He gave a hard sigh. Getting that girl to sit down and fill out college applications was becoming a real bear. He knew it could be a little daunting with the essay questions, but Grace was a good writer—even a bit of a perfectionist. And computers were her second language. He felt like a nag, but he had to keep after her until she got it done. Fall would be here before they knew it.
He made two fried bologna sandwiches, even though he didn’t know when Mia would come downstairs, and scarfed his down.
When he was finished he considered replying to Thomas at FC. But he couldn’t focus on that right now when he was on standby, waiting to see if Mia needed to leave.
He felt a pinch in his chest at the thought of her departure. He was just feeling protective because she was his guest, that was all. When she was there, under his roof, he could keep the outside world out.
But he couldn’t protect her from the ravages of gossip.
He couldn’t imagine having his reputation wrecked for the whole world to see. Not to mention the havoc it could wreak on her career. She was a strong woman to hold up under all that. No doubt she had a supportive network of people: friends and professionals. But here she was all alone, and that had to be hard.
His fingers twitched to Google the scandal and see what had her so upset. What they were up against. But he wouldn’t do it. If she wanted him to know she’d tell him.
Instead he went to the front desk to check on next week’s reservations. Mia would be gone by then. The sudden thought made him feel flat. But he pushed through. He had bigger worries.
The inn was only half full next week. Those ads couldn’t hit soon enough. He would’ve scheduled them earlier in the year, but his maxed-out credit card hadn’t allowed the expenditure.
The floor creaked above him, and footsteps sounded on the stairwell.
His heart stuttering, he ran a hand through his hair and leaned on the counter in a way that flexed his biceps. Then he rolled his eyes.
She’s Mia Emerson, idiot. She could have any guy she wanted.Including Jax Jordan, apparently.
He didn’t have much time to castigate himself because she rounded the corner, her hand still on the newel at the bottom.
Her hair was down around her shoulders now, but it was her face that drew his attention. Her eyes were bloodshot and puffy, her lashes still damp. Despite her distress, her shoulders were straight, her bearing almost regal.
He came around the counter. “You all right?”
“I’m fine. We’ll get it all sorted out eventually.”
“Do you need to leave?”
“Nolan thinks it’s best if I stay—if that’s still all right.”
“Of course. You’ve got the whole place until Sunday.”
She looked down then, her long lashes brushing the tops of her cheeks. When she looked back at him, he got caught in those mossy green eyes. He could see why she’d made it so far in the business. She was beautiful, yes. But there was something beneath the beauty... vulnerability. She was also a little guarded. He sensed she had layers like an onion, and it made him want to peel them away one by one.
“I didn’t do it,” she said softly.
It took him a minute to get on the same page. The scandal. Jax Jordan.
“I know you don’t know me, but that’s not who I am.”
He was surprised she even cared what he thought. But maybe she could use someone in her corner. Someone who wasn’t a world away in Hollywood.
“I believe you,” he said.
She searched his eyes for a long-drawn-out moment. “Why?”
He couldn’t exactly tell her Molly had eavesdropped on her phone call with Jax Jordan. Anyway, he’d believed Mia even before that.
“I’m a good judge of character. And you don’t strike me as the type of person who’d try and seduce another woman’s husband.”
“I played exactly that type of person on the big screen, you know. Anyway, I’m an actress. Maybe I can make you believe whatever I want you to believe.”
It was the guardedness talking. But it didn’t put him off. Only made him more curious about why she kept that wall so high.
