Page 34 of Last Summer

“Yes, he called my editor this morning.”

“Geez, Ella. What are you going to do? It’ll be like you’re meeting him all over again.”

“Tell him the truth, I guess. I don’t have another choice. It’s an exclusive and he’ll only talk to me.”

“Well, for the sake of preserving your job and serving up the juicy bits us females have been dying to hear about him, I hope he doesn’t mind rehashing his life story with you. You spenta lotof time with him.”

“How much time?” Ella asks unsteadily.

“Ten days, I think.”

“Ten?” Rebecca said five.

“You left right after you and Damien got back from the Maldives.”

She remembers that trip. The mornings sunbathing on their private deck, afternoons snorkeling in turquoise waters, and evenings dining on succulent yellowtail kingfish. The hours spent nestled in Damien’s arms or pressed underneath him. The long conversations about love and life and careers and their future, spoken in soft whispers and loud laughter under a blanket of stars or the glow of the sun. They’d been celebrating their third anniversary.

“Last June then, right?”

“Mm-hmm.”

“Do you know why the article didn’t run?”

“Uh-uh. You didn’t tell me. But you never tell me anything. Code of ethics, dear. I can’t get anything out of you beyond what you print in your articles.”

Biting into her lower lip, Ella logs into her cellular account. What if, for some reason, she deleted the calls and his contact info from her phone? Seems logical since everything else about the interview is missing. Sure enough, several lines down on her June billing statement, she finds it. One outgoing call to Nathan Donovan’s number.

“How long do you think you’ll be gone?” Davie asks.

“Not sure, but I’ve got to go.” She closes the statement and logs out. “I have a full day of research ahead.”

“Anything I can do to help?” she asks.

“No, but I’ll let you know if something comes up.”

“Okay. Oh, hey,” Davie says before Ella disconnects. “My client has an art show next week. I think you’d like his work. Interested in coming?”

“Sure,” Ella agrees, a little distracted as she opens various browser windows.

“Great. I’ll put your name on the list.”

Ella thanks Davie and ends the call. She dives into research, immersing herself in Nathan’s life. She reads every article she can dredge up and binge-watchesOff the Grid!He’s masterfully skilled, athletic, agile, and borderline psychotic when it comes to the feats he designed to challenge his celebrity guests. And he’s hot, with a smile to die for and an infectious laugh that Ella is far from immune to. No wonder Rebecca thinks the Nathan Donovan exclusive is a coup forLuxe Avenue. WithOff the Grid!’s 65 percent female viewership, Nathan’s face on the cover could be their bestselling issue in years.

But who is he for real?

What little material there is on him since the series was canceled is speculation. According to his publicist, Nathan was devastated at the loss of his son, Carson. He then, unexpectedly, canceled his series. Since then, he’s been somewhat of a recluse.

How did Carson die and why did Nathan cancelOff the Grid!without notice?

Curious. Ella can’t find a single bit of info on either topic.

It’s after 9:00 p.m. when Damien gets home. Ella meets him at the door. She hangs up his suit coat and helps loosen his tie, eager to ask him what he knows about Nathan Donovan.

“I made a plate for you. I’ll warm it up,” she says after they kiss.

“Thanks. I’m starving.” Damien removes his tie and follows Ella into the kitchen. “How was Sacramento?”

Ella puts Damien’s dinner into the microwave and sets the cook time. “I didn’t go. Rebecca called with a new assignment. I spent the day researching.”

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