Hot Seal Next Door_A Bad Boy Second Chance Romance

by Tia Wylder

  Marie laughed out loud. “I’m sorry,” she said quickly, covering her mouth. “Gianna, I don’t even make that much money…and this is one of Boston’s premier restaurants,” she said. Her voice was sharp, but not unkind. “Look, can I give you a piece of advice?”

  “Okay,” I said nervously.

  “Why don’t you look into enrolling in a community college and taking a few classes,” Marie said. “They often have on-campus jobs for students, and something like that would allow you to get some work experience.”

  I frowned. I hadn’t expected her to say anything like that.

  “I don’t think my parents would let me,” I said.

  Marie sighed. “How old are you?”

  “Twenty-five.”

  “You’re too old to let your parents dictate your every move,” Marie said firmly. “And if you want to be independent, you’re going to have to learn how to do it on your own.”

  I flushed scarlet. “Okay,” I said softly. “Thank you.”

  Marie nodded. She reached out her hand, and after a moment, I realized she was offering her hand for me to shake. I scrambled to my feet and put my palm against hers.

  “Good luck, Gianna,” Marie said kindly. “And I mean that.”

  “Thanks,” I said miserably.

  Outside, on the sidewalk, I felt like crying. How was it possible that I’d made it to twenty-five without knowing even the most basic life skills? The “interview” had been one of the most embarrassing experiences in my life…and Marie had been nice about it! God, I thought as I walked down the sidewalk, avoiding the crowds of people. Imagine how much worse it could’ve been.

  My heel caught in a crack in the sidewalk and I tumbled to the concrete, crying out in pain as I skinned my knees and the palms of my hands. No one stopped to help me – no one even paused. They just grumbled and groaned as they walked around me, obviously annoyed that some stupid girl was taking up so much space on the sidewalk. By the time I got to my feet, tears were in my eyes, and I knew I had to get out of public immediately if I didn’t want to launch into hysterics. Blinded with tears, I ran into the nearest building and tried to catch my breath.

  A smiling man in a suit approached me. “Ma’am, how may I help you?”

  “What?”

  “Welcome to the Bank of Boston,” he said. “How may I help you?”

  Oh my god, I thought. This is my parent’s bank!

  Suddenly, an idea popped into my head. A strange, wonderful, thrilling, scary idea.

  “Yes,” I said, wiping my eyes with the back of my hand. “I’d like to make a withdrawal, please.”

  The man smiled. “Right this way, please.”

  Twenty minutes later, I was sitting in the back of a cab with a brand-new debit card, in my own name, stowed safely in my wallet and ten thousand dollars cash in a small box at my feet. I’d moved ten million from my savings account to a new checking account that was in my name alone. Taking the cash out hadn’t been a problem – the bank was very familiar with my father – and even though my parents’ names were also on my account, I was still able to withdraw the money since I was over eighteen. By the time I got home, it was hard not to grin from ear to ear.

  “Hi, Mom,” I called out when I stepped into the foyer. “I’m home!”

  Mom came out of the kitchen, frowning. “That damned Ceri,” she said, shaking her head. “She keeps trying to tell me that your father likes venison! I know he hates it,” she added in a venomous tone.

  “Right,” I said. “I’m just going up to my room.”

  Mom glanced down at the box in my hands. “Gianna, what is that?”

  “Oh, nothing,” I said. “It’s some lingerie for Jessica – I had them use a box they were going to throw away so she wouldn’t expect anything. Her bridal shower is this weekend,” I added. “Remember?”

  Mom nodded. I could tell that she was still distracted. “Right,” she said.

  “I’ll be down for dinner,” I called over my shoulder as I started walking upstairs. Because god knows I’ve got a lot to do between now and then.

  As soon as I was in my room, I locked the door and looked down at the heavy box of cash in my hands. I’d never seen so much money at once before, much less held it in my arms. But I knew I had to act fast – luck could only be on my side for so long. I had a feeling that the bank would call my father and tell him that his eldest daughter had nearly drained her savings account before too much longer.

  I took my laptop in my hands and started searching for flights to Los Angeles. This is it, I thought. I’m finally taking charge of my own life. I bought a ticket for later that afternoon, leaving Logan Airport at five-thirty. Seeing the confirmation email filled me with joy. For a moment, I almost regretted it. After all, I was deceiving my parents in the worst way possible.

  But I have to do this, I thought, still staring at the screen. There’s no way I can stay here, and marry that old pig Barnaby.

  “Gianna!” Diane yelled from the hall. “Why is your door locked?”

  “I’m changing,” I yelled back. “What do you want?”

  Diane knocked loudly. “I need to talk to you,” she said.

  I groaned. The last thing I needed was for my stupid, mealy-mouthed sister to discover my plot and tell our parents.

