Authors: Heather Webber

Trouble In Bloom (18 page)

BOOK: Trouble In Bloom

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"Okay. Give me a call if anything else comes up."

"Will do."

I hung up just as Carson Keyes strutted into the room, a cameraman trailing him. I watched as he shook hands with Willie and the network guy.

Louisa bustled by. I grabbed her. "Do you know why Carson's here? I thought Willie banned all media."

"Changed his mind. Thought having someone behind the scenes would take the pressure off."

She hurried away.

From my spot in the corner, I could watch Willie unfettered. His comb-over had been plastered into submission. His dark eyes glistened and his teeth gleamed like those in a Crest ad. He looked like a salesman on the verge of landing the big one, and his hook was firmly lodged in the executive's lip.

Perry cozied up. "Just heard a rumor that ABC is interested in the show. Willie's got himself a bidding war."

Money. Had Genevieve's death been all about money?

Jessica lounged on the water bed. I couldn't forget she had a lot to gain from Genevieve's death too. Not only sweet revenge for being fired in the first place, but namely her job back, and a chance to get her name and face in a national market.

And Thad? He had the same motivation. I looked around for him. He wasn't here.

Mario stood at the buffet table with Louisa, chatting it up. I couldn't help myself. I said to Perry, "If Mario was an egg, would he be over-easy, scrambled, poached, or hard-boiled?"

Laughter bubbled out of him. "Oh, scrambled, definitely. Bobby?"

"Hard-boiled." I winked.

His laughter carried across the room, catching Mario's at

tention. He wandered over. "What's so funny?" he asked.

"Eggs," Perry and I said at the same time, then laughed.

One of Mario's eyebrows dipped. "I've got news for you," he said to me.

"Me?"

"You."

"About?"

"Bobby."

"Oh?"

I tried not to sound overeager but couldn't quite pull it off.

"He was a no-show today because he was looking for someone to take care of his grandfather tomorrow while he flies back to Florida to deal with his job."

So he hadn't left yet. That was good to know.

"What about his job?" Perry asked.

"I don't know," Mario said, then went on, "he's fl ying out first thing in the morning, though."

"How do you know all this?"

"Louisa."

"How does she know all this?"

"Bobby."

Perry scowled on my behalf. "What's he doing talking to her?"

"Well, originally for the show, to tell her he'd be gone tomorrow," Mario said. Then he leaned in and whispered, "But word is she's volunteered to watch over his grandfather while he's gone."

"Her?" I gasped, not sure whether I was relieved he hadn't asked me to help or hurt.

After all, Mac was a handful, but then again, Louisa was a complete stranger.

"Why would she do that?"

Mario arched his left eyebrow.

"Oh," Perry said. He turned a sorrowful look in my direction. "Ohhhh."

"It's okay. No big deal."

Both looked at me like they'd sealed my fate as "ditched" and were going to send me a sympathy bouquet pronto.

I couldn't very well tell them Bobby and I weren't really together and that we were on the show under false pretenses, now could I?

Actually, why couldn't I? Obviously Bobby and I weren't needed by Josh anymore. From the way Jessica lay sprawled on the water bed, there would be no lawsuit.

The only thing keeping me here was the contract I'd signed.

The sooner this farce was over, the better.

Hmmph. Asking Louisa to help him out.

What was that all about?

Out of the corner of my eye I watched Louisa dash across the set, all bouncy and trouncy, her curls flying out behind her.

Willie motioned her over, leaned in and whispered in his usual loud manner. They were about twenty feet away, however, and all I could make out was the name Thad.

Who wasn't to be seen. Was he off pouting somewhere, or had he quit the show in a tantrum?

Perry drew in a breath. "Well lookee-loo."

I turned. And lookee-looed.

"Hi," I said to Bobby as he kissed my cheek.

Mario and Perry gave him the evil eye. They did it quite well. My mother would be quite impressed with their efforts.

"Got a sec?" he asked me.

