by Deanna Chase
“Okay. Text me when your plane lands. Bye!” She ended the call, and Brian sank into his office chair, holding his head in his hands. How had he gotten mixed up in this mess?
Right. Brian Knox was supposed to run his father’s company one day, and that meant marrying the right girl. But when he defected from the company, he thought he’d left all of that behind. He was just finding out how wrong he was.
Reluctantly, he typed the words Cali Style into his browser and hit Search.
Chapter Fourteen
“Here. Can you believe we’re doing this instead of spending the day at the beach like we planned?” Shannon refilled Silas’s coffee mug and topped off her own. They’d been roused by their mother an hour ago and tasked with sifting through the media to evaluate the damage while she worked her contacts to spin the gossip to Silas’s advantage. Or, as Silas had pointed out, more like to her advantage.
“Don’t remind me,” Silas muttered.
So far, the worst stories were the ones that used the picture of Silas holding Levi up after he tripped in the yard and then outed Silas and named Levi as his new boyfriend. They made up claims about Silas running away from LA for a torrid weekend with his boyfriend after his parents disapproved of the relationship. The worst part was that Silas and Levi were so close in the picture that it made it look like they were getting ready to kiss, which made the stories look plausible.
Silas was sick over the fact that Levi’s face was all over the internet because of him. “The lies, Shannon. It’s so gross how they say anything regardless of the truth. I can’t imagine what he’s thinking right now.”
“Have you called him?” She sat down and passed him a piece of toast.
“I sent him a text asking him to call me when he wakes up.” He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. “After yesterday, I doubt he’ll text me back. What was I thinking, introducing him to Mom as the yard boy? Ack! How tone deaf am I?”
She gave him a sympathetic pat on his arm. “You were trying to keep him off Mom’s radar. And honestly, Si, it was probably the best thing you could’ve done. You know what a snob she is. She never would’ve given him another thought if these pictures hadn’t surfaced.”
“It doesn’t matter now. The damage is done, and he’s likely never to talk to me again.” Silas dropped his head to the table and let out a groan of frustration.
Shannon felt for him. There was no telling how Levi would feel about being pulled into the Hollywood drama. “What did he say yesterday when you apologized for the way you introduced him?”
“He wasn’t happy. He said it made him feel like he was nothing.” He blinked his eyes open. “I don’t blame him, Shan. It sounded so shitty when I heard it come out of my mouth. I just didn’t want her to know that I like him. You know how she is.”
“Did you tell him that?”
He sat back up. “Yeah, but it might be too little too late. He has a history of being made to feel unimportant. The last thing I want to do is make him feel that way again.”
Shannon bit down on her lower lip. “You might have to do more than send a text. You know, some gesture to show that you care.”
“It’s only been a few days. It’s not like we’re dating or anything. What exactly am I supposed to do?”
“You’ll figure it out.” Shannon clicked on yet another article, and to her surprise, this one wasn’t about Silas. It was about her and Brian. “What the… Why would anyone care about what I’m doing or who I’m doing it with?”
“Huh?” Silas shifted to look over her shoulder at the picture of her and Brian holding hands as they walked to the SUV. He let out a little growl. “They can’t even leave my sister alone. Crap, Shan, I’m sorry.”
But Shannon shook her head. “I don’t think this has anything to do with you. It says Brian is tied to some woman named Cara Manchester and that I’m the other woman. What?” She frantically Googled Cara Manchester, and the first article that came up made her cry out, “He has a fiancée!”
The headline of the lead story for Cali Style read: “Manchester and Knox Celebrate Two Perfect Unions.”
Below the headline there were two pictures. One was a picture of Brian and the pixie he’d brought to Yvette and Jacob’s wedding. They had their arms wrapped around each other’s waists and were smiling as if they were the happiest two people in the world. The caption read: Southern California’s most anticipated wedding. The other photo was of the two CEOs of the Manchester and Knox corporations.
