Page 16 of Bryce

They had forged aconnection that transcended the superficial barriers of social statusand appearances. It was pure, untainted by the prejudices of theoutside world. But as their emotions intensified, so did the risks.

The fear of beingdiscovered, of facing the repercussions, loomed over them like a darkcloud. But none of that had mattered. They had foolishly thought thatthey could overcome all of it.

To them or rather toher, it had been nothing short of magical. Until she had been leftdazed and broken by his departure. Firming her lips, she resolved toput it all behind her and start over. He was a guest at her inn andher priority was and always had been to make her guests feel at ease.

Chapter 5

Determined to holdonto that firm resolve she had made that morning in the parking lotof the children’s home; Zahra changed the way she did things.The lovely couple had arrived while she was out and had settled rightin.

They raved about theinn and insisted on having their meals out in the gazebo, even thoughthe temperature had dropped. And being from mainland USA, theyrecognized Bryce.

The woman shrieked inrecognition, bright blue eyes getting brighter and rounder as shestared at him. The husband was a little more contained, but no lessenchanted and dazed to be staying in the same location as a real-lifecelebrity. One whose movies he had been watching over the years.

But to his credit,Bryce treated the entire thing with aplomb and charm, scribbling hisautograph in the woman’s pink and white notebook and answeringtheir numerous questions about his latest movie.

“I am lookingforward to seeing it.” Milton Reyes told him enthusiastically.He had also graciously accepted their invitation to have lunch withthem beneath the gazebo. Because of the drop in temp, Zahra decidedthat stew was an excellent choice, along with freshly baked bread andfruit compote.

“I am sure youwill get your money’s worth.” Bryce flashed him a grin ashe watched Zahra flutter around, bringing this and that to theirtable.

Something wasdifferent about her; he mused. She was no longer hostile but wouldthrow him a friendly and polite smile every now and again. Hementally shook his head as he realized the wife (what the hell washer name again?) Maude…. That she had asked him a question.

“Pardon?”

“How long areyou staying here?”

He lifted hisshoulders in a shrug. “Undecided. I am just playing it by ear.And you?” He was forcing himself to be interested when all hewanted to do was to confront Zahra and demand to be heard. He hadseen her arrive of course, loaded down with packages.

But before he couldreach her, a guy he had seen doing the yard work had rushed to takethe packages from her.

Afterwards, she hadbeen busy welcoming the couple and chatting them up. Very soon, theyhad recognized him, and he had been forced out of politeness to sitwith them.

“We’rehere for a week. And then we’re off to California. Maude, here,has an antique business and we mostly travel to pick up differentthings. I am an accountant and work from home, so my schedule ispretty flexible.” The man beamed at him.

“I cannotbelieve we are here with you. Bryce Whitlock. One would expectsomeone like you to be basking in the Mediterranean or some fancyplace like Europe or the Caribbean.”

“But sometimeseven ‘people like me’ prefer the quiet of places likethis.” His sober voice had the couple staring at him for a fewminutes. “We’re normal people under all of the glitz andglamor and we do get tired just as well.”

Maude nodded as shepicked up her cup and cast her husband a scalding look that had himducking his head in remorse.

“I neverthought of that,” he mumbled, reaching for his cup of coffee.

“Not a lot ofpeople do.” Bryce looked up when Zahra made her way over totheir table armed with a jug of OJ. Taking the opportunity anddeciding to kill two birds with one stone, he shoved his chair backand took the tray of used dishes from her.

“I want to earnmy keep.” His dazzling smile left her weak at the knees, butshe was determined to ignore the sensations dancing up and down herspine.

“You’realready paying for the stay.” She decided that it was not worththe effort to try and wrestle the tray away from him. They would bothlook silly, and it would only cause an accident.

“Still…”Excusing himself from the table, he followed her along the windingpath towards the kitchen.

“It’s alovely day.” He felt the need to make small talk, even thoughthat was far from what he wanted to do.

“It is.”They passed the flowering oleander bushes and cut through the cobbleddrive to the side. “It will be getting colder tonight.”She glanced up at him and felt the familiar jolt at the sculptedfeatures. He had certainly grown into his looks. “Aren’tyou afraid the couple will reveal where you’re staying?”

He shrugged. “Ican prevail on them to keep it a secret, but why should they? I wasbound to be recognized sooner or later.”

“Does it botheryou?”

“Does whatbother me?” He asked absently, resisting the urge to trail hisfinger down her cheek to evaluate for himself if her skin was as softas silk.

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