“I can barely get out of bed without help!” TJ protested.
“Maybe,” Leah said as she walked towards the door, “but you do have Zeke right now to do your bidding.”
“Hey!”
“You’re the one who called him!” TJ called after her. She airily waved away his comment as she left the room.
TJ turned to Zeke, the special smile he seemed to save only for Leah curving his lips.
“How’d you know?” Zeke blurted.
TJ blinked. “That she called you? You told me, remember?”
“What? No! How did you know you could trust her? How did you know it was safe to love her?”
TJ frowned as he took in the look in Zeke’s eyes.
“I didn’t,” TJ said finally, gently, “but I couldn’t live with the thought of not even trying with her. Besides, who says love is safe? It isn’t safe – it’s hard work, and a daily decision.”
Zeke stared unblinkingly at him.
“...and unlike what what’s-his-name said, love is all about saying you’re sorry,” TJ added.
Zeke frowned. “Ryan O’Neal?”
“I was actually thinking about the guy who wrote the book.”
“You read the book?”
“You saw the movie?”
They were still laughing, TJ’s interspersed with small yelps of pain, when Leah burst back into the bedroom, flushed and wild-eyed.
“Our servers are overloading!” she blurted.
“Say what?” TJ asked, still grinning.
Leah shook her head, waving her hands excitedly. “Someone – we’re still checking – profiled the site sometime, probably late in the day, yesterday – specifically your blog, Zeke. We’ve had over half-a-million hits since midnight! And they’re still coming!” She rushed to Zeke, grabbed his shoulders, and excitedly shook him. “We’ve gone viral!” she cried, then threw her arms around him in a bone-crushing hug.
Zeke grunted, staggering under the onslaught, as TJ pulled himself up in the bed and said, “That’s wonder – ow...”
Leah spun and pointed a finger at him. “You. Be careful. Make sure Zeke helps you out of bed -”
“The nurse said -”
“I don’t give a shit what the nurse said – you’re still sore and I don’t want you pulling your incision. I’ve got to get to the office; make some emergency purchases -” she spun back to Zeke. “I knew that blog was going to put us on the map!” She spun towards TJ, and dropped a quick, hard kiss on his lips. “I’ve got to go -” she spun again and rushed out the door.
TJ and Zeke blinked in the sudden shock of silence.
“Hurricane Leah,” Zeke murmured softly.
“Yeah...” TJ breathed.
“Viral, huh?”
“Yeah. Congratulations.”
“Yeah. Thanks.”
“You don’t sound too happy about it,” TJ said shrewdly.
Zeke sighed. “I was hoping to stay home even after you were back on your feet.”
TJ stared. “You were? Why? I thought you were having a good time?”
Zeke sighed again. “It’s complicated.”
“Well, let’s get me out of this bed and down to the living room, and you can tell me all about it.”
“Yeah,” Zeke said, moving to help him, “yeah, I think that might help.”
~~~~~
Leah sat behind her desk and listened to Zeke’s carefully worded explanation with a raised eyebrow and, at some points, an amused smirk.
“I think it would be best for everyone if I were to make some excuse to her, and cut this trip short,” Zeke finished, leaning back in his chair.
“Why?” Leah asked bluntly.
“I just told you why.”
“No. You gave me what you thought would be an acceptable reason why. Now give me the real reason.”
Zeke huffed out an exasperated breath. “Have you been talking to TJ?”
“TJ isn’t your only friend, you know. I can tell when you’re trying to hide something from me.”
Zeke glowered at her. “I think I’m falling in love with her,” he grated out.
Leah burst out laughing. “With Manny?” Her eyes widened as she took in his expression. “Holy shit, you’re serious.”
“Yeah, I’m serious. And this latest fiasco with Dixie just reminded me why I don’t believe in love in the first place.”
Leah frowned. “Why do you think you’re falling in love with her, then? Especially if you don’t believe in it?”
