by Vanessa Vale
The civic center was packed, the announcer stating that it was a sold-out crowd. Afterward, I celebrated in the center ring with the other Roller Dolls, even being asked to join them next season. When the owner of the team introduced himself, he thanked me personally for pulling in all of the fans.
"I'm not sure how I could have done that," I told him.
The man was in his fifties, portly, with thinning hair and a wide grin. "I've been following you on Twitter. It was marketing genius on your part having your trip here tracked by so many fans. I just didn't know you had such...diverse talents."
I lifted my brows and just stared.
"Announcing you were going to be in the match, well, it was the biggest turnout we've ever had. Can I get a picture with you? I promise to post it to your Twitter feed and Facebook."
He thought I was Silky Tangles. Why wouldn't he? "Can I get one of the back of your shirt, too?"
I smiled brittlely and spun around.
"You did it!" Aunt Velma yelled, coming over and pulling me into a bear hug. "I told you, Tony, my niece could fill in."
"An actress and a Roller Doll. It's quite a resume."
Someone called his name and he was off, pleased as punch.
"You told them I was Silky Tangles?" I asked, truly hurt. This was worse than knowing JT was going to connect with Sarah. "I thought you were proud of me."
"Oh, honey, I've always been proud of you. But you have to admit, your followers really packed the stands. You not only helped win the championship, you helped bring new fans to the sport."
"I didn't do it," I countered. "Silky did." I couldn't stand there and argue with her. We were never going to see eye to eye. Ever.
I'd made it across the ring before Goldie called me. I braked and waited for her. She was flanked by JT on one side and a woman who looked an awful lot like me on the other. I had to look twice at her and then I realized who she was.
Silky Tangles.
"Daphne, there's someone here I want you to meet," Goldie said. "I'm guessing you know who she is."
I stared at my lookalike. It was remarkable how similar we were. Her hair, eye and skin color were almost identical to mine. Her hair was longer, but not styled like a beauty queen pageant as in her films. Her lips were fuller, but it could be the shiny lip gloss. I was taller than she in the skates, but we'd probably be the same height barefooted. Her breasts, well, they were definitely larger, although her clothes were fairly understated. Just a simple white V neck t-shirt and jeans.
"Wow, you're really pretty," I said.
Silky smiled at me. "I can say the same for you. You were crazy out there. I could never do something like that."
"Yeah, I'm a little crazy."
Was I the only one feeling a little awkward? Goldie was beaming and JT couldn't help but glance between the two of us.
"Goldie got in touch with me and asked me to come to the match."
"Really?"
"Someone pointed out all the Twitter and Facebook posts about my adventures on a road trip. I usually ignore stuff like that because the media's pretty crazy."
"I bet."
"Did you read about how I dated Channing Tatum?"
"I saw that," JT said.
"I thought he was married," I added.
"He is, or was. I've never met the man. So you can see why I blew it off at first. But then people started posting pictures of me—you—with them. A bunch of bikers in a restaurant, driving a weird looking RV, a rest area. All kinds of strange pictures."
"Mmm. Yeah, I'm pretty familiar with them."
"My manager called me to find out where I was because you do really look like me. I have to admit, the trip looked like tons of fun. I mean, you got to be with this guy," she added, putting her hand on JT's shoulder.
He smiled down at her and I saw red. No way was the real Silky Tangles getting her hands on JT. "Listen, Silky—"
Goldie came over and wrapped her arm around my waist. "Silky here is going to take over for you, Daphne."
"Take over what?" I asked. JT?
"Go change out of your uniform and Silky is going to meet with her fans, lead them away from you. She'll fly back to LA and all the media will go with her."
"You're off the hook," JT added. He didn't seem the least bit bothered by a porn star touching him.
"You've been a great boost for my ratings, so I owe you a thank you."
I smiled thinly. "Yeah, you've got quite the following."
"I do now, for sure. I'll dedicate my next film to you."
"That's not really necessary." Seriously. No.
It was time to go. I couldn't watch JT with her a moment longer. "I should get changed. It was nice meeting you. Being you. Whatever."
I started to skate away.
"I'll see you in the fall when the movie comes out." I turned around at her words. "I'm going to do a signing at Goldilocks, so I'll be in Bozeman."
"Wow." I looked to Goldie, who was thrilled. "I won't be there. I'll be in Brazil for work. JT will, though. He's a big fan."
I glanced at JT who looked stunned. His mouth pinched into a thin line and he looked like he wanted to say something more, but didn't. Why, I wasn't sure. Perhaps it was because he had the woman of his dreams on his arm. A porn star he could love and leave. Perhaps it was because he knew nothing would happen between us and it was his way to end it. Perhaps it was because...well, who the hell knew?
