A Love Like This

by Kianna Alexander

  She nodded, tapping the button on her keys to unlock the car doors. “I know. But I still feel bad about the way he sniped at you today.”

  He shrugged. “I get it. That’s how a classy woman rolls. And I’ll gladly accompany your fine ass to dinner, whatever the reason.” He winked, going to the driver’s side and opening the door for her.

  She climbed in and buckled up while he closed the door and went around to his side. Once they were both in the car and strapped in, she backed out of the driveway and headed down the road.

  Hadley kept her eyes ahead as the car moved through the darkened streets. Devon’s large hand rested on her thigh as she drove, sending tingles of anticipation dancing over her skin. Soft R & B music poured from the stereo system, the lyrics reminding her of what she’d like most for dessert. Oceanview Grill boasted an extensive selection of desserts, but only Devon’s loving could satisfy her sweet tooth. A smile tilted her lips as she thought of all the ways she wanted to savor him.

  Once they reached the restaurant, she parked and he escorted her inside. The heavenly aromas of the wood-burning grill and the fresh herbs used to season the food greeted her the moment they entered. She’d anticipated the Friday night crowd, and had made a reservation to ensure they’d get a table without a long wait. The place was just as packed as she’d expected it to be, and the din of various conversations and silverware clanging against dishes echoed through the interior.

  The hostess escorted them to a booth along the back wall, where the windows looked out on the sand dunes and the beach.

  Seated in the booth, Hadley picked up her menu. “Maybe I’ll try something new this time. Have you ever had red snapper?”

  “Yeah. There’s a place in LA that makes a fantastic broiled red snapper.” His gaze rested on his own menu as he spoke. “I’m in the mood for something else, though. Maybe surf and turf.”

  When the waiter came by with their glasses of water and the basket of rolls, she looked up from the menu. “We’re still deciding. Can you swing back in a few minutes?”

  “Of course.” The waiter left to take care of his other tables.

  “I think I’m gonna just do the surf and turf.” Devon sat his menu aside. “Listen, can I talk to you about something?”

  Reading the seriousness on his face, she put her own menu down. “Sure, what is it?”

  He drew a breath. “I spent some time over at Mt. Ephraim on Wednesday.”

  She nodded. “I know. You go there every year on December 26.”

  One of his thick brows hitched up. “How do you know that?”

  She shrugged. “Small island. Plus, my parents still go to that church.”

  “If you know about my trips, then you probably know why I go. Natalie passed on December 26, and going there every year has been my way of dealing with my grief. I’m not all that religious, but it really has helped to go there, pray and reflect.”

  “I understand.” She felt honored that he would share something so personal with her.

  “This year was a little different,” he continued. “It’s the first time I’ve gone when I’ve been seriously involved with someone, and—”

  She reached across the table, grabbed his hands. “I don’t mean to cut you off, but I love you, Devon, and it’s high time I told you.”

  A broad smile spread over his face. “I’m glad to hear that, because...”

  Hadley’s eyes drifted from Devon’s face as a familiar yet disturbing feeling came over her. The feeling of being watched. Sure enough, when she looked around, she saw a man sitting across from them, alone in a booth. The man was attempting to be discreet, but it was obvious he was watching them over his menu. “Devon, I think you’ve got a fan in here.”

  He chuckled. “Maybe so. We’ll wait and see if they come over and ask for an autograph.”

  She swung her gaze back to her handsome companion, pushing away the creepy feeling she got from the menu watcher.

  “What were you saying, Devon?”

  “I was saying that I had a talk with Reverend Keene, and I think it’s time I moved on and—”

  Shouting broke out at the hostess stand, and both Hadley and Devon turned in that direction.

  A tall dark-haired man, wearing a camera on a strap around his neck, was arguing with the hostess. As the man’s hands flailed around, he seemed to be gesturing toward Devon’s table.

  Devon frowned. “That guy looks familiar.”

  “Someone you’ve worked with?”

  Shaking his head, Devon’s frown deepened. “He’s a paparazzo. But what the hell is he doing here?”

  Tension crept into Hadley’s shoulders. Something told her that things were about to go sideways, in a big way.

  A flash went off to her right, by the window.

  Swiveling her head, Hadley’s eyes grew wide when she saw two photographers crouched outside the restaurant window. “Shit.”

  Devon was already on his feet. “You can say that again. Let’s get the hell out of here.”

  Grabbing her purse, she took his hand and the two of them darted across the restaurant. Hadley’s heel caught on a tablecloth, dragging the dishes set up on the unoccupied table to the floor. She heard the crash and cringed but didn’t stop.

  They flew past the hostess stand, with both the menu watcher and the hostess harasser on their tail. More flashes went off around them, illuminating the blurred scenery as they ducked into Hadley’s car.

  The menu watcher shouted, “Miss Monroe! Why would you tip us off it you didn’t want to be photographed?”

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about!” She called back just as loudly.

  While they buckled up, some of the photographers circled close to the car. More shouted questions were thrown at them.

  “Is it true you two are an item?”

  “Devon, will you be returning to LA?”

