Resisting Love

by Kat Bellemore

  “Wait, Jules knew that you had told people? And she didn’t tell me?” Her sister was lucky she’d locked that door, because once Leanne got back inside, they were definitely going to exchange some choice words.

  Isaac shook his head. “That isn’t the point.”

  Leanne studied him for a moment. “What is the point, then? That everyone is taking your side, which proves that you were right all along, that I messed up everything?” She folded her arms across her chest and blew a strand of hair out of her face. “Okay, I admit it. It was my fault. I shouldn’t have left. And I shouldn’t have stayed away. And I’ve screwed everything up. Happy?”

  No, Isaac didn’t look happy. In fact, he stood up from the small chair so quickly, it flew back behind him, hitting a bush. “How could you have stayed here when your dreams were directly in front of you, calling to you? How could I have lived with myself, knowing I’d kept you from that?”

  The power in his voice startled her, and from the shocked expression on his face, Leanne wondered if he’d even known that was what he’d intended to say. “But I didn’t come back when I said I would.”

  Isaac’s expression softened, and he took a step toward her. “Why is that?”

  Leanne’s gaze dropped to the ground. She’d supposed, even with how things had been between her and Isaac, that he’d eventually want answers. “It always felt like my big break was just around the corner. Frederick is one of the biggest names in Hollywood. People practically worship him, and he believed in me. He pushed me to be better, to constantly improve my craft and make the connections I’d need to finally get noticed.” She lifted one shoulder. “It felt nice to have someone believe in me like that.”

  “I believed in you,” Isaac said, his voice soft.

  Leanne’s gaze lifted, and she was surprised to see him standing so close—only a couple of feet in front of her. “I know,” she said, allowing herself to look him in the eyes. They swirled in a mixture of varying shades of brown. She’d forgotten how hypnotizing they could be.

  “But it isn’t the same,” he said, guessing at what she was thinking. “When someone who loves you says they believe in you, it isn’t like a critic finally seeing talent they can appreciate. Your mom will always love everything you do—Frederick, not so much.”

  Leanne nodded slowly, surprised by how much he seemed to understand. And he’d said it without judgment. Isaac must have seen the confusion in her features, because he gave her an embarrassed smile, and his gaze dropped.

  “I’ve had a lot of time to think about things.”

  “Which seemed to make you angrier at me,” Leanne added, and then snapped her lips shut. She shouldn’t be reminding him that he was mad.

  To her relief, Isaac lifted his gaze and chuckled. “Most of the thinking that matters has happened since last night, when I realized the entire town was about to demonize you. I was trying to understand your point of view. I don’t know a lot about what you went through over the past two years, but I’d like to.”

  “It will take more than a few minutes,” she said.

  Isaac stepped forward, closing the gap. “I have time.”

  The way he was looking at her—so soft, like he cared for nothing in the world but her—it was like the old Isaac had returned to her. “Should I start at the beginning, with how Frederick hated the sundress my mom gave me, or at the end, where I told Eli Hunt that his Olympic-size pool didn’t compare to the ocean in my front yard?”

  Isaac gaped. Leanne assumed that he was shocked that she’d actually met the famous Eli Hunt, but he said instead, “The sunflower dress your mom got you as a going away present? I love that dress.”

  Desire ignited within her. She knew it was silly for something as little as him remembering a dress, and caring more for it than her famous connections, to be the source of the sudden and intense attraction. But that had always been something she’d loved about Isaac. He was down to earth and didn’t care for the superficial.

  “I know, right?” she said, her voice coming out hoarse. She cleared her throat. “But I was stupid enough to believe him when he said it would hurt my chances at a career in screenwriting. I didn’t wear it for the entire two years, right up until the evening before I came home.”

  Isaac cocked his head to the side, his brows furrowed. “Really? Because Frederick didn’t like it?” He seemed to be having trouble reconciling the event with the woman who stood before him.

