A Brand New Ending (Page 28)

“I have standards, and messing with guests’ personal hygiene or diet is something I’d never do.”

“Good to know. I was getting worried about who was cleaning my bathroom.” He flashed her a mischievous smile, and she laughed. “Your turn.”

She grabbed a roll. “Truth or dare?”

“Truth.”

“What’s the craziest thing you’ve had to do to promote a movie?”

His adorable face crinkled up as he thought hard. “Hmm, I’d say the premiere for my third movie, Conspiracy. The marketing department came up with this crazy-ass plan to involve the audience in a fake conspiracy game, and they forced me to play a part. You know how nerve-racking those things are without additional responsibilities? Instead of worrying about the reaction to the movie, I was running around and interrogating a bunch of strangers, asking them if they had these little pieces of paper that said a code word on them. I had to find a fucking spy at my own damn premiere. Needless to say, it was a disaster. I never found the spy, the marketing department got pissed and blamed me for not being a team player, and the audience surveys said the movie sucked. Hell, at least the movie made a crapload of money and was still considered a success.”

His laugh held a hint of self-mockery, and her gut twisted. She fought the need to reach across the table and touch him—to smooth his hair back from his brow, to kiss his smiling mouth and lose herself in the searing, deep connection that had always burned between them. Instead, she smiled back and kept her distance.

They ate their filets with shared gusto and fell into lighter chatter. She caught him up on the town gossip, and he entertained her with funny stories about celebrities. Soon she was relaxed, glowing from an abundance of good alcohol and rare meat.

“Kyle Kimpton!”

Ophelia smiled at the starstruck-looking couple. She’d known it was only a matter of time before Maureen interrupted them, but she understood. Maureen and her husband, Jack, ran the local movie theater and had watched them grow up. Kyle stood to greet them with genuine warmth.

“My goodness, you look wonderful,” Maureen squealed, her brown hair now peppered with gray, and her trim figure a bit more rounded from the generosity of age. “I cannot believe I’m screening your movies now! Remember when you both used to request a giant tub of popcorn with extra butter and then add snowcaps?”

They laughed. Jack clapped Kyle on the shoulder. “We’re really proud of you, son. Knew you’d be a big hit in Hollywood. You were always our first customer when a new movie came to the theater. Glad to see you got Ophelia out for a date night. She needs a break from the inn.”

Maureen practically glowed with triumph. “I always thought you’d make a cute couple.”

Warmth flushed her cheeks.

God, did the whole town assume they were together?

She opened her mouth to tell them he was only staying temporarily, but Kyle smoothly cut in. “Ophelia does work way too hard. I need to remind her how to play.” He gave her a wink, and she tried not to glare.

Maureen sighed. “Well, she’s just like her mom. She runs the best bed-and-breakfast in town. It’s too bad that the singing didn’t work out, though. You were so talented, dear, but I know Hollywood is brutal. At least Kyle made it. I’m sure you’re happy to have a quieter, more stable life.”

Jack nodded. “We’re just grateful to have you back. Maybe you can stop by the theater sometime and do a talk for the college students? They’d love it. We can screen one of your movies.”

Ophelia noticed Kyle sending a worried glance toward her, as if shocked at Maureen’s raw words, but he managed to smile and agree and end the conversation gracefully.

As the waiter cleared the table and handed them the dessert menus, an uncomfortable silence fell between them.

“I can’t believe she said that to you,” he muttered, temper carving out the lines of his face. “I’m sorry, Ophelia. I should’ve said something.”

She shrugged, regarding him openly. “Why? She’s right, and I don’t disagree with anything she said.”

“Really? Well, I don’t agree. I know if you would’ve stayed on that show, you would’ve become a huge star. And though you say you’re happy at the inn, I know how often you must think about what could have been if you stayed. I remember how badly you wanted a career different from your mom’s. I just want you to know I understand.” He paused, as if reaching deep inside himself and connecting with his emotions. “I also want to tell you I forgive you for running away. We were young, and we made a lot of mistakes. I’m sorry for everything I did that contributed to the breakup, but let’s both move forward and start fresh. What do you think?”

The world shifted. A deep, uncurling anger began in her belly and flowed outward, heating her blood. She stared into his familiar face, now carved out in sympathy, and began to shake with the need to yell, scream, throw, hit. The years of silence and buried resentment sprang up with vicious glee, until her vision blurred with the need to make him finally understand the truth.

“I’m glad you forgive me, Kyle,” she said quietly, her voice so sharp he watched her with a wary glint in his eye. “Unfortunately, I don’t forgive you.”

He blinked. “I don’t understand.”

“You never did. I don’t think you ever really wanted to.” She closed her menu, retrieved her purse, and pushed her chair back. “I’m going to pay the bill. I’ll meet you in the car.”

“Ophelia—”

“Not another word. I’m not about to lose it in front of your fan club.”

“But—”

She stood and walked away with her chin high and her emotions roiling like a witch’s cauldron.

What the hell had just happened?

Kyle drove back to the inn, going over the evening. Yes, it had started rough, but eventually, he’d sensed her walls lowering. The hum of attraction had deepened into that comforting familiarity he always loved about being around her, as if there was a piece missing inside him that only she was able to fill.

He thought offering his forgiveness and understanding for her abandonment had been a good thing. A grown-up, healthy way to heal the wounds of the past. Instead, she’d stormed out and now maintained an icy silence he hadn’t been able to break.

He needed to find out exactly what had pissed her off.

“Not talking to me isn’t going to solve the problem,” he reminded her. “I’m on your side, remember? I apologized. I offered forgiveness. I told you I understood how hard it must be when you think about your singing.”

“You have no idea how I feel, because you never stopped long enough to talk to me.”

Her profile was edged in ice, and suddenly his own temper surged, mixed with confusion. “Then for God’s sake, why don’t you end the mystery and tell me! What did I say back there that was so wrong?”

He pulled into the parking lot and cut the engine.

She gnashed her teeth, jerked around, and lit into him. “Let’s start with your arrogance. You forgive me for running away, Kyle? How generous of you—to try and understand how I could leave after you broke your final promise to me. I begged you for weeks to talk with me. I told you I was confused and not happy, and you ignored me. You’d kiss me and run off to work—sometimes for days. And even when you were home, you were in this fog, refusing to engage. At night you’d fuck me, roll over, and fall asleep. I watched you slip away day by day. I fought with everything I had, but do you remember what you’d say?”