“Because I don’t know what else to call it! I care about her feelings – I’m even feeling guilty about the last few blogs, since I wrote them when I was really pissed at her, and they’re particularly cruel and she doesn’t deserve that. And now the fucking thing has gone viral – how long before she finds out about it from one of the thousand-and-one Misfit Toys she’s picked up along the way? I don’t want her hurt! And then – in L.A. – she had on this dress, and these shoes, and I thought it was just because she took me by surprise, but then she was wearing those boxers and she was still sexy, only she’s not – not really – she’s still just a middle-aged, plain, dumpy woman only now she also has an ass that just won’t quit!”
Zeke paused, out of breath, and glared at Leah. She stared back at him, her eyes wide and her mouth hanging open before she closed it with a snap.
“So, this is why you think you’re falling in love with her,” Leah said, “instead of maybe just falling in lust with her? Which – sorry, Zeke – that’s what it sounds like.”
“It’s more than lust! Or...,” he paused, thinking, “I mean, I wouldn’t even call it lust, exactly. It’s just...she’s...nice. And she’s smart, and funny, and she – she attracts people, because she makes them feel welcomed and accepted and acceptable, and I don’t think she even realizes what she’s doing because she always seems surprised that people want to keep in touch with her after we move on. And – I like her.”
Leah shrugged and shook her head with a laugh. “I’m sorry, but I think you’re blowing everything way out of proportion. Of course you’re fond of her – you’ve spent the last three months – more - spending almost every single day with her. That doesn’t mean you’re getting a crush on her – not a crush crush -”
“A crush crush? I can see you make your living with the written word.”
“Oh, ha ha, funny man. You know what I’m talking about. You like her – you may even – as you think – love her a little bit. That doesn’t mean you’re in love with her – and in fact you probably aren’t.” Leah leaned forward with a serious expression. “Zeke, this is what’s known as friendship. You just happen to be feeling this friendship with a member of the opposite sex.”
“I’ve been friends with women before, Leah.”
“Oh, yeah? Besides me, name one other female friend you have – or had. A real one.”
Zeke opened his mouth – and hesitated. He closed his mouth and frowned, thinking.
“Hah! Knew it! No wonder you’re freaking out!” Leah smiled fondly at him. “You’re just making a friend, Zeke. Nothing to be afraid of.”
Zeke rolled his eyes. “I’m not sure if you’re helping or not,” he said sarcastically, “and I certainly don’t remember suddenly becoming sexually aware of you!”
Now it was Leah’s turn to roll her eyes. “You thought I was sexy from the beginning, moron. It didn’t come as a surprise to you!”
“But that’s not what I’m talking about!”
“Of course it is! The only difference is you had convinced yourself that Manny was this...well, non-entity. Rather, this non-sexual entity. Which – seriously, Zeke – was pretty naive of you. Anyway, you’re suddenly seeing her as she really is, not as you want her to be.”
Zeke’s frown deepened as he shifted uncomfortably in his chair. “So, what are you saying?”
Leah shrugged, leaning back. “You’re not falling in love, okay? Don’t worry about it.”
Zeke’s frown didn’t ease as he stru
ggled for a long moment to determine what to say next. “If I go back, I want to tell her the truth about me. About the blog.”
“Why?”
“Because I feel like a fraud! She’s been nothing but honest with me, and I’m...I’m travelling with her under false pretenses. Even if the blog hadn’t gone viral, she deserves the truth.”
“No.”
Zeke blinked. “No, she doesn’t deserve the truth?”
“No, I mean, yes, of course she deserves the truth – but not until the trip is over.” Leah leaned forward again, her eyes intent on his. “Zeke, your blog readership is going through the roof. The roof! People are loving the story of Manny’s mid-life crisis and your reactions to it. You can’t pull the plug now! They want to know how the story’s going to end! And if she knows who you are and what you’re doing, you know things are going to change. She’s not going to share as much with you, or be as honest and open with you. You need to keep her in the dark until the trip is over. Your readers are absolutely dying -”
She stopped abruptly, blinking rapidly, and Zeke knew she’d been forcefully reminded of TJ and his health crisis. She shook her head.
