“How generous of you.” I gritted my teeth.
“Now, don’t go getting drunk and trying to drive the float. Don’t want you to kill anyone like you did your mom.” He chuckled and slapped me on the back.
He was the worst person on the planet, and I hated that I had to be stuck on a float with him.
TWENTY-THREE
Tyler
“DON’T YOU EVER CHANGE.” I heard Iona’s voice come from the kitchen along with some kissing noises.
“That is super gross. Seriously, I can’t be in the same room as you while you eat that.” Another female voice floated out. It was Cara, Iona’s assistant.
She got here about a week ago and was staying at the Fire Inn on Main Street, but she was always here. She’s nice and all, but I never get alone time with Iona anymore.
“What’s gross?” I asked as I stepped inside.
I decided to take the day off of work—gave Olivia a chance to help with the animals and get some on-the-job training. She’s assisted me for several months, but I think doing it herself would build her confidence.
That and it’s a slow day. In fact, the past two weeks had been slow. Our busiest day was Tuesday with three appointments. One was our regular, Mrs. Fiorello with her Shih-Tzu, Boris. She came in every week with a new worry that her dog had a new ailment.
The other appointments were from a new client who was new to the area and the other was a stray found by animal control. We went from having a line out the door last month to barely having a customer.
And I knew the reason why. It all changed the moment Iona strolled back into town. I loved her but it was hard to get used to the dramatic change she brought with her.
“What’s gross . . . uh, you’re eating that?” I said as I stumbled back and grasped the wall.
Iona sat at the kitchen counter dipping raisins in pickle juice. Maybe this was a prank and it wasn’t actually pickle juice.
“That’s not real.” I walked over and then the smell hit me. The briny scent burned my nostrils and bile crept up my throat.
“Oh, dear Lord, I think I’m going to hurl,” Iona and I both said at the same time.
She jumped from the stool and ran toward the bathroom. Once I heard the sounds of her yakking, I ran to the sink just in time to dry heave. Since I had yet to have breakfast, there was nothing for me to throw up.
“I don’t know how you do it. Are you sure you want to marry her?” Cara said from behind me.
I turned and leaned against the counter with sweat rolling down my brow. “You’re the one who’s been her assistant for the past five years. Is this some new Hollywood diet? If so, there may be an ultimatum. Either the diet goes, or I do.”
“I never heard of this diet before, but new ones crop up weekly. She once tried the all mayo diet. Now, that was disgusting.”
Perhaps marrying a Hollywood actress was more challenging than I had thought. I knew the engagement was fake, but I was reconsidering that idea. Maybe it didn’t have to be fake . . . I loved Iona more each day, and I knew by the end of the month she’d be heading back to the West Coast.
I couldn’t lose her, not again.
“I think I upchucked a small country.” Iona’s voice was hoarse and even with her damp brow and messy hair pulled back in a ponytail, she was beautiful.
In sickness and in health, I’d love this woman until the day I died. That was a promise I made to myself, but I hoped to stand next to her one day and announce it to the world.
“No more diets. Most of them are trash anyway. If you just eat healthy and exercise, then you should have no trouble with your weight. Your body dictates what’s a healthy weight for you, not society,” I said as I moved toward the counter and put the pickle jar away before I dry heaved again.
“But it’s not—”
I waved my hands, effectively cutting her off. “No excuses.” I wrapped her in my arms despite the pickle and bile smell emanating from her hair. “You’re so beautiful and sexy and so much more than just your body. Don’t hurt yourself because others have a sick sense of what’s attractive.”
She was quiet for a moment and began to tremble in my arms. Sometimes it’s hard to hear the truth, but I wanted her to know that I loved her, body and soul. No diet or weight gain or any change to her body would disrupt my heart.
“I’m going to be sick again.” She pushed me so hard I hit the edge of the counter. Then she ran into the bathroom and slammed the door.
“What is that smell?” I heard my brother behind me. Turning, I saw the behemoth cover his nose. “Did something die?”
“Other than the nerve endings in my nose, no. It’s a celebrity diet Iona tried, but I put a stop to it.”
He shook his head but didn’t lower his hand from his nose. “Good luck with that.”
“What’s that supposed to mean? She’s in there throwing up right now. I don’t think she’s going to want to eat that stuff again. I can’t even call it food because what I witnessed was an abomination.”
“It means that you can’t put a stop to what she does, or what any woman does for that matter. You’re my older brother and I’m surprised you haven’t learned that by now.” Jake shook his head and winked at Cara.
She blushed, and I wondered if anything was happening between those two.
“Water. I’d give anyone my next paycheck if you get me a glass of water right now,” Iona said as she rolled her body along the wall.
Cara appeared with the expensive bottle of water and Iona’s trembling hand took it from her.
“Slowly,” I warned moving close to her. “Just a few sips at a time.”
I was disappointed Iona wouldn’t be up for what I had planned for today. I was going to pack a picnic and hike around the mountain so we could take in the changing colors of the leaves. It’s beautiful this time of year and with the cooler weather, it’s perfect for snuggling on a blanket under the sky.
Instead, I was now going to be holding her hair back as she puked the day away.