  “Fine,” I said. “But make it quick. I’m busy.”

  When I opened the door, Diane was standing there with a weird look on her face. “How are you busy,” she asked. “What are you doing?”

  “Nothing,” I lied.

  Diane looked over my shoulder and narrowed her eyes. When I saw her jaw drop, I realized I’d forgotten to close my laptop.

  “Los Angeles?” Diane asked incredulously. “How did you do that? Is it for Jessica’s bachelorette?”

  I sighed. “I bought the ticket myself,” I said.

  “How?”

  I shrugged. “I went to the bank today,” I said. “I’m moving there.”

  “Gianna, you can’t be serious,” Diane said. She took a step toward the door. “I’m telling Mom and Dad!”

  “You’ll do no such thing,” I said sharply.

  Diane froze in her tracks. “Well, what are you going to do to make sure I don’t?”

  I laughed drily. “Are you seriously trying to blackmail me? I thought you’d be happy – this way, Barnaby’s all yours.”

  Diane gave me a cross look. “You realize I can’t just…lie, right?”

  I shrugged. “Then don’t say anything to me at all.”

  Diane bit her lip. “You can’t take a suitcase, you know. They’re going to realize something’s up. You can only take what you can carry.”

  I blinked

  “What? You’re surprised that I’m helping you?”

  “Yeah,” I said, shaking my head. “A little.”

  “Well, send for me when you get out there,” Diane said. “You know – when you get a job.”

  I tossed my long hair over one shoulder. “I’m going to be a famous actress,” I said.

  “Probably not,” Diane said sarcastically. “But I’m sure you can find something.”

  “Well, I’m going to get out of Boston,” I said, crossing my arms over my chest. “God, Los Angeles! Can you believe it?”

  “I’m jealous,” Diane grumbled. “Promise you really will send for me?”

  I nodded and gave her a stern look. “As long as you keep your mouth shut,” I said. “I promise.”

  Diane gave me a long look before nodding. “Okay,” she said. “I won’t say anything.”

  I looked around my room. I only had four hours before my flight. With Diane’s help, I swapped everything in my purse into a bigger purse. I had just enough room for my laptop and phone charger before it was practically stuffed.

  “I’ll drive you to the airport,” Diane said. “We can tell Mom we’re going shopping for Jessica.”

  I felt an unexpected surge of affection for my younger sister. Despite looking like twins, Diane and I had
never been the best of friends. If anything, I’d always sort of felt like prison cellmates instead of sisters. But I was starting to realize that she, too, was growing up…and maybe she was craving the same kind of freedom and independence that I’d wanted desperately for so long.

  “Thanks,” I said. “I love you, sis.”

  Diane cocked her head to the side. “I think that’s the first time you’ve ever said that,” she said slowly. “But I love you, too.”

  I smiled. “I’m going to miss you.”

  Diane laughed. “No, you’re not,” she said. She sighed enviously. “You’re going to be having way too much fun in Los Angeles to even think about me.”

  “That’s not true,” I said. “I mean, I won’t miss this. But I’ll miss you.”

  Diane giggled.

  “What?” I asked.

  “Barnaby is going to be so disappointed,” Diane said, shaking her head and covering her mouth with both hands. “The first time he actually comes over, he won’t even get to meet you.”

  I grinned. “Fuck him,” I said. “We can do better than that.”

  Chapter 4

  Barnes

  After my talk with Jack, I knew I had a lot to think about. For a brief moment, I even entertained the idea of flying to Nassau and visiting him – the idea was especially appealing now that Boston was getting colder by the day. But I knew that I’d meant what I said – I couldn’t take advantage of a dear friend’s hospitality, no matter how much Jack insisted.

  I was going to have to do things on my own if I wanted to make a real change.

  On Friday afternoon, I was just getting ready to leave the office when my secretary, Tanya, stepped inside.

  “Mr. Harrington?”

  I didn’t look up from the email I was typing. “Yeah?”

  “There’s someone on the phone for you – a Mr. Thomas Winsell?” Tanya flushed.

  “Oh, yeah, put him through,” I replied. “He’s a friend of mine.”

  Tanya hesitated in the door.

  “What is it, Tanya?”

  Tanya bit her lip and squirmed on the spot. “I hate to ask, Mr. Harrington, and I know it’s really unprofessional, but…” She trailed off, twisting her hands in front of her.

  I sighed. “What?”

  “Is he the same Thomas Winsell who produces Springs of Paradise?”

  I snorted. “Yeah,” I said. “He’s been a producer for years.”

  “Oh my god,” Tanya said. “That’s so exciting.”

  I narrowed my eyes. “Just go ahead and put him through,” I said. “I don’t want to keep him waiting.”

  Tanya’s flush turned from pink to deep red, and she nodded quickly before scurrying out of my office. When I saw the red light blinking on my phone, I picked up the receiver and held it to my ear.

