Blind Love (33 page)

Her arms snaked around his waist and she put her head on his chest. “It isn’t that I don’t want to be with you, Tony. I have an obligation to Henry to finish the show, to get it ready to go on the air. If I hadn’t been so preoccupied with my father’s problems, I would have kept a closer eye on what Mitzi was doing.” She lifted her head and gazed up at him. “If I’d talked with the girls myself instead of leaving that to Mitzi, I wouldn’t have put Rachel on the show. And I would have had more girls lined up as alternates, so Henry wouldn’t have had to use Fawn. Or me.”

“Henry doesn’t blame you, Catherine.”

“He doesn’t have to. I blame myself, and when Fawn’s case goes to trial, I intend to testify against her.”

“If Fawn has any sense, she’ll plead guilty. The cameras caught what she did to you, and she had stolen property in her purse and her suitcase and in her car. One way or another, whether you testify or not, she’s going to prison.”

Catherine stepped back. “I don’t know about that, Tony. Henry said someone bailed her out, so she’s probably in Mexico by now.”

Tony waved his hand. “To hell with her. Call me as soon as you get things wrapped up in LA, and I’ll meet you in Santa Barbara. We have a lot to talk about, Catherine.”

“Yes, we do.”

Catherine packed her things and Tony carried her bags out to her car. After a tearful goodbye, Catherine rode away with some of the crew. Tony watched until the car disappeared in the distance and then walked back into the house.
Alone.

He’d handed her his heart today and she’d already left.

A few hours later, Cara’s pilot flew Tony and Riley to Gig Harbor, where Tony spent the night at Nick’s house. He spent one day with his family, then he packed his pickup and headed south with his dog. He couldn’t wait to get started on the renovations on the plantation.

For Catherine.

For the woman he loved.

When Catherine finished her work on the show, he’d drive her up to San Simeon and show her the gift he’d bought for her. Another woman might want a fancy ring, but Tony knew she’d appreciate this more.

Her first hotel.

<>

Catherine had been on the production crew for other shows, but she’d never seen the crew this happy. One of their own had not only been on the show, she’d ended up one of the stars, the woman the handsome bachelor picked at the end. Now they knew who she was, but the respect they showed her wasn’t because she was a Timmons. She’d earned their respect by coming up with a good show. The premise of the show had worked just like she’d planned. The pacing was excellent, there was plenty of conflict between the girls, the setting couldn’t have been better, and Tony was dynamite, as she knew he would be.

Tony picked her. He said he loved her, but she wasn’t so sure. Who else would he have chosen? Out of the last five girls, one was sick, one was a criminal, one talked too much, and another one lied to him. Who else did that leave? But he didn’t have to say he loved her, especially while the cameras were rolling.

She pictured the hurt in his eyes when she said she had to go back to work. He wanted her to stay with him, but she had a job to do. He had a job, too. They both had responsibilities, and they couldn’t just walk away from them.

After a long drive, Catherine arrived at Father’s house in Santa Barbara. Father looked old and weak, but he was in a rare good mood. The cast had been removed from his leg, and although he no longer needed the wheelchair, he still used a walker. Catherine wanted Fawn to pay for what she’d done to him, but she couldn’t report it to the police. If Father wanted Fawn punished, he’d have to speak with the police himself.

That evening, she drove to her apartment in LA. The sooner she got to work on the show, the sooner she could see Tony again. They needed some time apart, time to think about how they felt about each other. Time to decide if they had a future together. But she ached with missing him.

His life was in Gig Harbor, and she had a job in LA. But she didn’t intend to work for Henry forever. Once she’d edited the show and trained her replacement, she’d say goodbye to Henry and the crew, goodbye to the city. Goodbye to the hateful smog.

Would Tony want her to live with him in Gig Harbor? She loved Santa Barbara, but she didn’t want to live there without Tony. Were there hotels in Gig Harbor? If not, maybe she could build one there.

What would Tony think?

<>

“You sure opening the gate won’t set off some kind of alarm?” Spike asked.

Fawn shook her head. “No. The only alarm is on the main house, and I have the code.”

They waited until two in the morning and then drove up and around the hill, lights off. Fawn pushed the code on the gate and the gate swung open. Spike drove through, and the gate swung closed behind them.

There were no lights on in the house, not even the security lights Walt turned on at the first sign of trouble. That meant nobody knew they were there. “So far, so good.”

Fawn pointed out the narrow drive that snaked up the back of the hill to the smaller house. The house was completely hidden from the road, so nobody would know they were there. Spike pulled up in front of the house and she got out. She found the key hidden under the potted plant beside the door, unlocked the front door, and made her way through the darkened house to the garage. A minute later, she had the garage door open and Spike parked inside.

They were home free. Now they’d wait for their prey. Fawn knew a spot on the property where they could see cars coming up the driveway without the people in the cars seeing them.

Catherine might not come today or tomorrow, but she would come, and when she did, they’d put their plan in action. Walt Timmons would pay for the safe release of his spoiled brat, Fawn would repay Spike for bailing her out of jail, and she’d head for Mexico.

To freedom.

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The next day, Catherine began going through the uncut segments of the show, beginning with the opening segment, which came out better than she’d hoped. The four brothers serenading the girls had turned out to be a nice touch. Angelo looked and sounded so good on the screen, he’d probably get offers from other shows. If he wasn’t already married, they could use him as the bachelor on one of the shows. Maybe they could use Al when he finished school, if he was willing and the show was still on. All the Donatelli men were great looking guys, and Tony was the pick of the litter.

