by Hoff, Stacy
“No. Trust me, I’d remember that,” Colin responded dryly.
“Well she contacted you,” Ana said to Stephanie. “She also accessed your personal information, so the harassing phone call you had was no doubt from her.”
Stephanie felt the blood drain from her face. “How could she be so cruel?” Stephanie demanded. “Thinking Colin and I are in a relationship, and yet letting me believe he was dead.”
Colin put a hand around Stephanie’s waist. “How’d she get caught?” he asked Ana.
“She probably hit upon one of the dummy files IT set up,” Ana reasoned. “IT always guards the real file in case some employee—like Jennifer—wants to make extra money by selling the results before any of their shows broadcasts its final episode. Jennifer must have fallen for it. When a dummy file is accessed, it triggers an even bigger IT search of everything you’re doing on the company computer. She’s such a dolt. I thought everyone knew IT does this.”
“That still doesn’t explain why Jennifer did all this.”
“Maybe she was jealous,” Colin offered. “I rebuked her advances.”
Ana and Stephanie stared at him. “She came on to you?”
“Yeah, not that it was too memorable. It wasn’t like I was considering taking her up on her offer.”
“What happened?” Ana and Stephanie asked in unison.
“She asked me out, and then made some disparaging remarks about you,” he said, gesturing to Stephanie. “I told her mean-spiritedness was not attractive. Guess she didn’t take that too well.”
“Who knows?” Ana said. “She’s crazy. She’s also the one who called the press, tipping them off about Stephanie being your girlfriend.”
“That was her doing?” Stephanie said, mouth gaping. When Colin gave her a questioning look, she said to him, “I’ll fill you in later.”
“The long and short of it,” Ana said, “is that Jennifer was apparently trying to show Stephanie what would happen if you two dated. Let her see what life would be like if she was hounded by paparazzi. You know, scare Stephanie off. Anyway, the important thing is that Colin’s still getting the money. Mark now knows Jennifer’s a nut. He fired her ass and went on an absolute rampage. Personally threw all her things in a box, shoved them into the elevator, and told her to go after them.”
Stephanie felt her eyes bug out.
Colin laughed.
“Yeah,” Ana added, “Jennifer screamed she was going to sue him as the elevator doors closed. Mark yelled back ‘Bring it,’ and then the whole thing was over.”
“To have been a fly on the wall,” Stephanie mused.
Colin leaned over and kissed the top of Stephanie’s head. “No need to have been a fly. It was nothing worth listening to. Forget all this drama. You’ve been overstressed.” He smiled slyly. “I have a perfect remedy.”
“Oh no you don’t.” Ana laughed. “Not until I get out of here. Then you can administer any ‘remedies’ you want. See you guys around.” Ana was already halfway down the hallway when Stephanie shut the door.
“Wow. I can’t believe all this. Jennifer. Who wouldda thunk?” Stephanie mused, locking the door and padding off to the kitchen in pink ballet-styled slippers.
“I’m not that surprised. She struck me as an evil nut job.”
“I never picked up on it. She always seemed normal to me.”
“But she didn’t want to date you, now did she?” Colin didn’t seem to require an answer because he grabbed her around the waist, pulling her to him.
“My, my, Croc Man. Is that a snake you’ve got in your pajama pocket, or are you just happy to see me?”
“Both me and my snake are ecstatic to see you.”
She giggled as he lowered his head for a kiss. But before his lips brushed hers, he straightened back up. “You know,” he said with a thoughtful look, “you do have some experience handling snakes. I think you should give it another try.”
“Bring it, Croc Man. I’m not afraid of anything!” She grabbed his hand and together they ran toward the bedroom.
Epilogue
It was hot out here. Unbelievable that some people thought New York City was bad in the summertime. Ha! Those people had obviously never been to Texas. Of course, up until a few months ago, Stephanie acknowledged she’d been one of those people. Not anymore. Living on Colin’s farm full-time since June, she was learning quickly.
Texas heat was drier. The air, dustier. There was no graffiti, something to put in the “plus” column. Then again, there weren’t subways, alleys, or enough buildings to serve as a canvas. Even Keith Haring, world’s greatest graffiti artist, couldn’t have gotten too far spray-painting rows of corn. Crop circles were as close as anyone could come to extraneous embellishment out here, and Colin certainly wasn’t into that. Though this year, after the crop came in, they might try to make a corn maze. The high school band could use it as a fundraising event.
The closest town didn’t have much. No Bloomingdales. No boutiques. No cafés. Not even a Starbucks. There was a Wal-Mart a few more miles down, one town over. A tiny strip mall, too. The small pizza joint it contained was the closest thing to an Italian restaurant. Rita’s Bistro, it was not. But Bob’s Pizza Palace wasn’t too bad either. For a place that didn’t make their own sauce. If she had a real desire for homemade sauce, she’d head out to Franco’s Ristorante two towns away.
The best part about her move to Texas was that Colin hadn’t even asked, let alone pressured her, to come here. Instead, she had offered. With her father gone, she was no longer tied to New York. Her mother, still back East, would be all right without her. Greg and Brian had apartments in Brooklyn.
