“Well,” she smiled, “I happen to be the debate teacher at our local high school. We’re probably smaller than your school was, but I’ve wanted to get the kids involved in tournaments. However, I’ve needed someone knowledgeable who could help coach the kids and go on trips with us.”
A spark of interest blossomed in Laney’s chest.
“You’d have to pass the background check, and you’d start as a para which, I’m not going to lie, the pay isn’t great, but it’s a job. It’s something you were interested in, and if you enjoy it, you could look into getting your teaching certificate and take it over.”
“Take it over? But isn’t that your job?”
Nancy smiled and leaned across the table. “It is, but I’m pregnant, and it’s taken us so long to have a baby that I want to take a few years off to enjoy being a mother.”
“Oh my gosh. Congratulations, Nancy.” Laney dropped her spoon and rushed around to hug her new friend.
“Thank you,” Nancy said returning the hug. “So, you see, you’d be helping me out as well as yourself.”
“I’ll do it.” Laney didn’t have to think about it. She’d loved competing in high school, and she knew she would enjoy it just as much now. It might be a ‘Brainy Laney’ thing to do, but she was okay with that. Perhaps ‘Brainy Laney’ wasn’t so bad after all. She smiled as she thought about how in control God was. A few months ago, she’d been lonely, working a terrible job, and dreaming of a man who she’d barely even talked to. Now, she was surrounded by friends, about to do something she loved, and engaged to a wonderful man.
24
Laney sighed as she walked to her car. It had been another long evening prepping the students for a tournament tomorrow, but she finally felt they were ready. Now, she just had to make sure she was in bed before ten pm so that she would be able to function the next morning.
She pulled into the driveway of the small rental and turned off the car. It was a cheap Honda, but it was hers. Nancy had been kind enough to give her rides for the few weeks she lived with them, but finally Laney had saved enough to not only purchase the cheap Honda but to make the deposit on the rental house as well. The landlord, being a friend of Aarons, had even given her a month-to-month lease knowing that she would be moving in with Tyler after the wedding. Laney could hardly believe that was only a few weeks away.
She pulled out her keys to open the front door and dropped them in surprise when her cell phone began ringing. It was probably Tyler wanting to wish her goodnight since she had missed their nightly dinner. As she squatted down to grab her keys, she punched the button on her cell. “Hello?”
“Is this Laney Swann?”
Laney’s fingers grasped the keys and she stood. This was not Tyler. “Yes, this is Laney Swann. Who is this?”
“My name is Madeline Perry, and I’m the head of Perry Modeling Agency. Peter gave me your name and a glowing recommendation. I’m looking for a makeup artist, and I’d like to interview you.”
Laney’s hand froze on the door knob. A modeling agency? This was the call she had been waiting months for, but her wedding was in a few weeks. Could she really start a new job now? Besides, she had a job. One that required her to be at the school at four in the morning. Still, this was her dream. Could she really turn it down?
“I would love that. I have to be somewhere tomorrow, but I could take a few days after that.”
“That would be perfect. Give me your email address and I will have my assistant send you the flight information.”
The woman was going to pay to fly her there for an interview? This was even better than she dreamed. “Fantastic.” She rattled off her email address, thanked the woman, and then hung up the phone. Laney couldn’t believe she had finally gotten an interview. She would have to tell Tyler, but it could wait until tomorrow. Tonight, she needed to grab some food, brush her teeth, and crawl into bed.
Tyler tried to keep his face emotionless as he listened to Laney tell him about the job interview. He knew this was what she had always wanted, but he had hoped she had found fulfillment working with the kids at the school. Perhaps it was selfish of him, but he didn’t want her working in California. He wanted her here with him.
“What do you think?” Her eyes pleaded for him to be okay with it, and Tyler knew that’s what he would do. He had told her father he wouldn’t expect her to stay at the ranch if she didn’t want to. Now, he was having to back up those words.
