Falling Star

by Laura DeLuca

  “I don’t know about the rest of you,” Sharon said between a loud yawn, “but I’m ready to call it a night. I have an art class at the senior center at eight in the morning.”

  “Sharon’s an amazing artist,” Lainey boasted. “She creates pottery that’s just to-die for. She has her own website online and everything. She can’t even keep up with the orders that come in.”

  Sharon waved her hand. “Don’t exaggerate, Lainey. I get by.”

  “She’s being modest,” Erin assured him. “Her work is on the brink of being world-renown. She’s a local celebrity. Our own Thomas Kincade.”

  “He was a painter,” Lainey pointed out.

  Erin waved her hand. “Close enough.”

  “And even though she has a very busy schedule, she still takes time every week to volunteer at the senior center,” Elisa continued. “The old people, they all love her. Her class is the highlight of their lives.”

  It was obvious Sharon didn’t like the spotlight. “It’s only a few hours a week.”

  “I think that’s wonderful,” Drew approved. “Both your success as an artist, and the fact that you give back to your local community. The world needs more people like you.”

  Sharon gave him a small smile of acknowledgement. Despite her quiet nature, Drew liked Lainey’s mild-mannered friend more and more as the night progressed, and not only because she was the only one who hadn’t compared him to Andy Palmer. He didn’t get the impression she was shy. Rather, she conveyed many of her thoughts silently, with facial expressions and body language, choosing to speak only when it would truly add to the conversation. He got the feeling she was slightly older than the other girls, but it had nothing to do with her physical appearance. No lines marred her skin and her hair was a solid brown a few inches shorter than Lainey’s. She could easily pass for a woman in her mid-to-late twenties, yet she conveyed a wisdom in her very bearing that made her seem far older.

  “I hate to admit it, but I’m ready to turn in too.” Erin sighed. “Nate has a soccer game first thing in the morning.”

  “Come on,” Elisa whined. “The night has just begun. You can’t all wuss out on me already.”

  “Hey, you drove yourself,” Sharon reminded her as she finished off her Guinness. “Feel free to leave whenever you like. But I need at least six hours sleep if I’m going to be able to focus on crocheting tomorrow.” She turned to Lainey. “What about you, kiddo? You ready to pack up for the evening?”

  Lainey cleared her throat. “Actually, I might stay a while longer. That is, if Drew doesn’t mind giving me a ride home.”

  Drew’s heart rate accelerated at the possibility, and he almost choked on the beer he’d put to his lips. He understood why Lainey had been leery about giving her home address to the tourist she’d met on the beach, but she must be getting more comfortable with him if she was allowing him to escort her home. It was a big step and one that implied she was beginning to trust him.

  Not that you deserve it...

  Luckily, Elisa interrupted before he had a chance to reply, which gave him a moment to recover from his coughing fit and his guilty conscience. “What am I? Chopped liver? I can drive you home on my bike.”

  “No way. I’m not getting on that bike,” Lainey vowed. “At least not until I up my life insurance.”

  Elisa folded her arms, offended. “I’ll have you know I’m an excellent driver.”

  “I don’t mind driving you.” Drew’s offer was rewarded with one of Lainey’s ravishing smiles and a glare from Elisa. “Say the word when you’re ready to go.”

  And when you’re ready for the truth...

  Drew slipped his arm around her chair, and nudged his pesky conscience to the side so he could relish the feeling of moving forward in the relationship. It had been a long time since he opened his heart. For the last few years, his career consumed every aspect of his life, even romance. The few relationships he’d attempted with other celebrities had led to only drama and bad press. But meeting Lainey changed all that. She made him feel like a normal guy again. He liked that feeling, even the nervous butterflies that fluttered in his stomach whenever she was around. He wanted to cling to it as long as possible before reality came crashing down.

  “You know, I think I’m going to get out of here too,” Elisa grumbled, pulling herself up from her seat. “The third wheel thing doesn’t suit me.”

  “Don’t feel that way, Elisa,” Lainey insisted. “I want you to stay. There are no third wheels with us.”

