“We gave him two seasons of Triple Threat with ratings so high he’ll never spend enough to see those kind of numbers again. Alan won’t admit it, but he owes us forever. So does Justin. I can’t get away from his stupid, number-one song on the radio.”
“And I guess in a strange way, we owe them since they brought us together.”
She reached back and rubbed my arm. “Fake it till you make it. The story of how we fell in love.”
I dropped my head down to rest on hers. “Is that the title of our best-selling tell-all?”
“Never.” She waved to bring my attention back to the computer screen. “What do you think?”
“So, it’s the typical dating show concept, but they’re all women from his past he regrets cutting ties with?”
“Basically. But I don’t want a guy with a long list of ex-girlfriends. I’d want to dig deeper. Prom dates, the girl from his co-ed soccer team, maybe the girl next door. I want that shock factor when they see each other again. The whole show hinges on the cast, which is why I won’t sell this one.”
“It’s brilliant.” I was trying to read the details she’d typed up, but I kept getting distracted by the smooth curve of her neck just below me. Her beautiful hair was piled on her head in a loose bun. I dropped a kiss just below her ear.
She leaned back into me and shivered. “I think I need to find a sounding board who doesn’t distract me quite so well.”
I turned her swivel chair just enough to kiss her properly. She wrapped her arms around my neck and eagerly kissed me back, except with me standing and her in a seat with wheels, we ended up rolling the chair off the floor mat where it pitched over sideways. I pulled her into my arms before she fell over with the chair.
She laughed into my chest. “We have better furniture for this, you know.”
“I’m especially a fan of the chaise lounge you bought.”
She laughed. “Dinner first, my man. That soup tastes better than it looks, I promise. Oh, and you have to open the gift I got you.”
“And you have to open mine.”
She gave me a mysterious smile. “First anniversary gifts are traditionally paper. Did you know that?”
“Google told me. Mine sort of fits.” Cardboard was like paper’s cousin.
I was still holding her in my arms, and she poked at my flexed bicep before running her hand over it.
“You want me to carry you like this back to the kitchen, don’t you?”
She turned red. “Yes, please.”
With our narrow hallway, I had to be careful not to bump her knees or head, especially when our eyes locked and we dared each other to laugh first.
When I put her down, she hurried off to a top cupboard and pulled down a thick manila envelope. She handed it over, looking nervous but excited.
I slid out the homemade comic book inside. I recognized her handwriting and drawing style. “Geek Handsome?” The guy on the front had my wavy hair and slightly crooked nose. His arms were crossed, muscles bulging, with a red cape flowing behind him. “Are you in here, too?” I asked.
She nodded. “Yeah, I’m the bad girl, Gorgeous Evil, but you eventually bring me to your side. We have to hide this somewhere where the media and our future children will never find it.”
I turned a page, amazed at the detail and hilarity, and yet not amazed at all. Willa never ceased to surprise me with what she was secretly thinking. “I love it. I love you.”
She reached up and kissed me. “You really are my hero, Doug.”
**
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Hungry for more? My crazy author brain loves to come up with Reality TV scenarios, where my characters meet people they wouldn’t otherwise and question what’s real and what’s acting. Be sure to check outBethany’s New Reality, and scroll ahead for a first page sneak peek.
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