by Dee Burks
“No, I don’t. I mean, I do, but that’s not the issue. It’s a business arrangement.”
“Oh, I think it is the issue. You’re getting attached to him.”
“I’m trying to keep my career out of the dumper just long enough to get my son in school. Then I’m on the first plane to New York. But now Frank wants to make “Lone Star Love Affair” a whole event and drag it out forever. I don’t think I can keep faking it. What am I going to do?”
Nolea stood and paced back and forth, a perfect imitation of Frank. “Let’s work through this logically. We can keep this thing going as long as we’re very careful. No one.” She stopped and stared at Serena. “And I mean no one can know it’s a fake. Then we have to convince Tyler to get on board with the plan.”
“What plan?”
“I’m working on that.” Nolea’s brow furrowed. “Let’s start with the facts. You have had a date with him, and you did meet his family, right?”
Serena moaned. “They hate me.”
“But that’s what he wanted, and you held up your end of the bargain, right?”
She nodded.
“Then he owes you, right?”
“Right, that was the deal, but what can he do? The entire city, as well as most of our advertisers, think this is for real. I told him it would be a short little series that ran a few weeks. Not some media circus with him as the starring attraction.”
Nolea narrowed her eyes. “I think you should have a good long talk with Tyler, and see how far he’s willing to take this. You might get lucky and get him to agree to more than the original deal. Until then, don’t panic.”
“Easy to say. I’m way past panic and halfway to scared witless.”
Nolea ignored her comment. “We need to sit down and map out this whole love affair step by step as far as the articles go, and I think Will can help with the pictures. You know, make it be you and not really look like you. That would give us more time if we have to ditch Tyler and find a replacement.” Nolea stilled for a moment, then jerked the door open. Will almost fell in.
“Were you listening?” Nolea glared.
“Only to the good parts.” Will smiled at Serena and lowered his voice. “So, I hear you need to fake a romance?”
Serena nodded, not at all secure with the idea that her secret was out. Not to one, but two people, even if it was Nolea and Will. They might empathize and want to help, but they could also make her life a living hell. “Look, you two, I have everything riding on this. Everything.”
Will winked. “Don’t sweat it, Red, the Cavalry’s here.”
They looked more like the princess and the Shetland pony, but they were all she had. Serena stood up and put her hands on her hips. “Okay then, let’s make me a love affair.” She picked up the phone and dialed. A deep voice answered. “Tyler?” She glanced at Will and Nolea. “We need to talk.”
Chapter 13
Tyler hung up and smiled to himself. He’d thought about calling for days, but hadn’t. Serena had done everything he’d asked of her and more. It was her move, and now she made it. He had a sudden urge to high five someone. Anyone. They were to meet at her place in less than an hour. He’d bring the food, she’d have the beer.
Excitement coursed through his chest. She’d been a good sport, jumped in and helped him out of a tight spot with the restaurant, too. Not many of Tyler’s friends would have done that and certainly no women he knew. A quick change of clothes, and he was out the door, pulling up to her house as the sun dipped in the sky.
“Hey there.” Serena met him with a big smile. She wore a white tank top and jeans. A very casual and ordinary outfit for most women, but it looked great on her. The air between them crackled with electricity.
“Hey there yourself.” He followed her into the house and moved aside a large stack of letters on the table. She handed him two plates, and he pulled sandwiches from the sack. “What’s all this?” he motioned to the pile.
“Part of our project for the evening.” She filled glasses with water and joined him at the table. “They’re fan letters people sent to the paper, as well as offers from some of our advertisers for the mystery couple I made up.”
He raised an eyebrow. “We got fan letters? Wow. Your articles have been great, by the way.”
“You read them?” She seemed surprised.
“Sure I did. I wanted to know if I was going to get more than a kiss.” He smiled at her. “Can’t wait to find out.” Her cheeks turned a pretty shade of pink. “The family cookout you made up almost made me wish it had happened that way.”
“Yeah, me too.”
The disappointment in her voice caught his attention. Like she wished the same thing he did. That this was real and not some act.
“Have you heard from your sister?”
“Nope. I’m guessing she isn’t talking to me.”
“I’m sorry.”
“I’m not. That was the whole point. In a few weeks, she’ll be right back to annoying me every day again.”
Serena didn’t look pleased with that answer. He wondered how Chelsie would like the woman that sat across from him now. The real Serena. Single mom, educated professional, great actress.
He already knew the answer. Serena would be put on a pedestal so high by his family he’d never feel worthy of her. And maybe that was where she belonged. Serena could have her pick of men. Guys with a fancy education, a home on each coast, and money in the bank. None of which he had. He didn’t have any right to expect more than to spend a few evenings with her, but it was sure nice to think about. They finished their sandwiches in silence and put the plates in the sink. They both stared at the huge piles on the table.
“So where do we start?” he asked.
“Anywhere.”
He pulled a mound of letters toward him and started opening. “What are we looking for?”
“Romantic ideas, outlandish suggestions, something fun for my imaginary couple to do. I want to tie in the reader’s suggestions with whatever activity we decide on. Uncle Frank wants pictures, so we need to find things to do in low light to keep our identities as much of a mystery as possible.”
