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While unsure of her reference, I assume things did not go well in Holland that day. “How could it not go well?” I ask. “I mean, they’ve already cast you, haven’t they?”
Her eyes shift from side to side. “I think I may have given them the impression that I’m into S & M.”
Unexpected laughter bursts out of me. “How did you do that?”
She lowers her gaze before mumbling, “I told them I was into waterboarding.”
“But you meant paddle boarding.”
Her head bounces up. “Exactly! But some doofus producer is afraid I’m going to be a liability.”
“You are the last person in the world that I would ever expect to be into S & M,” I assure her.
At first, she looks pleased by my comment, but she quickly seems to bristle. “Why? Because I’m a boring small-town girl? Because I’m not interesting?”
“Ah, no. Because I grew up with you and from memory you’ve always seemed like a nice, normal person.”
She still sounds angry, as she says, “Iama nice, normal person.”
“That’s what I said.”
“Whatever. I have to go.”
She tries to push past me, but I stop her. “You’ve got this, Paige. Don’t worry.”
Her whole body suddenly appears to drain of energy as her shoulders drop. I take a step toward her in case she faints. “I’m scared to death,” she finally admits.
“Dating is scary business.”
“It’s not dating I’m afraid of. It’s being on camera and discovering I don’t come off to the viewing audience as the strong, confident woman I think I am.”
“You are lovely and self-assured,” I tell her. “People are going to adore you and root for you to find your happily-ever-after. I promise.”
“Thanks, Tim. That means a lot.”
“And being that all filming is being done at the club, I’ll be on hand if you need me. I’ll even do some reconnaissance and let you know if I hear what people behind the scenes are saying about you.”
“I’m not sure I want to know …” she starts to say before changing track. “No, I should know. Tell me everything.”
“I’m on it.” I smile while adding, “And now I need to get in there and make sure the crew fromMidwestern Matchmakerhas everything they need. I’ll see you soon.”
“Thanks, Tim. You’re the best.”
I watch as Paige walks out the door toward the parking lot.She’s the kind of person I should have fallen for. But no, I had to move to Los Angeles—land of shallow wannabes—in hopes of finding something bigger and better. It turns out that doesn’t exist. What I got was my fill of women who are always on the lookout for the next best thing. Translation: famous men.
Truthfully, it’s not like the men are any different. Every bald, fat, single, fifty-year-old guy in L.A. thinks it’s his right to date as many twenty-year-old bikini models as he wants. The whole town has a skewed perspective of what’s normal. Had I only stayed in Elk Lake, I might have been lucky enough to wind up with a nice girl like Paige.
But I didn’t stay, and it’s time to face the truth. I’ve probably missed my opportunity to live the life I might have had. I no longer even want to date because I don’t want to risk heartbreak again.
CHAPTER THREE
PAIGE
“You’re going to do great,” Missy tells me while putting away wedding dresses from her last customer. She and her mom own the only bridal shop in Elk Lake.
“Easy for you to say,” I grumble. “You’ve already met your knight in shining armor.”
She closes her eyes and sighs loud enough to be heard down the street. “Jamie is everything I’ve ever wanted in a man. He’s perfect.”
