Chapter 7
They fell into their regular routine, seamlessly.
The bonding of friendship had always been there, from the very beginning.
Zahra was determined to ignore the flashes and bolts of electricity, telling herself that it was perfectly normal.
Bryce Whitlock had the power to make a woman – any woman with blood running through her veins, wish that he would train those baby blues on them.
He was gorgeous and that was established.
But she had to be immune, or if not immune, she had to distance that part of her from everything else.
He was a friend and nothing more.
It could be nothing more than that.
The good thing was that they had always been able to relate to each other, even back then when their worlds were spinning out of control.
And it was no different now.
He spoke to her about his work.
Acting was something into which he had fallen.
Something at which he was extremely good.
“Putting on someone else’s persona came naturally.”
They were seated on the porch, enjoying the sweep of rain that had come after a few clouds had settled in.
He had been at the inn a week now and it felt like home.
Dinner had been finished, the two couples and the elderly lady with the purple hair had retired for the night.
All of them, including Gladys had recognized him, but had not made a big deal of it.
He was charming and courteous and made it plain that he was on vacation.
“I always wanted to be someone else.”
He slid her a glass as he stretched his legs out.
She was wearing an oversized plum colored sweater over black leggings.
Her hair was piled on top of her head, leaving her throat bare.
The twinge of lust settled on him like a familiar cloak.
He could smell her perfume and wanted to taste her skin.
Turning his head away, he stared out at the sheet of rain, his thoughts in turmoil.
He would do well to leave, he thought grimly.
Staying would only prolong the agony of wanting her and never taking.
He could not afford to.
They were in a good place now and he could not afford to change that.
“Bryce?”
Her soft cultured voice dragged him from his reverie.
“What?”
“You were talking about acting,”
she reminded him.
“Sorry.”
He muttered, hands moving restlessly over his thighs.
“I would lose myself in the scene – something that helped me to forget who I actually am.” He shrugged.
“You’ve won several awards.”
He glanced at her, blue eyes twinkling.
“What?”
“You kept up with the news.”
She shrugged.
“I followed your career and was proud of you.”
His surprised look had her shifting.
“Why is that so hard to believe?”
“I hurt you.”
“Still,”
she shrugged again, “we once meant something to each other, and I was happy to see that you had found your niche.” She slid him a look.
“You always said you would never follow in your dad’s footsteps.”
“And I kept that vow.
I always thought my place was in front of the camera.
I wanted to be in the thick of things.”
“Any regrets?”
He shook his head.
“I love acting.”
He spread his hands wide.
“It has a certain magic to it.
Not just the different locations, but the plots, the twists and turns of the different characters.
Now I get to pick and choose what I do.
In the beginning, I refused to ride on my dad’s name and insisted on being treated like a normal up and coming actor.”
“How did that work out?”
“Pretty well.”
He laughed.
“Blaine Whitlock might be the best in the field, but he is a total prick.
And not well-liked.”
“You’re different.”
She murmured.
He turned to look at her again and their eyes connected and held for the space of seconds.
Something shimmered, heat and a flash of awareness, before she looked away, breaking the spell.
His hands clenched into fists, and he took a few calming breaths.
Christ! How the hell was he going to contain himself around her?
“Care to elaborate?”
He asked lightly.
She shrugged again.
“You never put on airs.”
She smiled slightly.
“Not back then and not now.
I thought you would be puffed up with your own importance.
You’re a box office wonder…” She slid him a laughing glance that had his breath lodging inside his throat.
“Not my words of course. I have seen you performing.
The movie – ‘Hard Pass’, where you played a washed-up veteran with his last dime, moved me to tears.
It felt so real and galvanized the VA to start acting more, start doing more.”
She studied him curiously.
“You also gave half of your earnings to help the cause.”
He slid his glance away and she realized to her amazement that he was embarrassed.
“It was supposed to be anonymous.”
“Millions of dollars would be likely to generate a hell of a lot of publicity.”
His eyes sizzled.
“That was the last thing I wanted.
Those men and women fought for our country.
