by T. A. Foster
Copyright © 2015 by T.A. Foster
All rights reserved.
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, brands, media, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, actual events or locales is purely coincidental.
This book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This book may not be resold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. Thank you for respecting the hard work of the author.
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Fly
Written in the Sand
The Ivy Grace Spell Series
Time Spell (Book One)
Cover Spell (Book Two)
Fire Spell (Book Three)
Head Over Heels Collection
London Falling
Kissing Eden
Loving Eden
A Very Grey Christmas
Hollywood Kiss Collection
Finding Haven
Red Lines
To the Evan Carlson fans
THE PILOT called over the speaker to announce the plane was making its final approach into Austin. Evan folded his book and tossed it on the floor. Home. It had been four long months since he had been home. He had tried to outrun his life, but failed. He fought. He hid. He resisted. He lied. But now he was back, only this time he wasn’t alone.
Haven was tucked and curled against his side—where she fit perfectly. She had fallen asleep soon after takeoff. He studied her face, half-covered with her auburn locks. He envied the sleep she found. There was no way his mind would have done anything but cycle through everything that could go wrong. If he held on a little tighter, pulled her a little closer, maybe there was a way to protect her. He didn’t want to move his hand from her hip or shift to wake her.
There were certain moments that he knew he couldn’t get back. This was one of them. They were still them. Just Evan and Haven. The minute the plane landed, it would all change.
They would be waiting. They were always waiting.
The flight attendant hovered nearby and Evan waved her off. Her name tag said Ally. She was only trying to follow safety procedures for the landing, but they needed more than seat belts for what was ahead of them. He wrapped his free arm across Haven and drew her against his chest as the wheels hit the pavement. If only keeping her safe was always this easy. The impact jostled them both and her eyes fluttered open.
“Hey.” She smiled.
“Hey.” He planted a kiss on her forehead before she stretched into an upright position.
“I slept the entire way?” Haven looked toward the window. Her nose wrinkled in disappointment.
Evan straightened his legs. They were cramping up, but it was worth it to let her sleep like that. “Yep. You seemed tired, so I let you nap.” He didn’t want to tell her all the selfish reasons he wanted her pressed against him.
“We’re in Texas?” She leaned closer to him, her eyes darting back and forth like she was trying to read his mood.
“Darlin’, we’re in Texas.” He couldn’t believe they were in his home state together.
Was it really this morning that he said goodbye to everyone at the campground and left Perry Island with a hole in his heart?
He was prepared to live with that heartache. After all, he was responsible for everything that had happened. The lies. The deceit. The paparazzi swarm. It was all his doing. When he thought he had left Haven behind, he thought a part of him had stayed behind too. Buried in the sands of the island like lost treasure, never to be recovered.
The pain had wrapped his bones and suffocated him. The only thing he knew to do was leave. Give her what she wanted—as much distance and space from him that he could provide.
It was hard to believe it was over. The hurt and the pain from losing her had evaporated. Haven was here with him. They were together.
Leaning across the love seat, she brushed her lips against his, and he instinctively pulled her into his lap. It didn’t take much for her to distract him. He blamed the pretty blue eyes she batted in his direction. It didn’t matter—he would kiss her anytime and anyplace she’d let him.
Everything about her lit him on fire. He growled in her ear, wishing there weren’t a flight attendant and two pilots on board with them.
“I can’t wait to take you home.”
Haven pulled back and grinned. Her eyes shot across his shoulder to the window behind him. “Me either, but it looks like we have a welcome wagon.” She pointed.
He knew, flying into Texas, there would be a press group, but he was hoping, for Haven’s sake, it would be minimal. He had only gotten her back a few hours ago, and this firestorm could shake the newly formed foundation they had built.
Evan took her hand in his and squeezed it a few times as they looked through the windows of the jet. It might be dark, but there was no mistaking the mass of people gathered with cameras.
“You ok with all of this?” He surveyed her face before tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.
Her eyes widened as the jet came to a standstill on the tarmac. The flashes shot through the air like lightning strikes, and the door hadn’t even opened yet.
“I think so.” She whispered the words toward the window, and he worried it was already too much.
“We can wait it out.” He thought about the best exit strategy. “Or, why don’t I go out and talk to them, and then I can have someone from the airport sneak you to the car? That could work.” He was trying to formulate a plan B and C, but she stopped him.
“No.” She turned to face him. “We’re doing this together. This is a part of you, and I need to get used to it. You are Evan Carlson, right? The World’s Most Sought-After Bachelor,” she teased.
He loved that she was determined to face the reporters, and loved it even more that she was ready to embrace this part of his life, but he felt the familiar pain under his ribs as he inhaled. It was sharper with each breath. This was the last welcome he would have planned for her. There had to be a way to shield her from all of it.
