“Well, you can believe her all you want,” Grace said. “But there’s a whole bunch of media who aren’t giving her the benefit of the doubt, and they’re not going to give up until they find her.”
Levi frowned. “Then we’ll just have to make sure that doesn’t happen.”
eight
Mia shifted on the chaise in her room, the new memoir propped on her lap. She was having trouble focusing tonight. She’d turned down lunch, and now she was starving.
There were few restaurants that delivered in this town, so she’d settled on pizza. She knew Levi would be glad to run and grab her something, but even though she was paying for his services, he was an innkeeper, not an errand boy. Besides, she didn’t like owing people. Didn’t want to feel obligated.
As they had so often these past couple days, her thoughts turned to the scandal. She’d buried her head in the sand long enough; she was going to have to call Jax. This scandal wasn’t going away, so she needed the truth to be exposed. And that started with Jax.
A tapping sounded on the door, and she set aside her book and answered.
“Pizza delivery.” Levi smiled over a small cardboard box. He’d added a plate and silverware rolled inside a napkin.
Mia opened the door for him, and he slipped past and set the box on the table beside the chaise, then handed her a brown leather volume. “Dorothy’s journal.”
Heart dancing a jig, Mia took the book. Her grandmother’s diary. She traced her fingers over the wordJournaletched into the material.
After arranging the plate and silverware Levi asked, “What can I bring you to drink?”
“I’m all set. Thank you, though.” She walked him to the door. “I keep feeling like I should tip you or something, but I’ve always been told you don’t tip the owner.”
“You were told right.” He stopped in the doorway. “So listen. I wanted you to know we’ve stepped up security a little around here. We’ll be keeping the doors locked so people can’t just drop in. Your room key will get you in and out, of course.”
“Well, I can’t exactly be wandering the streets anyway, can I?”
“I’m always available for transportation. You mentioned hiking before, and we have some great trails around here. I can drive you to the trailheads. There are other hikers, of course, but if you wear your disguise, I think you’ll be all right.”
“I might do that. I’m already going a little stir-crazy. I’m not used to having so much time to think.” She gave him a conspiratorial grin, and he met it with one of his own. His eyes were a beautiful shade of clear blue, and though he couldn’t yet be thirty, he had little crinkles at the corners of his eyes.
“Well...” He shifted awkwardly, his cheeks going pink. “I don’t want your pizza getting cold.”
“Thank you, Levi.” Mia gave him a genuine smile. “For everything. I really do appreciate it.”
“My pleasure, Mia.”
She pushed the door and it closed with a soft littleknick. Her heart was beating too hard for someone who’d only gotten up to answer the door.
Get it together, Mia.
Sure, the innkeeper was too cute for his own good, but what could they possibly have in common?
What was she saying? She had an ex-fiancé and a married supposed-lover. She didn’t even need to be thinking about another man right now.
Mia ate an extra slice of pizza not because she was savoring the taste of the treat—although she was—but because she was dreading what she had to do next. She closed the empty box and set it aside.
It was nine o’clock on a Monday night, a good time to call Jax. He had a standing poker night with his buddies when he wasn’t filming. It would be best to catch him when he wasn’t with Emma. Would he even answer her call? She briefly thought of using the inn’s phone, but the area code would show up.
She could block her number, but the chances of his answering were better if he knew it was her rather than some obsessive fan. He was a nice guy, after all. She’d considered him a friend after working on the film with him all these weeks. They’d had some great times together, some good conversations. She didn’t know what was happening on his end since the scandal had broken, but she thought he’d be willing to discuss it with her.
She grabbed her phone and stood, needing to pace. Actually, she needed fresh air and lots of it. She slid open the balcony door and stepped outside. The sultry breeze hit her flesh, but it felt good after the too-cool room. The wind whispered through leaves, carrying the smell of burning wood. Some family must be enjoying a bonfire.
For a moment she let herself envy the imagined family—a tight-knit unit, sharing a lakeside vacation, their biggest worry if someone had brought the Hershey bars for the s’mores. She tried to imagine her mom and grandparents in that scenario, but the image didn’t quite gel.
Her eyes drifted to the horizon as she let loose a sigh. The sun had recently set over the lake, and the darkening sky was swathed in hues of pink and purple. It was a beautiful sight, and she took a moment to appreciate it.
Oh, who was she kidding? She was just stalling. This was so awkward. Jax had kissed her, after all, and she’d rebuffed him, and now it had turned into this hugething.This huge,publicthing.
