Love Makes the Difference (Sully Point Book 1)

by Nicole Smith

  "Are you nuts? Where do you come up with these screwy ideas? Tom Anders is well-established, everyone knows who he is. I can't believe you'd think this was a good idea. Just what are you smoking out there on the beach?"

  Sam sighed. He could picture his pudgy friend turning red in the face. "Okay calm down and think. Wouldn't it be an even bigger story to finally come out of the closet so to speak? I'm sure we'd have the same or more sales. And I'm tired of it Norm, tired of pretending. I never thought it would all get so big."

  Norm was silent for a full minute, and Sam could sense his mind racing. "Yeah, yeah maybe I could do something with this. Let me think about it and don't go making any announcements until you talk to me first. In the meantime, you be on the lookout for that piranha, Patrice."

  "I will. I'll deal with her if she shows up, never fear." As Sam hung up the phone he could feel his expression turn grim. If he knew Patrice, she would be coming here for two reasons. She either wanted him to take her back, or she wanted to hurt him in some way. Yes, he'd definitely be on the lookout.

  * * * *

  Holly turned to face Anna outside the second store they'd been in, clearly aggravated. "Anna, listen to me. Either you don't want to go out with this guy or you do--make up your mind. Because if you do, you want to look your best. Stop being such a pest! Nothing appeals to you."

  Anna held up a hand. "Hang on, nothing appeals to me because you keep picking out stuff I'd never wear. Ruffles, satin, sparkly stuff. You can get away with wearing some of that kind of thing, but not me. I want something comfortable, that doesn't look like it belongs on someone other than me. Is that too much to ask?"

  Holly realized she'd been underestimating Anna again. Sometimes it was too easy to think of her sister as she was in high school, but she'd clearly grown up since then. And she also knew she didn't have a clue about what to pick out for Anna to wear because she didn't know this young woman as well as she'd known the girl.

  "You're right. From now on, you pick out the things to try on. Go with what feels right to you. If you want comfort, you might go for a maxi and some dressy sandals."

  "Hmm. That could work. And yes, I do want to go out on this date even if I'm nervous."

  "Why should you be nervous? You have been out on a date before."

  Anna shrugged. "Yeah, in high school."

  Holly stopped walking and Anna had to turn and walk back to her. "Anna! Are you telling me you haven't been out on a date since then? Not even at college?"

  "After the crush I had on Matt in high school, well you know it got pretty serious. I thought we had something special. But then it turned out he was all about the conquest--once we slept together that was it. I never found anyone after that. Maybe I didn't trust so easily any more. But none of them were interesting enough."

  "I see now why this is a bigger deal tonight than I'd realized. Wow, Anna. All that time and...no one?"

  "Nope."

  Holly shook her head, thinking of the variety of men that had been in and out of her own bed in the same amount of time. But today was about Anna. "Okay let's go find you a dress."

  They searched through two more stores before finding the dress. A sleeveless maxi with a black background, V-neck and empire waist, the dress was splashed with abstract flowers, almost as if they were splashes of paint, in blues, greens, and white. Anna loved it as soon as she saw it, and it fit perfectly.

  Holly insisted on buying the black strappy sandals to go with the dress. She suggested some silver hoop earrings for Anna to wear from her collection back at the house. "Now all we need is an evening purse--"

  "What? I have a handbag, have had it forever. It's good leather."

  "The operative phrase there is 'had it forever.' It's fine for using with jeans and a t-shirt but come on, not with that dress."

  "Oh all right. But I'm not spending a fortune on something fancy. Something simple will be just fine."

  "Believe me, I'm getting that after spending the day shopping with you. So, tell me, just how do you feel about Sam?" Holly was interested to see how Anna immediately blushed and looked a little flustered.

  "I'm not sure. I like him. I think he's--well, handsome is not an adequate term--and I like that he's creative, you know, being a writer." She paused and looked into Holly's big brown eyes. "I could see it, if he had fallen for you. You're beautiful. But me? What can he see in me? I guess I don't trust that he actually wants to be with me. I'm just a plain Jane not someone who--"

  "Now stop, Anna. You always think you're plain, but you're not. You have that gorgeous auburn hair that falls around your face perfectly. Your eyes are the wonderful changeable kind that look green or brown depending on what you wear, with flecks in them of other colors. You have a great body. What about all that is plain?"

