by Scott, Lisa
“It’s been a bad day.”
“I know the feeling.” He tucked his hair behind his ears and put on the hat.
She tilted her head and studied him. “You still look like Teague Reynolds.”
“So call me by a different name.”
“How about Eugene?” Unfortunately, even the nerdiest name she could think of didn’t make him any less attractive.
He screwed up his face. “Eugene’s the kid in school who eats his boogers.”
“Fine. We’ll go with T-Rex, then. It suits you.”
He narrowed one eye. “Eugene works.”
They went into the diner, and she relaxed as she scanned the big, empty room. Clatter echoed from the kitchen and the ceiling fans hummed full blast, but other than that the place was quiet enough to hear crickets. Teague grabbed a booth in back and slid onto the red leather seat.
“I thought you only wanted a drink, Eugene?” How long were they going to be here? The longer they spent together, the more nervous she got. She didn’t like the way this man made her heart beat so fast. “You’re hungry, too?”
He rubbed his hands together. “We’ve got time to kill and the smell of hot grease gets a man’s stomach working overtime.”
An older woman walked over and set two menus in front of them. “How are y’all today? Can I get you a drink?”
She looked back and forth between them and Kate tensed, waiting to see if the woman recognized Teague. He seemed unfazed and smiled at her. This time, it was his wide-eyed, broad smile. She’d seen five or six of his smiles in the few hours they’d been together. Had any of them been sincere?
He craned his neck to see the waitress’s big, yellow nametag, made up to look like a road sign. “How are you today, Delores?”
“Oh, we’re doing okay. Business is slow. You’re my first customers in three hours. What can I get you kids?” Her pen hovered over her order pad.
“I’d love a nice tall diet soda, Delores. How about you, Kate?”
“Same thing, Eugene.”
Delores left to get the drinks, and Teague flashed Kate a thumbs-up. “I think we’re in the clear.”
“Wow.” She scanned the menu, not seeing anything she wanted. “We found the one woman in America not in love with you.”
“Don’t forget I met you today. So that would make two of you.” He waggled two fingers at her and his eyes danced.
Stupid twinkly blue eyes. Kate raised her chin and said nothing.
The waitress came back with drinks and set her order pad on the table. “Don’t I know you?”
Kate’s heart sped up. Sure, they were a few towns over, but word might make its way back to Willowdale that she’d been shuttling around a superstar. Is there any way to keep a secret in this state? She blew out a breath to stay calm.
“No, I don’t think so,” Teague said, slowly unwrapping his silverware from the napkin.
Delores waved him off. “Not you, your girl. You’re Margaret Riley’s daughter, aren’t you?”
Kate winced at Mama’s name, her memory stinging like a thatch of nettles. “Yes, I’m Kate.”
Delores set a freckled hand on her shoulder. “It’s such a shame about your mama. She was a regular at our antique shop. Sure liked her Depression glass.”
Kate nodded, her heart slowing down a bit. She’d been to lots of shops with Mama, but not this one. She must have come on her own. “You should see all of it at home.” She’d been meaning to thin out the collection, but couldn’t bear to sort through it just yet.
“She had that lovely Victorian just outside of town, right?”
“Yes.” Kate forced a smile. “I moved back in when she got sick. And now I’m there helping out my stepfather and stepsister.”
Delores patted her hand. “She was real proud of you. I saw you at the funeral but we weren’t introduced. It’s been, what, eight months now, hasn’t it?”
Kate nodded. Delores certainly knew a lot about Kate and her mama. She must be plugged in to gossip central. If she found out who Teague was, they were in trouble. She was probably as bad as the gals at the Jelly Jar. Didn’t even need cell phone service the way news spread there.
Delores looked at him. “And who’s this here with you today?”
She swallowed hard. “Just a friend from out of town. Eugene.”
Teague gave her a wave. “Hello.”
“Hello, Eugene.” Delores smoothed her apron. “Enough of my chitchatting, what can I get y’all to eat?”
