by Donna Fasano
Jenna glanced up at Aiden, and his breath caught. She said, “I’ve never told anyone any of this stuff before. Not sure I knew it all myself. I’m sorry. You must be sick of hearing about me and my problems. Tell me about yourself. Where are you from? And what do you do?”
“Nothing interesting.” He hated those kinds of questions. Switching subjects, he gestured to his Celestron. “Want to see the surface of the moon? Or how about the constellation Andromeda?”
Her large eyes got even bigger. “Are you an astronomer?”
“Nope. Just a stargazer.”
“So it’s a hobby.”
“Yep.” But the stars were more than a hobby to him. Talk about addictions. This was his nightly escape from the memories that plagued his sleep.
Jenna placed a hand on top of the fence, and in one effortless motion that would make any parkour traceur proud, swung her legs up into a scissor (with pointed feet of course) and floated over to his side.
Her deft display of perfect body control and coordination must have taken less than two seconds, but it was time enough for Aiden to catch a full glimpse of her magnificent legs. Pangs of longing shuddered through him all the way to his groin. Struggling against his body’s reaction to Jenna, he led her to the telescope.
She gave him an inquisitive eye and studied the stubby gray cylinder that sat perched atop a tripod. “Do I need to adjust something before taking peek?”
“No. You’re good to go.” He pointed to the small eyepiece. “Try covering your right eye with the palm of your hand instead of simply closing it. Less tiring and it reduces the tendency to squint with the other.”
Jenna cupped her right eye and gazed into the eyepiece with her left. “Oooh. Like tiny blue Christmas lights. Only gazillions of them spread out in a haze. And there are even some pinks and purples mixed in there along with the blue-white stars. I’ve never seen anything so beautiful.”
Neither have I, he thought, watching her.
She looked up, her face bright. “Sooo wonderful. And magical. Thank you.”
Stepping away from the telescope, she placed a hand on his arm, sending a shock wave through him. He wanted so badly to touch her. To reach his arms around her and pull her close. To run his tongue down that swan-like neck and over her creamy shoulder.
Back off, man. You don’t need this. Since Wendy’s death he’d done fine in his hobbit-like isolation. No woman had ever made him want to leave it. Why this one?
He reined in his inexplicably out-of-control desire and started talking about the stars. “Winter is a relatively good time for stargazing. With the telescope we can see clusters of lights strewn across the deepest regions of space. All kinds of solar systems replete with planets, moons, and stars.”
Aiden showed her Cassiopeia and a globular cluster in Pegasus. They looked at the waning moon and talked about the Milky Way with its hundred thousand million stars.
Jenna gasped and nodded in all the right places, making him feel like the most intriguing man alive. Was it a well-practiced act she used on the male species? He didn’t think so. There was something too straightforward about her for that. Not that he thought she was an innocent. But a childlike wonder ran through her that made her seem like fresh, clean water to a man so parched.
Finally, she yawned and said, “I’m going to be able to sleep now without trouble. And it’s all thanks to you.” She flashed him a smile that made all the stars seem pale beside it.
He watched as she leaped the fence and disappeared into her room.
Maybe Jenna would have an easier time dozing off thanks to their meeting, but Aiden knew the disturbing effect she had on him would keep him awake until dawn.
Chapter 3
The scent of freshly brewed coffee and baked goods wafted through the cozy diner. Natalie’s Coffee Cove was this small town’s favorite casual eatery and a neighborhood hang for the locals. The clock over the register read 3:17 p.m. and still the glossy white tables that dotted the sunlit storefront were filled with chattering customers.
Jenna pressed her back against the vinyl cushioned seat of her window booth and gazed out at North Cove’s sleepy main drag, which consisted of two streets with local shops, plus a post office and a national chain drug store. She’d grown up here, and after spending the last five and a half years living in the bustling excitement of Manhattan, she craved the warmth of North Cove, her small hometown set amid stretches of farms, vineyards, and fishing villages.
