When Love Strikes Page 16

  Once his break started and he went into the employee break room, those were the exact sites he planned to check out.

  Shane looked at his watch. When he worked Saturday nights at Masterson’s, his shifts never dragged. The restaurant was too busy on the weekends for it to happen. But ever since he’d overheard two customers talking about the pictures they’d seen of Angelina Troy and her handsome date on the evening news, time had slowed to a snail’s pace.

  They might be wrong. He delivered the desserts to table eight and left their receipt. When they requested nothing further, he walked back to the kitchen to grab his own dinner order.

  Only Mara, the restaurant owner’s granddaughter, was in the employee break room when he entered. She stood in front of her locker mirror reapplying her makeup.

  “Hey, Shane.” She glanced back at him before closing her locker door. “Is it still busy out there?”

  He set his plate down on the table and crossed to his locker. “Not a single empty table.”

  Mara slipped the combination lock back in place. “Enjoy your dinner. See you in a bit.”

  He waited until the door closed behind Mara, then pulled his cell phone from his locker. Maybe if he tried hard enough, the name of a popular media site would come to him, but he didn’t have a lot of time or patience. After pressing the internet icon, he typed Angelina Troy into the search engine. Seconds later, a list of websites appeared. He skipped the biography site at the top of the list and pressed the link for The Star Insider. It sounded like the type of site that would have the information he was looking for.

  The top pictures were of Gage Larson, a guy Shane went to school with until ninth grade, and his wife, Maryann. They’d played on the same town soccer team in elementary and middle school and had often gotten into arguments both on and off the field.

  Shane scrolled down past the short article under Gage’s pictures. He stopped when the next set of photos appeared. Angie stared back at him, but she wasn’t alone. A man he’d seen in the restaurant several times stood next to her. He couldn’t tell if the guy had his arm around Angie or not, but they were standing close. Rage raced through him, and he raised his arm to throw the device across the room. Common sense jabbed him before he released the phone.

  Lowering his hand, he looked back at the screen. Then, unlike with the other short article, he read the sentences under the photos of Angie.

  Angelina Troy, the star of the fall blockbuster A Prince to Call Her Own, arrived at St. Mark’s Church in North Salem this morning with her new boyfriend. St. Mark’s Church is also where Mia Troy, Angelina’s older sister, married North Salem native Sean O’Brien last year. Many of you may also remember North Salem is the very town where legendary playboy Jake Sherbrooke met his wife a few years ago. With so many finding love in town, I can’t help but wonder if we’ll soon be returning to report on Angelina and Mr. Smith’s wedding.

  Shane scrolled back up to the first picture. His Angie looked beautiful, but she always did. Even this morning when he delivered her package and it was obvious she hadn’t combed her hair or put on any makeup, she looked gorgeous.

  He moved the phone closer. She wasn’t smiling in all the photos, but in the center one she was.

  She wants me to see these pictures. It all made sense now. Angie was trying to make him jealous because it was taking him so long. She’d gone out in public with another man to send him a message. Angie wasn’t dating Smith. She was using him.

  The rest of his anger drained away and he closed the website. Don’t worry, Angie. Just a few more weeks and we’ll never be apart again. I promise.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Angie glanced at the motorcycle and then at him.

  “If you’d rather use the car, it’s okay.”

  It wasn’t uncommon for Dakota to just get on his Harley and ride for hours with no destination in mind on the weekends. He wanted to take Angie along, but he wanted her to enjoy the rides as much as he did. But he knew motorcycles weren’t for everyone. His ex-fiancée had hated his bike. Not once when they’d been together had she been willing to even try a short trip on it. Last night Angie had agreed immediately when he suggested taking it to Sean and Mia’s house this afternoon, but now it was obvious she was having second and third thoughts about it. He didn’t want her doing anything she wasn’t comfortable with.

  After taking in a deep breath, she accepted the helmet he held toward her. “Mia and Sean’s house is only four or five miles from here. So if I really hate it, the ride won’t be a long one.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “Positive.”

  Before she put her helmet on and made it difficult to kiss her, he pulled her in close and brushed his lips across hers. “I think you’re going to love it. And if you don’t, when it’s time to leave tonight, I’ll drive back here and get my car.”

  He released her and took a step away. If they remained this close for too long, he’d suggest they head back inside and stay there for the rest of the day rather than enjoy a friendly cookout.

  “It made Mia nervous the first few times she went on Sean’s motorcycle, but now she loves it. She says it’s a unique experience. I’m sure I’ll be fine before we even reach the end of the street.”

  Dakota waited for Angie to get settled behind him before reaching for his helmet hanging from the handlebars. “All set?”

  Her arms came around his waist, and she leaned into his back. “Ready.”

  A nervous edge remained in her voice, but he didn’t question her decision again. After securing his helmet, he started the engine.

  When he passed Brett’s house, the same dark green Mustang convertible he’d seen there several times now was in the driveway. At the house next door, Mack and Grace were shooting hoops in the adjustable basketball net he’d recently set up. Even Mrs. Mitchell was in her front yard gardening.