She barely recognized herself standing on the balcony with the other girls. The short girl with the bright red curls was just as pretty as the others. She was different enough that Tony couldn’t help but notice her. Remembering the surprised look on his face brought tears to her eyes.

Henry sat beside her. “What’s wrong?”

Catherine backed up the video and ran it again.

“You looked great, Cat. A rose among thorns.”

“More like a rose among lilies, with all those tall blondes around me.”

It took the rest of the day to go through the interviews and pick out the best parts. They wouldn’t all be shown or they’d bore the viewers. They’d have to mix parts of the interviews with the women’s private talks with the camera, the interaction between the girls, and Tony’s thoughts.

The next day, Catherine and Henry watched the parts where Tony made the first few cuts. They smiled at the expression on Tony’s face when he realized he’d cut the model. Chelsea wasn’t right for him anyway.

Henry laughed at the costume party segments, and Catherine knew he’d cut very little of her Little Bo Peep act or Tony’s reaction.

“I love the Humpty Dumpty part. I didn’t know you had it in you, Cat. You were great.”

Warmed by Henry’s compliment, she asked, “You don’t think we should have used more girls, like the other shows?”

“No, the viewers don’t get attached when there are too many. This time they’ll remember the girls’ names and everyone will pick their favorites.”

“Henry, I don’t want Rachel’s bones showing on television, and I don’t want Tony’s remarks about her being so thin on the show.” The girl was sick, and she didn’t come on the show to deal with a private problem on national television.

Fawn was another story. The camera caught her jabbing her heel into Catherine’s foot. It also caught the angry set of her jaw. Watching this, no one could say it wasn’t deliberate. The ugly scar on the top of Catherine’s foot would be a lasting reminder of that day. She could probably have it fixed with plastic surgery, but she didn’t want to forget.

Too bad the camera didn’t catch the little episode in the jewelry store.

Henry shook his head. “That one is a royal bitch. I hope the judge gives her hard time for the things she’s done.” He whipped off his glasses. “I should have replaced Mitzi years ago, after the first time she screwed up. There’s no excuse for this. She knew the girls had to have a security screening before we could take them into that house, and she didn’t get one on Fawn.”

Catherine sighed deeply. “It’s over, Henry. We can’t undo it now.” Lying about the alternates wasn’t the only thing Mitzi had done wrong. Telling Jenny who Tony was gave her an unfair advantage, but Catherine couldn’t really complain about that, because she’d had an unfair advantage herself. She and Tony had not only met before the show, they’d been lovers.

Catherine saved the segments from the final dates until after everyone else went home. She watched Jenny’s date first. Tony had already made his decision by then, and it showed on his face and in his eyes. He knew about Jenny’s lies by then, and he knew why she’d lied.

She watched it all—Jenny’s excitement at meeting Nick and Cara, the boat ride, talking about his job, seeing the house he shared with his mother and whichever of his siblings happened to be there at the time. Jenny couldn’t hide her disappointment. Tony went on as if nothing was wrong, and so did Jenny, but Catherine knew Tony better than Jenny did. She knew how he felt.

Although Tony made an effort to show Jenny the same consideration he’d shown Catherine, their final dinner date was a dud. Jenny had recovered and probably thought she’d won Tony’s heart. But her lies ruined her chance of a happily-ever-after with Tony. Maybe the exposure from being on the show would bring her more work, because Jenny looked terrific on the screen.

So do I
, said the little voice in the back of her mind. The freckles weren’t so prominent, and she had good bone structure. Even her hair looked good, thanks to Angelo. Her boobs didn’t look as big on the screen as they did in the mirror at home. Her features weren’t perfect, she wasn’t tall and elegant like some of the others, but she was pretty. Maybe Tony
was
attracted to her.

She watched her date with Tony and the closing segments where he told Jenny he was in love with Catherine. Tears streamed down Catherine’s face. Jenny didn’t believe him, but
she
did. Tony
did
love her.

Catherine didn’t think she had any more tears left inside her until she saw the final segment, where Tony told her he loved her. He might not be the most articulate man in the world, but he’d handed her his heart that day, and she didn’t have the courage to tell him she loved him.

She had to tell him, but not on the phone.

She needed to tell him in person.

<>

Tony was on his way to the Plantation with a load of lumber when his cell phone rang. Catherine said, “I need to see you.”

“Okay.” It was about time. She’d promised to call, but that was several days ago, and he hadn’t heard a word. Each day that passed made him more fearful that she’d changed her mind, that she didn’t love him after all.

“Tony, where are you?”

“I’m at the property near San Simeon. Nick found a buyer, and I started work on it this week.”

“Oh, I thought… Never mind. I’ll be there tomorrow.”

“Okay. Do you remember how to get here, or would you like me to come get you?”

“I remember.”

The cell phone gave out before he could tell her he’d be waiting. The heaviness that had weighed him down since the show ended had lifted off his shoulders.

Catherine was on her way.

<>

Catherine left the city at nine. In the past few days, she’d worked long hours and accomplished a lot on the editing. She’d even helped Henry hire a replacement for Mitzi. Sarah was fresh out of college and came highly recommended by her professors. Catherine felt confident she’d do a good job. Her first assignment would be to find girls for the next show. Unlike Mitzi, Sarah understood the concept.

Knowing Megan would be waiting up for her, Catherine called home when she took the exit off the freeway. “I’m in Santa Barbara, so I’ll be there in a few minutes.”

As she drove up the hill and through the gate, Catherine sighed deeply. Fatigue weighed her down and her head pounded from the smog she’d driven through. She needed a good night’s sleep before she began the drive to San Simeon.