Page 45 of Bears of Firefly Valley: The Reasons Collection (Bears of Firefly Valley Boxed Sets #1)
SMILE FOR THE CAMERA
I threw my sneakers in the car and admired the boots.
They weren’t my style, not in the least, but if I were going to spend time in Firefly, I might as well look the part.
The jacket, on the other hand, was perfect—my hands no longer felt like blocks of ice.
I couldn’t wait to tell Tessa about the fashion show.
She’d laugh and ask if I had gone native.
Gone native? No. Had a native? Yes.
Rose made me promise not to devour any of the muffins.
My stomach growled, and I decided it was time to see a familiar face.
Since the comic convention, I have stayed in touch with Jason and Simon.
At first, it was the typical friends-on-social-media situation—liking the occasional post. But seeing the photos of the two of them together with their son always made me smile.
When I mentioned visiting, Jason had given me the listing for Rose and Edward’s house. Since then, we talked regularly. I’d stop by to say hi, but not before I filled my belly with one of Simon’s breakfast sandwiches.
I froze. Bobby exited the hardware store with a box. In classic New York style, I stared at my boots while I walked. No, I was in the country now, and I wanted to partake in their unusual and mystifying ways. I waved.
His face didn’t light up, nor did he look away. I worried he felt awkward after our romp. Would he regret getting naked? I hoped not... part of me hoped it wouldn't be a one-time event.
He offered a sheepish wave. Well, this had turned awkward. Do I walk away like I hadn’t been thinking about him by the campfire? Or do I rush up like a puppy dog fascinated with his new chew toy?
“Look who’s admitted he’s a city boy.” Dear God, thank you for breaking the ice. I let out a sigh of relief. We returned to average, albeit handsome, guys meeting in front of the flower shop.
“City bears, not enough of a pelt to keep you warm.” Having seen him shirtless, I knew it wasn’t a joke. The moment I thought of running my hands over his belly, a shiver ran down my spine.
Down, boy.
“I’m heading over to the bistro…” I trailed off.
Yes, I’ll admit it. I was nervous about asking him to sit down and have a meal.
I wasn't sure if he'd be interested, and for some reason, he put me on edge. Would it be too close to a date? In the city, we could have gone the rest of our lives without bumping into one another. Here, I felt I’d see him every time I ventured into town.
“I’ll walk with you,” he said with a smile. “I have to stop by Little Light.”
“Little Light?”
“Coffee shop. Barb introduced me to mocha, and I’m pretty sure that’s why my pants are tight these days.” They weren’t nearly tight enough for me.
Okay, time to take a perfectly pleasant stroll and make it weird. “About the other day… I wanted to apologize.”
“Apologize? For a good time?” I bit my lip, flustered by the compliment. While I walked beside him, he pushed his hair behind his ear, giving me a clear look at those jolly red cheeks. “I think what you mean is thank you.”
“Oh.”
“Thought I was on the straight and narrow?”
“Nothing narrow about you.” I gave him a playful nudge.
He stopped, his head slowly turning. He reached out and gave me a slap on the back. “The man has jokes.” When he laughed, his whole body shook, and my mind went straight to the gutter. Maybe it wouldn’t be a one-time event?
“In that case, I’ll write a proper thank-you note.”
I slowed my walk, a sense of dread creeping along my skin as I spotted the news van.
Did Tessa tell them I went on vacation in Firefly?
Had they tracked me down to drag my name through the mud?
I didn't want to think about my career going up in flames, and there was no way a reporter would let me go without questions.
The last thing I needed was more fuel added to the fire.
“What’s up with the news van?”
“Oh! I read in the Town Crier that Simon won a restaurant award. They’re probably interviewing him. It’s a big deal for the town. Almost as big as a big-deal actor.” He shot me a wink as his pocket played music.
The reporter and her cameraman walked out of the bistro as Bobby pulled out his phone. “Don’t mean to be rude, but if I don’t get this, Carl is going to electrocute himself again.”
He walked over to the building and leaned against the wall while he feverishly told Carl to stop touching wires.
I thought I was safe until the reporter walked out of the bistro.
The moment she spotted me, she stopped talking to her cameraman.
I had been spotted, and there was nothing to do except face the music.
“Chris? Chris Wilde?”
I eyed Bobby, and he held up a finger. Apparently, Carl was seconds away from burning his house down. I gave my jacket a fluff and strutted down the sidewalk, holding out my hand. “Chris Wilde and you are?”
