Chapter 3
‡
This day just keeps getting better, he thought sarcastically.
“Yeah, Mom. I saw her this morning.” Evan held the phone to his ear as he sat in his tiny rental car outside of the community center and watched the sun set behind the Sierra Nevada mountain range.
He’d called his mom to let her know that he’d seen the doctor today and he’d added an additional two to four weeks onto his physical therapy before he’d clear Evan with no physical restrictions. That meant it would be six to eight weeks minimum until he’d be able to return to full duty. That had been bad enough without having to discuss Noelle.
“And she told you about…” Connie Bishop’s voice tapered off.
“Yeah, she told me.”
There were several beats before his mother asked, “How are you doing?”
“I’m fine. I’m happy for her.”
“I always thought the two of you would—”
“I know.” He did, too, and he didn’t need to hear his mom verbalize the sentiment he’d been trying to shake all day.
“Did she tell you who her fiancé is?”
“Dr. York.”
“Isn’t that crazy?”
“Yep.” Evan shifted in his seat.
“He really is a great guy.”
“I know.” He felt like a slab of concrete had been sitting on his chest all day and this conversation was making it feel even heavier. “I gotta go. I have that town hall meeting.”
“Oh, right, the movie! I can’t believe that Shayne Fox is going to be in it.”
“That’s what I heard.” All day it was the only news that people had wanted to talk about. Everywhere he went, people were buzzing about her coming to Hope Falls. It was odd to him that people cared. There were several celebrities that lived here full time, but he guessed it was the novelty of her being new.
“I saw her talking about it on Good Morning Sacramento Live. I was watching because Dr. York was on it. He’s their in-house doctor.”
Of course he is.
“Have you met her yet?”
“No.”
“Will she be there tonight?”
“I don’t know.”
“She was so good in Discovering Marilyn. You know I hate when actresses crash and burn taking on that part. I cringe when they do bad impressions of her. But, seriously, I forgot I was watching a movie about Marilyn. She played her so real. And she was so vulnerable, yet so strong. My heart broke at the beach scene. I wanted to hug her and protect her from the world.” Evan’s mom was gushing about Shayne Fox almost as much as she had about Dr. York. “If you meet her, tell her I think she should’ve won the Oscar.”
He wasn’t about to make two promises today that he knew he shouldn’t, so he remained quiet.
“Has Eli met her?”
“I don’t know.” Since arriving in town three weeks ago, he’d barely seen any of his family that lived here which included his brother Eli and new bride Kenzie. His cousin Deanna and her husband Lucky. Between his grueling physical therapy and putting the crew together, he’d been working round the clock.
“I spoke to Kenzie earlier, and she didn’t know if he had either.”
Eli had married the girl next door. Literally. Kenzie had grown up next door to them. She and his mom had always been close.
“She also mentioned that she invited you to dinner with your brother, and Deanna and Lucky but hadn’t heard anything from you. I even gave her my secret lasagna recipe. I know she’d love it if you’d let her feed you. It’s good to be around family.”
“Yeah, I’ve been busy, mom. I will though.” He’d found out that morning that his modified duty was extended at least six weeks, so it looked like he’d have some time on his hands. “I gotta go. I’ll talk to you later, Mom.”
“Okay, sweetie, and Evan, I’m sorry…about Noelle. I know how you feel about her.”
“I’m happy she’s happy.” He repeated the same thing he’d been trying to convince himself of.
“I know you are and that’s just one of the many reasons that I’m so proud to be your mom.” She sniffed, and he doubted it had anything to do with the allergies she was always complaining about.
Connie Bishop was getting more sentimental as she got older. If this were ten years ago, she’d probably have told him that it was his fault that Noelle was marrying someone else. The phrase you snooze you lose would’ve most definitely been thrown at him.
“Bye, Mom.”
“Bye, honey.”
When he hung up, he sat for a moment and took in the impressive mountain range that was Hope Falls’ backdrop. Green pine trees and yellow aspens dotted the stunning landscape. He wondered how many people were out camping in those woods and starting campfires. How many of them knew how to extinguish them properly?
