The Girl From Summer Hill (Summer Hill 1)

Devlin leaned back in the chair and let himself imagine the press coverage of him and the Montgomery heiress as they told the swarming, pushing, excited paparazzi of their great love for each other. He’d become known as more romantic than Tate Landers!

But nothing was happening. Nothing! Devlin had the radio on all the time, but there was no news about him. Even local TV hadn’t mentioned him. They’d told of the play and how Landers was going to be there, but there was nothing about Devlin. Typical!

And problems were beginning. This morning the girl said she was ready to go home, that she missed her grandmother.

The possible failure of his great plan sent rage coursing through him. Ungrateful brat! Who did she think she was to lead him on like this? He’d had to spend hours listening to her whine about her easy life in her grandmother’s big house, and now she owed him!

She must have seen the look in his eyes, because she immediately changed her tune. She started talking very fast, saying she was dying to tell all her Facebook friends about her great adventure and how wonderful Devlin was.

He didn’t like doing it, but he’d had to be rather firm in telling her that she was to contact no one. He’d already taken away her phone and her computer. And after he found her trying to use the landline in the room in the middle of the night, he’d cut the cord on it. He’d even had to make her stand outside the bathroom door while he was in the shower so he could hear her. She’d become quite untrustworthy!

Scowling, Devlin watched her dive into the pool. She was good at it, which meant she’d probably had a personal coach since she was a kid.

A tall teenage boy slipped into the pool and called out something to her. She started toward him, but then she looked at Devlin, her eyes asking if she had his permission.

When he gave a quick shake of his head, she turned away from the boy. Devlin gave a bit of a smile. At least he’d taught her something! That was better than he’d done with Nina. But then, his ex always went running to her brother, and Landers went against what was morally right and interfered between a man and his wife.

Devlin watched Lori go back to her endless laps across the pool. This time things would be different. Never again would he allow a bully like Tate Landers to intimidate him. This time he’d stand his ground and demand his rights. He’d—

He broke off because he heard his ex-wife’s voice on the radio. What now? he thought. Was Landers using Devlin’s family to promote himself and his two-bit play? Did the man have no pride at all? If he used Emmie, could Devlin sue?

He turned up the volume. “You’re out of your mind!” Nina was saying. “There’s no way my ex-husband could beat Tate at anything. Certainly not at acting!”

Devlin’s eyes widened. The boy in the pool was circling Lori like a shark. Devlin motioned for her to get out and follow him back to their room. He couldn’t listen to his first wife’s lies while working to keep his almost-second wife from fornicating.

“What do you say to that?” the DJ asked.

“I don’t mean to contradict you, Nina, and you know Tate Landers is my best friend, but…” It was Jack Worth’s voice.

Devlin unlocked the door of the motel room and gave a curt wave to Lori to get inside. He didn’t have time to do a hearts-and-flowers gesture. He locked the door behind her, then moved into the shade and listened.

“But what?” Nina demanded.

“I want to be fair. Maybe Devlin and you didn’t get along, but he is an excellent actor.”

“Ha!” Nina said. “After his performance on Death Point, he doesn’t deserve your false flattery.”

“False flattery?” the DJ said. “Jack, do you agree about—”

“Now, just a minute!” Jack’s voice was the growl he used in his movies just before he shot half a dozen men. “There’s nothing false about Devlin Haines’s acting. There was a scene in Death Point when Rachael Wells’s character died that nearly put me in tears. I don’t know why he didn’t get an Emmy for that. He certainly deserved it!”

“In that case, Tate should have been given an Oscar.”

Jack gave a little laugh. “Come on, Nina, let’s be honest. It doesn’t take any real talent to give hot looks to pretty girls. That’s not exactly Oscar material. And when Tate was on Death Point, he didn’t outshine Devlin. Tell me, aren’t you at all worried what the New York critics are going to say about the performances tomorrow night? They might like Devlin better. Then what will you say?”

The DJ cut in. “Folks, they are talking about the first performance of Pride and Prejudice, which is to be at the Summer Hill Playhouse tomorrow at eight P.M. That show is sold out, but we’ve been told that three huge screens are being set up outside and everyone is welcome. Outside is free, but they ask for donations, all of which will go to charity. Bring chairs or blankets and a picnic—and your wallet!”

“If it will be held.” Nina’s voice was ominous.

“What does that mean?” the DJ asked.

“Don’t start on this again.” There was anger in Jack’s voice. “You’re not an actor and you don’t know how it works.”

“Am I missing something?” the DJ asked.

“Devlin disappeared,” Nina said. “Ran away is my guess. He always was scared of my big brother.”

“Are you kidding me?” Jack sounded fighting mad. “Through the whole play, Devlin Haines has worked twice as hard as anyone else. He was there from the first day. Tate didn’t even arrive until the auditions were nearly over. But Devlin stuck around and helped the young amateurs, like that girl playing Lydia. He practically held her hand through every line. That kid got the credit, but Devlin did the work. All done while Tate was running off with the local cook. He wasn’t helping anyone!”