She shook her head. “I’m no one special.”
The young woman put her head down, focusing on the drink. “Are you a celebrity or something? What’s with the glasses on a rainy day?”
She let out a sigh. “Been a long few days. Can’t sleep. I look like death warmed over.”
“No, you don’t.”
“Without the glasses, I do.” She pushed her fingers through her hair and saw the bracelet she was still wearing. She quickly shoved her hand in her pocket and tried to pretend it wasn’t there.
“Thanks.” Moving down the counter, she grabbed a straw and came back to get her drink.
“Your hair is too short to be her.”
“Don’t know who you’re talking about.” She stabbed the lid with her straw and hurried out the door.
Maybe she should bleach her hair, something even more drastic than cutting it. No more coffee, unless she could convince Bea to bring her some. That or invest in a Keurig or something. Anything to avoid that barista.
She walked as fast as she could back to the cabin and locked herself in, leaving her groceries and coffee on the counter before tearing the bracelet from her wrist and throwing it across the room.
She sank down, against the cabinets, and dropped her head in her hands, her knees drawn up. Every damned memory was like a shot through her heart, leaving her decimated.
Time, that was all she needed. No contact with anyone. Maybe without any reminders, she wouldn’t be stuck in the same loop, remembering what she loved about Luke and what eventually tore out her heart.
Chapter 45
Another day passed, and Luke was falling apart. He replaced his phone and started calling Leona. Nothing, no answer, and her mailbox was full. He tried email. No response.
She still hadn’t gone to her Instablast page, because if she had, she would have seen the truth about the video, the drugging, the assault.
And he hated to think about what that meant. He was a sexual assault victim. He nearly died thanks to a drug. And he didn’t give a damn about himself. No, he wanted to find her, hold her, tell her the truth.
No one had seen her. Ten minutes after the press conference, Luke had posted a picture of him and her the day he took her to the airport. The caption read, If you’ve seen Leona Shay, please tell me where to find her. I don’t think she knows what really happened, and I need her to understand I never did and never will betray her.
He had a range of responses, from people pissed he cheated on her, to those who were mad at her for hurting him. He simply deleted anything that wasn’t a show of support or a clue to where he could find her.
Ryan pushed his way into the house. “Stop staring at your phone. Let’s start thinking outside the box.”
“Hmm?” Luke asked.
“Well, why don’t you start by contacting her family? See if any of them have any idea where she could have gone that would be far enough out no one would see her.”
Luke dropped onto the couch and called June.
She answered. “This is June.”
“Hey, this is Luke. I’m trying to reach your daughter.”
“Oh, God. I wish I knew where she was. I know she saw the first video. It broke her. I wish I had any idea where to find her. I would go to her, show her the rest. Oh, dear God, are you okay? Your head? Your heart? What is wrong with that vile woman?” Her tone grew more hysterical with each passing moment.
He rubbed at his face. “I don’t have a good answer for you. I made a mistake with her before meeting Leona. She tried a few times to get me back into her bed, and I politely declined. Either way, she did drug me and tried to—shit, sorry.”
“I knew something was wrong with you from that video. She was too hurt to see it.”
Luke closed his eyes. “That’s why I need to find her.”
“How are you dealing with what that evil woman did?”
Sighing, he dropped his elbows to his knees. “I don’t even remember what happened after I got to the bathroom. I saw it on the video, but I can’t process it. Not until I find Leona. I hate that she’s out there, suffering and there is nothing I can do.”
“Oh, honey, if I get any news, I’ll call you. You two were so good together. It can’t end like that. Not when you really didn’t cheat on her.”
He felt better knowing June didn’t hate him, that she was on his side. “Thank you. If you hear from her, make sure she knows what happened, that I love her, and I’m looking for her.”
She sniffled. “I promise, I’ll find a way to make her listen if she calls.”
He wiped the tears away. “Thanks. I need to go.”
“As soon as I know anything, I’ll call.”
“Thank you.” He clicked the phone off and brought up Naydene’s number.
Ryan squeezed his shoulder. “Dude, I’m sorry.”
“Me too.” He pressed talk.
Someone answered. “Hey, this is Allana.”
“Uh, hi. This is Luke.” He waited.
“Oh, thank God. I told my mom you couldn’t have done what everyone thought you did. You wouldn’t do that to Leona because you really do love her. Then the rest came out.”
He sniffled. “Thanks. That means a lot. Do you have any idea where she might be?”
“Maybe.” She paused a second and he almost said something. Then she spoke up. “And I’m only going to tell you because you’re the only one who can fix this.”
Hope snuck up on him. He took a breath and vowed, “You have my word. I’ll do everything I can to make this right.”
“She has a friend from high school. One who hated Russell. She owns a resort in Hawaii. A quiet place, meant for different kinds of artists. Somewhere they can get away from the world and create.” She laughed softly. “She promised to take Mom and me someday. But my summers are usually busy and we haven’t made it work yet.”
He jumped up. “Know the name?”
“Dreamers Resort, I think. I know it’s on Kauai, and that Bea something owns it.”
His eyes closed. “No last name?”
“No. Not that I know of. But there can’t be that many non-tourist resorts, can there?”
