Page 69 of Tuxedos and Tinsel

Listen to him. One night with the woman and he was psychoanalyzing too. It was a short-term arrangement. No need to turn the affair into anything deeper. Once they holidays ended, he and Susan would go their separate ways.

And he was fine with that.

Really.

Truly.

Wasn’t he?

CHAPTER EIGHT

“IWANTTOTELLyou a story. Once upon a time there was a boy who really, really loved sports. Every chance he got, he practiced. Good weather. Bad weather. He worked at becoming the best he could be. And you know what? It paid off. He became a superstar.

“But then you know what happened? He stopped working so hard. He started taking his skills for granted. He developed bad habits. He told himself, ‘I’m a superstar. I don’t need to practice that much.’ For a while, he got away with it. Eventually though, his athletic skill started to slip. Suddenly, he wasn’t the superstar anymore. He was just a guy with a lot of bad habits who’d forgotten what was really important.”

Susan sat in a far row of the indoor facility listening to Lewis tell the youth ambassadors his story. He’d told her last night that he wanted to use the opportunity to teach the kids what happened when they lost sight of what mattered. It was impressive, how honest Lewis was being about his own failings. Heartbreaking too, when you realized how much his partying had cost him. Thank goodness he’d seen the light before the lifestyle killed him.

Otherwise, the world would be a bleaker place. Not to mention her bed. She smiled recalling the last few nights. Since the night Noel was born, the two of them had been engaged in a full-fledged affair, and it was better than she could have imagined. The way Lewis touched her when they made love made her feel like the most beautiful woman in the world. It was going to be awfully hard going back to life without him after their fake love affair was over.

Something inside her cracked a little at the thought. They’d attend a few more events, the company party and then say goodbye. Unless, that is, they needed to continue the arrangement a little while longer.

How sad was that? Hoping Lewis’s image didn’t improve enough so she could keep him in her life a few weeks longer.

“He’s doing a marvelous job. Goes to show people love a good redemption story. Even kids.”

A man she didn’t recognize sat down in the seat next to her.

“Michael Ryder,” he said.

So this was the infamous Michael, Lewis’s agent. He looked like a talent agent. His pinstriped suit was very expensive and his hair very styled. He also obviously had a penchant for cigars. The scent clung to his clothes. Trying not to wrinkle her nose, Susan shifted herself a little farther away.

“I have to admit,” he said after they’d shaken hands, “that when Lewis first came up with this crazy scheme, I had my doubts. But it looks like it might have some value after all. He never would have scored an event like this without you.”

On the field, the kids broke out in laughter over something Lewis had said. “He doesn’t need me to help him secure speaking engagements,” Susan replied. “He’s perfectly capable of charming people on his own.”

Ryder smirked. “Spoken like a true loyal girlfriend.”

“Don’t have to be a girlfriend to recognize his abilities.”

“Wow. You’re good. I can see why Lewis was so keen on partnering up with you.”

“Is there something I can do for you, Mr. Ryder?” Susan decided she didn’t like the man. He was too keen on reminding her she wasn’t Lewis’s real girlfriend.

“I came by to tell you thatPersonalMagazineis interested in doing a story about the two of you. A reporter’s going to sit down with you both next week.”

“Great. Lewis will be thrilled.”

“Yeah. They loved the whole love as the redeemer angle. They’re bringing a photographer to get some shots of you both at Lewis’s apartment. Readers love that homey behind-the-scenes stuff. Youhavebeen to his apartment, haven’t you?” he asked in a low voice.

“Yes.” Just the past night, as a matter of fact. Although his tone was so annoying she wouldn’t have admitted if the answer was no.

“Good. Make sure you know where all the glassware and stuff is. We want to ensure you look at home. Know what I mean?”

“Why don’t I leave some intimates on the bathroom floor to really hammer home the message?”

“Funny. Stick to leaving an extra toothbrush.”

“Fine. I’ll make sure to buy one tonight.” She seriously did not like this man. “Unless there’s something else you need to discuss, I’d like to continue watching Lewis.”