Now
Bonnie pulled on the top of the gold and glittery revealing dress. No matter how hard she tugged up on the material, this top wasn’t going to fit over her girls, or cover them properly.
This situation might be fun for Sean, but she didn’t want the rest of America to see her boobs al fresco. She’d never done any nudity in films, and why start now on reality TV?
“This gown…doesn’t…quite fit.”
The wardrobe person fussed over Bonnie. “We have your measurements and ordered it to spec.”
“So…it’s supposed to look as if I’m presenting my breasts to the world as a peace offering?”
Lori peeked inside the bedroom. “I’d like to record a few of your thoughts before leaving tonight. Your excitement, anticipation, hopes, yada, yada, yada.”
“I have a few thoughts about this dress, but I’m not sure I can keep it G-rated.” Bonnie tugged some more.
“C’mon, you look like Christina Hendrick.”
In her early years, Bonnie had worked for the beauty as a stand-in and some believed her to be a dead ringer. But Bonnie didn’t see it. Christina was far more sophisticated and talented.
She swept her hands over her cleavage. “This would be fine in Hollywood, but believe me, it won’t go over well in Stone Ridge.”
The producers had rented the Shady Grind for the evening and a private concert for their date. Just Jackson Carver with his three-piece back-up band, Sean, her…and a film crew.
At least they’d aired their grievances with each other. No surprise, Sean didn’t take any of the blame for their break-up. Shocker.
A crew member came rushing up the stairs. “Sean called the house and said he’ll be late, and he apologizes.”
Lori pulled out her phone and studied it. “Why didn’t he text me?”
“He probably did, but reception out here is spotty,” Bonnie reminded. “It will be better in town. My mother said a year ago they ponied up the bill for WIFI all through downtown.”
“We’ll have to get the shots of you two arriving together later. Let’s get going, I’ll get your thoughts on the way. We have to finish the set up.”
Not long after, Bonnie and the crew were on their way in the Hummer, Lenny driving again, suited up in a black tux tonight.
“Lenny, where on earth did you get a tux?” Bonnie tugged on his black tie.
“Winona ordered it for me.” He brushed down the lapels. “Fancy, right?”
“Yes, sir.” Bonnie gave him a kiss on the cheek. “You look like an upscale Sam Elliott.”
“Exactly what I was goin’ for.”
They passed the sign at the entrance of Stone Ridge, one that had hung in Stone Ridge for decades:
Welcome to Stone Ridge, established in 1806 by Titus Ridge
Population 1,030
*Women eat free every Tuesday night at the Shady Grind*
“It used to say women eat free every night,” Bonnie said. “That’s changed.”
A few yards later, a new sign:
*Women are especially welcome*
Lori chuckled. “Elton, are you getting film of all this signage? This could really add flavor and color to the show.”
Lori whipped out her phone once they got into town and read her texts. “I don’t understand. Sean is late because he had to pull a cow out of the mud? What does that even mean? Is that some kind of small-town colloquialism I’m not aware of?”
“Nope, he really is pulling a cow out of the mud. It happens sometimes. When they get stuck, it’s not easy to move them. It usually takes a few grown men.”
Lori gaped. “And what about this phone tree he mentions? Where’s the tree shaped like a phone? That would be great to get on film.”
Bonnie had a tough time holding back the full-on belly laugh.
“No, sorry, a phone tree is a rather old-fashioned concept from the days of landlines. One person calls another, and then that person calls the next person on the list, and so on. It’s a system they’ve used for years. We rely on each other in a town this remote. It sounds as though someone needed help, and Sean got a call.”
“But he had other plans!”
“I’m sure he hated to break them, but when someone needs a helping hand, he’s not going to be the one to say no to his neighbor.”
“How quaint.” She elbowed Elton. “Let’s get a short interview recorded. Tell us how you’re feeling, Bonnie, and don’t hold back. I want the excitement of blossoming love, hopes, dreams. Give me everything you got.”
“I’m excited,” Bonnie said to the camera. “And a little nervous, too. It’s been a long time since I’ve been on a date like this with someone who…someone who I have growing feelings for. Sean has some really wonderful women to choose from, and I’m lucky to be the one here tonight.”