“Probably not. That gives me a place to start. Thank you.” And he meant it. There was nowhere he wouldn’t go to find her, and this was a start.
“Hey, if you see her before we hear from her, tell her we love her.”
He nodded, “And if you hear from her first, would you do the same for me?”
“Yes, of course. Good luck.”
“Thanks. Goodbye.”
“Bye.”
He hung up and turned to Ryan who had followed. “I need to get to Hawaii, to Kauai specifically.”
Ryan’s brow arched. “Because that’s where she is?”
Luke started for the stairs, opening Google on his phone. “Hope so. It’s the only lead I have. Supposed to be quiet. No one around to rub it in her face what I supposedly did.”
“What’s it called?” Ryan demanded.
“Allana thinks it’s Dreamers Resort.” Luke stopped to look at his phone. No actual website, but the address and phone number were listed.
“Luke, chill out,” Ryan practically shouted. “You need to do a little research.”
He shoved his phone at Luke. “That’s where I’m going. I’m hoping Mona can give me more information. Maybe I should beg her to come with me.”
Ryan stopped him. “Um, you may want to do this one on your own. If you can get Leona to listen to you, are you really going to want to be interrupted?”
Luke rubbed the back of his neck. “I don’t know. She’s going to be pissed. Might need backup.”
“What about Allana?” Ryan asked.
A snort escaped. “Yeah, sure, if I want Naydene to rip my balls off. Shit, I have a feeling her sister isn’t ready to forgive me. Not until she knows her sister is okay.”
He held up a hand. “You were in the hospital. That’s why you didn’t pick Leona up.”
“I can
almost guarantee I look like an asshole to Naydene. The first time I met her, she promised to unman me if I ever hurt Leona.”
Ryan lifted one brow. “Want me to come?”
“No, you’re right. I need to go to her alone.” Luke patted him on the back. “First, I need to call Mona, get some information, then find a flight. You could give me a ride to the airport.”
“You got it.”
Luke called.
Mona answered on the first ring. “Hey, Luke. Any news?”
“Maybe.” He rubbed his head. “I called Naydene, but I’m glad Allana answered. She gave me a possibility. Said there’s a place called Dreamers Resort on Kauai owned by Leona’s friend, Bea.”
“Beatrice Shorn. Man, she really wanted to get away then. She has no Internet there. Last time we went there was no signal for our phones. It’s out there and quiet. The town is small. They don’t have a lot of tabloids or magazines at the little store. I didn’t see a single TV while there.”
“Thanks. I need to find a flight to Hawaii.”
“You’re going out there?” Mona squeaked.
“Yeah. How else is she going to learn the truth? I mean, sure, she might find out on her own, but I don’t want to be without her for weeks, months, shit. What if she doesn’t come back?”
“She won’t stay gone forever,” Mona promised.
Five days and no one had heard from her. Not her best friend, not her mother. That was a long time without contacting anyone, and all because she believed he did something he would never do.
“No, but how bad would she have to be hurting to disappear like this?”
She sucked in air. “Pretty bad. Never seen her ditch everyone.”
Luke knew that. “I have to get through to her. I need to go to her.”
“Want me to come?”
He blew out a breath. “I think I need to do this on my own. I mean, you got me a chance with her. Let me work this out with her.”
“She’s going to fall apart until you get her to listen.”
“I know. And I expect her to hate me right now, but I have to go.”
“Maybe I should come out there just in case,” Mona offered.
Luke shook his head. “I’ll call you if I need help. Right now, I plan to barge in and make her listen.”
“You have a head injury. She may throw something at you.”
“Yeah, well, I’ll show her the stitches first. Maybe she’ll take it easy on me.”
“Probably. Just make sure she doesn’t have anything near her to throw. She has great aim.”
A smile broke out. “Whatever she needs to get out of her system, I’ll take it, if she’ll listen to me.”
“Are you sure you don’t want me to come?”
“Yes. If she forgives me, we won’t want company.”
“If she forgives you, you need to call.”
“Of course. I’m leaving on the first flight.”
“Good luck.” She hung up.
Luke turned to Ryan.
He held up his phone. “Flight leaves in ninety minutes. You ready?”
After tossing in a couple more things, Luke nodded. “Yup.”
Chapter 46
The banging knock on the door jerked Leona out of a dream where Luke held her after making love. She wanted back in that dream, in that world where Luke loved her and hadn’t slept with another woman.
She looked around the room, trying to orient herself, but then she realized she was still in the little beach house, all the curtains drawn, the AC humming, and alone. All except for the person banging on the door.
Rubbing her face, she climbed from the couch and made her way to the door. She opened it a slice and froze when she caught the intensity in Luke’s stare.
“Leona, let me in.”
She pushed the door shut, but he shoved, knocking her back.
Before she could crash to the floor, Luke caught her, strong arms lifting her up. “Please listen to me. You don’t know the whole story. You wouldn’t be here if you did.”
A bitter sound ripped from her as she tried to twist free of his hold. “Let me go and leave. I can’t do this.”
“You don’t understand,” he pleaded.
She shoved at him, and he trapped her against the wall, pinning her as she tried to shove him off her.
