Aurelie really couldn’t wait to tell everyone about the man she’d met and what she’d read in the gossip rag.Normally, they laughed off thenewsshe brought them from the paper, but this time it was more or less corroborated in theBanberry Times.They’d have to listen, and then Aurelie would have an army to help her combat this threat.
She headed into the neighboring room that housed Owen’s bar.As she opened the red blend they kept stocked for Sunday dinners, she paid attention to the light acoustic music and the easy conversation peppered with laughter from her friends that accompanied it.
Was there anything better than this?
The bell interrupted her thoughts again.
Hmmm.Who else had they invited to join them?Paige and Brad’s parents were in Europe on a river cruise, and no one else frequented these dinners except Steve and Jackie every now and then.Knowing how much wine Steve could put down, she almost preemptively got out a third bottle, but froze when she heard a voice that sent chills down her spine and heat pooling in her belly simultaneously.The result was dizzying.
Putting down the glasses, Aurelie snuck to the edge of the doorway and eavesdropped, feeling silly and furious at the same time.
That damned actor.
That damnedcuteactor, her subconscious snuck in, to her further frustration.
“Ha!Jace Michaels as we live and breathe.Nice to see you, man.I think I vaguely recall you saying you’d die before coming back here,” Brad said.
“Nah.Just my dad.”The room got quiet until Jace laughed.“Sorry.Bad joke.But yeah, for what it’s worth, I’m glad to be back.”
“I know my sister always hoped you’d come back, seeing as how she’s the first in line every time one of your films makes it to our theater.”
Paige turned bright red and thwacked her brother on the shoulder.
“I can’t believe you’re back in Banberry, Jace,” Paige said, her voice light and airy.“And please ignore my idiot brother.He hasn’t matured since you left.”
Back?Aurelie’s chest roiled; they knew this man was here and didn’t see the threat he posed?
At least you have a name now.
Who cares if she had a name?She didn’t need to know what to call him when she asked him to get the hell away from her friends.
But no, he was making his way aroundherfamily, ingratiating himself with them one by one so maybe they wouldn’t notice when he snatched their property out from under them to build his horrific hotel chain.
“I’m mature, just not starstruck like you, Paige.Our famous neighbor is in your living room.”Brad winked at her.“Sorry, Owen, but this is her first crush.”
“Well, if it eases the tension, I’m just as impressed to be in the same room as Bradley Connors,” Jace said.“I never thought I’d be jealous of another guy from Banberry, but you’ve been kicking ass, bud.”
Brad had the audacity to laugh, as if this stranger hadn’t just insulted him in front of his family.
“Thanks.Means a lot coming from you.Still surprised to see you around these parts again, though.You’ve been doing some good things down south, huh?”
It seemed as if her family hadn’t seen the news yet.When they did, their reception wouldn’t be as warm.
“I’m doing okay.Thinking about making a change, but not sure to what.Anyway, congrats on the series.Jewel Thiefwas one of my favorite book series sinceJack Ryancame out.I can’t believe Jones got hold of it before I could.And no offense about the Banberry thing.”
“None taken.At some point, we all hoped we’d get to kick this place and not look back.Just glad you finally did.”
Aurelie watched the exchange with trepidation and awe from the doorway, having not been noticed yet.The man who’d run her off the road had been cold, almost clinical when she’d spoken with him afterward.This version of Jace looked at home in her family’s space, leaning against the bar like he was holding it up, a gentle smile on his face.At some point, he’d been handed a beer.Aurelie’s fingertips tingled, watching him put the glass to his lips and draw from the bottle.
Why did the man have to be so damned attractive?She wanted to interject, to wipe what she assumed was a smug smile off his face, but her family wasn’t paying any attention to her.No, she was invisible now that the interloper had joined them.To make matters worse, Paige looked relaxed and happy with the stranger in a way she hadn’t been with Aurelie in some time.She nudged Jace with her hip, and he cooed over Maddie.
It made Aurelie sick.But she’d be patient, listen to what she could so she could tell them what she’d learned when the time was right.
“Well, the fourth installment is coming up, and we don’t have anyone locked in,” Brad said, hope lining his voice.Anger boiled in her bloodstream as she imagined Brad trusting this guy with his work, only to be stabbed in the back when the freeloader took his farm from underneath him.
She stormed up to him, her cheeks and blood on fire.Forget waiting.This man needed to leave.Now.
“Who do you think you are, acting like you care about these people!You just got here, and you’ve already done enough, haven’t you?”Maddie screeched in Paige’s arms.Aurelie hadn’t meant to yell, but damned if this man didn’t make her feel everything on a heightened level, anger notwithstanding.
