Love and Rumors: A Summer Sisters Beach Reads Contemporary Romance (The Summer Sisters Book 1) (28 page)

“I think you’re officially fired.” He had a brief image of him adding,
Fired because I love you.
Then sweeping her into his arms. He shook off the daydream. “I’ll have my assistant send you payment. I keep all the photos and retain their copyright.”

Hailey bristled. “No.”

“They’re photos of me.”

“I’m the photographer. You didn’t ask for copyright. I didn’t sign it away.”

“I want them.”

“You can’t have them.”

“Wow.” He shook his head and let out a huff of air. “You know, I came here to offer you congratulations.”

“For what? Surviving being stood up at my show opening? For being stupid enough to not foresee you getting back together with your ex as soon as she arrived?”

“Wait. What?”

“I saw the pictures in the tabloids of you kissing, Finian. Everyone did.”

He ran a hand down the stubble on his chin. Oh, hell. He’d forgotten about Jessica and her unwanted kiss.

“I can explain.”

Hailey slapped him hard across the mouth, making his lips sting.

“Son of a bitch, Hailey!”

“You and your two-timing ways aren’t wanted here. I don’t appreciate being jerked around. Got it?” She crossed her arms again, glaring at him with contempt. “I thought you were real. I thought you were
different
.”

She whirled, glaring at the paparazzi shooting images as if they’d never seen something so juicy. “You guys get all that?” She pointed at Finn. “He’s a jerk, all right. I was mistaken. You can ignore all that good-boy, family man, environmentalist stuff I leaked, because it’s not true. He’s asswipe.”

She turned, hands thrust out to push him into the lake. He snatched her by the wrists, and spun, lessening the momentum of her attack.

“Damn it, Hailey.” He pulled her close, making eye contact. “We were good together.”

Hailey’s head tipped down, her lower lip trembling as she yanked her wrists out of his grip, pushing past him.

He jogged to catch up, snagging her hand, forcing her to turn around. “I’m sorry, Hailey.”

“Well, I’m not. I’m glad I know who you are now. Before I fell in love.” Her voice choked on the word
love
and his heart tore.

She fled up the dirt path that led to the looming structure on the hill above.

“We’re celebrating the cottage!” Tigger said, bouncing in front of him. She tugged his hand, trying to gain his attention. “We had a picnic. Mom says I waited long enough to go swimming again. You can’t swim right after you eat or you die. Did you bring your bathing suit? We have a beach!”

“A beach is nice,” he said, his attention on Hailey’s retreating form. He placed a hand on Tigger’s shoulder, anxious to follow the girls’ aunt. “I’ve gotta catch up with Hails, okay? Hopefully we can talk more later. I bet you’re an awesome swimmer.”

Tigger gave a reluctant nod and he took that as permission to tear after Hailey. The cottage path rose between towering white pines and stunted maples, arriving at a large green cottage with a white wraparound veranda. He climbed the steps to the veranda, careful where he placed his feet on the sagging boards. This place was ancient and he could almost imagine late-Victorian ladies traipsing along the gray-stained floorboards, parasols over their shoulders, as they vacationed in their summer house, away from the pressing heat of the city.

Hailey, swinging in a hammock in a corner, stopped moving when she noticed him.

“I thought it was real, Hailey. That we were real. How out of touch am I?” He let out a huff that bordered on a bitter laugh. “You played me. Used me for your own reward.”

“I did not
play
you.” She stood, indignant. She raised the hand that had slapped him, and he touched his still-stinging, swollen lips in response.

“No, you did. When I met you, I thought it would be great if you posted photos of me online—bad-boy stuff.” He took a step closer, lowering his voice. “But I trusted you and let you see the real me. I felt as though I could change my life when I was with you, and I couldn’t be anyone but my real self. I let down my guard and all the while you were one step ahead.” He clapped briefly. “Well played, Hailey, well played.”

She stared at her feet, shoulders slumped. “I’m sorry, Finian.”

“I hope you enjoy your career, because you just ended mine.”

C
HAPTER
15

Hailey watched the boat take Finian away as it disappeared around the island as she sank into her Muskoka chair.

She was supposed to be happy today. Her sisters had forgiven her. Her show was doing amazingly well, with almost a third of the inventory already sold. The weight was supposed to be easing off, but instead she felt as though it was getting worse.