A cry broke free. “You fucked another woman in a bathroom. There’s nothing you can say to fix this.”
“I need you to listen to me, Leona. I’m begging you to hear me out. I know it looked bad, but you didn’t see the whole video.”
“There was more?” she screamed. “Don’t care. Don’t need to see.”
“I wasn’t awake. She drugged me. I nearly died.”
The words didn’t sink in. She was too upset, too mad, too drained from days of crying and wanting to forget. Her voice broke. “Let me go.”
He caught her face and stared into her eyes. “Leona, I love you with my heart and soul. I would never cheat on you. I told you, I would end things before I went there. Someone drugged me. I hit my head.” He twisted his head.
Closing her eyes, she tried to squirm free.
His cheek pressed against hers. His voice was rough, pleading. “The drug she gave me stopped my damned heart. I was in the hospital when you landed. I didn’t wake up until the next day.”
Tears streamed down her face as she gripped his hand and tried to pull it away. “But you—but she—she was riding you. How can you lie about that? Did you see the video, Luke? She was riding you.”
His tears mingled with hers. “I know how it looked. But please, look at the rest of the video. If you were anywhere with any media, you would have seen the truth by now.”
Her eyes closed. She tried to wrap her head around what he was saying instead of fighting. He was too damned persistent. And the sooner he got this off his chest, the sooner he would leave. Or she hoped.
Luke continued, “Tara slipped Ketamine into my ice tea. I’m severely allergic to it. It knocked me out, stopped my heart. Ryan had to give me CPR or I would have died. I swear to you I was not fucking Tara. I was busy dying.”
A sob escaped. “You tore me open, ripped out my heart.”
He slammed his hand against the wall behind her. “Did you hear me? I didn’t fuck her. She drugged me, and tried to rape me, but she nearly killed me in the process. Tara is in jail now. Please, watch the whole thing.”
That name, she knew that name.
“You didn’t?” she whispered.
He shook his head, catching her face to look into her eyes. “I wasn’t even drinking alcohol. She drugged me, Leona. I wish I hadn’t gone out with Ryan.”
Tears rolled down her cheeks and he wiped them away. “I love you, Leona. I never wanted to hurt you.”
“Who was she?”
“Tara Punce. Same woman who interrupted our first dance.”
Her chest heaved as it all clicked into place. “Crazy bitch.”
“Leona, watch the video. So you don’t have any doubt.”
“I believe you. If I knew, shit, if I knew…” She sobbed.
“Watch the rest. Please.”
Gulping, she nodded. How could she deny him? She wanted desperately to believe he hadn’t betrayed her.
He carried her into the bedroom, laid down with her, keeping one arm around her while he pulled the phone out. “It’s bad, Leona. But you need to see.”
“Okay.” She didn’t want to see.
Luke opened the video and handed it to her. Then he closed his eyes, laying his head next to hers.
Lying on her back, she held it up and pressed play. She couldn’t stop crying as every second played back from the time he entered the bathroom, to when the paramedics took him away.
She was horrified by what Tara did, what Luke went through, and leaving only made it all worse. Guilt rocked through her so hard she could hardly breathe for a long moment.
With tears streaming down her face, she rolled to Luke. “Why are you here? Why are
n’t you pissed I believed the video?” Her voice broke.
“Everyone thought I did it. I had a press conference, told the press. I know someone posted the edited version on your page a million times, but people are posting the rest now. I wish I could have found you sooner. I didn’t want you to suffer.”
She reached out and touched the wound. “Concussion?” she asked.
He nodded. “Heart stopped. Ryan got there in time.”
New tears slid down her face. Then his own followed.
“Wish I had been there,” Leona whispered. “I shouldn’t have gone to the signing.”
“Don’t do that. You can’t bail on your obligations for me. I should have been smarter. I should have known. I should have done something.”
She caught his face in her hands. “You can’t say that. How were you supposed to know? Ketamine? You can’t taste that.”
His brow cranked down. “How do you know?”
“Research for a book.”
He pulled her closer. “I love you, Leona. I’m sorry you hurt so bad.”
She let out a strangled sound. Luke came for her, when she should have been there. She didn’t know how to make up for her own stupidity. “I’m sorry she did this. I’m sorry I left.”
“I don’t blame you. I just need to hold you. Need to know you don’t hate me.”
“I wanted to hate you. I couldn’t. I was broken-hearted, but I didn’t hate you.”
He grabbed her hip and drew her closer. “Leona, I’m sorry.”
Shaking her head, she placed her hand over his heart. “Don’t. I made bad assumptions.”
“What else would you have seen?” he asked.
“The blood. If I noticed the blood, I would have known something was wrong, but all I saw was you, with her riding you, or it looked like she was. Damn it. Now that image is crumbling, but I kept seeing that every time I considered calling. And as bad as it hurt, I didn’t want to be tempted to say something horrible about you to the press. I just wanted to forget.”
“Everyone thought the same thing, Leona. And even in the hospital, the only thing I worried about was you.”
“Instead of confronting you, I ran. If I had the balls to call, I would have known. I could have been there for you.”
The Callback Page 25