The Relationship Coach (33 page)

“I don’t think I want to experience either one ever again.”

Her mother laughed. “I understand. I wish it would have worked out for you and Reed.”

“Thanks, Mom. But how can I still love a man who wants to hurt me? Am I pathetic or what?”

“No, honey, you’re human. You gave away your heart to a man who didn’t know what he had. You’re a wonderful woman who will make someone very happy. And whoever that person is, you should feel for them how you feel for Reed.”

“I don’t know. This hurts too much.”

“Yes, it does. But if you’d moved in with or even married Dean, you would never have experienced this kind of love. Unfortunately, you chose a man who didn’t want commitment. Now you need to find a man who creates these same emotions, but wants commitment.”

In the last few months, she’d learned so much about life. First what a disappointment Dean had turned out to be and then Reed. Smart, intelligent, handsome with a knife that he would soon shove into her back, killing her business.

Lacey leaned back and wiped her eyes. “I don’t know, Mom. I think for now I’m going to forget men for a while. Kerri is married, and I’m happy for her, but I don’t think I want this kind of pain again.”

Her mother frowned. “I understand. I just want you to be happy.”

“I know. But passion hurts too much.”

“How are you going to react to seeing Reed for the first time?”

Lacey took a deep breath and gave her mother a fake smile. “I’m going to smile and picture in my mind, me smacking him with my purse.”

A genuine smile graced her mother’s lips. “That’s my girl. Maybe we should see about getting you a date.”

“Absolutely not. No men. I want to face Reed alone,” Lacey said, the thought of another man repulsive to her. She needed to be alone for a while.

“Okay. Amanda and I will attend. Plus the studio exec and his wife,” she said, rubbing Lacey’s arm.

“Just don’t let me start swinging my purse.” She didn’t want to see Reed. Her heart was still an open wound and seeing him would only tear open the tissue.

Her mother laughed, the sound a welcome relief in the small room. “I can’t make any promises. I could be the one doing the swinging if I don’t like the way he’s depicted my baby.”

Lacey smiled at her mother. “Could be an interesting evening. Who knows? We may end it in jail.”

Chapter Twenty

L
acey stared out the window as the limousine pulled up in front of Graham Production headquarters. She didn’t want to get out of the car. She wasn’t ready to face everything this film would do to her and her business.

The car door opened, she took a deep breath and stepped out onto the sidewalk, not sure she was prepared for this evening. Her mother followed behind her, Amanda next, and then Stan, the television producer who had arranged the limo, and his wife.

“Can’t wait to see this film, Lacey,” he said. “It’s getting a lot of buzz.”

“Great,” she said, plastering the plastic smile on her face. She tried to have joy in her heart at the thought of her own television show. But that dream was fading and after tonight would no longer exist. Her only goal was to get through the night without seeing Reed. Her heart still hadn’t mended from the wreckage he’d left.

They stepped inside the production company and were met by a secretary.

“Good evening. I recognize Ms. Morgan. Let me just check the visitors roster for your names.”

Everyone gave her their name, while Lacey stood over to the side, gazing at the place where Reed worked. The company that would destroy her business and her life.

“Follow me please,” the secretary said and led them to the reception area where a small bar was set up.

“Wine anyone?” Stan asked.

Lacey shook her head. “Sorry, I’m too nervous.”

“I’d love a glass,” her mother said.

Stan went to the bar, and his wife disappeared into the ladies room.

“Mom, please. No matter what happens tonight, you promised me you would behave.”

She laughed. “And I will. Unless the film is totally bogus. Then I will get my hands on Reed Hunter. He could be a eunuch by the end of the night.”

“Mom, my reputation can’t handle a fight. Amanda is going to have to work magic just to hold off the press, until I can close the business.”

“Have you told Stan?”

“I’ve tried and no matter what I do, it just never comes out right. I decided he would learn the bad news from the film. I’m sure the television deal is dead after tonight. Unless I’m going to be the female version of Jerry Springer, and that’s not the type of show I want.”

