For the Love of His Life by Fiona McGier Page A

fuck is wrong with me?
    Veronica stared at him for a few minutes and he tried not to look as guilty as he felt. Finally a slow smile crept across her lips again.
    “You know, now I think about it, I do believe you’ve actually paid me a compliment. You think I’m too smart to be just making pies and doing the books for some small businesses. That’s what you were trying to say, right?”
    He took a deep breath in relief, “Yes! That’s it!”
    She leaned closer and spoke quietly. “If I tell you a secret do you promise not to tell?”
    He nodded solemnly.
    She looked both directions then leaned closer to whisper, “I’m secretly a government agent!”
    She’s making fun of me! Great going, dufus! Way to romance a woman, studly!
    When he just stared at her, she ruefully shook her head. “Don’t believe me, huh?”
    “No.”
    She sighed. “Okay…truth is I’ve always loved reading spy books. Anything about international intrigue, spies, espionage, you know, that sort of thing. So I’ve been trying to write some stuff like that myself. I’ve got a few things going and one short novel I sent out to publishers.”
    “No word from anyone yet?”
    “No, just an acknowledgement they got it and it’s under consideration , whatever that means. So I haven’t told anyone else about it. Old Ivan up the road knows, but he’s entertained me for years with stories about what life was like back in the USSR when he lived there. To hear him talk he was almost single-handedly running the KGB! I never know if what he’s telling me is the truth or if he’s bullshitting me, but he’s always interesting, so I suppose it doesn’t really matter.”
    “Can I read your manuscript sometime?”
    Veronica’s eyebrows rose. “You’d want to? It’s probably not any good, compared to what you’re used to reading.”
    He grinned. “Don’t be so sure. Like you said, I’ve been in a lot of crappy movies…but believe me, I’ve tried to pick the best of what I’ve been offered. There are a lot of really awful movie scripts out there. If all you are known for is taking off your shirt a lot, people send you the garbage because they figure you don’t care anyway and your name attached to it will make them a pile of money.”
    Veronica looked into his eyes and he met her gaze steadily.
    “So you don’t have any illusions about yourself? You don’t think you’re the best thing since sliced bread?”
    He smiled. “My mom used to say things like that. No, I’m well aware of who and what I am. But it’s been an interesting ride up to now. My agent has worked hard to keep me in the public’s eye and I’ve played my part by doing the hard partying required to dominate the tabloids with my name and face.”
    “When does it become not just an act?”
    “What do you mean?”
    “Well, you say you are just doing it as part of your publicity. But if you really have developed a drinking or drug problem, is it worth it?”
    They gazed into each other’s eyes for a long moment.
    Raul shrugged slowly and elaborately, “ Pues…no sé .”
    Veronica smiled. “I took español in high school and college. That means you don’t know, right?”
    He nodded. “In this case, it also means I plead the fifth. I’m not about to incriminate myself since I don’t really know the answer.”
    Veronica got up and walked over to the railing to lean against it, looking out at the lake. She turned quickly and Raul had to look up as quickly so she didn’t notice him staring at the curves under her butt cheeks he could see beneath the jogging shorts she’d put back on.
    “Jared has told me about what it’s like living out there in LA-LA land. From what he’s told me, it’s not something I ever want to experience. I like it up here, where people are honest, with each other and with themselves. Jared does too, you know…”
    “He does? Is that why he doesn’t live in California?”
    “Yeah. He initially bought that vineyard up in Oregon to