Finding Haven (30 page)

“A
LLAN, MAN
where have you been? I’ve been calling you for twenty-four hours.” Evan breathed
into the phone. If there was ever a time he needed Allan, it was now.

“Hey. I’ve been doing a little traveling.”

“Traveling? Ok. Well, have you seen the news? I don’t know how, but Emmy found me.
Everything has gone to hell. What can you do about her?” Evan waited anxiously for
Allan to give him good news.

“Evan, Evan, I think we have a bad connection. Let me try you back.”

“Allan—” Evan huffed as the call ended.

Dammit. He threw the phone across the table, and it skidded into the red vinyl cushion.

Nothing was working out. Damage control was not his strong suit. He was the charmer.
He had tried smiling and joking his way through the questions, but the reporters were
after more than his usual one-liners.

He slid into the booth. What he couldn’t figure out was how Emmy tracked him down.
He had been careful. None of the locals seemed to notice him anymore. He had blended
in like one of them. It didn’t make any sense. What was a bigger puzzle was why. Why
was she after him like this?

His reflection looked rough. He didn’t sleep much last night, and he hadn’t shaved
or taken a shower. He reached for the hot water knob and grimaced, thinking that just
yesterday he had been in here with Haven. The water falling over her smooth skin,
her body wet and warm under his. He punched the wall.

What kind of an asshole does what he did? He had more than one chance to tell her
his name, what he did for a living, that he was trying to run from it and chase a
new life. The excuses he had created were stupid, so stupid. Why couldn’t he have
seen that before it blew up like this?

If anyone could have understood, it would have been her. It should have been her if
he had just given her the chance.

He rinsed the soap off his chest, turned the water off, and grabbed a towel. Haven’s
was still hanging next to his.

He hadn’t bothered calling the store this morning about work. With the firestorm of
reporters, he didn’t think Denton would be looking for him to show, but he was going
to have a talk with the man. Just not today. He couldn’t take it today.

He reached in the fridge for a beer, but left it on the shelf. It wasn’t a beer-drinking
day. All he wanted was to protect and shield the most amazing girl from his life.
Instead, he had wrecked her.

He heard a knock on the Silver Belle door. He looked through the window. Emmy. What
in the hell?

He held the towel tightly against his waist and cracked the door. “What are you doing
here?”

“Hey to you too.” She smiled.

“Cut it. There aren’t any cameras here unless you invited them.” He closed his eyes.
If she had brought the paparazzi onslaught to the campground, he might have to strangle
her.

“Oh, Evan, what has you all pissy about everything? Can I come in?” She eyed the hipbone
where the towel edges came together.

“No. You can’t.” He sighed. He wasn’t about to let her into the only sanctuary he
had left—her perfume filling the place.

“Can’t we at least talk?” She pouted.

“Give me five minutes. I’ll be out. But if I see one damn camera, you are going to
regret showing up here.” He wanted to scare her, but not physically. He would never
hurt a woman, but Emmy was making him so mad that it was hard not to take her by the
shoulders and shake her.

“Ok, baby. I’ll just sit right over here.” She pointed at the chairs by the burned-out
fire.

Evan closed the door behind him and rushed to the bedroom. He hated she was here,
but if he played his cards right, he might get some answers. He wasn’t the most sought-after
actor for nothing. If he turned on the charm and the dazzling smile, he might turn
this around.

Three minutes later, he emerged wearing an Owen’s General Store T-shirt, khaki shorts,
and his flip-flops. He carried two cups of coffee.

He handed one to Emmy. “Here you go. Half a teaspoon of sugar, just how you like it.”

“Aw, you remember that?” She was sitting in the seat that was designated as Haven’s.
He gritted his teeth and refrained from saying anything.

“Of course. I remember a lot of things.” He settled into the chair next to her. The
coffee was piping hot. “Like your love of white roses and puppies.”

“That’s sweet.” She took a sip. “Wow. This view is gorgeous. Have you been here since
June?”

“Yep.”

“And what do you do in a place like this? It’s kind of remote. Quaint, but remote.”
She eyed Silver Belle. Evan knew Emmy wasn’t a camper kind of girl. She was a five-star
resort kind of girl.

He tilted his head toward her. “I’ve been keeping busy. There’s more to do here than
you think.”

“Oh right, with the girl.” She sighed.

He caught himself before he slugged her with a tirade of nasty words. He couldn’t
believe she would even dare mention Haven after what had happened yesterday.

“I like the blond; it looks good.”

“Really?” She twisted a curl through her fingers. “It’s part of my new image. Blondes
are apparently more relatable right now. At least, that’s what Kelly Saint-James tells
me.” Evan didn’t agree. There was a girl with gorgeous sun-kissed auburn hair that
he couldn’t get enough of.

“Kelly knows her stuff. You look good.” He winked, his stomach turning sour. “How
is she?”

Emmy turned to him. “Perfect and brilliant. You know she has so many incredible ideas,
Evan. The hair being the first.” She giggled. “The other will be clearing up this
whole island girl mess.”

He nodded as if he understood what she was talking about. Somewhere in this conversation
were the answers he was looking for. He needed to keep it going until Emmy revealed
them.

“About that, Emmy, how did anyone find out about Haven?” He rested his palm on her
knee. He was cringing on the inside, but he had to do it. Emmy had to believe he was
trying to reconnect in some way.

She grasped the mug with both hands and took a deep sip. “God, Evan, I’m not supposed
to tell you this, but I’m starting to feel a little guilty, you know?”

He twirled a circle on her knee with his thumb. “Em, it’s you and me. You can tell
me.”