Tyler picked up her hand and rubbed his thumb across the back. He was so afraid, but he couldn’t tell her that. He couldn’t say that he didn’t want her to go because he feared she might never come back. He couldn’t say those words not because he didn’t think she couldn’t handle hearing them but because it wouldn’t be fair to send her off with his fears. Tyler could see she had her own fears she was dealing with. There was no need to add his own.
“I think it’s a great opportunity,” he said slowly. Would this be the last time he got to hold her hand like this? He should relish the feeling just in case.
“And?”
“And I think you should go. Interview at least. I told you that I didn’t want to hold you back, that we would make it work no matter what you wanted to do. If you get this job, it will make it a little harder, but nothing is impossible.”
She scooted closer to him on the couch and placed her hand under his chin. He had kept his eyes down as he spoke, and she lifted his face now until they met her gaze. “Thank you, Tyler. I love you. I know you’re scared, but I feel like I’ll regret it if I don’t go.”
He nodded wanting to speak but not trusting his voice around the lump that had begun to form. He didn’t want her to have any regrets. If they were going to marry - and he hoped they still would - he wanted to be sure it was what she wanted.
Her eyes remained on his, and he knew she was seeking reassurance. He cleared his throat. “Well, we should probably pray about this. Your safety and God’s will to be done.”
“That would be amazing.”
He took both of her hands in his. They had done this nearly every day, but today felt different. “Lord, we thank you for this time together. We don’t always understand Your will, but we seek to follow it. Help Laney to know if this is your will for her. Open doors if it is and close them if it’s not. Grant her safe travels, and-” his voice caught. He was about to say, ‘bring her back to me,’ but this was Laney’s prayer, not his. After she left, he could pray those words all he wanted, but right now he wanted this to be about her. However, he had no words for what to say next, so he ended lamely with, “amen.”
When he opened his eyes, he could see hers glistening with unshed tears. He had made her happy and that felt good. He just hoped it wouldn’t be the last time. The old saying, ‘if you love someone, let them go,’ fluttered through his mind. It was easier said than done, though, when all he wanted to do was pull her against his chest, wrap his arms around her, and feel her heart beat against his.
“I better go pack,” she said and ran a finger under her eye. He saw the shine of wetness on it before she turned away and pushed herself up from the couch.
He followed suit to stand beside her. “Do you need a ride to the airport?” The thought of driving her there killed him, but at least it would mean more time.
She shook her head and fidgeted with the cross around her neck. “No, she’s hired a car to pick me up. Royal treatment, I guess you could say.”
He could think of another word. Bribery, bait, enticement, but none of those sounded as nice. “All right, well, call me when you get there so I know you landed okay. I guess I’ll see you in a few days.”
“Yeah.”
He pulled her into his arms and placed his mouth against her neck. “I love you Laney.”
“I love you too.”
And then she was gone, and for the first time in months, Tyler felt the monster awaken inside of him. It clawed about his stomach, seeking a handhold to use in order to crawl out. Tyler reached for his ph
one and punched in the number he knew from memory. “Aaron? I need you.”
25
Laney stared in awe at the modeling agency. It wasn’t quite as large as Madame Bonavich’s had been, but it was close. Glass windows granted an expansive view of downtown and rich colors filled the office.
“Welcome, Laney, I’m Madeline Perry. I’m so glad you could make it.”
The outstretched hand was slender which fit the woman in front of her. Though not short, Madeline was Twiggy-thin, and her severe blond haircut made her appear even thinner. Dark liner accentuated her grey eyes that looked like a storm. Calm now, but Laney wondered what they transformed into if Madeline were angry.
“Thank you. Me too.”
“I heard you ended up becoming a contestant on Peter’s show. I’m sorry I don’t watch it, but some of my girls have auditioned for it before.” As Madeline sauntered toward a massive desk, Laney wondered how her slacks stayed on. The woman appeared to have no hip bones to keep them up.
“I did, and I ended up with the Cowboy. Tyler.”