  He kept his speed well below the limit as they continued toward the stop sign at the end of the street. Although Angie didn’t say anything, he noticed she loosened the viselike grip she’d originally had around his waist.

  He took that as a good sign.

  When he turned on Fender Drive, he increased his speed and waited for her grip to tighten again. It didn’t.

  Dakota only recognized one of the three vehicles in the driveway as he pulled in behind Tony’s truck. Once he turned off the engine, Angie’s arms moved from around his waist, and she pulled away. Immediately, he missed having her pressed against him.

  “What did you think?” He accepted the helmet she held toward him and hung it from the handlebars.

  The ride might have been one of the shortest he’d taken in a long time, but he’d enjoyed every moment of it. Until today, he’d never had a girlfriend ride behind him, so he’d never realized how much more enjoyable a ride could be with a woman you cared about pressed against you and her arms around your waist.

  “Loved it. Mia was right. It’s unlike anything else I’ve done.” She slipped off the bike and held out her hand. “Next time we need to go for a longer ride.”

  “If it’s nice next weekend, we can take a ride along the Kancamagus Highway.” He hadn’t been up that way all summer.

  “Talk about a mouthful. I’ve never heard of it. Where is it?”

  “The northern part of New Hampshire. It stretches for about thirty-four miles or so. It goes straight through the White Mountain National Forest. And there are some great spots along it for hiking. Or we can ride out to the Castle in the Clouds.” He’d wanted to check out the mansion since he’d learned of it.

  “I’ll leave it up to you.”

  Mia and Max greeted them at the door. “Everyone’s outside.” She hugged first Angie and then him. He’d discovered the first time Sean introduced him to Mia that she was a hugger. It didn’t matter if it’d been two days since she last saw you or two months, a hug was part of her greeting when you walked in her house.

  None of his family members were huggers, including him. He much p
referred a hello or perhaps a handshake. Regardless, he returned Mia’s hug.

  “Go ahead out. I need to go upstairs and get Natalie; she just woke up from her nap. I’ll be there in a minute.” Mia started for the stairs.

  “I’ll go get her,” Angie offered before her sister’s foot touched the first step.

  “She probably needs a change.”

  “Don’t worry about it,” she replied before looking at him. “I’ll meet you outside.”

  Taylor, Sean’s much younger half sister, noticed him first when he walked onto the back deck. “Hey, Dakota.”

  The greeting caused the dark-haired woman sitting on the chair across from Taylor to look his way. He’d never met Avery. She’d flown in the day before Sean and Mia’s wedding and then home to California the next day. If she’d visited since then, he’d never seen her around.

  While Angie and Mia shared a strong family resemblance to the point that some might confuse them, the only similarity between Avery and her sisters was her hair color.

  Sean left his spot near the grill and clapped him on the back. “Glad you guys made it. I don’t think you’ve met Mia and Angie’s sister, Avery.” He inclined his head in Avery’s direction.

  Unlike Mia, Avery didn’t get up to give him a hug as part of her greeting. Instead, she gave him an odd little smile. “It’s nice to finally meet you. Everyone is going crazy trying to learn more about you. I’ve received calls from three different magazines this morning. And Skylar, Angie’s agent, has gotten a few too.”

  He held back a groan. Yesterday, he’d intentionally only given the reporter a last name. From the little Angie shared about her sister, he didn’t think she’d be as discreet if someone asked for more information regarding who he was.

  “Don’t be surprised if a few show up at your door in the next week or so. Once they get to the bottom of who you are, they’re going to want to know all there is about you.”

  His first instinct was to ask Avery just what she’d told the individuals who’d called her. Dakota kept the question in his head. Maybe later he’d ask Angie to talk to her sister instead.

  “Let’s hope they don’t, because they’ll get a demand to leave the property. And if they refuse, the police will be by to show them off.” The occasional political campaigner or salesman he would tolerate. If even a single reporter showed up, he’d send them packing without so much as a polite hello first. If they refused, he had no qualms about calling the local police to report a trespasser.

  “Consider getting a big dog,” Sean suggested. “A lot of reporters used to take one look at Max and get right back into their cars.”

  Dakota looked over at Max, who was sitting near Taylor getting the fur behind his ears scratched. The dog was huge, but he’d never even heard Max bark. The odds of the dog hurting anyone seemed slim to none. Still, he understood how some might see Max and not stick around to find out if he was friendly or not.

  Avery gave her brother-in-law a dirty look. “Answer their questions and they’ll go away too. The world loves Angie. She’s one of the hottest actresses around right now. People want to know everything about her. If you’re going to spend time with her while she’s in town, you need to accept that.”

  He had a great comeback prepared. Unfortunately, he didn’t get a chance to release it, because Angie stepped outside. The sight of her cradling Natalie in her arms while speaking softly to her robbed him of the ability to form words.

  Whether or not to have children had been one of the many things he and Sherrilyn had disagreed about. Dakota wanted them someday, and she didn’t. She believed they would get in the way of her career. These days he didn’t think too much about children. Seeing Angie standing there with her niece brought to mind all the reasons he wanted to be a father someday. And based on the way she went on about her niece, Angie would make a wonderful mother.

  “How’s the house coming?” Steve’s question forced him to look away from Angie and Natalie and use his brain again.