Her roommate in New York City didn’t understand. Said she was crazy giving up her share of their apartment to another dancer. But riding on the high of Sean Risk’s attention and the chance for an exciting new career, Jenna had been certain it was time to leave.
Yet she couldn’t deny the jitters and questions mounting inside. Was being homesick the real reason she’d agreed to Sean’s offer? Sunrise Lane was shot out here on Long Island’s East End, a short ferry ride away from North Cove. Or had she once again gone starry-eyed over a guy at the top of his game? After swearing she wouldn’t get involved with Sean, she’d been dating him steadily for the past two weeks.
“I’m not surprised he’s such a nice person,” Lexi said, digging into her peach cobbler. “I’ve read that he gives to a lot of charities.”
Jenna, Lexi, and Rachel had been a trio since the third grade when they’d banded together against a couple boys who’d been tormenting a stray cat. Despite Jenna moving to Manhattan and Lexi going off to college for four years, they’d kept in touch.
“How amazing that you’re actually dating him.” Rachel’s pitch heightened, turning her words into a squeal. “I’m soooo jealous.”
“I’m gonna tell Nick on you,” Lexi teased. Then she caught herself. “No, I mean—”
“Everything’s fine now,” Rachel said. Her marriage to Nick Stiebler, who’d been the toughest bad boy in their high school class, was often rocky, to put it mildly.
The main topic of conversation usually centered on Danielle, Rachel’s little three-year-old, or the bridal boutique Lexi had opened last year, or Jenna’s latest tour with the ballet company. But today, all they wanted to talk about was Jenna’s first day on the set of Sunrise Lane, which was shot in a couple of mansions in the Hamptons. No surprise that every other question was about her budding relationship with Sean Risk.
Jenna set her elbows on the table, hunched down, and dropped her voice to a whisper. “I need your advice on a problem.”
Her two confidants followed suit, their heads huddled only inches apart.
“Sean told me he’s considering making me one of the regular leads in the series.”
Lexi gasped. “Call that a problem?”
Rachel trilled. “You realize what that could mean for your acting career?”
“Of course I do,” Jenna said.
“You are one lucky girl,” Lexi said.
“That’s the problem. I’m not sure it’s all luck. I slept with Sean on our last date.”
Rachel giggled and made a fake swat at Jenna. “Now I really am jealous.”
“Don’t be. I’ve been agonizing over it ever since, and I can’t help being haunted by a nagging question.”
“Which is?”
Jenna flashed them a pained look. “Have I become one of those ruthless Hollywood sluts?”
Lexi burst out laughing. Her dark-skinned hand touched Jenna’s wrist. “You must take worry pills. First of all, you’re not in Hollywood. Second, you don’t have a ruthless bone in your body. In fact, what worries me is just the opposite problem. That Mr. Risk is going to steal your tender heart and leave you in a sorry heap.”
Rachel nodded. “I’ll bet he has loads of women chasing him. And remember, he’s the one who picked you out.”
Jenna shrugged. “But I swore I wouldn’t let this happen. I wanted to keep the relationship strictly professional.”
“Do you like him?” Lexi asked. “Are you attracted to him?”
“Well, yeah. But I can’t help but wonder if I’m really attrac
ted to Sean or to the thrill of his being rich and famous.”
Rachel chimed in. “Is it any different from Joanne falling for that rich stockbroker? A man’s accomplishments are part of his character. What’s so wrong about that?”
Lexi’s hand went to her hip. “Hey, I could learn to love ten million a year in a hurry.”
Their giggles were interrupted by Natalie D’Alessio, Coffee Cove’s owner and kitchen maestro, who stopped at their table. “Well, if it isn’t our resident star. I heard the North Fork Light is doing a spread on you. Baby sis is cookin’ these days.”
Seven years older than Jenna, Natalie was the best friend of Jenna’s big sister, Casey. And she was someone all the locals went to for the latest gossip. Years back, she used to spend so much time in the Richardson’s house she’d been unofficially added into the family constellation, somewhere between Casey and Parker, Jenna’s big brother, who’d always been her ultimate caretaker and protector.