Kate relaxed once she realized his cover wasn’t blown. She ordered a salad and tried to push away her bad feelings. But the ache of her mother’s death was there again, like a low-level infection she couldn’t shake. And there’s no pill or potion to make that go away.
“I’ll have the burger, thanks,” he said.
Delores shuffled off and Kate let out her breath. “I don’t think she recognized you.”
Teague waved his hand in dismissal. “I’m sorry to hear about your mother. Were you close?”
Kate nodded. If she told him anything more about her mother and how her real father had died when she was just a baby, she’d probably start sobbing like a toddler on vaccination day. She certainly wasn’t going to let that happen. “What about you and your folks?”
He laughed. “Close is not how I would describe my relationship with my parents. We’ll just leave it at that.” He stared off at the old road signs hanging on the walls.
The two of them sat there, lost in private sorrows, but Delores soon bustled over with their plates of food. “You kids enjoy.”
“Looks absolutely delicious, thank you,” Teague said with one of his big, fake smiles.
Kate stabbed a tomato with her fork. This day couldn’t end soon enough. She should go right back to Scalia’s and apply for her own waitress job. One thousand dollars from Teague would certainly help pay the property taxes, but it wouldn’t dig her out of this hole. And she didn’t know what she’d do for work if she couldn’t get that job, as humiliating as it would be. If only Teague hadn’t sidetracked her, she’d probably be getting ready for the dinner crowd in that dumb Italian peasant dress the waitresses still wore. Her sadness was morphing into a hot little ball of anger: at Teague, at George, at Tommy. She glared at him.
“What?” he asked.
“You.”
He pointed a French fry at her. “Listen, just because the Sheriff of Mayberry broke your heart doesn’t mean you should take it out on all men.”
Kate dropped her fork. “He didn’t …” She was too flustered for words because he was right. She had loved Tommy. Oh, the lure of the varsity jacket. They had dated in high school, then through college. Tommy was a state basketball champion and they were the most popular couple in town. Everyone loved Tommy. Especially the girl he got pregnant when he and Kate decided to take a break after college graduation. Kate snapped out of her sad stroll down memory lane and was surprised to see Teague staring at her.
“I don’t know what he did to you, but I’m sorry.”
Well, that was like an unexpected nibble of sugar in your lemonade. Then she stabbed another tomato because Teague had two things going against him: he was an actor and he was a man. And she would never believe anything either of them said. Lies and heartbreak, that’s all men were good for, which was why Kate was done with them. “Tommy taught me some hard lessons.”
“Like what?”
She pushed her salad away. “That not everyone’s meant for love. And it’s a fact, not an opinion.” Oh, she always tried to play it off like she was over it all, doing her best to be friendly with Tommy. Heck, she’d even set him up with Tonya. But when she let herself sit and think about everything that had happened, it hurt like a dozen bee stings to the heart that never went away.
Teague stared at her for a moment and Delores dropped off their check in a little black tray with a couple of peppermint candies. “You two should take a peek in our antique shop. We’ve got a sale going on. There are some nice pie
ces of jewelry for your girl, Eugene. I can tell you got real special feelings for her,” she said, nodding at Kate.
Teague reached for Kate’s hand. “She’s special, alright. Thank you. We’ll take a look.”
Kate’s eyes widened and she snatched her hand away when Delores walked back to the kitchen.
He shrugged and unwrapped a peppermint. “What? She thinks I’m Eugene, your boyfriend.” He popped the candy in his mouth. “I’m just playing the part.”
“Trust me. That would never happen. Not with someone like you.” The devil would get into the snow cone business before that ever went down.
TEAGUE LIFTED AN eyebrow. She talked a tough game, but there was a lot of hurt behind those pretty eyes. He wanted to tuck her hair behind her ears so he could kiss away that frown. He bounced his leg under the table, surprised by his reaction. He hadn’t been around anyone so real in a long time. It felt good. Scratch that—it felt scary as hell. Good thing he was leaving town soon. Kate Riley could be very bad news for someone like Teague.
