“Carter. Sean Carter.” Allie shook her head, and then growled under her breath. “His name doesn’t matter. I’m not married. I’m single. Completely, utterly, irrevocably single. Are you satisfied?”
“So your sister is the one who’s unhinged?”
“No, she’s perfectly sane and annoying.”
Erin huffed. “I’m so telling Mom and Dad that you’re living with some strange guy.”
“He’s not strange.” Allie glanced up at Ethan. “At least not too much.”
“This just gets even better,” Ethan said. “Now I’m the weirdo.”
“Are you calling me weird?”
“You know perfectly well I’m not,” Ethan said.
A hint of hurt laced his voice and Allie knew she was digging herself a deeper hole with every sentence.
“No, I don’t. You’re the one with a spy name—or pseudonym. Or fake identity. Whatever you want to call it. You’re the one sneaking around taking pictures of Heartland Cove so the mayor can bulldoze in his new highway and ruin the town.”
Her words about the highway brought Ethan up short. He stared hard at her. “Okay, let’s get a couple things straight right now. I’ll tell you what’s going on with me and the mayor, right after you tell me about Sean Carter, your husband.”
Allie’s face flamed. The room was suddenly hot, and she was sweating. Black spots made specks across her eyes and then her knees bumped into the edge of the sofa.
Erin was soaking in every single word. Listening to them talk about fake names and non-existent husbands, and a bulldozed town. Not to mention, the air that was buzzing with this strange electricity that was going on between herself and Ethan. There were moments it felt strong enough to power a 100-watt light bulb.
“Thank you, Erin, for the information,” Allie said firmly. “Time to go!”
Instead, Erin dropped herself into an armchair, staring at them with delight. “Wow, this is good. Just keep going. I only wish I had some popcorn.”
“Very funny, little sister. Now leave, please.”
“But I wanted to borrow a dress.”
“Do you have to do that right now?”
“Yes, I do. This exact moment.”
“You are an inflexible pit bull.”
“Why, thank you.” Sweetness dripped from every word as Erin leaned back into a relaxed position. As if she planned to stay all night.
“Go upstairs and raid my closet,” Allie finally ordered, pointing a finger at the stairs. “You have ten minutes. Go!”
“Will I know which bedroom is yours and which is Ethan’s?”
“There won’t be a single doubt in your mind, dear sister.”
She and Ethan watched Erin move slowly up each step, sliding her fingers along the banister as she taunted them with a wicked smile. Finally, she was out of sight and Allie heard the bedroom door close.
“Is she like that all the time?” Ethan asked.
“She’s seventeen so the answer is yes. All the time.”
Allie let out a sigh and tried to step away from Ethan, but she’d run out of backing-up space.
Ethan was getting under her skin.
He made her nervous, excited, like she was on fire and would explode any second if he looked at her one more time with that face, that smile.
She should have stayed in Toronto and faced Sean and had the big, ugly fight. The last two weeks had smacked her in the face with reality. She’d been pretending everything was okay, and it was not okay.
Her entire life was a farce. A lie. One big ball of sorrow and pain and regret. She’d been hiding behind a life here in Heartland that wasn’t real. Lying to her family and herself. Terrified every single day that Sean was going to call and want her back.
What terrified her most was that if he did show up, she might actually return to TO with him. Which meant giving up any self-respect she was slowly getting back if she allowed Sean to take charge of her life again.
She’d wanted him to love her, and when he didn’t, she was aimless. A hollow mess of a woman.
With hardly a sound, the magazine she’d been flipping through earlier in the evening slowly slipped from the velvet couch and hit the floor.
Ethan reached down and picked up the magazine, placing it on a side table. With every step he got closer and closer and Allie feared her heart would explode it was pounding so loud.
Chapter 11
“So you were about to tell me all about your mystery husband before Erin showed up,” he said, holding her eyes with his.
“You mean you want the truth?” Allie finally croaked.
