Total pages in book: 113
Estimated words: 104820 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 524(@200wpm)___ 419(@250wpm)___ 349(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 104820 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 524(@200wpm)___ 419(@250wpm)___ 349(@300wpm)
Thrilled that she might actually feel the same way, he couldn’t help pushing a little. “Are you telling me you’re getting closer to the idea that you could one day love me back?” It wasn’t exactly an enthusiastic I love you, but if there was hope that she’d love him one day, he’d pull out all the stops to show her that he was the man for her. And that he would love her forever, into eternity.
When she answered his question with a nod, it was one of the best moments of his life. He could wait for I love you as long as he knew there was a chance it would come.
Just one nod and then a kiss that made him feel better than he ever had before. That was always how he felt with Tessa. As though colors were brighter, and roses smelled better, and the entire world was their oyster. As though everything he truly wanted in life was right here beside him.
Chapter Thirty-Four
Tessa laughed at herself when she got ready later that day to pick up a few things for dinner. She did not look at all like the glamorous woman in the clips and photos online. Today, she had her hair in a ponytail, an old baseball cap jammed on top, and sunglasses hiding her eyes. Not a scrap of makeup, and no one would call her jeans and T-shirt designer.
Arch had said I love you, not to the glamorous woman last night, but to the one she was looking at now in the mirror. Ordinary, everyday Tessa. He’d said those magic words over and over as they’d made love. And had she thrown herself into his arms and said them back? Like any normal woman who felt the way she did would have?
No. She hadn’t.
Couldn’t.
She’d been wrong before, thinking she was in love with a man who’d turned out to be cold and controlling. And though Arch was the opposite, there was a part of her—a deep, sensitive, frightened part—that couldn’t accept the love of a good man. A part of her that thought she wasn’t good enough for him. That there surely must be someone better for him. Someone from his glittering world.
She didn’t want to say I love you until she could do it with her heart open and unafraid. After she got the groceries, she’d get out her paints. Hopefully, a few hours at the beach would calm her and bring clarity.
Maybe she’d make something extra special for dinner, something romantic, and if she found the words, she’d tell Arch tonight.
Because she did love him.
She’d known it for weeks. And for weeks she’d let fear be stronger than love. At the beach with her paints, would she finally find her way to taking such a massive risk as telling Archer Davenport that she loved him?
Waiting in line with fresh milk, a couple of avocados, and a lemon, she noticed that one of the gossipy papers in the rack in the checkout line featured a photo of Archer and her at the awards ceremony.
Two women ahead of her were chatting while they waited. One said, “Archer Davenport is so handsome. And he’s so down-to-earth for a movie star. He has a place here in Carmel, you know.”
Tessa was secretly thrilled that neither of them noticed that the woman in the picture was standing right behind them. She couldn’t wait to tell him. He’d laugh so hard.
Then the second woman pointed to the photo of Tessa. “Who’s that? His new co-star? I haven’t seen her before.”
Her friend said, “I read online that she’s his new girlfriend. I don’t even think she’s an actress.”
The second woman picked up the paper and studied the photo more closely. “I’m surprised he would dump Sonia Montefiore for someone like this. This girl is so ordinary. I bet she’s a struggling actress, and he did her a favor. They do that in Hollywood, you know.”
That moment was all it took for Tessa’s dream to die.
The two women were right—and they were literally speaking her fears out loud.
Why would he want to be with someone so ordinary when he could have a gorgeous movie star who understood his world and knew how to stand on a red carpet without being coached?
All the sunshine had gone out of her day. And she wasn’t sure it would ever come back.
She got home with the groceries, and when he said, “Do you want coffee? I was just going to make some,” she blurted, “I can’t do it. I can’t be with you.”
Arch turned, holding on to the kitchen counter for support. He searched her face, looking both puzzled and sad. “Why? What happened between your going out for milk and coming home?”
But all she could do was shake her head. “I can’t talk about it right now. I need some time.” She didn’t even unpack the groceries. She simply walked up the stairs to her bedroom, trying not to cry. Trying not to scream with frustration. Trying not to wish that she didn’t love Archer Davenport.