What most people viewed as picturesque and serene, he saw as danger. The mountainside that surrounded the small town was truly majestic, but when he looked at it, he saw acres and acres of fire hazard.
As he stepped out of the tiny rental car he’d be driving for the next week, he wondered if all firefighter’s minds went straight to disaster when taking in the same vista.
“Hey, man. New ride?” Jake Maguire, the Hope Falls’ fire chief crossed the street.
“Rental. Truck’s out of commission.”
“Do you fit in that thing?”
“Barely.” Evan knew that it must look comical to see him driving it. The two-door coupe was not built for someone of his size.
“Hey, Maguire!”
Crossing the street toward them was a guy Evan thought looked familiar, but he couldn’t quite place him.
“Hey, Justin.” Jake lifted his chin in a nod of acknowledgment before shifting toward Evan. “Have you met Eli’s brother, Evan? Evan this is Justin Barnes, he owns Mountain Ridge Outdoor Adventures.”
That’s why he looked familiar. He’d met him briefly when he’d gone snowboarding with Eli at the resort a few years back. “Nice to meet you.”
“You too.” Justin smiled and shook his hand before turning back to Jake, intent on giving him a hard time. “You still shave your legs?”
Jake’s expression clearly showed that he had no idea what the other man was talking about.
“Your wife posted a nice throwback Thursday pic.” Justin grinned from ear to ear. “You should check it out.”
“Tessa?” Every time anyone mentioned Jake’s wife or either of their two kids his face lit up like a kid on Christmas morning. He’d known Jake since before he and his wife had gotten married, and he’d always thought of him as one of those perpetual bachelors. But marriage agreed with Jake. The man seemed more than just happy and content, he seemed like he was permanently walking on cloud nine.
Evan was pretty sure he’d missed his chance for that kind of happiness. The kind that made your face light up from the mere mention of the person’s name. He’d had that with Noelle at one time, but that time had come and gone.
“What’d she post?” Jake asked even as he was pulling out his phone.
Justin smiled with a smug satisfaction that only came from being the first person to bust a friend’s balls about something and the anticipation of being able to witness their humiliation. But before he could he was called away by an older woman with a long braid and a severe expression.
“I’ll see you guys inside,” Justin told them before heading over to the woman.
“Oh shit.” Jake chuckled under his breath.
Evan glanced over and saw a picture of what appeared to be a teenage Jake in a cheerleader outfit, complete with lipstick and a blonde wig. Sure enough, his legs looked suspiciously hair-free.
Jake touched the screen again and put the phone up to his ear. After a few seconds, he spoke with a good-natured tone. “You think you’re real funny, don’t you?”
Knowing that Jake was talking to his wife and not wanting to eavesdrop, Evan decided to head in. He walked through the double doors and was surprised at the turnout. The place was packed, there had to be at least a couple hundred people in attendance.
He didn’t see a seat so he opted to stand against the back wall. He preferred to stand rather than sit anyway. There was a hum of conversation as people greeted their neighbors. Hope Falls was one of the friendliest towns that he’d ever known.
The Bishops had always been a close-knit family, and when Eli decided to live here in Hope Falls, he’d said that the people here felt like family. After spending the last few weeks here, Evan understood why his baby brother had settled here. This place was an idealistic version of a community. Neighbors looked out for one another. They seemed to genuinely care about each other and they protected their own.
Evan didn’t bond with people as easily as his youngest brother did. In high school, if he wasn’t on a sports field or in class, he was with Noelle. The other guys on his teams gave him a hard time, often telling him that he was whipped because they would go out and party and he’d hang out with her. But the truth was, if he hadn’t been with her, he would’ve most likely chosen to stay home.
His family called him “the lone wolf” since before he’d even started kindergarten. As an adult, he’d had to learn to let people in, even if it was only for a short period of time.