  “Nah, I’ve got something big out there just waiting to get squeezed between my legs.” Elisa winked. “Who knows, maybe you’re thinking along those same lines. I wouldn’t want to cramp your style.”

  “What the heck?” Erin punched Elisa in the arm. “You have no couth whatsoever!”

  Elisa threw back her head and cackled. “Isn’t that why you all love me?”

  “Don’t mind her,” Sharon whispered to Drew. “Elisa is all about shock value, but she’s not nearly as rough around the edges as she pretends to be.”

  Drew snickered. Elisa would have to try a lot harder than that if she hoped to shock him. He’d seen some things in Hollywood that.... Well, he doubted Cape May County could compete with the dirty minds of Los Angeles. There the parties went on until well after daybreak, they served things much harder than beer, and couples who settled for simple one-on-one interaction were a rarity.

  “I guess I’ll see you guys next week,” Lainey told them. “Unless something comes up before then.”

  Ready to call it a night, the four women exchanged goodbyes and tried to throw some money down on the table. Drew avoided their gaze when their young server shook her head. “The gentlemen with you already took care of your bill,” she told them with a conspirative wink. “Even left me the best tip of the night ... make that the year. Hope you girls bring him along every week!”

  “Gee, thanks, Drew.” Erin flashed him a thumbs up. “I agree, feel free to come again. Same time, same place, every Friday night.”

  The girls all thanked him, but after they finally sauntered through the exit, sure to give bartender Trevor a final salute along the way, Lainey turned to him with a serious expression. “You didn’t have to pay for everyone. That had to be expensive.”

  Drew waved away her concern. The bill barely registered on his bank account, but that wasn’t something he wanted to brag about. “It isn’t a big deal. You guys are all lightweights compared to my friends in L.A. But don’t tell Elisa I said that.”

  Lainey laughed, but it was strained. The mention of Los Angeles reminded them both his visit was temporary, but if she felt insecurity, she pushed past it. “I warned you about her.”

  “I don’t think even boot camp could’ve prepared me for combat with Elisa,” he joked. “But I can tell her heart is in the right place. She’s worried about you running around with an out-of-towner. I know the drill.”

  “She worries about us running around with any guy,” Lainey agreed. “But she definitely has a no shoebee policy.”

  “No shoe-what?” Drew scrunched his face up. “Is that anything like the no shirt, no shoes, no service sign I saw on the door?”

  Lainey covered her mouth as she giggled, with more enthusiasm this time. “No. Shoebees are the locals’ pet name for tourists. It started back in the fifties, I think, when the people from the city would come down for the day and carry their lunch in shoeboxes. Or so the story goes.”

  “Sounds like an interesting tale.”

  They chatted for half an hour longer about life on the island. At some point their hands had crept closer along the table until they’d somehow intertwined, almost of their own accord. But before long, even Drew was ready to call it a night. Lainey followed him to his rental car, which was parked across the street. He made sure to hold the door open for her, and she smiled at the gesture. Once on the road, she gave him fairly simple directions. Most of Wildwood could be navigated in two straight lines that ended at either the ocean o
r the bay. Lainey’s home was on the sea side. Drew whistled when he pulled up to the ten story concrete fortress that hung off the edge of the boardwalk, offering a stunning oceanfront view.

  “Wow, I hope you aren’t on the top floor.”

  “Fourth.” She pointed in the general direction. “Why?”

  “Heights aren’t exactly my favorite thing.”

  Lainey gave him a mischievous grin. “Darn, if you’re afraid of heights that could ruin what I had planned for tomorrow ... assuming you’re available.”

  “I’m available,” Drew said, too quickly to avoid sounding over-anxious. “And I can handle heights if I absolutely have to. What did you have in mind?”

  “It’s a surprise,” she said mysteriously. “But I’ll give you a hint. The day we met you told me you couldn’t remember what it felt like to feel free. Well, I’m going to give you a little refresher course. I’m going to show you freedom at its very best. The kind of freedom that leaves you feeling breathless and intoxicated.”