“In the dark?” He flashed a grin.
“In low light,” she insisted
“What’s the difference?”
“A camera.”
“Oh yeah.” Too bad. He ripped open one letter after another.
“We should make piles according to the letters’ contents.” Serena sorted out several and arranged them in a long row.
“Do you organize everything?”
She looked at him like he’d grown another head. “Of course, why wouldn’t you?”
He shrugged and made three piles of his own. They sorted and stacked for more than 30 minutes, commenting on the content of several letters and laughing outright at several others.
Tyler paused, surveying the work they’d done so far. “This is a lot for one or two articles.”
Serena scrunched her nose and hesitated. “That’s one of the things we need to talk about. Frank wants to keep it going through the summer.” She held up a hand. “But don’t worry, we can take enough pictures and hopefully put together enough activities in a weekend or two to fill most of the articles. Would you have a problem with that?”
She looked unsure, like he might say no. “Why would I?”
“Our original deal was pretty short term, and I want to give you the opportunity not to participate if you feel you’re getting in too deep.”
He was getting in deep all right, but he wasn’t about to say no to spending more time with her. “I appreciate that, but we can adjust the deal as we go along can’t we?”
“Yes, we can.” She gave him a relieved smile.
Serena pointed to his piles. “Why do you only have three stacks?”
“The first one is the good stuff, the second is the okay stuff, and the third one is crazy people.”
“Crazy people?”
He picked up a letter from stack number
three and read: “Dear Lone Star Lovers, I am writing to ask if you could help with a business I’m trying to start. It’s called ‘Luv On A Dime’ and will be a nonprofit organization that provides sexual aids to underprivileged women.”
She held up her hand. “That’s enough.”
“Oh no, it has pictures.” He handed the photo to her and smiled as her jaw dropped.
“Oh my god!” She flicked the photo across the table at him. “Okay, I understand the crazy pile. What’s the good stuff?”
Tyler picked up a letter from the first pile and read: “My name is Harvey Rollins, and my wife and I married forty-three years ago. Reading your story today reminded me of the day we met in Oceanside, California. I was in the Navy and Jeanne worked in a small taffy shop close to the beach. She was the prettiest thing I’d ever seen.
“After a week, I finally got the nerve to buy some taffy from her, and when she handed me a bag, our fingers touched, and I knew. It was an electric spark that lit up my whole body. I knew right then I’d love her my whole life. And I have.
“I lost her to cancer three years ago, but that love hasn’t faded. When I read your story, it brought back the best memories of my life. Thank you.” He glanced up, surprised to see Serena’s eyes filled with tears. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to upset you.”
“Oh no,” she smiled. “I just can’t imagine having someone love me like that.” Her attention returned to sorting letters.
Tyler frowned. Why not? He could imagine a number of men who might jump at the chance to love her, including him. She had so much to offer.
“Why don’t we take a break?” Serena grabbed a couple of beers from the refrigerator, and he followed her outside. The backyard was walled and private, and long trails of honeysuckle ran along the top of the fence. They stood on a large wooden deck, and Tyler inhaled the sweet scent. She handed him a bottle and motioned to a large metal swing on the corner of the deck with two puffy green cushions. “I sit out here and watch the sun set almost every evening.”
He nodded. “My kind of activity.”
“Yeah, I’m pretty easily entertained.” She grinned. “Not to mention a real cheap date.”
“My kind of girl.” He laughed.
They sat and rocked slowly back and forth. A large oak tree arched over the swing, and a squirrel scurried up and down, ignoring their presence. A calm settled over Tyler. This was nice, real nice. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d watched the sun set.
It struck him as ironic that he had worked hard for years chasing some kind of financial security, so he would have the kind of life where he could do anything he wanted, and this was exactly it. Just sit and watch the sun dip below the horizon. This simple, this easy.
“What are you thinking?” she asked.
“Hmm?” She dragged him from his thoughts.
“You were smiling.”
“Was I?” He shrugged. “I was thinking how nice this is.”
“Yes, it is. Justin and I have lived in this house for almost ten years, and I love it here.”
He hadn’t meant the house. He’d meant being with her. “So where’s Justin’s father? I mean, if you don’t mind me asking?”
“No idea.”
“How long have you been divorced?”
“I was never married.” She said it quietly, and he got the idea it wasn’t something she wanted to discuss.
“Well, it ain’t all it’s cracked up to be; let me tell you.”
She laughed. “Oh really? And how were your four weeks of marital bliss?”
“Hellacious.”
“Then why did you get married?”
“We were young. I wanted something to hang on to, and she wanted to get away from her dad. It was a disaster. You never know someone until you live with them.”
“I’ve never lived with anyone either.”
“Really? Never?”
“I had a son to raise, and I didn’t want him getting attached to someone who wasn’t permanent.”
He looked at her. How many people would put their own wants aside like that? Not many. Lots of women ran men through their lives like they had a revolving door, without any concern about how it affected their kids. The last rays of light splashed an orange glow across Serena’s face. “You’re really something, you know that?”