A tear trailed into her margarita. She’d been wrong to sell the photos of Finian. How had she ever thought she was in the right and that it would turn out okay? Why had she tried to change him? Didn’t she like him for all his flaws and the way he was a contradiction?

The celebration on the dock had turned quiet, and Tigger, fed up with the lack of party atmosphere, had gone to check on her fairy houses.

“So? What was that all about?” Daphne asked.

Hailey shook her head, unable to speak over the lump in her throat.

“Oh, hell.” Daphne leaned over and gave her a half hug. “You fell in love.”

She blinked hard, wishing the tears would stop falling. “No, I didn’t.”

“That’s going to sting for a while,” Maya said, topping up Hailey’s margarita.

They sat in silence as squirrels scolded each other in the trees overhanging the dock.

“So, let me get this straight.” Maya held out her hands as she did when she was trying to sort things through. “You went paparazzi? On your
boyfriend
?”

Daphne made a shushing sound and Simone patted Hailey’s hand.

“He was just…just a…”

“You thought he was going to summer fling you,” Daphne said, her mouth in a serious line.

Hailey nodded.

“But he was more than that?” Maya asked. She leaned back in her chair, downing half her frozen drink. She gasped and clutched her head as brain freeze set in. “Was this for the cottage?”

She nodded again.

“Hailey!” Maya sat upright, her chin dropped in horror.

“It wasn’t just the cottage, though. I thought…I thought…”

“She thought,” Simone said, “if he saw how he could be a nice guy in the tabloids instead of being the messed up celeb, she could help him rebuild his image and further his career. You know, help him be real.”

“But he’s totally a jerk?” Daphne asked.

Hailey tipped her head back, watching the stringy clouds drift by overhead. “He’s not, though. He’s really nice.” She let out a sigh. “And I messed up.”

“Oh. My. God.” Maya scooted to the edge of her chair, angling toward Hailey. “That viral stuff about him being a good guy and an artist was you?”

She nodded.

Her sister fell back into her chair. “Wow. Remind me to never piss you off.”

Mallards drifted by, heads tilted sideways, probably wondering if the women would be good for tossing out a snack.

“Someone must be feeding them. I hope it’s not bread. It’ll muck up their gizzards,” Daphne stated.

“No wonder he’s upset,” Maya said. “You just redirected his image. Hugely.” She shook her head, beaming with pride. “My big sister.”

“Except…” Hailey let out another massive sigh, longing for Finian and the fun times they’d had together.

“Oh, honey.” Maya slipped out of her chair so she could lean over her big sister and give her a hug.

Daphne’s attention focused across the water to the next island. “What are they doing over there?”

Melanie leaned forward. “They’re knocking down Salty Dog!”

“But it’s over a hundred years old,” Daphne protested, her face falling as a bulldozer went at the west end of the old cottage across the strait. The women watched in silence as the building caved in with a loud crash and a cloud of dust.

“Good. That place was about to fall over,” Maya said, returning to her seat.

“Maya!”

“It’s true. The one side was buckling.”

“But the heritage,” Daphne moaned. “It’s gone. They could have fixed it.”

“I heard there’ve been a lot of private sales over there this summer,” Melanie said. “Thank goodness the camp for teens is still there, though.”

Hailey counted the cottages along the shoreline. As far as she knew, only one was still in the founding family’s possession.

Daphne stood. “We have to save it.”

“I think it’s a little late for that,” Maya said, finishing her margarita. “I’ve got to get back to the mainland soon. Late shift at the Bar ’n Grill and the dealership in the AM.” She let out a sigh.

Daphne turned to look up the path to their cottage. “We need to claim this as a heritage site.”

“Daph.” Maya ran a thumb and index finger over her eyes. “There is nothing culturally significant about our cottage.”

“Actually,” Melanie said, her eyes lighting up, “if we could prove it held cultural value or interest we could ensure the property stayed as is and reap some tax benefits.”

“Does that mean you’re keeping it?” Simone squealed in delight.

Maya stood up and clapped her hands. “What do you think the odds are that we can save this place in time?”

Hailey shook her head, sagging into her seat. “Not great.”