  Drew nodded. “Okay. Sounds like a plan.”

  “Good, then meet me here, at the arcade out front of the boardwalk. Let’s say ... noon? And make sure you wear sneakers. No sandals, even if it’s warm.”

  “Not a problem,” Drew agreed.

  She reached for the handle of the car door. “Then I guess I’ll see you tomorrow.”

  Not quite ready to let her go, Drew laid a hand on her knee. “Don’t you want me to walk you in?”

  She froze, one foot hanging out the side of the door, before turning to him with her gaze downcast. “Not tonight,” she said after a thoughtful pause. “This whole thing is unchartered territory for me. I need to take baby steps.”

  Drew smiled. It was one more reason she wasn’t like Hollywood girls. She wasn’t an easy conquest and Drew respected that. “I completely understand, but I won’t lie and say I’m not disappointed.”

  “I sort of am too, but...”

  “It’s better this way. Baby steps are fine as long as those steps lead you a little closer to me every day.” He lifted a hand to run through her hair. “So until tom—”

  Before he could finish the sentence, her lips were against his, sweet as strawberries. Her tongue traveled in slow circles along the contours of his mouth. The desire packed in that simple embrace was more powerful, more forceful, than he ever expected, and he liked this side of her. Her passion almost took his breath away. Though his hands itched to sneak under her dress, which offered such easy access, he controlled himself. The best things in life were worth waiting for, and Drew had the feeling he’d found something pretty darn wonderful.

  “Lainey.” Once their passion-swollen lips parted, he panted her name in half a groan, longing for more, but knowing it was impossible. “Lainey, I—”

  “Shhh.” She put a finger against his lips. “Until tomorrow.”

  Then without another word, she jumped from the car and ran up the steps, disappearing behind the doors of the condo without once glancing back over her shoulder.

  Chapter Seven

  Lainey leaned against the wall, taking time to admire the ocean view she never tired of. The sky was a clear blue, but off in the distance a thin layer of mist connected the sand to the water, making the scenery hazy but no less beautiful. Behind her stood the Seaview Casino, one of the shops her condo association rested above. Regardless of its name, the business wasn’t a real casino. Those were reserved for Atlantic City, which was about forty-five minutes north. The Seaview Casino was a kid’s arcade complete with video games, skee ball, and pool tables. Though they did have a bunch of slot machines, instead of cash, they issued tokens, which could be exchanged for cheap prizes. It was one of dozens of such establishments that peppered the Wildwood boardwalk. While she waited for Drew to arrive, Lainey peeked at the prizes inside one of the cranes. The stuffed animals were jammed in so tightly, it would be next to impossible to free one.

  “Care to try your luck?”

  Lainey turned to the sound of coins clinking to find Drew standing behind her with a stack of quarters in his hand. Almost instantly, her heart started that incessant thump that always harkened his arrival. She wondered how many times they would meet before that exuberant feeling faded. Of course, once he headed back to the sunny shores of California, she probably wouldn’t see him much at all. Maybe when his vacation ended, he’d fly back to the West Coast and she’d never see or hear from him again.

  Live for the moment, Lainey reminded herself. That’s what this date is all about.

  Shaking her head, Lainey gestured for Drew to put his money away. “This has already been a pretty amazing week. I wouldn’t want to push my good fortune. Besides, I used to work here when I was in high school. Back then, you might’ve had a chance at winning. These days, I think they have these things rigged.”

  “You worked here?” Drew pointed to the arcade. “Right below where you live now? That seems pretty ironic.”

  “Not really.” Lainey shrugged. “My grandmother bought her condo unit back in the eighties, way before the market boomed. It started out as a vacation place, but she decided to retire here. I came to live with her not long after that. I grew up in Wildwood and moved back right after college, first to help take care of my grandmother when she was sick. Then she left the condo to me in her will.”

  “I’m sorry to hear that,” Drew said. “About your grandmother, I mean.”

