“Famous people are just people, like everyone else, Wyatt. And a lot of them—Harper excluded—aren’t all that nice. They’ve gotten so used to everyone giving them whatever they want, whenever they want it, that they can be difficult to be around.”
“Is that why you came up here? To get away from them?” Ash asks.
“In a way, yes. I’ve been there my whole life and I needed a change of scenery,” I tell him. “When you boys grow up, you’ll probably want to go see the world, and while that’s a good thing, what you’ve got here is pretty special, too, and I predict you’ll only learn to appreciate it more.”
He gives me a skeptical look. “If it’s so special, why don’t you move here?”
“I … well … because my job is there,” I say, unable to come up with a better answer. The truth is that I may have to go back to practicing law, at least until I can come up with something else.
“I thought you wanted to be a writer,” Wyatt says. “Can’t you do that anywhere?”
“I do, but it’s a bit of a long shot.”
Moira appears with our lunches, saving me from further questions from the peanut gallery. As I eat, I find myself amused at the fact that a ten-year-old was able to back me into a corner so easily. It’s a sure sign that my days as an entertainment lawyer are over. I may have to become a real estate lawyer or something.
Chapter21
Moira
At five o’clock, I grab my purse from behind the counter and tell Abigail, “I’m heading out. I’ll see you in the morning.”
“You going out on a date with lover boy?” She puckers up her lips together in a kissy face.
Halting in my tracks, I stutter, “L—lover boy? Who’s that?”
She shoots me a look of such incredulity, I almost confess on the spot. “Ethan? The writer who sits at table six day in and day out and stares at you like he wants to eat you for dinner?”
“What? No!” I wave my hand in front of my face as though batting at a swarm of mosquitos. “Don’t be ridiculous. We’re just friends.” I compound my lie by adding, “Actually, we aren’t even that. He’sHarper’sfriend.”
Abigail shakes her head, causing her thick, black ponytail to bounce around her shoulders. “You lie like a frozen dog turd.”
I do, but I don’t want her to know that. “I don’t have time for a man, Abigail. You know that.”
She rolls her eyes. “You don’t have time for a tall, rich, and handsome lawyer? Shoot, Moira,Ihave time for him, and I’m happily married.”
Nervous laughter erupts out of my mouth. “Then maybeyoushould date him.”
“Maybe I will,” she taunts.
“Have a good time!” I wave as I turn around and stride toward the front door. Almost immediately, I feel Ethan behind me. Before he can say anything, I practically hiss, “Turn in the other direction and walk away from me. Abigail is onto us.”
“I was thinking the same thing. Your excuse for us both walking out of the storage closet at the same time didn’t sound overly convincing.”
“Why? I might have needed your help reaching the toilet paper.”
He shakes his head. “The toilet paper was on the bottom shelf.”
“Drive down the road and make the turn for your cabin. I’ll meet you there,” I tell him.
Ethan does as he’s been bid, but I sit in my truck for a minute, wondering what the heck I’ve gotten myself involved in. I’m not sure I can casually date, let alone a guy like him. He’s the kind of man my Grandma Adele used to call a game changer. Meaning he makes an impact. And boy howdy, what an impact he’s making.
I pull out of the parking lot and drive the short distance to the road where Ethan lives. My senses are on hyper alert, and my skin feels like it’s being invaded by an army of ants. I’m either prickling with fear or excitement. Maybe a little bit of both. When I see Ethan’s car parked by the side of the road, I veer off and park behind him.
Turning off the ignition, I take a deep breath and put my hand on the door handle to get out, but he’s already there, opening it for me. Reaching into the car, he asks, “Why don’t you just come up to my place?”
“Not possible.”
His eyebrows arch in question, so I explain, “As the latest resident of Gamble, you’re currently the most interesting person in town.” I take his hand and let him help me out. “I’m willing to bet more than one pair of binoculars are aimed at your front door.”