Beauty and the Beach (23 page)

The cat had climbed quite high and did look to be stuck, its tail twitching as it maneuvered on two thin branches and meowed pathetically. Its cries grew louder as Adam neared.

When he was within a few feet of the animal, he looked up to see that the cat wore two necklaces, one made of bright pink plastic beads, and the other dangling from an 18-karat gold chain. His breath caught as the star-shaped pendant flashed sunlight off the jewels, making the rubies, diamonds, and sapphires glow.

Stephen was right. The stupid cat was wearing the Starfire. The ridiculousness of the situation made him want to laugh until his next thought hit.

If he found the necklace, Izzy would move out. He might lose her.

His stomach dropped. He suddenly wished with everything inside him that it wasn’t his necklace. Adam no longer cared about the stupid hunk of junk. He wasn’t willing to lose Izzy over it.

When he reached the cat, he wedged himself between two branches and hauled the animal onto his stomach where it clung to him, digging claws into his skin.

Adam untangled the two necklaces from the cat’s neck, putting the Starfire in one pocket and the beaded necklace in the other.

He looked down to see Izzy gazing up, her hand shading her eyes.

Something dark and dangerous pushed at him. Lie, cheat, and steal. What if he just kept the necklace? Only for a little while longer. Just until Isabelle’s affection was assured. After their kiss earlier today, he was positive he just needed a little more time to help her fall in love with him.

He carefully climbed down the tree, one hand holding the cat making a pincushion of his shoulder.

What if he just kept it until Izzy was safely his? What if it was found after they were married? A pawnshop contacting him, or an anonymous package in the mail? As soon after the wedding as possible…

He reached the ground, and with both feet firmly planted, he handed the cat to Isabelle, who handed it to the wide-eyed little girl. The child latched onto her cat and hugged her tight.

Stephen looked at him hopefully, and Adam looked at Izzy’s concerned expression, and he let out a breath. He just couldn’t do it. Even though it meant he could lose Izzy--maybe forever--if she didn’t want to see his ugly mug again. Would his face be a reminder of a stressful time in her life?

Adam fished the beaded necklace out of his pocket and handed it to Rosie. “I believe this belongs to you?”

Stephen let out a sound of distress as he looked at the cheap necklace.

“Where is the other one?” Rosie demanded.

Adam knelt. “I’m sorry, sweetie, but that one belongs to me. How about if I get you a new one?”

Izzy sucked in a breath.

“Is…is it…” Stephen stuttered, clutching his injured arm.

“It’s mine,” screamed Rosie and the cat launched itself out of her arms and over her back. Rosie turned and ran after it for a moment, then turned back to Adam. “Queenie brought it to me and I want it back!”

Adam straightened. Here it was—the moment of truth.

He pulled the necklace out of his pocket and held it up for everyone to see. The Starfire--twirling, shining, and brilliant--caught the sunlight and exploded with color. The gold of the star, the blues of the sapphires, the red rubies, and sparkling diamonds.

Stephen’s breath audibly left him in a rush and he started to cry. Izzy knelt down to comfort him, her eyes never leaving the necklace.

Rosie launched herself at Adam and tried to grab it from him, but he anticipated her and lifted it high.

Rosie’s mother rushed forward and grabbed the child. “Rosie, you had the necklace all along? You knew Mr. Kenna was looking for it. I showed you the flyer he posted around the neighborhood.”

Olivia looked at Stephen, leaning against the tree, his face in his hands as he sobbed. “Stephen, I’m so sorry. I don’t know what to say.” She tugged her daughter. “Come on, we’re going home.”

“Queenie brought it to me!” Rosie screamed. “She found it! It’s mine!”

“Enough.” The child’s mother dragged Rosie, tugging and crying, back to their apartment. When the door slammed, Adam turned to look at Isabelle.

She stood, hugged Adam, clung to him, and started to cry. “I can’t believe it was here the whole time.”