  Hadley turned the engine over and looked directly ahead. Her eyes communicated that she was leaving, but just in case, she tapped the gas pedal to rev the engine.

  The photographers backed away, and Hadley peeled out of the lot.

  * * *

  For the first few minutes of their escape from the photographers, Devon looked out the window, watching the scenery roll by. He’d thrown on his sport jacket while they’d been rushing out of Oceanview Grill, to stave off the wintry chill in the air. Now, trapped in the car with the heat flowing from the vents and the tension snapping between the two of them, he wished he could take it off again. In his mind, he wondered how he’d ended up in a situation like this. He’d been coming back home for years now and had never been harassed by photographers before. The whole reason he chose his hometown for his vacation was peace and quiet, but that concept had certainly been shattered tonight.

  He waited, thinking that if he gave Hadley time, she’d apologize for calling in those media goons. As he tried to settle his racing pulse, he retreated into his own thoughts. He had so many unanswered questions about what had just happened, and all of them centered on Hadley. His familiarity with the photos-for-profit crowd was surface level, but he knew enough. Candid shots were worth far more than posed ones. The photographers knew that and would do anything to get their next high-paying shot. Paying someone who had intel on where celebrities would be wasn’t outside their comfort zone.

  So, was that why had Hadley summoned them here?

  How much are they paying her?

  What did she have to gain by alerting them to my whereabouts?

  Several blocks away from the restaurant, Devon looked at Hadley. “What just happened?”

  “I don’t know.” She seemed bit out of breath. “I never expected anything like this.”

  His face creased into a frown. Was her expectation a subtle admission of her guilt in all this? “Even thoug
h you called them?”

  Stopped at a red light, she turned to stare at him. “Devon, I didn’t call anyone.”

  “One of the reporters said you tipped them off.” How would the guy even know her name if she wasn’t the one who’d dimed him out?

  The light changed, and she went through the intersection. “He’s lying. I never contacted anyone. Why would I do that?”

  “I don’t know, Hadley.”

  “Besides, I’m not the only one who knows you’re in town.”

  “Yeah, okay.” He didn’t bother to hide the impatience in his tone.

  Her brow furrowed. “Come on, Devon. Plenty of people have seen you this year, and most folks on the island know you come every year around this time.”

  If he weren’t so irritated, he would have laughed. “That’s true. But the fact remains that in all the years I’ve been coming here, no one has bothered me up until now.”

  “That’s true, but—”

  He cut her off. “And today, when this crap happened, the only name mentioned was yours.” His face was now tight with anger. It seemed she was determined to deny her involvement in this whole mess, but he was going to see to it that she took responsibility for her actions.

  Her expression was a mixture of sadness and confusion. “Devon, I don’t know what’s going on, but I swear I didn’t—”

  He held up his hand. It had become clear that she wasn’t going to admit to anything, and that meant there was no point in continuing this fruitless conversation. “Don’t say anything else, please. Just drop me off at the town house.”

  Her jaw tightened, but she did as he asked, lapsing into silence.

  He kept his eyes on the horizon, not even wanting to look at her. After everything they’d shared, how could she do this to him? He’d opened his heart to her in a way he hadn’t with any woman since Natalie. And now she betrayed him this way? Calling in the same overzealous photographers who chased him around Los Angeles so they could infringe on his privacy there? He depended on his three-week vacation on the island to restore his peace of mind after the other forty-nine weeks spent on the left coast depleted it. Now, not only had he lost the woman he’d come to love, but he’d lost the one place he’d considered sacred. And it had all gone down in one night. He sighed, mourning everything that had been taken from him.

  When she pulled up to the curb in front of the town house, he climbed out. “I’m leaving on the next available flight. My assistant will make sure the bill is handled.”

  Tears began to fill her eyes. “Devon, please.”

  He said nothing more. Though her tears moved him, activating the part of his heart that belonged to her and longed to comfort her, he quashed the urge. She couldn’t be trusted, and he wouldn’t be in a relationship with someone he couldn’t trust.

  He turned his back to her and started walking. Every step increased the physical distance between them, and he felt the emotional distance growing along with it.

  He heard her crying behind him. But he didn’t turn around. He wouldn’t.

  By the time he reached the front porch of the town house and inserted the key in the lock, he heard her switch the car into gear.

  Only when he heard her drive away did he look back at the spot where she’d been parked.

  Clenching his fist, he pushed open the door and went inside, shutting the door behind him. Shrugging out of his sport coat, he tossed it over the back of the couch and cracked his knuckles. The first order of business was to adjust his travel arrangements. He’d planned to stay on the island until after the New Year, but not anymore.

  Settled in on the couch, he took out his phone and dialed Mimi, his assistant. Young, driven and something of a workaholic, she rarely took vacations and always answered his calls. He tried not to take advantage of her ambition, but this particular request couldn’t wait.

  He held the phone against his ear, waiting through two rings before she answered.

  “Hello? What do you need, Mr. Granger?”

  “Hi, Mimi. Can you please change my flight for me?”

  She chuckled. “Sure thing. You wanna stay longer and enjoy some more relaxation?” The keys on her computer clicked as she began typing.

