parents asked a lot of questions about the vineyard businesses and the details of co-ownership, and I was happy to tell them what I knew.

His father was keen on knowing as much as he could about diversifying his holdings and investment opportunities other than the standard

retirement plans. We had a long conversation just on that subject alone.

It was apparent throughout the conversation that his father was worried about Ryan’s money and making sure it was properly invested. I told

them that I felt Ryan was looking to expand into other areas of opportunity but I didn’t go into specifics. I certainly didn’t want them to know how

willing he was to dump his money into refurbishing the kitchen in my pub.

The last thing I wanted was for his parents to think I was only after their famous son’s money. I tried to inadvertently express how I was doing

financially so they would be at ease knowing that I’m a smart businesswoman all on my own and I have my own money in the bank.

They told me stories about Ryan and how he liked to draw pictures of houses when he was younger. His parents always thought that he’d

become an architect one day. Even when he was a child, everything he drew or built had to be symmetrical. Block buildings, tinker toys, Lego’s -

everything was always designed evenly.

Ellen recalled how Ryan’s modeling career started - she took Ryan to get his picture taken when he was three years old and the photographer

suggested that she take him to one of the local modeling agencies. Soon after that, Ryan was pictured in national clothing store fliers modeling

children’s clothing. His pictures were even used in a few parenting magazines. She promised to show them to me one day. I’m sure that would

embarrass Ryan to no end.

It was late in his high school years when he became active in the drama club. His mother said he was a natural on the stage. I loved listening to

her stories - to hear the pride in her voice when she spoke of him.

They also spoke a lot about their other son, Nick, and his wife, Janelle, and how they met at work and fell madly in love. They had been married

three years now and had their first daughter, Sarah, almost ten months ago. His parents were very easy to talk to, and I had the same feeling talking

to them as I did when I first met Ryan.

Just as Ryan had stated, his father snatched up the restaurant bill even before the waitress set it on the table. I held out my hand, for I really did

want to treat them to lunch, but his father waived for me to put my hand down and strung a few no, no, no’s along as he reached for his wallet. I

dropped it as to not offend his father.

I took them for a brief drive around the area, showing them the only two spots where I knew Ryan had filmed. I spared them the details about the

two women who were arrested storming onto the movie set when they filmed on the beach. I figured they too had enough to worry about.

I drove down my street, showing them the front of my building while also secretly assessing how many fans and paparazzi were staked out. I

drove down the alley, despite having paparazzi lurking there as well. Ryan’s father quickly unloaded their luggage from my trunk.

I was surprised to see that his father knew the little Italian photographer. “Jimmy? Jimmy Pop? Are you still chasing my son?” Bill asked.

“Oh, Mr. Christensen, oi!” Jimmy said in his thick accent, tossing his cigarette butt into the alley. “Mrs. Christensen! You look so lovely! Oh, my,

my! What a blessed day! How are you?”

“We’re well! We’re here visiting our son. You guys aren’t bothering him too much, are you?” Bill teased.

“Oh, no, no! Well, you know, it’s a job. I miss when your boy works in nice, warm places. This cold weather, it’s no good for my hands. Oh the

pain,” Jimmy said, rubbing his arthritic fingers.

While we stood there talking to Jimmy, other photographers took our picture. His parents didn’t seem to be phased by it.

“Your son… he has a lovely girl here! Look, look, how pretty! Oh, makes my heart happy!” Jimmy patted his chest. “She not like those others.”

He waived a crooked finger in the air. “She’s very nice.”

“Thank you, sir. That’s very kind.” I smiled at him.

“See? She call me sir. No other one call me sir. They all say ‘Jimmy you go away.’ ”

I noticed how Jimmy’s pants seemed to be two sizes too big. The front of his pants puckered where his belt cinched up the extra fabric. He was

looking malnourished.

“Jimmy, are you hungry? I have a half of a sandwich here that I didn’t touch. Would you like it?” I handed him the Styrofoam box.

“You give me food?” He looked inside to see the other half of my chicken club wrap and a new bag of chips that I didn’t eat.

I nodded my head. “You put that in your belly. I’m going to take Ryan’s parents in now. They’ve had a long trip.”

“Bless you, Miss Taryn. Bless you!”

I quickly moved my car to the lot and noticed the old, blue Plymouth parked on the opposite corner of Mulberry Street. Angelica was sitting in her

car again. Just seeing her, knowing that she was doing nothing with her life other than stalking us, sent a chill of fright down my spine. I hurried down

the alley to my back door to flee psycho girl’s view.

“I’m sorry for the disarray, but I’m remodeling. Please come in.” I walked them into the main bar area and turned on the dimmer lights. I turned

the billiard room light on too so they could see the entire pub.

Bill walked over to the pool table. “So this is where it happened?” He tapped his fingers on the felt, looking at me for confirmation.

My cheeks suddenly became flushed and a wave of panic coursed through my chest. How much did Ryan share with his father? Did he tell his

dad about ripping my panties off and bending me over the pool table? Bill was standing in almost the same exact spot.

I looked at him like a deer caught in headlights.

“Where he met you?” his father continued.

Oh, thank God.

“Yes!” I breathed out. “He came through that door and…” I opened my hands.

“Ryan told us how the girls were chasing him,” Ellen added. She knew I was keeping the details out.

“Speaking of girls…” I walked over to my front door and retrieved today’s pile of love letters. There were at least thirty today.

“You get a lot of mail,” Ellen commented.

“It’s not my mail. These are all for your son. His admirers have started to leave their love notes in my mail slot. They cover my car with letters too.

These girls must think he has a real open-minded girlfriend or something.”

“Let me see, please.” Bill reached for a sample. I willingly handed him the pile.

He tore one of the envelopes open. This one happened to have a picture of a naked girl in it. I could tell by the way his eyes bugged out in his

face.

“They know no boundaries,” I muttered. “A few days ago I caught two of them trying to break into my apartment to see him.”

“Ellen, it’s getting worse. We have to talk to him.” His father was very displeased with whatever he saw in the next few envelopes.

I helped carry their luggage upstairs to my apartment. Bill and Ellen appeared amazed when they saw the lovely conditions their son was living

in. They showered me with compliments. I had spent extra time cleaning and preparing for their arrival last night to make sure they would be

pleased.

“Can I interest you in a glass of wine from one of our wineries?” I took them into the kitchen. His mother’s eyes lit up and a huge smile appeared

on her face as she entered. I did have a cool kitchen.

“Taryn, this is magnificent! Bill, look at this stove. I want this stove,” she insisted.

I pulled out a new bottle of Chablis and uncorked it. I was in the mood for white wine. Just then I heard Ryan run up the steps.