Love Believes (Sully Point, Book 5)

by Nicole Smith

  "Enough gossip!" Anna said. "We're as bad as Maelynne. Now we're going to leave these two people alone to figure out for themselves if there is anything between them. Okay?"

  Everyone nodded. Frank thought his daughter's stern face could frighten anyone into good behavior.

  "I'll tell Beth about William coming to the thing. But don't go talking about this anywhere in town...Dad," Anna continued.

  "Me?"

  "Yes, you."

  He gave his best sincere look to his daughter. "I'd never spread a word. Promise."

  She looked at him for a long minute. "We'll see. I'd better get back to the babysitter. Josh always seems to find their weaknesses in no time."

  * * * *

  Beth and William entered the Diner talking about a problem with getting the curtain for the stage in time for the play's opening. She had been having trouble dealing with the company that provided the curtain.

  "Mention my name," William said, as he slid into the booth by the window. "They know me, and I have a bit of clout in the city."

  Beth laughed and sat down. "Of course you do. I should have thought of that."

  Mary Jo approached them with menus. Beth thought she looked rather dejected. "You okay, Mary Jo?"

  "Just wish I'd gotten a part in the play," she mumbled. Then the waitress turned to William. "You need to have a play with more people in it."

  He nodded. "You're absolutely right. I had no idea how much talent was in Sully Point until we did the auditions. The second production we put on at the Playhouse will have a large cast, so that we can use as many townspeople as possible."

  Mary Jo smiled. "Specials today are corned beef and cabbage, or the turkey club sandwich with homemade tomato soup."

  "I'll have the sandwich without the soup, please," Beth said. "And a cup of hot tea."

  "I think I'll have the sandwich and the soup, but put the mayo on the side. I like to put that on my sandwich myself," William said.

  Mary Jo left to turn in their order.

  Beth shrugged out of her jacket. "I didn't realize you had already decided on a second production."

  "As soon as I saw all those people at auditions, and once I'd seen some of them at work, I knew we'd need to do a big cast number. Not sure yet which. Might even be a musical. Tell me, can you sing?"

  "I can. I had voice lessons growing up. My parents were always really good at getting lessons for all of us kids in whatever we were interested in."

  Mary Jo brought Beth's tea and a large glass of ice water with lemon for William.

  "How did she know what to bring you to drink?"

  William chuckled. "The Diner has been my home away from home. I eat here enough that they know my preferences. How was your visit with your parents yesterday?"

  "Good, it was good," Beth said. "They're going to stay for a while at Sam and Anna's."

  "Oh, so they'll be at the family gathering this weekend. I look forward to meeting them."

  "I'm sure they'll be glad to...wait...you're going to be at Frank Grainger's this weekend?" Beth's voice squeaked a bit at the end.

  William raised an eyebrow at her. "Yes...is something the matter?"

  "No, no, everything's fine," Beth said. As she unrolled her silverware from the cotton napkin, she thought frantically. Her parents meeting William? Particularly her mother? Did she want them to meet him? Would her mother pick up on the attraction Beth felt for him? She was so rattled she dropped her knife and fork on the floor.

  "Oops," William said. He made a small motion and Mary Jo came running over with new silverware.

  "Thanks," Beth said, face flushed. "How do you happen to be coming to the dinner anyway?"

  "Frank and Betsy had me over for dinner, and Frank thought it would be a good time to update everyone on the progress of the Playhouse. I'm looking forward to it."

  "Great, that's great." She told herself to stop being silly. "So, William, you never married?" She almost gasped as the words came out of her mouth. They weren't what she'd meant to say.

  William stared at her for a moment, blue eyes squinting a bit.

  "I'm sorry, that's too personal a question."

  "No, it's fine. And I actually was married, very briefly, at the age of nineteen. She was an actress and we fell for each other during a play we were both in. I was too young to know it was just something that happens sometimes during a production. She asked for a divorce three months later. After that, I never thought about getting married again. I was so busy with my work, and I had no time to meet anyone. Now I'm set in my bachelor ways."