During his time in triple-A and especially once he’d made it to the big show, he’d gradually learned that it was important to have relationships with his teammates. Camaraderie was not optional. Teams were better and stronger when they were bonded. He only kept in touch with one of teammates from his time on the Waves. But during the time he played with them, all of his teammates had been like family. It was the same thing with his hotshot crew. They were a family during fire season.
“Man this place is packed,” Jake observed as he joined Evan.
“It is,” Evan agreed as the woman that had called Justin took the stage.
The moment she stepped behind the mic, the entire room hushed and people took their seats. It was evident that she was well-respected. Or feared. Evan wasn’t sure which.
“Hello, everyone. My name is Renata Blackstone, and I would like to welcome you to this special town hall meeting to discuss the upcoming production that will be filming here in Hope Falls. Tonight’s speakers will be Mayor Henry Walker and—”
There was applause and even some whistles as the mayor walked onto the stage. He wore a cowboy hat, boots, and a buckle large enough that even from the back of the room, Evan was able to make out that there was a horse on it. His attire was the first thing he’d noticed about the mayor when he met him, the next being how friendly and accommodating the man was. Being a natural born observer, Evan could generally size people up in under a minute. Henry Walker was a good man, if a little eccentric.
“—Kyle Reed,” Renata announced.
“Kyle Austen Reed,” several attendants shouted as the applause continued.
The movie star walked onto the stage, hand raised, waving to the crowd. Where the mayor seemed uncomfortable with the outpouring of affection, Kyle appeared energized by it.
“And Shayne Fox.”
There was an audible uptick in clapping, and some people even stood to their feet as the actress appeared from behind the curtain.
When Evan laid eyes on the young woman, he was struck with two things: her beauty and her magnetism. She couldn’t be taller than five foot two and probably weighed a hundred pounds soaking wet, but she dominated the ample space and captivated everyone in the room.
Unlike the mayor who ducked his head at the cheers or Kyle who puffed his chest like a proud peacock, Shayne seemed to neither avoid nor enjoy the attention being directed at her as she scanned the room. It was strange, and Evan couldn’t put his finger on her response.
He was still trying to figure it out when her eyes locked on his. For a brief moment, the noise in the room muted, the people around him disappeared, and the only thing he saw was her. A shock of something he couldn’t describe spread from the top of his head down to his toes. It was the most alive he’d ever felt. It was more than just a rush of adrenaline. It was as if all of the cells in his body tingled with electricity. The closest thing he’d ever experienced to it was when he’d been on the mound or when he was battling fires.
He blinked, and when he opened his eyes, she was no longer looking in his direction. She was moving to take her seat beside Kyle and the Mayor.
It took a moment for him to assimilate back into his surroundings and come back to his senses. Once he was back in full command of his faculties, he determined not to look at her again. Control was not something he willingly forfeited but one look into Shayne Fox’s eyes, and he hadn’t had a choice in the matter.
He’d been under some voodoo spell that should’ve made him panic, but instead gave him back the one thing that he’d been chasing all day…peace. One look in her eyes and all the fog disappeared and the weight that had been on his chest was gone.
Evan didn’t like it at all. Not one bit.
*
Holy hotness, Batman.
The tall, dark, and sexy stranger standing up in the back of the room had made Shayne momentarily forget where she was, who she was, and what she was supposed to be doing. One look was all it had taken to pull the rug right out from under her. But she’d managed to stay on her feet, even after her knees buckled beneath her, without letting her broad smile slip. Why? Because she was a professional.
Still, she’d never been more relieved to sit her butt down on a fold-out steel chair. Her legs shook even after they were no longer holding her upright. She was thankful that she’d chosen jeans for the town hall meeting. If her skin were exposed, she was sure that the vibrations she was feeling would be evident to the naked eye. But before the relief of her chosen ensemble set in she was gripped with a sudden insecurity that she wasn’t dressed up enough.