She leaned over. “I know I can. And you won’t get mad, right? Promise you won’t get
all Texas cowboy mad at me.”

“Darlin’, I promise.” He smiled. “No cowboy here, just a beach bum hanging out with
you.”

He and Emmy had never had a smooth relationship. When he first met her on the
Masquerade
set, they had clashed immediately. She needed coaching, and when he tried to guide
her, she flew off the handle. However, she was beautiful, and when she wanted to be,
she was sweet. There was a sort of innocence about her that was hard to resist. He
had lost that battle more than once.

“Have you heard about
Red Lines
?” Her face was excited.

“Maybe. Isn’t that the book that’s been number one all summer?”

“It’s not just number one. It’s
the
book. It’s the hottest thing that has ever been.”

Evan knew she liked to exaggerate. He sat and listened.

“I think it’s sold seventy million copies or something. It’s hot. And the story is
unbelievable.” She had that look. He had seen that look.

“Ok, Emmy, so what does all of this have to do with
Red Lines
?”

“Archie Preston is going to direct it, and they are going to start casting soon. But
it has to be the perfect couple. That couple that has fire and passion and will take
over the series. This is life changing. It’s the kind of role that will define us.”

“Us? What in the hell are you talking about?” Evan took his hand off her knee.

She looked confused. “I’m talking about you and me being cast in the most epic erotic
love story ever written.”

Evan shook his head. “So, all of this publicity crap is to drum up an endorsement
for us to be the stars of some romance movie?”

“It’s not just a romance. It is the biggest love story of all time. And we could do
it. We could totally do it.” She bit her bottom lip. “We were pretty amazing in bed
together. Imagine transcending that on the screen.”

This was unbelievable. He wasn’t campaigning for any roles, and if he were, it wasn’t
going to be this one. “Emmy, I don’t think you’ve talked to Allan. I’m out. I’m done
with movies. Sorry, sweetheart, but this isn’t going to happen.” He stood to stretch
his legs.

“What are you talking about? It was all Allan’s idea.” She stood to match his gaze,
barely coming up to his shoulder.

“That can’t be. Allan knows how I feel.”

“Wake up, Evan. He did all of it. You think you can just check out of Hollywood? Don’t
you know how many people depend on your brand? Your name? Allan saw our makeup as
an opportunity of a lifetime for you and me both. If everyone thinks things between
us are volatile and passionate in real life, they are going to want to see us act
that out in
Red Lines
.”

He heard the words, but he couldn’t believe it. Allan had screwed him over royally.

“Allan? As in the guy on my payroll Allan? He worked with you to set me up?”

“Babe, don’t be mad. He was trying to protect you, your foundation, and me.
Red Lines
will be worth it.”

“I am not going to be in
Red Lines
.” He seethed. His teeth clenched and he felt his neck tightening.

“You promised we wouldn’t fight.” She stuck her lip out.

“I’m not fighting with you, Emmy. I can’t believe this shit. He was the one person
I trusted. And
you
. I know we had our problems, but why would you do this to me? If I wanted to be in
the damn movie, I’d be in the damn movie.”

Emmy stepped closer and placed her hand on his forearm. He recognized the gesture
and closed his eyes. “Baby, don’t get mad. Allan was trying to take your career to
a new level. He had your best interests at heart.” She tapped him on the chest, where
it was pounding the hardest.

“It’s time you go.” He stepped back.

“But—we haven’t figured out how to get all the endorsements we need. Don’t you want
to take me out on the beach? Maybe go for a swim? Like we did in Acapulco?”

“You heard him. He told you it’s time to leave.” The voice was husky. Evan turned
to see Charlotte in her favorite leopard bikini.

Emmy looked at him and then at Charlotte. “And you are?”

“I’m his friend and his neighbor. We don’t like strangers around here. So I suggest
you pack your little designer purse and take your tight little ass out of here.” Charlotte
was now in Silver Belle’s yard.

Emmy huffed. “We aren’t done talking, Evan. I’ll call you later.” She reached down
and pulled her bag from the chair.

“Oh, we’re done, Emmy. Very done.” He gritted his teeth.

He watched as she climbed into her car and steered out of the Perry Campground.

“Thanks, Charlotte. Didn’t know I needed rescuing.” He laughed; it felt odd at a time
like this.

“Well, I can’t very well have my movie star neighbor upset, can I?” She winked.

“Wait. Did you know?” He looked at her.

“Of course I knew. I’ve seen every one of your movies—some of them three times.”

“But you never said anything.” He was stunned.

“I figured if you wanted us to call you Evan, you wouldn’t have introduced yourself
as Jay.” She picked up her beach bucket.

“Charlotte, I hate to ask, but did you tell anyone?” He winced.

“Honey, your secret has been safe with me since you moved into Silver Belle on day
one. Shug and Harry too.”

“What?” Evan felt like he had been living in a movie when the plot twists in a whole
new direction.

She laughed at his surprise. “You didn’t think the biggest star in the world could
just waltz in here without as much as one person knowing? Shug has one of your calendars.
Maybe you could sign it for her.” She waved. “Going for my walk. See you later, baby.
If you want to come over for a beer later, I’ve still got your favorite.”

Evan watched her sashay toward the beach. “Hey, Charlotte?”

She turned in the sand. “Yeah?”

“How about five o’clock?” Suddenly, he realized what a friend he had in his cougar
neighbor.

“See you then.”

Evan walked into Silver Belle. Now he knew Emmy’s angle, Allan’s level of greed, and
that friends were sometimes disguised in leopard print. He ran his fingers through
his hair. But how was he going to fix the rest of this mess?
Haven
. He had to get to Haven.