He got coffee to go for the two of them, paid the bill—gave Delores a fifty percent tip so at least someone would be having a good day—and walked into the antique store. He went right to a display cabinet filled with old jewelry. He felt bad for Delores and this struggling shop. He had a soft spot for anyone or anything unwanted. When you’re an unwanted kid, you watched out for rejected people, discarded things. Didn’t take a trip to the psychologist to figure that one out. That’s why he’d always paired himself with confident, brash, women; the women everyone desired. His heart was certainly safe with them. They’d never need him for anything other than a good time. And that’s all he ever expected in return. So far, it had been working quite nicely.
He scanned the necklaces in the display case, imagining them looped around Kate’s long neck. He felt an odd desire to soothe her, make the ache go away. Just like he’d always wished someone would do for him when he was a kid.
He tapped the glass. “Can I see that ring in the back? The silver one with the big pearl.”
Delores handed it to him and folded her spotty hands. “It certainly is gorgeous. Just like Kate.”
Kate walked up to him, letting out a big sigh at Delores’ words.
“Can you try this on?” he asked.
She slid it on her finger and splayed her hand. “It’s lovely. I think any woman would be tickled to have this.” She took it off and set the ring on the counter.
“I’ll take it,” he said.
Maybe he’d give it to Kate, or … oh, hell. Just say her name: Jennifer, who’d toppled his world today. Maybe he’d give it to her the next time he was in town. Would he stop and see Kate, too? Maybe then they could get down to business and have a good time. He closed his eyes and tried to ignore the feeling. Why was he thinking about that at a time like this? He had “the problem” to deal with. Jennifer’s big problem.
No, his big problem, now.
They walked out to the Jeep and he settled in the seat. He closed his eyes, wishing he were back in L.A., lying by his pool, maybe getting a massage from that lovely Swiss masseuse. A few more appointments with her and those massages would be much more interesting, he just knew it. He wanted to leave this town and never come back.
But that was impossible now. He’d probably have to make more trips back here after his visit today. But at least he’d gotten the call in time. The baby was due in two months and he’d have to make appropriate arrangements. But what would those arrangements be? He scratched his head. Was there any way to handle this without the entire free world finding out? Jennifer didn’t stand a chance if they did.
Kate climbed into the car and slumped back in her seat. “So you heard my history with Tommy, and you know my mama died. Do you trust me enough now to tell me what you’re doing in town?”
He shook his head and took a long gulp of not-so-horrible coffee. He couldn’t trust anyone with this secret. He’d rather die than let the news out.
“It’s crazy and it’s complicated and I don’t want to talk about it,” he said.
She held up her hands. “Trust me, I’m not going to say anything to anyone. I fuel the gossip mill plenty around here, so I know what it’s like. Might help to talk it out.”
He turned and looked her in the eyes. “I’ve learned one thing in Hollywood. Trust no one.” Actually, he had learned that a long time ago, when he found out his own mother didn’t want him and gave him up for adoption—and not when he was a baby, either. No, when he was two years old, like he’d been a mistake. Like he wasn’t good enough. Well, he’d proven to the world he was good enough by now, hadn’t he? So why did he still feel so alone?
And why did this woman next to him make him feel so damn antsy?
Chapter 3
THEY DROVE ALONG Antique Alley until the airport was visible just up the road. Knowing Teague would be leaving in a few minutes, Kate was surprised by the mixture of regret and relief storming her heart like twin tornadoes.
But this is good news. She needed to hightail it back to town to apply for that lousy job. She needed to get her butt to the Jelly Jar to meet up with Tonya and Jeanne and tell them all about this crazy day.
Her phone beeped and she pulled it out. It was a text from Dina. My dad’s back home. He’ll pick me up tonight. And the job’s filled. Told ya.
“Of course it is,” she mumbled, putting away her phone.
“What’s wrong?”
“The job I needed is filled now.”