“Nice,” Lori said. “I believed every word of it.”
Once they arrived, Lori and the crew went inside to set up the lighting and camera angles. Bonnie waited in the car with Lenny, her stomach growling because she’d been so nervous, she couldn’t eat before leaving.
The stress diet. In the first year away from home she’d lost ten pounds without even trying. Even so, there were calls where she’d been asked to “lose a few” for the role. Silly Hollywood, making a regular sized woman feel fat and a young woman feel old.
Silly you, for letting them.
Lenny turned in the driver’s seat. “How are you doing with all this, Missy?”
“Oh, I don’t know.” She sighed.
“Sean treatin’ you right?”
“Of course, he is.”
“I wouldn’t think it any other way. He’s always loved you, that young man. I thought he’d never get over the heartbreak when you left.”
“I wasn’t sure I would, either.”
“Take deep breaths, would ya? You look nervous as a long-tail cat in a room full of rocking chairs.”
Bonnie snorted. “Point taken.”
But she wasn’t nervous, exactly, simply anxious that her feelings would be written all over her face, reflected in her eyes and displayed for the entire viewing public to see. She’d have to call on all her acting abilities tonight and appear to be a woman beginning to fall in love with Sean.
Not a woman who’d apparently never fallen out of love with him.
The very thought seared her heart with fear. She had to pretend to be along for the ride when in reality pain struck every time she thought he wanted Tabitha and all her bright and shiny newness.
He’d kept her in the contest because the producers asked him to, for the drama. Not for her, but because she was the hired actor. Everything else was nostalgia but she could easily walk out of this show alone, having to watch Sean start his new life with his new fiancée. She’d already done that once, but from the safe distance of a thousand miles.
The very idea had a pebble lodging itself in her throat.
Pretend. Pretend. Pretend.
“Here’s the whipper snapper now,” Lenny said.
Bonnie caught sight of him rushing out of his truck, his gorgeous dark hair tousled and disheveled. She wouldn’t be surprised if he’d hopped out of the shower minutes before. He was dressed in a black suit so sharp the studio must have had it tailored to fit. As she watched, he fiddled with his tie using his truck’s side mirror and ran a hand through his hair before he plopped his black Stetson on. This was the most primping she’d ever seen him do.
Sean waved to Lenny and tapped on the back-passenger window of the Hummer.
Bonnie rolled the window down. “Hey.”
“Sorry I’m late.”
“I know. You’re never late. It must have been important.”
“Guess there’s a first time for everything. You used to pitch a fit whenever I dropped everything to help move a cow.”
“I was sixteen.”
As if just now noticing her dress, he scanned the exposed flesh and quirked a brow. “Damn. Thanks for the show, Skippy.”
“Not my idea.”
She decided not to remind him that Tabitha put on a daily show for his benefit.
“You’ve always been a little shy about showing me your best assets.” Sean grinned.
Lenny cleared his throat. “Uh, son? Watch it now.”
“Oh, sorry, Lenny.” Still, he winked at Bonnie.
“You’re not at all sorry,” she whispered.
“Finally, he’s here!” Lori blustered outside and clapped her hands. “Let’s get this show on the road. I want a nice clean wide lens angle of them coming inside so we can see their amazed faces. And I shouldn’t have to say this, guys, but you had better look amazed! I don’t care what you really feel. Amazed and astonished is what I need.”
Sean opened the door to the Hummer and offered his hand. “Ready?”
Together they walked inside the opened doors of the Shady Grind Bar & Grill. Bonnie didn’t have to fake her amazement. She hadn’t been here in years, but her memories of the bar before Jackson Carver bought it were of a plain old honky tonk. Tonight, white fairy lights lit up the otherwise dimly lit room. Colorful flowers were artfully arranged throughout. Toward the back of the room stood Jackson with his band, smiling as they walked in like “the chosen” ones.
Jackson immediately began to play a private concert, his first choice a love song. He sang one of his hits, The Only one for Me, coincidentally or not, about lovers who’d lost touch over the years.
