Real Thing

by Scott, Lisa

  The Real Thing

  By

  Lisa Scott

  Smashwords Edition

  Copyright © 2015

  Lisa Scott Macdonough

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or any information storage and retrieval system, without prior written permission of the Author. Your support of author’s rights is appreciated.

  All characters in this short story are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

  Table of Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  From Lisa Scott, the Author

  The Real Thing

  Chapter 1

  The bells jangled on Tonya Garcia’s salon door well before her opening time. Grinning, she emerged from the small kitchen holding two cups of coffee. Soft light streamed in between the slats on the blinds while the clock on her wall tick-tocked. Her heart seemed to be thudding in time with it. Maybe just as loudly, too.

  A silhouette appeared in her door.

  “Coffee?” she offered, the mugs warm in her hands.

  “Later.” Tommy walked towards her, already wearing his uniform.

  Always a cop, she thought. Setting down the cups, she let him take her in his arms. “This is twice in a month.” She looped her arms around his neck.

  His soft, full lips brushed across hers. “Didn’t know we were keeping track.”

  “Didn’t know we’d be doing this quite so often,” she said. “People might start thinking we’re dating again.”

  “Everyone knows I’m just getting a trim before my shift.”

  Tonya snorted. “So that’s what we’re calling it. I thought it was ‘Exes with benefits.’”

  “Let’s quit the chit chat and go review those benefits.” He walked her towards the stairs that led to her apartment over the shop. Tonya’s dog, Chewie, let out a few yelps from the floor above them.

  She steered Tommy toward the sitting room. “The couch in here will be fine. Anyone sees you come down the stairs, we’re done.” Tonya had already spread a blanket over the couch in the room that was a changing area when needed, cooling off area when dealing with snippy clients, and lately, make-shift love nest.

  “You know I work better when I’ve got a lot of room,” he said.

  She laughed. “A bed’s a luxury for a legitimate couple. We seem to do just fine in here.” Her heart ached, remembering what this man could do with a lot of room. But they weren’t together anymore, and keeping him out of her bedroom was a good way to keep him out of her heart, too. As much as she longed for him, Tommy wasn’t meant to be her man. He was her boy toy. Yeah, she’d become ‘that’ woman.

  She fell back onto the couch, pulling him down so he was straddling her. She propped herself up with both arms and kissed him, trying to push back the memories that always rushed in when they were together. He hadn’t shaved yet, and the soft scruff of his whiskers brushed against her skin as he nipped at her lips. She rubbed her thumb across the stubble.

  He unbuttoned her shirt—the one she’d put on for the sole purpose of having him remove it. She’d considered making an appearance nude under her robe. But having him undress her was a treat. His big, strong fingers always felt soft and gentle on her skin. It always brought on a round of shivers. That never happened with any other man. Maybe Tommy just had the touch.

  Tommy’s fingers grazed her belly as he slowly took off her shirt. She swallowed a moan. Tonya didn’t want him to know how much she enjoyed their rendezvous. They’d both agreed this was going to be a fun-and-done kind of thing.

  After slipping off her top, he swiftly removed her bra and smoothed his big hand over one breast. This time she couldn’t hold back the moan. As Tommy bent to kiss her he slid a hand over her ribs, then across her belly until it settled on her hip. He squeezed her soft flesh.

  “Someone should write a song about your curves,” he said.

  Hopefully, he didn’t notice her goosebumps.

  Her fingers fumbled over the smooth metal of his belt buckle, until he came to the rescue and undid it himself. Quickly, he slid off his pants and boxers.

  He kissed her again, twining a hand through the long, dark curls on her head. “Most beautiful hair I’ve ever seen on a woman.” He grabbed a handful of it and pulled her head back, then ran his tongue along her neck.

  Yowza, she thought. She curled her legs around his, pressing her pelvis against him. She shouldn’t be in such a rush; who knew when he’d show up again for another round?

  But Tommy wasn’t swayed by her persistence. He pulled away from her, inching his way down her body, taking his time kissing and fondling every bit of her until she whispered, “Please.”

  He looked up from the toe he was nibbling and raised an eyebrow. “Well, since you asked so nicely.” Then he slid his body along hers as she whimpered, and slowly, but powerfully, he entered her.

  She tried to swallow but couldn’t, and her mouth hung open slack-jawed, eyes rolled back. She dug her nails into his shoulders and shivered.

  He braced himself against the couch, moving with her in strong, smooth motions. Her heart felt caught in her throat, like it did every time she was with this man.

  Just when she thought she could take no more, a flood of ecstasy pulsed through her, and he responded likewise. He collapsed on top of her, rolled to the side, and pulled her into his arms. He squeezed tight, saying nothing. She always felt so warm and protected when he held her tight. If she closed her eyes, she could pretend they were still a couple, even though that ended years ago Moments like this tricked her into thinking they could be something more than exes with benefits.

  “You sure you’re still okay with this arrangement?” Tommy asked.

  She snuggled up in his embrace. “We get all the good stuff from the relationship and none of the hassle. We’re no good as a couple.” Her heart couldn’t take a ride on that emotional roller-coaster again.