“Oh, a cowboy. How quaint. I don’t suppose you kiss and tell though.” Her eyes raked over Laney as if appraising her. Laney felt her face flush. She didn’t know if the woman were asking for details or hinting at something else. Neither thought made her comfortable.
“I don’t, but the wedding is in a few weeks and the studio is filming it. If you are interested, you could tune in.”
Madeline’s playful banter disappeared, “Are you planning a long honeymoon?”
“I… I don’t know. We haven’t really discussed it. Planning the wedding has been hectic enough.” Laney couldn’t believe the honeymoon hadn’t come up until now. Had she just assumed the wedding planner was handling it?
“The reason I ask,” Madeline said with a tight smile, “is because I need someone reliable. This job requires a lot of hours, and I can’t have someone who’s going to be gone for an excessive amount of time.”
“Oh, I’m sure it wouldn’t be excessive. A week, maybe two.”
“Two would be too long, but if you can keep it at a week, we can continue the interview.”
Warning bells sounded in Laney’s head. Madeline hadn’t seemed like Madame Bonavich over the phone or when Laney had first entered the office, but she was glimpsing similar traits now. Still, this was her dream job. Wasn’t it?
“I’m sure we could manage a week.” Why had she said that? It was like she couldn’t help herself.
“Very good. Then let me introduce you to Natalie.”
“Natalie?”
“Yes, my lead makeup artist. You didn’t think I was hiring you for lead, did you?”
Laney’s mouth opened, but she had no words.
“Oh, you did.” Madeline laughed. “I’m sorry, Laney, I’m looking for an assistant. No one hires a lead they haven’t worked with. Not in this business. It doesn’t matter how good your references are.”
Laney knew then that she no longer wanted to be in this business. She enjoyed makeup, and she had thought it was what she wanted, but being here didn’t hold the same appeal it once had. She missed her students and her friends. “No, I’m the one who’s sorry. I’ve wasted your time though I didn’t mean to. I’m afraid I’ve realized this isn’t my life anymore. My life is back in Texas with my Cowboy.”
Tyler raked his hand across his chin. “I thought I was past this, you know? This urge to drink, but Laney leaving,” he shook his head, “I guess it hit me hard.”
“Don’t be so hard on yourself,” Aaron said as he sat across from Tyler. “It was sudden, but that doesn’t mean she’s going to take it. Nancy says she’s a natural with the kids. People like that? They realize their true calling. It might take her a while, but I think she’ll come around.”
“And what if she doesn’t? What if she ends up another Sierra or Dierdre or-”
“Stop. You can’t keep beating that dead horse. Yes, you’ve had crappy luck with women, but you’re not your dad.”
“I never said I was.”
“No, but you’ve been acting like it. It’s like you’ve been trying so hard to prove you won’t be like him that you’re ending up doing the same thing. Only difference is you’re pushing the women away before you marry them instead of after.”
Tyler thought back over his relationships. Had he been pushing them away? Certainly not outright but subconsciously, maybe. Perhaps he wanted a family so badly that he had been putting pressure on the women he had dated unknowingly. “I had no idea,” he said shaking his head.
“Look man, we all have something, but you can’t let your fear and insecurity of losing Laney drive her away. Be supportive and I promise you that she’ll be back.”
“You’re right. Thank you, Aaron. Once again you’ve saved my bacon.”
Aaron clapped a hand on his shoulder. “That’s what friends are for, man. You get the urge to drink again, you call me, okay? Any time, day or night.”
Tyler nodded and shook Aaron’s hand. “Thank you.” He wasn’t sure he wanted to leave yet. The demons were louder when he was alone and thinking about Laney, but he knew Aaron had things to do for Nancy. She was nearing month six of her pregnancy and not able to do everything she could before.
He pulled the front door open and stopped short. Was he imagining things or had Aaron actually wished her home? “Laney?”