“Gail Simmons. I read you were in town, but I didn’t think I’d bump into you. I’m a huge fan.” Centurions had been translated into dozens of languages and could be found on every streaming service. Everybody had seen it at this point.
“Nice to meet you.”
“This is Frank.” I shook her cameraman’s hand. First lesson in the business was: be friendly with the media, or they’d eat you alive. “I hope I’m not imposing, but would you mind a quick interview?” She had a big smile on her face, and with doe eyes, I couldn’t say no.
“Sure.”
Rolling her shoulders, she held up a mic, and her cameraman prepared for the interview.
The moment the red light turned on, she jumped into action.
“Firefly might be a small town on the edge of the county, but it’s filled with surprises.
We just bumped into actor Chris Wilde. What brings you to town? ”
“I visited a while back for Firefly Con and fell in love with the town. I decided a vacation was in order, and here I am.”
“The tabloids are highlighting your recent box-office bomb.”
Gail wasted no time getting down to business. Thankfully, it wasn’t anything I hadn’t already heard. “You can’t win them all. I stand behind the project. It was an amazing opportunity, and I’m hoping to keep expanding my craft.”
“Rumor has it you’re here to rekindle a romance.”
“Uh—”
“Is this a public relations spin to avoid the spotlight until coverage blows over?”
Gail Simmons. She might be a reporter in the middle of nowhere Maine, but she didn’t pull her punches. Reeling from the intensity of her questions, I tried to recall what Tessa had said. Usually, I practiced sound bites, but I didn’t think I’d be??—
“A ploy?” Bobby put away his phone and cozied up beside me. I became painfully aware of his hand on the small of my back, his thumb running back and forth over my spine. “If it’s a ploy, then we need to have a serious talk.”
What the hell was happening? I was caught between worrying where this was about to go and not wanting him to stop touching me.
As Gail’s eyes widened, I fought to maintain a straight face.
Tessa’s lie to the tabloids had been officially confirmed.
Here, I worried about things being weird between Bobby and me after a blow-and-go, and now he thrust us into a relationship.
It was amusing that minutes ago, I worried about awkwardness, and now we were dating.
He wrapped an arm around my waist and kissed my cheek. I leaned in, not wanting him to stop. “We met at the convention. Took some convincing, but I’ll make a country boy out of him yet.”
The only person more stunned than Gail was me. She turned to the camera and put on her game face. “There you have it, Maine. Hollywood star finds love in the mountain town of Firefly.”
She dropped the mic, an eyebrow raised. For the camera, she confirmed the story, but I could see the suspicion on her face. Bobby took my hand, squeezing my fingers. “Go have lunch, and I’ll catch up with you later, handsome.”
“Thanks… pookie.” I rushed to the door, trying to understand my new, very public relationship and what this meant for my career.
.. and for my love life. Outside, Bobby went about his business as usual.
The handyman didn’t give his actions another thought as he wandered toward the café.
Meanwhile, I thought I might have a nervous breakdown.
People paid me to fake it. My actual job description had me pretending to be things I was not, and yet, I nearly tripped over my tongue.
“I’m telling you, Bobby Wright just kissed??—”
The woman with blue hair dropped the phone into her apron as if she had been caught with her hand in the cookie jar. I realized the town gossiped, but this was the first time I caught one of them. She smiled, crossing her arms and trying to occupy herself with the napkins on a table.
Simon’s bistro blended the modern with the rustic.
Dark wood tabletops and wood-and-metal chairs created a homey vibe.
Simon might have left the city, but he didn’t leave it behind.
The waitress might have been talking about me, but when I caught a whiff of bacon, the rumbling in my belly spoke louder.
“Hi, I’m Dorothy. I’ll be taking care of you today.”
“Dorothy! Dorothy! Did you say Bobby kissed the actor?” This couldn't be happening. Within seconds, the news rippled throughout Firefly.
I pointed to the tiny voice squawking in her apron. Dorothy did everything possible to avoid eye contact. She pulled a menu from one of the other tables and promptly handed it to me. Her cheeks had turned a deep red as she reached into her apron.
“Coffee is on the house,” she said.
“Dorothy,” the woman on the other end shouted into her phone. “I’m hanging up and calling Gladys. She’ll know.”
Just like that, my relationship—my fake relationship, had become the talk of Firefly. While it might sidestep the problems in my career, what did it mean for me and my newly acquired boyfriend? I plopped down on the chair as Dorothy flew toward the back of the bistro and into the kitchen.