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“I’m sorry.” Her heart went out to him at the sad look on his face, and she had the strongest urge to walk across the room and hug him.
“I’m fine talking about it. It ended a few years ago.”
“Were you married a long time?”
“Fifteen years.”
Her heart sank. “I’m really sorry, Oliver.”
“Don’t be. It was for the best.”
Yet another marriage gone wrong. Everything seemed to be pointing to what she had concluded—marriage wasn’t worth it.
Oliver abruptly stood. “I think I’ll have that beer after all.”
She watched him walk into the kitchen, trying not to check him out on the way, but she failed. He was definitely a handsome man. Her mind wandered, wondering what it was that split up Oliver’s marriage. With all that was happening with her parents, she was curious how people could call it quits after so many years together. Did they really love each other? Was there infidelity, like with her mom? Did they drift apart? She knew she couldn’t ask him, but it didn’t stop her mind from coming up with a variety of scenarios.
The sound of him hitting the beer bottle against the counter stole her attention. Why did she find that so very attractive?
“Thank you for letting me stay here,” she said as he returned to the room.
“There was no way we were staying at the lake house. Not safe.”
Adelia got chills, thinking about the vase of flowers on the table. How had the person gotten inside the house? They obviously knew how to hack a security system. Maybe the person has the security code.
“I thought of that,” he replied.
She hadn’t realized she’d said that aloud.
“I already texted Gus and asked for a list of people who have access to the house and asked that he have the code changed as soon as possible. But even then, I don’t think it’s wise for you to go back there right now. Whoever did this knows you’re staying there. If they were crazy enough to come inside the house, they might try something else, especially since they’re out for your money.”
“I’d give up the money if it made this go away,” she said. “I don’t care. I just want it over.”
“I strongly advise against that. There’s no way to guarantee the person won’t take the money and then spill your location anyway.”
“Maybe it’s better if people know where I am. I can’t hide forever.” She frowned. “I sometimes wonder what my life would’ve been like if I’d been born into different circumstances.”
“Such as what?” He looked at her curiously.
“A simple life. Like yours.”
“You think my life is simple?”
“You don’t have people hiding out in the bushes just to get a peek at you on your way home from the gym or pumping gas. Your every move isn’t scrutinized. You don’t get mocked for your hairstyle or the clothes you wear. People don’t use you to get ahead because you have money and a famous name. Your life is private. It’s your own. I’ve never known that.”
He gave her a sympathetic smile. “Everyone has problems and challenges that go along with their circumstances in life. Just because I’m not rich and famous, doesn’t mean I have an easy life. My job can be challenging. I see a lot of things I wish I didn’t. The underbelly of society, if you will. I often work long hours. I get called out at inconvenient times. I miss holidays and special occasions. And when I am home, I’m exhausted and checked out. It does a number on one’s social life.” He smirked. “Heck, guarding you is the most social I’ve been in months.”
“I know life isn’t easy,” she replied. “I’m just saying, you’re lucky. My entire life has been documented by strangers. My parents did what they could to keep me out of the tabloids when I was little, but people still found a way. We couldn’t go on normal family vacations without causing a stir. I could never tell if kids were inviting me to their birthday parties because we were actually friends or because of my parents’ fame. My parents worked hard to get where they are today, but I had no choice in this life. I didn’t choose to be famous. It’s what I was born into. You don’t know how much I wish I could walk down the sidewalk without being recognized for once.” She gave him a pout. “Can we switch places for a while?”
He chuckled. “I can’t really picture you as a police officer.”
“What, you don’t want to sit in a room and answer a bunch of questions about the romantic comedy you’re starring in?”
He twisted his mouth to the side. “Tempting.”
“I did play a police officer in a movie once.”
A loud laugh escaped him, which made Adelia smile.