17. Andrea
Who could possibly say no to spending more time with Deacon? Especially when he was rubbing my feet in the back of an SUV. Yet there was the small voice warning that I was in over my head and shouldn’t go and do something stupid like fall for the man. He was most certainly leaving town, while I’d be left sitting here in reality.
The same voice told me it might already be too late. This may have started as a weekend of pretend, but it was turning out to be the best two days of my life.
Tonight had been cathartic. I’d finally been strong enough to share my true feelings with Jeff, and then the world, and even with Paula.
Jeff had wanted our lives on reality television, and now he had it. The good, bad, and now the ugly. I had no doubt he’d be furious once the interview aired, but I no longer cared. I was ready to move on. I was also ready to eat, having not done so since lunch.
“You hungry?”
He grinned. “Starving.”
It was close to nine o’clock, but I had an idea. “I know the perfect place.” I directed the driver to the best taco truck stand in LA. When we arrived, I was amused to see Deacon bring out my slippers which he’d thoughtfully stowed in the car for me.
We’d just ordered when Deacon’s phone rang. “Ah, it’s my attorney friend. How’s it going, Lawrence?”
Deacon listened for a bit before looking at me. “Yeah, let me ask her. You okay with meeting Lawrence tomorrow?”
“Of course.” So much for spending the day with Deacon. But the financial situation regarding my divorce was too important to put off.
Once we received our order, which included two fish tacos Deacon obtained for the driver, I played photographer, snapping phone pictures of him and the crew who manned the truck and a couple fellow customers who also wanted pictures with him. He was friendly to everyone, and I found myself once again wishing there wasn’t a countdown on our time together.
Back at Deacon’s house, Callie greeted us at the front door, clearly anxious to have me home.
Despite his designer clothes, he crouched down to pet her. “Come on, pretty girl, let’s go outside.” He led her down the hall and let her out the sliding back door after turning on the lights so she could see the grass.
“I should go out and clean up after her.” I grabbed a bag from her leash.
“I’ll do it in the morning. Come out and see this though.”
I took his hand, and he led me out back. “Wow. How did I miss this last night?” The view from his backyard of the LA cityscape was gorgeous.
He chuckled, wrapping his arms around me from the back and nuzzling my neck. “Probably because I had you distracted.”
“Mm, it was a lovely distraction.” Turning in his arms, I marveled at how quickly I’d become comfortable enough to reach up and kiss him. My affectionate action seemed like the most natural thing in the world.
If this was my last night with him, I mused, then I’d make it count.