Goldie had done a really good job of seamlessly trading Silky Tangles for me. I'd skated into the locker room and swapped the candy striper outfit for my unexciting shorts and t-shirt. I pulled my hair back in a ponytail and slipped a baseball cap on my head. There weren't any fans waiting outside the door. There weren't bikers trying to get my attention. There wasn't anyone there but JT. He leaned against the cinderblock wall texting on his cell.
"Hey," I said, taking a deep breath, psyching myself up for this conversation.
He put his phone in his back pocket and smiled. "Hey yourself. You were...wow. Um...crazy out there. No, that's not the right word. Incredible, insane."
I grinned. "It was a lot of fun."
"Did you get hurt at all?" He looked me over for injury, although probably a little late.
I landed on my butt a few times, but I wasn't going to tell him that. "I'm fine."
"Hungry?"
"I'm okay. Where's Silky?" I asked, glancing around.
JT angled his head toward the main area. "In there signing autographs."
"I bet her fans are loving her now. Not only is she a porn queen, but she can also kick some serious roller derby ass."
"She's your number two fan," he said.
I frowned. "Oh? Who's number one?"
He pulled me into him so I had to tilt my chin up. "Me."
His mouth covered mine in a gentle, light kiss. "I think you scared ten years off my life when you were part of that group that went out of the ring."
"I barely fell down," I told him, remembering the moment well.
"No kidding. How you pulled that off, I'll never know. Shit, Daphne, I hope your roller derby days are over."
"Why?" I asked. "You're going to see Sarah soon and I'm off to Brazil."
"Right." He sighed. "What's this about Brazil?"
"A new story."
"When did you learn about it?" he asked, tugging on my ponytail.
"After the police station."
"Which one?" he asked. I knew he was trying to be funny, but it didn't come across that way. "Were you going to tell me about it?"
I looked down at the front of his shirt. "What does it matter? I was never a keeper for you. I was just a fantasy. Besides, I was always going to leave."
He frowned. "That's what you think, that I slept with you because I'm fulfilling a fantasy?"
"Of course. I'm fine with being your fantasy. I was never going to be your reality." I stepped back, pasted on a smile. "It's been...crazy. I'll see you around sometime."
Before I could cry—I never
cried—I turned and walked away. When he called out to me, I just held up my hand then kept on going.
Chapter 13
It had been a week since I flew back from Fargo. I'd had Aunt Velma's house to myself for the first few days as the Three Musketeers drove the RV back to Bozeman, leaving the broken bike at Bob's repair shop to be fixed when he returned from Sturgis. I spent the time sleeping and thinking, trying to figure out the mess of my life. It took me two days to realize my life wasn't a mess at all. It was just empty. I was filling it with writing assignments around the world to make it seem exciting, but I had no one to share it with, no one to come home to. I had Aunt Velma, she was always there, but her home wasn't my home anymore.
For two crazy days, I'd been on an adventure of a lifetime. I'd not only experienced it with Aunt Velma, but Esther Millhouse and Goldie as well. But they'd only been secondary to the excursion. It had been JT whom I'd travelled with. It had been JT to laugh at. Laugh with. It was a trip I would never forget.
He was a man I'd never forget.
"Are you sure you want to go?" Aunt Velma asked as I packed my bag. The sloping ceiling in my upstairs bedroom was too low for her to stand upright, so she sat on the bed.
"Yes. I want to."
"Why, Daphne? Why are you going?"
"It's something I need to do."
"You mean it's a way to steer clear of JT." She gave me the one eyebrow up eagle eye.
"You want me to watch JT settle down with Sarah?"
"As far as I know, he hasn't even met this woman. You're writing off what's between the two of you."
"How do you know Sarah isn't here in town right now?"
"Goldie told me."
Then it had to be true. She knew everything.
"He thought I was Silky Tangles! I was just a fantasy for him."
Aunt Velma pursed her lips. "He's not an idiot. He knows you're not Silky Tangles."
"Of course, he doesn't. Now. He met the real deal in Fargo."
She picked up my pillow and fluffed it, tossed it back in place. "Look, he's got issues of his own, of course, but not everyone's going to leave you."
I dropped the socks I'd been holding. "What?"
"Sit down." She waited until I did so, the open suitcase between us. "Your parents. I wanted to kill them for leaving you. But instead I thanked them daily for leaving you. I got you because they were so selfish. I know you think I'm crazy, but I never left you. Never."
