Actually it was, but she’d die rather than admit she’d been wallowing in a pool of self-pity, and that’s why she’d chosen that DVD. To change the subject, she asked, “Would you like some pizza?”
“Definitely. I thought you’d never ask.”
She smiled widely. “I do remember many a brainstorming session over pizza.”
Blake followed her through the hallway to the kitchen where she pulled out some plates.
“Pure brain food. We cooked up many a great idea over cheese, sausage and mushroom pizza,” he said, following her through the hallway to the kitchen where she pulled out a few plates.
Laughing nervously, Jillian wondered where the conversation was headed. Blake couldn’t have come over to share a pizza he hadn’t known for sure would be delivered. Maybe he needed help with the show. That’s what he’d said when he’d found Troy proposing to her on the landing.
She dished out two thick, gooey slices and placed them on the plates. “So you happened to be in the neighborhood and decided to abscond with Franco, the delivery boy’s pizza. Is that your story?”
“Something like that. I was counting on the fact Friday was still your pizza night. Also, that he wouldn’t feel like walking up three flights of stairs if he didn’t have to. When I pulled out my wallet and offered a hefty bribe, it clinched the deal.”
“He’s such a traitor. It could’ve been anyone after my pizza,” she said, with a mock horrified look.
“Yeah, you’re right. The guy should be lynched.”
She laughed again and snuck a glance at him, which was her undoing. His thick, dark hair begged to be touched by her eager fingertips. His twinkling blue eyes were deep enough to drown in. There should be a law against a man looking so handsome.
The pizza sat untouched on her plate. Blake didn’t reach for his either. For such avowed pizza lovers, they behaved contrary to reason. Instead of eating, all they seemed capable of doing was staring at each other.
The tension built inside her. Something had to give. She couldn’t take any more. “Now we’ve established your motive was not to steal the pizza, what did bring you here?”
“You. I need you back.”
Her heart flip-flopped. She fingered the edge of her plate.
“You know I can’t come back to the studio, especially after winning the show.”
“I’m not talking about the studio.”
Something in his eyes scared and excited her. The veins in her neck throbbed. Her heart thumped madly. “Then what are you talking about?” she said in almost a whisper.
“Damn it, Jillian, I can’t stand it without you. At first I thought it was because I was used to having you around. Then it really hit me when you and Troy got engaged. The thought made me sick, but I still fought what I knew in my gut was true.”
“And what’s that?” she asked, not daring to believe he might say what she hoped. If so, it would go against everything he’d said he believed in.
“I love you so much I have to spend the rest of my life with you, Jillian, if you’ll have me.”
She gaped at him. This couldn’t be real. She must have slipped into a movie. Any minute it would end. The silence lengthened.
“Aren’t you going to say anything?”
With a jolt, she realized her dream was really happening. Choked with emotion, she couldn’t think straight. All she could say was, “I don’t believe this. I’m a wreck. I hardly look like the girl of your dreams.”
That’s all she could come up with? What was the matter with her? Blake had just said he loved her.
“You look fine. More like the old Jillian, the dependable one who used to work for me.”
“But I’m the new Jillian, too,” she said, almost daring him to admit he didn’t care for her.
He grinned wider. “Also known as Veronica. I can accept that, under one condition.”
She knew there had to be a catch. “What’s that?” she said, afraid to breathe.
“If both Jillian and Veronica love me. Do they?”
“They always have,” she said.
“More than pizza?”
“Lots more. I can prove it.” She pushed her plate away.
Almost in a trance, she stood up and walked toward him. He scraped back his chair, rose and reached for her.
His kiss took her breath away, or was it because he crushed her so tightly she could hear his heart beat?
They finally came up for air. “Damn, I’m a fool. What took me so long?” he said.
“You’re a producer. You went for the perfect Hollywood ending.”
“Yeah, that must be it,” he said, smothering her in his arms.
EPILOGUE
Five Years Later
BY FRIDAY AFTERNOON, Blake was eager to spend the weekend with his family. With a smile, he grabbed a small bag from his car. He followed the sounds of music and laughter leading him to the sunlit patio of their sprawling ranch-style home. There he found his wife, Jillian, cheeks flushed, swinging their four-year old daughter, Maggie, square dance style to a country tune on the radio.
As the two collapsed onto the redwood chairs, the familiar strains of Girl of My Dreams started. Jillian’s eyes met Blake’s. Memories of the television series which had shaped their lives flashed through his mind.