She arched a skeptical brow at him. “At least I have you fooled. But don’t worry, I only use my powers for good, not evil, and I keep all my horrible secrets wellhidden. You want another beer?”
He nodded. “Yeah, but that’s it. I have a two beer limit.”
Serena disappeared into the house.
Horrible secrets? She had no idea how bad some secrets could be, and he had no business getting close to her. She had enough to handle without him dumping any of his problems on her. If she knew the real person he was, she’d run as far and fast as she could. Maybe. Probably. He should keep his distance, though he couldn’t quite help himself.
Serena handed him a bottle, and they sat together for a few minutes in silence. The stars twinkled to life one by one in the growing darkness. The air took on a slight chill. Serena scooted closer to him.
“You cold?” He put his arm around her and rubbed her shoulder.
She gave him a playful look. “How do I know what you’re after, mister?”
Tyler wiggled his eyebrows and gave a sinister laugh. “Come, Little Red Riding Hood, come closer and tell the Big Bad Wolf all your secrets.” He pulled her tight against his side as she laughed.
“No offense, but you don’t seem the wolf type. I can’t imagine you eating my grandmother.”
“Oh, I don’t know. You might be shocked at the things I’ve done.” He hadn’t intended for it to sound so serious, but it did. She gazed up at him almost like she wanted to say something, but hesitated.
“What? So you think you can shock me with some skeleton in your closet?” she asked.
“I know it.”
“Would you like to bet on it?”
“What kind of bet?”
“Wait here.” She got up and went inside.
He drew a quick breath and took a big swig of beer. Was he really ready? He realized his pulse had stepped up in rhythm and he moved to keep his shirt from clinging to the moisture in his armpits. Nerves knotted his stomach. To prepare himself, Tyler tried to imagine her reaction. The disbelief, then contempt, followed by disgust. He’d seen people look at him that way years ago and didn’t imagine it had changed much. He lived with the memory every day.
He could feel himself being drawn closer to her, could even imagine himself sitting out here with her every evening. This would be a good reason for her to keep distance between them; if it were up to him, there wouldn’t even be daylight between them.
Little twinkle lights strung around the deck flicked on, and Serena walked outside with several letters in her hand. She stood in front of Tyler. “I bet you one of these that my skeleton is worse than yours.”
“One of what?”
“Some letters from the good stuff pile.” She gave him a saucy grin. “Most involving a hot tub. Winner picks which one we do.”
“You’re on.”
“Okay.” Serena sat next to him on the swing. “Shoot.”
Tyler couldn’t quite figure out where to start.
“Well?” she asked.
He looked into her eyes for a moment then focused his gaze straight ahead. Might as well start at the end. They’d get there eventually anyway. Tyler cleared his throat. “I’m a convicted murderer.”
Chapter 14
“What?” Serena leaned away and frowned. Of all the things she’d expected him to say, convicted murderer wasn’t one of them. “You’re kidding?” she hoped.
Tyler shook his head no.
A nervous chill went through her. She was sitting on her deck watching the sun set with a convicted murderer she met through a personal ad online. And here she had thought her taste in men was improving.
Serena looked
at him. How could he have killed someone? He seemed a pretty solid kind of guy from what she’d seen. Fun loving and adventurous. She’d had a great time with him. He owned a business and had the respect of his employees, and his family obviously loved him. She got the impression he’d never hurt a flea. It didn’t add up.
Tyler sat in silence, as if waiting for her to say something. Finally she found her voice. “What happened?”
“Matt and I were seniors in high school.”
“Matt?”
“My best friend. We’d been friends since grade school. Did everything together. Then in high school we started rodeoing.”
“I bet you were good.” She wanted him to look at her, but he didn’t. “What event?”
“Team roping. He was the header; I was the heeler. We were pretty good, I guess.”
Tyler paused, and she waited. This seemed very difficult for him. He obviously didn’t talk about it much. She remembered the photo on Chelsie’s wall of him as a kid. The other little cowboy in the picture must have been Matt. She watched memories of emotions play across his expression as he searched for the words.
“We won our division that year, and after the last rodeo that cinched us a regional spot, we celebrated. One of the college guys bought us a case of beer, and we went out to the country and drank. Matt had a few, and I had the rest.” He raked his fingers through his hair, still staring into the darkness.
“Matt tried to take the keys away from me, but the truck was new, and I insisted on driving. The road was gravel.” He shook his head and clenched his teeth together. “I took a turn too fast.”
Serena saw the muscles in his cheek flex, but he kept his emotions in check. Her heart ached to comfort him, but she didn’t trust her voice to speak. After a few minutes, Tyler continued.
“I could hear him screaming, trapped under the truck. I was thrown out. One leg was broken and my ankles were torn up. I couldn’t get to him. Couldn’t move. I just lay there and listened to him scream. The whole time I kept thinking that as long as he was screaming he’d be okay, we’d both be okay. Then the screaming stopped.”
Tears rolled down Serena’s cheeks. She couldn’t imagine the horror and helplessness he’d endured. Tyler glanced over at her.