Lasso chose that moment to duck his head between the curtains. “Did someone say panties? Well hello, gorgeous. Is this the taco lady?”
She laughed. “I hope that’s not what I’m being called, cowboy.”
He blinked and his smile widened. All I could do was shake my head at the relentless flirt. “Who said I was a cowboy?”
“Besides those jeans?” she asked, drawing a loud guffaw from the Texan.
“I like her,” he said with his best boyish grin. “If you get tired of the pretty boy over here, the name’s Dallas.”
She laughed. “Have you seen yourself? Your face is as pretty as his hair,” she said and ran her long manicured fingers through my hair until I groaned.
Lasso’s grin faded. “That’s my cue to leave. Going to eat some tacos, boss.”
“Listen for the door,” I told him and pulled the curtains shut. Then I turned to Teddy. “Ready?”
She nodded but I could see the nerves in her blue eyes. “As ready as I can be, I suppose. Be gentle.”
“Always.”
Chapter 10
Teddy
One week. Those two words acted as my mantra all day because, for some reason, my focus was shot. Last minute wedding planning for Kip and Gillian, plus another new couple who wanted a midnight Elvis wedding in two weeks wasn’t a lot for me. Yet, as I left the office with several assistants still making calls and picking up items for this weekend’s wedding, all I wanted to do was go home and pass out.
I was searching in my tote for my car key and I heard, “Teddy! Teddy, we need to talk.” Gillian Frye was tottering up the sidewalk in stilettos she could barely walk in, wearing skintight jeans and an adorable pink crop top that made her look at least a decade younger than her twenty-five years.
“What about, Gillian?” Though based on the scowl she wore and the way her hands fisted at her hips, I could guess.
“Kip. I know you’re sleeping with him and I want you to stop.” I opened my mouth to tell the fool how wrong she was, but a hot pink nail pointed at me before I could. “I don’t care that you used to be somebody or that you’re still hot, I want it to end or I will end you.”
I could’ve eviscerated her with just one sentence, but that would be like kicking a newborn puppy. So, I decided to be mature. “First of all, I don’t sleep with other women’s men. Period. It’s too much drama and I’ve yet to meet a man worth it. Second, you need to talk to Kip. He’s been hitting on me for weeks and I shot him down. I don’t fuck around with pretty boys.”
She sucked in a breath, skin flushed an ugly shade of red. “I don’t believe you.”
“And I don’t care, but it’s the truth. Look Gillian, you seem like a nice girl so I’m going to give you some advice. Kip is young and newly rich and if you really want this to work, not just for the cameras but for real, you need to speak up. Men need to be handled so if you’re not happy with his behavior, let him know. I don’t want him, believe me, but one of these women out here will and they’ll have no problem with the fact that someone else is wearing his ring.”
It was more than I wanted to say, but she seemed like a girl out of her depth with the Hollywood game. If she didn’t toughen up, she’d end up being one of those sad reality starlet stories.
“I followed him, Teddy. I saw him come here early in the morning. Without any cameras, and Kip will barely take a shit without a crew in the house. I believe you, but I also believe what I see.” She pointed from her eyes to mine for emphasis and I shook my head in disbelief. Shit. Could she really be as naïve as she looked?
“I’ll tell you, Gillian. But if I hear one word of this on your show or in any kind of press, I’ll use my money and whatever star power I have left to ruin you both. Got it?”
Green eyes went wide with shock, she nodded quickly and a long ponytail bobbed behind her. “I swear.”
I took a deep breath and let it out. “Someone has been leaving, let’s call them gifts, outside my house. The first time it was Kip, so when the others appeared, I assumed it was him. Incorrectly, it turns out, but the police showed up at your house and he got scared. Worried and wanted to talk without the cameras. That’s it.”
“Oh my god, Teddy! Are you all right?” Her eyes were even bigger now, like the queen’s emeralds, and I really hoped she didn’t get chewed up and spit out in this industry. “I’m so sorry this is happening to you.”
“Yeah, me too. But whoever it is doesn’t seem to be targeting my office, so your wedding will go off without a hitch. I promise.” She opened her mouth to protest and I held up a hand to stop her. “No, Gillian. Don’t worry about this or me. Just pamper yourself so you’re beautiful and blissed out on your wedding day. I’ll take care of the rest.”
How I ended up comforting her, I had no clue. But it was all part of the job.
“Thank you again, Teddy. And I’m sorry for the accusations.”
I grinned. “I respect you more for coming to me. Just keep that shit up, okay?”
She nodded, squeezed me in a hug I didn’t ask for but accepted, because I wasn’t a complete asshole, and tottered back off to her sleek little sports car. She’d come without her entourage, which was a testament to how worried she was about Kip and how genuine her feelings were for him.