A first kiss that doesn't go so well...

FortheLoveofHisLife_200x300_dpi72 Excerpt:

Veronica said, brightly, “So what about that tour? Are you ready to walk off your meal? Or did it exhaust you so much, sitting here and arguing with Gram-Marie, that you need a nap now so you’ll be up for your evening plans?”
Raul looked at the tall blond speculatively and smiled gradually.
“Oh, I think I can handle a stroll around the yard. Lead on, sweetie.”
He was rewarded with a snort from the old woman, and a glare from the Nordic princess who had just returned from putting his dirty dishes into the kitchen.
“My name is Veronica. My friends call me Ronnie…but you can call me Veronica.”
Good! I’ll know what name to yell out while I ride your ass!
Aloud, he said, “Fine, Veronica. Lead the way.”

Chapter Four

Raul looked around himself with surprise when they walked out of the same door he had walked in through a short time ago. Then he had been oblivious to anything other than his own bodily discomfort and his anger at the world for his predicament. Now that he had a full belly and a pot of coffee in him, he was impressed at the beauty of the natural surroundings that he hadn’t noticed before.
“That is one beautiful lake,” he said as he tried to keep up with the blond with long legs that she seemed to enjoy stretching in exercise. He hadn’t been doing his usual exercise routine lately, figuring that there would be time enough to get himself into great shape before the movie actually started filming. So he was huffing and puffing as he raced to keep up with the woman who rounded a small building that held canoes and other stuff that he didn’t recognize.
She stopped and leaned back against the wall to point at the lake.
“See how pretty the sun looks when it bounces off the…hey! What are you doing?”
Raul had caught up to her then done what he always did…tried to kiss the pretty girl. Only this pretty girl turned her head then moved so that he ended up hitting his face on the wall. He looked at her, aggrieved.
“I was trying to kiss you. What else?”
“Why?”
He was taken aback. “Uh, because you’re pretty? And because I figured that’s why you invited me out here away from that nagging old bag…”
Veronica’s hand shot out and slapped him across the face.
“What was that for?” He rubbed the sore spot that proved it wasn’t just her legs that were in good shape.
She advanced on him, her eyes narrowed, “Don’t you ever call my grandmother an old bag again! Don’t you even think it! You are a conceited pompous jerk with an ego the size of an elephant! Though I can’t for the life of me see what you are so proud of…a string of lousy movies that consisted of you taking off your shirt early and often? Dialogue that sounded like it was written by a love-struck twelve-year-old? I have no idea what Jared sees in you, but whatever it is, it must be buried pretty deep!”
He retaliated, “Until you got all high and mighty I was willing to overlook the fact that you look like you eat more of your own pie than you should, and you people up here obviously have no idea that there might be any benefit to using makeup. I was willing to lower my standards to throw you a bone…my bone to be exact. Who knows if you’ll ever get another chance to take a famous movie star into your bed? But if you’re going to be all nasty and stuff, then forget it.”
Veronica giggled, which grew to guffawing and continued until there were tears in her eyes. He stared at her, his anger beginning to fade as her infectious laughter made him smile.
“What’s so funny?” He demanded when she stopped for a breath.
“You! You actually thought I wanted you to kiss me? You really thought I was so hard up to get laid that I’d even consider a spoiled, out-of-shape, drunken drug-addict like you?”
He stopped smiling.
“You’ve probably got more venereal diseases than I can even name. You’ve been linked to every female you’ve ever made a movie with. I think you should just be honest about things and make porn, but since the money’s better where you are, you’re smart to ride the gravy train while you still have your good looks. Lord only knows that won’t be much longer, as hard as you are working on killing yourself.”
He glared at her, “Are you done yet?”
She nodded, “Uh-huh. I think that about says it all.”
“Why did you people agree to put me up if I’m such an asshole?”
Veronica shrugged, “We love Jared and he asked for a favor. He’s making a movie about Gram-Marie’s late husband’s great-grandfather. Jared used to love the stories Grampa would tell about his family and the early days back when old Hank Maynard was founding the city of Grand Marais.”
She picked up a stone and tossed it into the lake, making it skip three times before it dropped into the water.
“Besides, we had no idea you’d be so difficult to get along with. Jared told us to not let you drive and Jake is excited about the big pile of money Jared is going to pay him when he gets here, for driving your ungrateful ass into town so you can get drunk enough every night to pass out.”
She stared into his face, multiple emotions raging there as he tried to formulate a reply to her accusations.
“You know,” she added conversationally, “We do have beer and wine in the dining room. You could be a nice guy and give Jake the occasional night off and just take what you need and drink yourself into a stupor in your cabin…or out by the lake. Unless, of course, you are partial to older women who hang around in the bars in town hoping to get laid. In which case, have at it.”
She looked closely at his face, “You don’t remember much about being in the bars in town, do you?”
He gave up trying to remember and shook his head, deciding the truth was easier, “No. I buy a round for the place on the way in, and I spend the rest of the night with a drink always in my hand. I like to be the life of the party,” he said defensively. “I’ve always had a good time in bars. And the folks in town are getting a real kick out of having a famous movie star drinking with them.”
Veronica nodded, “I’m sure they are. Especially when you are buying rounds.”