  He paused. “You let me know when this isn’t working for you anymore, okay?”

  And risk losing this? No thanks. “It’s fine with me.” Tommy said nothing, then sat up. “I’d better get to the station.”

  “Hey, before you go, could you check out the faucet in the kitchen? It’s still dripping and the landlord has been promising for weeks to fix it. I wish I could buy this building and do a complete renovation.” Where that money would come from was the mystery of the day. Still, it was fun to dream.

  “I’ll take a peek, but I don’t have my tools. You probably need a new washer. I’ll bring my stuff next time and get it done for you.” He dressed, then kissed her once more before leaving the room.

  “I’ll be right out,” she called after him. She wanted a minute to scold herself and fix her lipstick. She stared into the mirror. “You should call this off,” she whispered. But I still want him. It was a stupid argument she often had with herself. Since they’d tried the relationship thing before and failed big time, what was the point in trying again?

  The bells on her shop’s door jangled. She thought it was Tommy leaving until she heard the unmistakable voice of Marge Harper, one of Willowdale’s gossip queens.

  “You’re here awful early, Chief,” Marge said.

  Tommy frowned. “So are you. I was getting a trim.”

&
nbsp; Luckily, the sitting area had a door connecting to the kitchen, so Tonya scooted out that way in case Marge had seen Tommy leaving the sitting room.

  Marge was all done up in the full makeup she always wore, sporting a sharp looking pink pantsuit. She waggled her fingers at Tonya. “Morning.”

  “Yes, it is.” As Tonya strolled out into the salon, the bells on the front door jangled again. She swore to herself. Don’t people around here sleep?

  Her friend Kate and Kate’s husband, Teague, waltzed in wearing smiles way too forced and wide to be hiding anything but bad news. “Looks like everybody’s getting an early start on the day,” Kate said, glancing around the room.

  Tonya wouldn’t meet her best friend’s gaze. She hadn’t told Kate yet about her hookups with Tommy. It’d been going on for three months now, and she liked to tell herself she was going to call it off soon. So why confess everything to Kate when it could end any day? Besides, Kate used to date Tommy. It was one of the reasons Tonya broke things off with Tommy four years ago. Calling out another woman’s name in bed tended to put the brakes on things. Tommy swore it was a mistake, but then he proposed to Kate a year later. Kate turned him down, but Tonya didn’t give second chances and refused to be someone’s condolence prize. Now-and-again sex was a different matter. At least the three of them remained friends through everything. Then again, there’s no room for grudges in a small town.

  Tonya turned to Marge. “This is quite early for you. What can I do for you?”

  Marge sighed. “My cousin in Raleigh died, so I need an emergency perm for the funeral. Gotta look my best. Her husband’s a hunk, and he’ll be back on the market soon enough. Thought I’d be waking you, but guess Chief Larsen was already here getting a trim.” Her big blue eyes twinkled.

  Tonya noticed Kate checking out the cutting chair that was still covered with a plastic tarp. Kate was doing her best to hide a smirk. “I’ve spotted your car here early a few times, Chief. Didn’t know you had such a meticulous beauty routine.”

  Tommy rubbed a hand over his flat top. Their deception ran so deep he’d even changed his hairstyle to explain away their early morning meetings. Occasionally, he did get a trim when they were finished with their other business. “A buzz cut needs to be tidied up often. Especially when you’re a man in my position.”

  “Get yourself a wife and a razor and she can do that for you every night,” Marge said. “In any position you want.”

  “Now there’s an idea,” Kate said.

  Tommy’s eyebrows shot up. “Think I heard something on the scanner in my cruiser. Gotta go.” He hustled out the door.

  Tonya stared at the floor to hide her hot cheeks. She faked a cough. “Marge, take a seat and we’ll get you fixed up.” She turned to Kate and Teague. “And what can I do for you two? His and her highlights? Matching perms? An agonizing wax job?”

  “One thing’s for sure, you’re not giving Teague a…” Kate made air quotes, “trim.”

  Dang. Now Tonya was going to have to tell Kate about this sex-only relationship. But later. Not in front of everyone. “So what’s up?” There was no way Teague and Kate were there for new ‘dos. Tonya had done Kate’s hair a week ago, and Teague was a movie star who moved to Willowdale after marrying Kate. He had teams of people tending to his hair—probably one for each precious strand. There was no need for Tonya to give him a trim.

  “Hear me out before you turn it down,” Kate said.

  Tonya slipped her apron on over her head. “No blind dates.” Lessons had been learned after their friend Jeanne went out with a different disappointing man each month before she ended up with her best friend Brad.

  “It’s not about dating,” Kate said.

  “Really?” Tonya asked, settling Marge into her seat.

  “Uh, yes it is,” Teague said.

  Kate flashed him a look and he snapped his head away, whistling softly.