  He frowned. “Afraid not. I need you to book me on the next available flight. And make sure my bill for the rental property is settled.”

  She paused, and when she spoke again, she sounded surprised. “Okay, I’ll handle it. But as far as the flight goes, on this short notice, tickets will be hard to come by if you go commercial.”

  “That’s fine. You know I don’t do private jets.” He considered the small aircraft, outfitted with wet bars and televisions, to be a wasteful extravagance. He made enough money to own a jet, but practicality ruled his spending, and he just couldn’t muster the desire for one.

  “You may even have to fly coach,” she continued. “Is that okay?”

  “That’s fine.” He wasn’t the kind of guy who thought himself too good to fly coach. He’d be just fine alongside the regular Joes and Janes, traveling for work and play. “Do what you have to do to get me on a flight. Email me the details when you’re done.” He ended the call and went to pack his things.

  The faster he got out of Sapphire Shores, the better.

  Chapter 18

  The last Saturday night of the year found Hadley on her couch in a camisole and fuzzy pajama pants. All over the island, folks were celebrating, if the fireworks she heard in the distance were any indication. Usually she’d be out with Belinda and her girls. They’d all be enjoying a glass of wine on the beach, reveling in one another’s company.

  Her blowup with Devon last night had left her feeling anything but celebratory. She’d spent most of the morning calling and texting him, hoping he’d answer. She had to get him to listen, to hear her out. Apparently, he didn’t want to talk, because her efforts had been ignored.

  Now, curled up with the remote and her misery, she brushed away the tears yet again. She’d managed to screw things up with Devon, and she didn’t even know how she’d done it.

  Her front door swung open then, startling her. She yelped in surprise, but relaxed when she saw Belinda walk in. Her best friend had a key to her apartment, which explained her ability to get in, but not her sudden appearance.

  Hadley sat up, using the tail of her top to dry her cheeks. “What are you doing here, B?”

  “Girl, please. You think I couldn’t tell something was wrong when I called you this morning?” She moved farther into the apartment, shifting the grocery bags she was carrying. “The better question is, what’s wrong with you?”

  She sighed. “Plenty. Close the door and I’ll tell you all about it.”

  Belinda shook her head. “I can’t close it yet. Somebody else is coming up.”

  Hadley’s eyes shifted to the door as her ears picked up the sound of another pair of feet climbing the stairs outside. “Who else is coming? I’m in no mood for a party.”

  Belinda rolled her eyes. “Hush, Hadley. I wasn’t sure how big the problem was, so like any good friend, I called in reinforcements.”

  And as Belinda finished her statement, Viola entered through the open door. Her eyes went straight to Hadley’s. “Oh, Lord. What’s wrong? Who’s made my baby cry?”

  For once, Hadley appreciated her mother’s tendency toward babying her; she could certainly use the comfort right now. Standing, she went to her mother and let herself be enfolded in her soothing hug. She managed to hold back her tears until Belinda dropped her bags and joined them. That set her off again, and the tears flowed anew.

  They separated and went to sit down. Hadley sat between her mother and her best friend, who occupied opposite ends of the couch. Once she was composed enough to speak, she took a deep breath. “Let’s just say things have crashed and burned between me an
d Devon.”

  Belinda’s lips curved downward. “Oh, no.”

  “Oh, yes.” Hadley sniffled. “It happened last night, and he’s been ignoring my calls and texts all day.”

  Viola, who sat shaking her head, asked, “What could have happened? Y’all looked so sweet together when he was over to the house for Christmas dinner.”

  She remembered well; it had only been a few days ago. How did things go so wrong between us in such a short span of time? “I don’t really know myself. But he’s probably back on the West Coast by now, because when he got out of the car, he told me he was leaving right away.”

  Belinda groaned. “That’s why my housekeeping crew got a call today. He must have checked out of the town house.”

  Hadley had known he was leaving, but for some reason, hearing Belinda confirm it only made her sadder. “Damn.”

  Viola tilted her head to the side. “Hadley, just tell us what happened and we’ll try to help you figure things out.”

  Inhaling deeply, Hadley gave them a rundown of her date with Devon, including the sneak attack mounted by the photographers. “One of them claimed the tip about Devon’s location came from me. That’s outrageous, because I never contacted anyone.”

  Belinda looked genuinely confused. “So how did these people get your name?”

  She shrugged. “I don’t have a clue. I’ve been asking myself that ever since I dropped Devon off. But I swear, I didn’t contact them. I know he comes here for peace and quiet. I would never do that to him, even if we weren’t dating.” Saying that aloud reminded her that they were no longer a couple; he’d made that clear with his cold manner last night, and solidified it by ignoring her attempts to reach him.

  Touching her shoulder, Belinda gave her a sad smile. “I’m sorry, Hadley. This is a tough one.”

  “You’re telling me.” She sank back against the overstuffed cushions, trying to fight off the rising sadness. “After all this time pining after Devon, I finally get the courage to tell him how I feel. And after a week and a half of absolute bliss, this happens. Just when it seems we’re making a real connection.”