The old me wanted to shout, "Yes!" The new me, however, weakly said, "I think we're about to start."

"Just one, eensy second, Nina."

Don't give in, don't give in,
the new me chanted.

I looked into his eyes and said, "Maybe later."

"Nina . . . "

My eyebrows snapped together. "Louisa? You asked Louisa?"

I'd surprised myself with my little outburst. Usually I hated confrontation, and now twice today I'd willingly thrown myself into it.

"Is that what you're mad about?"

"How about that I hear you're going back to Florida from Roxie, of all people. You won't answer my calls. Then I learn you're letting a complete stranger help you with Mac. What would I be mad about?"

"Well, I'm glad to hear you're not upset."

"Don't even."

"What?"

"Smirk."

"Who's smirking?" His eyes crinkled along with the cor- ners of his mouth when he smiled. His dimple popped.

Ugh! I couldn't take it. "We're at least supposed to
pre
tend
we're in a relationship."

"Right. The pretend relationship. Because a real one is out of the question." He reached his hand up, and his thumb swept along my jawline.

I grabbed his hand. He had this way of touching me that made me forget all rational reason. "What kind of relationship could we have?" I asked. "With you there and me here?"

"Right. Me . . . there."

"Why do you say it like that?"

"Like what?"

"The way you did, all . . . dripping with undisclosed meaning."

He arched an eyebrow.

I punched him in the arm. "You know how you said it!"

Hurried footsteps turned our attention. Louisa whipped into the room, her face flushed. Willie strode over to her.

She didn't bother with the whispering, and we didn't

bother to pretend we weren't eavesdropping. "He's not in his dressing room."

Jessica slid off the water bed and slinked over to Willie. She seemed awfully chummy for someone who'd been claiming sexual harassment.

"I could do the show alone, Mr. Sala. I could be your next host," she gushed. "You don't need Thad."

Willie rubbed his stubble, smoothed the hairs on his head.

Behind him the execs whispered behind cupped hands.

Willie nodded. "You're absolutely right, Jessica. You're hired. Thad's out."

I could feel Bobby's body heat through my shirt, so I shuffl ed a little to my left, closer to Mario and Perry, who watched the goings-on with eager eyes.

They weren't the only ones. Carson and his cameraman were having their own cupped-hand meeting. Carson's eyes shone brighter than Jessica's Hollywood dreams.

If he hadn't been the biggest fish in the tristate pond before today, then this little coup sealed his fate.

Jessica squealed.

Louisa looked sick. "Should I let Thad know?"

Willie shook his head. "He'll figure it out."

Willie left Louisa open-mouthed and strode over to Jessica.

"Well, well," Perry said.

If Thad had been the one to kill Genevieve, then his nefarious plot hadn't just thickened—it had turned to quicksand and swallowed him whole.

Apprehension hung over the set, a silent buzz. Everyone's nerves were on edge, waiting for Thad to walk in and see he'd been replaced with Game Show Barbie.

Jessica knelt on the bed, the covers pulled up over her legs. Her cups runneth over her satin nightie. The execs had nothing but smiles. Thad's ousting must have sat well with them.

Actually, I could practically see the lead Carson would

take with his ten o'clock newscast. "Hostess with the mostest takes charge on
Hitched or Ditched
in wake of tragedy. Stay tuned."

And she definitely had the mostest too. That nightie left nothing to the imagination.

"Places for the intro, people." Willie clapped his hands.

I made a mental note to call home to ask Riley to tape the show tonight so I could see what Bobby had been up to all day, what his camera crew had captured on film.

Not because he wasn't telling me everything. Only because I was curious.

"What time do you fly out tomorrow?" I asked him as we sat in our seats on the set.

I couldn't help but watch Jessica as she fl ipped through her note cards for the show ahead. I hoped to heaven there weren't more sex questions. Where were the home decor questions? The obligatory wedding questions?

Enough about the sex! It just served to remind me about the lack of it in my life.

"At ten," he said.