“Sorry – your readers are absolutely salivating to find out what happens next. Who she’s going to meet – what she’s going to do – and how you’re going to react to it.” Leah cocked her head to one side and considered him thoughtfully. “You know all this. You keep up with the comments – you’ve read a lot of this latest onslaught of commentary.”
“I do know.” He sighed and leaned back in his chair, stretching his long legs out in front of him. “She’s going to be really hurt when I tell her the truth.”
“Zeke,” Leah reminded him gently, “you’ll never have to see her again when the trip is over.”
“So much for friendship,” he snapped.
Leah shrugged. “Let’s be honest, here. You’ve been in an unusually intense situation with her. When you’re both back in the real world maybe your friendship will last. Maybe it won’t.”
Zeke glared but couldn’t argue against her logic. Besides, he also knew what she didn’t say: based on his past history, his friendship with Manny wouldn’t last.
The thought saddened him even though he couldn’t dispute the truth of it.
“Where are you supposed to meet her?” Leah asked.
“We haven’t made any firm plans yet,” Zeke sighed. “She’s heading to some obscure park in the middle of nowhere this week. She heard about it from some guy she met in Nashville.”
“Well, things are pretty stable with TJ right now. I’ll talk to him tonight, but I think you can meet her there.” She grinned at him. “We need even more blogs, more often. We have a huge audience to keep entertained now.”
Zeke sighed and reluctantly nodded.
* * * * *
Day 108
Manny pulled into the main entrance to the campground. She could see signs pointing the way to campsites, but she also saw several cabins nestled in the trees around an open, well-maintained common area. Manny briefly considered camping in the van, but the thought of the possibility of a private shower – and not having to empty out the van’s toilet – made her mind up for her.
She pulled up to the cabin that had an ‘Office’ sign in the window. She walked in and glanced around, brushing her hair out of her face. Even now she still found it strange to have short hair.
A young man in a park ranger uniform came out of the back room and came to a stop behind the front desk.
Whoa.
I’ll say.
The young man gave her a slow, sexy grin. He was blonde, broad-shouldered, lean and muscled, and he looked to be about twenty-five.
“May I help you?” he asked in a low, husky purr of a voice, and Manny’s eyes widened even more.
Guh.
Whoa. Those are an awful lot of hormones all of a sudden.
Guh-uh.
Well...shit.
Episode 9
Day 109
Manny dreamily brushed her teeth and revelled in her memories of the day. Brett – the blonde park ranger who’d been at the front desk when she arrived – had taken her for a hike, teasing and flirting the entire time. Manny learned he was older than he looked – thirty. She also learned that he loved his job, was very good at it, and he especially loved the women he met during the season. The way he looked at her, casually brushing his hand against her arm or shoulder or back, told her he’d definitely love to get to know her better, too.
You do know it’s because you’re the only woman here right now, Harvey said drily.
Manny rolled her eyes as she rinsed her mouth and toothbrush.
Uh, yeah. I’m not an idiot.
She glanced at Harvey, looking as perfectly handsome as ever in his boxers and t-shirt.
Should I be jealous?
Considering you’re a figment of my imagination, I’d say no. Especially since I’d be jealous of...myself?
Whatever. You’re awfully twitter-pated. Don’t do anything you might regret.
What’s this? You’re the one who’s usually pushing me to do the things I end up regretting!
That may be. But Zeke isn’t here to watch out for you -
Oh, please! Since when has Zeke been watching out for me? He’s the one who keeps ditching me whenever a good-looking woman looks at him sideways. Besides, do you really think I’d tell Zeke about this if he were here? He gets grossed out at the thought of me getting naked when I shower. He’d probably puke if he thought I might actually have sex with somebody! Somebody real, I mean. No offense.
None taken.
Manny sighed as she pulled back the covers and crawled into bed beside Harvey.