  Lainey was certain his curiosity was piqued about how she came to live with her grandmother. Thankfully, he had enough decorum not to mention it. It wasn’t something she enjoyed talking about, especially not so early into the relationship. The memories were too painful, even after so many years. She attempted to steer the conversation back to other things, acknowledging his condolences with a nod before changing tracks.

  “I was the counter girl at the arcade for years. They have a machine that does it now, but back then we used to count the skee ball tickets and tokens by hand, and write out vouchers for the points. I worked there for six summers and saw the place switch hands three times.” She snickered at the old memories of the pink shirt with a hideous skinny clown she’d worn. “I barely made minimum wage, but I’ll tell you this much, standing around all day with a few hundred dollars in change around your waist does wonders for your hips and thighs.”

  “I hear you.” Drew bobbed his head. “When I was a kid, I worked at a fast food joint deep frying French fries. That grease pit constantly made my skin break out. To this day, I can’t stand the smell of fries.”

  Lainey giggled. “I guess most high school jobs are less than glamorous. But it sounds like you’ve really stepped up in the world. It must be thrilling working on movie sets and getting to meet all the celebrities.”

  Drew adjusted his baseball cap. “Hollywood isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. And the celebrities—well, they aren’t that different from you and me, except for the fact that the whole world likes to stick its nose in their business. Of course, some are worse than others. There are a few I wouldn’t wish on my worst enemy, but again I suppose any workplace is like that.”

  “For sure,” Lainey agreed. “There are a few people Erin and I work with who are total shrews. They’ll claw your eyes out as soon as look at you and try to use their bust size as incentive for promotions.”

  Drew chuckled. “I’ve definitely met my fair share of those types in Hollywood.”

  Though he obviously intended to sound jovial, Lainey was sure she heard an edge of bitterness in Drew’s voice. It was clear this time, he was the one who wanted to change the subject. Maybe he hated his job or had a recent unpleasant run-in with a starlet. But whatever caused that normally unwavering grin to vanish, Lainey knew she shouldn’t press him. She had to convey the same respect he’d offered her, and let him talk about his personal issues in his own time, assuming he had any issues and it wasn’t just her writer’s imagination going wild.

  “So,” Drew continued, taking his sunglasses from the rim of his shir
t and sliding them on as they walked. “Tell me what sort of adventures you’ve planned for us this afternoon.”

  “We’ll have to walk for a bit first. There’s not much on this end of the boardwalk.” She peeked down and was relieved to see he’d taken her advice about the sneakers. “Glad to see you wore the right shoes.”

  Lainey herself would’ve preferred to wear her boots, but sneakers were the way to go for what she had planned. Going with the sensible approach, she also had to trade in her skirts for a pair of jeans accompanied by a hunter green camisole with a lace overlay. Since fall was in full swing and temperatures would only be cooler at higher elevations, she’d also brought along a faux leather jacket in a rusty shade of brown. She’d even had the foresight to pull her long hair into a tight ponytail, though a few pesky strands already broke free and fluttered wildly against her cheeks. Of course, being prepared came with the territory. Locals knew how to dress for a day on the piers.

  Drew had also done a decent job picking out his attire, though he didn’t stray from his normal jeans and T-shirt. Lainey supposed he hadn’t packed many wardrobe changes, but it might prove a little chilly as the afternoon progressed. She wasn’t worried though. Lainey could think of several ways to stay warm, none of which had anything to do with keeping their clothes on. The very thought of them caused the color to rise in her cheeks and she was relieved when Drew distracted her with another question.

  “How far are we going?” He shielded his eyes from the sun as he stared down the seemingly never-ending stretch of boards and cement. She knew it appeared infinite, but Lainey still rolled her eyes.

  “Are you telling me a big bad L.A. boy can’t handle a two-mile trek?”

  “Two miles? Well, I’ll do my best to keep up,” Drew promised. “But ... sheesh, you Jersey girls sure are ruthless trainers.”

  “We only have to go about halfway,” Lainey admitted as they moved from the shaded canopy of the arcade and into the bright sun. “We’ll get to the center of the boardwalk where the piers are in about fifteen minutes.”