My throat hurt with tears. "I know, but you're larger than life, Aunt Velma. I can't compete."
"Oh, honey, you never have to compete with me. Everyone loves you for being you. Even JT."
My head whipped up at his name. "He doesn't love me. He doesn't really even know me."
"That's not his fault, it's yours. If you like him, then stay. Let him get to know you. Don't run away because he just might stick."
I wiped at my eye. "I've been back a week and he hasn't been by. It's over."
Aunt Velma sighed, then stood up, at least as far as she could. "What time's your flight?"
"Two."
"I'll say goodbye now then since I have to meet Esther. Her car's broken and she needs to take Tigger to the vet to get spayed. Then we're meeting Goldie for lunch. She's taking George the Gnome back to Zach this morning."
The thought of the gnome had me smiling. I would never forget how it flew into the windshield. I would never forget the kiss that followed.
I was late. Again. I'd forgotten to get gas so the Rabbit's fuel light came on and I had to stop. By the time I was flooring it down the Frontage Road toward the airport, I only had an hour before my flight. This time, when I was pulled over for speeding, I wasn't surprised, although that didn't keep me from swearing.
Scrambling for my purse, I pulled out my license and reached into the glove box for the registration, not noticing the police officer standing beside the car.
"I see you know the process," the man said. I whipped my head around when I recognized his voice.
JT.
"You look familiar," he said. He wore his reflective aviator sunglasses once again so I couldn't see his eyes. His body was the same: big, virile, rugged. The MSU t-shirt fit across him snugly and the gun on his hip looked just as hot as last time.
"Yeah, I get that a lot." I tried to calm my racing heartbeat at just the sight of him. I could even smell him through the open window and it brought back a flood of memories. My mouth watered wishing I could just taste him again.
"Step out of the car, please."
"JT, I don't have time for this. I have a flight to catch."
"Ma'am, step out of the car."
I rolled my eyes and sighed.
Climbing out, I put my hands on my hips.
"Where are you traveling to this time? Brazil?"
"Minnesota."
He paused, not expecting that answer. "What?"
"I said, Minnesota."
"I thought you were going doing a story in Brazil. What's in Minnesota?"
"A hockey team reunion."
He took off his sunglasses and hooked them over the neck of his shirt.
"I'm surprised you're working. Shouldn't you be showing Sarah around town?"
"I'm not working. I'm pulling over a speeding driver."
"Why?" I asked, completely confused. "Why are you pulling people over?"
He put his hands on his hips. "I'm not pulling people over. I'm pulling you over. Jesus, Daphne, I don't want you to go."
My mouth fell open. "What?"
"Don't go to Brazil. Don't leave Bozeman. There's something between us, something crazy." He ran his hand through his hair. "We should give it a shot."
"How did you know where to find me? You want to...wait." I held up my hand. "What about Sarah? The white picket fence?"
"You said it last week. Sort of. You said you were my fantasy, but you were looking for reality."
"Yeah, I remember." I remembered all too well.
"You had it backwards." He stepped into me so he blocked the sun, tucked my wayward hair behind my ear. "Sarah and the white picket fence were just fantasies. You are my reality."
"Holy shit."
He grinned. "Yeah, holy shit. Now can you please not go off to Morocco or Mozambique or Minnesota."
"I was only going to be gone for the weekend. I... I rented a little house downtown."
JT grabbed me and pulled me into his arms, hugged me to him so tightly I couldn't breathe. Or maybe it was the fact that the stupid wall I'd built around my heart crumbled and I was, for once, letting someone in. "I'm still going to take assignments, shorter ones, but only for a little while longer. Goldie's idea about working for a local magazine was a good one. I've started putting my resume out there and I should hopefully hear from one of them. In the meantime, I've got money saved up."
He pushed me back, only just enough to look down at me. "So if I don't tase you, you'll give us a try?"
I nodded. "Will you?"
"As long as you don't punch me in the nose."
"It's a deal."
Note From Vanessa
Don’t worry, there’s more Small Town Romance to come!
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About the Author
Vanessa Vale is the USA Today Bestselling author of over 40 books, sexy romance novels, including her popular Bridgewater historical romance series and hot contemporary romances featuring unapologetic bad boys who don't just fall in love, they fall hard. When she's not wr
iting, Vanessa savors the insanity of raising two boys, is figuring out how many meals she can make with a pressure cooker, and teaches a pretty mean karate class. While she's not as skilled at social media as her kids, she loves to interact with readers.
* * *
www.vanessavaleauthor.com
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