“Guys,” she chimed in, “it’s a great idea and all, but I can’t be the one to do it.”
The two paused, their smiles slipping at their friend’s sincere distress.A beat passed where she was sure the two would argue against her, but her own misery at the idea must have shown on her face.
Alex was the first to back down.“You’re right, Lil.Sorry about that, we got carried away.Look, you don’t have to do it.I know not everyone is comfortable getting on stage and talking.But I also want you to know that you would not be doing this alone.I will help you.”
“You already have too much on your plate,” Lilian argued weakly.“I don’t want to add more to it.”
“I’m going to be stressed no matter what.But this way, I’m not starring in another show.And I’m sure Logan will help direct.”
Lilian gritted her teeth as a ball of anxiety bounced off the walls of her stomach.This was her friend asking for help.And Margo was right; they did need some form of advertising.
“All right,” she said slowly, as two identical grins beamed at her.“But I want to do the minimal amount of talking, and you need at least four men to agree—” Lilian’s tirade of conditions was abruptly cut off as two corseted bosoms hugged her tight.
“Oh, thank you, thank you, thank you!”Alex sounded like she was on the verge of tears.“Don’t worry.This will be a piece of cake.I’ll be there every step of the way.”
Lilian hugged the two women back, but she wasn’t done yet with her agreement.She continued, “Andyou have to get the tyrant prince to agree to this as well.”
Something she sincerely doubted Hawk would do.She was a vendor, not one of the actors who had undergone extensive training in character development.Why should she be the bad guy and tell her friends no when Hawk Carlisle would do that for her?
Alex did not look deterred by the conditions.“I’ll ask him.No worries.”
Oh.I’m not worried.Lilian felt confident that by the end of the day, the idea of her “Finding Mr.Brawn” would be dead in the water, and she could focus on her shop in peace.
Except Hawk didn’t kill the idea.
The one time Lilian needed him to be his usual hard-ass self, he decided it would be a good idea to bend the rules (just this once, according to Alex) and let her host the “Finding Mr.Brawn Show” every Sunday.
Alex and Margo were elated, but to Lilian, it was further proof that Hawk Carlisle absolutely hated her.
“I got our main bachelors to agree,” Margo reported at the end of the day.They sat at a picnic table, cool beers in hand.It was quickly becoming a ritual for the three of them to meet at the pirate-themed tavern to unwind after a long day of work.
As far as eateries went, The Grog was one of the more elaborate places the faire had to offer.It featured a small covered sitting area with plenty of picnic tables.It almost constituted an actual restaurant, except for the fact that the food was still clearly faire food, deep fried and terrible for you.But it had the largest bar and an extensive list of beer on tap.
With a mouth full of greasy french fries, Margo listed off the eligible bachelors.“Logan and David agreed easily.I also got Ian from the Viking Camp and Mr.Berscotta from the Highlander group.”
“Wow, that’s actually a pretty good round-up,” Lilian agreed.Mr.Berscotta was always a hit with the older ladies, and even she had to admit the man was a silver fox with his salt-and pepper-beard and fake Scottish accent.He usually wandered the grounds dressed like an old Highland warrior.For a man in his fifties, he was in excellent shape and not afraid to show off the well-sculpted legs under his kilt.
She was less familiar with the Viking.Every year, the Viking crew changed out, but one thing remained the same.They were always young, in fairly good shape, and stupidly attractive.Even the women.The Carlisles had a certain image they wanted for their Nordic crew, and they never struggled to find the right actors.
“And let’s not forget our leading lady,” Alex cheered, raising her glass across the table.
Lilian’s smile grew tense.Despite Alex’s promise that everything would be all right, the knot in her stomach refused to loosen up.
How was she supposed to put on a show?Talking to customers about books was one thing, but getting on a stage and memorizing lines was completely outside her comfort zone.She was going to make a fool of herself.In front of strangers.In front of customers.In front of her friends.
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw a salmon-colored polo shirt making its way through the crowd of Renaissance costumes.
Hawk.
This washisfault.
He could have said no to Alex.He could have put an end to this.But instead, he said okay.The one time she needed his hard-ass-ness to benefit her, he let her down.
Anger coiled in her throat.She took a gulp of her beer and slammed it on the wooden picnic table.“I’ll be right back,” she said, cutting off Alex’s excited plans.
Something in her voice made the pirate queen’s eyes widen.“Um… okay.”
Lilian barely heard the response before she pushed herself to her feet and crossed the square.Her eyes were set on Hawk, who stopped chatting with one of the food vendors.Somehow, he must have seen her approach.Or maybe he felt the fire of her righteous anger, because he suddenly turned.Dark chocolate eyes stared her down, trying to calculate her intent before she arrived.Lilian let her annoyance shine through with every step.
