A Love Like This Page 2

  As if reading his mind, she said, “I know what you’re thinking, Devon. And I’ll have you know Mr. Roper strung lights in two of our palm trees this year.”

  Grateful his mother couldn’t see him rolling his eyes, he quipped, “Don’t overdo it now, Ma.”

  She laughed, the familiar sound warming Devon’s heart. “Oh, go on with you. Make sure you call us and let us know you got there safely.”

  “I always do.” He zipped the suitcase closed, placing his trusty lock in the loops to secure it.

  “Devon...there’s one more thing.”

  Noticing the hesitation in her tone, he sat down on the edge of the bed. “What is it, Ma?”

  “Your father and I were talking, and we really want to see you settled down again.”

  He sighed. He’d been hoping to avoid this conversation this year, but it seemed that wasn’t going to happen. “Ma. I don’t really want to talk about this.”

  “I know you don’t, son, so just hear me out. It’s been five years since Nat left us, and we’re ready for you to get off the merry-go-round and find a nice girl to bring home.”

  “Merry-go-round? Really, Ma?” He’d started dating again about two years ago, and since then he’d gone out with his share of women. He’d even satisfied his urges here and there, but the term his mother had just used seemed to go too far in describing his life as a young widower.

  “You’ve dated plenty of girls but never gotten serious about anyone. I know it must be hard to put your heart on the line after such a loss, but you’ve got to take the chance, dear.”

  He felt his brow furrow. Hard didn’t begin to describe it. His reluctance to enter a serious relationship again had nothing to do with opportunity and everything to do with his feelings. His wife, Natalie, had been only twenty-nine when he’d lost her to an undetected congenital heart defect. It had taken him almost three years to learn to navigate the world without his childhood sweetheart by his side.

  “Just think about it, dear. That’s all we ask.”

  He could hear the love and concern in his mother’s voice, and it did much to soothe his frustration. “I will, Ma.” And he would think about it. But that didn’t guarantee he’d come home with a fiancée any time soon, and he hoped she realized that. “I love you.”

  “I love you, too, son. Travel safe.” She disconnected the call.

  Devon stood and pocketed his phone, glancing around his room to be sure he hadn’t forgotten anything he’d need for his trip. That done, he dropped the wheeled suitcase on the floor, lifted the telescoping handle and pushed it out of the room.

  Chapter 2

  Hadley pulled her midnight blue sedan up to the curb in front of the rental unit and cut the engine. Unbuckling her seat belt, she dropped the driver-side visor and opened the lighted vanity mirror. She took a moment to make sure her upswept hair and carefully applied makeup were on point, then righted the visor and smiled.

  Devon was due to arrive any minute now. She’d always known him to be punctual, and that was just one of the qualities he possessed that made him so attractive. She knew she wouldn’t have to wait long for him to appear, so she gathered her wits.

  She still didn’t know what she would say to him, other than the rote script she always gave to longtime customers when she delivered their appreciation gifts. She’d thank him for his loyalty, just as her brothers would expect. That would be the easy part. What came after that, she had no idea. There was no point in trying to plan what to say to him now. She fully expected that when she looked into his gorgeous golden eyes, she wouldn’t remember her name, let alone any impassioned speech she planned to make.

  She looked down at her outfit. She’d chosen a close-fitting sweater, slim jeans and knee-high boots. Her aim was to be appealing to Devon’s eyes while still looking professional. She’d also considered the conditions outside. Despite the bright sunshine, the temperature hovered somewhere in the low fifties. She possessed more enticing outfits, but she was looking to make a certain impression. Besides, no one looked sexy while shivering.

  The sound of an approaching engine drew her attention, and she checked her rearview. Seeing Devon approaching in a midsize SUV made her lips stretch into a smile. This was another thing she liked about him. Here he was, rich and famous for his acting, yet he eschewed the bodyguards, drivers and entourage many people in his position had. She had no idea how he lived his life in LA, but it was clear that he didn’t make himself fodder for the celebrity-gossip bloggers and television shows. And when he was home in Sapphire Shores, he was about as low-key as a person could get. He flew commercial, rented a car and drove himself where he needed to go.

  She sighed as she watched him navigate the vehicle into the driveway. He’s so down-to-earth.

  Gathering the large gift basket she’d brought with her from the office onto her lap, she slipped out of the car as gracefully as she could. Once she’d closed her door, she stood by her car, watching and waiting. She tamped down her excitement at seeing him again, not wanting to ambush him before he had a chance to get out of his car.

  His driver’s side door swung open then, and as he stepped out and stood to his full height, Hadley could feel her heartbeat racing. Dark sunglasses obscured his eyes, but nothing obstructed her view of the rest of his smooth, brown-skinned face. She reveled in the sight of his thick dark brows, his perfectly groomed mustache and beard, and the full, soft-looking lips centering it all. His long, lean body was dressed casually in a pair of khakis, a green sweater and brown loafers. The clothes weren’t tight, but they were fitted enough that she could see the hard lines of his muscles flexing beneath the fabric as he moved.

