Well, that was fun. Harlow faced Big Green. Liar or not, she had to get a handle on things if she wanted the CCW job. She cringed as the needle swung far—very far—to the right. Oh. Wow. She had no idea. If this scale lied, it lied big!
She felt punched and, frankly, sad. Not because she’d eaten all the forbidden foods of her childhood or rebelled against the standards of her mother and the modeling world, but for giving Xander and her emotions so much power.
Grabbing a shopping cart, she crossed several things off her list—pint of ice cream, peanuts, chocolate syrup—and aimed for the produce section, her confidence from the morning with Matt waning.
Maybe Mom was right. Harlow Hayes needed her.
“Hey, H, are you following me?” Matt strolled toward her with his silver-screen smile. She felt nervous, as if Big Green had plastered her weight on her forehead. But Matt’s attention and smilefaded as he noticed the cashier. “Trinity. Hello. I didn’t know you were back in Sea Blue Beach. It’s been a long time since—”
“Let’s not reminisce and pretend, Matt.” Trinity took Harlow’s check, then jotted down her driver’s license number without a blink at her name, cashed her out, and handed over the short receipt. “Have a nice day.”
Harlow exited the register lane with a glance between Matt and the slender woman with even features and tawny skin.
“What’s the story behind that icy exchange?” she whispered.
“Nothing. Look, I need to cash a check. The line at the bank was too long. Wait for me?”
Harlow rested against the end of a closed cash register, the number on the big green scale running through her mind. If she was serious about CCW, she’d have to lose at least forty pounds. After the meeting, they’d ask for another ten. Even then, she’d be fifteen pounds above her supermodel weight.
Did she want to rejoin the grind? Get back into the world of haute couture, rabbit food, and protruding bones? Yes. Because it seemed to be the best way to break Xander’s hold on her.
At customer service, Matt chatted with the man behind the counter and Harlow Hayes wondered what it’d be like to lean against Matt’s thick chest.
She startled when the magazine vendor stocking the aisle dropped the most recent issue ofPeopleat her feet. Xander and Davina were on the cover, alongside the headline,The Coles’ Amazing Wedding Plans. Page 21.
Harlow squinted at the image, bending for a closer look. Oh my gosh, Davina was wearing Harlow’s Van Cleef & Arpels Amoureux diamond watch. The one Xander gave her on their first anniversary.“Magic,”he’d said.“We’re magic together.”
When hefinallytalked to her after the breakup, he told her it was lost.
Air. She needed air.
“Matt, I’ll see you later, okay?” She started for the exit, feelingnervous and full of her failures, but slowed when she heard the familiar whir of a camera shutter.
Paparazzi? In Sea Blue Beach? She scanned the front of the store for a photographer. Listened for more shutter sounds. Except for Matt signing a few autographs, the magazine vendor, a cashier stocking gum and candy, and Trinity, who was cleaning her register, the store was empty.
“Harlow, wait.” Matt jogged toward her. “Is everything okay?”
“Xander and Davina are on the cover ofPeople. I was on the cover with him once. ‘The Billionaire and the Beauty.’ I don’t get it, Matt. Of all the things he told me about her, I can’t believe he . . . well, they were high school sweethearts. It’s hard to compete with that kind of history.” Now that she started talking, Harlow couldn’t stop. “Did you see a photographer anywhere? I thought I heard a shutter click. Next week I’ll probably be on the cover ofNational Enquirer.” She was shaking, fighting tears.
“Hey, hey, Harlow, it’s going to be all right. Don’t let Xander get to you. He’s a putz. So is she.” Matt wrapped her in his arms, as if he’d done so a thousand times. “Let’s get your stuff home and then have a little Blue Plate therapy.”
“Thanks but no thanks.” She freed herself and headed for the exit. “I just stepped on the big green scale, so I won’t be eating until 1988.”
“Very funny, H. You have to eat to lose weight, and this isn’t about food. Where’s your car? Did you walk?” He retrieved her bags from the cart and pointed to his Porsche. “We’ll drop these at your place, then go to the Blue Plate for a Diet Coke or iced tea.”
“Why are you so nice to me, Matt? And I should remind you that you’re myboss.”
“Okay, let’s drop the boss business.” He closed the trunk and walked around to the passenger door. “Why wouldn’t I be nice, H? Besides, it’s time to shed my bad-boy ways.” He glanced at her. “I’m not that guy.”
“Thank goodness you’ve come to that revelation.” Matt held her hand as she folded into the passenger seat. “And you’re nice to me because the former Most Beautiful Woman in the World is a mockery. A punch line.”
“Are you? ’Cause I’m not laughing.”
14
MATT
The diner was quiet, waiting for the lunch rush. Miss Beulah, a friend of Granny’s, manned the Blue Plate’s hostess stand today, making napkin rolls.