“That would be a good start.”
She waited for him to yell at her. Waited for the recriminations and accusations. But instead, Ethan gave her a devastating smile filled with real empathy. It was beautiful and charming, and Allie melted despite her effort to remain in charge of the conversation.
“I—I can’t, Ethan,” she finally admitted. “It’s too hard to talk about.”
He came closer with every step, his eyes latched onto hers like a lifeline. His aftershave was killing her.
“Come on, Allie, talk to me. You’re hurting. I can tell you’ve been carrying something difficult and sad inside you ever since I met you.”
“That was just my reaction to a potential burglar.” She tried to deflect, but her laugh was shaky, and he knew she was lying again.
“Tell me,” he said softly. “Quit carrying the burden alone.”
“How can I possibly explain the worst day of my life?”
Ethan’s brows drew together. Briefly his hand touched hers, and then dropped back to his side. “What did this Sean guy do to you?” he said, and his voice was so gentle, Allie’s eyes filled with tears.
She tried to turn away, blinking them back as hard as she could but one slipped out and rolled down her face. Ethan reached out to and touched her cheek, his thumb soft on her skin as he smoothed the tear away.
“We’ve been sharing dinners and divided rooms with cheap sheets for almost two weeks now,” Ethan went on. “I’ll keep any confidences, but I can tell you’re about to break apart with some kind of grief. Did your husband die?”
Allie was sure she’d choke on the lump in her throat. “Are you now going to tell me that you have a degree in therapy or counseling?
“No, but my friends tell me I’m a pretty good listener.”
“They do, eh?” Her small-town accent came through suddenly, thick and transparent. Allie tried to turn away again to hide her emotions, but Ethan stopped her.
His warm hand was on her arm. “No hiding from me any longer. We’re going to be straight with each other.”
She faced him, pleading, “I told you it was better if you just left. I really need to be alone. I have so many things to sort out.”
“Guess I’m as stubborn as you are,” he said.
They stared at each other for a full minute and finally, Ethan’s expression softened. “I want to be your friend, Allie. I like you. Does your family know this secret you’re keeping? Does Marla?”
She gave a sharp laugh. “They all witnessed the devastation in real time.”
Ethan pressed his lips together. “You really are married, then?”
She shook her head and brushed away the fresh tears as they spilled over again. “Dear God in heaven, I want to stop crying. I feel so stupid, so weak. If you must know, Sean Carter was my fiancé. We were to be married two weeks ago—and he left me at the altar.”
Ethan let out a low whistle. “Wow, that explains so much. That’s a horrible thing to go through. I want to beat up this Sean Carter and I don’t even know him. But,” he paused. “No wonder you hate me.”
“I don’t hate you, Ethan. Honestly, I don’t. At least not anymore.”
He gave a laugh and shook his head at her honesty. “Then what can I do for you?”
Allie wiped at her nose. ”Just keep making me dinner. I can’t seem to focus on anything but slinging fries and crawling int
o bed every night.”
“You got it. Where is this Sean character now?”
Irrationally, Allie’s hackles rose at the way he said Sean’s name. She realized Ethan spoke only in defense of her, but the whole left-at-the-altar scenario made her feel stupid as if she could have prevented the entire debacle. If she had been more worthy, more something.
“I have no idea. He kept texting me for a week after I came home, but TO is over a thousand kilometers from here and he’s working on a big case so . . .” her voice trailed away.
“You mean you haven’t seen him once since the day you were supposed to get married?”
“Nope, not even five minutes,” Allie said with a touch of curtness. “The last time I saw him was the day before the wedding. You know, the whole thing about the groom not seeing the bride until you’re at the church altar.”
“A big church wedding, then?” Ethan asked quietly.
“He apologized by text message.”
Ethan’s face darkened. He looked like he wanted to punch the wall. Allie figured he probably could with those muscles, but the walls of this old house were probably paper–thin, too.
