How she looked was okay. It was how she felt. She hadn’t seen Jason even to bump into in the halls in months because their shows were scheduled at very different times of day.
He was now the big deal he’d always wanted to be. She’d seen his show. It fit him like a glove. He was having a ball, obviously. Had he changed? She knew she had, but would he see that? There was always the possibility he had agreed to have her on the show to skewer her in front of a live audience.
She had time to fret, because she wasn’t the first guest. That was a movie star who was guaranteed to interest a lot of women, and some men. He bantered about his new movie, they showed a clip, and then he was gone. He was too important to stick around.
Next came a comedian. Jason made short work of him.
Then it was her turn. She walked out carefully, with a smile pasted on her face. Jason stood up to greet her, which she expected, but then he leaped over his desk and embraced her.
The audience went wild. He kissed her lightly and they screamed. Then he personally led her to the guest chair.
“Linley and I used to be an item,” he joked to the audience. “We had a regular date on WFWF every afternoon.”
He was being playful. Okay, she could do that. She smiled, struggling to conceal her shock. “That’s right. We argued about money on national television. Every day.”
“It was almost like being married, but without any privileges, if you know what I mean,” he replied, wiggling his eyebrows. The audience roared.
That set the tone. They bantered about being old enemies, about his rise and her slower ascent, about her new book, which he held up, and about her new TV show. They smiled the entire time. They made a cute impression. Old buddies and sparring partners. Now friends.
When the segment ended for a commercial, Jason’s smile switched off. He stood up and motioned for her to do the same. He told the audience. “I’m going to walk her out. She’s that important now.” He ushered her off the set, muttering a warning, “Don’t forget we’re still miked.”
When they got behind the curtain where the audience couldn’t see them anymore, he suddenly whirled her around and kissed her. Passionately. His lips possessed hers and his tongue thrust into her mouth. Electricity arced between them. It was still there, all of it. Nothing had changed. She returned his kisses until they had to break for air. Then she backed away from him, knowing he could see the fear and pain in her eyes.
His own expression showed shock. He touched the mic on his lapel, to remind her not to speak. Then, with one finger, he caressed her lower lip.
“Goodbye,” he said. He turned and went back through the curtain.
Maybe this was closure.
No. No way would she accept that, not when he still wanted her. She’d go after him and get him back.
Starting tomorrow.
A Note from the Author
Thank you for reading this book. Please visit my Amazon author page here to post a review and learn about my other books. Or visit my author page on Facebook to ask questions or make comments.
If you'd like to be notified when my next story comes out, click this link or go to my website, irenevartanoff.com, to join my mailing list. I'll only send you information about new releases. I promise no sharing and no spam.
Acknowledgments
My thanks to authors Loretta Ellingsworth and Janet Mullany, who read this story in manuscript and made several key suggestions for improving it.
Table of Contents
Also by Irene Vartanoff
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Chapter 39
Chapter 40
A Note from the Author
Acknowledgments