  Shame settled in her stomach. “Small town and Hollywood don’t mix well.” She straightened and forced a smile. “Thank goodness I realized the error of it…even if it was too little too late.”

  Isaac watched her for a moment, emotions flickering across his face so quickly that Leanne had a difficult time determining which one he’d landed on. “Maybe it doesn’t have to be.”

  13

  Just a week ago, Isaac would have never thought he’d be able to feel this way again—especially toward Leanne. But seeing how upset the town was with her had struck a protective chord within Isaac. He couldn’t allow them to gang up on her, especially when no one had their facts straight. Including him. He’d never bothered to ask. Isaac had figured they were beyond that.

  But now, standing so close to her, smelling her citrus perfume—none of that seemed to matter so much anymore. She looked so vulnerable, her gaze flitting around the children’s garden, not seeming able to look at him. It made Isaac want to pull her into his arms and tell her everything would be okay. That the past two years couldn’t erase the fifteen years they’d been together.

  Oh, he still wanted more information about what she’d been up to while she’d been gone. And how Leanne had managed to hang out at Eli Hunt’s house. Because those experiences had changed her—he could see it just by the way she walked. There was a confident stride that made her seem to stand taller, like she was daring the world to bring it on. But there was still the soft-spoken, fun-loving woman too. He just had to figure out if there was room for him in this new picture.

  “I won’t let them say anything bad about you,” he told Leanne. He wasn’t certain how he’d ended up standing so close to her. Maybe he should move back by a couple of steps. Maybe. But he didn’t want to. “Everyone in town, I mean.”

  “It’s okay if they do,” Leanne said, looking away, her gaze wistful, like she was remembering a better time. “I deserve it.”

  “No, you don’t. Just because you weren’t afraid to go after what you wanted, and you didn’t fit into the little small-town box that everyone expects us to fit into, that doesn’t make you a bad person.”

  Leanne’s gaze returned to him. “You believe that?” Her voice was soft, her eyes hopeful.

  Isaac was unsure how the next part happened. One minute he was watching her, wondering how to answer that. A couple of weeks before, it would have been an emphatic no. But now? He thought he might have changed his mind. Isaac never did fully decide, though, because he had already closed what little distance remained between him and Leanne and pressed his lips against hers. They only remained there for half a second before Isaac stumbled back against a shrub, combing a hand through his hair. “I—”

  How on earth was he supposed to finish that sentence? He had what, lost his mind for a moment? Wanted to see if her lips were as soft as they had been before she had left? Was still madly in love with her and wanted her back in his life?

  Leanne stood against the hedge opposite him. She didn’t seem like she was scared off, but she didn’t look happy either. More curious. “So…that would be a yes, then?” she asked.

  Isaac nearly laughed in relief. LA may have changed her, but her sense of humor was still very much intact. “Uh…yeah. That would be a yes.” He was tempted to move in close again and see how she’d feel about a second, longer kiss.

  Until Leanne’s mother suddenly appeared around the corner.

  She wore gardening gloves and held a trimmer. “Oh, I didn’t realize anyone was out here,” she said, stopping mid-stride. Her
gaze bounced from Leanne to Isaac, then back to Leanne, as if trying to gauge if she had interrupted anything. Though there were several feet between the two of them, she must have come to the conclusion that she had indeed interrupted them, and she took a step back. “I can do my pruning later.” She had a guilty expression as she turned to go.

  “I was actually just leaving,” Isaac said, hurrying past Leanne’s mom, anxious to get out of there. He couldn’t trust himself at the moment, or his ability to separate facts from feelings. He’d need to get that sorted out before he visited Leanne again. If there was a second time.

  “Oh, dear, was that you two trying to work things out?” he heard Leanne’s mom say. “And I messed it up by showing up, armed with trimmers, no less. He probably thought I was threatening him; that’s why he left so quickly.” Isaac paused just outside the garden, the hedges separating them. It wasn’t eavesdropping if he took his time leaving, right? She was saying it loud enough that anyone in the vicinity could hear.

