Love Under Review

by Britney M. Mills

  The door to the bookstore opened, and Liam turned from behind the register, smiling when he saw Danielle walking through. She was dressed in a navy business suit, her hair half pulled back. The light amount of makeup she was wearing only accentuated her beautiful features, and he wished he didn’t have to go into the next room right then. He wanted to feel like he had in the stable after their date.

  “Hey! You made it. You look the part of a journalist today.” He grinned at her as she joined him next to the counter and near the door to the adjoining room. She looked pained, trying to smile but it looking more like a grimace. “Did Clyde want you to write about this?”

  “I need to tell you something.” Her eyes focused on his chest and not his eyes, making the uncomfortable feeling from that morning return.

  “Can it wait until after the reading? I’m still waiting for MK Malone to show up so I don’t look like a fool in front of the entire town.” He gave her a half-smile, but she didn’t return the expression.

  Moving her hand from behind her back, he saw a red flower in it. She stuck it into the lapel of her jacket. “That’s what I need to talk to you about.”

  Liam’s mind spun with the information, wondering if she was playing a joke on him. “I never told you that MK Malone said he’d be wearing a red flower. How did you know?”

  Tears leaked out her eyes and onto her cheeks. “Because I’m MK Malone. I wrote those books, not thinking anyone would ever read them. When I got here, I was shocked that people were reading the books in their book group and discussing them around town. I’ve worked with my name plastered all over as a journalist, and I thought I loved it at first, but now that I know what it’s like to not have my work connected to me, I didn’t want to say it was me. I wanted to tell you, was going to tell you when I sent you the manuscript of my new book, but this all happened.” She brushed at a tear as it rolled down her cheek.

  “Why? We talked about writing several times, about you writing books. Why couldn’t you have told me then?” Liam bit down, Tawnee’s face flashing in his mind. Her lies of omission were what landed him on a reality TV show without his knowledge.

  “I was afraid you’d look at me the way you’re looking now, like you don’t know who I am. I just wanted to spend more time with you, to see where it would go.”

  The same betrayal he’d felt from Tawnee seeped into him, making it difficult to breathe. He hated being lied to, especially if it was for selfish reasons on the part of the other person, as it made him feel like a fool. And he definitely was a fool for thinking he could trust again.

  Taking in a breath, he nodded. “Okay, how are you going to convince everyone else you are MK Malone?”

  “I’ll do my best. But I’ve brought the manuscript for the next book I’m working on, and after I read a section of it, I’d like for you to go through it for me. Would you do that?” She looked at him with worry in her eyes.

  “I’d have to think about that.” Liam gave a curt nod and stepped toward the door. “I’ll go introduce you now.”

  As he moved into the noisy room next door, Liam wondered what he was going to say now that he knew the real identity of the town’s favorite author.

  He raised his hand, and a wave of silence passed over everyone. Several hundred eyes stared back at him.

  “Welcome, everyone. I know you’re all anxious to get started with our guest of honor. I’m grateful to author MK Malone for coming out today, and I’m going to let her introduce herself.” Liam smiled and moved to the side, trying to keep himself from chuckling as the room erupted in loud whispers with several people questioning the gender of the author.

  Several seconds passed before Danielle moved through the door. Instead of the group getting louder, it went quiet, barely a breath heard.

  “Good morning to you all. I know you were expecting someone taller, probably male, but I am the author MK Malone.”

  “What is this? Did the real author not show up, so you’re using a disgraced journalist to take his place?” Sharon Crestview said, a sneer on her face.

  As angry as he was at the whole situation, Liam’s defenses rose, and he stepped closer to Danielle. “That’s enough, Mrs. Crestview. Please let her speak.” He turned to nod at Danielle, and she gave him a grateful smile.

  The group calmed down, the interest in the situation so thick that Liam was sure it could suffocate them after so long.

  “Thank you for letting me speak today. I know it’s a shock to most of you that I wrote these books, but it’s true. Because of my journalism career, I decided the best way to release these stories was to use a pen name. Some of you know that I’ve been let go from my job in journalism in California, and now I’m even more grateful I have the pen name.” Danielle clasped her hands so tightly that the knuckles were a bright white, sticking out more against the red of her hands.

  “That still doesn’t prove you wrote the books,” said a male voice Liam couldn’t place.

  A few people started talking over each other, and Danielle raised a hand and finally whistled, getting the speakers to settle down.

  “MK stands for Mary-Kate, which is my mother’s name. Malone is the name of one of the people I admire most from the news industry.” She walked over to the door and retrieved a stack of papers, her confidence increasing with each step. Liam was curious as to what she’d planned, but he leaned back against the wall and waited for her to continue.

  “This right here is the next book in the series, and I have brought it in the hopes that you’d let me read from it this morning.” She raised it as if it were a glass she was toasting.

  “I know you’re a gifted writer, Danielle,” Sharon said, her voice less snarky than her last comment, “but this still wouldn’t help us know for sure that you are who you say you are.”

  Danielle opened her mouth to answer but was surprised when her mother walked through the door and said, “She is who she says she is. I’ve seen the accounts for where she uploads the books to the self-publishing platform.”