I was clueless until I read for the part and got the lead.
Then I spent a month shadowing and talking to veterans – homeless men and women who deserved better. I listened to them.
I felt their pain.
And was ashamed to call myself an American by the time I was through talking.”
Picking up his glass of wine, he took a sip, a thoughtful expression on his handsome face.
“I wanted to do so much.”
“And you did.”
Turning sideways, she propped a hand on the arm of her chair and placed her chin in her palm as she stared at him.
Funny, she had often thought of him as a spoiled Hollywood type but should have realized that he was the same sensitive boy she had known since childhood.
“Yeah.
It somehow feels like it’s not enough.”
To lighten the mood and to take that anguished look off his face, she turned to teasing.
“What do you think, Whitlock? That you can save the entire world?”
His blue eyes bore into hers, telling her that he knew what she was trying to do.
“One day at a time Woods.”
He followed suit and within minutes the mood had lightened.
Thanks.”
“Any time.”
They stayed for a few more minutes, enjoying the sound of the rain pounding on the pavement.
*****
He could not sleep, which was not a surprise to him.
She had been the one to call an end to the evening, saying that she had to get an early start.
He had to admit that even sitting there on the porch and watching the rain had been of immense pleasure to him.
Now he was alone in his room, pacing the length of his bedroom, his body tight and restless from unresolved feelings and emotions.
When the hell had this happen? He wondered.
And why was it haunting him now? The friendship situation was not doing him a world of good.
He wanted her.
Wanted to sink himself into her until he was melded.
Moving towards the bottle of scotch he had bought on one of his visit to the liquor store, he poured a generous amount and took it with him to stare out the window.
The rain had eased up somewhat, with fine drizzle shimmering against the glass.
Everything looked dark, wet, and clean.
Pressing his forehead against the cool glass, he closed his eyes briefly as the emotions and memories tumbled around inside his body.
She had been his lifeline when he was suddenly plucked from the familiar into a world he had no idea how to navigate.
He had been scrawny, a skinny kid with braces.
Sixteen and as yet to grow into his long limbs.
Awkward had been his middle name.
He recalled how out of place he had been.
A chauffeur had dropped him off at the front gate where other children had been gathered, and he had never lived it down.
Mostly it had been jealousy.
He was super wealthy, while most of them were from middle class families.
He had never belonged there, and his parents had been thoughtless and cruel to even thought of it.
He had dared not complain, because it would have made things much worse.
He would have been reminded how fortunate he was.
He had everything a child could ever dream of.
His suite of rooms were the height of luxury, even though the furnishings had been picked out by a designer with a bent towards the ultra-modern and gouging every penny from his famous clients.
The suite had been oppressive and brought little comfort.
He had spent most of his time in the elegant playroom where he had done his assignments.
His existence had been an incredibly lonely one.
His parents were always entertaining, and he had been left alone with the help.
He was not allowed to attend sleep overs or have friends over.
So, he had spent his time dreaming and longing for the day when he could escape.
Until he met her.
Moving from the window, he went to sit on the edge of the bed.
Zahra had made things considerably better for him.
Suddenly, his life had meaning, and he was able to laugh.
School was not such a trial anymore.
He had never been able to invite her over of course, but she had invited him to her place.
That was until her mother had started to become a nuisance.
Taking a sip of the drink, he bent his head and stared into the liquid moodily.
He should have kept in touch.
Because he hadn’t - he had lost the most important thing in his life.
*****
“Put me to work.”
“What?”
Zahra looked up from the list she was going over, distractedly.
“You obviously have a shortage of people to run errands.
Jessica is seeing to the newcomers and your other lady is busy cleaning and changing linens.
You are in the middle of preparing a meal.
And you need supplies.
Let me go and get them.”
“No.”
She shook her head, mentally tallying up the amount of apples she needed for the apple turnover.
‘I could never ask you…”
“You’re not asking.
I am offering.”
Before she could stop him, he plucked the list from her and pocketed it.
“Do I just go to the market and pick the things out or are they packaged and ready for you?”
“Bryce, really…”
“I insist.
