Page 22 of Mr. Picture Perfect
I stare across the island at Nadine, waiting for her to say it’s a joke before telling us the real reason we’re here.
Burton lets out a small chuckle, then glances at Tamika, then Mr. Strong, then Billy and Tanner. When no one returns the laugh, he turns back to Nadine and mumbles, “Wait, really?”
“Here’s how I see it,” she goes on with a spread of her hands. “Cole Harding here will be the star of the show …”
“Star of the—?” I quickly set down my plate—though it feels more like I drop it—then lift my eyebrows. “I’m thewhat…?”
“… and I have at least one other single man I know who most certainly deserves a lovely lady in his life. Of course for you, Cole, we’d be on the hunt for a dashing youngman.”
My hands find hold of the counter in front of me. It’s like I’m staring at my bloody arm all over again. Is the kitchen spinning or was my drink spiked? “I … uh … h-hold on …”
“Everyone looks confused! What’s there to be confused about? Don’t you see the dollar signs? Mayor Raymond in all his years did not do anything like this to raise money for our lovely town. This will be a fundraising event. Somethin’ fun to get the whole town involved. How many more articles are you gonna write ‘bout me and my bein’ mayor and whatever other borin’ snooze-fest thing I’ve done lately? No one cares that I planted another tree in the park. What they wanna hear about is if Cole here is datin’ someone or if Dean has found himself a lady since his dear wife passed. The stuff you actuallyhearpeople gossipin’ about around town. Can we all see it now? Are we on the same page? Speakin’ of pages, that’s why I brought you guys in,” she adds with a nod at the three here from the Spruce Press. “I want you guys to run stories on this. Really build this whole thing up.”
“Okay, I can see this,” murmurs Tamika to herself, inspired.
I peer at her, for a moment panicked by her enthusiasm.
“I want you to more than see it,” says Nadine. “I want you tofeelit. Look at the bigger picture I’m paintin’. We may even attract attention from singles all around us.”
“You mean from neighboring towns?” asks Burton.
“Yes! Imagine if we drew in people from Brookfield, Fairview, maybe even as far as Houston or Austin or Dreamwood Isle. Who knows? Have I captured everyone yet? Y’all gotta thinkbiiig!” Her voice squeals excitedly on the word “big” as her hands spread in the air, bangles jangling on her wrists. “Big, big, big. Like, Texas-big. Fundraisers. Auctioning off dates with the sexy men. Showin’ off what we got to show off here in Spruce. Do I sound insane yet? Could we make national news, do you think? Amelia and Joe Pane have contacts all over the country. Lance has friends in LA.”
“Let’s not get ahead of ourselves,” says her husband Paul with a chuckle. “But I sure do love this idea, dear. I think it’s just what the town needs.”
“Isn’t it?” She lets out a happy sigh. “Love’s in the air this year for everyone. I can just feel it to mybones.”
“I think that’s the dollar signs you’re feelin’,” states Tanner. Billy sucks in his lips and looks away.
“So can I count on y’all to make this dream of mine happen?” Nadine asks, ignoring her son—or maybe not hearing his remark at all. “The McPhersons and the Whitmans already know and want to help out, too. Cissy even said she could host somethin’, one of the events, whatever we need. Y’all know she’s got that big ol’ pavilion we use for the Spruce Ball every summer. Are we already comin’ up on the sixth annual this year? Anyway, if I can pry dear Cassie away from Lance for one dang sec, I’m sure she’ll help, too.”
“Shouldn’t your lovely new assistant be here takin’ notes?” asks Billy after popping an apple tart into his mouth.
“Oh, I gave Malcolm the weekend off. He and Samuel had a previous engagement out of town, and I wasn’t about to call him in for this, Idohave a conscience. I’ll fill him in Monday morning. Cole, you don’t mind takin’ time off from the gym when you’re needed, do you? Never mind, my son’s your boss, I can make it happen. Don’t sweat it.”
As if I had a choice in the matter. I force on a smile. “I … of course, Nadine. I’m … I’m happy to do what’s needed.”
“All you need to do is be your charmin’ self. We’ll handle the rest, doll face.”
I close my mouth. Along with my mouth go the rest of the words I can possibly say in this moment. Do I even have a say?
“We can run a feature on each of the bachelors,” Tamika says suddenly, drawing everyone’s attention. “But first, a photo shoot, quickly. A total thirst trap, get everyone’s juices pumping. Once we’ve captured their attention, we’ll run the features—interviews, upclose and personal, full of heart and charm, where we can get to know our ‘sexy southern bachelors’ …”
“Oh, yes, yes, yes, you’ve got it,” sings Nadine with a smack of her hand against the counter.
“We have to turn everyone onandsteal their hearts,” Tamika says, then nudges Noah. “This guy’s a wizard with the camera.”
“Of course he is!” chirps Nadine happily, setting her eyes on him. “Sweetheart, we’ve barely spoken since you came in. How are you holding up?”
I glance to my side. Noah, in all his adorable awkwardness, looks paralyzed by Nadine cranking the spotlight onto him, even for such an innocent question. Then again, isanyquestion truly innocent when it comes to Mrs. Strong?
It was pure bliss when we were alone together in the living room. I would have loved to stay there with him all night, had circumstances allowed it. Standing by his side, watching the boys play games, or watching TV, or watching paint dry, it would have made no difference, as long as I was right next to him.
I felt him growing tense. I felt his anxiousness. I knew he was responding somehow to my presence. I was prepared to pull back or give him space, were my advances unwelcome.
But he didn’t move away nor step aside the entire time. He let me stand right there, right next to him, as if actually wanting it.
Is it possible, even in a remote way, that Noah might actually return my feelings?