  "But the whole picture, Holly. Nobody would say I'm beautiful like you. And he could have anyone he wanted."

  "You're way more interesting-looking than I am, Sis. Striking is what you are. I think this Sam must be a man of some worth if he could see past that crazy polyester bakery uniform to the real you. Stop thinking you need to be something you're not. Clearly he likes you just the way you are."

  "Yes, I have thought of that. It seems so unlikely, but he does appear to be sincere."

  Holly looked at her watch. "It's getting late. We need to get you home to get ready. Are you going to buy that little black bag?"

  "Yes, but don't worry so much. We have plenty of time to fix me up."

  Holly had thought they might need extra time to deal with any nerves that Anna had, but it seemed like her sister had it all under control. I think I'm more nervous for her than she is!

  * * * *

  Anna waited with Holly in the front room of the house. It had been a parlor in the old days. Now it was more of a study for her father. She looked down at the dress and smiled. She liked the way it swirled around her legs when she walked. Then she heard the car out front and felt that fluttery feeling inside her stomach--Sam.

  Holly shooed her out the door onto the porch, and then followed a few steps behind her. Great, Holly was going to play Mom for this encounter. Anna sighed.

  Sam walked up the porch steps and stopped. "Anna, you look great. That dress looks like a painting."

  "Thanks, and yes, I thought it looked like one too." She turned to look at Holly. "Okay, Mom, I'm leaving now."

  Holly laughed and patted her on the shoulder. "Have a great time."

  "Yes, have a perfectly great time," a voice called out from the street.

  "Patrice!" Sam whispered in shock.

  They all watched as the woman walked up the sidewalk to the bottom of the porch steps. Anna felt like she'd fallen into a scene in a movie. Stuff like this just didn't happen in her life.

  "Found yourself a sweet little local girl to play with on holiday, Sam?"

  "Patrice, what the hell are you--never mind. Just leave. Get out of here."

  "Not so fast, Samuel. I wanted to see what was keeping you away from the city...and my bed. And what do I find but the local donut-maker is serving up more than confectionaries."

  Anna felt like she was in shock, even as she felt Holly bristle behind her. Sam's face went from shock to rage in a heartbeat.

  "Shut up, Patrice," he said in a dark voice. "You don't know what you're talking about. I broke up with you months ago and that was the end of it. Now leave."

  "You only left because I let you go. Now I want you back. Say good-bye to your little slut there and come with me."

  Sam was shaking his head, muttering, "She's crazy!" when Holly brushed past Anna and stalked to the front of the porch.

  "Get the hell off our property or I'm calling the sheriff. You're clearly deranged."

  This seemed to anger Patrice even further as her face flushed an ugly deep red, her features appearing sharper and more twisted. "Nobody tells me what to do, whoever you are, blondie. Got another one, Sam? Your dick has been pretty damn busy out here at the beach."

&nbs
p; Holly turned to Anna. "Go inside and call Dad and then call the sheriff. I don't like this. She may be dangerous."

  Anna hesitated then did as her sister asked. She noticed when Sam began to go down the steps, Holly reached out and grabbed his arm to keep him up on the porch. Anna thought that was probably a good idea since she didn't trust Patrice not to attack him at close quarters.

  She called her father who was working at the loft and quickly told him an old girlfriend of Sam's was at the house causing trouble. He said he'd be right there. Then she called the sheriff's office and asked him to cruise by because of an unwanted person on their property causing trouble.

  As she came back outside, she heard Patrice spewing off more about Sam. Then she said, "You know you have no choice but to come with me Sam, to be with me again, because I know your secret."

  Sam shook his head but also looked chagrined. What was this?

  Patrice continued in a louder voice. "I know you're really Tom Anders. I could have the paparazzi here in a heartbeat with one phone call. You love your privacy. Well, you can say good-bye to it."