Besides, it’s not like anything’s going to happen anyway.
No?
No. Like you said, I’m the only woman here right now, and he’s just killing time. This is all very nice, but I’m really not stupid enough to think he’s overwhelmed with lust for me.
Don’t sell yourself short. You’re pretty cute...for your age. You’re not too fat and in the dark, he’ll never notice the wrinkles.
Manny snorted pained laughter, rubbing her face. My ego is overwhelming. Anyway, it doesn’t matter. I’m sure a prettier and/or younger woman will arrive tomorrow and that will be the end of it. But man, she added wistfully, it’s been fun while it lasted.
* * * * *
Day 110
But a younger or prettier woman never arrived, and Brett spent the day with Manny, showing her an obscure trail and hiking with her for most of the day. As he walked her back to her cabin, he smoothly asked her to dinner, and even Manny, as rusty as she was, was left in no doubt he didn’t just have food in mind.
She stared at him like he had a third eye.
“I’m sorry?” she blurted.
Dear God, don’t look behind you!
She looked behind her, positive he was talking to somebody else.
Harvey groaned and put his hand over his eyes as Brett said, “I asked if you’d like to have dinner with me.”
She blinked owlishly.
“Um...okay,” she said. “Where?”
“How about my place?” Brett leaned closer. “I make a spaghetti sauce that’s positively sinful,” he practically purred in her ear.
She shivered, both at his tone and the feel of his breath against her skin.
Harvey rolled his eyes.
“That sounds...nice,” Manny said, her voice faint.
“Good,” Brett said, straightening. “I’ll expect you at seven?”
“Okay,” she nodded, like a puppet on a string.
Don’t drink anything he pours you, Harvey warned.
Oh, please!
That boy’s on the make – and you need to be careful. Zeke’s not here to come looking for you.
You don’t think I know that? I’m horny, not stupid! Come on – Brett seems harmless enough, and look at him! The last time a guy that good-looking gave me that kind of come-hither loo
k was...what? Ten years ago? More?
Yeah...well...just be careful.
I’ll be careful.
~~~~~
Manny took a deep breath and knocked on Brett’s door at seven on the dot. She wiped her hands nervously on the seat of her jeans and hoped she didn’t look as wide-eyed excited as she felt.
Or as terrified.
You can stay outside, she said to Harvey.
Where you go – I go.
Not this time.
She smiled nervously as Brett opened the door with a knowing, confident grin. For a moment, Manny felt like turning tail and running, and not stopping until she was safely behind the locked door of her cabin.
Then she straightened her shoulders, smiled and stepped over the threshold.
~~~~~
Brett handed her a glass of wine and settled on the couch beside her.
“Relax,” he coaxed. “I don’t bite – unless I’m asked to, of course.”
He winked.
Manny was glad she’d banished Harvey for the duration.
She took the offered wine and took a small sip. She’d relaxed during dinner – the spaghetti sauce really was almost sinful – but she’d tensed up again when they moved to the couch in front of the fireplace.
Brett deliberately took her wine glass and placed it on the coffee table. Then he put an arm around her. Her entire body stiffened in a combination of terror and anticipation. As he smiled at her, she deliberately ignored the fleeting disappointment that he was so...well, smarmy – followed by the thought he was at least a gorgeous smarmy.
Brett leaned forward, angling his head as he lowered his mouth towards hers.
Manny instinctively turned her face away and blurted, “I’m no good at this.”
Brett leaned back, blinking at her in surprise. He searched her eyes and face, a look of concern flitting across his features. It was probably the most honest expression she’d seen on his face since she’d met him.
“That’s okay,” he said soothingly, “I am.”
Brett leaned forward again, and this time Manny forced herself to allow him to kiss her. She sat, rigid and nervous and awkward beneath his lips, and tried to relax. She opened her mouth for him, tentatively kissed him back and stroked her tongue over his as he explored her mouth.
A Life Less Ordinary Page 25