As for Colin, he seemed relieved to be back home. Relaxed, now that he didn’t have to constantly worry about losing the farm. Satisfied he’d pulled off his last mission. Happy to ignore the many offers that poured in after the show.
The job prospects had been almost endless. Ones that could lead him more into the path of fame and fortune. A cameo appearance in a new action-adventure flick. A reporter for any one of several entertainment networks. Even a game show host. Colin joked a lot about that one, claiming he’d grow his hair out to be the next Vanna White. The offer he found most ridiculous, however, was to be the official commentator for Teleworld’s next season of The Evergladiator. Not.
“You don’t want to even consider any of these offers?” she’d asked him. But deep down she already knew the answer. Colin wasn’t about getting rich. He was about taking care of what was important to him. He was a simple guy, really. Maybe because he wasn’t confused about what he wanted out of life. Only two things really mattered to him—family and farm. In that order.
She had found out her life’s goals were pretty simple, too—family and writing. In that order. Like Colin, she never looked back on the half-million dollar job offer she unhesitatingly turned down. Here in Texas, he could live his dream while she lived hers.
Yes, the Corporate Queen was adjusting rapidly to all aspects of life on a farm. And to “Molly” and “Candy” in particular. With dozens and dozens more piebald, bovine beauties to become acquainted with. Getting to know all the dairy cows would take time. Fine by her, she’d make the effort. Knowing her neighbors would be a nice change of pace. In New York, she’d never even met the people who lived in the apartment next door.
She was getting to know Howie, too. She’d grown fond of his gentle, quiet nature. Colin had given Howie the house on the farm, the one where the brothers grew up. She and Colin had their own house. A small Victorian a little further down the road.
The moment she saw it, she’d instantly felt at home. Its white shingles and light blue trim were bright, cheery, and indescribably inviting. The kitchen was no different. Colin had somehow gotten it spruced up for their arrival. White lace café curtains. Fresh paint. A retro tab
le and chair set was clean and well preserved, despite being made in the fifties. Its laminated red and white design gleamed from coats of polish.
The dinette set fit the overall feel of the kitchen, despite being much more modern than the rest of the 1900’s ensemble. The wood on both the floor and the ceiling’s exposed crossbeams was no doubt original. Fortunately, the appliances were not. Their stainless steel shells managed to successfully blend in.
The kitchen wasn’t just the largest room, it was the obvious heart of the house. Decades of people had talked, laughed and taken meals here. She was glad to now be one of them.
Of course, the house had other rooms, too. She and Colin had definitely “broken in” the upstairs bedroom’s wrought iron bed. Because Howie had his own home, he was spared from endless nights of listening to their squeaking frame. As good-tempered as he was, she knew there was no way he could have put up with that. Personal space was always a good idea. Especially for newlyweds. Colin got points for figuring that out right from the get-go.
Meanwhile, their privacy would soon be taking a hiatus anyway. Ana was flying in next week. It would be exciting to see her again. Sans Internet help. A Facebook relationship could only yield so much. The last time she saw Ana in person was the wedding. Definitely too long.
Stephanie’s thoughts drifted to the wedding. Small. Picture perfect. On the farm. Flawless. She’d asked Ana to be the maid of honor. Elena, back from Europe, had been a bridesmaid. Stephanie let each woman pick her own dress. The flowing emerald dress Ana chose had ornate paisley stitching, portraying her bohemian sense of style perfectly. Elena’s gold sheath had been a perfect complement. Greg and Brian had been groomsmen, Howie was the Best Man. Her mom, plus a few friends, rounded out the guest list. Thankfully, Adrienne had listened to Greg, and stayed away.
Mark had even sent a gift, an offer to re-hire her. It was nice to receive it, even if she had no intention of accepting. Or accepting Global’s re-offered invitation, for that matter. She had changed the focus of her life. Her life was in Texas now. She was happy here. In love. Productive.
Of course, being too productive had its downsides. She’d almost set the kitchen on fire while leaving the teakettle on too long. No real harm done, thanks to a handy extinguisher. She made a mental note to never get that caught up in writing again. Or if she did, to forgo making tea.
Other than the fiery mishap, writing was wonderful out here. For once she had both the time and quiet needed to focus. More importantly, she had her muse. Her first book, Desire in the Everglades, was due out soon. She’d already started her next one, Italian Love, inspired by their honeymoon. The flight tickets to Venice that Colin had presented her had sent her heart, and her ideas, racing.
“Don’t you want to spend the money on the farm instead?” she had asked. “Europe is so expensive. I don’t need a lavish lifestyle anymore. All I need is you.”
“You care about what I want out of life. I care about what you want out of life,” he had answered before giving her a deep kiss. “All I want is to make you happy.”
“You are my happiness. I love you, Colin,” she’d said, kissing him back. “I am yours. And you are mine,” she murmured into his mouth.
He pulled away to look at her with a smile that shone brighter than the Everglade sun. “We have won each other,” he said. Then he held her again. Tightly. Firmly. Protectively. “I love you, Steph,” he said softly.
She put her head against his chest, knowing without a doubt that he loved her. And that he always would.
Coming soon from Stacy Hoff
and Soul Mate Publishing:
Diary of a Young Lawyer
Due out in early 2015.
