Grayson turned away to survey the street, but she doubted he was taking in the scenery.
Layla crossed her arms over her chest. “Maybe it won’t amount to anything. I hate to prick your pride, but you’re old news at this point.”
His shoulders tensed. “Then no one would have bothered to print the story.”
“Okay, but there’s no reason we have to let this affect us. We’ll just ignore it.”
He exhaled deeply, and then finally looked at her. “You don’t know what these reporters are like. They’ll dig and dig, and if they don’t find anything, they’ll just make something up.”
She fixed a reassuring smile on her face. “Hey, I’m a marketing pro. Handling the press was part of my job. I can take it. I promise, we’ll be fine.”
“If you say so,” he said, his expression clearly indicating he didn’t believe her. “Just remember, I warned you.”
Chapter Twenty-One
“Have you seen this?”
Layla looked up from her computer as a newspaper landed on her desk. Annaliese stood on the other side. She was dressed in a blue tracksuit that molded to her curves like a second skin. She looked disgustingly fit and beautiful. Everything Layla did not feel this morning.
“Are you auditioning for an action movie?” Layla asked.
“I wore this in case I had to climb in a window,” Annaliese said, sinking gracefully into a chair. “There’s an angry mob outside your door.”
“Don’t remind me,” Layla said, with a grimace. “I caught a reporter trying to sneak in through the kitchen door yesterday. Another one made it as far as my office before Noah kindly escorted him out. Grayson wasn’t kidding when he compared those people to vultures.”
“They’re circling all right. So, have you seen the article?” Annaliese asked, nudging the paper closer.
Layla shoved it back. “I don’t want to read another account of Skye Malone and Grayson Kendall and be reminded how incredibly beautiful she is or how much he loved her.”
“Oh, this one isn’t so much about that,” Annaliese assured her. “They’ve found a new subject to dissect now. You really should take a look.”
Tension gripped her shoulders as she reached for the newspaper. She had a feeling she wasn’t going to like the new angle.
‘Grayson Kendall’s Bird of Paradise’ the headline screamed.
‘Grayson Kendall’s star has fallen fast and hard. From award-winning director and husband to one of Hollywood’s most beloved leading ladies, to a gig at decrepit dinner theatre in what amounts to little more than a retirement village—’
“Decrepit!” Layla exclaimed. “Who is he to call my theatre decrepit?”
“Keep reading,” Annaliese said. “It gets better. Or worse depending on your perspective.”
‘The utter downfall of one of our most gifted artists seems to be laid at the feet of a golden-haired temptress, the chatelaine of the ironically named The Paradise Dinner Theatre. Layla McCarthy looks like she could lure any mortal man to his doom.’
“Golden-haired temptress?” Layla sputtered. “Lure a man to his doom? Who writes trash like this?”
“He’s poetic, I’ll give him that. Don’t stop now.”
Layla took a moment to glare at Annaliese before turning back to the paper. Her heart sank as she read the next words.
‘A little digging turned up an interesting tidbit about the Miami-based marketing firm once owned by this tropical siren. LM Concepts collapsed earlier this year after one of its partners absconded with her lover…and the company funds. Further research has this reporter wondering if there isn’t more to this story. Could Ms. McCarthy have known more than she admitted? Was she duped or was she – like Bernie Madoff and others of his ilk – part of the scam?’
Layla let out a scream of frustration and threw the paper across the room in a fit of rage. “What a bunch of nonsense! How can he say things like that? He’s got no proof.”
“He doesn’t need proof,” Annaliese said. “Just speculation.”
Layla shoved her chair back hard enough to send it banging into the wall. “Speculation like that could ruin me. What if a federal investigator sees this and decides to reopen the case? What if they think I knew what Melanie was up to or even helped plan everything?”
“That guy writes for a gossip rag. No one takes them seriously.”
Layla swiped a hand across her face. “I don’t need this. I really don’t. It’s not enough that I have to deal with my mother’s return. I barely see Grayson since he’s decided we can’t be seen together. And for what? After reading this it doesn’t seem like it matters anyway.”