“You heard right,” Jenna said. “A photographer is coming to the B&B tomorrow. Mom’s really excited about it. She’s getting her hair done as we speak.”
“It’s fantastic. I’ve never seen your mother so happy. That should make you feel especially proud, considering what she’s been through in her day.”
“Sure does.” Jenna smiled as Natalie gave her a gentle punch on the shoulder and walked away.
But that same twisting knot started in Jenna’s stomach. What if she was a total bomb on TV? Would it send her mom spiraling down into those dark moods again? She felt a panicky tightness starting in her chest and tried to shift the focus the way Aiden told her.
“So how is the shop going?” she asked Lexi, who was busy stealing Rachel’s french fries.
After studying fashion design, Lexi had returned home, opened a bridal boutique in Greenport, and was developing her own clothing line. While she talked about her latest projects, Jenna spotted a familiar figure at the bakery counter.
Rooftop stargazer and do-it-yourself shrink, Aiden Flynn. Could it be he was here to buy brownies?
He looked different in the daylight. Jenna had a vague memory of enjoying his profile in the near dark last night, but he’d just seemed like a moderately good-looking man. A little light on the subject called for a surprising reassessment and definite upgrade.
Aiden was downright hot, with a too-cute butt and lean athletic build. Facially, he resembled Viggo Mortenson but with watchful emerald eyes.
That were looking right at her now.
Jenna gave him a wiggly-fingered wave.
Aiden walked toward her with an elegant stride. “No brownies left.”
Rachel snickered. “Newsflash: Natalie usually sells out of brownies by eleven in the morning. You’ve got to get here bright and early to make your claim.” She extended her hand. “I’m Rachel, by the way. And this is Lexi.”
Jenna spoke up. “This is Aiden Flynn. He’s staying at my mom’s place.”
Aiden greeted them and turned to Jenna. “How’d the shoot go?”
“Really well, thanks.”
Lexi looked at Aiden. “Is it any wonder? She’s a professional who’s danced on stages around the world. A seasoned performer. If it were me, I’d be having panic attacks.”
Jenna glanced at Aiden. She could feel her cheeks burning.
He remained poker-faced. But she detected an “our little secret” glint in his eyes.
She changed the subject. “Aiden watches the stars.”
“Don’t we all,” Rachel said.
“No, I mean the real stars,” Jenna said. “Like in the sky at night.”
“Cool,” Lexi said. “Have a seat. You’re welcome to join us.”
“Thanks,” Aiden said. “But I better get back to my work.”
“What kind of work do you do?” asked Rachel.
“Boring stuff.” He appeared slightly uncomfortable at Rachel’s question and followed with a classic verbal pivot. “Well, it’s been great meeting you ladies.” He nodded to Jenna. “Guess I’ll see you back at the house.”
Why wouldn’t he answer? Last night he’d avoided telling her anything about himself, too. She had chalked it up to her panic attack and the focus all being on her. But now she wondered if there was more to it.
Jenna stared after the lanky, enigmatic stranger as he meandered around a small line of customers and out the door. He had a slight Boston accent, so he obviously wasn’t a native New Yorker. But who was Aiden Flynn? This guy that she’d somehow trusted enough to tell him her most private secrets, revealing parts of herself she managed to hide from everyone else. And why was a man this sexy hanging out alone at a B&B in a sleepy village like North Cove?
Chapter 4
Jenna and Lauren Richardson stood on the broad covered porch of Richardson’s Bed and Breakfast and exchanged waves with North Fork Light’s photographer as he backed his minivan out of their driveway. Jenna couldn’t help remembering the days when her dad was still alive and there was no B&B, just a farmhouse with a family in it, and they’d all sit on the porch on sunny days like this one.
Her mother turned to her, beaming. “I’ve got to call Lynn and Judith. They insisted I give a full rundown on our photo op.” She gave Jenna a quick hug. “Who would’ve thought I’d be featured in the papers with my famous daughter?”
