Second Act

by Herkness, Nancy

  A technician came in to wire them for sound. Quentin took control of Jessica’s tiny mic, pulling medical tape out of his kit and telling her to tape it in her cleavage so no bulge would show under her blouse.

  “Let me know if you need help with that,” Hugh said with a sideways smile while the technician clipped a mic under his jacket’s lapel.

  “Ha! You have it easy,” Jessica said while Quentin ran the wire around her waist to the transmitter pack he had stuck in her waistband. “Next time I’m wearing a blazer, too.”

  Now as they walked down the hall, she focused on the strength of Hugh’s hand around hers and the knowledge that he would step into any lull in the interview. But what really reassured her was that he genuinely didn’t care what anyone else thought of her. He’d convinced her of that last night.

  It was quite a change from the last public appearance she’d made with him.

  The assistant led them past a forest of lights, cameras, and equipment whose purpose she had no idea of before they stepped into the brilliantly lit stage set.

  Sherri stood up and air-kissed Hugh. “Thanks for giving me the first interview. I appreciate that.” The talk show hostess was tiny, although her hot-pink sheath dress and heels that outdid Jessica’s for height made her attention grabbing. Her hair was braided into fascinating patterns that swirled over her scalp.

  “It’s always a pleasure to be on your show,” Hugh said, his smile so dazzling that Sherri actually blinked before she turned to Jessica.

  “So nice to meet Hugh’s new girlfriend,” the hostess said with air-kisses in Jessica’s direction. “I understand you have some interesting history.”

  “Not so interesting, really,” Jessica said, answering Sherri’s smile. “We just needed some time to figure ourselves out.”

  Someone called out, “Thirty seconds.”

  “Make yourselves comfortable,” Sherri said, gesturing toward the plush gray sofa opposite her as she seated herself. “Sound check.”

  Hugh said, “Test, test,” and nodded to Jessica to do the same as they settled onto the couch. She remembered to slant her legs to the side and cross her ankles, per Quentin’s suggestion.

  “All good,” a disembodied voice said from the darkness beyond the set.

  The countdown began, and Jessica felt her nerves tighten. She squeezed Hugh’s hand to remind herself that she wasn’t in this alone, but the thought of making a fool of herself—and by association, him—on national television made her heartbeat accelerate in an unpleasant way. When Hugh rubbed his thumb over the back of her hand, small curls of warmth eased her tension slightly.

  Then Sherri greeted them all over again, which reminded Jessica to focus on their hostess and not worry about the gazillions of faces gazing at them on screens across the country. Sherri lobbed simple questions at Hugh, easing them into the interview.

  Then she shifted to Jessica. “You’re a veterinarian in South Harlem. I understand that your profession is what initially brought you into contact with Hugh. Will you share the story of your first meeting?”

  Hugh had anticipated this question, so he and Jessica had rehearsed the story the night before, although it had quickly degenerated into a wildly embellished version as she and Hugh tried to one-up each other on the details. The memory of their laughter made Jessica relax a bit as she launched into the official version, ending with Hugh’s proposal.

  “So romantic,” Sherri said. “But the engagement obviously ended. What happened?”

  This was another question they’d known would come up, but Hugh spoke before she could. “I was an idiot.” Which was not the response they’d rehearsed. Jessica stopped watching Sherri and turned to Hugh. “I thought my career was more important than hers just because it got more attention. But she was saving the lives of animals every day while I was just reciting lines.” He angled his head toward Jessica so he spoke directly to her. “And it’s still true. There’s no comparison.”

  He’d gone off script, and she was lost in the depths of his blue eyes. He lifted her hand to brush his lips over the back of it, and Sherri sighed audibly. Then Hugh turned to the hostess. “Lucky for me, Jess believes in second chances, so I persuaded her to give me one. I don’t intend to screw it up this time.”

  Even as his words sent joy zinging through her heart, she caught a flutter of movement from Sherri. “Oh my God, if Hugh Baker said that to me, I would be a puddle on the floor,” the hostess said, her hands pressed dramatically to her chest.