How did you tell the man who had worked so hard to find you a network that the film you both were excited about was only going to destroy you?

Amanda patted her on the back. “We’re here with you. No matter what happens tonight, we love you and know you’re a great relationship coach.”

Her mother nodded. “We’ve got your back.”

“And if during the film it gets bad and you want to leave, just give me the signal, and we’re out of here,” Amanda assured her.

Lacey sighed and glanced around the room at the people there to see her on film. Her stomach rolled, and she wanted to throw up. “Thanks for coming with me, guys. I don’t want to see Reed.” So far so good. She hadn’t laid eyes on him, and she wanted to keep it that way.

Stan rejoined the group, and his wife returned from the ladies room. “Are you guys ready to go in?”

“Yes,” Lacey said, her legs shaking. She wanted to get this night over.

They went into the small auditorium. The theater was filled with people in the industry and those who worked for Graham Productions.

They found six reserved seats near the front. After taking hers, Lacey glanced around the auditorium and didn’t see Reed. Part of her sighed with relief, part of her was disappointed, and a third part of her would have jumped into his arms at the sight of him.

That part she had under lock and key. Tonight, there would be no public displays of affection.

The curtains parted, and the lights dimmed while Lacey’s heart started to pound. The feature film began, and Lacey’s body started to shake.

Her mother reached over and took her hand. Amanda sat on the other side of her, and she also took her hand. Lacey’s body shook from fear, her nerves completely wracking her body.

The film started with people leaving her seminars. They came out giving her rave reviews, and she relaxed a little. Reed appeared on the screen, his handsome face, filling her vision, her heart breaking all over again. She loved him and suddenly wondered if she would always love him.

“When I started this documentary, my intention was to show the world that people who didn’t have counseling degrees were giving people advice about how to live their lives. I wanted to show relationship coaches were not qualified to help people change and make decisions about their relationships. Here is the story of Lacey Morgan, Relationship Coach.”

The film depicted Lacey standing in front of a crowd, explaining to them what her job as a relationship coach entailed.

For the next hour, Reed showed her in seminars, laughing with her clients, crying over her clients, and she appeared as a caring human being trying to help people find happiness.

The couple that ended their relationship in her office broke her heart all over again as she watched the couple split-up on screen.

At the end, her clients talked about their experiences with Lacey, praising her for helping them realize why they couldn’t find permanent relationships. How she helped them change.

Then her one problem client came on, and after Reed’s interview, everyone in the theater burst out laughing at the craziness of the guy.

Reed’s smiling face appeared on the screen. “This film became personal for me. Instead of finding that a relationship coach is someone who needs more education in order to help people find the relationship of their dreams, Lacey Morgan showed me how I needed help with my own relationships. I’ve been to Uganda, Haiti, and even Iraq, but very few documentaries I’ve filmed have affected me like this one. I learned I had no idea what it took to have a good relationship with a woman. Lacey showed me I needed to change.”

He walked toward the camera. “If you know someone who always seems to find the wrong type of man or woman to date, then maybe what they need is a relationship coach to help them discover more about who they are. How can you have a good relationship, if you don’t know what you want?”

Tears trickled down her cheeks, as she realized he’d shown her in a positive way. His film had proven how she helped couples, and instead of the trashing she’d expected, the film reflected her work. By the time the film credits started to roll, she was crying fully.

The people in the screening room burst into applause. Some of them turned to look at her, and she tried to wipe her tears away.

Her mother squeezed her hand. “That was beautiful, baby. I never knew what a great job you do for these people.”

“Oh Mom, he made me look so good. He didn’t betray me.”

Amanda squeezed her hand. “Lacey, your business is about to explode with clients. Reed has just taken you to the next level.”

She sobbed. “I know.”

Stan leaned over. “Pretty emotional moment. Reed Hunter has just made you a star.”

“Thank you,” Lacey said between her tears. “If you guys don’t mind, I think I’d like to sit here in the dark a few moments alone. I need some time to regroup.”