You’re swamped.”
“You’re a guest.”
“I thought we were friends.”
She sent him a wry look, a frown pleating her brow.
“Well?”
The phone started ringing just then and she practically snatched it off the cradle.
“Just a minute please.”
Cradling it against her chest, she eyed him.
“Okay fine.
There are several stops to be made.”
“Just tell me where.”
“Bryce, are you sure?”
“Where?”
Her sigh was long.
“It’s on the list.
Just call if you’re not sure about anything.”
“Good.
See you later.”
She stood there staring after him, lost in thought and completely forgetting that she had someone on hold, until she heard the annoyed ‘hello’ coming through.
*****
It amused him to realize that he was enjoying himself.
The first place he stopped was the market where produce spilled out of large baskets.
Plump oranges, tangerines, watermelons, cantaloupes, and vegetables so green that it hurt the eyes.
And he was called ‘Zahra’s young man’.
He found himself wondering what she would think of the title.
He did not mind it one bit, nor did he mind the rotund Mr.
Greene slapping him on the back and inviting him to take a load off and have a spot of tea and some pastries.
He was caught up on the local gossip and learned that someone by the name of Miriam was pregnant with her fourth child.
“And not a father in sight.
Poor thing.”
The man hustled around the counter to wrap up a few items for a couple before coming around to sit with Bryce.
“I am just waiting for that snail of a nephew of mine to slice the beef just the way Ms.
Zahra likes it.” He gave Bryce a curious look.
“You surprise me.”
“I do?”
Mr.
Greene nodded his balding head.
“A big shot Hollywood type like you sitting in my humble store and shooting the breeze.
I am surprised you are even here in our humble little town.”
He scratched his chin thoughtfully.
“Although, quite a few celebrities have been by and are enchanted by the place.”
He leaned in as if about to impart something of great importance.
“There was one fellow - I will not be saying any names of course, because that’s not who I am.
But this one fellow was here for a few days and was as uppity as you please.
He came into town and would not deign to exchange a word with any of us.
Thought he was much too good to have a simple conversation.”
Bryce noticed in amusement that the man did not even bother to wait for his response but simply rushed off to attend to another customer.
Leaning back in the chair, he took in the trickle of people coming in and out.
Curious looks were sent his way and a few of them even waved.
He sipped tea and nibbled on tasty pastries as he waited for the order.
Mr.
Greene came bustling around with the packaged meat and instructed him to come back again.
He parked the car smack in the middle of the square and chose to walk.
After the rain last night and this morning, the air was cold, but not unbearably so.
Taking his time, he strolled along the narrow streets, took in the quiet sleepiness of the town.
He made his way into several shops, picking up the things Zahra had preordered and had conversations with people he had only just met.
He had never felt so free and contented in his life.
It was such a simple everyday task and one that he had never performed in his life.
It struck him that he had never shopped for himself.
When he was growing up, clothes had been delivered to the manor from high end stores.
He had never even been out to buy an ice cream cone.
Not even when he was going to school, he had never been given pocket money.
While he was away, he had had someone living with him who took care of all the pesky details.
When he started earning his own money, he had seen no reason not to continue with the trend.
Besides, it had been too much of a task to simply walk into a store and pick out a shirt.
When his name had become a household one, he had the thought of going out one night to get coffee and had almost been flattened by eager fans.
He had not ventured out again.
Over the years, the more famous he had become, the more frustrated and restricted it had been.
He loved acting, but the pressure, the lack of privacy had slowly eroded his happiness.
Dumping the rest of the packages in the vehicle, he strolled off to buy ice cream from the ice cream truck.
And one for Zahra as well.
*****
“Ms. Zahra.”
The man’s voice came over the phone as soon as she picked up the receiver.
“Mr.
Greene, is everything okay?”
She was in the middle of baking bread and was rushed off her feet.
“Your young man left, and I just had some lovely kippers just in.
Is there any way you could ask him to swing by and collect them?”
“I….”
“It would be a shame to let them go to waste.
That mean old codger Samuel from the seafood place will be coming in any minute now.