“You missed it because you were helping me.” Teague puffed up his cheeks then blew out his breath. “I’m so sorry. I really am. But you have no idea how important it is the press doesn’t discover why I’m in town. Thank you.” He handed her the bag with the antique ring. “I want you to have this.”
Kate’s stomach did a little flip-flop. Again, her stupid emotions were bucking her common sense. But then she remembered all those trinkets George used to bring home for her mother, like they were get out of jail free cards from a Monopoly set. He always found a way to weasel out of any situation. It seemed Teague had learned the same trick.
Kate’s mouth tightened. “Keep it. No doubt you’ll have some new girlfriend to give it to next week. You paid me a thousand bucks, which was more than generous.” She wondered which starlet would be wearing it at the next award ceremony.
Teague set the bag on his lap as they pulled into the tiny airport. She saw his eyes sweep across the parking lot, packed with cars and vans. A light on top of a camera flicked on. Then another and another and another. He dropped his head back. “Damn it. They’re here.”
Kate pulled into a parking spot, and the cameramen and photographers ran over to the car, jostling for position, snapping photos and shouting questions. It was like a pack of dogs chomping and yipping outside a meat wagon.
“T-Rex, what are you doing here?”
“Teague! Is this your new girlfriend?”
“How did you meet a small-town country girl?”
Kate felt the blood drain from her face. “That photographer told everyone you were here.”
Teague shook his head. “Any photographer would’ve loved an exclusive piece. No, that guy didn’t unleash these hounds.”
Kate looked to the heavens. What were the penalties for killing a cop? “Tommy. He’s got TV reporter friends in Asheville.”
“Looks like Chief Larsen made a few phone calls. So much for keeping mum.”
Kate turned around, trying to count them all. “How did they get here so fast?” She imagined the whispers that would follow her around town when this news broke.
He frowned. “All the tabloids and magazines have stringers across the country.”
Kate twisted her hands in her lap. “What do we do?”
Teague smiled. “I can think of one way to handle this.” He took a deep breath. “Pretend you’re my girlfriend.” His grin widened.
Kate tried to swallow her laugh. “Oh, I don’t think so, sugar.”
&
nbsp; He raised a hand of reason. “Strictly business. I’ll hire you for the summer to pose as my girlfriend. Today is June fifth, let’s say we break up … August first.”
“No way.” He was the absolute last person she needed to spend more time with. “I’ve got responsibilities here. I can’t just fly around the world to bail out your behind.” Kate looked out at the throng of reporters. She looked back at Teague. “What’s with the grin?”
He turned up his hands and shrugged. “They already think you’re my girlfriend,” he said. “So does your cop friend. Oh, and Delores, too. No one’s going to believe you’re not. Plus, that job you were going after is filled.”
Teague looked way too smug. Kate tried to slow her breathing and find her composure, though it was usually nowhere to be found. She let out a sigh for the ages. “What does being your girlfriend entail?”
“Like I said, strictly business. But we need to spend some time together and you need to come to the Sunshine Film Fest this week.”
“Pose as your girlfriend.” She reached for the coffee cup in the console and took a deep gulp. Why couldn’t it have been Scotch? She looked over at Teague. How could she ever go back home when it was over? And how could she agree to be part of such a preposterous lie? It’d be the juiciest gossip to ever hit Willowdale. Folks talked for weeks when Tonya and Tommy had started dating—and then for weeks after they broke up. What would they say about this?
But then she thought of all that money she needed to keep her mother’s house off the auction block. Kate gently bounced her head against the back of the car seat, trying to lodge some great idea in her brain. But the only solution that seemed possible was Teague’s ridiculous … impossible … fool suggestion.
People were going to be talking about her anyway, once they saw these pictures. Somehow, Teague’s proposal seemed like the sensible thing to do. And Kate was all about sensible these days. It was exhausting, really.
“Fine,” she said through her teeth. “I’ll pretend to be your girlfriend. But I want ten-thousand dollars.” She raised an eyebrow.