She glanced down at the dark skinny jeans, black ankle boots, and loose gray shirt that fell off her left shoulder. Nolan wouldn’t be joining them until filming began in two weeks and when she didn’t have him and his amazing taste to rely on, she turned to Ruby for help. Before she’d stepped out on stage, she’d felt confident in her outfit. Now, she wasn’t so sure, and she couldn’t put her finger on why.
Lifting her gaze, she made sure to maintain a neutrally pleasant expression on her face. She had no idea what the photography policy was during town hall meetings, and after her recent headlines, the last thing she needed was pictures of her looking antsy or uninterested. Her eyes scanned the room, and she quickly concluded that her outfit was entirely appropriate. Some residents wore business casual, but the majority were in jeans.
Well, then why do I feel…?
Her mental question was cut off when her gaze once again landed on tall, dark, and sexy. A quickening flashed deep in her belly, and she sucked in a shaky breath. Heat rose on her cheeks, and as much as she wanted to reach up and touch her flushed skin, she kept her hands at her side. No reason to draw attention to her condition.
The first time she’d seen the man that her body had deemed blush-worthy, it had almost knocked her flat on her backside. But that time he’d been looking at her, and she’d felt his stare quake through her. Now, his eyes were trained on the podium.
Suddenly, the answer hit her like a bolt of lightning. This was it. The spark. The tingle. The zip.
She was attracted to him. She felt almost silly for not recognizing the signs sooner, but since she’d never experienced them, the only reference she’d had was what she’d read in books, scripts, or seen on television and movies.
As the moderator listed the items on the docket and outlined the rules for the question and answer period of the evening, Shayne took a moment to collect herself. She was careful not to let her internal work broadcast on her face as she faced the crowded room.
At this point in her life, she had come to terms with the reality that people were always watching her. Celebrities went about their daily life and onlookers watched as if they were observing a monkey swinging from a tree.
You were a zoo animal, not a person with emotions and a life to lead. People saw you as a different species. You became an attraction they felt free to discuss and photograph with no regard to personal space or feelings. They were curious to see what produce you picked from the grocery store, what cold medicine you selected at the drugstore, what size jeans you bought at the department store.
Whenever she was out in public with Nolan, he would do an accent—that sounded like a bad Steve Irwin impression—as he narrated her every move. Crikey, we’ve spotted Shayne Fox in her natural habitat. Let’s watch and see what toothpaste the creature selects.
She smiled now, just thinking about it.
Honestly, she didn’t know what she would do without Nolan and Ruby. They were the only family Shayne had since her grandmother died and she was lucky to have them. But she had to face the reality that things were changing. Ruby lived with her boyfriend of four years and was pregnant. And Nolan had married his partner last year and they were looking into adopting.
She wanted what they had. The husband, kids, and a home. Shayne was only twenty-four. But six of her twenty-four years were Hollywood years, which was akin to dog years. She’d matured at a rapid rate.
Maybe most twenty-four-year-olds weren’t ready to settle down, but it was something she wanted even more than an Oscar.
There was another round of applause that snapped Shayne out of her thoughts. Beside her, Kyle stood and waved at the crowd.
He moved to take his place in front of the microphone. “Let’s give a round of applause to the always lovely and resoundingly incredible Ms. Renata Blackstone.”
The applause continued, and one man was particularly enthusiastic. An older, balding gentleman in the front row wearing thick glasses perched on his nose had his fingers in his mouth as he whistled loudly.
Shayne’s eyes shot back to Ms. Blackstone. She didn’t seem like the kind of woman that would appreciate a man whistling at her. But to her great surprise, she saw the woman’s lips that had been set in a firm straight line were now curling up slightly at the corners as she looked at her admirer and it was obvious that she not only noticed, she approved.
Shayne would never have put the two of them together. Ms. Blackstone was a tall, thin, and severe-looking woman. Her salt and pepper hair was styled in a ramrod braid that fell past her waist. It was the middle of July, but she wore a turtleneck and wool slacks.