  “Thomas!”

  “Hey, Barnes,” Thomas said. He sounded weary and tired – not like the Thomas I knew at all.

  “What’s up?”

  Thomas sighed. “Candy left me,” he said.

  I winced. “Ouch.”

  “Yeah,” Thomas said. “And I was so fucking stupid…when we got married, she told me she would leave me if I asked her to sign a pre-nup.”

  I groaned. “You’re kidding.”

  “You’ve seen her,” Thomas said. “Come on – how could I say no to that?”

  “Yeah,” I said drily. “I’ve seen her.”

  “So, look, man, I hate calling to ask for a favor when we haven’t talked in forever, but I really need your help. You’re still working divorce cases?”

  “Yeah,” I said. “Although I have to be honest, I was thinking about a change.”

  Thomas groaned. “Don’t do this to me, man,” he said. “I really need your help. I’ll give you whatever you want as long as that conniving little bitch can’t put her paws all over my money.”

  Holy shit, I thought as I kicked my feet up on my desk. I could move to Los Angeles. That would be a hell of a change, all right!

  “Barnes? You there?”

  “Yeah,” I said. “I’m still here.”

  “So? What do you say?”

  “I think moving to Los Angeles would be just the change I need, at least for right now,” I said. “And yeah, man. Don’t worry about it – I’m your man.”

  Thomas sighed. There was obvious relief in the sound. “Thank god,” he said. “Because I’m just about at the end of my rope, man. I can’t believe I was so stupid.”

  “Don’t worry about it,” I said, thinking of Angela and Harold Davis. “People do fucked-up things, man. And love makes fools of us all.”

  “You’re lucky you never got married,” Thomas said bitterly. “Because this is hell. I don’t even know what I was thinking when I bought that goddamned ring.”

  I shrugged. “Don’t beat yourself up,” I said. “She was a very popular star at the time.”

  “Yeah, and now she’s going to wring my neck in court unless you pull some serious magic.”

  A slow smile crept onto my face and I nodded. “I like a challenge,” I replied.

  “When can you get out here?”

  I pulled up my calendar on my laptop screen and frowned. “I need to give my employees some notice, but I could fly out next week and meet with you then. Is that enough?”

  “Yeah, that would be great,” Thomas said. “And look, Barnes, I swear I’ll make it worth your while. Los Angeles is like paradise for adults…I’m sure you won’t regret this.”

  I laughed. “I’ve heard exactly the opposite,” I said. “But it’s different from Boston, and that’s precisely what I’m looking for.”

  By the time we hung up, I felt renewed and refreshed. I’d never have come to the idea on my own, but I was starting to think that moving to Los Angeles was going to be what saved my life.

  When I heard a small, timid knock on my door, I looked up to see Tanya standing in the doorway.

  “Mr. Harrington?”

  “Yeah?”

  Tanya blushed. “I’m sorry to be so nosy,” she said. “But I had no idea you were friends with a famous producer! That’s so exciting!”

  “Thomas is a good man,” I said honestly. “And look, Tanya – please don’t say anything to the others, but there are going to be a few changes around here. I want to keep the office open, but it looks like I’ll be moving to Los Angeles, at least temporarily.”

  Tanya nodded. “Wow,” she said. “Is he going to hire you?”

  “He already did.”

  Tanya looked like someone enjoying a guilty pleasure. “Does that mean he and Candy Turner are getting divorced? It was all over the tabloids in the grocery store, but you know those things are usually bullshit.”

  I raised an eyebrow and mimed zipping my lips together. “Client-attorney privilege. Can’t say anything.” I cleared my throat and smirked. “But…if you keep reading those magazines, you might see something.”

  Tanya’s eyes got wide, and she blinked. “Wow,” she said again. “That’s, um, crazy.”

  “Again, nothing to the others,” I said sternly. “And nothing about my move, at least, not until things are finalized.”

  “When are you leaving?”

  I grinned. “Next week.”

  --

  It didn’t take me very long to pack for Los Angeles. As soon as there was an open suitcase on my bed, I realized that I didn’t actually need very many of my Boston things. It wasn’t like I’d ever need a heavy coat again, or any of my cashmere scarves. Plus, I liked the idea of starting fresh from scratch and buying a whole new wardrobe. Based on everything I’d heard, people in Los Angeles were pretty different from people in Boston.

  But I was looking forward to the change, almost more than I was willing to admit.

  I left my condo empty and called a company to come in and cover the furniture with plastic. I’d thought about subletting it, but at this point in time, that just seemed useless. Why tie myself back to Boston if I didn’t have to? Of course, I was still
going to have to field the occasional call from Tanya, or others at the office. But for the most part, I was going to try to live in the present, as much as possible.