Something new, p.8
Something New, page 8
No, his real issue happened the next year when he got hurt in a game, the injury that sent his career to the sidelines forever. He needed her by his side and she chose Hollywood, her dreams over his, when his future was dead. She could blame Honey or whomever she wanted, but the bottom line was she didn’t care enough about him to come home. Instead, she was out on the red carpet with A-list actors, making a name for herself, attending parties, being seen and climbing the acting ladder. Meanwhile, he was in a physical therapy clinic learning how to walk without a limp and trying to figure out what his next steps were, what a life without professional football was like.
When he first saw her on the ferry, it was a like a sucker punch to the gut. She was still beautiful, like an earth mother, all curves and sexy lines. Yet, there was a remoteness about her, a cool isolation in the space around her that made him want to step inside that bubble and gather her up so she wouldn’t be lonely again. She never once said she was lonely but somewhere deep inside, he could sense it. She was not alone, but she was lonely and had no idea how to get out of the trap. Maybe she didn’t want to. She certainly had the armor built strong and tight against letting anyone inside. He saw it from the first time she saw him on the ferry. She pulled on a role and played it perfectly with him, then another with her nasty fans, being all gracious and kind. Then she turned again at the house, one-part kind and sweet and friendly to Caroline, the perfect bridesmaid, then pushing everyone away from her, lashing out at Delaney before Delaney could hurt her again. Lashing out at Wyatt before he could hurt her again.
No, Anna was wound tighter than a wet boot and she was slowly strangling as a result. The question was, did he care and, if he did, what was he going to do about it? At the end of the week, she was going to head back to LA and her career while he would head back to UT and coaching. They were at an impasse, not that she had shown him any indication that she wanted to start up where they had left off.
It would be better if he kept his distance, steel his heart against her pain and let her deal with it on her own. After all, wasn’t she dating that big shot now, Derek Harper, the pretty boy who had no idea what a real cowboy did? He was an embarrassment in his last movie, a western that supposedly made him an up-and-coming star. Wyatt would have thought Anna would have seen through that, having spent time on his family’s ranch. But, clearly, she had changed.
And so had he. He had to remember that next time he found himself softening toward her. He had to remember they had no future, and their past was filled with pain and regret. Time to move on. This week would be good for one thing. He could find a way to confront his past, deal with it, and maybe, finally, move on so he could have a future.
Now to keep Anna at arm’s length and not get sucked back in.
Chapter Seven
Anna barely slept at all Sunday night, despite the soothing sounds of the ocean. She used a sound machine back home that simulated the sound of the water, the waves hitting the shore, the birds, the wind. While she was from the suburbs of Houston, she had never slept better than when she was on Whitby Island. The sound machine was a poor second choice, but it was her only one. She hated the silence of sleeping alone. It made her feel even more isolated and lonely than she already was and, in the middle of the night, well, loneliness came calling stronger than at any other time, along with regrets and recriminations.
By the time the sun had peeked over the horizon, Anna gave up on sleep and rolled out of bed. She might as well go for a run and keep up with her exercise routine while she could. If they were going to eat the way they ate last night, well, Anna would need extra workouts to maintain her figure. She had always had a little extra padding in spots, curvy and sexy were the taglines her agent used, although Yvonne cautioned her on not going over to voluptuous. Film stars were not voluptuous at her age, so Anna followed a strict exercise regimen designed to keep her figure as best she could, to fool people into thinking she was younger than her age. Not that she was old at twenty-eight but she was already being compared to the early twenty-somethings who were up and coming, the fresh young faces who were eyed for roles over her. It also allowed her to work out her frustrations with kickboxing, martial arts, and running. For now, she’d settle for running.
She stretched on the lawn and hit the beach just as the sun had fully risen, hanging low in the sky, casting rays of light over the water. She sat on the sand for several minutes, enjoying the peace and silence. She wrapped her arms around her legs and propped her chin on her knees and slowed her breathing, meditating like her yoga instructor had taught her. Clearing her mind proved more difficult than she had expected, especially when every thought turned to Wyatt.