  Mrs. Holloway’s comments sparked a fury, everyone talking so loud it was hard to hear anything.

  After several seconds, the mayor stood and whistled again. “I know this sounds like a fabricated story, but Mary-Kate Holloway has always been as honest as they come. She wouldn’t do anything to jeopardize this situation, and we should be celebrating that an up-and-coming author comes from roots in Sage Creek.”

  Danielle nodded in his direction, grateful for the people standing up for her.

  “Go ahead and read us some of that book,” Dottie McCready said, showing off a wide grin.

  Danielle began reading, and like magic, the crowd was enthralled with her words, weaving the story through their heads. Liam smiled, knowing she had to be the author because of the similar tone of her words as in the previous books.

  As he listened, he recognized a few of the same descriptions she’d used in other books. She was, in fact, the author, and while she had talent, she’d told him she had no idea who MK Malone was. But what did he expect? It wasn’t like they’d declared anything official.

  She finished, and the group got up and mingled, talking to her and each other about the news of it.

  Liam had to retrieve a broom and dustpan to clean up crumbs one of the children had left from his cookie and was startled by a voice behind him.

  “I’m really sorry, Liam. I meant to tell you yesterday.” Danielle’s voice was soft.

  He glanced up at her, unsure what to say. “You have a real talent. I’m glad you finished the book.” He motioned to the stack of papers in her hand.

  Danielle turned her head, a smile playing on her lips. “But?”

  “There are no buts. I think you’re a great writer.” He walked over to dump the contents of the dustpan into the garbage can.

  “I didn’t mean to lie to you. I just wasn’t ready for people to know who I was. But I should have told you, because you’ve believed in me from the beginning.” Her eyes searched his face
, but Liam couldn’t get past the betrayal.

  He nodded, all emotion gone from his tone when he said, “Yes, I did.” He turned walking to the back door and out.

  Rubbing his hands over his face, he took in several breaths. Lying shouldn’t be looked at as a serious crime, but for some reason, it felt like it was.

  Chapter 27

  After a day of celebration and hand cramps from signing so many books, Danielle couldn’t shake the exhaustion of guilt she felt. It was like the look on his face was now imprinted in her brain, and every time she closed her eyes, she saw the disappointment and betrayal.

  Grabbing her phone from the nightstand, she rolled over, still under the covers, and went through her morning routine of checking the news and her social media. As she clicked on her inbox, the screen changed and a phone call with an LA area code popped up. Swiping, she said, “Hello?”

  “Danielle Holloway? Chester Sebring, chief editor from the LA Sun. It’s come to my attention that you sent papers detailing the misdeeds of several government officials to our offices.”

  Danielle felt her heartbeat in her throat and finally registered that the man was asking for an answer. “I did, sir. I—”

  “We have an opening as a news anchor in our prime time slot and would like to offer it to you. If you accept, we’d need you to come here by Monday to get started.” Chester coughed, and Danielle barely registered the noise as she realized all of her journalist hopes hadn’t been dashed.

  “I appreciate the offer, sir. Have you investigated how far out the scandal went?” She was sitting up now, too anxious to stay still for too long.

  She heard some papers ruffle, and then Chester’s voice came over the line.

  “Several people are to be indicted in the next few days, one of them being your ex-boss. None of us at the LA Sun have taken part in such despicable—”

  “Do you mind if I think about this and get back to you?” Danielle asked, cutting off what was sure to be a long monologue on the virtues of the opposing newspaper.

  “Certainly. Please let me know tomorrow morning so I can make arrangements to fill the position if you turn it down.”

  “Thank you, sir. I’ll make sure to have a decision by then.” Danielle said goodbye and then lay back down.

  She’d wanted to have her job back for weeks, had wanted to get back out into the action of things, traveling all over and scooping the next big story. But something had changed, and she saw Liam’s face in her mind, the way it had softened just before he leaned forward in the stables after their date.

  But if he wasn’t going to forgive her, she didn’t need a full twenty-four hours to decide. Her decision was made. Now all she needed to do was tell her mother.

  Chapter 28

  After sending Cari off to school, Liam arranged for Tasha to pick her up from school, and he drove to Grand Junction, needing to get out of town. The chance to check on his sister seemed like the perfect opportunity.

  When he walked in, he saw the paleness of her face and heard the beeping of the machines. Her eyes were closed, her chest rising and falling rapidly.

  He took a seat next to the bed, placing his head in his hands as he leaned forward on his knees. Sleep had evaded him the night before as he kept seeing Tawnee and Danielle, the two of them laughing at what he could only assume was him. But toward the end of the nightmare, Danielle’s face would transform into the one she’d given him yesterday, with her brown doe eyes and her mouth pleading for him to understand.

  “What’s got you all tied up in knots?” a hoarse voice asked.

  Liam looked up to see his sister with her eyes only open a slit and a broad grin giving her just a touch of color to her cheeks. He forced a smile and leaned back in the chair. “I just needed to get out of town.”

  Her mouth dipped into a frown with his response, and Liam turned his gaze to the wall. “Liam, you can’t push her away.”

