Hidden Sins (21 page)

I took a deep breath in. “Okay. I’ll follow your lead.”

The microwave beeped and Mia took the bowl of oatmeal out and placed it in front of me.

“Eat up. It’s going to be grueling,” she teased. “I’ll go hop in the shower.”

I grinned and nodded as she wandered down the hall. This was going to be fun and getting paid on my off day didn’t hurt either. I quickly downed my oatmeal and went to get ready. It wasn’t until I hopped out of the shower and got dressed that I saw another text had come over my phone. I wondered what else Luke had to say. Maybe he was cancelling. I picked up my phone and clicked on the message, nearly dropping my phone the moment I saw the words.

You can run but you can’t hide

I didn’t recognize the area code, but I didn’t need to. They’d found me. Again. There was no playing pretend in my life. What few moments of relief I had were few and far between. My hands trembled as I put the phone on the nightstand. I didn’t understand how they got the number. Did that mean they knew where I was staying? Or were they trying to flush me out, hoping I’d make a mistake so they could find my location.

“You ready?” Mia asked, knocking gently on my door.

Heat began rolling up my neck, settling in my cheeks. I wanted to tell her.

But I didn’t.

“I’m ready,” I said, opening the door, trying to sound as bright and cheery as possible.

“Well, you seem extremely happy.”

Damn! I went too far. I wasn’t a very good actress. My mind flashed to the plans I had with her brother and was thrilled I at least had an excuse. “I’m looking forward to today and tomorrow.”

Mia grinned. “Enough said.”

I followed her down the stairs and she stopped in front of the door but didn’t open it. She grabbed a bag of supplies. “I need to confess something.”

“What’s that?” I asked.

“It’s not going to be just you and me today.”

My heart fluttered at the thought of Luke joining us.

“Who else will be there?”

She twisted her lips and glanced out the window.

“My brother’s intentions are good. Please don’t get the wrong idea. He’s worried about you, about me being with you.”

“Okay…”

“So, he’s got one of his guys on us. He promised it would only be for a few weeks. He figured he’d let me tell you so that you wouldn’t get mad at him and cancel your date tomorrow.”

I laughed.

This was another example about my theory on people’s coping abilities. We could pretend that things weren’t as bad as they were and let time essentially dampen the fear. Yesterday I would have been upset because I’d convinced myself things had gotten better. I let time play its cruel trick on me, letting me think I was in control. Today, reality hit me like hammer to the toe. There was no escaping my reality, and I was grateful to have an extra pair of eyes watching over Mia and me.

“I’m glad it was you who delivered the message,” I replied, smiling.

She opened the door and waved for the stranger who was standing on the sidewalk to come over to us.

“This is Mitch,” Mia said. “He’s been with my brother’s firm forever. Since the beginning, right?”

Mitch nodded, keeping his stern expression in place. I was surprised Mia wasn’t able to crack it.

“Nice to meet you,” I said, as I walked outside.

“Pleasure is mine.” He took a step back and I was impressed with his size. He had to be at least a foot taller than me, and I wasn’t particularly short at five-foot-seven. He was dressed in a dark suit and wore aviator shades.

“Won’t he stick out like a sore thumb everywhere we go? He looks like secret service on steroids,” I asked Mia.

“My brother wanted the message to be loud and clear to whoever’s going to try to say hi to you next.”

I nodded and followed her down the stairs with Mitch close behind.

“We’ll see which dress feels the best, and then we’ll walk over to this amazing botanical garden that’s about two blocks away. It’s a hidden gem in this town. The white camellias are gorgeous right now, and I think if we can find something like a vivid red to put you in, it will be spectacular.”

Mia stopped in front of a storefront that looked like a cross between bohemian and vintage. I’d never been able to splurge on anything other than the basics, but I’d always dreamed of being able to dress in a way that made a statement.

