"Gorgeous," he whispered in her ear and that one word made all the little hairs stand up along her neck.
Their gazes caught and Jimmy was right there, and there was an audience of people, and the cameras were live, but it still felt like only the two of them.
She blushed a little. "Hi."
"Hi," he responded with a panty-melting grin.
"A true everyday hero in our midst today," Jimmy said. "Great to meet you."
She nodded in response because this whole thing was overwhelming. The lights were super hot, and she was slightly worried that if she opened her mouth, she’d lose her lunch on his desk.
"You’ve got this," Mach whispered in her ear, casual like he was just a normal celebrity helping her along in front of the cameras, not a guy who knew exactly what to do to make her body purr.
They all sat, the crowd clapped, and her hand itched to reach for Mach all on its own. He seemed to sense that, and clasped their hands together as they sat.
"So, Darla Davis is here." Jimmy Jones said her name again. That was weird, hearing her name as a first-name-last-name so much. "How are things, Darla?"
Okay, phew, that was scripted. That was what Courtney had prepared her for.
"Well, things are interesting," she said, just as she’d rehearsed.
The audience laughed, which was odd because that wasn’t super funny.
"You’ve been on quite the tour of California," Jimmy said. "How did that all start?"
She and Mach talked and worked off of each other, telling their story of how they came to California, and all the things they’d done. Jimmy had tabloid images for a lot of them that he put on the big screen behind them.
"So what comes next for you two?" Jimmy asked. "More California-style fun? A little bungee jumping?"
"Ha, no," Darla said with a glance to Mach. "You heard all about what’s going on with Dimefront, they’ll be busy for a while."
"What about you?" Jimmy asked.
What about her? That was the million-dollar question, wasn’t it? Well..
"I’ve been accepted into the Nurses on the Frontline program," she announced. "I figure that’s where I’ll head off to next. A new adventure, this time to give help where it’s most needed."
That announcement sat funny in her chest, like she was trying it on for size and it didn’t fit at all.
"Hold up. Nurses on the Frontline is that charity where the nurses go away for years, isn’t it?" Mach asked.
She nodded. "To all corners of the world to help people who need us."
Did Mach just say a naughty word under his breath? She was pretty certain he did. Was he allowed to do that on television?
"What does that mean for your time with Dimefront?" Jimmy asked, and they all knew he really meant Dimefront’s guitarist.
What did that mean? They’d already decided that before things even got going, so it shouldn’t have felt so damn off.
"I mean this kind of thing doesn’t last forever”—she gestured between herself and Mach—"but it’s wicked fun while it lasts, right? But it’s time to get back to my not-so-interesting life."
More not-so-funny laugher.
"Then Mach can move forward with being the amazing person he is, too. And Dimefront can make more fantastic music."
"We do make fantastic music," Mach said. Smooth as silk he slid right back into their conversation. "This tour is gonna be epic."
She decided in that second that, "I guess I am ready… I’m ready for my life back. I am so grateful for all this time with Mach, but I never wanted the fame." That’s not what this was about.