The jubilance pouring from her mother was the kind of thing Jenna had yearned to see as a child. A sign that life around the house would be okay. That her mom was one solid person, not some Jekyll-and-Hyde nightmare where manicky highs were followed by bleak, tragic lows. And liquor.
Would it have been different if the cancer hadn’t taken Daddy? Jenna would never know. “Glad you had fun, Mom.” She followed her inside to the ground floor apartment her brother had built for their mother when they had transformed the house. A small living room, dining room, bedroom, and a kitchen that was separate from the larger kitchen, dining, and lounge areas used by guests.
Richardson’s Bed and Breakfast had two guest rooms on each floor of the three-story house, for a total of six. Not exactly the Grand Hyatt. It was a family-run operation, with big bro Parker handling repairs and lawn care. Her sister Casey used to help out, although she and her mom had always seemed to be at odds. And now Casey was occupied with her four-month-old baby.
“Anything you want me to do around the house this afternoon?” Jenna asked. She wasn’t required on the set today, and after years of daily training in the studio, it made her feel lazy not to be working at something.
Lauren waved her off. “Don’t be silly. Enjoy your day off. We’ve only got three guests.”
Three? That couple and…Aiden? Did that mean he was still here? Jenna had looked for him on the deck last night, but his room was dark. And when a few people peeked in at the photo session today, she kept hoping to see him. Somehow it disappointed her to think he’d leave without saying goodbye. She told herself it didn’t matter. They were practically strangers. It was only because she wanted to thank him for helping her get over that panic attack.
Still, Jenna found herself asking, “So Mr. Flynn didn’t check out?”
“No.”
“But I haven’t seen him. Are you sure?”
Lauren nodded. “He’s paid through the week.”
“Where’s he from, anyway?”
“He has a New York City phone number.”
“Did he tell you what he does? Or why he’s staying here?”
“I thought it was Sunrise Lane you were acting in. You sound more like Detective Olivia Benson from Law And Order.”
With a small laugh, Jenna said, “I’m just curious. That’s all.”
“You know I don’t pry into my guests’ business.”
Jenna chewed her finger for a second, then said, “Does his bedding need changing? Maybe now would be a good time to get in there if he’s gone for the day.”
“What are you up to?”
“Nothing. Just trying to help out.”
Her mother paused.
“Go ahead. But no snooping. I haven’t forgotten the time you turned on that woman’s vibrator and then couldn’t shut it off. Had to have Parker come in and dismantle it.”
“Mom, I was ten years old. I’d never seen one before.”
She reached out and patted Jenna’s cheek. “Clean sheets are in the dryer.”
After retrieving the sheets and grabbing a set of keys from her mother’s desk, Jenna bounced up the stairs to room number three, an eager curiosity brimming inside.
The 1880s farmhouse hadn’t always looked like this. When her brother Parker had realized the vineyards sprouting up in the North Fork would bring in enough wine-tasting tourists to give his widowed mom an income, he worked almost single-handedly for three years redesigning and renovating the house. Nine years older than Jenna, he’d often take her along to garage sales and let her pick out a used toy while he searched for vintage furnishings for the rooms. The two rooms on the second floor were the largest in the house, each having a private bath and deck. She wasn’t sure what she expected to see in Aiden’s.
Jenna had always been a neat freak and, based on her own persnickety standards, she decided Aiden earned a whopping B+ on that score. On second thought, maybe a little lower due to his crude but effective bed-making skills. But she did appreciate the way he’d pulled the sheets and coverlet together, even if the corners were a tad sloppy.
At least there were no empty beer cans or smelly pizza boxes. And the waste cans weren’t overflowing. He didn’t even leave the usual dirty clothes hanging across the chair. Only a laptop on the desk and the telescope with its folded tripod lying safely across the cushion of an antique love seat. She smiled. Seeing the telescope reminded her of their little therapy session under the stars.
The night table and dresser tops had no personal items. But his suitcase sat open on the floor in the corner next to a black duffle bag and a pair of Nike running sneakers that looked fairly new. She strolled over. Her fingers itched to dig through the suitcase, but she resisted and settled for scanning the top layer.
