Authors: Niobia Bryant
In just two days the tabloid’s lies had made it to radio and television media everywhere. They were having a field day with it, especially with the fashion awards just two weeks away. Chloe’s answering machine was filled with calls from her concerned friends, many of them members of the famous and rich elite like herself. And Anika called every morning and evening with the brash advice for her to tell the world to kiss her rear end.
She couldn’t bear to have the television or the radio on for too long. And she was tired of the whole circus, praying for when some other unlucky celebrity would become embroiled in calumny, leaving Chloe’s scandal but a forgotten memory to the gossip hungry.
The small town of Holtsville was of course ripe with the news, although overall they were very supportive and not believing of the lies. For that she felt even closer to the town’s people.
Sunday morning Chloe reluctantly left Devon lying on his stomach, his head under the pillow, asleep in bed. Thankfully his hand had recovered from its injuries and last night he had spent the night showing her just how adept his hand was again.
Chloe picked up his gray Nike T-shirt from their pile of discarded clothes on the floor and slipped it over her naked figure. In the bathroom, she cleansed her face and brushed her teeth before padding barefoot out of the room and down the long curved corridor to the kitchen.
The sun’s rays blasted through the clear glass of the skylight, warming the large kitchen. Within minutes she had their breakfast on. Ham steaks fried in the cast iron skillet, fresh peeled potatoes sliced with green onions and bell peppers cooked on another eye in a similar pan, and a bowl of six eggs sat mixed in a bowl ready to be scrambled. She settled on browning thick slices of Texas toast over dealing with making homemade biscuits.
Using the remote, Chloe turned on the television in the kitchen, which was also equipped with cable, and turned to the
Bobby Jones Gospel Show
as she settled on one of the stools surrounding the island. Her thoughts were filled with the latest turmoil in her life, and they seemed endless.
She was scheduled to leave for New York at the end of the week and she hadn’t yet worked up the nerve to tell Devon. Instinctively she knew he wouldn’t like her returning to what he called “sin city.” Every time the path in front of them seemed smooth, a large hurdle would appear.
First, she had to get past her own hang-ups and realize that it was okay to have this man in her life. Then, they argued about Alicia and that kept them apart for two weeks that seemed an eternity. And then they argued again about Alicia the night of her dinner party. And now this.
But she had to tell him because she
was
going. His dictating her moves was not a part of her plans for them, but he did deserve to be told. Chloe knew she might as well get it over with. “I’ll tell him today,” she promised herself out loud as she flipped the ham steaks. “It’s only for two weeks. I’ll tell him today.”
“Something smells good.”
Chloe turned to find Devon groggily walking into the kitchen, clad only in Calvin Klein boxers. He looked just as good as the handsome, muscled models of the notorious Calvin Klein ads. He rubbed his eyes and stretched before coming over to look down at the food cooking.
“Good morning, baby.”
“Morning.”
He leaned over and kissed her cheek.
“I would kiss that sexy mouth of yours, but . . .”
“Morning breath,” they said in unison and laughed.
“I’ll go shower and brush my teeth.” He walked out of the kitchen.
“Breakfast will be ready in a few minutes, Devon,” she called after him.
When he emerged back into the kitchen, now clad in a tank and matching nylon sweat pants, he pulled Chloe away from the stove and kissed her thoroughly. “Now
that’s
a good morning.”
Dizzy with desire, Chloe’s step faltered when he finally released her and took his seat on one of the stools. Inhaling deeply for breath to strengthen herself, she set a plate of food in front of him, along with a carafe of orange juice and a saucer of the buttered Texas toast before serving herself.
Devon whistled at the sight and smell of the food. “Damn, my baby can cook.”
She smiled in pleasure. “Thanks.”
“So what do you want to do today?” he asked as he dug into the home fries on his plate, now soaked with ketchup.
“I don’t know, what do you want to do?”
He took a large gulp of his juice. “Whatever you want to do.”
She knew he was trying to get her mind off the media frenzy swirling around her, and she adored him for it. After thinking about it, she said, “Frankie’s Fun Park.”
Devon nearly choked on his juice, looking at her in surprise. “You want our first date to be at Frankie’s?”
“Second date.”
“Huh?”
“Our first date was when we went horseback riding.”
Nodding, his eyes met hers as they both recalled that day by the pond. “You really want to go Frankie’s?” he asked after a while.
At her nod, he returned to eating. “It’s nothing like Disney World in Florida, so don’t get your hopes up. But if you want to go, then Frankie’s it is. We’ll leave at eleven o’clock.”
“Eleven it is.” She glanced at the round digital clock on the wall. “That gives us another whole hour. What shall we do to pass the time?”
Suggestively he wiggled his eyebrows, and Chloe knew they both had loving on their minds.
∞
It was four o’clock when Chloe and Devon walked out of the small amusement park arm in aim. They had ridden all the water rides, played the video and arcade games, and laughed at each other’s antics until they were tired and ravenous. Many times during the day they had resembled the hordes of children surrounding them as they frolicked together.
It was the most fun she had had in a long time. Probably because it was time shared with Devon. Just as Chloe suspected, her relationship with him had stepped to another level, something that she hadn’t wanted to venture into when she first seduced him, yet couldn’t seem to avoid. It was as if everything was following a logical course of events. But she told herself that she hadn’t fallen in love, so the power was still hers.
“Where do you want to go to eat?” he asked as they climbed into Chloe’s SUV with Devon driving since he knew the Charleston area better than she did.
“Wherever you choose is fine, but I would love some chicken quesadillas.”
Devon glanced over at her. Again she amazed him with her simplistic requests from him. It was as if she was a normal woman, and not a mega-rich celebrity. “Mexican it is,” he said, as he started the engine.