Annaliese bit her lip. “Guess I shouldn’t tell you how the article ends then.”
Layla dropped her hand. “What? Accusing me of being a female Bernie Madoff wasn’t enough?”
“Only a little speculation about you and Grayson. Wondering if he only took this job because you and he are—”
“Sleeping together? I think that was implied in the first paragraph. Did you forget the part about me tempting poor, hapless Grayson into career suicide?”
“Yeah, but there was a question about when you might have started…umm…sleeping together. Like maybe it was going on while he was still married to Skye and that’s why she left.”
Layla’s mouth dropped open and then snapped shut. “Seriously? I stole Grayson from Skye Malone? I stole him from the most beautiful woman in the universe?”
“Don’t shoot the messenger. I know it’s not true. Anyone who knows you does, too.”
“Yeah, but people reading this garbage don’t know me.”
“So what?” Annaliese stood up and wrapped an arm around Layla’s shoulder. “Who cares what they think?”
“It might matter when it’s finally time to put on a show,” she said. “Who will come see us when we’re mired in this kind of scandal?”
A ginger brow arched. “Are you kidding? You’re in marketing. Don’t you know the rule about any publicity being good publicity? You’re going to have people clamoring to get in here.”
“I want them to come to see a good show.”
“Oh, they’ll come for the show,” she said. “Trust me.”
Layla scowled. “I’m so glad you’re enjoying this. Why are you here anyway? We’re not even friends. Or are you here to rub my nose in all this garbage?”
Annaliese wiped the wry expression from her face. “I’m not enjoying your pain. And I’m here because I care.”
“About Grayson,” Layla pointed out.
“Of course I care about him. He’s my best friend.”
Layla rubbed her temple. “I can’t figure you out,” she said. “Why are you here? Not just here in this office right now, but why did you come to Shellwater Key? You still haven’t agreed to be in our show, but yet you keep hanging around?”
“I’m here because Grayson has always been there for me. I owe him everything.”
“Are you in love with him?” Layla asked, voicing the question that had plagued her for weeks.
Annaliese smiled. “Is that it? Are you jealous of me?”
“No—”
“Because you shouldn’t be,” Annaliese continued. “There’s nothing romantic between us. Never has been. Besides, his only interest right now is you.”
“I’m not sure that’s true.”
“Then you’re blind.”
Layla couldn’t come up with a single, coherent thought.
“As for the other part, I’m certainly not rejoicing over the trouble you’re having,” Annaliese said. “Despite how much you dislike me—”
Layla tried to protest. “I don’t dislike—”
“Please, I’m not a fool. Despite that, I like you, and I love Grayson like a brother. I’d hate to see his reputation and career destroyed over this.”
Layla’s heart constricted. “You don’t think his involvement with The Paradise could really hurt him, do you?”
Annaliese gave a reassur
ing smile. “No, not in the long run. I’ve actually come to admire what he’s doing here. The Paradise is a great little theatre. It deserves to be loved again.”
Layla dropped onto the couch with a groan. “This is awful!”
“I’m sorry.” Grayson’s voice came from the doorway.
She jumped and twisted toward him. Grayson stood in the center, his expression thunderous.
“I guess you saw the article.”
He nodded. “I’m sorry,” he said again.
“You didn’t write it.”
He sat next to her and took her hand. “I dragged you in the middle of my scandal, though.”
“I don’t blame you—I blame the jerk who wrote that piece. I should sue him for libel.”
“Don’t give him the satisfaction,” Annaliese said. “Besides, a lawsuit won’t make them stop. You’ll only stir the pot even more.”
“So what should I do?” Layla asked. She hated the fact that she’d let a few gossip columnists upset her so much, but she couldn’t help it. She felt violated somehow.
“Ride out the storm,” Annaliese said. “Both of you.”
Grayson nodded and pulled her closer. “Unfortunately, I think Annaliese is right. If we don’t feed the fire maybe it will burn out soon. There’s bound to be another scandal to shift everyone’s attention.”