“Don’t bother getting angry on my behalf. Obviously, I’m not capable of hanging onto my man.”
Ethan reached out to snatch at Allie’s arm, bringing her close. Their faces were only three inches apart and she could feel his warm breath on her skin. She wavered on her feet, fighting the growing attraction she was feeling toward this man.
“That is so wrong it hurts to hear you say it. Sean Carter is the one with a problem. He’s an idiot and a jerk. You never deserve that. No woman does.”
“I—I was just going for the self-deprecating joke.”
“It didn’t work, Allie,” Ethan said. His tone was so serious Allie felt shivers running up and down her neck.
“You’re ex-fiancé has no clue what he missed out on—and I hope he never finds out.”
Allie gave a sharp intake of air. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
Ethan backed away and Allie restrained herself from pulling him close again. “I don’t like it when women blame themselves when their boyfriend or husband, or whoever, treats them like they’re worthless. You’re smart, Allie—and funny when you’re not trying to be so serious. And, you’re beautiful. You really are, but I don’t think you have a clue about how you affect me—men, I mean.”
His voice grew softer and he lifted his hand, as if he wanted to touch her face, but pulled back at the last minute.
Allie was self-conscious at the turn their conversation had taken. And she certainly didn’t want to betray that she could have described Ethan Smith using the exact same words.
She couldn’t get attached to him. It was too soon, too risky. Besides, she still missed Sean, more than she wanted to admit. She’d spent five years of her life with him. His rejection had shredded any sense of self she’d had. And it was becoming obvious she had used Sean to build herself up. She’d been way too submissive, letting him call the shots and run their lives.
“You’re keeping secrets from me, too,” she reminded Ethan. “I’m having a hard time trusting you. Those phone calls and meetings with the mayor. If you’re getting ready to bring down my hometown I’ll take you down with it. I’ll fight you—I swear I will—”
“Whoa,” he said. “Slow down, you’re jumping to conclusions, sweetheart.”
“Don’t call me sweetheart,” Allie said glaring at him.
“You’re right.” Ethan’s face fell. “That was patronizing and I apologize. Please forgive me, Allie.”
Allie’s throat constricted. Ethan was so different from Sean. She wasn’t sure she’d ever heard Sean apologize to her over all the years they’d been together. He was always too busy, in a rush, stressed, over-worked. He had an excuse of some sort every single time—until Allie gave up expecting any sort of courtesy.
Everybody had to brush off some things in a relationship, right? Nobody was perfect. Until Sean did the unforgivable.
So why did Allie still miss him? Why did she lie in bed at night and contemplate taking him back if Sean begged for forgiveness? Was it because she was a sucker—or because she truly loved him and thought he was “the one”?
Those were questions she couldn’t answer. Not until time passed, or Sean actually showed up on her doorstep. But she wasn’t holding her breath.
“I’ll tell you everything you want to know, Allie. I’m sorry I’ve been secretive. Two weeks ago I didn’t know you at all, and I couldn’t afford you accidentally leaking what I was doing here.”
“Now I’m really suspecting you’re some kind of spy.” Allie gave a small laugh, hoping Ethan wasn’t doing something illegal.
The look in Ethan’s eyes was suddenly mischievous. “Actually, I am a spy.”
Allie clapped her hands over her ears. “Please, no! Don’t tell me that. I can’t even pick accidental roommates right! This is all a con, isn’t it? You’re running from the law. You’re swindling the mayor. You never grew up here at all. It’s all a lie, right?”
Ethan took her by the shoulders in a firm grip. “I’m trying to tell you something.”
Her eyes gazed over the day’s stubble on his jaw-line. The way his hair curled at his neck. The crispness of his ironed shirt, the smell of his aftershave, overwhelming. Allie found herself wanting to melt into his arms, even as she avoided his eyes because they really did a number on her.
“Okay, talk,” Allie said with as firm a tone as she could muster.
