Chapter 4 #2
“Or easy.” Margo squinted. “Doesn’t he look like someone?”
“I don’t know. Does he?”
“Yeah, someone famous. It’s the hair, I think. Ah—” Margo gasped as her hand snatched out and gripped Lilian’s arm. “I know. He’s a dead ringer for Heath Ledger in A Knight’s Tale.”
“What?” Lilian finally allowed herself another look.
This time, she scrutinized his appearance—not in an “I’m checking you out” way.
She was being… studious. Sure, the guy was handsome; there were things about his face that looked like the late actor.
The soft cheeks that blended into a gentle smile, the way his brows seemed to always be tilted up in a pouty look.
But it was the curly golden locks that really made the connection.
She nodded slowly. “I see it.”
“Lilian, I have an amazing idea. Can you take a picture of him for me?”
“What?” She reeled on her friend, eyes wide. “Are you crazy? We’re working and I don’t know that man.”
“Please, it's not for my spank bank, I promise,” Margo pleaded. “I have received artistic inspiration that I think the shop can really benefit from.”
“I think we’re still benefiting from your last artistic inspiration. People love the sign.”
“This is different. Come on, you'll thank me!”
“Why don’t you use your phone?"
Margo gave a chastised smile. “I forgot to plug it in last night. The battery died during my lunch break.”
Lilian studied her partner, trying to determine if the excuse was a lie or not. Eventually, she sighed. It didn’t really matter. Margo had done a lot to help her. If her friend needed a picture of a hot knight… well, who was she to stand in the way of that?
“All right, but this inspiration better be good.”
Margo wiggled her shoulders in excitement. “I think it is.”
Lilian grabbed her phone from her purse and hustled toward the small crowd that still captured the knight’s attention.
He was putting on a show, like all the actors did, complimenting the patrons while at the same time promoting the daily jousting competition.
They were finishing up when he noticed Lilian.
His smile broadened. “Why, Ms. Bodice, is there anything I can do for you on this fine day?”
Lilian paused. He knew her name? That was strange, considering she couldn’t recall his. And she did know most of the knights. She recovered quickly and held up her phone. “Good Sir Knight, would you mind if I took your picture? For, er… research.”
“Research?” he repeated, grinning.
Damn, he had a dimple. It took every atom in her body not to blush again. “I swear, it will only be used with the best intentions.”
“Oh, I’m not worried about your intentions,” he said, straightening. “All right, picture away.”
He must be new. Because any other actor would have chastised her for having her phone out. At the very least, they would play into a bit about the “new-fangled technology” she held.
Well, at least this will be easy. Lilian held up her camera and took a few quick shots. One full body and one closer to the face.
“Is this your first year here?” she asked as the last picture clicked.
“Yeah, you could tell?” His accent was completely gone now, shifting back to a casual Midwestern cadance.
Lilian tilted her head at the sudden change. Definitely new. “I’ve never seen you here before.”
“The name’s David,” he said, extending a hand before he realized his mistake. “I mean, I’m Sir William Debauchery.”
Lilian’s eyebrows shot up. “Debauchery? Really?”
He grinned. “I’ll be honest. Someone picked it out for me. I had no idea what made a good knight name when I was hired on.”
“And how long have you been a knight?”
“Oh! Only a few weeks!” David answered happily.
That made her pause. She didn’t know the inside politics of the knight actors, but she did know at the Heartland Renaissance Faire, they were professionals. Men who were trained in acting, riding, and knighthood. David seemed like a guy they’d picked up off the street.
“And what’s your name?” David asked.
“You already seem to know my name, sir.”
He laughed, a little pink touching those high cheekbones, but maybe it was the heat of the day. “I hope that’s not weird. I saw the sign and was curious what kind of store you ran. So I asked around.”
“Oh?” Lilian wasn’t expecting that, but it was a good thing that her shop had caught someone’s attention.
David nodded, reminding her of an eager golden retriever. “Yeah. A bookshop, right? That is so cool.”
Now it was her turn to blush. God, was he flirting with her? Technically that was in his job description, especially with a name like Debauchery. It was an easy thing to do at the faire. People took on new personas, they got into the spirit of things. And well, her name was Ms. Bodice, wasn’t it?
