Page 21 of Wicked Shadows
Her gasp followed by her chin hitting her chest made him laugh out loud. He couldn’t keep up the façade even if he tried. Not with her.
“Have you lost your mind since the last time I saw you?”
“That’s entirely possible, darlin’. But I’m only kidding about this. Partially anyway. If you twisted my arm really hard, I’d relent and let you skinny dip. Otherwise, we’ll just walk around the small shops and find a tiny shred of cloth you can pretend is a bikini.”
“I can already tell this outing will be memorable. Did you bring your loincloth or will you be going commando in the water?”
“One thing about me, darlin’. I’m always commando.”
Heat filled her face, and she was infinitely appreciative of her sunglasses and the already hot South Florida temperature. The combination gave her the illusion of not being affected by him. She chose to ignore the deep rumble of his chuckle.
The small, unassuming beachfront home was surrounded by palm trees, giving the yard much-needed shade from the punishing rays of the sun. Devon strolled to the front door and unlocked it, pushing the door open for Elle to enter first.
“This is home for the day. It’s not much, but it’ll do for my plans.”
“What are your plans?” Elle asked as she walked through the small beach cottage, trying to hide her nerves behind a quick perusal of the house. “What’s on the agenda first?”
“First, I’ll feed you. Then we’ll grab a bathing suit, and we’ll take my boat out for a spin. You still like to swim, don’t you?”
“Are you kidding? I love it!”
“Let’s go, then. You can leave your purse here. Everything is within walking distance from here. Today is all my treat.”
“No. I called you, Devon,” she protested. “You’re not treating me when I proposed it.”
“The hell I’m not. My momma raised me to be a Southern gentleman. You should already know that.” With his hands firmly planted on her shoulders, he steered her toward the door, slipped her purse from her shoulder, and dropped it on the couch. “Now, let’s go.”
“You’re such a stubborn man.” She shook her head and rolled her eyes.
“You have no idea. I’ll get my way no matter what I have to do.” The smile in his voice only amplified his charm.
A quick stroll through the quaint streets led them to a small restaurant. If Devon hadn’t pointed it out, Elle would’ve completely missed it. Though she was used to the attention from swarms of other people, it felt different coming from him. Opening doors, pulling out chairs, choosing the day’s events, and taking care of her without being paid to do it made every gesture feel spontaneous and genuine. That was the exact opposite of how everyone else except Beth reacted to her celebrity status—being cordial because of what they could gain from her in return.
He ordered their lunches and turned his full attention to her. “You’ve grown up on me, Elle. I remember the little seven-year-old girl who followed me around all the time. Sneaking around cars, hiding behind trees, or using the corner of the house as cover to spy.”
She smiled, remembering her favorite game of spying on Devon and Jeff. “I didn’t know you were aware of all that at the time. I really thought I was being sly and that you didn’t know you had a shadow.”
An odd look flashed over his face, but it was gone as quickly as it had appeared. Unsure of what caused his discomfort, Elle kept talking, reminiscing over her childhood. “There was another time I’ll never forget,” she began, and she searched his eyes for a clue of his thoughts. “I never told you, I guess because I was so young and enamored of you. But you were always my hero. You made me feel welcome when Jeff tried to make me leave you two alone. You were always kind to me when he was my pain-in-the-ass older brother. Then you saved my life and put yours in jeopardy at the same time. I’ve never forgotten that, Devon. I never will.”
“I was just in the right place at the right time. That doesn’t make me a hero.”
“You ran out in front of that speeding car and grabbed me, Devon. You almost got hit while saving me. That does make you a hero. I wouldn’t be here right now if it weren’t for you. I never thanked you. I was so shaken up at first, then an embarrassed nine-year-old afterward. So, thank you. You’re still my hero.”
“Enough about me. We’re here to talk about you. What are you doing in Miami?”
“I just signed on as the model for Kylie Rae Romano’s newest fashion line. Over the next three weeks, I have multiple photoshoots in different locations around Miami. I’m here with eleven other models for the swimsuit shoot, too.”
“Such an exciting life. You’re always in front of the camera. Your face has been on the cover of every major magazine. There’s hardly anyone in the free world who doesn’t know your name. That’s so impressive, Elle. Your whole life is in the spotlight.”
“It’s surreal. Some days, it’s more than I ever thought it could be. Other days, it’s more than I can take. I guess it all equals out in the end, though.”
“You’ll get movie deals before you know it. With your innate beauty, they won’t be able to resist you.”
“I’m actually starting acting classes soon, so I’ll be ready to break in to that market next.”
Devon nodded, understanding her life was on a fast track to more stardom, more notoriety, and more spotlights. “Well, while I have you all to myself, let’s go grab that bathing suit and take the boat out. There’s a great reef we can snorkel about three miles offshore. You need a day away from your adoring fans every now and then, don’t you?”
“That sounds like heaven on earth. You have no idea how ready I am for this.”