  One of Sean and Tony’s friends, he’d gotten to know Steve a little since he occasionally attended their monthly poker games. Last he’d heard, Steve was single again. Considering the looks he kept sending Avery’s way, he would love to change his relationship status. Dakota didn’t think Steve had a chance in hell with Avery though. From the little Angie had told him about her sister, Avery wasn’t the type to get involved with an average Joe from a small town.

  “Good. I just want to paint the upstairs bathroom and everything will be done.”

  Crap. Angie heard the tail end of her sister’s comment and made a beeline for Dakota. She hadn’t caught the beginning of their conversation, but she had a sinking sensation the media had reached out to Avery hoping to get more information about Dakota. She assumed Avery’s suggestion about “accepting it” referred to accepting that photos of them would appear in various places.

  Angie greeted the other guests before turning her attention Avery’s way. “Hey, Avery.” She took the seat closest to her sister. If she sat between Avery and Dakota, perhaps her sister wouldn’t talk to him much. “Is Rae Ann sick? Mia said you were meeting her in Boston today.”

  Avery shook her head. “Karen is. Rae Ann didn’t want to leave her with Aunt Nicole, and Eric is traveling for work. Next time I’m out this way, we can get together.”

  Considering how infrequently Avery came to the East Coast, it might be a long time before the two went out. “When are you leaving?” Avery’s visits were always short. Angie doubted this one would last much longer.

  “Not sure.” Avery shrugged, then moved her sunglasses onto her head as a cloud passed overhead, momentarily blocking the sun’s glare. “Before you came out, I was telling Dakota that Marcy Blake, Daniella Nault, and a few others have reached out wanting to know the details about your relationship. You know, the usual stuff. Skylar has received similar calls.”

  “What did you tell them?” Angie mentally kicked herself. Last night when Avery sent her the links to the pictures, she should’ve asked her sister not to share any information. Although Avery didn’t know a lot about Dakota, she did know his full name and where he lived. With those two pieces of information, the media could easily uncover more.

  “The truth.”

  Since she held Natalie, clenching her fists was impossible. Instead, she ground her teeth together. Avery might be her sister and her former personal assistant, but she didn’t have the right to share anything about her and Dakota’s relationship with anyone. Especially since Angie intended to put acting behind her for the foreseeable future. More importantly, because Dakota wasn’t used to finding his name and face plastered across every tabloid magazine and website around.

  “Could you be a little more specific?”

  Dakota touched her thigh as if he was telling her to not worry about it. She appreciated the gesture, but it didn’t help diffuse her growing annoyance.

  The cloud moved, once again putting Avery in the direct path of the sunlight, and she moved her sunglasses back into place. “I explained you and Dakota met in North Salem and that you’d been seeing each other a couple of weeks. Angie, we both know they could’ve asked anyone in town and gotten the same information.”

  Yeah, but at least then it wouldn’t have come directly from her sister.

  “It’s not the end of the world,” Dakota whispered in her ear.

  When he’d brushed off the pictures last night, she’d been not only relieved but also touched. Their relationship was still new. There was nothing binding them together. He could’ve escorted her to the front door because he didn’t want the craziness being with her might produce. Dakota’s continued understanding now, especially since it had been Avery who gave the reporters his name and other details, endeared him even further to her. Already she suspected she was close to being in love with him. If he kept being as understanding and kind as he’d been so far, it’d be a done deal.

  ***

  For the first time since she arrived, An
gie was alone with both her sisters. Before they joined everyone outside again, Angie wanted to clarify a few things with Avery. “If Marcy Blake or anyone else calls you, don’t under any circumstances share anything with them.”

  “Why? The more they print about you the better. We don’t want the public and your fans to forget about you. Trust me, when you’re ready to leave North Salem behind, you’ll thank me.”

  Angie accepted the pastry box Mia handed her and considered placing the fresh fruit tart inside on her sister’s face rather than the serving plate Mia set out. “Dakota’s not like Anderson or Chad. He doesn’t want his private life on public display. And for the thousandth time, I don’t plan on leaving. I’ll come back to LA to visit, but I have no intention of living there again.”

  “Everyone loves a chance in the spotlight. Dakota’s no different. If he really was, he wouldn’t have gotten involved with you.” Once again, Avery used her “I’m older and I know everything” voice.

  Angie disagreed. Yes, a lot of people would love a chance for fifteen minutes of fame, but not everyone. Angie had no doubts about which category Dakota fit into. “Think what you want, Avery. I’m not going to argue with you. But please refrain from answering any more questions. If we want to share details with the world, we will.”

  Avery’s lips parted as if about to speak, but then she clamped them shut again and stared at her. “You’re serious about staying here, aren’t you?”

  Hadn’t she been telling Avery she intended to stay for weeks?

  “I guess in the long run it doesn’t matter where you live. Chad spends a lot of his time in Montana, and his career is as strong as ever. Nikki lives about half the year in Hawaii, and she has no shortage of work coming her way.”

  Wow, her sister was dense. Was it worth rehashing the same conversation they’d been having? Before Angie decided either way, Mia held a plate of cookies toward Avery.