Free Bombshell by Phyllis DeMarco

girls.”
    “Huh?”
    “He’s a sweet fella, but he played a nasty trick on me and ate garlic and onions before we shot that scene, just so I wouldn’t fall madly in love with him.” She slinked her arm around his and pulled him closer. “Besides, I much prefer kissing you.”
    Calaway let his gaze wander down to her lips. “Do ya now?”
    “A little too much,” she said with an impish grin. “A handsome man like you, with those full, wonderful lips—Sheriff, you have done something terrible to me. You’ve got me all hot and bothered, when I’m the one who’s supposed to be doing all the hot and bothering.”
    “I haven’t had a decent night’s rest since you came into town,” he told her. “I’d say you got me bothered, all right.”
    Annalee gazed into his magnificent eyes for a long moment, ready to fall into his arms and make love to him right there on the front porch, until Kiddo woke up and tickled her insides.
    She took a step back, just outside his reach. A sudden wave of exhaustion left her weak and lightheaded, and for a moment it was all she could do to control the tremors in her hands.
    “Are you all right?” The concern in his voice tore at her heart. “You look like you’re ’bout to faint.”
    “I think the day is catching up to me,” she said in a soft voice. “I’m awful tired.”
    “Go inside and get to bed,” he told her. “Much as you’ve been running yourself ragged, I’m surprised you didn’t fall asleep in the car.”
    Annalee looked into his eyes and brushed her lips against his. “I definitely like kissing you too much,” she whispered. “Good night, John.”
    ****
    Two storm-tossed days passed before work could resume on the Blue Lantern. When the rain passed, the crews arrived once more to clean up the storm damage and make the final preparations for the grand opening.
    Annalee placed advertisements in the local papers, both in Pike County and across the river in Missouri. She asked the workers to spread the word far and wide about the sparkling new riverfront café and prayed to God the place would be such a success she would never have to return to a place called Hollywood.
    When she finally made it to the Blue Lantern, she was tired, dead tired, and wishing she could crawl into bed. Bing Crosby crooned on the new radio. One of the few true gentlemen she knew from the old days. His voice was as wonderful as ever.
    “You ain’t been to see Doc Graham yet, have ya?” Molly Brown asked.
    “I haven’t had time.”
    “You’re worn to the bone,” she chided. “Much work as those men do out there, you do just as much yourself, and that ain’t good.”
    “Once we get past the opening, I’ll rest. I promise.”
    “That’s still three days away, and you ain’t lookin’ so good.”
    The front door swung open. Figuring it was another worker looking for some refreshment, Annalee didn’t bother to look up—until a familiar voice sent a jolt through her heart.
    “You’ve done a fine job here, Toots! I didn’t think you had it in you!” Sully tossed his Borsalino hat onto the table and handed Molly his walking stick. “Put that somewhere, will you, sweetheart? Thanks.”
    Annalee couldn’t help but cringe. “What are you doing here?”
    “All this time you’ve been away, don’t I even get a hug?”
    Molly Brown set the walking stick against the counter and stared at the strange, wiry little man with suspicion. “Annalee, do you know this fella?”
    “Sully and I go way back.” She stood and gave her manager a perfunctory hug, then eased her aching body back into the chair. Scrubbing floors and polishing every last surface of the café for two days straight made her hurt all over.
    “And you haven’t called me in weeks,” he said. “I was worried.”
    A burly man with a heavy camera slung across his shoulder poked his head in the door. “Where do you want me to set up, Mr. Sullivan?”
    “Let’s get some exterior shots first, while we got