The Love Potion Groom

by Taylor Hart

  Kevin, of course, had doused her with All My Heart before he’d dropped her off at the airport and told her to ‘get her man back.’

  When the car stopped, she saw lots of cameras flashing and people dressed beautifully getting out of limousines along with one person she never thought she would run into tonight.

  B.C.’s mother.

  A guy wearing a tux reached out and opened the door for her. “Hello there, you must be Kira.”

  The guy was one of those overly polished types. His hair slicked back a bit too much, his shoes a little too polished.

  She took his hand and got out.

  The guy put on, what she immediately knew, was a fake smile. “I’m Jake, B.C.’s agent.”

  Her heart rate kicked up a notch. “H-hello.” Where was B.C.? She tried to look for him but couldn’t see him.

  His mother gave her a fake smile and moved to her, looping her arm with hers. “Jake called me and told me you were coming. Naturally, he thought I would want to be in on this surprise for B.C.”

  Uncertainty pulsed through her and a heavy scent fell upon her, like the kind one would smell when walking through the perfume part of a grocery store, after teenagers had been messing around. She coughed.

  Suddenly, she was being taken, pulled onto the red carpet by B.C.’s mother. She put on a phony smile and posed for the cameras. “It’s a whole new world here,” she whispered to Kira through her fake smile. “I don’t know if you would fit in here, princess.”

  Trying to smile and do what B.C.’s mother was doing, she felt like she had bricks for feet. “Where’s B.C.?” She asked, looking desperately for him.

  His mother continued to yank on her arm. “Oh, he’s inside. Come with me.”

  As they got closer to the entrance of the premier, there were more people and they started getting closer to her, pressing in on her and asking all kinds of questions.

  B.C.’s mother would bat them away dramatically. “Leave room for my baby’s girl please.”

  Tacky.

  That’s what this whole show was to Kira and she could not wait to find B.C.

  When they finally got through the door, B.C.’s mother was closer to her, keeping her in some kind of vice grip.

  “Oh, look there’s B.C. with … the star from the movie, doesn’t Sheena look amazing!” She said like some teenager.

  Sheena, his co-star, was draped around him, like some fur coat.

  She stopped. It felt like she had taken a punch to her gut. All the air left her.

  There he was on stage, quite a distance away from her. Kira felt ill and wondered what the heck she was doing here. B.C.’s mother laughed and kept pulling her down the red carpet, on their way to him.

  Practicing slow breathing, Kira told herself she could last until she got to him. She could. She had to.

  Everything happened so fast. She saw B.C.’s agent on stage with them. The agent whispered something into the woman’s ear and then she gave B.C. this look.

  Kira saw the look on Sheena’s face and knew she was going to kiss him.

  “B.C.!” She yelled out, wanting to get his attention, to warn him.

  His head jerked, but it was too late. The woman’s lips were all over him before he saw Kira.

  It made her stumble, to see him kissing another woman. Granted, yes, she’d seen it on the big screen before, but this felt so … disgusting now.

  The audience went wild, people all around them were clapping and shouting out.

  B.C. pulled away from the actress and someone shouted they needed a picture.

  She could tell he was upset, but he held still for the pose.

  Kira wasn’t moving forward any longer. She felt like her arm would break from his mother yanking on it and finally, she pushed the woman away. “I can’t do this.”

  Devastated, sickened, and angry with the way she was feeling, she thought again, about the Hollywood lifestyle. “This isn’t for me.”

  B.C.’s mother jerked her head back and laughed like she’d heard the funniest joke in the world.

  Kira’s heart raced as she watched B.C. still posing. This couldn’t be her life. A tear fell down her cheek.

  B.C.’s mother gave her cheek a little pat. “No, darling, you best head home. Driver’s waiting.”

  Part of her wanted to call out to B.C. again, but the other part of her. The one who felt like Cinderella at the ball, turned and ran.