The whistler reminded Shayne of the men that used to frequent the Kosher Deli in Brooklyn where she did her homework. He was short with almost cartoon-like features. Ms. Blackstone radiated class, grace, and a refinement. There was a regal air about her that was undeniable. The man in the front row had a button missing on his shirt and a ketchup stain on his pants. He radiated warmth, joy, and enthusiasm.
But somehow, as her stare bounced between the two of them, Shayne felt an energy. A connection. There was apparently something going on. She wasn’t sure if it was an innocent flirtation or more, but it was there.
She heard Kyle say her name and tuned back to what she was actually supposed to be doing here.
“I first became aware of Shayne Fox in Discovering Marilyn. I’d never seen the ingénue before but by the end of the film, I knew that I had to work with her. When she brought this script to my attention I knew that it was the perfect vehicle because she didn’t just play the icon that taught us Gentleman Prefer Blondes, she became her. She inhabited the role like no other before her. And I know that she will bring the same vulnerability and strength to Josephine Norris in Red Card Warning. Ladies and gentleman, I am honored to introduce you to the charming, beautiful, and talented Shayne Fox.”
That was her cue to stand and walk to join Kyle at the podium. He’d asked if she’d say a few words right before they’d come out on stage. She hadn’t prepared anything, and public speaking wasn’t her favorite thing in the world, but she was a team player.
“Hi, everyone. Thank you for that generous introduction, Kyle. I just want to say that I’m so excited to be here in Hope Falls. And I’m especially excited to try the pot roast at Sue Ann’s Café I’ve heard so much about.”
Shayne always did her research before filming on location. Especially in small town locations. Sometimes locals were not so thrilled to have the bright lights of tinsel town glaring at them, and she’d found that a little bit of appreciation for what made their town unique went a long way.
“It’s the best!” someone shouted.
“That’s what I hear,” Shayne continued. “Thank you all for coming out tonight to support Red Card Warning. I look forward to getting to know all of you during my time here.”
She smiled and waved as she stepped back from the mic. There was another round of applause as Shayne took her seat, but she noticed that one person was not clapping.
Her eyes drifted back to tall, dark, and sexy in the back of the room. He stood perfectly still, like a statue. His eyes were directed on center stage where the mayor was now holding court. He gave off a bodyguard vibe, at least his demeanor did, but she didn’t believe that he was here in that capacity.
He wasn’t looking at her, but Shayne was sure that somehow, someway he was looking at her. She could feel it.
As far as she knew, he’d only looked at her when she’d walked onto the stage. And boy oh boy, had it been a look. A tingle sparked at the base of her neck and zipped down her spine at the mere thought of their connection.
There it is again. The spark. The tingle. The zip. This attraction thing was no joke. She’d always believed that people were exaggerating when they talked about its power, but if anything, she was starting to think they’d undersold it.
She wondered how long this would go on. Would it be like that every time she thought about him? What would happen if they actually made eye contact again? She wanted to find out but he hadn’t given her a second glance.
Nevertheless, she knew he was watching her. It was like the air around her, she couldn’t see it, but she could feel it, and she was convinced that it was there.
Her cheeks started to warm again, and she shifted in her chair and reached down to grab the water bottle that they’d provided for the panel. When she looked back up, Ruby caught her attention and mouthed, “Are you okay?”
She gave her the slightest of nods before forcing herself to pay attention to the mayor.
“I want to thank Jake Maguire and everyone at Station Eight. Also, Evan Bishop and his newly formed hotshot crew for their support on this project.” Mayor Walker clapped his hands. “And now Mr. Reed will answer any questions you may have.”
As the town hall meeting progressed, Shayne was determined to keep her focus on why she was here. The attraction she’d felt was a distraction she couldn’t afford. She needed to keep her head in the game. This was what she’d been working toward for six years and dreamed of since she was a little girl. Nothing, not even the spark, tingle, or zip of attraction was going to take her eyes off the prize.
Her eyes drifted once more to the back of the room, no matter how tempting that distraction might be.