Make Me Over_ Getting Real - Leslie Kelly [58]
Drew didn’t understand her, but he certainly heard the concern in her voice and felt the tension in her suddenly stiff body. “That’s ridiculous. And our worlds are not as different as you seem to think. I’m not who you think I am.” He hadn’t confided in her yet about his own childhood, which had probably been every bit as rough as her own. Now didn’t seem the time or the place for that. They would, however, have the conversation soon. Once they were out of the TV business.
Tori said something else, in a low voice that he almost didn’t hear. “Maybe I’m not who you think I am.”
He tilted her chin up, forcing her to look him in the eye. “Tori, what are you trying to tell me?”
Her mouth opened, but no sound came out.
“Is there something I need to know about? You can tell me anything…unless it’s that you’re a guy in drag or something.” He’d been teasing her to make her smile, but she didn’t. “Uh, I was joking. Now talk to me.”
She hesitated again, but this time, took a deep breath, as if about to speak. But before she could say a word, they were interrupted by Sam, the camera operator, who stepped so close with the camera he nearly hit Drew’s arm.
Drew shot him a glare, watching him exchange one long look with Tori. Then he stepped back. And the moment was lost. Whatever she’d been about to say, her lips were tightly closed now.
T ORI’S EVENING HAD BEEN pure magic, every minute of it, right up until they’d started talking about the reality show. For a few hours, in his arms, beneath the Christmas garland and the wreaths and the mistletoe, she’d been able to forget how they’d met, why they’d come together. Even Sam’s presence hadn’t distracted her too much until that moment, that one moment when she’d been ready to admit the truth to Drew. The words had spilled up to her lips before she’d even had a chance to think about the repercussions. She wanted him to know that he was the target of one of those schemes he’d been talking about in disgust.
Now more than ever, she knew he was not going to react well when he found out the truth. Burt Mueller would be lucky if Drew only sued him…. He’d probably be tempted to get violent on the man. How he’d feel about her, she didn’t even want to think about.
But it appeared she had longer to think about it. Because Sam had obviously overheard and realized what she was about to do. His pointed stare had warned her not to, and the opportunity had been lost. The evening hadn’t presented another one. Oh, okay, it might have, but Tori was too chicken to really look for it.
She didn’t want this to end. Not now. And she very much feared that when she told Drew the truth, it would end. Maybe not entirely, but she’d sure as heck kill any trust the man might have in her. He’d been burned once by a woman who wanted money, which might make him not forgive her at all.
So for tonight, she planned to take what she could. To build up lots of pleasant moments for the memory box in her head. Just in case that was all she ever had.
Later in the evening, as the party began to get a little more raucous and filled with holiday spirit…or spirits, at least…Drew went over to the bar to get them each a drink. Tori saw him slip the bartender some money and then tip a waiter. She watched curiously as the bartender made a drink—adding a liberal amount of alcohol—and handed it to the waiter.
“What are you up to?” she asked Drew when he returned and handed her a glass of red wine. Tori wasn’t much of a wine drinker, but this dark red stuff tasted pretty good. Put her in mind of Christmas, too, with its rich burgundy color, and that was fine with her.
“Just thinking Sam might need to wet his whistle,” Drew