Tags:
Fiction,
General,
Family & Relationships,
Romance,
Historical,
Contemporary,
Psychology,
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Love Stories,
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counseling,
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Marriage Counseling
ideas," he continued. "People want to know if your own love life inspired you, if any problems in your marriage or past played into this...."
Abby heaved a breath in and out, panic attacking her as his words faded into an echo around her.
"Dr. Jensen?"
He knew the truth. Why else would he mention problems in her marriage?
But he couldn't print the truth because it was too humiliating. Just as it had been when her father had been arrested and all her mother's lovers had been plastered across the papers. The pictures of her in the paper at age twelve flashed back in painful clarity. She imagined the new ones and the accompanying headline: Like Mother, Like Daughter, Both Forgo Traditional Wedding and Live in Sin.
Suddenly her lungs tightened, she lost her breath, and she dropped the phone. The handset banged against her leg as she heaved in and out, but she couldn't catch her breath. The room spun, her pulse raced, and her skin grew clammy. She had never had a panic attack before, but she recognized the symptoms.
Chelsea took one look at her, shrieked, then pushed her into a chair and shoved a paper bag into her hand.
* * *
He had shaken Dr. Jensen, Hunter realized as he replaced the phone. So much that she'd hung up on him again. Or at least she'd dropped the phone and he'd heard some wild breathing in the background.
Or maybe she had some kind of sex game going on and he'd interrupted.
He chuckled, envisioning the scenario and a photo of it on the front page of the paper. The minute that breathy voice of hers had wavered he'd sensed he was onto something. Something about her past, her personal life... maybe even her marriage.
He had to figure out what she was hiding.
The familiar adrenaline rush of an impending breakthrough zigzagged through him, and he contemplated going incognito to her scheduled book signing. If Abby Jensen even suspected he was the reporter who'd been hounding her, she'd run like crazy.
But how could he disguise himself so he wouldn't be recognized later on when he zeroed in for the kill?
His gaze scanned the room and he spotted the video of Tootsie he and Lizzie had rented the other night, and a sly grin curved his mouth. He'd dress like a woman. After all, he'd disguised himself as a bag lady once to investigate a thug in Chicago. Dr. Jensen might warm up to a female at the signing and spill a few tidbits about herself. Things her publicist had been careful not to reveal when he'd questioned her earlier.
He scavenged through Lizzie's dress-up trunk, wincing at his image in the mirror as he yanked on white tights and a humongous, old-fashioned flowery dress that had belonged to her former nanny, a plus-size woman with bad taste. The dress had dragged the floor when Lizzie put it on, swallowing her whole, but it hung midcalf on him, and with a little padding it almost fit. Except for the bust area, of course. A little stuffing helped fill that out nicely. A curly red wig came next, then bright orange sunglasses with rhinestones and a floppy hat that covered most of his face. Perfect.
Finally he stuffed the book beneath his arm, suppressing the fact that Abby's words had aroused him the night before. Luckily she wasn't his type.
Nope, he preferred busty blondes and redheads, not pale-faced, frizzy-haired brunettes who dressed like school-marms. Even if they did have sinfully seductive voices.
Besides, who would want to be caught dead in such a getup in front of a woman he wanted to impress? He painted his lips red and blotted powder on his face to cover his beard stubble.
Sheesh. The things he did for his career...
* * *
Chelsea Jensen would do anything for her sisters.
Oh, she knew she was a screw-up. At least according to her oldest sister, Victoria. But Abby had always cut her a break, and now Abby was the one in trouble, and she had to do something.
For God's sake poor Abby, had almost hyperventilated in the dressing room of Egor's, the most expensive and only exclusive shop
Caroline Self, Susan Self