In that instant, he wanted to run to the cockpit and tell the pilots to fly straight back to North Carolina, back to where they could disappear on a nameless beach and blend in with the locals. Texas was home, but he felt homesick for Silver Belle and everything they had on Perry Island. Life was simple and easy there like the waves rolling across the sand.
Shots of panic gripped him. What if she felt the same way? What if she regretted the decision to fly to Austin with him? She was only supposed to be in town for a few days to meet with Bruce at Blue Steel Records. This could all be over before he even got to show her the ranch.
His real life was outside the walls of this plane, and it might be more than either of them could handle. When he had the chance to get her back, all he could think about was kissing and holding her, laughing and talking with her. Loving her. Now protecting her was part of it too.
Watching the flashes ricochet off the jet, he worried his selfishness to have her back had outweighed his good judgment. No one would voluntarily sign up for this.
“You sure? They can be kind of brutal. You don’t have to get used to it tonight. We can ease into it.” He thought back to how she had been ambushed in the parking lot at her father’s store and followed by a pack of paparazzi. Even her parents wound up as targets.
Haven wrapped her hands around his neck and smiled. “Yes, I’m absolutely sure. Besides, I have a feeling there is no easing into life with Evan Carlson.” She winked and he had to chuckle. That was usually his move.
&nbs
p; There was no denying those blue eyes. If she was ready to do this, he was going to make damn sure he controlled as much of the press onslaught as he could.
“Ok, well just stay next to me. I’ll make a statement and then we’re off to the ranch. It will be quick and painless.” He forced a smile, knowing there was nothing painless about facing the assembly on the tarmac. There would be questions, and there would be false accusations. Emmy would inevitably come up.
“I’ll be fine. Stop worrying.” She reached for her backpack and slipped it over her shoulder. “I’ll let you do all the sweet talking and I'll just watch you in action.” She poked him in the side.
“I’m glad you find the humor in all of this.” He shoved the book into the side pocket, pulled the zipper on his bag, and stood. “You don’t have to do anything you don’t want to do. You never do.”
She clutched his hand as they waited for the flight attendant to open the door. “I know that. Stop worrying.”
Despite the private jet and the private terminal, the press was still allowed to congregate. Evan usually flew out at abnormal times, missing the frenzy, but ever since the breakup story of Emmy Harper and Evan Carlson made headlines last week, the reporters were anxious to catch a glimpse of him, maybe even snag a quote.
He and Haven would have to walk down the plane’s stairs, through the private terminal, and reemerge through another set of doors before they could duck into the car. Alone, he could manage the system effortlessly. With Haven, it was going to be a completely different experience.
Unlike Emmy, who sought the cameras, spoon-fed reporters tantalizing quotes, and dazzled her audience, Haven was new to this twisted game.
“Mr. Carlson, you may exit the plane now.” Ally, the flight attendant, smiled brightly as she swung the door to an open position. “It was a pleasure flying with you, sir.”
Evan nodded at her and thanked both pilots. He looked past the door. The ground crew had already attached the stairs. There wasn’t anything keeping them on the jet. Still, Evan felt as if his boots had lead soles weighing him to the threshold.
It had already been said, but he felt like he was pushing her into the very thing that ruined every relationship before this one. He had to ask again. “You’re ready for this?”
“If you don’t get off this plane, I’m going to start thinking you don’t want to take me home.” Her eyes flared.
“All right, all right, pretty girl. Let’s do this.”
He clasped her hand in his and pulled Haven behind him as they descended the steps, leaving the safety of the jet and diving headfirst into tomorrow’s headline.
NO HANDBOOK can prepare a girl for her debut into the public spotlight. It’s a sink or swim situation. Haven knew as long as Evan kept his hand wound around hers she’d be on the swimming end. If he let go, she wasn’t sure she’d be able to come up for air on her own.
She clasped a little tighter around his palm. She felt steadier this way. Evan wouldn’t let them drown her like they did in the store parking lot. He was here this time. Together. They were together.
She hoped she had convinced him with enough smiles and laughter that she could take on the press. Although, with the crowd gathered below, nothing could be farther from the truth.
The flashes came in rapid succession until she felt her feet hit the runway pavement.
“Evan, where’s Emmy?”
“Is this the new girl?”
“Welcome back to Texas.”
“Is Emmy still heartbroken?”
“Have you spoken to her?”
“Do you feel responsible for ending the relationship, Haven?”
Her head whipped in the direction of the last question. The inquiries and comments flew from all angles. The tenseness started in her shoulders, rounded her elbow, and locked in her fingers. Evan’s knuckles were probably white from her grasp.
She studied him amid the flashes, looking for the same panicked look that had crept across her face, but he was smiling.
“Hey, y’all. Just happy to be back home.” He grinned, his white teeth in perfect rows forming a killer smile. He slapped one of the reporters on the back as if they were buddies. “There’s no place like Texas.”