  To Hadley’s appreciative eyes, he almost seemed to be moving in slow motion. Her lips parted, allowing a pent-up breath to escape into the cool winter air. She tightened her arms around the gift basket, knowing that if she didn’t, it might fall to the ground, forgotten, as she stared at her favorite client. How can he be that damn fine?

  He opened the hatch at the back of the vehicle. Dragging out a wheeled suitcase, he shut the hatch again and turned her way. “Hadley, is that you?”

  She shifted the basket, offering a wave before shifting it back into both hands. “It’s me,” she called. “How are you?” As she spoke, she started walking in his direction.

  “I’m good, thanks. How about you?” He remained by the back of the SUV, as if waiting for her.

  A few more long steps brought her into his personal space. “Good, good. Can’t complain.”

  He smiled, showing off two rows of shimmering white teeth. “Glad to hear it.”

  That familiar tingle started at the back of her neck, and she did her best to ignore it. Extending the basket in his direction, she spoke. “This is for you, from all of us at Monroe Holdings. We want to thank you for your loyalty in renting from us for five consecutive years.”

  “Thank you, Hadley. That’s very nice.” He extended an arm, taking the basket she’d needed two hands to carry and sweeping it into his grasp as if it weighed nothing. Regarding the selection of fruit, nuts and candy, he looked her way. “Looks like there’s some pretty good stuff in here.”

  She offered a soft smile. “I... I mean, we hope you’ll enjoy it.” She reached into the hip pocket of her jeans and fished out the key to the unit. “I’ll go ahead and let you in so you can put your things down.” She started walking toward the front door.

  He started to follow, but when he turned, he winced.

  The basket slipped from his arms.

  Hadley took a wide step and reached out, catching hold of the free end of the shrink-wrap just before the basket could hit the ground. The bottom of it scraped the driveway, but as she raised it to inspect, she found all the contents intact.

  He reached up, slipping off his shades and tucking them into the neckline of his sweater.
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  The moment his intense hazel eyes met hers, Hadley felt a tingle shoot down her spine until it touched the base, then flare out to the rest of her body.

  “Wow, Hadley. You’ve got amazing reflexes.” He looked genuinely impressed.

  She shrugged, straightening up with the basket in her arms. “I take a kickboxing class.” She looked back at him, letting her concern show through. “Are you okay?”

  He waved her off. “I’m fine. Just a little twinge in my back that pops up now and again.”

  She nodded. Even though she suspected there was more to it than he let on, she knew it wasn’t her place to press him.

  Firmly grasping the handle of his bag, he rolled it to the front door.

  As he passed by, she caught a glimpse of his firm backside. It was all she could do to hold onto the basket as she trailed behind him. They walked up the two stone steps to the door. Shifting a bit, she used the key to unlock the place and followed him inside.

  He rolled his bag into the nook by the window seat, then glanced around the room. “The decorations are really nice this year. Subtle, but still festive.”

  She grinned, probably a little wider than she had intended. “That’s the look we were going for. I’m glad you like them.” She crossed the room to the low mahogany coffee table, setting the gift basket down before any more mishaps could occur.

  As she bent, she had the distinct sense that he was looking at her backside. Acting with intention, she drew out the motion, staying in the position a few seconds longer than necessary as she pretended to fuss with the bow on the basket. When she stood and slowly turned Devon’s way, he was sitting on the cushioned window seat.

  His hazel eyes were focused squarely on her.

  * * *

  When Devon saw Hadley turn around and look at him, he didn’t bother to shift his gaze. He’d misjudged a few things in his day, but there was no mistaking Hadley’s flirting. The exaggerated way she’d bent over the table just now had obviously been done for his benefit, and benefit he did. The sight of her round, upturned ass had warmed his blood so much he was tempted to strip off his sweater.

  As she caught his eye, her full lips curved into a smile. “Devon. Were you doing what I think you were doing just now?” The teasing in her tone indicated how certain she felt of the answer.

  He chuckled. “Only if you were doing what I think you were.”

  She winked but admitted nothing.

  The grin stretching his lips held a mixture of amusement and intrigue. Since when had Hadley been checking for him? He’d always thought of her as attractive. But he’d tried not to dwell on that, since there were two glaring factors that might make her an unsuitable match. She was only twenty-eight, six years younger than him. Not to mention she was the baby sister of his old friend Campbell. He and Campbell had hung out a lot in high school, and Devon had no idea how Campbell would react to his old cutup buddy going after his sister.

  She let her gaze drop in a coy manner.

  He kept his expression even, hoping not to sway her one way or the other. He was supposed to be resting over the holidays, not entertaining a tender young thing like Hadley Monroe. Still, the man in him couldn’t help but be flattered by her theatrics.

  Her expression changed then, indicating a return to her usual all-business demeanor. She sat on the sofa, shifting to face his way. “So, tell me all the interesting things happening on the left coast.”

  He chuckled. “I was about to ask you for an update on what’s been going on here over the past year.”

  “Not much.” She shrugged. “We’ve cleared our last thirty acres of land and are trying to decide what to develop there. A new grocery store opened, along with a few boutiques to appeal to the tourist crowd.”

  “What about Coastal High? Did they ever finish the new stadium?” When he’d visited last year, ground had been broken for the project, adjacent to the old field.

