A Case of Extreme Mistaken Identity - Victorine E. Lieske Page 0,40
Labor Day, but maybe someone cancelled. Dani watched as Austin walked to the booth selling tickets.
Seagulls circled overhead. Now that the paparazzi knew where she was working, they wouldn’t be deterred. She’d be hounded until the next juicy story broke and someone else took the limelight. She could only hope that was soon.
Austin came back waving two tickets. When he got to the golf cart, he grinned. “The only thing that had any spots left was a day cruise, but it sounded fun, so I bought them. It includes lunch and dinner—”
“My favorite,” she interrupted.
He chuckled. “Yes, I know. Your two favorite things in the world. Lunch and dinner.”
“You know me best.” After she said it, she wanted to take it back. It made them sound close, which she didn’t want. She still didn’t know why he was being so nice to her. But, thankfully, he ignored the comment.
“Besides the food, we’ll get to sail around the islands and see the sun set before we dock. Come on. We can board right now, even though the boat won’t leave for another thirty minutes.”
She took his hand and let him help her out of the cart. “Sounds fun.” Before he let go, she had this crazy idea that she should hang onto his hand and walk with him down to the ship. But that was a silly idea. She was trying to distance herself from him, not make him think there was something between them.
The day cruise ship turned out to be a large yacht with a restaurant on levels three and four of the aft, a theater in the midsection, and a pool on the top deck. There were places all along the deck to sit and look at the ocean. They chose a table on the forward deck.
Dani spied a server walking with a tray and motioned. “Mind if I order a drink?”
“Why would I mind?”
“Because I still haven’t gotten paid.”
He shrugged and sat back in his chair. “You said you’ll pay me back.”
“Yes. I will. With interest.”
He raised his eyebrows, a smile hidden behind his gaze. “I get interest, even?”
“Of course. I’m not a mooch.”
“I never said you were.”
She raised her hand and the server came to her. “Can I get you something?”
“Can I have a virgin pina colada?”
“Of course.”
Austin dug out a credit card and handed it to the man.
“Anything for you, sir?”
“Just a Pepsi.”
The server nodded and left. Dani looked out at the water. A few clouds gathered in the distance. “Is it supposed to rain today?”
“I don’t know. I didn’t check the weather.” He cringed. “I probably should have.”
“It’s okay. If it rains, we can go inside and sit by a window. I’m not worried.”
He smiled and then nodded, but something about his expression told her he was distracted. “Okay.” He gazed out at the water.
After a few moments of silence, she asked, “What are you thinking about?”
He turned to her, a sudden intense gaze burning through her. “Just wondering something.”
“What are you wondering?”
He hesitated a bit before he shifted to lean forward. “What those paparazzi said…about Rafael dating you to get a movie part. Was that true?”
Oh. He’d heard that. Heat rose to her face. How much more humiliation did she have to suffer because of that stupid video? She couldn’t lie, though. She nodded. “Yeah.”
“How long did you date him?”
“Six months.” She let out a bitter chuckle. “I guess he really wanted the part. He dumped me a week into filming. I guess he felt like they wouldn’t drop him then.”
“How long ago did that happen?”
She didn’t want to answer that one. But what else could she do? He could find out with a simple Google search. She broke his gaze to hide the shame she felt creep up her neck. “Not long.”
“So, you’re not really dating anyone right now.”
It wasn’t a question. He knew, but she answered it anyway. “No.”
He stared down at the table and slowly nodded. “I see.”
And this is why she should never lie. She almost couldn’t breathe from the horrible feeling that choked her. “I’m sorry. It’s just that I don’t think I can start anything right now. I guess saying that was just my stupid way of—”
“You don’t owe me an explanation, Danica.” His gaze was back on her. She wanted to melt under the heat of it.
“I…uh…”
The server stepped up to their table with their drinks. He set them down and handed Austin back his card with the slip to sign. Dani was grateful for the