The spicy scents from La Hacienda could be smelled outside as he parked. Chloe’s stomach grumbled loudly in protest to its emptiness. She wished now she had accepted Devon’s offer to eat at the amusement park, but she wasn’t a fan of hot dogs.
“Hungry?” he asked wryly, having heard her stomach’s growl, before shutting off the Navigator.
Chloe pinched his arm playfully before climbing out of the vehicle. “You shouldn’t fool with me when I’m hungry.”
He laughed as he came around to walk with her into the restaurant. “Believe me, I know. Remember, I’ve seen you eat plenty of times.”
For this he got a soft pat on the back of his head.
She saw, with relief that the other patrons were dressed casually, ensuring that Devon and she wouldn’t feel out of place in their jeans and T-shirts. They were seated within minutes and supplied with laminated menus.
Chloe already knew what she wanted, so she looked around the restaurant as Devon studied the many selections. The decor was dark with wood paneling and maroon carpeting, but the walls were lined with sconces, allowing small amounts of light that gave the entire restaurant a cozy, warm atmosphere. A light Spanish love song played in the background and the tantalizing scent of Spanish delicacies was in the air. All of it combined for a warm, welcoming atmosphere. Hardly Tavern of the Green in New York but she liked it just the same.
“Can I take your order?”
Chloe looked up at the pretty, honey-complected waitress standing at their booth looking at Devon, who was still looking at his menu. Rolling her expressive eyes upward, Chloe cleared her throat. “I’m ready even if he’s not,” she said sweetly with a false smile.
The waitress reluctantly turned to her and Chloe felt satisfied when the young woman’s eyes widened in recognition of her. “I’ll have a double order of the chicken quesadilla appetizers and a frozen margarita with salt.”
Chloe truly enjoyed the woman’s star-struck expression as she handed over her menu. “You’re Chloe Bolton!” she said in a reverent tone.
Devon cleared his throat. “Now
I’d
like to order,” he said wryly.
The waitress turned to Devon, interest still in the depths of her eyes but definitely not as intense. “I’m sorry. Go ahead, sir.”
Chloe looked at the woman as Devon ordered. Gone was the look of adoration. She jotted down his request for a bowl of three-bean chili, followed by seared chicken and Spanish pilaf, with non-alcoholic sangria.
Devon handed over his menu and the waitress left the table. “You forgot to order something for your ego.”
“Ha ha,” Chloe chanted sarcastically.
Obviously Devon had seen the silent challenge between the women, followed by Chloe’s look of triumph when her opponent backed down. She took a sip of her ice water. “Not ego . . . confidence, thank you very much.”
“It doesn’t hurt your . . .
confidence
to be a famous supermodel?” he asked smugly.
“Not one bit.”
They both laughed at her honesty.
“Do you miss it?” he asked suddenly, his obsidian eyes serious as he watched her across the booth’s square table.
“Honestly?”
He nodded before taking a sip of the drinks the waitress sat on their table.
“My life just a year ago was hectic. I have a wonderfully luxurious apartment in New York, which I spent a total of thirty nights in since I’ve owned it. I lived out of Gucci and Samsonite luggage in five-star hotels across the globe. I have a best friend I love like a sister whom I see five times a year, tops.” Chloe paused, looking off toward the busy highway through the window, her eyes distant. “I have a few people that I can truly consider friends, and they happen to be comedians, designers, musicians and other models, but a lot of people I found myself surrounded by just wanted to say they hung out with someone famous. The work was not always easy. The schedules could get very hectic with photo shoots at odd times of the morning or in extreme weather situations or . . . confining and uncomfortable clothing ... all to get the perfect shot.”
“The partying I was never into. Out of ten invitations I’d receive a month, for some club or restaurant’s opening, or a charity event or movie premiere, I would go to like two, tops. And that was only if Anika went along with me.” She paused again as the waitress brought their food. “Any spare time not working I would volunteer at charities in my old neighborhood, which I miss, or I would visit schools, or just chill out at home reading. My life outside of work was really boring because I didn’t have time to develop it. Anika says I don’t take advantage of my star status enough.”
“Boring? Minus the celebrity friends, traveling across the globe and being lusted after by men everywhere?” he asked, his voice amused as he tasted the chili.
“Of course,” she said with a beguiling smile that made his heart jump.
“You still haven’t answered my question. Holtsville is a helluva lot different from New York and Europe. Do you miss it all?” He hoped his voice didn’t betray how important her answer was to him because it spoke of his biggest fear concerning Chloe.
“No, I don’t,” she said with honesty. “Holtsville is my home now, and the only drawback is not having Anika around and maybe the shopping. I really wish you could meet Anika. She is one of a kind. She says what she wants when she wants, she takes no shorts, she’s beautiful and so funny with the quirkiest sense of humor. I really miss her so much.”
“Isn’t she ever going to visit you? I could meet her then.”
Chloe cleared her throat. Now would be the opportune time to tell him about her trip to New York, but she chickened out afraid of his reaction. “She wants to meet you. I’ve told her all about you.”
Devon looked surprised. “Oh, and what did you tell her?”
“Now that’s none of your business, Mister Jamison.” She turned her attention to her food with a wink.
Devon lowered his eyes. She looked and sounded so sincere about moving to Holtsville. Could she really turn her back on New York? Why didn’t he believe her? More importantly, was he ready to admit to himself why the thought of her leaving Holtsville bothered him so?
∞
The Carolina sky was deeply ebony in color and star-filled, with a brightly glowing full moon as Chloe leaned against Devon’s chest. His muscled arm was securely around her as he drove them home. Almost as if instinctively, his fingers lightly traced circles on her arm and Chloe felt her nipples tighten in sharp response.