  Which made Jessica question how much of what Hugh said was meant for the cameras and how much was true. She hated herself for her sudden skepticism, but the ugly little doubt dampened her happiness enough to allow her to say with a naughty smile, “Sometimes it’s hard to stay upright around Hugh.”

  “Ooh, a little double entendre,” Sherri cooed. “I like this woman.”

  Hugh chuckled and gave Jessica a peck on the cheek before turning the conversation to her work. Sherri gave her all the right cues, and Jessica found herself waxing more passionate than she meant to about her clinic and the K-9 Angelz.

  “My foundation has plans to replicate the K-9 Angelz in other locations,” Hugh said. “It’s an incredible program for the kids—and the dogs.”

  After that, Sherri finished up the interview before they went to a commercial break. Once again, she stood. “That was tremendous. The ratings will be through the roof.”

  Jessica let Hugh pull her up with him, using his grip to help her balance on the unaccustomed heels. Her knees felt a little shaky, too, as the anxiety-induced adrenaline began to drain away.

  “You’re a brilliant interviewer,” Hugh said. “Always eliciting the best from your guests.”

  The hostess preened under Hugh’s charm. “Come back soon.”

  And then they were being ushered off the set, passing the next guest in the hallway.

  In the dressing room, Jessica threw herself into the makeup chair, her legs sprawled, her arms draped over the chair’s sides. “That was utterly terrifying.”

  Hugh looked startled. “You handled it like a pro. Not a moment’s hesitation or a wrong note. I thought you were fine with it.”

  “If you hadn’t made us rehearse all that stuff last night, I would have just opened and closed my mouth like a fish out of water.”

  Quentin and the technician appeared at the same time. “You were fantastic,” Quentin said, helping with the wire after Jessica peeled the tape gently off her skin. “A natural.” He winked at her. “And Hugh was okay, too.”

  “Well, I know I looked all right, thanks to you.” Jessica stood to hug Quentin. “I guess I need to give you the blouse and accessories back.”

  “No, the designer wants you to keep them. Just mention her name every now and then.”

  Jessica looked at Hugh, who’d been watching their banter with an indulgent eye. He shrugged. “Happens all the time. If you like them, take them home. Trust me, it’s great publicity for the designer.”

  It felt odd to accept expensive clothing from a total stranger, especially when she was supposed to become a walking advertisement. Jessica flexed one foot out in front of her. “I can’t imagine ever wearing these shoes again. They’re just too high.”

  “Decide when you get home and let me know,” Quentin said, closing up his makeup box. “I’ve got to dash.”

  He shut the door, leaving Hugh and Jessica alone.

  “Was it that awful?” Hugh asked, worry putting a crease between his eyebrows.

  “I was exaggerating for effect,” she said, reaching up to smooth the furrow out. “What you said about why we broke up was really sweet. Did you mean it?”

  Now anger made the blue of his eyes scorching. “Of course I meant it. I said it in front of millions of people.”

  “Well, that’s why I wondered.”

  “Wait, you thought I said it because there were millions of viewers? That I was playing to the audience?” He raked his fingers through his hair as he looked away.
“And here I thought that if I made such a public declaration you would believe me, and trust the truth of it.”

  The pain in his voice jabbed at Jessica. “I’m sorry, but this celebrity thing is new to me. I don’t really know how it works.”

  She watched his chest expand as he took a deep breath. “I will never pretend anything with you, Jess, no matter how many or how few people are watching.” He took her hands. “Every word out of my mouth was real. Do you believe that now?”

  “Yes.” She nodded as the joy bubbled up again, drowning all her creeping suspicions. “And I’m going to play the recording of that interview over and over again, just to hear you say it.”

  He smiled, but there was still hurt in his eyes.

  Chapter 20

  “That’s a wrap!” Bryan shouted.

  Relief surged through Hugh, but he fought the instinct to instantly roll away from Meryl and leap out of the bed. The actress had done her job in their love scene admirably, not to mention the fact that she was naked from the waist up. So he carefully extricated himself from their clinch and sat up, making sure to tuck the sheet around her to preserve any modesty she might have left after a dozen people had watched her strip and simulate sex with him. At least in Julian Best movies they kept the covers carefully draped over the more intimate parts of their bodies.

