He tapped her number on speed dial, and she answered with a distracted note in her voice. “Hello?”
He paused, wondering if he was interrupting a post-meeting date. “Hi, having a good time?”
“Sure.”
“Did you get all the signatures you needed?” he ground out. Rubbing his forehead, he reminded himself that Alice was free to date whomever she pleased. He just hadn’t pictured her with anyone—other than himself. He began massaging his temples. Envying imaginary men was ridiculous—an action of his overactive imagination. The same brain that helped him create characters could make monsters out of shadows and love out of friendship.
Besides, Gabriella was coming to town to see him. He really should focus on his time with her and not worry about Alice’s social life.
“I did. Listen, I’m trying to get out of the parking lot …”
Was she brushing him off? “Yeah. I wondered if we could reschedule our trip to Barry’s shop for tomorrow.”
“Sure. Why?”
“Gabriella Green is coming into town this weekend.”
“Are you planning on stalking her again?” Alice asked in mock horror.
“No! She texted me.”
Alice made a choking noise as if he’d said something shocking.
“Is that so hard to believe?”
“No,” she answered quickly. “I thought you worked with Broadway, not Hollywood.”
“I do. I think it’s a social thing.” At least, he hoped it was. He couldn’t imagine Gabriella on a stage. She was great in reality shows, but he wasn’t sure it would transfer over to live performances.
“Oh.”
The conversation fell as flat as a pumpkin pancake. Russ wondered if he should have kept his mouth shut. “So, I’ll pick you up?”
“Sure.” Alice’s voice had lost the smile, and Russ suddenly felt like he was in a canoe in the middle of Tortoise Cove. He should be ecstatic about this weekend, but instead he was worried about what Alice thought of him spending time with Gabriella. “Bye.” She hung up.
Russ set the phone down and stared at it for several minutes. Women were puzzles that made his head ache. Gabriella was vague and mysterious for months, and then, out of the blue, she practically shows up on his doorstep. Alice was around almost every day, and out of the blue, she becomes vague and mysterious.
How was he ever supposed to write a female character that made sense to the audience when he couldn’t make sense out of the women in his life?
Chapter Six
“Is it too much?” Alice stared at herself in the mirror while Stacy worked the flat iron.
After talking with Russ, she’d promised the sun, the moon, and a half day of doing inventory to her boss in order to take the evening off. How could she say no with Gabriella Green coming into town this weekend?
Gabriella Green. The celebrity woman with pouty lips, perfect hips, and enough charisma to charm a barn full of men.
Alice had been skiing with Russ last winter—as friends—when Gabriella appeared out of nowhere. She’d been the one to pick his jaw up off the floor when the paparazzi flooded the air with flashes and camera clicks. As far as she knew, he’d met her once and that was it.
Now she’d found out that the story continued, and Gabriella had Russ’s phone number. This was a horrible development.
Well, Gabriella wasn’t the only one with mad female skills. Stacy was a registered aesthetician and loved to use her talents on Alice. Which was a blessing times three, because their mom, though quite the stunner herself, had been too preoccupied trying to steal her husband back from the other woman to pass on beauty tips. What Alice had learned of mousse and lipstick had come from books and YouTube videos until Stacy graduated.
“It’s too much. I should have gone with the wild rose lipstick, not this hot pink.” Alice snagged a tissue and began wiping.
“It’s perfect. You look amazing.” Stacy ripped the tissue out of Alice’s hands. “Gabriella what’s-her-name doesn’t hold a candle to you.”
“Are you sure about straight hair?” Alice stared at her face. Normally, she enjoyed bounce in her locks, but Stacy had talked her into going with an ultra-sleek look. Her cheekbones were more pronounced, and her eyes looked bigger. Or maybe that was the swoop Stacy had done with the eyeliner.