  “No, Mom, I don’t think he felt threatened. He just wanted to talk, that’s all.”

  “So…are the rumors true? You two really are broken up for good?”

  A long pause.

  “That’s what it looks like.”

  “Oh, honey,” her mom said. He could imagine her pulling Leanne in for a hug. She had always been a hugger, didn’t matter if she knew you or not. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

  Isaac heard a sniffle. He assumed it was from Leanne, but who knew, her mom could have been just as upset by their breakup as Leanne.

  “I guess I was hoping…that we might…” A sigh. “I guess it was silly for me to think that things could go back to how they were. He came by today because he wanted me to know that he doesn’t blame me for how things turned out—unlike the rest of this crazy town.”

  “I’ve been getting an awful lot of phone calls today,” her mom said, confirming Isaac’s fears. “Most of them are—”

  Isaac missed the next part because someone whispered in his ear, “What did I miss?”

  He was so startled that he stumbled backward, tripped over his own feet, and landed on his butt. For a surfer, he sure was uncoordinated. When he looked up, he saw Jules grinning down at him. “You can’t do that to a guy,” he mumbled.

  She grinned and held out a hand. Isaac took it and pulled himself up. “How did it go?” she asked.

  Isaac released a long sigh and walked back around the house, where they wouldn’t be overheard. He waved a hand toward the children’s garden. “Well, you found me hiding behind a hedge, listening in on a conversation that I wasn’t a part of…so, about that good.” Okay, he could admit that by the end there, it had been eavesdropping.

  “But you told her that everyone knows the wedding of the century is off?”

  Isaac rolled his eyes. Did everyone really have to be so dramatic about it, even Jules? “Yes, I told her. And I might have accidentally leaked that you were also there last night, so you might want to tread carefully. Leanne didn’t seem happy that you’d kept that info from her.”

  “Way to throw me under the bus,” Jules said, folding her arms across her chest.

  He shrugged. “What can I say? Misery loves company. And with how crazy this town is, I need all the company I can get.”

  “They’re not mad at you; it’s Leanne they’re unhappy with.” Jules paused. “It’s all so dumb. So what if you guys were practically married. All you needed was the certificate. And then she left you. Who cares about all that? People break up. It happens.”

  Isaac stared. “That was the worst pep talk I’ve ever heard.”

  “It wasn’t meant to be one,” she said with a grin.

  “And it wasn’t very flattering to your sister, either,” he pointed out. “What we need is to get the town to see her in a better light, so they stop freaking out and leave us alone. I can’t sit out at my lifeguard station anymore without someone coming by and offering their condolences.”

  Jules stared out toward the ocean. “I know,” she said, brightening and spinning in Isaac’s direction. “Just show them that there’s no hard feelings between you two and that you can still be friends, even if you aren’t together. Then they’ll be able to accept that if you can forgive her, so can they. Bada bing bada boom, problem solved.”

  Isaac doubted it would be as easy as all that, but it wasn’t a terrible idea. “How exactly would I go about that?” Maybe he could write a letter—like a proclamation—and he could post it around town.

  Okay, it apparently wasn’t just everyone else that was overdramatic. Must have been a byproduct of living there too long.

  “Let them see you two hanging out around town together. Talking, enjoying yourselves,” Jules said. “Maybe go to the sunset stroll, since everyone will be there.”

  Isaac threw a nervous glance toward the bed and breakfast. Being alone with Leanne he’d enjoyed. Probably more than he should have. But going out in public? “Won’t people see that as a sign that we’re back together? Then this whole fiasco will start all over again.”

  Jules waved a hand through the air like his concerns had no merit. “Don’t walk too close together, no hand holding… You’ll be fine.”

  Would he?

  If Leanne agreed to this craziness, he’d soon find out.

  Isaac paced his living room. He paused and glanced at his phone. Seven-thirty. He’d texted Leanne earlier as he’d walked home from the bed and breakfast. To his surprise, she’d agreed to accompany him to the sunset stroll and abide by the rules he’d outlined.

