by Jean Oram
“I heard there’ve been a lot of private sales over there this summer,” Melanie said. “Thank goodness the camp for teens is still there, though.”
Hailey counted the cottages along the shoreline. As far as she knew, only one was still in the founding family’s possession.
Daphne stood. “We have to save it.”
“I think it’s a little late for that,” Maya said, finishing her margarita. “I’ve got to get back to the mainland soon. Late shift at the Bar ’n Grill and the dealership in the AM.” She let out a sigh.
Daphne turned to look up the path to their cottage. “We need to claim this as a heritage site.”
“Daph.” Maya ran a thumb and index finger over her eyes. “There is nothing culturally significant about our cottage.”
“Actually,” Melanie said, her eyes lighting up, “if we could prove it held cultural value or interest we could ensure the property stayed as is and reap some tax benefits.”
“Does that mean you’re keeping it?” Simone squealed in delight.
Maya stood up and clapped her hands. “What do you think the odds are that we can save this place in time?”
Hailey shook her head, sagging into her seat. “Not great.”
She’d just sold herself—and her boyfriend—out while trying. She was done.
The only thing she could do was try and appease her guilt by finding Finian and apologizing until he forgave her.
* * *
Hailey pushed the borrowed boat faster across the lake, ignoring Melanie’s continuing questions about what the rush was. Where would Finian have boated to? Bala? That would be a hell of a long ride. Had he rented a car to take him to Port Carling or Windermere before hiring the boat to bring him to the island? Windermere was on the wrong side of the water, making Port Carling the obvious choice. But where would he go once he hit shore? Where could she catch up with him and beg him to forgive her?
She should have listened to him. Should have tried to understand. It was his life, his career, his image. Just because he’d slept with her, it didn’t give her the right to interfere. She liked him for who he was, and that should have been enough.
Right now his life dictated that he needed to be a Hollywood star, with all the attitude and ego that entailed. It was like when she used to do portraits and “pretty” photos to pay the bills—before she could shift to full-time art. That’s where he was, and she hadn’t respected it. She’d been that annoying know-it-all who’d stormed in with her own plan. Her own vision. And ruined everything for him.
After docking the boat, she said goodbye to the others and headed to her car, driving straight to the Sunflower Cottage. Laughing to herself, she pulled over and partway there and picked up her phone, dialing Finian’s number. How had she forgotten about phones?
Voicemail. She left a quick message, then for good measure, sent him a text that said I’m sorry. Can we talk?
She could see a lamp on inside the cottage when she arrived, casting a warm light. The door opened when she knocked, and someone she didn’t know frowned out at her. Was she too late? Had Finian checked out already? She turned to scope out the two paparazzi who’d stopped spitting sunflower seeds to focus on her when she’d driven up. They took a few more leisurely photos of her from their spots and she smoothed her unruly hair with a sigh. She needed to start wearing a hat.
At least the good news was that Finian had to still be around.
“Are you Hailey?” asked the man.
“Do you know where Finian is?” Hailey countered, trying not to inhale his spicy aftershave.
“Come inside.”
The television flickered in the corner, some celebrity show dishing out gossip, with Finian on screen. Her photos. She stopped and stared. Those were her pictures on screen. The overexcited show host began spouting information she’d given Celeb Dirt! about his vacation. And then there were photos of her that must have been taken by Austin. Her and Finian kissing at The Kee. Holding hands out by the marsh. Looking so in love she had to sit on the first available chair.
The clip ended and the man standing beside her asked, “Happy?”
She looked up to see him glaring at her, arms crossed.
“You’ve destroyed three years of hard work. My hard work. In three days.”
Hailey stood. “I’m sorry, you are…?”
“I’m his agent, Derek Penn. You’ve thrown a carefully detailed plan out the window. His career is over. He just lost a role, thanks to you. Now there’s a nice little hole in the action world that he used to fill.”
Guilt rolled over Hailey in waves. No, wait a second…
“You know what? You’ve obviously done a very poor job.” She watched in amusement as his face turn purple. “Because if a girl like me can waltz in with a couple of photos and ruin the image you built up, then I guess…well, I guess he needs someone a little better suited to making a brand or image.”
“You don’t understand the damage you’ve done.”
“Neither do you.” She resisted the urge to shove him hard, angry at the way he’d used Finian. Her Finian. “You’ve been stuck up Hollywood’s a-hole so long you don’t even understand the public! Didn’t you just watch that?” She pointed to the television. “People love the contradiction I’ve shown them. They love that Finian is showing maturity and has another side. A side that is real. And that he has depth. That he’s more than some car crash for them to laugh at. He’s a good man and you’re destroying him for your own benefit. This is about more than money. This is his life! Look at actors like Harrison Ford and Leonardo DiCaprio. They’re no train wreck. They have depth, are well loved and they are well-paid stars. If you truly cared about Finian, you’d want to give him a real life, too.”
Finian’s father appeared in the doorway. “I’m going to have to agree with the little lady on this one. Goodbye, Derek.” He turned to Hailey. “I think we need to go find my boy, don’t you?”
