Hearts in Motion (Boggy Creek Valley 5)

“How are Milo and Jenny?” I asked, hoping to change the subject.

“They’re doing wonderfully. Now, Candace, about this carpenter I know. Let me get his number from my desk. He’s done some work around the bed and breakfast.”

“He did?” I asked, knowing damn well my father did everything around the house.

My mother glowered at me. “He did. You just haven’t met him yet, by your own doing. I was hoping to introduce you two, but I think Candace here is the better choice.”

Candace looked at me and stuck her tongue out before my mother turned back to her.

“Is he that handy with his tools, Mom?” I asked.

Candace laughed, then coughed to cover it up.

If looks could kill, I would have been on the floor. Ignoring me, my mother wrapped her arm around Candace’s and led her out of the kitchen and to her office. As they walked away, I heard my mother say, “You’re going to love Jason Burns. He was born and raised up the valley in Hopetown.”

Sighing, I shook my head. “Well, she went willingly, so the best of luck to her.”

Luke

Donald Michaels, our director, was barking orders for someone to get the princess out of her tower.

“What’s going on?” I asked as Hank handed me a cup of coffee.

“From what I can gather, Kathleen is upset that no one told her the big love scene was cut out of the movie and she’s refusing to come out of her trailer.”

I tried not to smile and took a sip of my coffee. That had been my doing. I was ready to walk away from the movie and had every intention of paying back the money I’d gotten upfront from the studio unless they cut the love scene. If it had been filmed, the movie would have certainly gotten an R rating.

Normally I wouldn’t give two shits. A love scene didn’t usually bother me in the least. But having Kathleen straddling me, pretending to come as I called out her name, was not something I was about to do—with any actress—and I told my agent it was a deal-breaker. After going back and forth, they agreed to take it out of the movie.

Apparently, no one told Kathleen. Or if they did, she figured she could get it put back in.

“You seem pleased with yourself,” Hank commented. “Did you see Brighton?”

I nodded. “Yep.”

“Was she surprised to see you?”

Looking at him, I replied, “You could say that. I think surprised and then pissed off. She even pretended to have a boyfriend. Kissed him in front of me and everything.”

Hank’s eyes widened. “Are you sure he’s not her real boyfriend?”

“I’m positive. It’s Kyle, one of the cops.”

“The one she used to say drove her to near insanity?”

I lifted my cup at him. “That’s the one. He also recognized me, but I have to hand it to him, he played it off well. Dude could have an acting career if the cop thing doesn’t work out.”

Hank chuckled. “How long are you going to let her think you believe it?”

I lifted one shoulder. “I’m not sure. It could be a lot of fun.”

“You do remember this is Brighton, right? She could chew you up into a million pieces, spit you out, and not give two shits.”

“No,” I replied, shaking my head. “You didn’t see the way she looked at me, Hank. I know she still loves me, and I’m not giving up.”

“I hate to break this to you, Luke, but you walked away from her. She left Boston and moved back home. I don’t think she’s going to welcome you back with open arms. And the look she gave you…how fast was it before it turned to something else?”

I laughed. “Two-point-five seconds. Then she looked like she wanted to rip my balls off and shove them down my throat.”

“Hope you have a plan, friend.”

Turning to face him, I said, “You know I had things I needed to take care of first.”

All he did was nod.

“She wants a life away from all of this,” I continued as I motioned toward the outdoor set. “I needed to make sure—a hundred percent sure—I could do that.”

“And this is what you want, Luke? To walk away from a career you’ve worked hard to build?”

“If it means having Brighton in my life, then yes. I’d gladly leave it all behind for her. I wasn’t happy until she walked up to me at that Christmas party. The moment she smiled at me, it was like she took a match right to my heart and lit it on fire. I knew my life would never be the same. It gave me a high I’ve never experienced before, and I doubt I ever will again. Loving her is like discovering something beautiful every single day. And ever since she told me to leave her office, my world has felt black.”