She was about to answer when a call came from down the road. “Ms. Bodice!”
She closed her eyes and suppressed a groan. She knew that voice. Her insides turned into hot coals at that voice. Because Hawk Carlisle had not called out to her in a friendly greeting. No, that was a tone of complete and total annoyance.
“Shit,” she hissed under her breath.
David didn’t look at all concerned. His smile stayed firmly in place as he turned toward the fair manager. “Hawk, hey man!”
Hawk’s face was dark with irritation, and it didn’t lighten up at David’s good-natured greeting. Carlisle’s eyes didn’t even register the knight. All his ire was focused solely on Lilian. “Ms. Bodice, was that a phone?”
“Er…” Lilian tucked her hand against the bustle of her dress to hide the blocky piece of technology. “Phone? What is this phone you speak of?”
Hawk pointed a finger at her obvious attempt to hide the device. “You know the rules. No phones when you’re working.”
“Oh, come on, Hawk.” David laughed. “She was just asking for a picture. There’s no harm.”
Hawk turned back to her. “What do you need the picture for? I should warn you, the faire has a right to review anything an actor or shop owner posts online.”
“It’s not for social media. It’s for… an art project.”
“An art project?” both men repeated. David’s brows shot up with amusement at the same time Hawk’s dipped in speculation.
She watched Hawk take a deep inhale, an attempt to try to conceal his annoyance, but it was still there in the tight set around his eyes. “You are both actors here. It breaks the illusion if people are taking selfies and videos instead of interacting with the guests.”
A wave of guilt washed over her. He had a point. Still, she would rather be tied to the stocks than admit it out loud.
Surprisingly, David took Hawk’s ire with easy grace. “All right, no problem. I should go get ready for the joust anyway. Ms. Bodice, it was lovely meeting you.”
“Same to you, good knight.” She dipped into a deep curtsy, flashing the brightest smile she could manage. One she would never offer a man like Hawk Carlisle.
David headed off down toward the jousting arena at the bottom of the hill.
Once he was out of earshot, Hawk turned back to her and held out his hand. “Your phone, please.”
“What?” She straightened. “You have to be kidding.”
His face suggested the man had never told a joke before in his life. “Rules say if an actor or business owner has their phones out, they can be confiscated until the end of the day.”
“What is this? Elementary school?”
“Phone.” He held out his hand expectantly.
Lilian glared at the man. She was a grown woman, one who had been through a lot of shit the past year, and she absolutely refused to let this guy treat her like a child. She lifted her phone so he could see it and then promptly dropped it down the front of her cleavage.
Her squashed breasts kept the phone from falling to the ground. In fact, they cradled the cool metal nicely against her flushed skin. “Come and get it,” she said, placing her hands on her hips.
Hawk stared, a dark red coloring creeping up his neck. “You…” His mouth opened and closed as if there were a number of things he wanted to say to her. But nothing came out. For the first time since she’d met him, maybe even for the first time in his life, Hawk was speechless.
Finally, he settled for, “Next time I see the phone out, I will get it.”
She met his gaze. “Fine.”
They stared at each other for what felt like an eternity. Neither bending under the other’s scrutiny, until Margo broke the silent standoff. “Ms. Bodice, we need your assistance in the shop!”
“I should be getting back.”
“Go. I’m done with you.” The irritation was back, but this time she wasn’t entirely sure it was all directed at her.
Lilian stepped back, and the moment she did, the spell between them seemed to break. It was suddenly easier to look away from Hawk and to refocus on the fact that she had a shop that needed attention.
She turned her back to him, grateful to Margo for the excuse to leave.
But before she could take a step, Hawk called after her, “Whenever you need pictures, talk to Gabby. She’s the faire photographer, and it’s what she’s here for, all right?”
She had no idea there was a faire photographer, or that she could utilize her at will. “I’ll do that next time… thanks.”
She glanced back, but Hawk was already walking away.
His stride was purposeful as he cut through groups of patrons.
Lilian meant to return to her store right away.
She meant to put the whole altercation behind her as soon as possible.
But she couldn’t help staring at the man’s retreating back until he disappeared for good.