Bile rose in the back of Shannon’s throat. How could he be engaged? He swore they were just friends. She’d been there at the wedding when Shannon had danced with Brian. She and Brian had even kissed right in front of her! Maybe they had some sort of open relationship? The thought made her want to vomit.
“Maybe the article is wrong,” Silas said. “You know how reporters can be.”
Shannon glanced at him. “It’s an interview in a reputable style magazine, not an article in a gossip rag. Has a magazine who interviewed you ever gotten it that wrong?”
He slowly shook his head and took the computer away from her. “I don’t know what to say, Shan. I’m sorry.”
Tears stung the backs of her eyes, but she blinked them back, determined not to cry. It wasn’t as if she was in a relationship with Brian. They had a bet. That was it. And since he was engaged, she was calling it off. No way was she getting in the middle of that mess. She grabbed her phone, tapped out a text to Brian, and hit Send before she could think too hard about it.
How had she gone from living her quiet life in Keating Hollow and managing A Spoonful of Magic, to becoming the ‘other woman’ in the Hollywood gossip rags overnight? She’d known that Brian was from Los Angeles and came from a powerful family, but they weren’t in entertainment. She’d never suspected dating him would lead her right back to the world she’d consciously decided to leave behind.
Her phone buzzed. She saw it was from Brian and shut her phone off.
“What did you text him?” Silas asked.
“I told him the bet was void, due to the fact he was engaged and didn’t tell me, and that all future dates are canceled effective immediately.” Her heart sped up, and her entire body heated as her anxiety kicked in. She took a deep breath, reminding herself that she hadn’t done anything wrong. Brian was a jackass and deserved every ounce of her wrath. “I also might have called him a few names that aren’t safe for underage ears.”
Silas rolled his eyes. “I’m not eight.”
“I know. I’m just… I don’t want to talk about it.”
“Got it.” He closed his computer. “Looks like we’ve both got relationship problems.”
Shannon nodded. “I think yours is salvageable, though. Mine is just over.”
Silas raised his eyebrows. “You’re not even going to let him explain?”
“What’s there to talk about? Cara Manchester thinks they are engaged. That there’s going to be a wedding next year. Have you ever heard of a bride thinking there was a wedding without informing the groom?”
“Stranger things have happened in Hollywood,” Silas said ruefully.
“Please. I want nothing to do with that nonsense.” Shannon got up out of her chair and moved into the kitchen. “Are you ready for a real breakfast? I’m fixing eggs and bacon.”
Silas practically drooled. “Bacon? Do you know how long it’s been since I’ve had any real bacon?”
“Since I made it for you last?” She grabbed her wand from the counter, gave it a wave, and stood there watching as her kitchen went to work.
“That’s one heck of a gift you have there, Sis,” Silas said.
“You know I could teach you how to do it, right? It’s not like we don’t share the same air magic gift.” She eyed him. “Do you even use your magic these days?”
He shrugged. “Not often. Sometimes for work when I do stunts. Or when I’m too lazy to get up and get the remote.”
She nodded in understanding. “Not into showing o
ff down there among the stars?”
“Not really. They always want me to perform like a show pony. I get enough of that from my day job.” He leaned back in his chair, pointed at the last remaining croissant on the counter and then back to himself. The pastry flew toward him, but it moved so fast it smacked him in the head and flopped onto the table in front of him.
Shannon laughed even though her insides still felt like they were crumbling after the news about Brian. “I can see why you don’t show off your remarkable skills. Wouldn’t want to take someone’s eye out.”
Silas chuckled and then tore off a piece of the croissant and shoved it into his mouth.
“Is that bacon I smell?” Gigi Ansell asked as she walked into the kitchen. “I hope it’s the turkey variety. Silas can’t afford a breakout right now. You know what greasy food does to his complexion.”