Damn, that man invaded her dreams after only one day. If she was this hot and bothered after one night, how would she be by the wedding? She could swear she could even smell his unique scent, male and sexy. She sighed. It really had been too long since she’d had sex if she was imagining a male scent on the wind. Just a faint scent was messing with her concentration. When she got back home, she had to find someone to date, if she could find someone trustworthy.
“I didn’t expect to see you out here this early. Don’t actresses party all night and sleep all day?” Wyatt’s voice spoke from a few feet behind her, startling Anna.
She twisted around on the sand to see Wyatt standing in athletic shorts and a white cotton t-shirt, obviously having the same goal in mind. A run on the beach. Whitby Island was not big enough for the two of them.
“You’re thinking about vampires. I have early filming calls so I’m often up and on the road well before now. I rarely stay out late because of early calls.” Anna swung her legs around to get up and Wyatt held out a hand. She studied it for a long second, then took it and let him help her to her feet. She casually brushed the sand off her legs, avoiding his stare. When she finally looked up at him, unnerved by his prolonged silence, he wore a puzzled expression.
“So, how do you have the time to go to all of those night clubs, dancing half the night away, and party with all of those people?”
She grinned, genuinely amused. “I guess my PR campaign is working. I’ll have to tell my agent, although, to be honest, I think it’s working too well. Most of those situations are setups, publicity stunts to garner the most attention for the actors and for the places where we’re seen. It’s a mutually beneficial arrangement.”
“Arranged parties and stunts?”
She kept smiling, enjoying his confusion. “Not exactly. It can be quite fun, but it’s tiring after a while. I mean, the media is out there looking for you to make a mistake or trying to find a situation where you can look your worst. By setting stuff up, we control what they get and, if we set up a few risqué things, then the media thinks they’re getting a scoop.”
This time, he looked outraged. “So, you’re manipulating them?”
“I guess, but it lets me have some privacy at other times. If we assure them access, they won’t have to chase us down at other times. It was my agent’s idea, a way to coordinate the publicity so we could control the message. Obviously, it worked. You believed it.”
He shook his head, brow furrowed. “I can’t believe you let your agent pimp you out like this. It’s dishonest.”
She laughed. “Seriously? You don’t think professional athletes don’t do this too? You don’t think you might have had to do this once you became a starter, especially if you had a public relations issue? Trust me, anyone in the public eye has to do this.”
She walked toward the water, staying just shy of the hard-packed sand so her running shoes wouldn’t get wet by the rushing waves. “You’re being naive, Wyatt. The media is everywhere, no matter where you go. Hell, they could be lurking right over the sand dune. And, keep in mind, I’m not even a big star, just small potatoes, although my media campaign has assured me of a pretty strong following in the press. Bottom line, this is life as I know it.”
She began to stretch, having lost all of the benefits of her earlier stretching when she decided to meditate in the sand. Wyatt joined her, saying nothing until they had finished. He quirked a brow down the private beach that circled around the island toward town. “Want to run together?”
She glanced down the shore, biting her lower lip. Heading toward town could be risky. If anyone knew she was here, she could meet fans or, worse, media and people who were looking to make a buck with pictures of Anna. The other direction was more isolated, a slightly rougher beach path but more private.
“I think I’ll go this way.”
He quirked a grin. “Afraid to run with me? Or something else? I’m not stylish enough to be seen with you?” His sardonic gaze traveled down her Upside leggings and top, the floral print adding a touch of feminine to her workout gear. “Are you running or trying to walk a runway?”
She struck a pose as if he were a cameraman. “I’ll have you know this is the top of line exercise wear many of the top actresses are wearing right now.”
“How much did they pay you to wear that?”
She flushed as his words hit home. She might not have been paid to wear this line but she had worn other clothes for paid advertising. A walking billboard.