He gathered her close and she fit in his arms exactly as if she was made for him. He wanted this forever: wanted the right to comfort her, laugh with her, be with her. Wanted her to lean on his strength, turn to him, and know he’d always be there for her.

As his arms tightened and his eyes closed, he wondered if this was the only time he’d get to hold her like this. He hoped he hadn’t lost her.

“Izzy,” he leaned down so he could press a kiss into her soft hair. “I hope you know this doesn’t mean I want you to leave. I’d like you to stay with me, at my place--forever, if possible.”

She stilled against him, tried to catch her breath, and then tilted her head. Eyes wet with tears, she slowly shook her head. She loosened her grip and Adam hesitated before letting her go, his gaze never leaving hers. “Please, Izzy…”

She took a step back. “I’m sorry. I…I can’t.”

Chapter Twelve

ADAM TAPPED ON IZZY’S BEDROOM door, heard a muffled come in, and pushed inside to see Izzy packing. He’d followed her back to his place--she’d insisted on driving her father’s car--as his mind raced desperately for something to change her mind.

He rubbed his chest as the aching intensified. “You’re leaving?”

“I think it would be for the best, don’t you?”

Adam watched her hands fly as she folded one shirt, then another. Was it his imagination or was she packing incredibly fast? “You haven’t even had dinner yet. I could make us something.”

“That’s okay, Adam. I’ll eat with my family tonight. They’ll be expecting me.”

He swallowed. “It won’t be the same without you here. The house is going to feel empty.”

When she didn’t respond, packing relentlessly, he decided he had nothing left to lose. “There’s plenty of room here if you want to stay. I like having you as a roommate.”

Isabelle smiled tightly. “I’m sure you’ll be glad to have your house back to yourself again.”

And he was just as sure he wouldn’t. “It’s a big house for one person,” he quickly inserted. “Can’t you stay? I don’t want you to leave. I’m hoping that…that we will…” He trailed off.

Her hands finally stilled, but she didn’t look up, she looked at the shirt in her hand. Finally, she shook her head. “I’m ready to go back home and get my life back on track.”

He paced to the window and ran a hand across his mouth. “What about the kiss we shared?” he said without looking at her. “It meant a lot to me.” He finally turned around. “I thought maybe it had changed things between us.”

Isabelle blushed and he felt bad for embarrassing her, but he was fighting for his future here, their future, and if he had to lay things out, if they had to have an uncomfortable conversation, then so be it.

She didn’t say anything, she just continued to pack, more quickly than he could have possibly imagined. His frustration level rose. She really was leaving him.

She took a breath. “I just want to thank you for everything. For holding off prosecution of my father, for letting me stay here, for being so nice to me.”

Guilt pierced Adam again as he thought about his part in getting her to live here in the first place. “Izzy, I’m sorry I had you move in with me. I should’ve worked something else out. But it’s turned out okay, hasn’t it?”

She waved a hand. “I was the one who insisted.”

“I know, but I still feel guilty about the way it all went down. The thing is, Izzy…” He paced to the window again. It was now or never. She was leaving him. He had to tell her how he felt or he’d regret it later and wonder if it would have made a difference. He turned back, and took her soft hand.

She finally looked at him, her blue eyes wide.

“I love you.”

She winced.

His throat clenched. “I…” He swallowed. “I don’t want you to go. I feel like if you walk out that door, I’m going to lose you forever. Stay with me. Please.”

She clutched his hand. Sucked in a breath. Shook her head. “I can’t.”

“Why not?”

Looking as tortured as he felt, she bowed her head.

“Look, I know you wanted to wait until the end of the summer to start dating. I wish this whole thing hadn’t happened. I mean the whole thing with the necklace. But it did, and it changed things. I realize that. But can’t we just start over now?”

Her expression was agonized. She shook her head. “That’s not possible.” She pulled her hand away, closed her suitcase, and looked around the room now devoid of all her possessions. She hurried to the bathroom, flipped on the light and looked around.