She’d just sold herself—and her boyfriend—out while trying. She was done.

The only thing she could do was try and appease her guilt by finding Finian and apologizing until he forgave her.

* * *

Hailey pushed the borrowed boat faster across the lake, ignoring Melanie’s continuing questions about what the rush was. Where would Finian have boated to? Bala? That would be a hell of a long ride. Had he rented a car to take him to Port Carling or Windermere before hiring the boat to bring him to the island? Windermere was on the wrong side of the water, making Port Carling the obvious choice. But where would he go once he hit shore? Where could she catch up with him and beg him to forgive her?

She should have listened to him. Should have tried to understand. It was his life, his career, his image. Just because he’d slept with her, it didn’t give her the right to interfere. She liked him for who he was, and that should have been enough.

Right now his life dictated that he needed to be a Hollywood star, with all the attitude and ego that entailed. It was like when she used to do portraits and “pretty” photos to pay the bills—before she could shift to full-time art. That’s where he was, and she hadn’t respected it. She’d been that annoying know-it-all who’d stormed in with her own plan. Her own vision. And ruined everything for him.

After docking the boat, she said goodbye to the others and headed to her car, driving straight to the Sunflower Cottage. Laughing to herself, she pulled over and partway there and picked up her phone, dialing Finian’s number. How had she forgotten about phones?

Voicemail. She left a quick message, then for good measure, sent him a text that said
I’m sorry. Can we talk?

She could see a lamp on inside the cottage when she arrived, casting a warm light. The door opened when she knocked, and someone she didn’t know frowned out at her. Was she too late? Had Finian checked out already? She turned to scope out the two paparazzi who’d stopped spitting sunflower seeds to focus on her when she’d driven up. They took a few more leisurely photos of her from their spots and she smoothed her unruly hair with a sigh. She needed to start wearing a hat.

At least the good news was that Finian had to still be around.

“Are you Hailey?” asked the man.

“Do you know where Finian is?” Hailey countered, trying not to inhale his spicy aftershave.

“Come inside.”

The television flickered in the corner, some celebrity show dishing out gossip, with Finian on screen. Her photos. She stopped and stared. Those were her pictures on screen. The overexcited show host began spouting information she’d given
Celeb Dirt!
about his vacation. And then there were photos of her that must have been taken by Austin. Her and Finian kissing at The Kee. Holding hands out by the marsh. Looking so in love she had to sit on the first available chair.

The clip ended and the man standing beside her asked, “Happy?”

She looked up to see him glaring at her, arms crossed.

“You’ve destroyed three years of hard work. My hard work. In three days.”

Hailey stood. “I’m sorry, you are…?”

“I’m his agent, Derek Penn. You’ve thrown a carefully detailed plan out the window. His career is over. He just lost a role, thanks to you. Now there’s a nice little hole in the action world that he used to fill.”

Guilt rolled over Hailey in waves. No, wait a second…

“You know what? You’ve obviously done a very poor job.” She watched in amusement as his face turn purple. “Because if a girl like me can waltz in with a couple of photos and ruin the image you built up, then I guess…well, I guess he needs someone a little better suited to making a brand or image.”

“You don’t understand the damage you’ve done.”

“Neither do you.” She resisted the urge to shove him hard, angry at the way he’d used Finian.
Her
Finian. “You’ve been stuck up Hollywood’s a-hole so long you don’t even understand the public! Didn’t you just watch that?” She pointed to the television. “People
love
the contradiction I’ve shown them. They love that Finian is showing maturity and has another side. A side that is
real
. And that he has depth. That he’s more than some car crash for them to laugh at. He’s a good man and you’re destroying him for your own benefit. This is about more than money. This is his life! Look at actors like Harrison Ford and Leonardo DiCaprio. They’re no train wreck. They have depth, are well loved
and
they are well-paid stars. If you truly cared about Finian, you’d want to give him a real life, too.”

Finian’s father appeared in the doorway. “I’m going to have to agree with the little lady on this one. Goodbye, Derek.” He turned to Hailey. “I think we need to go find my boy, don’t you?”

* * *

Finn accepted another drink from Austin and knocked it back. The man was staying at the far end of the bar, but seemed to sense Finn needed something. Something like firewater, and space. Lots of space.