment, I realize now. But I wish him the best.”

  “And it sounds like he wishes you the same.” True. Dan had lived up to his promises to paint her kindly in the press. “Now, Leigh. Let’s talk about some other things.”

  Leigh smiled and sighed, knowing what was coming. “Okay, Jen. Bring it on.”

  “You’ve been busy on your solo honeymoon, or so we hear.”

  She laughed. “Yes. That rumor about me crashing a local party is true. But I promise you, it wasn’t nearly as wild as people wish it was. A bit of dancing and one drink and I was in bed by ten, former Girl Scout’s honor.” She made the sign with her fingers.

  “But it’s not all boring though, is it? Come on, Leigh. What about the new mystery man?”

  Leigh blinked, her brain suddenly swallowed by static.

  “Oh, we’ve got her,” Jen teased. “It’s just making the papers now, so here’s your chance to get your side of the story told. What exactly is the deal with you and this William Burgess?”

  “Will?” she said dumbly.

  “Say whatever you like about the party rumor, but I’ve got to tell you, Leigh, the passion in those pictures is hard to deny. Do we have them?” The talk show host looked to the side, to some unseen production person. The camera swiveled in time for Leigh to watch a photo fill the stage’s huge screen. Her belly filled with bricks. She and Will, hand in hand on the beach. Then kissing. No mistaking the lip-lock for a friendly flirtation. The shots were grainy, but she hadn’t been quick enough to deny it was her. And whoever had sold the photos must also have taken it upon themselves to supply Will’s identity, maybe earned themselves a nice bonus in the process.

  The camera swung back to Jen’s face, the audience still oohing. “Now come on, Leigh. You can’t downplay that one.”

  “Um, no. Will and I... We’ve had a bit of an unexpected romance.” Her heart pounded, so hard she felt a head rush coming on.

  “I’ll say.” The camera swiveled again, allowing Leigh to see a crisp, candid shot of a shirtless Will standing beside his boat. “And I think all the ladies in the audience will agree, you do know how to pick a rebound, right?” More whooping and Jen’s face returned. “But is that all this is, Leigh? A rebound?”

  “I don’t like that term, but yes, I suppose that’s what some people might call it. It’s just one of those things that happened.”

  “Still, it’s very unorthodox, Leigh. I mean, you run off alone on your honeymoon, dodging the press, and who should you fall for but a man who was in cahoots with the tabloids to report on you?”

  Leigh’s body turned to stone—heavy, cold, numb.

  “Is love really that crazy? Or could we maybe be honest here. You want the press attention, don’t you, Leigh?”

  “Pardon me?” She could barely make out Jen’s words.

  “The tabloids have spilled about your new man having been in bed with them. Don’t you think it’s your turn
?”

  Leigh was speechless, so Jen went on. “Admit it, why are you on with us right now? Publicity is nothing to be ashamed of. It makes Hollywood run. But let’s be straight. Did you in fact have an agreement going with Will Burgess, to have him feed rumors to the press about you?”

  Deer in the headlights. Leigh was silent for perhaps another five seconds, though they felt like an eternity. Will was the informant? Her breath sped with her pulse and she panicked, having no clue if she should deny it, admit her ignorance.... Damn it, where was Angela when she needed her? Back in L.A., that was where, and she could practically hear her swearing a blue streak all those thousands of miles away. “I didn’t hire Will to report about me,” Leigh finally mumbled.

  “How did you feel when you found out, then? Did he tell you before or after your romance had begun?”

  “After,” she said numbly.

  “That must have been a blow.”

  “Yes, you could say that.”

  “Are you all right, Leigh? This seems painful for you to talk about.”

  She gathered her wits. “It is, sure. But Will and I aren’t...you know. We’re not a couple. And I didn’t know about those photos. I had nothing to do with anything being...staged. Or planned.”

  “Is it true your new man is a pilot?” More lurid oohing.

  “Yes, he is.” Wasn’t he? Or was he just a reporter with a pilot’s license?

  “And you two never met before your so-called honeymoon for one?”

  “No.”

  “So it was a real whirlwind romance?”

  “I guess.”

  “Any plans for the future, or are you just going to fly right out of this pilot’s life forever?”

  Leigh spoke slowly to keep from stammering. “Like I said, it’s just something that happened.”

  The rest of the interview felt like figments from a fever dream. Leigh answered questions flatly, her heart pounding so hard she feared she’d faint, live on television. Jen’s voice and face were surreal sounds and shapes, Leigh’s responses detached from her own mouth. It seemed to go on forever, a nightmare she couldn’t wake from.