The comment stung a bit, but she reminded herself he had to play the part for the reporters. He was a professional. There was a reason the press liked him so much.
“What about Red Lines, Evan? Have you signed yet?”
“The author tweeted today she wants you for the movie.”
“Did you hear Chip Heart is up for the role too?”
Haven followed Evan as he weaved through the crowd, navigating a path like an expert. He didn’t acknowledge the Red Lines questions.
He threw his free hand in the air to wave to the group. “We’ll see y’all later. Have a good night.”
He held the glass door open and shuttled Haven inside the private airport.
“You did great.” He smiled at her. “One more door and we’ll be on our way to the ranch.” He started down the tiled corridor, his boots echoing off the walls. “Haven?”
Maybe this is what stage fright felt like. Maybe it was what rookie singers dealt with before a performance; it was one of the reasons she stuck to songwriting. She couldn’t form a word. Her throat was dry, and if she was supposed to take another step forward, she wasn’t sure how to make her legs execute the movements. The resolve she had felt when they were on the plane melted as soon as the reporters started pelting them with questions. All she could think about was the day they assaulted her in the Owen’s General Store parking lot. It was sickeningly familiar.
“Darlin’, what’s wrong?” Evan’s hands were on either shoulder, his grip firm. “Hold on, let’s sit down for a second.”
He led her toward an open door, maneuvered her into the room, and placed her in a recliner. It didn’t look like a regular lounge room. She noticed the navigation charts on the walls, the warming coffee pot, and the low hum of the news channel running in the background. This must be where the pilots congregated before flights.
Evan shoved a cup of cold water in her hand. “Take a sip.”
She did as he commanded, as if under some kind of hypnosis. The water felt cool on the back of her throat, soothing the dryness.
“Ok, I know that was a lot to handle out there, but if we can make it through one more door, it will be over.” He knelt in front of her, brushing the hair away from her face. “The ranch is gated, and there are twenty acres between the road and the front door. No press there, I promise. But you take your time. We’ll stay here as long as you need.”
For a few moments, she felt her lungs fill then relax as they were depleted of air. Was it only this morning she had packed her bags for Austin, prepared to make this journey alone? There was no Evan. There was no us. No we. She was tackling this trip on her own. Diving headfirst into her songwriting career. All that changed the second he spotted her on the ferry.
“Haven?”
His voice urged her to answer.
“Yeah?”
“Do you want to try it? The car is right outside the door. We’ll be out of here in a second, baby.” His hands rested on her knees as she sipped the last drops of water.
He had warned her about the Emmy questions, but hearing them still startled her. When she was with Evan, she didn’t think about anyone else, especially not his ex. But Emmy was clearly on everyone else’s mind. The cocoon they had lived in on the island all summer was over. From now on, she would be sharing Evan with the prying eyes of the world. The problem was, she wasn’t sure she was ready for it.
He ran a hand through his sandy brown hair, keeping a steady warm gaze on her.
“Ok,” she whispered.
“Ok?”
Haven nodded. “I’m ready. One more door, right?”
Evan stood tall in front of her, and then pulled her against him. “One more door. That’s it. You’ve got this.” He led her to the corridor.
It was a simple g
lass door. The kind that allowed people to enter or exit the private terminal. There was a single doorknob on it, with a chime that rang every time someone opened it. Haven stared through it as she and Evan walked closer, knowing there was more to this door than any other she had faced. The camera lights bounced around them. Evan ushered her into the passenger side before jogging to the driver’s seat. An airport worker handed him a set of keys, gushed a few fan words, and then closed the door behind the star.
Evan’s hand slid to her knee. The paralysis that had gripped her was finally subsiding. It wasn’t normal, but breathing felt easier.
“Ready to see the ranch?” He winked then shifted the car into drive. “You just made it through the hardest part.”
THE ONLY ranches Haven was familiar with were in movies. There was nothing even close to resembling a ranch on Perry Island unless you could call Ben Jordan’s place a beach ranch.
Wagon wheels, rustic fences, and open fields with running horses were the first images she associated with Evan’s home, even though she had never seen a single picture of it. It was a clichéd stereotype, but it wasn’t as if he had given her anything to go on.
She should know these things about where he was from. They had spent an entire summer together. When you spend that much time with someone, shouldn’t you know what his house looks like? What color his bedroom is? If he even has a single houseplant? She wondered if there were more things she didn’t know than she did.
So much had happened since this morning. They had put themselves back together. It felt real and secure, but at the same time, Haven knew it was delicate. She only had four days in Austin to work out her contract with Blue Steel before she was scheduled to return home. What if she and Evan couldn’t make all the broken pieces fit together the way they did before?
“Hey, what’s going on over there?” Evan turned down the radio.
“What do you mean?” Her gaze had been set out of the window ever since they pulled away from the terminal curb, but she couldn’t recall anything she had seen on the drive.