Good Girls Don't Date Rock Stars(50)

“Rico, there’s been a misunderstanding; there is no . . .”

The phone rang and he picked it up, gesturing for her to hold on. Gemma picked up her pizzas and salad and turned, almost running smack into Mrs. Andrews.

“Well, Gemma, I heard that boy finally made an honest woman of you. I’m glad to hear it.”

Gemma’s face burned, and she wanted to run for the door. “Thank you, Mrs. Andrews, but I have to hurry. The guys are waiting on dinner,” she said, inching toward the exit.

“Well, pencil me in for Saturday at nine. I’m your party planner, and we have a lot to do so your reception goes off without a hitch,” Mrs. Andrews said, walking up to the counter as Rico put down the phone.

Oh, what fresh hell is this?

Gemma stared in horror at the back of her head, trying to process the high-handed announcement. Mrs. Andrews was her party planner?

What else did fate have in store for her?



ARMS FULL, GEMMA came through the door to find her son and Travis sitting on the floor, playing Monopoly. Travis jumped up and came over to help her, taking the pizzas.

“Thanks,” she said, dropping her purse and laptop bag on the couch.

“Who else is coming over, the Rock Canyon football team?” Travis asked.

Her gaze met his, and his smile was real. Relaxing slightly, she said, “No. Rico decided that my order wasn’t adequate for such a big, strapping man. And he suggested that you come see him while you’re in town, but I’m pretty sure it was a command.”

“Ah, Rico,” Travis said. “He was always a riot.”

“Hey, Mom, I showed dad his room and my room, and now I’m kicking his butt at Monopoly,” Charlie said.

Gemma melted a bit as she saw her son’s happiness and went over to ruffle his hair. “That’s great, honey. Are you hungry?”

“Starvin’ Marvin,” Charlie said, running into the kitchen to wash his hands.

Travis raised his eyebrow. “Is he always like that?”

“Like what?” Gemma said.

“Hyper,” Travis said, carrying the pizzas to the table.

Gemma laughed. “Yeah, pretty much. I was the same way as a kid. He may look like you, but he’s got a lot of me in his personality.” Travis stiffened, and whatever she’d said wrong, she wished she could take it back.

Charlie joined them at the table and started to reach into the top box. Suddenly, he yanked his hand back and made a face.

“Yuck, this isn’t right.”

Gemma lifted the lid all the way, taking in the funky concoction of meat and veggies, and remembered it was Travis’s favorite, down to the white sauce. Normally, she just bought Charlie a small pepperoni pizza and a salad for herself.

Travis reached in and grabbed a couple slices. “This is the best pizza in the world.”

Charlie still hadn’t lost his complete look of disgust. “If you say so.”

Gemma snorted as she grabbed her salad and drizzled fat-free dressing on it, trying hard not to think about the tempting aroma of the pizza. After the junk she’d had today, she couldn’t afford to have any. Maybe tomorrow she could grab a small leftover slice, she thought, eyeing the pizza longingly as she shoved a forkful of salad into her mouth.

“That’s what you’re eating?” Travis asked.

Gemma looked from his pizza, dripping with cheese and yummy goodness, to her healthy salad. “Yes. Yes, this is what I’m eating.”

“Mom always gets a salad for dinner at Rico’s,” Charlie said.

“Why?” Travis asked between bites.

“’Cause she doesn’t want to get a Buddha belly again.”

“Charlie!” Gemma scolded, mortified.

“What? That’s what you told Aunt Gracie,” Charlie said, looking confused.


Gemma ducked her head and filled her mouth with more salad, trying to avoid looking at Travis. It was so embarrassing to be reminded of what a tank she used to be.

“I think your mom is beautiful, no matter what she weighs.”

Gemma jerked up her head and met his eyes with surprise.

“I do, too, but she’s always freaking out about her butt getting big or something,” Charlie said around a mouthful of pizza.

“Let’s change the subject,” Gemma said. For a man who hated her guts, Travis was being awfully kind to her. First the bookstore pep talk, and now telling their son he thought she was always beautiful.

Don’t read into it.

“Charlie and I were trying to decide what to do tomorrow,” Travis said. “Any suggestions?”

“Well, Charlie loves to fish. You could do that, or maybe just take a drive?”

“You aren’t coming with us?” Charlie said, pleading.

“Charlie, I would love to, but I’ve got the store to open. I was just closed for five days. I can’t afford to miss more; it’s our income,” Gemma said, but in her heart she knew that wasn’t the only reason.

Charlie looked disappointed, and Gemma didn’t know why. He would be spending the whole day with his dad, getting to know him, without her tagging along.

“We could go geocaching,” Charlie said quietly.

“What’s that?” Travis asked.

“It’s like a scavenger hunt with GPS units. Uncle Mike takes me. Can we ask him to go?”