His Southern Sweetheart (18 page)

“You didn't want to wait for me to dance?”

Heart racing, Amelia glanced upward. Butterflies floated against her rib cage at the sight of Nate standing in front of her. The tempo of a rumba pounded through the dance floor. Nate pulled her up against his body and, as usual, swept her off her feet. All doubts left when she was in his arms.

* * *

The following evening's main event for the weekend centered on the Crystal Coquí Ball. Several members of the Reyes-Torres families arrived in the ballroom. Men were dressed in tuxedos and women in their finest gowns. For once Amelia did not feel like a sore thumb sticking out among gorgeous people. Lexi and her glam squad had bombarded and taken over the hotel room, fortunately a few minutes after Nate and Amelia had finished another round of lovemaking. Two hours after the first knock on the door, Amelia stepped out into the living room in a formfitting peach gown. The shape of the halter top gave her cleavage for days. Judging from the way Nate's jaw dropped, she looked good.

A Caribbean band played in the background as guests arrived. A group of paparazzi hounded the patrons from the entrance. Amelia wished she had a camera just to capture all the beauty. Tonight's event was a Caribbean Done Good evening, celebrating the history makers. Classic art hung from the walls with spotlights perched underneath. Wineglasses clinked, and the smell of delicious food floated through the air.

“Are you glad you came?”

Amelia smiled up and over at her dinner date. The tuxedo fit Nate like a glove. His close-cropped hair reminded her of their first night together. His green eyes lit up when he smiled. Tonight he was her personal James Bond. “I'm honored to be here.”

“This can't be better than being at a TV premiere,” Kimber said, leaning forward. She sat at the same table with them, dressed in a royal blue, kid-length strapless gown.

Nate cut his eyes at his niece. “We're not going to make Amelia think about her old job.”

“There is no old job.”

The voice came from behind Amelia and Nate's chair. The two of them spun around. The moment Amelia spied the intruder. “Brittany.”

Amelia didn't realize she and Nate had spoken at the same time until Nate continued speaking. “Why are you still here?”

Still here? Why was she even here in the first place?

“Nate, what's going on?” Nate's mother asked.

“Nada.” Nate stood up from the table. “Brittany, may I speak to you in private?”

A few people from the nearby tables began to watch the interaction. In her previous job this TV gold moment would have made her signal for two cameras, one on Nate's narrowing eyebrows and Brittany's faux innocent, blinking lashes. This awkward moment was about to bring embarrassment to these people who'd been nothing but nice to her. Nate whisked Brittany off. By no means did Amelia plan on letting them speak together. She teetered in her heels down the private hallway and passed smiles to the guests. The woman seated at the table filled with older people was no doubt Grace Montenegro. In an attempt to get another visual on the runaway bride, Amelia bounced squarely into another figure. An apology flew out of her mouth before she recognized the face.

“Amelia?”

“Natalia?”

Without all the extra makeup, eyelashes and makeup, Natalia looked like a regular person. She wore her hair in a side bun, with no extra extensions. Mascara edged her lashes but did not overpower her eyes. With Amelia in stilettos and Natalia in flats, they were the same height. Both recognizing the drastic changes in each other, the women embraced each other.

“Where have you been?” Amelia asked.

“If you weren't going to be my producer, I wasn't going to film.”

As expected, Natalia had no idea just how her actions affected everyone. “You're crazy, you know that?”

“Sure I am,” said Natalia, “and what does that make you? And who are you here with? Did I see Nate Reyes? Are you two here together?”

“One question at a time,” Amelia said, laughing. “Who are you here with?”

Natalia glanced around Amelia's frame. “Are you wearing a mic?”

“No.”

“So no production crew?”

Amelia shook her head left and right. “I'm taking more time.”

“Is your grandmother okay?” Natalia's hands flew to her mouth. No polish, no jewels, just a low-key Natalia.

“Yes,” Amelia said with a nod, “she's better than fine. I am actually here with Nate.”

“Girl,” Natalia hummed.

“Do you want to tell me who you're with? I thought I saw you last night dancing with some guy.”

Natalia shook her head back and forth. “No, not just yet. He's special and kind of shy.”

“If I didn't know any better, I'd say you were in love.” Amelia cocked her head to the side when Natalia did not deny it. “Natalia!”

“I don't want to jinx anything,” Natalia whined. “Please don't say anything to anyone yet.”

If Amelia wanted her job and a promotion, she could leak this information. But what she wanted most right now was a moment alone with Nate. “We're friends, Natalia,” Amelia assured her. “I promise I won't say anything.”

Natalia threw her arms around Amelia's neck and squealed. “Thank you. Now you go find your man.”

Taking her friend's advice, Amelia headed off toward the balcony where she last saw Nate's head. Outside, the ocean air filled her lungs. She spotted Nate's tall frame against the brick railing. His arms were folded across his chest. Brittany made eye contact with Amelia. Her devilish smirk sent chills down Amelia's spine.

