Because Maddywasgood and honest and true—and he was letting her get away, why, exactly?
What excuse had he given her?
Because he wasn’t a Hollywood type of guy?
Weak. Feeble. Downright pathetic.
What was his fear here, really? That she would long for her career if she gave it up?
The truth was, he didn’t think sheshouldgive it up.
But really, that was up to her.
What about him, then? If he wanted to be with her, where would he fit?
Say it turned out the way he was so sure it would. Say that, given more time to consider her own future, she realized that she just wasn’t ready to quit, that she wanted to make more movies?
The real question for him was could he live with that? Could he maybe go visit her on location now and then, do what he needed to do to help Karin and his dad with the Boatworks and also kind of keep the home fires burning in Bel Air?
Why not?
Seriously. Why the hell not?
For a woman like Maddy, the least he could do was learn to be a little damn flexible.
If she would even have him now.
If he wasn’t already too late.
He got out his phone to text her. Fine drops of rain spattered the dark screen as he stared down at it, finger poised to swipe.
But he didn’t swipe.
Because a text or a phone call?
Uh-uh. That wouldn’t be near enough.
Leaving his empty mug on the arm of his chair, Sten jumped to his feet and ran back inside to grab the keys to his truck.
* * *
It was a ten-minute drive to Valentine Bay Executive Airport.
He made it in seven. Yeah, he was begging for a speeding ticket. But a miracle happened and he didn’t get stopped.
Tires squealing, he spun into the small parking lot at the airfield and slammed to a stop beside the familiar Subaru. It was empty now, just waiting for some guy from the rental place to come pick it up. The rain fell, soft and steady.
He turned off the engine and jumped out just in time to see a Gulfstream lift off the end of the runway and sail upward into the gray sky. It had to be her.
And that meant he was too late.
With his heart like a lump of lead in his chest, he watched the plane vanish from his sight.
He’d blown it. She was gone. He hung his head and let the disappointment wash over him.
Now what?
He wasn’t giving up, but it was going to take some work to get to her. Yeah, it was only what he deserved for being the world’s biggest dumb-ass, but still.