“Sure, I can,” Silas said, sounding defiant as he leaped to his feet and pressed his palms on the table. “I’m not doing that reality show. You can’t force me into it, so it’s best if you just call them right now and tell them it isn’t happening.”
“Oh, Silas,” she said dismissively. “You always say stuff like this when you feel like slacking off. But then you think about your career and you do what’s best for your long-term goals. We’ll talk about it after breakfast. But no bacon.” She turned to Shannon. “No wonder you’ve put on a few pounds. You know that stuff isn’t good for you.”
“Mom, my weight is none of your business. I might not be Hollywood skinny, thank the gods, but my healer thinks I’m right where I’m supposed to be.” So back off your bacon opinions. Shannon knew she was scowling as she retrieved plates from the cabinet. She’d normally have let her magic deal with setting the table, but when she was angry, things usually went haywire. With the way her blood was boiling, it was likely she’d take her mother’s head clear off if she tried using her wand.
“Damn, Mom. Leave Shannon alone,” Silas said, moving into the kitchen to take the plates from her.
“I will, just as soon as I fix her PR mess. This Brian guy you’ve been dating is quite the catch,” her mother said, sounding impressed.
Shannon snorted. “Right. Because dating an engaged man is the perfect way to start a relationship.”
Gigi tsked and sat at the table. She wrinkled her nose at the computers and empty coffee mugs Shannon and Silas had left behind. “You might want to tidy up before we eat here, dear.”
We? Shannon sighed and tossed more bacon in the pan.
“Just yogurt for me though,” Gigi said. “And what does a person have to do to get a cup of coffee around here?”
“Get up and get it?” Silas said sarcastically even as he refilled both his and Shannon’s mugs.
“Funny. Stop being ungrateful,” she snapped and went back to scrolling through her phone.
Shannon and Silas shared an eye roll, but because neither of them was quite petty enough to actually make her get her own coffee, Shannon handed him a fresh mug and he filled it.
While Silas took the mugs to the table, Shannon plated their breakfasts, even going so far as to put her mother’s yogurt in a bowl instead of leaving it in the single serving cup and adding berries the way she knew her mother liked it.
“Thank you, Shannon. That was kind of you, but I’m not eating blueberries right now,” Gigi said when she looked in the bowl.
“Why?” Shannon asked, frowning. “Blueberries are a superfood. You’re all about antioxidants.”
Gigi gave her a patient smile. “They stain the teeth, dear. I need to be at my best when Silas and I meet with the reporters about his new show.”
Silas slammed his fist down on the table so hard the utensils rattled together.
“Silas! What are you—” Gigi started.
“I. Am. Not. Doing that show. Forget it. Call them today and tell them I’m out. If you don’t, I’ll quit Timekeeper, too.” His face was red, and he was visibly shaking with frustration.
Shannon rushed over to him and grabbed his hand, lending him all the support she had to give. The situation with their mother had only gotten worse. Since she’d arrived in Keating Hollow, she hadn’t listened to one word Silas had said about his career. She steamrolled him at every turn, leaving him with no voice in his own life. No wonder he’d taken off and said he might not go back.
Gigi rose slowly from her chair and peered at Silas, her body as rigid as a steel pole. “You will not talk to your mother that way, young man. Do you hear me?”
“I’m not talking to my mother right now, Gigi,” he spat out. “I’m talking to my manager, and what I’m saying is I will not sign that contract. I will not show up to set. And if you don’t call it off, I’m not coming home just so the cameras can show up one day and start following me around. Hear me when I say I’m not doing this. If you try to force it, I’ll get the lawyers involved.”
“You mean like that country bumpkin lawyer, Lorna White?” she said with a sneer. “The one who leaked that you were trying to emancipate? You think she’s going to protect you from the mother who made you a star? Think again, Silas. I made your career, and I can end it, too.”
Silas’s face turned white, and his fists were clenched so hard that Shannon wondered if his fingernails were cutting into his skin. He opened his mouth, but no sound came out. Instead he vibrated with emotion and then stalked from the room. The front door opened and slammed a second later, making the walls shake.