* * *
Finn accepted another drink from Austin and knocked it back. The man was staying at the far end of the bar, but seemed to sense Finn needed something. Something like firewater, and space. Lots of space.
He called down the bar to Austin, “I’m not a family man.”
“I know.”
“I’m not back together with Jessica, either.”
“I know. But that’s not what she or your agent are saying.”
Finn shut his eyes. How had his life gotten so far out of his control that he’d let other people—people who saw him as nothing more than a commodity—take over? And how had he read Hailey so wrong? Was this mess because she thought he and Jessica were back together? That he’d been using her?
If so, it meant she cared. A lot. Deeply, even.
He wiped a hand down his face, caressing the stubble on his chin.
What did it matter? He’d lost the role he’d been angling for. He’d lost roles before, but he had felt like a shoe-in before this mess with Hailey. Derek had been right. The world was not ready for the real Finian Alexander.
“Are you in love with Hailey?” the photographer asked.
Finn pursed his lips and held in his breath. Without meaning to, he nodded. Son of a bitch.
“She’s a great gal.”
He gave a half nod.
“Heart of gold.”
Finn let out an anguished snort.
“Anything she does, she has a damn good reason to do it. You had this coming, you realize that, right? She expected you at the opening. She was waiting.”
“She ruined my reputation. In less than a week.” Finn ordered another drink. He could prove tonight that his badass side was real. Damn real. He would let his demons out and propel his image back to where it was supposed to be. He’d make that producer regret not hiring him.
“Don’t you ever hurt her.”
Finn frowned, turning to face Austin. “Honor among paparazzi? Well, that’s refreshing.”
“Something pushed her to do this.”
&
nbsp; “Money? Fame? A need to pull the first punch?” So many reasons. But none of them felt like the Hailey he knew.
Austin paused. “The cottage. It’s been in the family for generations. I heard it was up for tax sale.”
“Thanks to my arty, environmentalist side it probably isn’t any longer,” Finn said bitterly. “I bet she got well paid for those images.”
Austin laughed. “It’s about time you gave back to the community.” He sent Finn a challenging glance. “What? You think your reputation can’t handle having a hidden side? Give me a break.”
“I lost a role because of this.”
“Are you sure that’s why?” Austin shot him a look that got in under Finn’s confidence and gave it a ding.
Before he could retaliate, a hand landed hard on his shoulder. “There you are.” For a moment he was expecting it to be Hailey.
It was Derek looking like the cat that ate the canary. Anger flashed through Finn, lighting up every dark corner within him.
“Excellent, you’ve been talking to Austin. I’ve rented a small cottage a few miles down the road and hired a decoy for later. But right now, you and Jessica are to go to the cottage and get down and dirty. Austin, I’ll hire you to take a few photos, and kaboom. Back in the press as a—”
Finn landed a punch on the man’s jaw, his knuckles cracking.
“You asshole. Don’t you get it?” Finn shouted. “You’re messing with real people. Real lives. I don’t love Jessica. I never have. She’s as fake as a Louis Vuitton handbag in a Chinese market. I can’t believe I thought it was normal to pretend to be in love with her.” He glanced up from where Derek was stretched out on the floor, and saw Jessica backing out of the room, tears in her eyes.
Austin had disappeared. Finn had finally done something badass and it wasn’t even going to be news.
* * *
Finn was drunk.
He was going to hurt in the morning, but it would be worth it. Judging by the peeved looks the polite Canadians were giving him, he was becoming loud and obnoxious. Right on schedule. If he was in the U.S. he’d be in a brawl by now. He’d be proving he was tough shit. But Canada was a hard act. He eyed a mean-looking guy in the back. Maybe he could hit on his girl and…
Finn sighed and hung his head. Hailey was right.
Even Austin was right about him losing the role. It wasn’t because of her. It was because people were getting tired of his schtick. He needed to get real, and Hailey’s betrayal was the very thing he needed to push him into the life he’d come here to contemplate turning to in the first place.
Shaking his head, and doubting his next move, he asked Jamie if could borrow the bar’s phone, then made a collect call to his agent’s cell.
“Derek! Buddy ol’ pal.”
“Finn, you changed your mind. I was worried.”
Finn laughed at the relief in Derek’s voice.
“Man, I only forgot to tell you to go outside and play a nice little game of hide and go fuck yourself.” He went to lower the phone in its cradle, ignoring Jamie’s raised eyebrows, then lifted it back to his ear. “Oh, yeah. And I’ll be taking care of my image from now on. Any plans you have in the works? Put ’em on hold. Better yet, shred them. We don’t work together anymore.”
He hung up the phone and dialed his old film buddy, hoping he still used the same phone number he had back in his college days.
Turned out he did.
“Bruce?” Finn tried to keep the slur out of his words.
“Yeah.”
“Finian Alexander. I heard you have a role for me?”
“Finn! Man, good to hear from you. You know your agent already turned me down?”
“Well, lucky for you I just fired him. You fill the role yet?”
“I haven’t.”
“Great, because I say yes to your film deal. Arty is my new nickname, you know.”
“Finn, are you drunk?”
“Yup.”
“Maybe we should talk in the morning.”