“A ghoulish thought,” Layla said with a deep sigh. “Well, since these paparazzi are already speculating about us, maybe we can stop avoiding each other?”
Grayson smiled and started to answer, but before he could say anything Noah appeared in the doorway.
“Ah, you’re all hiding out in here,” he said.
Layla chuckled. “Join the underground. Did you manage to avoid the hordes outside?”
“The hordes ignored me, but there’s definitely something going on. I was in the workshop when pandemonium broke out. Everybody started yelling and the camera crews jumped to attention. Things have obviously reached a fevered peak.”
They all followed Noah out through the dining room. “Why do I have the feeling we shouldn’t give in to curiosity?” Layla asked.
When they reached the lobby, Layla heard a distinct difference in the level of uproar outside. She peeked outside and saw a jumble of cameras and reporters gathered in a tight knot. She couldn’t see what was in the center of the circle.
“Who’s out there?” Annaliese asked. “It looks like they’re interviewing someone.”
“I can only see the back of a head,” Grayson said.
Noah pointed. “That limo wasn’t there a few minutes ago.”
Grayson and Annaliese both drew in a startled breath and looked at each other.
Grayson cursed.
Layla’s unease grew. “What?”
“She wouldn’t…” Annaliese said to Grayson.
Grayson’s expression turned grim. “Oh, she would.”
“What’s going on?” Layla asked again.
Grayson didn’t answer. Instead, he pushed the door open and stepped outside. She moved to follow him, but Annaliese grabbed Layla’s arm.
“You don’t want to do that,” Annaliese warned.
Layla shrugged off the restraining hand. At first she couldn’t make out anything beyond a chorus of yelling and the strobe-light effect of flashes going off. Grayson approached the knot of shouting humanity, and then a woman emerged from the melee and threw herself into his arms. He caught her out of sheer instinct. Layla stared in confusion until she recognized Skye Malone’s profile.
More flashes went off.
“Oh, my darling, I’m so sorry,” Skye said, managing to be heard over the din. “I don’t know what I was thinking. I’ve been sick with regret.”
“Have you?” Grayson asked, his voice flat and without a shred of emotion. Still, Layla noticed he didn’t push her away.
“Honey, I know I hurt you,” Skye said. “I’ve been so selfish. Please say you’ll forgive me.”
Voices called out. “Mr. Kendall. Mr. Kendall. What do you think of your wife’s declaration? Are you ready to reunite?”
Grayson finally snapped out of his frozen trance. He untangled himself from Skye’s talons and pushed her away. “You can’t be—”
Skye grabbed his arm to keep him close and slapped a hand across his mouth. “Now darling, I know you’re angry, and you have every right to be.” She giggled and looked back at the reporters with a teasing smile. “He’s so stunned he doesn’t know what to say.”
Skye started to turn to Grayson again when her eyes lit on Layla and party. “Who are your friends?”
Layla suddenly wished she’d stayed inside. She was pretty sure she made a good imitation of an opossum about to meet its doom, as cameras of all shapes and sizes pivoted toward her. She felt a presence next to her and glanced over to see that Annaliese and Noah had come outside, too.
“Why Annaliese,” Skye almost purred. “How lovely to see you again. I hope things haven’t fallen so far for you that this is the only job you can get these days.” She turned to the reporters. “Annaliese Matheson used to be one of Broadway’s premier actresses.”
Annaliese barely reacted to the “used to be” crack. Her chin lifted, and she smiled. “My career is fine. So good of you to care.”
Skye didn’t even acknowledge the return volley. Her attention shifted to Layla. Skye’s violet eyes narrowed to tiny slits. “Well, if it isn’t the owner of this wonderful little…” She paused to take in The Paradise. “Establishment. How quaint.”
Grayson suddenly sprang into action. He took Skye by the arm and marched her toward the entrance. Layla, Annaliese, and Noah scrambled after them. Once they were all inside, Grayson slammed the door shut with a decisive thud, as if he could keep out the marauding crowd by will alone.