  "You make it sound like you're an old man. You're not," Beth said, rather forcefully.

  "You're right, I'm not. The theater, not to sound overly dramatic, has been my life. I'm not sure I'd have anything left to give to another person outside it. What about you? No boyfriend waiting for you back in L.A.?"

  "No. I was pretty wrapped up in trying to find acting work. The last boyfriend I had got fed up with he called my 'obsession' with acting. He saw it as a hobby. After that experience I decided to go my own way for a while."

  Mary Jo set their sandwiches and William's soup down on the table. "Here's your mayo," she said and set down a small dish of mayonnaise. "Need anything else?"

  "We're good," William said, and gave the waitress a smile.

  After she had left, Beth shook her head and said, "You shouldn't do that to her."

  "Do what?"

  "You know. The smile, the eyes, you are leading her on."

  "What? I am not," he said, and cleared his throat. "Seriously?"

  Beth nodded. "She's totally smitten."

  "Ah...should I...do something about it?"

  "No, just leave it alone, but stop smiling so much at her. You're supposed to be this grumpy director, but you smile at her."

  "But she gives good waitress service. I appreciate good work."

  "You're really clueless aren't you? About the effect you have on women?"

  "What on earth are you talking about?" William said, clearly exasperated. He took a big bite of his sandwich, chomping hard on bacon, lettuce, tomato and turkey.

  Beth looked at him for a moment. "Never mind. Just trust me that when you are nice to people, you have a kind of charisma and leave it at that."

  He swallowed and took a sip of water. "You seem to have resisted this effect of mine admirably."

  She felt her eyes go wide as her hand froze with the sandwich halfway to her mouth.

  William ran a hand through his hair. "Did I say that out loud?"

  "Uh...yeah." Beth set the sandwich carefully back on the plate.

  "Well...that's embarrassing."

  Beth took a breath. "I've not been as immune as you think."

  He looked up from his plate quickly. "Really?"

  "Just what are you saying, William?"

  "What are you saying?"

  They both sat silently staring into each other's eyes. Beth felt as if a very important conversation was happening between them in a bubble of silence that throbbed with intensity.

  Mary Jo startled them when she asked, "Can I get you guys anything? Chef wants to know if you don't like the sandwiches 'cause you aren't eating."

  "It's delicious," Beth said and took a bite from her food.

  William sipped soup from the mug it was served in. "Great soup. Tell him the texture is perfect."

  Mary Jo beamed and left to go back to the kitchen.

  "You didn't smile at her that time," Beth said.

  "No, I didn't," he said and slowly smiled at her.

  "We should finish lunch and get back to work," she said.

  "I'm not hungry anymore."

  "Me either."

  "You think Mary Jo would wrap this stuff up?" he asked.

  "Yes. Where will we go? At my place...you never know who might..."

  "My place. Let's go there," he said with a deeper voice than usual.

  "Okay," Beth said, her stomach full of butterflies.

  They had t
heir lunch wrapped to go within minutes, explaining to Mary Jo that they had a theater emergency. They'd taken Beth's car to the Diner, and she drove them to his house.

  The house the Foundation has provided for him was down a long drive, sitting by itself near the beach. It was a modern design, and one wall was all windows that faced the trees and water beyond them.

  They walked in and William took their food into the kitchen and put it in the fridge. He called out, "Do want anything to drink?"

  "Some water, please," Beth said, and berated herself for her shaky voice.

  He came back into the living room and handed her the glass. After she took a sip, he reached for her other hand and gently tugged her over to the dark brown leather couch to sit down. "Now, let's talk."

  She took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "Okay."

  He smiled at her and kept holding her hand. "I've been attracted to you since the first moment I saw you."

  "You have? You gave a great imitation of not liking me much at first."

  "It threw me, how beautiful you were and how young. I'm ten years older than you."

  "And?" She chuckled. "That doesn't matter, William. You're the most exciting man I've ever met. I've been drawn to you right from the start. I just kept saying to myself that nothing could come of it, because, you know, you're my director."