“Dance?” Sean held out his arm and walked to the center of the room where Lori had taped their mark.
She joined him, carefully placing both hands on his shoulder. Touching Sean. This was dangerous business. He held her, not too close, hands on her waist, watching her, probably waiting for a cue. Oh, yes, she knew him almost better than she knew herself some days.
“Nervous?”
They weren’t individually miked for this portion, so they wouldn’t be heard above the music playing. “A little. All these eyes on us.”
“Relax and try to think of something else.”
That’s rich, Sean. Show up looking the way you do and how can I think of anything besides jumping your bones?
“Something else? Like what?”
“Like…laying on a blanket outside watching the stars.” He met her gaze. “Or pretend we’re dancing alone outside, the headlights of my truck our only light, the music coming from my junky speakers.”
He’d mentioned the ways he’d tried to keep her from leaving. The ache wound itself around her heart and she swallowed the pebble lodged in her throat.
“Or maybe I can pretend someone I love brought me flowers every day for weeks. And how it made me feel like the most loved woman on the planet.”
“Yeah. Just like that.”
“Sean, you—”
And then it happened.
As if no longer able to ignore the laws of physics, her right breast bust right out of her gown like a Jack from its box.
She plastered herself against Sean’s body, literally using him as a human shield. And sweet baby Jesus, he smelled so good. She almost forgot her breast was loose.
“Wardrobe malfunction,” she whispered into his neck.
“Huh?” But then he looked down and his eyes widened. “Wow, Holy Jolly Rancher.”
“We have to get their attention somehow so I can stop the madness.”
“I don’t see the rush,” he said smugly, tugging her closer. “Just stay right where you are. I’ll protect you, little lady.”
“That’s not funny.” But okay, it was a little funny. “I’m uncomfortable.”
“Cold?” He grinned. “If anything shows, they’ll cut it. This is a family show.”
“So they say, but on the other hand Tabitha gave you a half moon.”
“Yep. You’re definitely jealous.”
“You mean a little like you were when you saw the photos of me in my underwear?” In her irritation, she pulled back a bit and met his eyes.
He only tugged her back into place, plastering his body to hers. “To borrow a line from you, I was young.”
“Okay, I can’t do this anymore.”
“Why? Getting a little turned on?”
That was beside the point. But yes, her exposed nipple rubbing against Sean’s chest was causing all manner of tremors and tingles.
“You’re right, I’m a little cold, or at least a significant part of me is. Plus, I don’t want Jackson to see me. He’s on a riser and might get a bird’s eye view.”
“He’s too busy playing his guitar and doesn’t give one hoot about your nudity.”
“I love how much fun you’re having with this.”
He slid her a slow grin. “Can you blame me?”
“That’s it,” she said, and started her effort at making motions toward the crew.
They went mostly ignored and so she gently pushed on Sean, using him for cover, moving them out of the frame just as Jackson finished his song. But he pushed back some, having his fun, letting her get only a few inches at a time. They shuffled along finally leaving their mark.
“Cut! What in God’s name are you doing?” Lori yelled. “Don’t they teach you how to dance in Texas? You look like you’re trying to wrestle with him.”
“I have a wardrobe malfunction!” Bonnie hissed.
“Elton, do me a favor and close your eyes? You too, Jackson?” Sean called out.
“Um, sure, buddy.” Jackson turned and so did his band mates.
“This!” Bonnie moved back enough to show Lori her exposed breast.
“Well, damn! Why didn’t you say something?” Lori yelled.
Sean tried to move away from her, but she wrestled him back.
“What are you doing? I at least need you to block me so I can try to shove my boob back inside the dress.”
“A man waits all his life to hear those words.”
And so it was that Bonnie used Sean’s body to block her from the crew and Jackson’s band while she turned and shoved the stray girl right back in where she belonged.
Only then she realized a small crowd had gathered outside to watch their filming from behind a barricade.
And the entire crowd, including Bonnie’s mother and Aunt Beulah, watched as Bonnie shoved her breast back in the dress.