Adam followed her. “Give me a chance.” He swallowed against the tightness in his throat. “Look, I don’t want to, but I’m willing to wait until the end of summer. Just like we talked about before. Remember--in the clinic? When you promised me we could start dating at the end of summer? I guess I could wait until then if I have to. Can’t you just give me some hope?”

“Sure,” Isabelle said. “That would be fine. I’ve got to go now.” She slung her purse over her shoulder, picked up a bag of laundry, and then her suitcase.

“Let me carry that.”

“No, I’ve got it, thank you.”

Adam followed, his limp more pronounced than usual, trying to think of anything he could say to get her to stay. “Isabelle, wait.”

“I’m sorry, Adam,” she said as she headed down the stairs. “I really am. I’m anxious to be back with my family again. They need me.”

“So do I. I need you.”

“That’s different.”

“It’s not.”

“I’m sure we’ll see each other again soon.” She threw the words over her shoulder, but she didn’t so much as slow down as she crossed the living room. In seconds, she was out the front door. Adam was right behind her, his chest tightening.

“Isabelle, Izzy, can I see you later tonight? Or maybe dinner tomorrow?”

She was already shaking her head. “I really don’t think that’s a good idea.” She stowed her things in the backseat of her father’s car, rounded it and opened the driver’s door. Finally, she paused. She looked at him. “Again, Adam, thank you for everything.” She nodded. “You’re a really great guy. A nice person.”

That was the last thing he wanted to hear from her. “Izzy, come on. Don’t leave this way.”

She looked at him for a long moment, her gaze on his face, a hint of tears in her eyes. He thought she might be weakening.

“Goodbye, Adam.”

Feeling helpless, he watched her get into the car, back out of the driveway, swing around, and drive away. Jaw clenched tight, he watched until she was out of sight. She didn’t look back.

~~~

Isabelle brushed away tears as quickly as they spilled over. He’d made it so hard to leave. He’d said he loved her, but how could he? How could he love her after all her family had put him through?

He’d had to climb that tree, using his injured leg, to fetch his own necklace off a cat, and then come down to be attacked by the neighbor girl. And then he’d been the one to comfort Isabelle and her father!

She was just so embarrassed!

And confused.

The relief of finding the necklace, the embarrassment over the way it had been found, her worry for him, for her father, the neighbors witnessing it all, and finally, the realization of her family’s reestablished freedom. It was too much to take in.

She sobbed, pressed the back of one hand to her mouth, and clung to the steering wheel with the other. She was a mess!

And him telling her he loved her? What was that about? When he’d said the words she’d wanted to throw herself at him, cling to him, cry all over him again, and absorb his strength. He couldn’t love her. He just couldn’t. Not after all this.

Could he?

She didn’t know. She didn’t even know for sure how she felt about him because she hadn’t really been herself these last few weeks, had she? Not completely.

But she’d certainly wanted to reach for him and pull him close, bury her face against his neck, and feel his arms close around her. She’d wanted to cling until she was grounded by his solid strength so she could escape this whirlwind of emotion.

Instead, she’d felt drowned in shame. Shame, embarrassment, and disbelief that it was finally over. She pressed on the accelerator and placed a hand over her mouth as the tears turned into sobs.

While a part of her wanted to stay with him, letting him assure her that everything would be all right, a bigger part of her just wanted to get away from him.

They didn’t owe Adam $100,000 anymore.

Essentially three years of her life, her family’s life, had been restored. Courtney could go to school. Isabelle could move on with her plans. Her father could marry Erin. The relief was huge. It really was like a burden had been lifted off her shoulders. She’d been so ashamed and worried and scared.

The shame remained. She knew her family must have looked so bad to him throughout this whole ordeal. While she really believed he did want to be with her, while the attraction between them was undeniable, there must be some element of disgust on his part. So she couldn’t help it. She had to get away. They both needed some space, they both needed some perspective, and she just plain wanted to be alone for a moment.