  "I know," he said with a frown. "I swore I'd never get involved with an actress again...but you're different, this...feels different." His blue eyes seemed deeper, darker in color, as he moved closer to her. "You know we probably shouldn't do this."

  "Do what?" she whispered.

  He leaned in closer to her, and said, "This." Suddenly they were kissing, tentatively at first, but then with rising passion.

  Beth felt her pulse racing, as she was folded into his arms, melting against him. The kiss was an invitation, a revelation, and an awakening of desire. She moaned against his lips and he pulled away, kissing her neck up to her ear.

  "And this," he whispered into her ear as she shivered.

  * * * *

  Maggie walked into Julia's Place and waved to Julia. "Hey! Just going up to see Beth for a minute."

  "Wait. She's not up there," Julia said.

  Maggie walked across the hardwood floors to Julia's desk. "Where is she?"

  Julia sighed. "Frankly, I don't know. I got a call from William telling me that they had a 'theater emergency' and wouldn't be back today. I'm assuming they had to make a run to the city. His car is still here, but they'd taken hers to lunch, so I guess they took her car to the city as well."

  "They went to lunch together?"

  "Yes. But they were talking all business as they left. There was no sign of anything between them."

  "Maybe everyone is wrong about them then. He is a bit old for her."

  Julia shook her head, black hair flowing across her back and shoulders. "I think they'd be good together. But we don't want to be like Maelynne assuming things. We should leave it alone."

  "I guess you're right," Maggie said. "It would probably freak out Mom and Dad if she were involved with him. I'm not sure they trust anyone in the theater world, especially after that awful Benton man."

  "How are you feeling today, with the baby?"

  "Good. Eating like a horse. But it's wonderful to feel him or her moving around. Just little flutters, but it amazes me every time it happens."

  "I'm glad you're happy. Having a child really did complete my life," Julia said. "Give me a year or so and I'll be ready to do it again."

  "Very cool. Well, I guess I'll go. I need material for a new quilt I'm starting. It's for Beth, so don't tell her about it. I want it to be a surprise for the play's opening."

  "What a great idea."

  Maggie left the computer shop and wondered about Beth and the director going to the city together. Was it just business between them? Her cell phone rang when she got into her car. "Hello?"

  "Maggie, it's Anna. I was trying to reach Beth and I can't find her. She's not answering her phone."

  Maggie frowned. "I don't know why she wouldn't be answering, but she went to the city with Mr. Christopher."

  "What? Why?"

  "Julia says he called and said they had a theater emergency. That's all I know except that they took her car, you know, the Thunderbird."

  Anna was silent for a moment. "Will they be staying overnight?"

  "I don't know. Julia said they went to lunch together, but they were all business."

  "So maybe nothing is going on? Hmm, I wonder. Well, if you hear from her, we wanted you and Eric, and Beth, to come over for supper with your parents. Just a family spaghetti night."

  "Ooh, I'm hungry for it already. Eric and I will be there...around six?"

  "Yes. I guess we don't need to worry about Beth, right?"

  "Oh I think she's fine," Maggie said. "Mr. Christopher is very responsible."

  "You're right, of course. Okay, see you guys tonight."

  * * * *

  The late afternoon sun glinting off the water and shining through the bedroom window woke her up. She knew immediately where she was, and she froze into stillness, feeling William's arm across her body.

  Beth was lying on her back and she turned her head to see William on his stomach under a sheet pulled to his waist. He lifted his head to turn and face her.

  "I felt you wake up," he said.

  "Have you been awake long?" she asked.

  "Just a few minutes. How do you feel?"

  She thought for a moment. "I feel...wonderful."

  His arm tightened around her and then she rolled onto her side to face him. After a long kiss, she sighed. "I don't want this to end, but I'm sure someone from my family is wondering where I am. We sort of disappeared today."

  "Do you want to check in with your sister or Sam? Because as far as I'm concerned, nothing has to end yet." She saw that smile spread across his face, the one that left her insides quivering.

