Page 54 of Kiss Me at Midnight
“Paulo, answer me.” Rachel gave his arm a little shake.
Where was Dotty with her interrogation technique when Jud needed her. He channeled the old gal’s bad Jimmy Cagney impression. “Why did you kiss her, man?” It was alarming to realize his fists were clenched. “You’ve told me this entire trip that you love Rachel.”
“He told you that?” Rachel’s tone softened. She rubbed the top of Paulo’s shaved head as if he was a beloved dog. “Why didn’t you tell me you speak English?”
“We are better off not arguing,” Paulo said slowly, still not looking at Rachel.
Good for Rachel. If Paulo had looked, he’d have seen a calculating expression.
“I’ll forgive you that kiss,bae, if you agree that I will always wear the pants in the family.”
“That hardly seems like a good beginning to a marriage.” Although at this point, Jud didn’t care if they got married or not.
“There can only be one alpha in a marriage.” Rachel cupped Paulo’s face in both palms. “And it has to be me. Just look at Paulo. He’s tall, sweet, and sexy. But he’s just an athlete approaching the twilight of his career. I’m the real wage earner. There are years of wage-earning ahead of me.”
Paulo subtly rolled his shoulders back.
“Every marriage has roles.” Not that Jud had any experience in the matter other than playing the love interest in film and TV. “But you should treat each other as equals and with respect.”
“I will spoil this man like no other.” Rachel stroked over Paulo’s ears with both hands, bringing her palms back to rest on his cheeks. “But that comes with a price. I negotiate all contracts. Paulo’s agent is soft. I brokered a better deal with the Badgers, one that just landed on his agent’s desk.” She was talking to Jud not her fiancé. “I’ve told everyone that Paulo doesn’t speak English. He can’t utter another word of it now in public. I know what’s best for us.”
“This marriage has disaster written all over it,” Jud said.
“I must speak my truth, like my friend, Lily.” Paulo got to his feet, brushing Rachel’s hands away. “Let me use small, simple words. I love you, but I am not stupid. I have pride. The wedding is off.” He tromped off down the stairs.
Abe passed him as he entered the dining room. “I thought we were having dinner.”
“The wedding is off,” Jud said, not without some satisfaction.
“He left me?” Rachel’s voice sounded childlike. She stood and went into her father’s arms.
“It’s okay, honey,” Abe reassured her. “I had to ask your mother to marry me three times before she said yes. If he’s your man, you’ll work it out.”
“If she was nicer, they could work it out quicker,” Jud muttered, finding his feet. It was past time to go find Lily and beg her forgiveness.
“Don’t leave me,” Rachel said in a stronger voice, stepping away from Abe and crossing her arms over her chest. She faced Jud. “And then there were two.”
Jud stumbled. “I’m not interested in being the last man standing on the Rachel Show.”
“But you have to be.” Rachel lunged for his arm, grabbing hold. “Do you know why the cameras are all over the yacht?”
Abe came to the table and drained Paulo’s wine.
“Because you have issues?” Jud tried to extricate himself from her hold, but her grip on the arm of his suit jacket was like a vise.
“Because I’m editing content for a pilot, just for me. Agree to marry me in Paulo’s place and I can re-edit the pilot.” Her eyes glittered with the chill of winter. “Your stock will rise in Hollywood.”
“As your boy toy? That is highly unlikely.” Jud pinched her fingers from the fine wool of his jacket. “Do you even understand the plot of reality television? A show has to have someone real and relatable at its core.” He’d studied story structure enough to know that reality TV was best when it had all the elements of scripted TV. “Relatable. That’s not you.”
Abe moved on to Rachel’s glass.
“It could be you.” She reached for Jud again.
He dodged back. “No chance in hell. I’m in love with Lily.”
They both froze.
Did I just say that out loud?
