Lance’s eyes widened. “No, I’m fine. Whenthis is over, I can get back to my life.”
“Okay.” She pressed the record button andgrabbed her notebook. “Tell me how you and Andrea met?”
“I originally saw her in person in New York,but we didn’t officially meet,” he said.
“No ‘I fell in love at first sight’ when youfirst saw her in New York? Did she notice you?”
He gave half a smile. “No, although she wasstunning.”
A surprise there. As far as she couldremember, all the girls noticed and crushed on Lance, includingher. She shook her head.
He continued. “It wasn’t until our annualTaylor Gala that she came with a friend. We met at the horsd’oeuvre table.”
Chantelle made the notes on her notepad.“First date?”
“Ice cream parlor.”
Her eyes widened at the thought of a modeleating ice cream. “Andrea Williams eats ice cream?”
Lance bobbed his head. “She cheats her dietnow and then. Her fans know that she’s vegan, but she likes toindulge sometimes. I learned that quickly in our relationship.”
She penned his words. “Okay. So... what makesher special, if you don’t mind me asking? How does she make youfeel?” Chantelle asked despite the tightening inside her chest. Didhe ever compare Andrea to her? She berated herself for thinkingsuch a thing.
Still, Chantelle recalled the first time sheand Lance had shared ice cream at Jake’s Ice Cream Parlor in town.The parlor had a long glass case with dozens of ice cream buckets:chocolate, vanilla, strawberry, coffee, rocky road, and all theother flavors she could imagine. The whir of the blender hadrattled, making a milkshake. She could still smell the sugarywaffle cone. Lance loved to tease her since she preferred her treatin a cup. Sugary cold ice cream had been their favorite dessert toshare.
“She has a good heart.” Lance brought herback to the present. He pressed his lips together and then lickedthem. Then he glanced at his watch.
“That all?” Chantelle coaxed.
“She’s sweet when she wants to be. She’sfocused on her career, but it’ll slow down once we’re married,” hesaid.
“Why would she slow down?”
“As my wife, she’ll have her hands fullmaking appearances with me. I’m making partner soon, so she’ll beat my side as I entertain clients. Andrea won’t be able to travelas much.”
Chantelle’s eyebrows shot up. “What about hercareer? She’s established herself as a model. Wouldn’t thatcomplicate things?”
“We’re still talking about it,” he said.
It was best to drop the subject. “So, whendid you know you loved her?”
He cleared his throat. “I’d rather not sharethat. It’s private. As long as the public sees the wedding picturesthey should be fine.”
She set her notepad to the side. “I knowyou’re not one to talk about your feelings but—”
“I haven’t talked to you in ten years,Chantelle. I don’t think that’s your business.”
She eyeballed him and turned off therecorder. Silence passed between them like death. Chantelle bitback what she wanted to say. “Am I missing something here? All I’msaying is the public still enjoys a love story. They want to knowhow you swept Andrea off her feet. You’ve been an eligible bachelorfor a long time. They want to know why you’re tying the knotnow.”
He leaned forward in his chair. His eyesnarrowed at hers. “My personal life is that. I don’t mind a fewquestions, but I’m not pouring my feelings out for the world toread. I couldn’t care less about a social media presence or my faceplastered on a magazine.”
The Lance Taylor she knew, the boy she lovedat eighteen, vanished. The man who sat across from her, he might aswell have been a stranger. Chantelle crossed her arms. “Why don’tyou just say what you’re upset about?”
“Why should I tell you?”
Biting the inside of her cheek, she exhaled.This was getting nowhere. “Maybe we need to reschedule thisinterview—when you’ve calmed down.”
His breathing through his nose becameaudible. Chantelle expected a snarky remark, but he didn’t.
Instead, he clasped his hands tight. “Maybeyou should go.”
She gathered her recorder along with hernotebook and stood to her feet. She stalked to the foyer, butChantelle paused at the front door. She couldn’t give in. Perhapsthey could finally make amends. Taking a deep breath, she pacedback to the living area. Lance still sat in his chair, wringing hishands together.
“I don’t know what your problem is,” shesaid, “but I’m here to do my job. I’ve already told you if you wantsomeone to replace me, fine, but don’t make my job difficult justbecause you want to be difficult.”
He sprinted to his feet. “I’m beingdifficult?”
“You won’t let me do my job.” She cocked herhead to the side.
Lance grimaced. “All that magazine does isexploit celebrities for a quick buck. I thought you were betterthan that.”
She stepped forward. Did she hear himcorrectly? “Are you kidding me? I would never—”
“How would I know?” His nostrils flared as hestood facing her.
She didn’t cower.
“What’s going on in here?” a female voiceinterrupted, sounding irritated.
Chantelle shut her eyes for a moment, alreadyknowing who stood behind her. She avoided the voice in years, butthere was no mistaking it. She forced a smile and turned to faceLance’s mother. “Hello Mrs. Taylor.”
The woman had her arms folded. “ChantelleWoods. I didn’t expect to see you back in town so soon.”
“She’s here for the interview.” Lanceexplained.
“You’re the reporter?” His mother asked.
“I am.” Chantelle squared her shoulders.
“Interesting. So... this is how you treatyour interviews?” His mother raised an eyebrow.
Chantelle wouldn’t dignify the question withan answer. Ever since she could remember, she wasn’t good enoughfor Lance, according to Mrs. Taylor. “I was just leaving.”
She didn’t wait for a response. Chantellewanted to hightail it to her car and never return. Her feet stompedthe pavement as she hurried to her vehicle. Lance wasn’t the firstunpleasant person she had interviewed. She got through the otherswithout blowing a fuse. Why did she lose control?
Better yet, why did he lose his temper? If heloved Andrea, why did Chantelle’s presence bother him? Was itpossible that he—
Chantelle huffed as she drove out of thedriveway. She needed to cool down, and only one place did that forher frayed nerves. Afterwards, she would call Brenda and give heran update. She hoped Lance didn’t want her replaced with anotherreporter. Then again, was
