The male host lowers his voice, “Rumor has it love is in the air between Mav and his co-star.”
I hear someone growl before I realize it’s me. I’m the one growling. I sip on my beer and hope no one noticed my behavior.
Mav clears his throat. “Actually.”
The other host nods and charges on as if Mav hadn’t spoken. “I heard they were seen being all cozy at a restaurant in LA.”
I grunt, and Ellery pats my arm. “It gets better.”
How does she know? Wait a minute. I know what’s going on. I stand and shout my question to the room, “Has everyone in town seen this?”
“Yes!” The crowd replies as hands fly into the air.
“How did I miss it?”
The footage pauses while I wait for an answer.
“Maybe because you had to rush out to the refuge to deal with a sick llama this morning?” Ashlyn’s statement sounds more like a question.
“Please tell me you didn’t poison my llama so I missed this interview. Do you know how much time I spent collecting stool samples for the vet today?”
She shivers. “No. And I don’t want to.” Yep. Ashlyn definitely poisoned my llama.
“You’re lucky llama poop has no odor, or your pregnancy wouldn’t hold me back,” I grumble at her as I plop down in my seat again.
She beams a smile at me. “Hurrah for no odor llama poop. Roll the film!”
The recording begins again, and I can’t help myself. I lean forward in my chair to watch closer. I’m riveted to the sight of Mav on the screen.
“It’s true.” Mav nods. “Quinn and I did have dinner together, but we’re anything but cozy. We’re not romantically involved.” He stares into the camera. “Our relationship is purely platonic.”
Cheers erupt around me. Why are they cheering? Everyone in town knows the ‘kiss’ was a publicity stunt.
The female host waggles her eyebrows. “Are you positive? The Hollywood rumor mill is alight with speculation about Maverick Langston being in love.”
He grins. “I am in love.” He appears happy and my pulse speeds up. What is he doing?
The male host addresses the camera. “You heard it here first, folks. Maverick Langston is officially off the market.”
The female host leans closer. Geez. If she leans any further, she’ll be sitting in Mav’s lap. “And who is the lucky lady? Anyone we know?”
“Actually, it’s not. Juniper isn’t interested in Hollywood and all its trappings.”
I gasp and forget how to breathe. He said my name. My name! On national television! Holy cows have come home! He outed our relationship.
“She sounds intriguing. When do we get to meet her?”
Mav shrugs off the question. “I have a different surprise for you today.”
She leans back against the sofa. “I don’t know if we can handle another surprise today.” She’s not the only one I think as I clutch my neck and gasp for breath.
“You’re not going to want to miss this surprise. It’s a good one.” He winks.
“Well, I’m interested if she’s not.” The male host elbows his co-host.
“I was hoping you’d let me sing a song I wrote for Juniper.”
“When did he record a song?” I ask the room.