I tried to smooth a wrinkle out of my pants. Darn linen. "Are you coming back?" I held my breath, waiting for the answer.

"Tomorrow night in time for the taping of
Rendezvous
."

Something in me was so glad to hear that, despite the fact he'd be gone again in no time.

"There are a few things I need to take care of down there. Shouldn't take too long. Did you want to get dinner tonight?"

"Dinner or dessert?" I probed.

The corners of his eyes crinkled as he smiled. "I was thinking cookies might be good."

Outraged, I leaned forward, glared. "Perry! You told?"

"Sorry, sugar. I don't do well with secrets. I should have told you."

"Mario, you could have warned me."

He smiled. "I could have, but where's the fun in that?"

Sighing, I leaned back, crossed my arms.

"Remember the time with the double chocolate cookies and vanilla ice cream?"

"No."

"You lie like the rug Willie needs."

I couldn't help but smile. Willie really did need a toupee. Or to let nature take its course and allow his bald head to shine.

Overhead lights dimmed, cameramen took their places. A spotlight illuminated Jessica on the bed as she started Thad's usual greeting.

I wondered if he realized he'd been replaced yet. Or if he cared.

She greeted Mario and Perry, and I knew from previous nights that parts of their days would be pieced into this tape.

Jessica had trouble pronouncing
MacKenna
and stammered her way through my introduction too. Red filled her cheeks as she began speaking faster and faster, finally reading the closing line, a teaser about the next segment.

We took a break while Mario and Bobby went backstage to the soundproof booth closet.

I prepared myself for the night's double entendre questions.

"She's got great legs, doesn't she?" Perry said.

"Jealous?"

He laughed. "You're catching on, sug—"

Jessica's shriek cut him off. "You can't!"

Pulling her robe tightly around her waist, she stood over Willie, eyeing him like prey.

"Sorry, Jessie. You're no host. You're eye candy, not the nougat center."

Perry pretended to gag himself.

Willie clapped his hands. "Take ten. Louisa, find Thad. We need him back."

Reminding me of Riley, Louisa threw her arms into the air and stomped out of the room.

The new me didn't feel sorry for her one bit.

And little did she know what she was in for tomorrow, what with Mac's touchy-feely-ness.

Served her right.

Jessica wasn't through pleading her case. "Willie, this is outrageous. You can't do this to me. After all I've been through!"

"Life's tough, kid. Get over it."

Perry moved into Mario's empty seat. "This is better than
Dallas
the year J.R. was shot."

This whole week
had
felt like an eighties nighttime soap.

"Do you think Thad will come back?" I asked, watching Carson cross the room to interview one of the execs.

"Sugar, Willie's going to have some serious groveling to do."

If Willie knew Thad had been sleeping with Genevieve, then it would be a cold day in the netherworld before he kowtowed to him.

If.

That "if " was the hinge for many theories, including motivation for Willie to have killed Genevieve.

"You've got that faraway look again. Thinking about cookies?" Perry asked.

I laughed. "No. Far from it, and don't think I've forgiven you for blabbing. I was just thinking about Genevieve and who killed her. That person could be among us right now."

Perry whistled low and made a show of looking at each person milling about, his eyebrow raised.

There were at least fifteen people in the room, all of whom had been present last night. With the exception of Jessica.

Even though she hadn't been seen, it didn't mean she hadn't been there. Maybe Josh had made up her trip to Mexico.

My gaze stopped on the police detectives standing near the door. They were the same pair who'd interviewed Bobby and me last night. It made sense they were here, observing. Were they any closer to finding the killer? Had they found any solid evidence?

It was a relief to know Kevin wasn't working this case. He'd been involved in my life too often these days—it made it really hard to completely move on, away from him.

Toward Bobby?

I just wasn't sure what to do. Wasn't that the whole point of this self-discovery? To figure out who I was, what I wanted?

It hadn't even been two weeks, but I kept coming back to the same conclusion.

I wanted Bobby.

BOOK: Trouble In Bloom

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