Shannon stared open-mouthed at her mother.
“Stop looking at me like that,” Gigi said as she sat back down in her chair and took a sip of her coffee as if nothing had happened. Everything about her appeared put together. Her flowy red silk dress draped off one shoulder, making her looked casual yet sophisticated. Her dark hair was pulled up in an elegant twist, and her makeup was flawless. She even held her head high, though Shannon had no idea how she managed to do that after the horrifying scene she’d just witnessed.
But then she saw it, her mother’s one tell.
Gigi Ansell put her mug down and then unconsciously cracked one of her knuckles. The moment the sound filled the silence, she stopped and pressed both hands to the table as if to stop herself from repeating the bad habit.
“I think you should go, Mom,” Shannon said quietly.
To Shannon’s surprise, her mother nodded and rose from her chair without an argument. But then she said, “A drive would probably help clear my head.”
Shannon groaned.
“What?” Gigi demanded. “You said I should go. I’m going. I’ll be back in an hour.”
“I meant go back to Los Angeles.” Shannon threw her hands up in the air in pure frustration. “You can’t keep doing this to Silas. He’s going to break, and then where will your star be?”
“He’s not a delicate flower, Shannon. Mind your own business.” She turned and strode into the living room.
Shannon ran to catch up with her and stood in front of the door, blocking her exit. She never thought she’d do that. “It is my business, Mom. Silas came to me for help because you’re stifling him. I told him to take a few weeks off, get rested—”
“A few weeks! Do you have any idea what you’re saying?” she asked, sounding horrified. “That endorsement deal won’t be there in two weeks. We have to move now. After he’s done sulking, revise your advice. Goodness knows he’s stopped listening to me. Maybe he’ll listen to you.”
“There you go again, not listening to anyone,” Shannon said, her voice raspy with barely controlled anger. “What I was going to say is that I think he needs a longer break than that. He needs space from you, from work, from Hollywood. It’s too much, Mom. Let him stay here for the rest of summer, and when it’s time for Timekeeper to start filming, I’ll bring him back down personally and—”
“No.” She reached for the doorknob, but Shannon moved in front of it, forcing her mother to either back down or physically move Shannon in order to get out the door. Gigi gritted her teeth and said, “I w
ill not have Silas do what you did. You threw away your life when you moved back here. Silas is destined for great things. I will not let you poison his mind with your negative talk of the business. Now either help me get him back home within the next few days, or I’ll make it really uncomfortable for you two to stay here.”
“What do you mean when you say you’ll ‘make it uncomfortable’ for us?” Shannon frowned at her mother. That sounded like a threat. And what would she do exactly? It was already uncomfortable enough with the paparazzi hanging around outside. Something tingled at the back of her mind with the thought of the photographers, but before she could form another thought, her mother spoke.
“Dad and I will sell this house. I will not provide a place for you two to hide out. You’ll be forced to come home. There is no way you make enough at that candy store to buy something of your own.”
Shannon didn’t even bother trying to correct her mother about A Spoonful of Magic. It wasn’t a candy store. They sold all kinds of confections. But that was hardly the point and not what she should be focusing on at that moment. “Sell the house?” The thought was unthinkable. She’d spent a large part of her childhood as well as all of her adult life in the small cottage. Her mother couldn’t be serious, could she? “You’d throw me out of Grandma’s house?”
“It’s not your grandma’s house anymore, Shannon. It’s my house. I’ve allowed you to live here, rent free, mind you, for too long. It’s time you got your life on track anyway. But it’s your choice. Convince Silas to come home, or I’ll see to it you have no choice.”
Shannon was so stunned by Gigi’s threat that when the woman reached for the doorknob again she just stepped aside and let her go. As she watched her mother walk to her rental car, the contents of her stomach roiled, and the next thing Shannon knew, she was running to the bathroom to vomit.