  Holly looked at Sam and whispered, "Tom Anders? That's your real name?"

  "No," he said, clearly exasperated. "My real name is Sam Carter. My pen name is Tom Anders."

  "I didn't even recognize you," Holly said. "I guess you do look different out here as opposed to some Hollywood premiere. You kept this from Anna?"

  Anna moved forward to touch Sam's arm. "No, I already knew about it, Holly."

  "She already knew about it," Patrice parroted back in a sickly sweet voice. "The little slut thinks she can live in that world. She's a plain, introverted, misfit--I'm sure she'll fit in just fine at the fancy parties. Oh yes, I've learned what I could about your new bed partner, Sam. You've lost your mind, obviously."

  Anna felt herself stiffen at Patrice's words. Then Sam put an arm around her shoulders and after a minute she let herself relax against him. She heard a car, and saw the police cruiser had pulled up in front of the house. The sheriff got out of the car and came up the sidewalk.

  "What now? You called the cops? Why you little bitch! I'm going to hurt you--"

  "Hold on there, ma'am," Sheriff Jones said. "I wouldn't go making any threats if I were you." He looked up at the porch. "Anna, Holly...is this woman causing you some trouble?"

  "Yes! And she doesn't seem to want to leave even when asked," Holly answered, relief in her voice.

  "You can't make me leave!" Patrice shouted at the sheriff.

  "Actually, ma'am, I can. Come along now. Is that your car? It's time for you to be moving on."

  Patrice stared at him, shaking with rage, and then she looked back at Sam and Anna. "You think this is over? It's just beginning."

  She marched to her car and drove away. The sheriff followed her.

  Anna's father drove up as she left. He hopped out of his car. "What's going on?"

  "Trouble," Holly replied. "Major trouble, unless I miss my guess. That woman isn't going to leave it at this, you guys."

  Sam nodded his head. "I'm afraid you're right. I can't believe she's doing this. I was only with her a couple months. She found out about the pen name because she was snooping in my papers. She's a conniving, manipulative, lying--well, I guess you can see what she is. I only wonder what she'll do next. That concerns me."

  Frank came up the porch steps. "Somebody needs to explain all this to me."

  Holly seemed to gather herself together. "I'll do that. You two," she motioned to Sam and Anna. "You need to go on your date."

  "I don't know, Holly," Anna said hesitantly.

  "I think she's right. We should go. We can't let Patrice spoil our date." Sam took her hand in his and tugged. "Come on, let's go."

  Anna resisted for a moment, and then she tossed a smile at her father and Holly. "All right, I'm going."

  She heard her father as she got into the roadster. "What the hell is going on?"

  * * * *

  Sam drove in silence, trying to decide what to say. He had the radio tuned to a rhythm and blues station and after a few minutes, he said, "Do you mind this station? I can change it."

  "No, I like this."

  "How are you, Anna?"

  "I'm not sure. That woman is incredibly...mean."

  He laughed abruptly. "Mean. Yeah that's one word for it."

  "What I'm trying to say is that I've never met anyone so vicious in all my life. Just with words she tried to tear down whatever might be between us. I think I feel sorry for someone who sees the world the way she does."

  "You feel sorry for her?"

  Anna gave a little laugh. "Well, not all that sorry. But I think she must lead a really miserable life. And I realize that I can't let her words hurt me. That would give her too much power."

  "You sound wiser than I feel tonight. I wanted to pick her up and bodily throw her into the street."

  "But you didn't."

  "No, I didn't. What I wonder now is, what will she do next? I have the ugly feeling she is about to expose my name to the world. Do you think you're ready to be seen with the Sam Carter who is also Tom Anders?"

  "You think she'll do it?"

  "Yes. And I think I should do it before she does, so that it's my decision."

  He waited as Anna thought. Finally, she said, "You don't have to tell them about me."

  "What if I want to? Because they'll ask, all the reporters always want to know who Tom Anders is currently seeing."

  "I think first you should just come out from behind your pen name. Later, after we've had some time to see...where this leads...then maybe..."

