Free Paradise By The Rifle Sights (Greatest Hits romantic mysteries book #5) (Greatest Hits Mysteries) by Leslie Langtry

filmed twenty-four seven. You just have to be there for the dates and the elimination round at the end of the night."
    I got into the car. He was right. I'd never seen cameras following the guy on these shows. "So where are we going?" I asked.
    Roberto smiled as he pulled out of the garage. "Somewhere safe."
     
     
    " Thank you. I think we have everything we need," I told the waiter at the quiet club we were at. He nodded and left.
    " I can't figure you out, Paris," Roberto said as he sipped the last of his cognac. "Most straight men would love an opportunity like this. You sure you're not gay?"
    " Yes. I'm sure. I just never really enjoyed the whole lady-killer thing." I savored the last drop of the thirty year old single malt scotch I was drinking and picked up the knife and fork for another go at my steak. It was good…real good.
    Roberto had taken me to a small club, hidden away in the hills. It reminded me of those old-school men-only places in London. Between the quiet atmosphere and Iowa corn-fed beef, the company and the excellent bar, I was feeling a little more like myself.
    " Why not?" he asked.
    " My cousin is like that. Or at least, he was. He's married now, and his priorities have changed."
    Roberto pushed back from the table, wiping his mouth on a silk napkin. "So you hang out with men like that, but you're not like them."
    " He's my best friend. I was his wingman. I probably scored as many hits as he did. But I didn't enjoy it as much."
    " You've always wanted something special," he said.
    " I always wanted something special," I agreed.
    " So why haven't you found it? Is that why you're on this show? To find love?"
    I choked on a bite of steak. Once I cleared my throat, I continued. "I'm on this show by accident. As to why I haven't found the right woman yet—I have no idea. "
    " By accident?" Roberto laughed. "That's a new one."
    " It's my sister's fault," I said. That was all I could come up with. I couldn't tell him the real reason.
    " So, what exactly do you look for in a woman?" he asked, politely ignoring my lame excuse.
    I sat back and pushed my steak away. "Someone smart, funny, that kind of thing."
    Roberto laughed. "You sound like you're auditioning for the show." He pointed a well- manicured finger at me. "You'll have to do better than that, or I'll think you're just like the ladies back at the house."
    He was right. "I want a real woman. A woman who is intelligent, who can make me laugh—I do want those things. But there's more to it than that." I fiddled with my scotch. "She should be able to put me in my place but understand my flaws. And she should not be afraid of wrinkles or the stray gray hair. She should be confident enough to be okay with that. I find that very sexy."
    Wow. I'd always felt that way, but never said it out loud. Maybe that was because Dak would've laughed at me. At least, back in his playboy days. And mentioning it around Liv would've been…what? Unsatisfying. Why was that? Why didn't I have anyone other than this valet to talk to about it? That bothered me.
    " Paris, you're a great guy," Roberto said. "You're gorgeous, smart and a true gentleman. And I wish you were gay."
    I looked at my watch. "I think, and I can't believe I'm going to say this, that we should get back."
    Roberto signaled for the bill. "Yes, we don't want to miss your little date tonight."
    I threw some cash on the table and mumbled , "No, we don't want me to miss that."

CHAPTER ELEVEN
     
     
    "There's an old saying in Hollywood: It's not the length of your film, it's how you use it."
    ~ Ben Stiller
     
     
    Teri was again my chauffer, and she ignored me as I got into the car with three women. I guess I deserved that. She dropped me, Cindee, Leila-the-tongue, and Bridget-the-mute, along with a camera guy, off at a sushi restaurant in Beverly Hills. I opened the door for the three women, and after introducing myself to the maitre d, I followed them to our table.
    We had our own room, which was good