He leaned forward and spoke quietly, an intimate tone. “I remember when Nikes were enough for you. But they’re not a big enough brand for you anymore, not good enough?”
She lifted her foot and planted it in his stomach, pushing him back. “My Nikes work just fine, thank you very much.”
And she took off down the beach, the sound of his laughter echoing behind her.
Wyatt jogged down the shoreline, using the pounding of feet on the hard-packed sand to drive all thoughts and feelings out of his body until he was clear, an empty vessel, calm and relaxed. Exercise had been the only thing keeping his sanity since his injuries. A great outlet for frustrations that had plagued him especially in those tense months after his injury and when he tried to find a place somewhere in professional football. Unfortunately, his knee was just too unstable for him to be consistent in the pocket and most teams didn’t want to take the risk. He could have played overseas or in one of the other leagues like arena football or the United League but, honestly, by that point he had been so disgusted that he gave up on the whole thing and sought other options.
The beach gave way from private to public and he met more people walking the beach, staking out their spot for the day. Wyatt nodded in greeting and kept pace, not stopping for anything. Shortly after that, he reached the cove in the small town on Whitby and took a detour to the coffee shop for some breakfast. After grabbing a cup of coffee and an egg sandwich, he glanced around for a place to sit and saw a familiar figure sitting on a bench, also in running clothes. Delaney Winters strode away, while Ethan watched her intently. Wyatt shook his head. Looked like another former couple had not gotten quite past their issues either.
He called out to Ethan who waved him over.
Ethan glanced at the clothes and bag. “You’re getting an early start.”
Wyatt shrugged, hearing the question in Ethan’s voice and not willing to talk about his own past and present colliding in the form of Anna Costado. “I needed a break.”
“We just got here. If you’re feeling that way already, it’s going to be a long week.” Ethan paused for a moment, casting Wyatt a sideways glance. “So, how’s coaching going? You liking it?”
Wyatt scowled at the kid-glove tone. “If you have something to say, Ethan, just spit it out. We’ve been friends long enough.”
“I thought I did say it. I asked how you liked coaching. Wondered if you were still putting out feelers to the NFL or any of the other leagues?” Ethan asked mildly.
Wyatt laughed. “You sound as if you should be the lawyer not Matthew. It’s hard coaching and trying to play professionally. You can’t go to tryouts because you have your own team to prepare.”
“Some of the leagues are off season to our seasons. It’s an option.” Ethan waited patiently, not really saying what Wyatt suspected he was thinking.
“The only league that doesn’t directly interfere is arena football and it’s probably too fast-paced for my knee to handle. I’d have to play multiple positions at once, not just quarterback.”
“So, the dream is dead?”
Wyatt scowled. He leaned forward, elbows on his knees, avoiding Ethan’s too knowing stare. “What is it with everyone and that goddamned word? No, it’s not dead, just changed.”
Ethan’s face broke out into a broad grin and he clapped Wyatt on the back. “Glad to hear it, man. I was worried about you for a while, wondering if you were still pining about the pros. I mean, no one could blame you but you’re a really good coach. I’ve seen you with those kids and your colleagues think highly of you. You’re getting a lot of recognition around the college leagues. In no time, you could be an offensive coordinator or head coach at college or even back in the NFL.” Ethan leaned forward, mimicking Wyatt’s posture. “Look, you got a bum rap but I’m glad you’ve found a new path and are happy. Maybe this is how it was supposed to go?”
Wyatt turned and looked at Ethan. “Was it? Was this all supposed to go this way? You and Delaney, me and Anna? I mean, I could have used the lesson another way. Are you saying you’re happy now, glad the way things turned out?”
Ethan heaved out a deep sigh and studied a sailboat going out from the cove. “I don’t know. I’d like to say it was for the best and maybe it is, but it sucked. But I am happy with my life, with one notable exception.”
“Delaney,” Wyatt stated.
Ethan straightened on the bench. “How’s UT look this season? Thank goodness we have a bye-week this week.”