  Sam let out a breath he hadn't even realized he'd been holding. "That sounds reasonable. You're handling this whole thing better than I would have expected."

  She turned in her seat to look at him. "You still don't know me very well yet. I'm not some frail, helpless damsel in need of rescue. Sure, I may like my alone time and I'm certainly not an extrovert, but that doesn't mean I'm not strong."

  He glanced at her and smiled. "I'm beginning to see that. Tell me the truth--do you still feel like going to the restaurant tonight? We can always do something else."

  "I am starting to get hungry again. Let's go eat some Italian food."

  "Sounds good to me too--along with a stiff drink. Only one, because I'm driving."

  "Would you ever let me drive this car?"

  "Um...sure," he said bravely.

  She laughed. "You're shaking at the thought of it."

  They pulled up in the parking lot of Alberto's and got out of the car. As they walked to the front door of the restaurant, Sam took Anna's hand in his. He was pleased by how comfortable, how right it felt to hold her hand. Anna looked up at him and smiled, eyes sparkling.

  He gazed at her and said, "You really are lovely tonight."

  She ducked her head for a moment then straightened up and looked at him directly. Taking a deep breath, she said, "Thank you, Sam."

  "Not so hard, was it?"

  "No, not so hard. I might even get used to you saying such things to me."

  They walked into the restaurant smiling at each other.

  * * * *

  "Okay, you're telling me that Sam is actually that writer Tom Anders? For real?" Cody asked. He'd shown up after her father had, and Holly was explaining the whole Patrice thing to them.

  "But I don't think he's ready to go public with that yet, so you guys can't say anything to anyone in town," Holly told them firmly.

  Her father shook his head. "This woman sounds like bad news. She was trying to be hurtful not just to Sam but to Anna as well. I don't like this. But Sam has seemed like a good guy to me. And you say Anna knew all about this?"

  "Yeah, she wasn't at all surprised. Really rather calm about the whole thing. I think she likes Sam quite a bit."

  "That Tom Anders guy doesn't even look like Sam Carter!" Cody protested.

  "Next time you see him, you'll see the resemblance, I bet," Holly replied. "What I wonder about is if
it were to become public, how would Anna deal with that kind of publicity? You know his books are wildly popular but it's the movies that made him truly famous. Hanging out with celebrities and all that. I wonder if she's up to the kind of life he leads."

  Frank looked at his daughter thoughtfully. "I think she's stronger than we have all thought, Holly. She sure looked pretty in that dress tonight."

  Holly felt herself smiling. "She picked it out. I think you were right when you said Anna is finally a grown-up. She certainly had definite opinions in the stores when we shopped."

  Frank drank his beer. "You know, you just might end up having to find a new baker."

  Holly felt surprised then realized he might be right. "As long as Anna is happy, that's what matters. Besides, it's early days yet."

  Frank shook his head. "Not as early as you think."

  * * * *

  Anna was pleasantly full after a delicious meal of saltimbocca. "I'm glad we went there. Too bad we were too full for dessert. Although, I pretty much get enough of sweet things in my day job."

  Sam laughed. "I'd think so. That's a good restaurant. My lobster tail and beef tenderloin were perfectly cooked." They got into the car. "How about taking a ride out to my place for a walk on the beach?"

  Anna thought about it for a moment. Was she ready for a walk on the beach with Sam? Hell, yeah, her libido answered. "That sounds good."

  The dinner had been fun, talking about all kinds of topics, from what kind of music they each liked, to favorite books. They'd spent longer on the books than anything else as they were both avid readers. They'd laughed and talked seriously too, and Anna felt a bit as if she were floating on air. Never in her life had a man paid such attention to her every word. It was a heady feeling.

  "So how would rate this date so far?" Sam asked with a grin. "Using our movie scale rating of five stars as best."

  "Oh definitely, five. It's been a great date--I'm not counting the beginning at home with Patrice, since that was before the date officially started."

  "Wow, a five-star date? Maybe we should forego the walk on the beach because the only way it can go now is down."