“Maybe I should take you to the hospital. I don’t want you to get dehydrated.”
She shook her head. “No, I’m fine. Just something I ate.”
“Like pickle juice and raisins?” Cara mumbled while rolling her eyes.
I bit my lower lip to hide my smile. That was the first time I had witnessed Cara be a smart-ass. Maybe she was being polite because she wasn’t in Hollywood but spending the last week with her, I wondered how she survived out there.
But now I saw she had a secret snarky side, and I knew there was a hidden rebel under all that sweetness.
“I’m going to shower away the sick and then lie down. Cancel anything you have planned for me today.”
“Um, we were going to meet with Terrance about filming you and Tyler for your reality series.”
I widened my eyes in surprise. “Wait . . . What reality series?”
I wasn’t serious about the dirty vet series and hadn’t heard a thing from Terrance or anyone from Hollywood.
“Ugh, I forgot about that. Tell Terrance it’s a no go for the series.”
“What series?” I put my hands on my hips and glared at Iona. It was one thing for me to come up with something but another for her to include me in a series I didn’t know anything about.
She bit her lip and fluttered her eyes at me. “Now, don’t be mad . . .”
I clenched my jaw, preparing myself for her explanation.
“I sort of agreed to allow Terrance to film us for a docu-series about a celebrity in a relationship with a non-celebrity.”
“What?”
“It was when we were out on my birthday and you flirted with those women. I was mad.”
“You told me to flirt with them!”
She lifted her arms in the air with a large shrug. “But that didn’t mean you had to do it. I was hurt.”
I never wanted to cause her pain, but Iona being hurt because I flirted with those women only meant one thing—she had feelings for me.
“I did. And I’m sorry. Can you forgive me?” She looked up at me with hair sticking to her cheek. She was adorable, even with the smell coming from her body and her hair in disarray.
“Of course, I forgive you.”
“We also have the mayor’s thing about the float and schedule. Do you want me to cancel that, too?”
“Yes,” I answered for Iona.
I hated that Keaghan Bailey was going to be anywhere near Iona. He was a dickhead growing up and hadn’t changed since. Now that he was mayor, it only amplified his dickishness. Now he could be an asshole and people had to smile and nod while shaking his hand.
I remember how he treated Iona and if I hadn’t been in her life, he would have tried more. There was something I overheard in the boys’ locker room while we were changing for gym class before the end of year dance. He had no idea I heard him gloat to his buddies about what he had planned to do to Iona. I made sure it never happened, but I never told Iona. She had been through enough in her life and didn’t need to be frightened like that.
“I’ll go,” I said.
They all turned their heads to me. Cara and Iona looked surprised, but Jake shook his head and moved toward the refrigerator.
“But Iona is the one who’s on the float and taking part in the festivities,” Cara’s said as her eyes bounced between me and Iona.
“But you’re going,” I pointed out.
“She’s my assistant. She keeps track of my schedule and appearances. Without her, I’d be lost,” Iona said with a sickly smile.
“Really?” Cara whispered, red creeping up her cheeks.
“Yes. I think of you not just as an assistant, but also my friend. I’d do anything for you. Just ask and I’ll make it happen. As long as it doesn’t involve me eating right now. That can’t happen.” She placed a hand on her stomach and grimaced.
“Actually, it’s the mind and body web series I thought up. You brought it up last week in the mayor’s office. I wanted to host the series . . .” Cara seemed to be holding her breath after she spoke.
“I had no idea you wanted to do it. I thought you came up with the idea as something for me to do.”
“What would it be about?” I asked, intrigued by the mention of mind and body.
“It would be a web-only series where I would focus on a different topic each episode. Something with health. Like one episode would be about how we eat.” Cara waved her hand toward the raisins and I shuddered. “I was thinking of interviewing professionals in the field, the average person’s experiences, and with Iona’s help, some celebrities.”
“That sounds amazing. I’d watch it,” Jake said as he cut up some hard-boiled eggs to toss into his breakfast salad.
I watched Iona as some color returned to her face. “That does sound great. I think you’d be the perfect host, Cara. You’re a wonderful listener and it’s easy to open up to you. I could produce it if you want?”
Cara’s smile grew wide and she pulled Iona into a hug.
“Yay, hugs,” Jake said and got in on the action.
“Get off my fiancée.” I pulled his arm back before he could engulf them.
“Does this mean I can meet with the mayor?”
Iona put her hands on her hips after letting go of Cara. “Why would Cara hosting a web series have anything to do with you meeting with the mayor about the parade schedule?”
“You are in a giving mood. You said you’d do anything for Cara. What about me? Would you let me have this one thing? Please, Iona.”
She held up her hand. “I don’t even want to know why you want to meet with him, but if it’s what would make you happy, go with Cara today. But let her do most of the talking. She knows what I want.”
“Oh, don’t worry. I won’t do much talking at all.” I clenched my fist behind my back.
TWENTY-FOUR
Iona
“THIS WASN’T WHAT I had in mind when I said we needed to meet,” Babette said as she sat in the corner of the room at the doctor’s office.
