When Lightning Strikes (Whiskey Creek #1)(80)
Author: Brenda Novak

Because it made him angry to read what was being said about Gail. He hated seeing how the Plain Jane garbage hurt her. So why raise his blood pressure? It wasn’t as if he could do anything about what was being printed. He couldn’t exactly tell the ass**les who wrote this bullshit that they had no idea what she was really like. That would only make her more of a target. “Gail is keeping her eye on the press coverage. I’ve been busy with other things.”

“Like getting in her pants? Is she that good a lay?”

Obviously he’d seen the pictures that had gone viral this morning. “Maybe. Why, would that bother you?”

Ian hung a left and drove out of town. “Of course not. I’m guessing she leaked the pictures of you and her on the porch to make your relationship seem more legitimate, but people aren’t buying it.”

Simon felt his eyebrows shoot up. “What are you talking about?”

“Come on, Simon. No one believes you could fall for a girl like her. There’s speculation all over the place, even a few claims that it’s a publicity stunt.”

This was the first Simon had heard about that. Gail must not know, either, or she would’ve mentioned it. “What gave us away?”

“How should I know? Maybe we didn’t take into consideration what a cynical world we live in. Your marriage was sudden. Your new wife is a PR pro. Maybe people are reading between the lines.” He sifted through the stack and took out a snarky blog post that named the women Simon had been seen with in the weeks prior to his second marriage. The blog critiqued his usual choice of women and asserted that Gail was nothing like them. It even went so far as to say “industry insiders” believed he’d paid her to marry him to save him from the rape charge.

“Shit.”

“Then there’s this.” Ian used his knee to steer while he found another blog post. This one had a photo of Gail and pictures of the women Simon had been with over the years. Almost all of them were famous themselves or were blonde bombshells. The heading read One of These Is Not Like the Others….

The campaign was falling apart already. Feeling a sense of loss, he shut the file and looked at Ian. “What are you getting at?”

“I think we should call it quits, don’t you? If there’s no benefit in pretending to care about her, why keep it up? I don’t want you to ruin your career by breaking all your contracts just because of some misguided decision I had a hand in.”

“So you’ve come out to rescue me.”

He adjusted the heater. “To tell you you’re making a mistake. I should never have gotten you involved in this.”

“No.”

“No, what?”

“You’re wrong.” Regardless of how it was being played in the media, being with Gail didn’t feel like a mistake. “There will always be detractors, no matter what I do. I’m not changing course.” He was finally feeling human again, sleeping most nights, gaining strength and a sense of purpose. He missed Ty but every day he felt more confident that he’d get him back. Maybe that was because he could finally trust himself to be the kind of father he needed to be.

So what if no one believed in his marriage?

He was starting to believe in it.

“Take me back. I want to give that ring to Gail.”

Ian’s mouth dropped open. “You’re kidding.”

Simon smiled. “Not at all.”

* * *

“You’re really going to Sophia’s tonight?”

When Callie asked this, Gail was standing at the window, holding back the sheet so she could see outside. Her friend had arrived at her door carrying a copy of People magazine shortly after Simon and Ian drove off. One of the pictures Josh had taken at the wedding was on the cover, but Gail couldn’t concentrate on that when she was so concerned about what Ian might be saying to Simon. She knew it wouldn’t be anything that supported his staying in Whiskey Creek. The fact that Ian hadn’t come to the door or even spoken to her would’ve told her that much, if she hadn’t already been aware of it. Although Simon didn’t want to accept it, she halfway believed that Ian had told Tex where they were because he was hoping Tex would drag Simon back. Then it would be business as usual for both of them.

“Did you hear me?” Callie prompted.

Distracted, worried, Gail murmured, “What?”

“I asked if you’re really going to Sophia’s.”

She didn’t see why that mattered right now. “I guess so.”

“What? Now I know you’re out of it. Sophia’s the girl who stole your prom date in junior year, remember? She’s always treated us like second-class citizens.”

Gail turned. “Did you see Simon in a red Porsche on your way over here?”

Callie was thumbing through the magazine. “No, why? He cheating on you already?”

“Stop it,” Gail said with a scowl.

“Sorry.” Callie gave her a sheepish grin. “I have to admit I sort of like him. Not only is he…shall we say…pleasant to look at, he’s very engaging.”

Gail curved her lips into a superior grin. “I knew you’d like him.”

“I didn’t say that. The jury’s still out on whether or not he’s going to be good for you. It’s only been a few weeks. We can’t take too much for granted.”

Gail dropped the smile, mostly because it was hard to act as if  she was right when she knew it was Callie who’d end up saying, “I told you so.” But she did have one argument. “Well, I, for one, am going to assume complete fidelity. Not doing so would drive us both crazy. But thanks for the advice.”

Callie propped her legs up on the coffee table. “So why are you gnawing on your fingernails while you stare out the front window as if he’s left for good? Why haven’t you even looked at these pictures, which most women would be dying to see?”

“Because his friend and business manager cannot be trusted. Simon’s trying to change, improve his life.”

“And you’re helping him.”

“Of course.”

“But what could his business manager be doing? Plying him with alcohol?”

Gail had no doubt Ian would provide drugs, too, if that was what Simon wanted. But she was more concerned that he might talk Simon into going back to L.A. and starting that movie she’d gotten him out of. Or commit him to some other project. Simon planned to return to acting, but he needed more time. And Ian certainly wouldn’t take that into consideration. He’d press forward with his own agenda.