Then he slowly twisted his head toward Skye. “I don’t know what kind of game you’re playing Skye, but it’s going to stop. Now.” He kept his voice low and controlled. Clearly, he was in a cold fury.
Skye stared at him, anger reflecting in her eyes. Then her entire demeanor changed in an instant as tears welled up. Perfect, diamond-shaped tears, the likes of which Layla hadn’t seen outside of the movies.
Layla’s snort of disbelief must have been audible because Skye whirled around. Then she gave a smile that could only be called venomous. “You must be Layla McCarthy.”
Layla channeled Annaliese and forced herself not to react. “I must be.”
“Grayson, I can see you’ve been keeping yourself well occupied,” Skye told him. “There’s a little more going on here than directing, I suspect. Not that I blame you, darling. She is quite beautiful.”
“Don’t start,” Grayson said.
She ignored him, but came forward with her hand outstretched. “Since Grayson won’t bring himself to do the honors, I will. I’m Skye Malone. Grayson’s wife.”
“Ex-wife,” Grayson clarified in a low growl.
She waved a careless hand. “Now, your grandmother is supposed to be a famous female surgeon, I understand.”
Layla shot a look of surprise at Grayson, but Skye didn’t give him a chance to answer the obvious questions. “I make sure to always do the proper research before I take on a part,” she said.
“And you want to audition to be Grayson’s wife again?”
Skye laughed, and the sound was like Christmas bells and babbling brooks and babies’ laughter all rolled into one. “Oh honey, I don’t need to audition anymore. I’m offer-only. Make no mistake about that.”
Layla didn’t have any trouble understanding the warning. “So, you saw the article about The Paradise and decided you needed to come here and check me out?”
Skye chuckled again, but the sound was harder this time. She twirled around. Her violet skirt – which perfectly matched her eyes – swirled about her legs like a soft, silk cloud.
“What are you doing here, Skye?” Grayson asked, having finally remembered how to speak.
“I told you. I want you,” Skye said bol
dly. “When I saw that article, it all came rushing back.”
“What did?”
“How much you loved me. How you took care of me.”
“How much I loved you?” Grayson shook his head as if to clear it. “What about Tad? The great love of your life, I think you called him, in one of those interviews.”
“Oh, that’s over.”
“Did he dump you?”
Her eyes closed briefly and her hands clenched into tight fists. “We parted ways by mutual agreement.”
“Sounds like something your publicist told you to say.”
“What do you want me to do?” she asked, nearly stomping her dainty foot. “Tell you I was wrong to leave you? I will. I was wrong. There. Are you happy?”
Grayson folded his arms over his chest. “Surprisingly not.”
“Baby, how many times do I have to say I’m sorry?” Skye clasped her hands in front of her heart. “I need you. You’re my sun and my moon. My spring, after a long, cold winter.”
“Isn’t that a line from Whisper To My Heart?” Layla asked, naming one of Skye’s most popular movies.
Skye whirled around. “You keep your mouth shut and your hands off my husband or—”
“Or what?” Layla asked on a laugh. “Are you going to fight me? You might break a nail. And I’d definitely change that pretty nose of yours…permanently.”
Skye gasped, and her hands flew to her face. “You’re threatening me?” She turned to Grayson. “Your girlfriend is threatening me. Are you going to let her get away with that?”
He shot a warning glance at Layla. “No one is going to start fighting.” He pushed Skye aside and came toward Layla. He took her arm and led her toward the dining room. Skye tried to follow, but Annaliese and Noah stepped in front of her.
Grayson shut the door, cutting the two of them off from the lobby. “Look, I need to get Skye away from here and deal with her.”
Layla stared at him in astonishment. “Why don’t you just tell her to leave?”
“Because she’s in a volatile mood right now, and there’s no telling what she’ll do. In case you forgot, there’s a squad of reporters outside. She could march right over to them, and before you know it she’ll make them all believe that article about you is true.”
Left Turn at Paradise Page 24
