Brittney shifted in her seat. “It’s supposed to be a cautionary tale.” She tilted her head towards Karleigh with a look that said,Don’t give her any ideas.
Alice scrambled. “It is—there are always consequences for our actions. But I think it also says that you can turn even the most awful circumstances into something beautiful.”That was a little close to home. Alice’s whole childhood could be summed up by the termawful circumstances… and yet she was here, in Brittney’s home, working beside her and feeling like she belonged. Not everyone issued the same courtesies, but perhaps some of Alice’s efforts to make a name for herself were paying off. Her cheeks burning, Alice shuffled papers around.
“Would you read through my paper before I turn it in?” asked Karleigh.
Pleased, Alice said, “I’d love to.”
Karleigh stuck her finger between the pages. “I’m going to read in my room where it’s quiet.” She was halfway out of the kitchen when Alice noticed her phone on the table. She pointed at it, and Brittney put a finger over her mouth.
Once Karleigh had disappeared into the vast house set on Resort Drive, Brittney placed her hand on Alice’s forearm. “I think she really intends to read. Thank you.”
Alice blushed. “It was nothing.”
“That whole bit about the rock and roll, that was brilliant.”
Alice grinned. “Maybe my view of Hester Prynne isn’t the same as the rest of the world’s, but that’s what’s wonderful about books—they speak to many different people.”
Brittney repositioned her papers. “I wish they had someone like you at the library. Karleigh’s scared to go in there. Lillian terrifies her.”
Alice chuckled. “Lillian does have a stiff bark. And I’d love to work there, but there aren’t any positions, and I’m not after someone’s job. Besides, I’m still in school.” She glanced down at the planning sheets before her. “Have we covered everything?”
Brittney nodded. “Yes, we’ve figured out the prizes for the fishing pond and beanbag toss, scheduled the volunteers, completed the layout of the games, and you got Karleigh to read her book.”
Alice stood and gathered her things. “Then I should be going. I have early inventory in the morning.”
Brittney saw her through the expansive living room and grand entryway. “Thanks for all your help.”
“Anytime.” Alice’s soul hummed, happy to have helped Karleigh with her English assignment. She’d spent the night with people she respected and who in turn respected her. Which blew her away, considering that they lived right next to the ski resort and she lived in a small apartment. Maybe she’d been guilty of judging the Brenemans because of their wealth, just like others judged her because of her lack of wealth.
Hmm, something to think about …
Just as she found the key fob to unlock her door, she heard a large car turn the corner. The autumn sun had set, but the interior lights were on in the car, giving Alice enough light to make out Russ and a woman sitting closely in the back seat. Her stomach twisted.
Gabriella Green talked a mile a minute while taking liberties by running her hand up and down Russ’s arm and across his shoulder. He turned to Gabriella with that playful tilt to his mouth that Alice had believed was for her and her alone, and he said something that had Gabriella laughing.
For Alice, standing on the curb and watching this transpire was like watching the White Top Mountain Horror Show. Her body trembled, and her mouth went dry. At the last second, she ducked behind her car, gulping in breaths and hoping Russ hadn’t seen her gawking at the two of them.
They drove past, not slowing, and Alice let out a sigh of relief as she climbed into her car. Settling behind the steering wheel, she gave it her best scowl. Maybe she should take a lesson from Hester Prynne and find a small cabin in the woods to hide away.
Mentally shaking herself, Alice started the car. One date and some laughter didn’t mean Russ was in love with Gabriella or that Gabriella was in love with Russ. Gabriella would be gone in a few days, back to her life of glitz and glam, and things would return to normal.
She groaned. Normal was no longer enough. Not with her thoughts centered on Russ’s strong frame and penetrating brown eyes, nor with his fingers grazing her cheek and lower back. How was it possible to crave something you’d never tasted?
Alice didn’t have the answer, but she did have a hankering for a huge slice of the café’s chocolate cream pie. “At least there’s one yearning I can count on satisfying tonight.” She flipped on her blinker and headed to the Blue Shadow Café.
Chapter Nine
Russ hurried to get the last lines of scene two out of his head and onto the page. His afternoon was productive, and he looked forward to a good round of edits in the morning.
With any luck, he’d be able to give act II to Alice in a couple days. She read all his work first. Her vast background in literature gave her a masterful grasp of story and plot. She never expressed a desire to create stories. No, her desire was to consume stories, her mind brilliantly capable of retaining every one.
He smiled, already picturing her reaction to the banter between the hero and heroine. He couldn’t wait to read through the lines with her, adding a touch or a twitch of an eyebrow here and there. She was so good at becoming a part of what she read, like the words he wrote created delicate swirls in her thoughts that she spun into magic. If he had anyone to thank for getting him to this level, it would be her.
Clicking save, he shoved his chair back and stretched his neck before ducking into his room to finish getting ready for his second date with Gabriella.
Gabriella was … intense. Gabriella had all these ideas about Hollywood and screenplays, and the figures she threw around were pretty impressive. He could afford to live in Hollywood if he made that kind of money. He’d written a screenplay back in college as a course project. The rom-com wasn’t anything outstanding, but with a little work, he could make it saleable.
There was one big rain cloud hanging over his head. He was cheating at life, and he knew it.
