Roscoe sat on his front porch and Devin folded his large frame beside him.
“You were with her on Saturday, weren’t you?” Roscoe asked.
Devin sighed, no need to deny it to his dad. “Yes.”
“Why didn’t you say anything?”
“And make them hate her more for luring me away from her cousin?”
Roscoe rubbed his face. “I never should have pushed that.”
Devin turned toward his dad. “Why did you? I thought you wanted me with Shayla.”
“I do, but you two were working hard at staying apart. I thought forcing you on a date with Kia would show both of you how wrong you were. I didn’t know she’d storm out on you, that you’d get in a fight with Tony.”
“Tony deserved to be hit.”
“If you hit him for what I think you did, then I agree with you.”
Devin’s eyes widened. Roscoe frowned and looked away. “I overheard him one day, years ago, bragging about what he did to Shayla. If that’s why you hit him, then good job.”
“Why didn’t you tell me you knew everything?”
“Shayla had left town, you were determined to forget her, it was better to leave it alone.”
Devin turned to watch the sun set behind the trees. The beauty of it was lost on him, his mind on Shayla.
“How does she get wrapped up in these messes?”
Roscoe placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. “Because people want her wrapped up in these messes. Everyone needs someone to be their morality scapegoat. It makes them feel better if they can look at another person and think that person’s life is more screwed up than theirs.”
“If we were together, is that how it would be?” Devin said mostly to himself. “Everyone waiting for her to mess up and prove that she’s a screw up.”
“No. Everyone would see how much you both love each other.”
Devin’s head whipped around toward his dad. “Who said anything about love?”
Roscoe shook his head and squeezed his shoulder. “Son, it’s as clear to me as the nose on your face. You’ve gotta decide if it’s strong enough to face the constant attacks that’ll come if you pursue it.”
His dad stood and went into the house. Devin turned back to the trees, but the sun was no longer visible, the sky a mixture of reds and oranges reflecting off the pine trees. He let his dad’s advice sink in. He didn’t give a damn about what anyone thought of his feelings for Shayla, but she did. He wasn’t afraid of withstanding the attacks. But Shayla was.
His cell phone vibrated in his pocket. Pulling it out, he read a text from Shayla. Midnight. He gripped the phone in his hand. Regret for treating her like a booty call ate away at his insides. She didn’t deserve his anger. He’d agreed to keep their relationship a secret and couldn’t behave like a petulant child whenever she reminded him of that.
Loosening his grip, he started to text back that he’d meet her, but stopped. He had rounds at the hospital tomorrow. And his first appointment was scheduled for seven forty-five. As much as he wanted to spend the night with her, he couldn’t afford to.
He dialed her number. His heart rate picked up speed when her silky voice answered.
“I’m sorry for inviting you to the hotel like that. It won’t happen again.”
“There’s nothing between me and Tyrell.” Her voice was firm. It wasn’t necessary, he believed her.
“I know. But why the painting?”
She sighed. “It was just a gift, Devin.”
Her tone was defensive which irritated him. His confidence wavered. If there was nothing between them, she had no reason to get defensive. But, there was no need to pick a fight.
“I can’t meet you tonight.”
“Because of the painting?”
“No, because I have to work tomorrow. I can’t spend the night in a hotel room.”
“You know what, fine. Call me when you’re ready for my services.”
He rubbed the bridge of his nose. “Shayla, come on. You know it’s not like that. Besides, you’re the one who wants a secret relationship.”
“I’m through talking to you. Goodbye.”
After she hung up, he stared at the blank screen of his phone. Damn, foolish woman. Why did everything that involved Shayla Monroe have to be so complicated?
Chapter 26
“Those are all of my questions. Do you have any for me?” Bentley Prill set down his pen and smiled at Shayla.
She forced herself not to collapse her shoulders in relief. She’d been nervous throughout the interview. She clenched and unclenched an ink pen in her hand to keep from tapping it against the table during the interview. Surprisingly, he hadn’t brought up anything about her abrupt departure from her previous job. While she was relieved it hadn’t come up, a part of her was afraid it could still bite her in the ass later. She tried to think of all the good post interview questions she should ask, but the only thing screaming within her head was how had he not heard about her scandal.
Bentley tented his fingers in front of him and stared at her with friendly grey eyes behind wire framed glasses. The lines around his eyes and mouth, along with the grey hair, were the only thing that hinted he was in his sixties. The bicycle hanging in his office showed that his trim figure was due to exercise and his mind was as witty as half of the people her age.
“You look as if you’re trying to figure out if you should say something,” he said.
Shayla nodded slowly. “I am, but I’m not sure if it’ll help or hurt my chances.”
Bentley laughed lightly and leaned back in his chair. “Right now, there’s not much you could do to hurt this interview. I’m very impressed, I’ve seen your work and it’s notable.”
She frowned. If he was familiar with her work, then he had to be familiar with her history. She silently hoped her next question didn’t turn out to be a huge mistake. “You know about my previous work, so you must know why I left.”
His smile left as he pulled the glasses off his face. Shayla’s stomach clenched. She never should have brought it up.