  “Yes. They finished it right after school let out for the summer. By the time the kids got back for the new school year, the football team had already practiced on the new turf.”

  He nodded, pleased that his alma mater was making improvements. “You know, I haven’t been back to Coastal since I graduated.” He watched her as she spoke, taking note of her body language. “It’s been so long, I don’t think I remember how to get there.” He had a vague idea of the way to the school and could probably find it on his own. But he wanted to see how she’d respond.

  She leaned forward, her face brightening. “If you want to see the new stadium, I’ll take you over there.”

  “Sounds great. Maybe we’ll swing by there in a few days.” He wondered if he was encouraging her too much, but he did consider her a friend. He saw no reason he couldn’t treat her as such. If she were someone else, someone closer to his age and not related to one of his oldest friends, they’d be having a much different conversation right now.

  “Really, though. Tell me what’s happening in Hollywood. Filming anything? Premieres coming up?” The glint in her eyes gave away her excitement.

  He chuckled at her effortless transition from friend to fan. “I wrapped Destruction Derby 3 about a month ago. Haven’t filmed anything since, and no premieres until after the New Year.”

  She clapped her hands together. “I can’t wait for DD3 to come out. I loved the first two.”

  His brow hitched. “Really? I never pegged you for the type who’d like the DD series. Explosions, fast cars, fistfights.” The films in the series were wildly popular with the young male audience, at least according to the suits at the studio. They were huge moneymakers and kept Devon financially secure, but filming them had been especially hard on his body.

  She made a face of mock offense. “That’s sexist. Just because I’m a woman, you think I can’t get into a good action thriller?”

  “You gotta admit, you’re not exactly the target audience.”

  She rolled her eyes, but her smile remained. “Come on, Devon. You know me better than that.”

  He laughed. “I’m just teasing you. Thanks for the compliment, though.”

  She leaned in, dropped her voice as if there were someone else in the room. “Listen, just between me and you, is Captain Vicious coming back for the third movie?”

  He laughed again at her question. “You’re like the fiftieth person to ask me that.” The character, a villain in the DD series, was played by veteran actor Rick Rollingsworth. Rick, a contemporary of Samuel L. and Denzel, was about as well loved as a man of color in Hollywood could expect to be. “At least ten people asked me that between the baggage claim and the rental car counter.”

  “We’re friends, though. So, are you gonna tell me?”

  He shook his head. “Sorry. The nondisclosure agreement in my contract is in full effect.” He knew Captain Vicious would indeed be making a return but couldn’t risk his standing with the studio by telling her that. “You’ll have to find out with everybody else when the movie drops in May.”

  She sighed. “Oh, well. I’ve waited this long, I suppose I can wait till Memorial Day.” She stood and he took time to appreciate his view of her. The sweater, jeans and tall boots encased her shapely figure in a way he found very attractive, but not overly revealing. The dark ringlets of her hair were pinned on top of her head, revealing the lines of her face. Her high cheekbones, full lips and sparkling brown eyes were all marks of her beauty, and of the Monroe blood flowing through her veins. Today, Hadley looked much as her mother, Viola, had looked twenty years ago, when they were kids.

  A few long, silent moments passed between them before she seemed to notice his scrutiny. Her cheeks filled with a rosy blush, the glittering eyes shifting to the window behind him. Straightening, she began to run through the speech she usually gave him when he checked in to the unit. “The groceries you requested for the first week are al
ready in the kitchen. You have plenty of fresh linen in the closet upstairs, and the housekeeping service will stop by every other day to do laundry and dishes for you...”

  He smiled, putting up his hand to stop her rambling. “Thanks, Hadley. I got it.”

  She shifted her gaze away from his face, running her hand over the red ribbon securing the gift basket. “Is there anything else you’ll need?”

  He fought the urge to give her one of the many cheeky answers that came to mind. Shaking his head, he said, “No, but if I think of something I’ll give the office a call.”

  She crossed the room toward the front door, passing him as she moved. “Well, I’ll stop pestering you and let you get on with your vacation. Just give the office a call if you need anything, or when you’re ready to go see the new stadium.”

  He nodded. “I will. Thanks for everything, Hadley.” His words were sincere. She’d seen to his every need for the past four years he’d been coming there, either personally or through the staff. She made it easy for him to leave his work behind for three glorious weeks, and he truly did appreciate everything she did.

  “You’re welcome.” She smiled on the heels of her soft reply, then opened the door and let herself out.

  He turned and looked out the window, watching her stroll back to her car.

  Something told him this Christmas would be an interesting one.

  Chapter 3

  Seated behind her desk, Hadley popped a soft peppermint in her mouth and chewed. The desktop was full of paperwork, detailing the long list of repairs waiting to be made at several of Monroe’s properties. She sighed as she swallowed the small pieces of candy. She was the office manager, and that entailed a lot of things. What it didn’t entail was property management—that was Campbell’s job.

  Scooting her chair back, she stood and walked around her desk. Leaving her office, she walked down the corridor to Savion’s office. The door was open, and a quick peek let her see her brother poring over something on his desk. She tapped on the glass panel next to the door to get his attention.