“I’ll be stationed here if you need anything,” Mitch replied, his expression unchanged. He stood next to the entrance, and I couldn’t help but chuckle once I turned around. He definitely wouldn’t be the store’s idea of a welcoming committee.

“Hey, girl,” a woman from behind the counter crooned.

“Morning, Melanie,” Mia sang, giving her a quick kiss on each cheek. “This is my friend, roommate, and latest victim, Mia.”

“She’s lovely. I can see why you’d want to paint her,” Melanie said, walking over to greet me. Her lips began to make their way to my cheek and I froze in place, but Mia’s laughter somehow put me at ease, and I reciprocated the air kiss before turning to teasingly glare at Mia.

“Melanie works in sculpture,” Mia said.

“But to pay the bills I work in this lovely establishment,” Melanie laughed. “But enough about the struggling artist. I have several lovely gowns for you. I’ve got mermaid and empire pulled out. They’re hanging in the back dressing room,” Melanie said, pointing toward the hall. “I’ll let you two be.”

“Thanks, Melanie,” Mia replied, grabbing my hand. “This should be easy enough.”

When we got to the dressing room I was beyond dazzled with the selection. It seemed like there was every shade of red imaginable in our small dressing room, and I wanted them all.

“I think this might be the one,” Mia said, handling a flowing, red dress with a neckline that was a deep v. “Beautiful. Look at this detail.”

I held it up and she took a step back. “Yep. Gotta try it on,” she said, smiling.

Mia began taking it off the hanger as I slipped my shirt over my head. She helped bring the dress over my shoulders as I felt the fabric fall around me. Working my shorts off, I flung them in the corner and glanced down, shocked by the amount of skin that was showing.

“Perfection,” Mia whispered.

I looked in the mirror in awe as I imagined another life, another way of existing where I would slip this on for an evening.

“You like?” Mia asked.

“It’s perfect.”

“Well, that was the easiest wardrobe selection in my career. You might as well keep it on and we’ll just keep your clothes here for after. Melanie lets me borrow the merchandise. Although, I think if my brother saw you in that dress he’d buy it for you.”

My chest tightened when she mentioned her brother, but all I did was laugh.

“We found it,” Mia told Melanie as I followed her back into the shop. “Mind if I keep these here?”

“That is the one, isn’t it?” Melanie said, nodding in response to Mia’s question. “Exquisite.”

“Thank you,” I muttered, a little unnerved by the amount of attention. “I just realized I’m going to have to walk to the garden in this.”

“Don’t give it another thought. It’s L.A. No one will think twice. They’ll probably think you’re famous and it’s their fault for not knowing who you are.”

I laughed as we walked outside to greet Mitch, who looked like he hadn’t moved a muscle, and all three of us began walking down the sidewalk. Regardless of what Mia had said, I was sure we were quite a sight.

“Okay. Here we are,” she replied, standing in front of a gated entrance. “They’re closed to the public today so we’ve got the place to ourselves.” She pressed a button on the gate and a woman’s voice greeted us.

“It’s Mia.”

“Thought it might be,” the lady laughed, as the lock clicked.

The gardens were absolutely gorgeous. It was amazing to think that this many things could be blooming at this time of year. It definitely wasn’t like this back at home.

Home. I needed to quit saying that. I took a deep breath and smelled the fresh scent of foliage and flowers as I followed the path through the gardens alongside the Victorian home.

“I think we’ll head to the back,” Mia explained.

“Sounds good to me,” I laughed.

The front was beautifully manicured, but the backyard was more natural. There was a wildness about the landscape, and the flowering shrubs and meandering paths only added to the mystery that surrounded the space.

“I was thinking we’d start over there,” she said, pointing to the far corner. She set her bag down and began grabbing equipment out of it. “If we can tuck you in there, make it look like you’re coming out of the woods…”

“That would be amazing,” I finished

“Let’s get your shoes off. Do you mind?” she asked.

I flung off my flip-flops and laughed, realizing I’d never even given my shoes a thought. They really wouldn’t have worked. “Good call.”