“Here she is now,” Brittany said. “Ask her yourself.”

“Ask me what?” Amelia stepped over them and sidled up next to Nate. Instinctively he wrapped his arm around her shoulders. The summer night was anything but cold, yet Nate's touch still warmed her.

Instead of answering her, Brittany held out her phone and pressed a button. A distant conversation began. Amelia closed one eye and tried to pick up the familiarity of the voices. It was a conversation she had with Lexi about her not being fired. How in the hell did she record that? Then she remembered that the bell over the door at Grits and Glam Gowns was broken. Brittany could have walked in at any moment. When Amelia's confession ended on the recorder, Brittany clicked the stop button and smirked.

“See,” Brittany said, beaming. “I told you I had proof she has been playing you.”

“And I told you last night that I didn't care what you had on Amelia,” Nate gritted out. “I am with her.”

“You'd take this heathen over me?” Brittany had the audacity to sound shocked. She pressed her hand against her chest. “I came all this way to protect you, Nate. I'm the one who has been here for you, and yet she comes wagging her tail and lying and you just follow.”

Amelia stepped forward. “I suggest since you have more free time these days, you spend them with your grandfather.”

“You leave the good pastor out of this conversation.”

Smugly Amelia grinned. She might not have the cameras to capture the shocked look on Brittany's face, but it would always be etched in her brain. “Sure I will, if you keep the good pastor out of my grandmother.”

“Excuse me?”

“Why else do you think I left the house?” Amelia asked. “I walked in on the two of them rolling around like a couple of rabbits on the living room floor.”

With nothing left to say, Brittany ran through the couple's embrace and headed back inside. “Was it something I said, Brittany?” Amelia called out with a cackle. She turned back to face Nate, expecting to see his smile. She got anything but, including a cold chill. “Nate?”

“So you were never fired?”

Uh-oh
. She gulped down a swallow of panic. “No.”

“I've been busting my ass trying to get you to fall in love with Southwood and you had no plans on staying.”

Amelia reached for his hand but he stepped to the side. “Nate.”

“And the only reason you're here with me this weekend is because you couldn't stand being at home?”

“Nate,” Amelia began. She'd just made her decision to stay in Southwood and now her plans threatened to crumble. “Nate, I wanted to tell you the truth.”

“You just couldn't find the time? You've been taking this time off to work on your pitches for more shows. You got my niece involved in them.”

“Nate,” Amelia said again, trying to reach for him. “I was going to tell you.”

“Save it, Amelia,” said Nate. “I need to get out of here.”

“Fine, let's go. Let's go sit at the bench on the pier and talk.”

Nate shook his head. “Nah, I'm good. I need to be alone.”

His icy glare tore through her. Tears threatened her eyes. Amelia stood on the balcony and watched the love of her life disappear into the crowd. Heartbroken, Amelia kicked out of her shoes and took off for the beach.

* * *

Nate hated the spotlight on him. Because of the awards, Nate had to get up in front of hundreds of people at the Crystal Coquí Ball and present one to a boutique owner in Villa San Juan. His family might have discovered the island, but it was the people who made it up and kept it going. After giving the award, Nate avoided the questions from his family members. Everyone wanted to know what had happened to Amelia.

“If you and I have any sort of friendship left, you'll help me escape.”

Nate glanced down beside him as he stood at the bar. Natalia's frantic eyes widened. “What's going on?”

“I am trying to hide from that man over there.” Natalia nodded her head in the direction of a man holding court with some other camera crew people. “He works for MET and he's one of the producers for my show.”

Anger seethed through Nate's veins. So had Amelia been using him as well, for this trip, to come here and get whatever reality show news she could get? How stupid of him for trusting her and believing in her. “Did Amelia call him in?”

“Amelia?” Natalia repeated with confusion in her voice. “No, she's been keeping quiet about me being here. She's allowed me to have a normal weekend for once. Can you help me out?”

“Wait, what?”

Natalia cast a nervous glance over her shoulder. “I ran into Amelia earlier.”

“You don't think she called her friends?” Nate snorted.

“Friends? William has it in for Amelia. They're after the same seat at MET Studios,” Natalia said. “Or at least they were.” She playfully tugged at the lapels of his jacket. “So congratulations are in order? I hear she has walked away from it all. I guess deep down inside she couldn't escape her Southern roots.”

“What?”

A commotion sounded off from the paparazzi on the other side of the room. Natalia nudged Nate's arm. “I'll tell you all about it if you can get me and my friend out of here. You know where all the hidden doors and rooms are in Torres Towers.”

Eager to find out what Natalia was talking about, Nate led Natalia and her mystery man out of the ballroom through the old servants' hallway. Along the way she gave him an earful and he realized more than ever he needed to find Amelia, and fast. He'd made a huge mistake. But when he returned to the room she was gone—a sad dose of reality he was going to have to face.