Wyatt grinned, accepting the change in conversation gratefully. “No kidding. Matthew and Caroline really helped out having the wedding on the week without a game. Otherwise, there’d be no way I could come down. Team looks solid. We have a solid sophomore for quarterback to replace our senior starter. Pretty excited about this kid.”
Ethan sat back down and stretched his legs out. Wyatt settled next to him on the bench, pulling out an egg sandwich from the bag. They sat there chatting football and players while Wyatt ate. Finally, he crumpled the bag and tossed it at the garbage bin, missing completely.
“Nice job, ace. You still have the arm.”
Wyatt scowled but got up and scooped the bag into the receptacle. “Whatever. Too bad my knee is shot.” He sat back down and took a deep breath, vowing to get back to the original topic. “So, you and Delaney, huh?”
Ethan growled deep in his throat. “There is no me and Delaney.”
“Didn’t look like that to me, or anyone else, last night or even ten minutes ago. Sure looked like you were thinking of starting up again. Are you sure that’s wise?” Wyatt’s tone was casual, but he studied Ethan with too much intensity to be believed.
Ethan had been there when Wyatt blew out his knee both times, especially the second time. Bullied him into finding a new path and, he suspected, had a hand in finding him a position at UT thanks to Ethan’s family’s influence and donations. It had been a rough time for Ethan, dealing with the fallout from his broken engagement and Delaney’s father’s Ponzi scheme. He had just left Houston to hide out at the vineyard, although it was not an exile per se. Wyatt spent a lot of time there after his surgery and he and Ethan had grown closer in those early days at the vineyard, as they both needed to find new pathways in their lives. Both shattered by women and the complications from the relationships. He owed Ethan and felt duty-bound to give a warning, although, in his heart, Delaney was the one for Ethan and would always be that one. Just like Anna was most likely Wyatt’s one. Dammit.
Ethan sighed. “I don’t know. A lot of time has passed. We’ve both changed, grown. Maybe things will be different.”
“Look, I like Delaney. Always have. But she ripped your heart out and stomped on it until it was a bloody mess. I was there. I saw you after. Are you so sure she won’t do that again?”
“I don’t know. I only know that I’m still attracted to her. I still want her. I might need to get her out of my system, have the closure I never had.”
“She’s like a wounded bird right now, and you love riding to the rescue. Be sure you’re really ready for the consequences. She could bail on you again or you could both be hurt if you’re not in the same place.” Wyatt stood and stretched. “Just be careful.”
Ethan also stood. “I can handle it.”
“Maybe. But can she?” With that last statement, Wyatt headed off for the village, to scout the town out before heading back to the house. And, yes, he was leaving before Ethan could turn the tables on him and ask about Anna.
Anna ran for an hour, not nearly long enough to exhaust herself but she wanted to avoid as many people as she could and there was only so much of Whitby she could run on before she either ran into public beaches or the wildlife sanctuary. By the time she got back to the house, she was calmer though, her muscles tired and loose. The girls were up, already being directed by Caroline for their first day’s adventure.
A spa day. This was something Anna could get behind. Since the story had broken about the waitress, Anna had been hiding out in her house, not getting her manicure or even a massage. She didn’t even dare ask anyone to come to the house, not trusting their discretion. Another lesson learned in the land of bright lights. So, she was in desperate need of some pampering. In the interest of being friendly and making the wedding smoother, Anna watched her commentary and stayed pretty quiet, cognizant of the staff and the fact that they immediately had recognized her.
When they were waiting for the massages, two of the girls at the desk were whispering behind their hands, casting unfriendly glances at Anna, who steadfastly ignored them. Delaney was the only one sitting next to her, Brigid and Caroline still finishing their waxing. Delaney glanced back and forth, her brow furrowed.
Anna flipped the page of the gossip magazine, not even seeing the pages in front of her. “Don’t think about it so hard, Delaney. I’m sure you’ve had enough people talking about you behind your back or right in front of you not to be bothered by it.”