Ethan slid his hands along her arms and down to her wrists, taking her fingers in his for a brief moment. “I only said I’m a spy because I’m working undercover for someone on the city council to stop the mayor from pushing this highway bypass through without the necessary votes. He’s also selling the proposal to the rest of the council and other prominent citizens in a less than ethical way. Leaving out facts, that sort of thing. He’s also setting in motion to choose the contractors for the highway—to rig the bidding so that his own construction company gets the job, but under a completely different name.”
Allie sank back on her heels and Ethan’s hands tightened on hers, as if he were holding her upright. “Wow. So all the corruption rumors are true. What’s your role? Why do you care? You’re just a roving photographer, here today, gone tomorrow.”
Ethan glanced away. “That’s not exactly true either.”
“Go on,” Allie said, preparing herself for the worst.
Ethan’s thumb was rubbing the skin along her wrist in an effort to soothe her. Allie knew she should pull away, but she couldn’t. A peculiar feeling shot straight up her spine, spreading through every nerve of her body.
“My family has been buying up land the past few years in an effort to prevent the modern world from invading the county. To prevent Heartland Cove from becoming a ghost town. To prevent upstarts like Mayor Jefferies from setting into motion something that would damage our town irrevocably.”
“So what’s all the picture-taking for? Your cover?”
“Nope, it’s legit. I am taking pictures for a magazine out of the Big City for a feature of small town get-aways in New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island, but I’m also taking photos of the mayor’s plans on exactly where the highway will be bulldozed through. I hope to get evidence of Jefferies backroom deals. Evidence of the homes and property that will be sacrificed to the highway gods.”
Slowly, he grinned and Allie cracked a smile of her own at his metaphor. A moment passed and she realized that he was still holding her hands. Slowly she tugged them away, dropping her arms to her sides. Ethan pretended not to notice, but Allie saw a flicker of disappointment in his eyes.
“We’re on the same side, Allie,” he said, lifting her chin to meet his eyes. He wanted to know if she believed him. “Two weeks ago I didn’t know whether I could trust you. But now I know how much Heartland Cove means to your family.”
“I suppose your family risks losing a lot, too.”
/> Ethan hesitated and Allie’s radar warned her that his next words might not be the completely upfront. “I don’t really want to talk about that aspect right now. I’d rather show you, actually.”
“Show me what? If you trust me, just tell me.”
“First of all, do you want to meet my grandmother, Ellie? I think she’d love you.”
“Wow, that question came out of the blue.” Allie paused. “Okay, but I’ll meet her on the condition that we’re friends.”
“Of course we’re friends.”
“Just friends, Ethan. That’s how it has to be right now. Trust me.”
Ethan nodded slowly, not exactly thrilled, but not fighting her. “This weekend,” he said.
Allie nodded. “Okay. This weekend.”
Chapter 12
Allie’s sister, Erin, immediately spilled the beans about Ethan Smith living in the same house Allie was renting. The following day at work Allie found herself defending her honor.
Her mother couldn’t seem to understand the mix-up on the lease. That Ethan owned the house and there was nowhere else to stay and the B&B was booked for the entire summer, and the house was so large, and so on and so forth.
“But darling, how does it look to be living with a man? It’s unseemly. And immoral.”
”I’m not living with him. Not in the implication you’re saying. I know it’s crazy, Mom, but I can’t kick him out.”
“That Viola Stark woman should find another place for you to rent.”
“She returned my money and I was already moved in. That’s twice I’ve moved in two weeks, I don’t want to pack up again. I know I’m being stubborn, but I love the house and I’m staying.”
“But isn’t it uncomfortable and horribly awkward to have a man you don’t know living so close? Breathing and sleeping and shaving—and all those other things—right there?” Mrs. Strickland closed her eyes and sank into a hard-backed chair under the truck awning.
The Neighbor's Secret (A Secret Billionaire Romance #1) Page 9
