Chapter 1
“All right, Gem, I’m ready.” Frankie gave her best friend a thumbs-up from the barstool she was sitting on.
Taking a deep breath, Gemma plastered a wide smile onto her face and began. “Cheers! My name is Gemma MacLeod. I’m twenty-eight years old and originally from Glasgow, Scotland. As a professional show skater with Dreams on Ice, I play Cinderella. For the last couple of years, I’ve traveled the world and performed in front of thousands of people. While it might seem like a fairy-tale job, unfortunately, living out of a suitcase makes dating difficult. If I ever want to get my own happily ever after and find a Prince Charming, I need help. This Cinderella is ready to trade in her skates for a pair of comfy trainers. If you’re looking for your next bachelorette forCupid’s Arrow,you should cast me.”
“Cut,” Frankie said, tapping the stop button on her phone. “That line about finding your own Prince Charming is great! The producers ofCupid’s Arroware going to eat this stuff up.”
Gemma blew at one of the ringlets of blond hair that had escaped the confines of her low ponytail. “You think so? It wasn’t too cheesy?”
“From all the websites I’ve looked at, the advice for putting an audition video together is all the same: Be natural. Be yourself. That’s exactly what you’re doing. If you wanted cheesy, you could ask my dad for advice.”
The two friends laughed. Hearing Frankie’s words helped reassure her. Mr. Tomlinson, Frankie’s father, had read quite a few books on dating over the last year as he figured out how to woo his girlfriend, and now wife, Suzy.
“I can hear Mr. T now.” She dropped her voice an octave. “Gemma, you know it’s one thing to say you play a princess, but it’s better if you show them.”
“You’re right! Dad would say something like, ‘Here’s how you can really knock their socks off.’” Frankie’s body shook with laughter. “I can see it now. Dad would have you wear your Cindy costume. Then he’d tell me to film the entire thing in black and white and direct me to have you lose your skate.”
Gemma’s lips twitched. That wasn’t a half-bad idea. Anything to make herself stand out at this point would be worth considering. She was desperate to get onto the show, but she was a little afraid of Mr. T getting carried away. She wouldn’t have the heart to say no to the man she viewed as her second dad. “Let’s not tell him about filming this untilafterwe’ve submitted it.”
“Agreed.” Walking over to the refrigerator, Frankie retrieved two bottles of sparkling water. “So what else are you thinking of including in the video? I think you said it could be up to three minutes long, right?”
Gemma nodded as she sank down onto the living room couch. “Yeah, three minutes is the max.” Accepting the cold bottle from Frankie, she popped the top off and took a long sip. “I was thinking maybe we could include a snippet or two of me skating and a brief clip of you and Suzy talking about the types of men you might pick out for me to date. You two are the ones I’d ask to be on the show with me if I’m chosen.”
“Aww, Gem, I’m honored. Suzy would be, too. I’m sure of it.” Frankie seated herself next to Gemma. “I guess the next question is, what excuse can I come up with to lure Suzy away from Dad for the afternoon?”
“A trip to the antique market?” Gemma suggested.
“No, Dad loves antiquing. He’ll offer to come and be our muscle for the day, even if he can’t really lift anything.”
Mr. Tomlinson had a heart of gold, but now in his mid-seventies, he wasn’t in the best of health. A year and a half ago, he’d fallen and broken his hip. While he’d fully recovered, his health had never been what it was before the accident. At least with his new wife Suzy, a former nurse, Gemma knew he was in good hands.
Frankie opened her own bottle with an audiblepop. “You’re on the right track. Some type of shopping thing is perfect.”
Gemma drummed her fingers against the couch’s arm. “What about a visit to the craft shop you took me to the last time I was in town?”
Frankie snapped her fingers together. “Hobby Land! That’s perfect. Dad hates craft shopping.”
The front door to the cabin opened and closed. The deep male voice of Frankie’s boyfriend called out, “Frankie?.?.?. Gemma?.?.?. we’re home.”
“In the living room,” Frankie shouted.
A moment later, a man with tawny-brown hair and green eyes appeared. He walked over to Frankie, kissed her, then said, “Hi, Gem.”
She waved back. “Hey, Charlie.”
Behind him stood a woman with the same eyes and orange-and-purple hair. She was a few inches shorter than Charlie, with curves that made Gemma jealous. “Did somebody say the words Hobby Land?” she interjected in her bubbly tone.
“I did,” Frankie giggled, covering her mouth with her hand.
“I swear you’re part canine. It’s creepy how good your hearing is,” Charlie muttered under his breath.
The woman rolled her eyes, ignoring him.
“Er?.?.?. just a wild guess, but are you Leslie?” Gemma’s eyes darted between her and Charlie.
“You got it. You must be Gemma.” They shook hands. “Great to finally meet you. I missed you on the last go ’round.”
“Likewise.”