  Chapter 17

  B.C. stood on the veranda of the back deck, staring into the sunset on the oceanfront property. It was beautiful, but tonight he preferred the desert to the ocean.

  He exhaled and thought about how he wished Kira had been here tonight. With him. He thought about how he’d tried to call her and she wouldn’t answer. He didn’t blame her. He shouldn’t have left the way he did back at the ranch. He regretted it now but when he’d seen her kissing Spence his brain had gone completely muddled and all he could think about was every woman he’d had a relationship who’d cheated on him and used him.

  The premier had been a success. The movie looked good. Which was a relief. He still didn’t know about getting the part in the other movie. He’d told Jake he needed a break for a bit and where to find him if he needed him.

  Looking at the bottle of water in his hand, he thought he should cut out of the party early and not be around the drugs and the drinking. He didn’t need that tonight. Or ever really.

  Moonwalker’s face flashed into his mind and he decided he definitely needed to leave this party.

  He grinned as he saw his Red Rock Acres group moving toward him.

  Gary had his arm laced through Zoe and Tina’s. All of them were dressed to the nines and he could tell they were very happy to be out and about in Hollywood again.

  “Hey, B.C. do you remember the episode when Mr. Farley comes in the apartment and stumbles down the stairs.” Gary chugged out a laugh.

  B.C. grinned, not wanting to point out that was pretty much every episode. “I think so.”

  Zoe rolled her eyes and hushed Gary. “Be quite. We’re here to support B.C.” She put on a frown, but her face wouldn’t really turn down. “Have you heard from her?”

  “Yeah?” Tina asked. “Where is she?”

  He shook his head, disappointment filling him. “Nope.” He hoped he might. Even though he’d left in such a state of anger. An image of her kissing her old boyfriend made him want to hit something.

  “Hey, guys, want to get out of here?” He asked.

  Zoe held up her phone. “Look what I just saw.”

  B.C. was curious. For a second he couldn’t believe it. The image on the screen was Kira, in the dress he gave her, standing next to his mother at the Premier.

  The reporter’s voice came on. “Caught on tape, B.C. Knight’s little rehab hook up showed up at the premiere, only to find him kissing Sheena Turner, his co-star, in the latest Raced and Wrecked Movie.” The camera went to a shot of him kissing Sheena. B.C. thought of the fact he hadn’t known they would be kissing. Sheena had just planted one on him.

  B.C. was instantly sickened, then angry at Sheena and his agent. He knew Jake had coordinated that. He clutched a hand into a fist. “Where is Kira?”

  Zoe shook her head. “We haven’t seen her?”

  His mind raced and he was immediately angry at his mother. She’d done this, too.

  Like a wild man, he rushed away from them. “I have to find her.”

  He heard a whistle. “B.C.!”

  He turned and saw Jake with Mr. SanBrook coming toward him. He didn’t have time for this.

  “B.C.” Jake said, waving him to them. “Let’s chat for a minute.”

  B.C. contained his anger, shoving it down for later. Focus. Focus. Focus. This could be the biggest break in his career as an actor.

  Jake gave him that slimy, agent smile. “B.C., Meet Mr. SanBrook.”

  He shook Mr. SanBrook’s hand. “Nice to meet you, sir.”

  Mr. SanBrook looked him up and down. “You th
ink you’re ready for the next level? For military, World War II, Nazi’s, a love story, and everything fans die for?”

  “Yes, sir.” Heck yeah, he was ready but he had to find Kira. His mind whirled with possibilities of where she could be.

  Mr. SanBrook laughed.

  Jake laughed, too.

  Mr. SanBrook pulled out a bottle of pills and popped them open, turning to Jake and him and holding some out. “I…uh.” He laughed. “Yeah, I heard you just made it through your first round of rehab.” He scoffed. “We all have to go back sometimes.”

  Jake eyed him, then put his hand out and took a pill from Mr. SanBrook, gesturing to B.C. to follow suit.