“Blame Tyler. He made me come here,” I said as I once again adjusted the paper gown I was wearing.
I had been throwing up for the last four days. Tyler was worried about me, as was Cara and Jake. And, if I was being honest with myself, so was I.
Jake drove me and Babette here today and he now waited in the waiting room.
I’ve had stomach bugs before, but nothing like this. I was having trouble keeping water down.
“If the doctor can fix this,” she waved her jewel-covered hand at me, “then you should thank him.”
“The doctor?”
“No, your fiancé.”
“Fake fiancé, you mean.”
The corner of her lip twisted. “Whatever you say . . .”
I wasn’t too happy with him right now. He met with the mayor yesterday and punched him, then I had to collect him from the police station. Luckily, Sheriff Heart was fond of Tyler. He mentioned in our meeting, before he let Tyler go, that he saw him as a lost puppy.
The sheriff asked if I would meet him for some questions later and I agreed. I just hope it wasn’t about Tyler.
Garrison knew what an asshole the mayor was and didn’t lock Tyler up. But the mayor threatened a lawsuit, which was why I had to reach out to Babette.
I played with Tyler’s grandmother’s ring on my finger. He was doing a great job as my fiancé, except for punching the mayor.
The way he looked at me and the sweet things he’d say to me made my heart ache in a way it never had. And when I thought about the end of the month and heading back to the West Coast, the ache grew painful.
I didn’t want to leave.
“Once I play my part at the apple festival, I can start packing. Cara’s done a great job mentioning all my involvement in town on my social media pages. She said my following has gone up quite a bit. That’s a good sign, right?”
Babette nodded but sighed.
“What?”
“It’s just this stupid rumor about Tyler killing animals. It won’t seem to die. Has he noticed anything different with people reacting to him?”
Pretty much everything, since I showed up, has been different for him. I knew Tyler liked the simple life and mine was anything but.
That’s why when he professed his love, I thought it was some ploy to get rid of me. Why would a hot guy like him—who only wanted peace and quiet in his life—fall for a train wreck like me?
I was a mess and the opposite of quiet.
“He did mention that the office had been slow over the past few weeks.”
“I’m going to look into it. When I researched him, he was the perfect candidate for your fiancé. Something isn’t right.”
“You researched him? When?”
Babette was thorough so it shouldn’t surprise me that she found out everything she could on Tyler, but I felt protective of him for some reason. I never wanted the Hollywood crazy to touch him but with me in his life, I suppose that was impossible.
“When I was looking up your hometown before I bought your old house. Magic Mike mentioned you having a comeback to help your career.”
“You discussed this with your masseuse?”
She sighed and nodded. “He overheard me on the phone with the producers about the film shutting down. I was distraught. He was trying to help. At least, I thought he was.”
“Do you normally discuss work with your masseuse?”
“I got sloppy, okay, I.D? I’m not perfect. I let some sexy abs and magic fingers blind me to the truth. Anyway, the idea of going back to their roots for celebrities to heal is so played out, but there’s a reason for that—it works. The public falls for it every time. And, falling for your old flame in the process is a double-whammy.” She nodded. “He was right about that. I knew you’d win the hearts of the public. And if the public loved you, then producers and directors would soon follow.”
“Um, I’m confused. Did you look up all the people I used to know in Fire Lake before you bou
ght the house or did he look them up?”
“I did. But only a few but I mostly researched Tyler.” She refused to look at me as she tapped on her folding phone.
I sat there for a moment as pieces of Babette’s puzzle slowly fell into place.
“Did you know he bought that house? Is that why you purchased it?”
If that were true, she could be arrested, along with the agent and former owner. That was illegal and Tyler told me the sheriff was working on the case.
Now the sheriff wanted to meet with me. I hoped it wasn’t to ask questions about Babette.
“I’m the best agent, Iona. Remember, I know what people want before they do.”
Something icy coursed through my veins. She never called me Iona. I swallowed with fear at what might be her answer to my next question.
“Did you even buy that house?”
“Ms. I.D., sorry for the delay. We had a backup with the test results. It seems everyone decided today was the day to get a pregnancy test.” The doctor walked in and laughed. Her four-inch heels clicked on the floor as she moved toward the small built-in desk.
“Pregnancy? I came here because I have the stomach flu.”
She sat on the small black rolling stool and waved her hand at me. “It’s standard procedure. A woman comes in complaining of throwing up, she gets tested for pregnancy. It’s normal.”
Both Babette and I let out a breath. That was a relief. While I knew Tyler would make a wonderful father one day, I was sure he wouldn’t want a baby in his life so soon. Sure, he was old enough, but the man just bought a house.
Besides, back in high school, he would rant about how his parents should never have been parents. How he wouldn’t make that same mistake.
When I mentioned the miscarriage, he never brought it up again. He must have been relieved that we didn’t have a kid together.
“Imagine me being a mom.” I snorted.
“Yeah, even I’m not that good of an agent to spin that one.” Babette joined in the laughter.
“Well, this is awkward . . .” The doctor bit her red-painted lip as she swiveled toward me on the stool.
Living Hell (Lost and Found Book 2) Page 15