I swear that old bastard - excuse my French.
I swear he has his ear to the ground and know exactly what I have in my humble little shop.”
“I’ll see if Bryce is still in town.”
“Good.
I’ll have them packaged and waiting for him.”
Hanging up, she stared at the phone for a minute before dialing his number.
“Hi.”
“Hi.
I am just about to leave.
I know it seems like I spent all day…”
“No.
It’s fine.
I need a favor and am actually happy you’ve not left yet,”
she told him about the kippers.
“I’ll just swing by and collect them.”
“Are you sure you don’t mind?”
She worried her bottom lip as she stood there coating the dough.
“Of course not.
I am having fun.
See you in a bit.”
She hung up and stood there frowning at the rising dough.
“Problems?”
She jumped at the sound of Jessica’s voice behind her.
“No.”
She shook her head and forced a smile.
“It’s chilly out so everyone will have to eat indoors.”
“The couple – the McGibbon’s are eating out tonight and would like an early supper.”
“You could serve them the roast beef sandwiches and some broth.
I just made a fresh pot of hot cocoa as well.”
“That should do it.”
Jessica glanced at her curiously.
“That young man has come in handy.”
“He has.”
A smile touched her lips.
“Claims he’s having fun.”
Jessica bustled about the kitchen preparing the refreshment.
“I went home just last night and found a movie of his and for the life of me wondered how on earth I never recognized him.
He’s quite good.”
“He is.”
The phone rang again, and Zahra snatched it up, grateful for the interruption.
*****
“You brought me ice cream?”
She stared at the covered bowl as if afraid to open it.
He had dumped the packages on the counter and handed her the bowl.
“Mint chocolate chip.”
His grin was so charming and infectious that she found herself smiling back at him.
“As I recall, it used to be your favorite.
Aren’t you going to open it?” He leaned against the counter and crossed his powerful arms over his chest, blue eyes watching her.
“Of course.
And yes, it’s still my favorite.”
It disconcerted her that he remembered.
“Uhm, thanks for running the errands for me and buying me this.” She opened the plastic bowl and almost sighed in delight.
“It’s been ages since I indulged.”
“Why not?”
The question threw her for a minute and had her pausing as she started to dip the spoon into the already melting ice cream.
“Good question.
I have no idea.”
She scooped up some and dipped the spoon into her mouth, closing her eyes as it hit her tongue.
Bryce felt the familiar intense heat flowing through his body as he watched her enjoy it.
Straightening, he shoved away from the counter and started forward, then stopped and swore beneath his breath.
Turning away, he went to look out the window, his expression grim.
“How was it?”
He was so caught up in his own misery that her words barely penetrated his misery.
“What?”
“Your shopping trip.
How was it?”
“An adventure.”
Forcing himself to get his feelings under control, he turned to face her and realized she was staring at him curiously.
“It’s my first and hopefully not my last.
I have some phone calls to make, if you’d excuse me?”
“Bryce?”
Her voice stopped him just as he got to the doorway.
“Yes?”
“Thanks.
I really appreciate what you did today.”
“Anytime.”
He said with a distracted smile before making his way out.
He did not stop until he was inside his room and the door closed.
Heading to the table where he stored the liquor, he poured a generous amount and brought it with him to sit on the bed.
Someone had started a fire in the hearth, and it lent a cozy glow to the room.
But not enough to deal with the chill inside him.
The day’s adventure was a distant memory, and he cursed himself for a fool.
What the hell did he think? That he was somehow setting up house with her? Running to do her errand like some lovesick idiot? What was that proving? That he was a normal person and that there were no miles between them?
Because there were.
He was born in luxury and had been privileged his entire life.
It does not matter how much he lacked when he was growing up.
Love had never entered his household.
And he had stopped hoping for it a long time ago.
He could justify it until he was blue in the face.
They were not the same.
Yes, they had shared pain and misery growing up, but they did not belong together.
At the end of his time, whenever that was, he was going to have to leave.
And when that time come, saying goodbye to her was the worst thing he would ever have to do.