  “You better not have set up an online dating profile for me,” Tonya said, rolling Marge’s hair onto the perm rods. Now that her two best friends were both happily married, they spent all their energy fretting over her love life. But Tonya was secretly fretting, too. She wanted it all—a house, a husband, kids. She wanted the life she didn’t have growing up with her nonna and cousin in Brooklyn. Now she worried she wouldn’t find a happily-ever-after-for herself in Willowdale. No one was willing to date the police chief’s ex—not that there were too many contenders in town. No, her happily-ever-after might not happen here after all. She hated the idea of moving and starting all over again, but ending up alone would be worse.

  “Just listen,” Kate said.

  “Why don’t I save you the trouble and say no right now?” Tonya asked.

  “Because this could be a great opportunity for you.” Teague flashed his sexiest smirk.

  Tonya planted a fist on her hip. “Let’s hear it.”

  Kate took a deep breath and tucked her silky blond hair behind her ears. “Teague is hosting a new reality dating show that they’re going to film right here in Willowdale. You could be a contestant—”

  Tonya held up a hand, cutting off Kate. “I don’t want to be on a dating show. You can’t find love by looking for it. Love finds you.”

  Kate groaned. “That’s on one of your bumper stickers, isn’t it?”

  Tonya spent much of her free time creating bumper stickers and buttons she sold on the side—mostly to friends who didn’t like to see her discouraged. “It should be.”

  “You’d be on TV. It’d be great for your shop. And you could date movie stars,” Kate said. “Maybe you’d even fall in love.”

  Marge’s head popped up. “Movie stars? I like movie stars.”

  “I’m a movie star,” Teague offered.

  Marge waved him off. “Bah. You’re one of us now.”

  Teague crossed his arms and scowled. Kate gave him a peck on the cheek. “It’s an honor, honey.” She turned back to Tonya. “We told the producer about you and he was real interested. It’s the opportunity of a lifetime.”

  “It sounds like the hassle of a lifetime,” Tonya grumbled.

  Teague stuck his thumb over his shoulder. “The producer’s outside. Can I bring him in to explain this better?”

  “You can bring him in so I can turn him down myself. Just so there’s no miscommunication when Kate delivers the message,” Tonya said. “Remember the time I said no when you two tried setting me up with Teague’s stunt double?”

  “It was in your best interest for us to arrange it anyway. Plus, he was cute.”

  “It was weird. And he jumped out of my speeding car on the way home,” Tonya said.

  “I think he was trying to impress you,” Kate said. “It’s a good story, anyway.”

  “Be right back,” Teague said, ducking outside.

  “Come on.” Kate clasped her hands in front of her. “Jeanne and Brad are going to provide catering for the crew each day. They’re over the moon. This is exciting. I don’t know why you wouldn’t want to be part of it.”

  Teague returned with a man almost as handsome as he was. He had dark wavy hair pulled back into a short ponytail and eyes so blue they had to be tinted contacts. Tinted contacts on a guy? How vain. Now there was something she’d have to add to her ‘I’ll never date a guy who…’ list. How had she missed that one?

  The man’s leather boots clunked the wooden floor as he walked toward her, his cologne reaching her first. He held out his hand. “Vinny DiMarco. Lead producer on Small Town, Big Love.”

  His New York accent was like hers—just a wisp of it left, nicking a word or two. She’d happily left city life behind after throwing a dart at a map to pick her new start. Willowdale seemed like a better option than the middle of the Atlantic, where one of the other darts had landed. “Small Town, Big Love? That’s the name of the show? Have you considered, ‘Dumb show, stupid idea?’”

  He rubbed his chin. “Not as catchy. Sounds like you haven’t been properly schmoozed. Did you hear our pitch line—any
one can find love, anywhere?” He looked impressed with himself.

  Tonya squirted the perm solution over Marge’s head, wincing at the sharp odor of the chemicals even after all these years of doing hair. “I’m a busy lady with a shop to run. No time for something like that.”

  “You could work while we shoot. That’ll keep things interesting.” He walked around her shop, eyeing the place, and she wondered what he was thinking. It wasn’t a sleek, modern salon. But it was nicer than you might expect in a town with twelve-hundred-something people. She’d added plenty of her own personal touches. Tonya loved her salon because it was hers. No chair rental nonsense, no fighting over clients. Plus the rent was reasonable. But it sure would be nice if the building were all hers. Maybe some day.

  Vinny paused in front of the rack of bumper stickers and plucked one from the collection. “‘Never trust your heart to one person,’” he read. “You believe that?”

  “I’ve learned it firsthand.” Tonya looked down. “More than once.” She had deep ruts left in her heart from her exes. Tommy especially. And hooking up with him now—no commitment required—was fun, but foolish. If she didn’t want him, what did she want? She paused, thinking about it. She wanted someone to chase her. To be head over heels in love with her. For now, she’d have to settle for what she got from Tommy.

  Vinny put the bumper sticker back in its slot in the wire carousel and spun it around. “Maybe this will get you more interested in the show—there’s a big cash prize if you win.”

  “How do you win a dating show?” Tonya asked.

  “We’ve got six stars coming in from Hollywood as contestants, and we’ll choose six contestants from Willowdale. Contestants can date whomever they want in town—or each other. At the end of six weeks, viewers vote on the couple they think found the real thing. And that couple wins one hundred thousand dollars to split or to start their new life together.”