  Frustration rose in his chest and up his throat. “She lied to me, Kara. Not just a little white lie, either. It was a big one.”

  “It couldn’t have been worse than Tawnee’s.” Her pursed lips and raised brows reminded him of getting a lecture from his mother years ago. “Finding out you’re on film for a future reality show is what I’d consider a big one.”

  “She’s the author of those cozy mysteries everyone in town has been reading, MK Malone. We talked about the author and how Danielle could do something similar so she could stay in Sage Creek. The whole time it was her.”

  A weak chuckle came from Kara, and Liam worked to keep the irritation at bay. “If that’s the worst she’s done, I’d say you’re okay, Liam. Think about it. She’s been on billboards and has traveled all over the world for her career. Writing might have been her one thing she could do without receiving a ton of criticism.”

  Biting the side of his lip, Liam tried to think of it from that perspective. It wasn’t like Danielle had been working to be seen through her books. And it seemed like she hadn’t told anyone but her mother. For a woman he’d seen as adventurous who couldn’t be tamed, it almost seemed like she now needed the stability she hadn’t had since leaving Sage Creek.

  Being humiliated in front of people he didn’t know just in Manhattan had been eye-opening for Liam. He’d only been part of the pilot episode when he found out they weren’t just doing it for some contest Tawnee had won. He couldn’t imagine being let go from his career and then having someone he cared about distancing herself after he’d been afraid of a similar criticism. And yet that’s exactly what he’d done.

  Kara reached out, her fingers cold on his forearm. “Go talk to her. From everything I’ve heard, I think she’s the one for you.”

  “Who have you heard things from?” Liam asked, crossing his arms and tipping his chin up in curiosity.

  “My daughter sees all, dear brother.” She smiled and laughed a bit, which turned into a cough.

  Shaking his head, Liam couldn’t help but laugh. “She takes after her mother.” He paused a moment and stood. “How are you?”

  “I’m good. Now go! Don’t let her get away.” She made a slow sweeping motion with her arm, and it looked like she’d used all the energy she had to do it. “Just make sure to bring her here once you tell her how you feel.”

  “Deal.” Liam leaned down and kissed her on the forehead. Leave it to Kara to help him work through his problems when she was lying on a hospital bed.

  Liam had ordered a half-dozen muffins from Mrs. Holloway on his way back, claiming he needed them for a bookstore event. He hoped he’d catch Danielle at home, and from there, at least ten scenarios went through his head.

  The door opened, and Mrs. Holloway greeted him. “Liam, it’s so good to see you this afternoon. Come in, and I’ll get your muffins packaged up.”

  Liam followed her into the kitchen and glanced around, seeing the rows and rows of muffins. “You made all of these?” From the looks of them, there were several different kinds, all waiting on the counter. Along with flavors, there were three varying sizes: mini, regular, and large.

  Mrs. Holloway laughed. “Oh, well, I love to bake. The people of this town seem to like them as well.” She handed him a yellowish one with several small black dots, likely lemon poppyseed.

  Liam took a bite and grinned. “That is the best muffin I’ve ever tasted. You should really open up your own business selling these.”

  She frowned. “How can I do that when I’ve been giving them away for so long?”

  “Believe me. People will pay for this.” Liam pointed to the muffin and stuffed the rest of it into his mouth. After he’d chewed and swallowed, he looked around, trying to hear any other sounds in the house. Finally, he asked, “Is Danielle here? I was hoping to talk to her.”

  Mrs. Holloway grimaced and shook her head. “She left for California about thirty minutes ago with her suitcase packed. I guess the opposing news channel offered her a job after she’d let one of their staff know about the water dumpings.”

&nbs
p; Liam felt like he’d been kicked in the gut several times, wanting to double over from the information. “Did she say anything about yesterday?”

  She turned away, but Liam saw the disappointment on her face. “Just that maybe she wasn’t meant to stay in Sage Creek much longer.”

  Something about that didn’t add up. “What do you mean, ‘Wasn’t meant to stay longer’?”

  The woman turned around slowly, as if she was hiding something. “She’s running.”

  “From what? From me?” Liam’s voice broke on the last word.

  She nodded and swiped with her pointer finger underneath her eye. “I think she loves you, Liam, but she’s scared. Scared that you won’t think she’s enough. I’ve tried to help her over the loss of her father and explain that it wasn’t her fault he left, that he just needed something different. I think that’s been a driving factor in her life until now.”

  Liam licked his lips, feeling the moisture in his mouth disappear. His anxiety was skyrocketing, and he wasn’t sure he’d be able to catch her before it was too late. If she made it to California before he could speak to her, she might close her heart off completely. “Where can I find her?”

  Mrs. Holloway grabbed a piece of paper and scribbled something on it before handing it over to Liam. “That’s the address to her apartment. If she’s not there, she’ll be at Channel 5 News in LA.”

  He wrapped his arms around the woman and hugged her. “Thank you.”

  His insides feeling like he was going up and down on a rollercoaster, he jumped in his Jeep. This was going to be the longest drive of his life.

  Chapter 29

  “What are you doing in here so early, darlin’,” Velda asked, pushing a strawberry milkshake over to Danielle.