It scared him to think of how close he’d come to losing his dream. He couldn’t imagine life without her.
Jillian smiled. “You’re just in time. Guess what? It looks like we’ve got another one in the family.”
Blake came to from his sobering reverie and asked, “Another what?”
“You’ll see. Maggie, show Daddy your dress-up outfit.”
As his daughter paraded before him, Blake did his best to keep a straight face. One of Jillian’s silk blouses covered Maggie from her shoulders to her ankles. Over the shiny lavender fabric rested a knee-length strand of faux pearls. His daughter’s tiny feet were lost in her mother’s high-heeled shoes.
The attempt to look grownup only made Maggie look all the more young and endearing.
“I want to be in a hair commercial with Mommy and a movie with Grandma,” Maggie announced.
Blake lifted his eyebrows. “Is that so?”
In the past few years, he’d branched out from television to movies. A blockbuster starring his mother was next on the agenda. Maybe someday, as his daughter suggested, all three generations could be represented in a movie. That was the future, not now. He’d never turn his child into a workhorse.
“When you graduate from high school, if you want, I’ll give you a part in a movie.”
“Promise?”
“Cross my heart,” he said, making the age-old sign.
A barely audible sigh of relief came from his wife. They’d gotten out of this one now, but he anticipated many other such hurdles to follow. Parenthood was like that, but he wouldn’t give it up for anything.
“Are you hungry?” Jillian asked.
“Always, but let’s not talk about it in front of the child,” he said, with a throaty chuckle.
“Blake Caldwell, you never change.”
“Do you want me to?”
“No. That’s why I ordered pizza.”
“And I, my dear, have a something for you.”
Smiling, he pulled the brown bag out from behind his back and set it on the picnic table.
Jillian stared at it.
“Go ahead. Look inside.”
Mystified, she opened the top, looked inside and gasped. “I don’t believe it. You got me thimbleberries.”
“There’s something else I meant to give you. I’d put it in my desk and thought I’d lost it, but it turned up again today.”
He reached into his pocket and pulled out the seashell.
“Remember this? It’s the same one you stepped on. You didn’t want it, so I kept it as a souvenir.”
His throat tightened at the warm look in his wife’s eyes. Damn, he loved her and always would. He’d never thought it possible, but
his song had come to life. He’d found the girl of his dreams.
###the end###
Next Page – About the Author
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Morgan Mandel is a former freelancer for the Daily Herald newspaper, a prior president of Chicago-North Romance Writers of America, a member of Sisters in Crime and EPIC. She once served as Library Liaison for Midwest Mystery Writers of America.
Forever Young-Blessing or Curse, Morgan’s current thriller, is about a 55 year old who takes a pill to be 24 again after her husband is killed in a hit and run accident. Then she learns the pill has flaws, and her husband knew of them.
Her romantic suspense, Killer Career, is about a Chicago lawyer who quits her day job to be a writer. She doesn’t realize her mentor not only writes about murders, but performs them. Also, she doesn’t realize the law partner she’s leaving isn’t just her best friend.
Morgan’s debut mystery, Two Wrongs, about the tragedies resulting from a wrongful conviction is also set in Chicago, with Marshall Field’s before it became Macy’s as part of a prominent scene, along with the popular Frango mints. Other Chicago landmarks and locales are sprinkled in, along with fictional places.
You can find all of Morgan’s books at Amazon.com.
Morgan’s website is: http://www.morganmandel.com. She’s an avid networker, and would love to connect with you on Facebook, Twitter, Google Plus, Youtube, and more. She belongs to tons of e-groups, maintains a personal blog at Double M’s Take on Books, Blogs, Dogs, Networking and Life, and also appears at the group blogs: Acme Authors Link, Make Mine Mystery and The Blood-Red Pencil.
Morgan lives in a Chicago suburb with her husband, affectionately known as Good Paul, plus their lovable pit bull, Rascal, who lives up to her name. When Morgan’s not reading or writing, she enjoys going on long walks, attending local events, watching romances and mystery movies, and hunting for finds at garage and rummage sales. Her vices are: pizza, ice cream, chocolate, and a propensity to play slot machines.
Next Page Is a Very Short Message from Morgan Mandel
After I wrote my debut, mystery, Two Wrongs, I wanted readers to know I don’t always think on the dark side. This romantic comedy is the result. I hope you enjoyed it.
Thanks for purchasing Girl of My Dreams.
Morgan Mandel
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