  Rule number one: They would maintain at least three feet between them at all times.

  Rule number two: No touching. That went along with rule number one.

  Rule number three: If anyone asked if they were back together, Isaac would be the one to answer. He would tell them that no, they weren’t dating, but their friendship was as strong as ever.

  Rule number four: If any other question was asked, Leanne would answer. Help build her PR with the community.

  They’d agreed to meet in town at eight o’clock. Isaac didn’t want people getting any ideas if they were seen leaving his bungalow together. But at 7:40, a knock sounded at his door.

  Isaac crossed the small room in two steps and swung the door open. “Leanne,” he exclaimed. She stood on his porch, his screen door still separating them. Her long hair fell over her shoulders in waves, and she wore a light jacket over a pair of form-fitting jeans. She looked good. More than good.

  “Hi,” Leanne said, giving him a small wave. Her nervous smile faltered when he didn’t say more. “Can I come in?”

  Isaac hesitated. “I thought we’d agreed to meet in town.”

  “I know,” she said, now seeming flustered. “But I got to town early, and people were looking at me weird… Of course that could have been me imagining things… And then I realized I needed to use the bathroom, but all of the shops on the boardwalk are closed and—”

  Isaac cut her off, feeling bad that he hadn’t been more inviting. No matter what the town thought, it was no excuse to be rude. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have made you stand out here and explain yourself.” He pushed the screen door open. “Come on in.”

  “Thank you.” She pushed past him, the scent of her citrus perfume following her. “And I’m sorry for intruding like this.”

  Leanne coming by his bungalow had never been an intrusion in the past, and he didn’t want it to feel like one now. “No need to apologize.” He closed the door, then turned to face Leanne. They stared at each other awkwardly, like they were wondering who would be the one to carry the conversation. It was not lost on Isaac that the last time they’d stood like this, only a few hours earlier, Isaac had kissed her. He wondered if she was thinking of that same moment.

  “So…the bathroom,” Leanne said, breaking the silence.

  “Yes, of course.” He hurried past her and held his arm out like he was displaying a prize on a game show. “It’s down the hall, second d
oor on the left.” He paused at the amused expression she wore. “Which…you already know. Because you’ve been here before.” Heat spread through his cheeks.

  Her light laughter filled the room. “Yeah, I do. I just wasn’t sure if I was still allowed to help myself or if I should wait to be invited since, technically, I am the guest.” She paused. “This is weird.”

  That was one point they could agree on. “Yup.”

  “So…” Leanne pointed down the hallway. “I’m just going to…”

  “Yes,” Isaac said, that one word exploding from his lips. “Please do. Take all the time you need.” A pause. “Not that you need lots of time in there. I’m sure everything is working properly. I just meant…that I’m going to shut up now.” Was his face on fire? Based on the heat pulsing from it, he was going to say yes.

  Leanne’s lips quirked up into a smile. “I won’t feel rushed, thank you.”

  As soon as the bathroom door closed, Isaac buried his face in his hands and groaned. Since when had he become the stumbling, stuttering teenage boy? He’d thought he’d outgrown that stage. Actually, come to think of it, he and Leanne had been together for so long, he didn’t think he’d even hit that stage. By the time they were teenagers, there had been no need to be nervous because they’d been best friends for several years already.

  It wasn’t more than a minute or two before Leanne reemerged, and he hoped she hadn’t hurried to prove that no, she didn’t need a lot of time in the bathroom. She had a strange look on her face, though, like she wanted to say something but didn’t know how. It wasn’t one of Leanne’s typical expressions.

  “Is everything okay?” he asked as she paused at the edge of the living room.

  She studied him for another moment before she slowly said, “I was going to ask you the same thing.”

  Isaac’s mind raced as he tried to figure out what she could mean by that. What had changed in the three minutes since she’d gone in to use the toilet?

  When he didn’t answer, she continued. “I know it’s none of my business…”