Page 83 of Second Act
It was quite a change from the last public appearance she’d made with him.
The assistant led them past a forest of lights, cameras, and equipment whose purpose she had no idea of before they stepped into the brilliantly lit stage set.
Sherri stood up and air-kissed Hugh. “Thanks for giving me the first interview. I appreciate that.” The talk show hostess was tiny, although her hot-pink sheath dress and heels that outdid Jessica’s for height made her attention grabbing. Her hair was braided into fascinating patterns that swirled over her scalp.
“It’s always a pleasure to be on your show,” Hugh said, his smile so dazzling that Sherri actually blinked before she turned to Jessica.
“So nice to meet Hugh’s new girlfriend,” the hostess said with air-kisses in Jessica’s direction. “I understand you have some interesting history.”
“Not so interesting, really,” Jessica said, answering Sherri’s smile. “We just needed some time to figure ourselves out.”
Someone called out, “Thirty seconds.”
“Make yourselves comfortable,” Sherri said, gesturing toward the plush gray sofa opposite her as she seated herself. “Sound check.”
Hugh said, “Test, test,” and nodded to Jessica to do the same as they settled onto the couch. She remembered to slant her legs to the side and cross her ankles, per Quentin’s suggestion.
“All good,” a disembodied voice said from the darkness beyond the set.
The countdown began, and Jessica felt her nerves tighten. She squeezed Hugh’s hand to remind herself that she wasn’t in this alone, but the thought of making a fool of herself—and by association, him—on national television made her heartbeat accelerate in an unpleasant way. When Hugh rubbed his thumb over the back of her hand, small curls of warmth eased her tension slightly.
Then Sherri greeted them all over again, which reminded Jessica to focus on their hostess and not worry about the gazillions of faces gazing at them on screens across the country. Sherri lobbed simple questions at Hugh, easing them into the interview.
Then she shifted to Jessica. “You’re a veterinarian in South Harlem. I understand that your profession is what initially brought you into contact with Hugh. Will you share the story of your first meeting?”
Hugh had anticipated this question, so he and Jessica had rehearsed the story the night before, although it had quickly degenerated into a wildly embellished version as she and Hugh tried to one-up each other on the details. The memory of their laughter made Jessica relax a bit as she launched into the official version, ending with Hugh’s proposal.
“So romantic,” Sherri said. “But the engagement obviously ended. What happened?”
This was another question they’d known would come up, but Hugh spoke before she could. “I was an idiot.” Which was not the response they’d rehearsed. Jessica stopped watching Sherri and turned to Hugh. “I thought my career was more important than hers just because it got more attention. But she was saving the lives of animals every day while I was just reciting lines.” He angled his head toward Jessica so he spoke directly to her. “And it’s still true. There’s no comparison.”
He’d gone off script, and she was lost in the depths of his blue eyes. He lifted her hand to brush his lips over the back of it, and Sherri sighed audibly. Then Hugh turned to the hostess. “Lucky for me, Jess believesin second chances, so I persuaded her to give me one. I don’t intend to screw it up this time.”
Even as his words sent joy zinging through her heart, she caught a flutter of movement from Sherri. “Oh my God, if Hugh Baker said that to me, I would be a puddle on the floor,” the hostess said, her hands pressed dramatically to her chest.
Which made Jessica question how much of what Hugh said was meant for the cameras and how much was true. She hated herself for her sudden skepticism, but the ugly little doubt dampened her happiness enough to allow her to say with a naughty smile, “Sometimes it’s hard to stay upright around Hugh.”
“Ooh, a little double entendre,” Sherri cooed. “I like this woman.”
Hugh chuckled and gave Jessica a peck on the cheek before turning the conversation to her work. Sherri gave her all the right cues, and Jessica found herself waxing more passionate than she meant to about her clinic and the K-9 Angelz.
“My foundation has plans to replicate the K-9 Angelz in other locations,” Hugh said. “It’s an incredible program for the kids—and the dogs.”
After that, Sherri finished up the interview before they went to a commercial break. Once again, she stood. “That was tremendous. The ratings will be through the roof.”
Jessica let Hugh pull her up with him, using his grip to help her balance on the unaccustomed heels. Her knees felt a little shaky, too, as the anxiety-induced adrenaline began to drain away.
“You’re a brilliant interviewer,” Hugh said. “Always eliciting the best from your guests.”
The hostess preened under Hugh’s charm. “Come back soon.”
And then they were being ushered off the set, passing the next guest in the hallway.
In the dressing room, Jessica threw herself into the makeup chair, her legs sprawled, her arms draped over the chair’s sides. “That was utterly terrifying.”
Hugh looked startled. “You handled it like a pro. Not a moment’s hesitation or a wrong note. I thought you were fine with it.”
“If you hadn’t made us rehearse all that stuff last night, I would have just opened and closed my mouth like a fish out of water.”
