“If there are angels on earth, you are truly one of them,” she said as they left the store.
“That’s because all the homophobes are in heaven.”
“They can have it,” she said. “I’ll pay you back as soon as I can. I should be getting some money from Alain next week.”
Christopher frowned. “Don’t worry about that. You’ll be gorgeous for the Killer Body party. That’s all that really matters.”
“Thank you for knowing that. It’s one of the reasons I love you.” She started to kiss his cheek, then noticed a woman standing outside the store, holding a notebook.
“Gabriella Paquette?” An autograph-seeker. And absolutely charming. Life wasn’t so dismal, after all. It would probably be rude to tell her she preferred to be called Princess Gabby.
The woman, younger than she, was a lovely little thing, with fine bones, short-cropped strawberry-blond hair and large blue eyes. Still nervous, that was all Gabriella could see—the long neck, the prominent collarbones above the black top and lacy traces of a blouse beneath it.
“Hello,” she said, and reached for the book to sign it. “I’ll need to know your name.”
“Rikki Fitzpatrick,Valley Voicenewspaper.” She held fast to the notebook, and Gabriella felt a flush warm her cheeks.
“So, you’re not…”
“I’m a reporter.” Her voice stopped just short of a drawl.
Christopher stepped forward. Goodness, what would she do without him to look after her? “Then don’t pretend to be looking for an autograph.”
“I wasn’t pretending to be anything I’m not.”
“Princess Gabby doesn’t give interviews unless they’re prearranged.”
“PrincessGabby?” The reporter’s lip twitched, and Gabriella caught a hardness in her eyes she’d missed before. “Weren’t you born in Texas?”
“I am a princess,” Gabriella said. “You don’t lose those titles because of domestic changes.”
“Such as divorce?” The reporter asked it as she scribbled something in her notebook. Gabriella had dealt with her type before. The best approach was openness, honesty. That’s what tamed the press. They absolutely adored candor.
“Yes, I was born in Texas, and yes, I’m separated from my husband. Is there anything else you’d like to know?”
“Why do you want to be the next Killer Body?”
The question stunned her, partially because of the way the reporter’s eyes went from inquiring to fiery. “Considering the problems in my own life, the weight issues with which I’ve had to deal, I’d say I’m a natural candidate, wouldn’t you?”
“Some say it’s because you’re trying to get your own talk show.”
Christopher touched her arm.
“It’s all right,” Gabriella said. “In fact, it’s a good question.” The reporter didn’t smile. “It’s a darned good question,” Gabriella continued. “I’ve come forward about my own problems.”
“Such as the photographs taken of you when you were married and having an affair with one of your husband’s friends?”
She’d heard this before, and she knew how to respond. Open. Honest. “Just so you know, they were barely acquainted, and my husband and I were having some pretty major problems. If anything would motivate you to lose weight, it would be seeing photos like that and having the press dub you Flabby Gabby.” She paused, then remembered something else she’d never before said, wondering if she should just go for it. Why not?
“You know something else?” she asked. “I felt beautiful when those damning photographs were taken. I felt loved, and wonderful, and all of the things a woman must feel to take off her clothes in front of a man. When I saw what I really looked like, what he must have seen, I saw only ugly, and I resolved to change my life.”
“And to get your own talk show?”
What could make anyone so young this embittered? “You don’t get me,” she said. “Do you? You think I’m an opportunist, when it’s quite the contrary, really. I want to help other women, motivate them to change their lives as I have.”
“How did you find her?” Christopher demanded. “Do you just follow people around so you can accost them?”
The reporter’s cheeks colored. “The desk clerk said you’d asked if there was a boutique on the premises. I thought I’d take a chance. I’m interviewing all of the candidates for Killer Body.”