Amanda nodded. “Come on, Mom. Let’s go out front and see if we can find Ty. I need to tell him thank you.”

“Are you going to be all right?” her mom asked, clearly reluctant to leave.

“Yes, I just need a few moments.”

The group stood and left Lacey sitting there, watching the credits roll on the screen. Sniffling, she thought of how Reed had taken her life and business and shown the world she was a human being who cared about people. He’d taken the worst and the best of her clients, and showed her resolving relationship problems.

In the film, he’d captured her love for her business, and in the process, she’d fallen in love with him all over again. Oh God, what did she do now? She loved him even more than when they’d parted.

***

Reed had stayed hidden and watched Lacey throughout the documentary. Even in the darkness, he’d seen her expressions and knew when he’d captured her heartbreak over the couple that had parted, her body had softened. She’d relaxed. And then at the end, he’d known she was crying.

He’d avoided Graham, but there he was before him, his face red, his body tense, rage reflected from his eyes. “You’re fired! Take your camera equipment, pack your shit, and get out of this company.”

Reed shrugged. “Sorry, Graham, but I fell in love with Lacey, and I couldn’t do what you asked.”

“Graham,” a woman came running up to him. “Oh Graham, honey, that was so good. I thought you hated Lacey’s program, but to do a documentary on it. Oh honey, does this mean you’re willing to try again?” Juliet stood before Graham, her blue eyes gazing at him like he was a God.

Graham looked from Reed to Juliet and then back to Reed, who could see the confusion on his face. He could see the man wanted to scream and yell and curse Lacey’s business, but then, here was a chance of Juliet coming back into his life.

“Honey, of course this means I’m willing to try again. Sugar, I’ve missed you so much.”

She flung herself into his arms and pressed her lips against his. “I’m so glad. Oh, Graham, what a lovely film. You couldn’t have done anything better to get me back.”

Reed smiled and gave Graham a thumbs up.

“Hang on a second, sugar,” Graham said, not releasing Juliet, but watching Reed. “My office tomorrow morning at nine o’clock.”

Reed shook his head. “Sorry, Graham. I’ve been fired. I won’t be here.” He turned and walked up the aisle. No way could he let her sit there another minute alone. Quietly, he hurried over to where she sat.

As he came up the aisle, she saw him, her gaze connecting with his. She swiped at the tears on her face.

“Hi,” he said softly. “You came.”

“Reed,” she said shakily. “He fired you.”

Reed shrugged his shoulders and pulled a handkerchief out of his pocket and handed it to her. “His loss. I’m thinking of going out on my own.”

“But—”

He held up his hand. “Before you say anything about the film, I need to tell you the truth.”

“I loved the film,” she said in a whisper.

“Wait, hear me out,” he said, frowning. He took a deep breath. “I didn’t start this film out to make you look good. I had the worst of intentions. I meant to trash you just like you said. I was an ass and a jerk. But you changed me. You made me see the world differently.”

“I thought you didn’t believe in relationship coaches.”

“I didn’t.”

“I thought you hated me and what I stood for.”

He laughed. “I did. You changed my world. You made me see the life I was living was shallow and cold. You helped me to realize I was afraid of giving myself completely to any woman. You made me vulnerable.”

He’d never felt so vulnerable as he felt at this moment. He needed this woman, like he needed his next breath. He wanted it all, and she’d shown him what he was missing.

“And now, how do you feel about me?” she asked softly.

“I hate you for showing me I was such a despicable ass.” He paused. “I love you for changing me. I want to spend every day with you. I want to grow old with you.”

She laughed at him. “Damn you, Reed Hunter. You’re not following the twelve step program.”

He took her by the hand and pulled her to a standing position, where he could wrap his arms around her. “Tell me what step I missed, and I promise I’ll go back and do it. Tell me what I have to do to get you back in my life. You’ve made me a better man. I need you like my next breath.”

His lips covered hers in a kiss that was full of love and hope and desperation. He’d missed her touch, her laughter, and the way she made him think bigger.

She’d changed his world for the better, just like she helped so many people.