“Nope. Count me in. I want to do this.” He paused and let his head loll to the side. “This is what I want. For myself.” Despair washed over him. He was ending his career, which would lead to broken promises. But he just couldn’t hold his head up any longer. He kept thinking the next movie would help him reach his goals, but it never did. He just dug in deeper. And deeper. And further from who he really was.
“Oh, man. This is so great. I’m going to rewrite the script for you. Your new life has gone viral, man. You’re brilliant. You just shot your star into orbit.”
“Yeah, something like that.”
“You’re all everyone is talking about.”
“Really?”
“For real. I’m stoked. I can’t believe you’re going to do this. We’ll reshape parts of the film and help build you up as a Renaissance man. Like a stepping stone into a new world. A new you. Dynamic. Revitalized. Refreshing.”
Finn clutched his head. “Okay, you’re going to talk me out of it if you keeping spewing all that bullshit.”
His friend laughed as they hung up.
Finn supposed if his life was going to go to south he might as well create a masterpiece to be proud of before the final flush.
He pushed his hand into his face, supporting himself on the bar. He didn’t want to live a fake life anymore, and his head hurt. His heart hurt. Everything hurt from years of holding it all back. Letting out a laugh, he finished his drink. Oh, how sweet, innocent Hailey had played him. She’d worked him right into something that might turn out to be the best move of his life.
Everyone loved the real Finn? Was that true? He turned to ask someone, but found the stools beside him were empty.
He got another beer from the bar, took a long pull as he exited onto the street, then smashed the bottle on the pavement. No more drinking tonight. He needed to think about how he would manage the pressure of sustaining his new, soon-to-be image.
“Is this who you want to be?” a woman called from the shadows as he swept a foot through the beer and broken glass, dispersing it.
He leaned over and braced himself as he spotted a figure that reminded him of Hailey.
His mind had to be playing tricks on him.
“Hailey.” He staggered toward her as flashbulbs blinded him.
“Is it?” she asked again.
“Hailey!” Paparazzi surrounded him and he suppressed the urge to flee. They crowded forward, breaking into his space. He was drunk and they were too close. It was all too raw.
They were shouting questions at him. At her.
He had to protect her. But where was she?
Someone jostled Finn, elbowing him in the gut.
“Hailey!”
“Are you two in love?” called a reporter.
“Is she carrying your love child?”
“Why is your agent here?”
“I saw your parents. Did you have a secret wedding?”
The paparazzi were mobbing Hailey and she cowered, arms raised protectively. They were going to tear her apart. Finn lunged through the swarm and reached for her. He yanked her toward him and he heard her slap someone nearby.
“Let go of me!” she hollered.
“Hailey, it’s me!”
She dived through the bodies between them, landing against his chest. She gripped him hard, pressing so close to him he could feel her heart beating against his chest.
The crowd continued to shout questions, egging them on.
“Are you two in love?”
“Where’s Jessica?”
Finn shoved people out of the way, not caring if he was breaking cameras. He held Hailey tight in his arms, trying to protect her. “Back the hell off!” he yelled.
He couldn’t move without stepping on someone. There was no car in sight. Nowhere to run to. Nowhere to hide.
He wrapped himself tighter around Hailey and began forcing people away by backing into them. He needed Security. Fast.
“Why’d you kill your brother?�
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Hailey stiffened in his arms as he jerked in surprise.
“What gang did you belong to?” another photographer called, setting off a new chain of questions.
“Do you still wear its colors?”
“How much money do you owe?”
“Is your father dying?”
“Is your charity going bankrupt?”
“Will the medical aid run out?”
Finn held Hailey so tight he was afraid he was going to suffocate her. He needed out of here. Now.
He was failing.
Breaking promises, and he’d been living his real life for only five minutes.
He couldn’t even keep Hailey safe.
A large man with a square face and a limp pushed between them and the crowd as though he were a hot knife gliding through butter.
“Got your back, Mr. Alexander. Follow my lead.”
Finn tailed the man as he created a path to the street, where an idling car waited. Finn carefully kept Hailey’s shaking body between himself and the brick wall of muscle leading them. At the car, the guy opened a door, shoved a paparazzo away and urged them to climb in.
Finn froze. How much did he trust this stranger?
Austin turned from the driver’s seat with a grin. “Thought you two might need a ride.”
Having him at the wheel made Finn even more nervous than riding with a stranger.
“What?” Austin asked. “Didn’t you hear what I said, Finn? Hailey and I go way back. I owe her one for breaking her heart.” He shot Hailey a wink and she dived into the car, Finn hot on her heels.
“Evander de la Fosse,” said the brick wall as he wedged himself between Finn and the door. He offered his hand. “Private security. Ex-marine.”
Finn shook it. “Finian Alexander. And this is Hailey Summer. Thanks for your help. Both of you.”
“Hi,” Hailey said to Evander, her body still pressed against Finn. He loosened his grip on her and kissed the top of her head.
“You okay?” he asked.
She nodded.
He wondered what she thought of the questions. Particularly the ones about his brother. Finn rubbed the familiar ache in his chest and wished he’d told her everything earlier.