  “Great work,” he said with a smile.

  “You inspired me, babe,” she purred before tossing the sheet back and standing to take her robe from an assistant without any indication of embarrassment. She gave him a hot look. “It’s not exactly painful to be pressed up against Hugh Baker.”

  He laughed, but he couldn’t return the compliment. He didn’t usually have a problem with love scenes, but the crush of her breasts against his chest had made him uncomfortable. He knew exactly why.

  By a fluke of scheduling, he now had a four-hour break. After the intensity of this scene, he needed a completely different outlet, and Jess’s living room walls sprang to mind. He hadn’t lied to Gavin when he said he wanted to offer her something real, not something from his world of pretense. Fixing her wall made him feel grounded, in the same way Jess made him feel grounded. He belted on his robe and headed for the dressing room.

  Forty-five minutes later, Aidan opened Jess’s front door for him, the vinegary fumes of wallpaper solvent wafting out around him. “Good thing you texted. I was about to go out to grab lunch. By the way, why don’t you get a key from my sister?” He grinned. “After all, the whole world knows you’re together now.” He stuck his head out the door and glanced around. “Notice the lack of lurking paparazzi.”

  Hugh stepped past Aidan into the front hall. “They weren’t waiting for Jess this morning?”

  “She didn’t ask me to help her get through them, so I guess not.” Aidan looked sheepish. “I slept late.”

  Hugh had asked her to text him if she had a problem and she hadn’t, so he decided to let it go. “Let’s get started. I’ve only got a couple of hours free.”

  Once he’d gotten set up, he fell into the rhythm of scoring, wetting, and carefully scraping the many layers of wallpaper from the plaster, letting the complications of his life fall away. The only thing better would have been Jess’s company, but she was hard at work.

  “I’m glad you came,” Aidan said from his section of wall. He’d scarfed down a peanut-butter-and-jelly sandwich while Hugh started his task. “I’ve got a job interview tomorrow. I think I have a good chance at getting the position, so I may not have as much time to work on this.”

  Hugh could hire someone who would repair the walls faster and better than either of them, but he wasn’t going to mention that. Jess might have something to say about the idea, anyway. “You promised your sister you’d finish the living room.”

  “I will.” Aidan’s tone was defensive. “It just might take longer.”

  Hugh had made his point. “What kind of company is it?”

  “It’s way cool. They deal with data exhaust.”

  Hugh laughed. “What the hell is that?”

  Aidan went into a long, technical explanation that allowed Hugh to concentrate on peeling off the wallpaper as the jargon washed over him.

  “I was afraid that Jessica getting together with you might be a problem, but Pete’s cool.”

  Hugh’s attention was jerked away from his task. “Why would Jessica’s and my relationship cause problems for your interview?”

  “I told you,” Aidan said, letting a strip of wallpaper fall onto the drop cloth. “She was dating Pete Larson, who’s kind of a big cheese in the company, until you came back into the picture. But he assured me it wouldn’t affect my chances of getting the job.”

  Hugh didn’t really care about Aidan’s chances of landing the position right now. “Pete sounds like a stand-up guy.” He yanked at the corner of wallpaper and cursed when a chunk of plaster came off with it. Stopping, he took a deep breath.

  Aidan dipped his roller into the solvent and continued. “That’s why I introduced them. He’s from our hometown in Iowa and he’s done real well for himself, just like Jess. I figured they’d have a lot in common.”

  Hugh didn’t like the idea of a man who had grown up with the same people Jess had, who could probably reminisce about the same teachers in school, who knew the street names from her childhood. Even worse, who had followed a similar trajectory out of Iowa and into the big city. A man who would fit into Jess’s life seamlessly, without any unwanted disruptions like Hugh would create.

  Hugh forced himself to peel off another corner of wallpaper and tried to be subtle in his quest to find out more about his competitor. “You wouldn’t find it awkward to work with a man who might be unhappy with your sister?”