Working with Mia turned into such fun as she pulled me in one direction and then tugged me in the other. Many of the shots had me wrapped within the greenery, and I couldn’t even imagine what the images might look like. After hours that felt like minutes, Mia surprised me with her announcement.

“One last shot and I think we’ve got enough for this session.”

“I’ll give it my all,” I laughed. “And I’ll be the first to admit that I’m happy you talked me into it.”

“I knew it. Okay, flip your head over and work your fingers through your hair,” Mia instructed.

I started laughing as I followed her directions and worked my fingers through the blond strands. There was something about the sea air that made my hair tangle more easily.

This was the last shot of the afternoon, and I was a cross between exhausted and disappointed. I’d had far more fun than I thought I ever would, and it took my cares completely away. Plus, it was added money. During all of these shots with Mia, it somehow made me reflect on what I needed to do. I knew tomorrow I would tell Luke everything, including about the text I got today. It was time to stop running and start facing my reality. But I didn’t quite want the fantasy to end.

As I flipped my head back over again, my breath caught as I saw Luke standing next to his sister, taking me in, his eyes devouring me with such desire my legs almost gave out.

My gaze darted from his, but it was too late. He’d cast his spell on me.

“Beautiful. Absolutely beautiful,” he murmured, as Mia gave me the last few instructions, but I barely heard her. His words shook me to my core. I worked on autopilot as I fought down the emotions running through me as Luke looked on. The way he looked at me held such promise for something more, but I refused to get my hopes up.

“We did it,” Mia announced, hopping on her toes. “I can’t wait to begin painting. I only use the photographs to capture certain aspects. I’m no photographer. In fact, I suck so horribly that no one but me will get to see these.”

“That’s completely unfair,” I laughed. “I had counted on getting to see them all afternoon.”

“You’ll get to see my paintings as long as you stick around. I promise, but you should let my brother capture you with the lens. I bet it would be breathtaking.”

I glanced at Luke and his gaze hardened before he looked away. He obviously didn’t like being put on the spot by his sister.

“Will you be needing anything else with Hannah?” Luke asked his sister.

Mia looked amused as she watched her brother. She shook her head and flashed a smile in my direction. “I do need to return the dress to the boutique.”

Luke shook his head. “No. I don’t want her to change. It’ll work well for where I want to take her tonight. Tell Melanie I’ll cover it.”

My heart fluttered as his gaze fell to mine, and I wondered how on earth I’d be able to resist him.

Luke

“Anything out of the ordinary?” I asked Mitch.

He took a sip of coffee and shook his head. “Nothing, sir. They’re around the corner. While Hannah was taking a break, Mia told me this would be the last group of shots.”

“Is that so?” I glanced behind the house and saw my sister. “I’ll take over from here, Mitch. You can go home now.”

“Thank you, Mr. Fletcher. Call me if you need anything.”

“Will do.”

Mitch walked away as I slowly made my way over to where my sister was kneeling down, adjusting her camera. She glanced at me and beamed as she pointed toward a pergola. My gaze followed her finger and my heart nearly stopped. Hannah had her head flipped over, her blond hair flowing as her fingertips gently teased the strands. Her body was wrapped in a crimson dress that hugged every curve, leaving very little to the imagination.

She flipped her head back up, her gaze catching mine.

“Beautiful. Absolutely beautiful.” I hadn’t meant to say it aloud, but she literally took my breath away.

My sister began taking more shots, and I watched how Hannah’s gaze teased the camera. With every movement of her hips, swing of her arms, all I could think of was holding her tight. It took everything I had not to rush over to where she stood and press my mouth against hers. It was unfair of me to assume that she’d even want that.

I had our plans all set for tomorrow, but the idea of spending tonight with her was all I could think about. There had to be a way to convince her to have dinner with me. Not even hearing what my sister and Hannah were talking about I interrupted, “Will you be needing anything else with Hannah?”