  Every part of B.C. was on edge and he felt like he was in high school again and guys on the team were doing steroids and they offered it to him and there was all this pressure. He stared at the pills in Mr. SanBrook’s hand. Reaching out, he picked it up and held it between his thumb and forefinger. He examined it; his nemesis, his relief, his savior, his tormentor. Slowly, he put it down. His heart raced. “Nah, I don’t need that anymore.”

  Mr. SanBrook laughed. “Really? You’re cured?”

  His words were taunting.

  Jake put his hand on B.C.’s shoulder. “Just give him some time, everything will go back to normal.”

  B.C. didn’t understand. He glared at Jake. “You want me addicted to pills?”

  Jake shrugged. “I didn’t say that.” He let out a skittering laugh and looked between the two men. “I just think you relax more when you have something.” He gestured to the pills. “I think it helps take the edge off so you’re not so stressed.”

  B.C. wanted to punch him in the face. Anger exploded inside of him. He glared at Jake and turned to Mr. SanBrook. “If this is a part of the project, then I’m out.” B.C. walked away and glanced back over his shoulder. “Jake, I’m taking some time off.” He walked down the deck stairs and toward the gardens and felt freer then he’d felt for ages because he finally had the freedom to say no. It felt dang good.

  Chapter 18

  It hadn’t been easy to get in the door at the after party at Travis SanBrook’s house, but Kira was determined.

  After getting half-way to the airport, she’d decided she wasn’t going to play this game. It was shocking what his mother had done, but she remembered what they’d talked about…their relationship was real.

  She was done with letting Spence or B.C.’s mother or anyone else determine her relationship with B.C. So she’d called Dr. Schneider and asked him to use his connections to help her get in. Now she wandered through all the people and pushed through the ballroom. The whole place could really be a fairy tale, she decided. It felt completely unreal, and perfect and fake.

  Hopefully, he would be where he said he went when he went to these parties. Praying she could find him and make things right, she went through the double doors to the deck.

  Kira spotted him. Standing by a fountain in the garden, looking out over the ocean. For a second the mere sight of him took her breath away.

  He was gorgeous and at this moment he looked tortured.

  Her heart skipped and she rushed to him, unable to stop herself. “B.C.”

  He jolted and turned, his eyes widening as he saw her.

  She saw tears on his face.

  Of course, then she was instantly crying.

  His face brightened into a smile and he opened his arms.

  Then she was running down the deck stairs and he was moving toward her.

  She fell into his arms.

  He held her close for a moment and she could feel his heart beating. He pulled her back. “You look so beautiful in that dress.”

  The whole night she hadn’t even thought about the dress because of all the other drama, but now she put her hands on the material and thought about how he’d had this made for her.

  His face looked like it would break with a sad happy.

  She blinked. “You think?”

  Once again he pulled her back into his arms, holding her close. “Kira,” he whispered into her ear. “You’re so perfect and beautiful and I’m so sorry.”

  This felt like…the only place she belonged.

  “I’m sorry, too.”

  They stood like that for a long, long time.

  Then she pulled back and smiled. “I heard the best movie stars hang out here.”

  Cocking an eyebrow he shook his head. “I saw the footage of you at the premiere.” He winced. “I saw me kissing Sheena. I promise you, that wasn’t me.”

  “I know.” Because she did know, “I even knew it when I saw you but your mother made it…” she trailed.

  “My mother.” He shook his head. “I’m sorry.”

  She took his hand. “Remember, we’re only going to live in truth.”

  The edges of his lips turned up into a smile. “That’s right.” He tugged her in and ever so softly touched his lips to hers.

  Chills washed over her.

  He pressed his forehead to hers. “The only thing that’s real…is us. And no one gets to tell us what we are. Or what we should be.”

  She squeezed his hand. “Or if we’ll work or not.”

  Pulling back, he gazed into her eyes. “I love you, Kira Moonwater.”

  Her heart beat faster. “Good, cause I love you, too.”