“Hi, Tyler, I went by your ranch first, but when you weren’t there, I figured you might be here.”
An invisible vice squeezed his heart. If she was seeking him out this soon after her interview, was it to say goodbye for good? “How did the job interview go?”
She twisted her mouth into an endearing smirk. “Oh, it was good.” His heart fell. “But it’s not the job for me.”
His eyes flew to hers. Had he heard her correctly? “You didn’t take it?”
The corners of her mouth twitched before breaking into a wide grin. “Nope. I realized when I got there that I didn’t want that life anymore. Everything I want is right here. With you.”
He didn’t have words, but he didn’t need them. In two steps, he covered the distance between them and pulled her into his arms. His lips pressed against hers, fear and love and relief pouring out as he tugged her closer. Her hands wound around his neck and his slid down to her waist. Heat burned between them and though he didn’t want to, Tyler forced himself to end the kiss before he compromised their promise.
“Everything I want is right here too,” he whispered into her ear, and she laid her head on his chest.
26
Tyler looked around in awe as he and Laney stepped off the airplane. He’d never been to Hawaii and it was more beautiful than he’d even imagined. And hot. It felt a lot like Houston only a little less muggy, and he was still inside.
Bronwyn, their wedding planner, waved at them from across the room. He nudged Laney and pointed to the right. “Looks like our ride is here.”
Beside him she sighed. “It’s been nice having her handle the details I guess, but her personality-”
“Is grating?” he finished.
“To say the least,” Laney said with a laugh.
Tyler wasn’t sure if Bronwyn’s personality was true or an act for whatever unknown reason, but she was the epitome of a valley girl. Her use of the word ‘like’ was extraordinary and exhaustive.
“Oh my gosh. Isn’t this like so amazing?” she asked when they neared her. She held two leis in her hands which she placed around their necks. “You totally can’t land in Hawaii without being leid.” Then she laughed, and it was a grating high-pitched sound that reminded Tyler of nails on chalkboards. Laney squeezed his hand in a death grip.
“We’re a little beat from the plane ride, Bronwyn. Maybe we can go check into the hotel now?”
Her laugh faded, and her eyes widened. “Of course, silly me. I’m so sorry. You must be exhausted. Follow me.”
She led the way down to the baggage claim and then out to where a limo was waiting.
“Not in the least,” she said with an eye roll.
He pulled her to his side and wrapped his arm tightly around her. “How about now?”
“What are you doing?” she asked as she twisted to look up at him.
“The last time we were in a limo together, you hit your head on my chin falling for me. I don’t want you to have a big goose egg before the ceremony.”
Her eyes narrowed, and she jabbed a finger at his chest. “I fell because the driver slammed on the brakes. Nothing more.”
“That’s not how I remember it,” he said with a sly grin.
“Ah, you guys are so cute.”
Even Bronwyn’s voice couldn’t break the moment between Tyler and Laney. Tomorrow she would be his wife, and Tyler couldn’t think of anything he wanted more than to have her by his side forever.
He turned his attention out the window and took in the beautiful scenery. He loved Texas, but it sure didn’t have the same tropical appeal that Hawaii did. The road led them close enough that he could see the ocean and beaches out the window, and it did not surprise him when the limo pulled up in front of a large hotel.
He was surprised by the paparazzi that greeted them as they stepped out of the limo.
“Tyler, Laney, do you really think you’re in love? Do you believe a marriage that started on a reality show can last? Is it true they paid you to propose?”
Tyler sneaked a glance at Laney and was dismayed to see the tightness in her face. They had faced all these questions four months ago when he first proposed, and he thought they had gotten past them, but her body language suggested otherwise. He wondered if their unusual beginning would haunt them forever.
Grabbing Laney’s hand tighter, he pulled her closer to him and forged through the reporters like a linebacker. The door to the hotel was just a few feet away, and he yanked it open with one swift motion. Blissful silence greeted them on the other side.
The Cowboy's Reality Bride Page 14