“I know why you left, and personally, I don’t understand why you didn’t fight to stay. I know Mark Reed. He and his wife have been playing this little jealousy game with each other for years. I can’t believe he would take it out of his private life and make it public just to win a senate seat.”
Shayla couldn’t stop her jaw from dropping. She hadn’t told anyone that Mark and his wife laughed about planning the entire affair so the media would feel sorry for them.
The public loves a victim. The story of an older man lured by a younger woman but admitting it and asking for forgiveness from his faithful wife won votes. They started attending church together, and visiting a marriage counselor between television appearances on daytime talk shows about how they were learning to reconnect and save their marriage. By throwing the blame on Shayla, they’d become the sweetheart couple of Georgia politics that other married people could relate too.
“How did you know that?”
Bentley’s lips twisted into a cynical smile. “A few years ago I saw Mark at some function in Atlanta. He’d had too much to drink and let it slip that he might try that type of scheme before running for senate, but wasn’t sure because it was a big risk. When I saw the headlines, I knew that he’d decided it was worth the risk.” Bentley sat forward and looked her in the eye. “I’m not offering you this job out of pity. I truly am impressed with your work and your interview. But I did ask you for an interview because I felt bad about what happened. No one deserves to be used as a pawn.”
“I didn’t think anyone would believe the story,” she said stunned.
Bentley shrugged. “They wouldn’t. I wouldn’t, if I hadn’t heard it myself.”
Slowly the rest of Bentley’s words made it through the fog in Shayla’s brain. “You’re offering me the job?”
He held his hand across the table. “Can you start on Monday?”
Shayla grinned from ear to ear. “I’l
l be here at seven.” She took his hand and pumped it enthusiastically.
Laughing, Bentley said. “I’ll be here at eight.”
It was all a blur as Bentley led her out of the office and introduced her to some of the staff on her way out. The office was in a refurbished home in downtown Columbia. Again, it wasn’t the limelight that came with working in downtown Atlanta, but it was light years away from the close-at-eight downtown of Helena.
Her good luck continued when she found a parking spot near the front of Starbucks in the Vista. After such a great afternoon, a caramel macchiato was just what she deserved. Her smile lasted through the wait in line. She would have to find an apartment in Columbia soon. Luckily, her lease with Mr. Porter was month to month—something they’d both eagerly agreed upon—so the sooner she moved here the better they’d both be. It would also give her and Devin a place to meet away from the prying eyes of the town. And not a sleazy hotel.
Her gift from Tyrell upset him, but there was nothing behind it. The painting came with a simple message “to happiness”. Despite their rough encounter the day before, she believed she and Devin could be happy for a small amount of time. Helena was an hour away from Columbia, but close enough for weekend visits and maybe quick mid-week visits. She’d be busy with her job, but they could make something work until he grew tired of her.
The thought dampened her high spirits. She didn’t want to think about Devin growing tired of her. It may be inevitable, but she would enjoy it while it lasted.
The barista called her name and she picked up her macchiato at the counter. She thanked the college aged guy and turned to find Tyrell waving at her from a table in the corner. Despite the warning bell that being seen with him was the last thing she needed, she still walked over. One stupid blog post didn’t mean she couldn’t thank him for the painting.
He folded up the magazine in his hands and smiled at her. “You breezed right past me when you came in, smiling from ear to ear. I’m guessing you did find happiness.”
Shayla laughed. “That, and a job. I’m starting with G and N Solutions next week.”
He raised a brow. “Congratulations! Bentley is a great guy, I’m sure you’ll enjoy working with him.”
“You know him?”
“Bentley knows everyone, and their company handled the marketing for my father-in-law’s campaign two years ago. He sees through the bullshit, but will get you elected anyway.”
Shayla frowned at the possibility of being assigned to another politician’s campaign. “Hopefully, my projects will deal with other areas.”
“Same here.” He held his hand out to the chair across from him. “Have a seat.”
Biting her lip, Shayla looked around the coffee shop. It was a brisk October afternoon and the place was packed. Although no one paid any attention to them, Bentley’s seat was near a window that faced Gervais Street. The last thing she needed was a cell phone shot of the two of them having coffee.
He noticed her hesitation and the warmth in his smile diminished. “You saw the blog post.”
“Yes, and I really don’t need that type of publicity. Not right now.”
Tyrell shrugged. “That blogger has been trying to dig up dirt on my family for years. Fortunately, no one reads it.”
“Well, the ladies at my mom’s church do.”
He flinched. “Ouch, that is touchy. Look, just for a second, I did send you a four thousand dollar painting.”
Shayla pulled out the chair and flopped down into it. “Four thousand dollars.” She said in a hushed whisper while leaning across the table. “That’s too much. You have to take it back.”
He waved a hand as if it were nothing. “It didn’t cost me anything but some canvas and paint.”
“Still, I can’t accept it.”
“Only a few things make me happy nowadays, and giving you that painting is one of them.”
“I don’t understand. We only talked for a moment.” She sat back and eyed him warily. “I meant what I said about not being interested.”