Chapter 13

A
melia knew karma was biting her in the tail the minute Cay snapped the second button of her overalls. It had been a full week since she'd last seen Nate. She never realized she could miss someone so much.

“Oh, come now,” Cay teased, “don't look as if the last nail was hammered into your coffin.”

“How ironic.” Amelia waved her hand around aisle three, the nuts and bolts section of the local hardware store, where the Hardware Hottie Bachelorette Auction was being held.

“You're officially a resident again, Amelia,” Cay lectured her. “It's time you participate.”

“I offered Gregory all the funds to purchase you for this auction. What happened to that?”

Cay giggled and blushed. “He didn't want the risk of someone else bidding on me and having me working elsewhere for forty hours. And with us reopening The Scoop, he's missing me being a housewife.”

“Lucky you,” Amelia said with a droll eye roll. It wasn't her cousin's fault she was in such a foul mood. It was no one's fault but her own. She should have told Nate the truth. Since Brittany beat her to it, Nate had been avoiding Amelia at every turn. Besides not coming back to their hotel room, he wouldn't answer her calls or come to the door. Amelia had left Villa San Juan with her tail between her legs. But instead of hiding and running off, she was determined to stay in Southwood and see things through. She was invested in the small Southern town.

The crew working on
Azúcar
was bummed when Amelia broke the news to them about stepping away. Amelia had finally figured out what happened at Natalia's secret meeting with Stephen. He was helping her find a new place to live when she decided to leave the show. As for now, it was not Amelia's business—workwise—to know what Natalia was up to. Amelia set aside her mental pitches to MET, even the one concerning the piece about following up with the victims in the Villa San Juan shooting. These were people, not stories. Besides, Amelia had problems of her own.

Playfully Cay swatted Amelia's tail. “They're about to call your number, so go on and work the stage. And remember, it's for charity.”

Knowing the funds for today's auction went to charity kept Amelia afloat—that, and hearing Brittany only brought in a hundred dollars for her bid. With a deep inhale, Amelia stepped out onto the stage. The emcee announced Amelia's name and who she represented: The Scoop. A few people cheered. Some men whistled. And then as the gavel pounded the podium, a deep voice boomed through the store.

“Ten thousand dollars.”

The crowd parted and Nate strolled up the center. Amelia cocked her head to the side. Her heart lurched in her throat.

“Did I hear you correctly?” the emcee asked.

Nate cut his icy-green eyes toward the speaker. “Yes. And you may as well close the bidding now.”

Taking heed, the emcee banged the gavel. “Sold.”

A round of congratulatory applause sounded off. Amelia, not knowing what to do, stood still. Nate stalked closer to claim his prize.

“I had a walk I was going to do,” Amelia said, squaring her shoulders. She licked her lips when he loomed over her.

“You were going to walk away from me?”

Another lurch struck her heart. “I wasn't walking away.”

“And last weekend?”

“You said you needed to be alone.” Amelia gulped. Her hands began to shake. Everyone watched them. “I went back to the hotel and waited. You never came.”

Nate raised a dark brow. The corners of his mouth twisted into a devilish smile. He inched closer. She wished he'd say what he needed to say. She wished even harder that he'd kiss her. “I am surprised you came back to Southwood.”

“You did your job, Nate,” Amelia confessed. “You got me to fall in love with Southwood.”

“And?”

“And you, Nate.” Amelia swallowed down her nerves. “I fell in love with you and I'm not going anywhere any time soon.”

Nate took a hold of Amelia's shaky hand. “Is that right?”

“That's right.” She squared her shoulders and lifted her chin. “So whatever work you have for me, I will spend my time making you fall back in love with me.”

“I never said I fell out of love with you, Amelia.”

“But you haven't been taking my calls or seeing me at all.”

Nate tugged gently on her hands. “I was out of town. And what I had to say to you was going to take more than a conversation on the phone.”

“Out of town?” She felt herself mouth the words. Their relationship was up in the air and he went out of town?

“Yes.” Nate nodded his head in the direction behind her. “I needed to pick up something in the mountains of California.”

“What?”

He nodded his head again and Amelia followed his direction. There, on the stage, stood Amelia's parents. Had they come for the grand opening of The Scoop? Amelia turned her head back and up at Nate. Instead of finding him looming over her, she saw him kneeling before her. As she glanced down at him holding a black velvet box before her, tears prickled the rims of her eyes. “What is going on?”

“Amelia, I know I wanted you to find your own reasons to stay in Southwood, but I want you to stay here because of me. I want you, Amelia, not for the forty hours of the bachelorette auction, but for the rest of our lives. Amelia, will you marry me?”

Through her tear-filled eyes, Amelia glanced down at her new reality. “Yes.”

* * * * *

Keep reading for an excerpt from A STALLION'S TOUCH by Beth Cornelison.

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