  "Hmm. You've got a point. Let me check in, make sure I've not been missed."

  She reached across to the bedside table and grabbed her phone out of her handbag. William ran his fingers up and down her arm as she dialed. He was so sensual, she thought.

  "Maggie?"

  "Beth! Where are you? Are you okay?"

  "Of course I'm okay. Why wouldn't I be?"

  "You and that director just disappeared, didn't you? Some kind of emergency? Are you in the city?"

  "The city? Uh, no. The emergency was to do with some supplies we needed for the construction," Beth said, thinking rapidly. William was grinning at her. "We had to go out of town but not to the city. Why were you looking for me?"

  "Not just me. Anna was too. She's having a family spaghetti night with all of us kids and Mom and Dad."

  "Mom and Dad?" William stopped smiling next to her.

  "Yep, so you're expected to attend. Be at Sam and Anna's at six. You've got an hour, so you can go home and change into comfy pants for eating a big meal...oh wait, that's me I'm talking about," Maggie said with a laugh. "See you later, Bethie."

  "Yeah...later."

  "What's up?" William asked.

  "Family spaghetti night. In an hour." She looked at him ruefully. "I have to get you back to your car, and go home and change clothes and get out there. If I don't show up, they'll be suspicious."

  "And...we don't want that, right? Do you want anyone to know...about us?"

  "No, I don't. I want it to just be us. I don't want to hear what everyone thinks. Is that okay with you?"

  "Absolutely. I'm still stunned by what's happening here, Beth. But I know one thing. This wasn't some one-time thing for me. There are feelings...for you."

  She smiled at him and put her arms around his neck. "Yes, there are feelings. Do you want me to come back here after dinner?"

  It was his turn to beam at her. "I would love that. Maybe you should bring some clothes with you, in case you don't go home tonight."

  "Ah, so you think I'll be occupied all night?"<
br />
  "Until we pass out. That's my plan," William said and then he kissed her.

  Beth sighed as the kiss ended. "I've got to go. Come on, let's get dressed and get your car."

  They managed to dress in between kisses and touches, and giggles on Beth's part. She bent over and brushed her hair out upside down then stood up and flung her hair back. William was watching her.

  "God, you're beautiful," he said softly.

  She blushed as she looked in the mirror. "Lucky genetics."

  He shook his head. "Not just what you look like on the outside. You're a beautiful person, all of you, Beth." He walked over to her as she watched in the mirror, and came up behind her to wrap his arms around her. "Time to go, I suppose."

  "I don't want to leave," she said, softly.

  "Then come back, as soon as you can," he murmured against her hair. "Let's go."

  She nodded, then turned abruptly in his arms and hugged him. She laughed a little against his shoulder.

  "What is it?"

  "I have a secret romance," she said and grinned up at him. "Maelynne would explode at the news."

  They headed out to her car and she dropped him off at Julia's Place by his car. Waving, she left and was soon at her apartment. She dashed in and began stripping off clothes. After a quick shower and drying her hair, she found black leggings, chunky ankle boots, and a long black tunic top to wear. She looked in the mirror and chuckled at her resemblance to William's style. Draping a couple lengths of bronze chains around her neck, she was ready to face her mother and father.

  "There," she told her reflection in the mirror. "You can't tell a thing by looking at me."

  When she arrived at Sam's house, Maggie threw open the door to welcome her in. "You made it! Cool." Then she stopped and stared at Beth. "Hold on. What's happened? You look different."

  Beth groaned inwardly. Damn Maggie, and those eyes that saw too much. She refused to blush, instead smiling and saying, "I'm starved and ready for spaghetti, that's what's happened. In all the excitement of the day, I never got to finish my lunch." She took off her hip-length wool jacket and hung it in the entryway closet.

  Maggie tilted her head at Beth, lavender eyes searching. "Okay, I guess that's it. Everyone is in the living room, watching Joshua put together Legos. Anna says supper is soon."