He chuckled and took a sip of his coffee. “And so do I. I didn’t give it to you expecting anything in return. I’m around so many plastic people I forgot what it was like to talk to someone real. The way your face lit up when he walked through the door,” the corner of Tyrell’s mouth lifted as he looked out the window, “she looked at me like that the day on the beach. When she caught me painting her.” He sighed and met her eye. “I couldn’t look at it anymore, or bear to have some pretentious fool own it. That’s why I gave it to you.”
Honesty reflected in his gaze. Reminding her why she thought she could like him the first time they met. Again, she didn’t get the sense that he was playing games or trying to deceive her. Tyrell Crawford could probably sleep with any woman he wanted to without going through so much trouble.
Taking a sip from her coffee and delighting in the rich flavor of warm caramel, she sat back in her chair. “So, what are you doing hanging out in Starbucks.”
He laughed. “I’m not usually so ordinary.”
Shayla lifted a brow. “Hanging in Starbucks is ordinary?”
“Yes. So many people enjoy saying ‘I’m in Starbucks’, or ‘let’s meet at Starbucks’ that its become ordinary.”
“So why are you so ordinary today?” she said, taking another sip of her macchiato.
He held up his cup. “They make a damn good cup of coffee.”
They both laughed. An hour and a half later, Shayla left Starbucks with Tyrell’s promise to draw caricatures at the Fall Festival. She still wasn’t sure how she’d convince Reverend Jenkins to agree to it. Her ability to get a well known artist to do caricatures drawings at a small town church would be attributed to her bedroom skills instead of Tyrell’s eagerness to help. Apparently his father-in-law helped get him off the streets as a teenager, and he liked the idea of drawing in older kids to the event. Even though she was thrilled at the idea, she would also run it by Bentley. No need threatening her newly found position. If he expressed any concern over her ties with Tyrell she’d cut them. No matter how much she liked him, she liked having a job better.
There was a ticket on her car that she snatched off with a curse. Her phone rang as she got in and tossed the ticket in the passenger seat. She smiled when she saw Devin’s number.
“Where are you?” he asked.
“In Columbia. Are you off work?”
“Yeah, I finished up early to play basketball with some other doctors at the Rec Commission tonight. Since you’re in Columbia, why don’t you come watch me play.”
Shayla laughed. “You’re not in high school anymore. I don’t want to watch you throw your back out.”
“Woman, please. I haven’t lost any of my skills on the court. If you don’t believe me, come see for yourself.”
“I will, now what’s the address?”
He told her and she plugged in into her car’s GPS.
They talked for a few more minutes before getting off the phone. Elated that the tension from their conversation on Monday was gone, Shayla pulled her car out of the parking spot. That’s how it was with her and Devin. They’d fight one day, then talk the next day as if nothing happened. She sensed his moods as well as he did hers. And in the time it took her to leave downtown and head toward Northeast Richland County toward the Rec Commission, she pretended they’d always be like that.
Chapter 27
Shayla followed two women into the refurbished school that housed the Central Midlands Rec Commission. She scanned the people sitting in the bleachers and the teams playing, but didn’t see Devin. The score board showed there was fifteen minutes left in the current game, so hopefully Devin would arrive soon.
“Shayla, what are you doing here?”
Shayla turned around and smiled as Tasha walked over carrying a clipboard and wearing a pink Rec Commission t-shirt. “You’re still working the night games?” Shayla said giving her friend a hug.
Tasha grinned. “Only because Jared insists on he
lping out when I do.”
“That’s sweet.”
Tasha rolled her eyes. “It’s crazy. I’m pregnant, not an invalid.”
Shayla put her arm around Tasha’s shoulders. “Pregnant and lucky.”
Tasha briefly leaned her head on Shayla’s shoulder and laughed. “I won’t argue with that.” Tasha’s eyes lit up. “I know why you’re here, Devin’s team plays tonight.”
Shayla tried to pull away but Tasha put her hand around her waist. “Why don’t you tell me what’s going on there.”
“Nothing to tell. I’m just watching a friend play ball. Let’s sit down.”
Tasha let her go and they walked over to sit on the first row of bleachers.
“Okay, Jared probably wasn’t supposed to tell me, but he did. I know that you and Devin are doing some secret love affair.”
Shayla leaned back on the bleacher and looked skyward. “It’s not some secret love affair. We’re just not letting anyone in our business.”
“And what is your business?”
“For now, nothing serious.”
Tasha’s forehead crinkled with a frown. “Shayla, I know how you feel about him, remember. You can’t fool yourself into thinking you can handle that. Sex-only relationships don’t work. I’m proof of it.”
Shayla sat up. “Don’t even pretend as if you’re not happy with the way your situation turned out.”
Tasha grinned. “I’m not. I’m thrilled, but you remember how I was when I found out I was pregnant the first time. Jared thought I tried to trick him, I didn’t think he loved me, we almost didn’t make it.”
“But you did.”
“And it could have easily not worked.” Tasha sighed. “I’m worried about it not going the way you expect with Devin.”
Shayla’s lips twisted in a self-deprecating smile. “I expect us to keep this up for six months before he grows tired of it or finds someone so much better suited for him.” She toyed with the charm at her neck, thinking about how hard it would be when that day came.
Hearts Are Wild Page 19