  The side of his lip tugged up. “The moment I first saw you I found what I’d been looking for every minute of my life. Truth. Goodness. And you’ve helped me see that I don’t have to just try to be strong.” He pounded a fist into the center of his chest. “And God has helped me be strong.” A tear leaked down his face.

  She sniffed and tears were on her cheeks. “You helped me realize that I deserve someone who loves me and cares for me.”

  He nodded. “You’ve given me what fame, money, and even pills could never give me. Real love.” He winked at her. “I would credit the love potions, but that might be a bit over the top.”

  She laughed and pulled him back to her. Their lips met and everything about him fell over her in happy waves of pure love. It felt like a bird flying and going anywhere she wanted to go and he was flying with her.

  Without warning, he dipped her back and kissed her dramatically.

  She giggled, but kept kissing him, thinking how much she loved this man.

  He pulled back and stared at her, caressing her face. “You’re beautiful.”

  She smiled. “So are you.”

  He rolled his eyes. “You don’t think the accent is beautiful.”

  The center of her chest lightened. She smiled. “Don’t bring that up.”

  He smiled.

  “What about the movie?”

  His features darkened. “I got it, but I turned it down.

  “What?”

  He shrugged. “Yeah, funny story, the producer is on pills and it was kinda like a try out…to see if I would take one.”

  She was stunned. “You have to be on drugs to be the leading role?”

  He let out a breath. “I’m over it because I told them I’m taking some time off.”

  She could hardly breathe. “What? What are you going to do?”

  He grinned, then he was on his knee, pulling out a ring box. “I thought I might go hang out at Julliard for a bit with this really hot chick who just got a scholarship.”

  She laughed. It was all happening so quickly. “B.C.?” She whispered, unable to believe that he was kneeling in front of her.

  He stared up at her, smiled and opened the box. “What do you say, Moonwater? Marry me? And spend the rest of our lives together, figuring it all out together and loving every minute of it.

  Completely speechless, she stared at the diamond that was in a butterfly setting. More tears fell down her cheek.

  “Kira,” he whispered.

  “Yes!” She fell into his arms and laughed. He picked her up and spun her around, “Let’s not have a long engagement.”

  She giggled and pulled him in for another kiss.

  He
deepened it and she felt lost in him and found in him. Pulling back, she smiled. “Let’s elope!”

  B.C. laughed. “Now you’re talking!”

  She held up her phone and pushed Kevin’s number.

  “Hello.” He answered on the first ring.

  She grinned at B.C. and felt so happy. “Hey Cuz, can you get away from the ranch for twelve hours and meet us in Vegas?”

  Her cousin laughed. “I’m there!”

  B.C. kissed her and she dropped the phone, laughing as he picked her up and spun her in his arms. “Let’s dance together the rest of our lives.”

  She felt happy and free, she knew this would be better than any future she could have imagined. “It’s a deal!”

  Epilogue

  1 Year Later

  B.C. sat in the audience at Kira’s graduation; unable to believe he’d been married to this beautiful woman for a little over a year.

  As she walked across the stage to accept her diploma he and Kevin were on their feet, shouting and hollering and making all kinds of fuss. Of course, he could see her blushing, but she surprised him by stopping and pointing out to the audience at them.

  Which only encouraged them and made them yell louder.

  The center of his heart squeezed inside of his chest. He was so proud of her. It was even more than pride…it was…something that took his breath away.

  After they’d gotten married in Vegas, he’d stayed on the ranch with her the rest of the summer, helping Kevin and it felt…exactly the place he wanted to be.

  It had worked out so well that currently, he and Kira were having a home built about half a mile down from Nana’s old house or Kevin’s home. It’d been so fun building that home with her, designing it, envisioning the family they would have there, having a stable place that B.C. could provide for her and children.

  Staying off drugs had been hard. There were times he thought about taking a pill or having a drink, but … he also had something way bigger to live for. A woman, a family, a legacy of love that he wanted for all of them.