Here, she was truly alone.
Until now, she’d never noticed the absence of relationships in her life. Never missed not having someone to come home to. She’d been too busy trying to take the world by storm. But since leaving Dry Creek Ranch…leaving Sawyer…the emptiness had made her feel hollower than the show business she pretended to love.
“You know what, Linda, I think I’ll go out to lunch.” She pressed the intercom on her desk and asked Darby to come to her office.
A few minutes later, Darby popped her head through the doorway. “What can I do for you?”
“Could you book me a charter flight? I’d like to leave as soon as possible.”
“I’ll get right on it.”
The look of shock on Linda’s face was priceless. “What about all these offers?” She bobbed her head at the clutter of contracts and paperwork strewn across the conference table. “I thought—weren’t we planning to sort through them? And where are you going?”
“I suddenly have a yen for chicken and waffles.”
She slung her purse over her shoulder and left the building. Four hours later she was preparing for takeoff.
* * * *
Sawyer pulled into the parking lot of a law office along PCH near Malibu. Gina lived somewhere around here but he didn’t have the address. And in general, celebrities were unlisted. He had no reason to believe Gina would be any different.
He searched for the location of her office building and studio on his phone, figuring he’d have better luck finding one of those. But it was late, past nine, and he doubted she’d still be there.
He’d driven straight through from Dry Creek Ranch, stopping only once at a rest area to take a leak. Even with a traffic backup in the valley, he’d made excellent time.
Contemplating the wisdom of calling his mother for the address, he decided it would be better to phone Gina herself. Give her a heads-up because who knew what kind of security she had?
Plus, just showing up without any notice might not be the best strategy.
He took a deep breath and punched in her number, girding himself. There was a good chance she’d tell him to go home. If she did, he’d have to go to plan B, because he wasn’t leaving until she heard him out.
“Where are you?” she answered, surprising him.
“In a parking lot on Pacific Coast Highway, not far from your house. I think. What’s the address and I’ll come over.”
There was a long pause. She was going to tell him not to come. He’d insist that they at least meet at a restaurant. What he had to say wouldn’t take long.
“The problem is I’m not there,” she finally said. “I’m here.”
“Where’s here?”
“Your barn loft apartment. I’ve been waiting for you for hours.”
He scrubbed his hand down his face, surprised.
“Okay, I’ll turn around and come home.” He’d fly if it wasn’t for the fact that he had his Range Rover.
It took a few minutes, but it dawned on him to ask why. Why was she in Dry Creek?
But before he could ask she said, “Charlie said you were here this morning. Your car’s gone. Did you just get to LA?”
“About an hour ago, if you count the valley. How about you?”
“I flew in this afternoon.”
“Why?”
“The same thing could be asked of you…Unless you were visiting your parents.”