  Aidan shrugged. “They didn’t date that long, so it’s not like he’s brokenhearted.”

  Hugh’s tense neck muscles unclenched slightly at that piece of information.

  “Besides, I would be working in a totally different area from Pete’s. He’s the CFO, and I’m tech.”

  A CFO. Pete was indeed a big cheese. Hugh rubbed at the back of his neck as it tightened again.

  “I mean, she didn’t even bother to tell you about Pete, right?” Aidan continued. “So it obviously wasn’t a big deal. You know Jess. She’s all about integrity and honesty and honor.”

  Hugh knew that, but he wished Aidan had kept his nose out of Jess’s love life. And he didn’t like Aidan’s flippant tone when referring to his sister. “Those are rare qualities. They’re part of what makes Jess such an extraordinary person.”

  The young man flushed. “Hey, I know. She’s my sister. It’s just that sometimes her standards are hard to live up to.”

  That was one of the many things Hugh loved about her. “You’re fortunate to have a sister who cares about you so much that she offers you standards.”

  “Don’t get me wrong, Jess is great,” Aidan said. “She’s always been really good to me, too. So I want to get this job to be worthy of her.”

  Aidan’s lofty sentiments were conveniently in line with his own self-interest, but Hugh quashed his cynical response. The kid was a solid person. He just had some more growing up to do.

  “She was pretty awesome in that TV interview with you.” Aidan clearly wanted to change the focus of the conversation. “I told her how great she looked, but she said it was all because of the stylist. You know my sister—she’d rather wear scrubs than some designer gown any day.” Aidan looked over again. “Is that piece of paper not coming off?”

  Hugh looked at the dangling green-and-orange-swirled paper with the attached chunk of plaster that he wanted to bash Pete on the side of the head with, or maybe ram down his throat. “I need to put more solvent on, that’s all.”

  “Here you go.” Aidan handed him the roller. “You know, I’m glad Jess gave you a second chance. I mean, how many movie stars would strip their girlfriend’s wallpaper?” Aidan stopped with a grimace. “Ugh, that sounds wrong.”

  Hugh ran the roll
er over the wall with more pressure than necessary and passed it back to Aidan, trying to banish the vision of a strapping Iowan farmer turned CFO with his muscular arms wrapped around Jess. “I’m glad to have your seal of approval.”

  “Jess needs someone like you, someone who can bring a little excitement into her life. She’s gotten kind of, I dunno, too serious.”

  Hugh thought of the late-night trip to the clinic to resuture Zora’s ripped-out stitches. “She’s got more excitement than she really needs at work.”

  “Not all that blood and guts. The glamorous kind. Look how she did in the interview. It turns out she’s a pretty great actress when she tries.”

  “She was spectacular, but it was because she relaxed and was herself.” When Hugh had watched the show later in the hotel suite, just to see the effect, Jessica’s genuineness and passion had radiated right through the camera lens.

  “Ha! She fooled you, too,” Aidan said as he eased a section of paper off the wall. “She was terrified about being on national television, but she didn’t let it show at all.”

  “It’s always hard the first time, but you get used to it.” Hugh cringed inwardly at being the cause of such anxiety for Jess.

  “Oh, I don’t think she’ll do it again. She kept saying it was just this once to keep the paps away from her patients.” Aidan threw Hugh a look. “And for you. I think that’s really why she was so afraid she’d screw it up. She didn’t want to reflect badly on you.”

  Hugh knew enough to give up the painstaking task of separating the paper from the plaster. He stood with his hands shoved in his pockets, staring at the half-peeled strip. “I told her nothing she could do would bother me.”

  Aidan snorted. “She doesn’t believe in failing. She gives everything she does everything she’s got every single time.” He glanced at Hugh. “You should know that.”

  He did. He just didn’t want it to apply to something as inconsequential as a television talk show interview. To him, it was a mild irritation to be suffered and forgotten. To Jess, it was an alien, terrifying experience—and he’d forced her to go through it. Even worse, she’d twisted herself into knots just for him.