‘other woman’ in the stunning divorce of Miles Thayer and Coco Kirkman as a life coach by the name of Jocelyn Bloom.”
Will froze, then spun around to see the TV, with a “What the hell?” of disbelief trapped in his throat.
“Known as a ‘life coach to the stars,’ Jocelyn Bloom has been working for Coco Kirkman for over a year, giving her daily access and, evidently, much more, to Coco’s movie-star husband, Miles Thayer.”
Will just stared, blinked, then took a step closer. The picture was grainy, taken by a powerful lens at a long distance, but not blurry enough to cast any doubt that he was looking at the woman he’d been thinking about a few seconds ago. Ebony hair pulled tight off her delicate features, giant dark eyes, narrow shoulders taut and stiff.
Jocelyn broke up a marriage?
“TMZ has published a series of texts sent between Jocelyn Bloom and Miles Thayer,” the announcer continued, his voice full of barely restrained joy. “The most salacious texts detailed sexual acts—”
Will lurched toward the chair, grabbing the remote to thumb the Mute button.
Guy looked stunned. “That’s the good part!”
Will opened his mouth to argue, but a change in the screen snagged his attention. This shot was closer and clearer and, holy shit, she looked good. Better than ever, in fact. “You know who they’re talking about?” he asked Guy.
“Some movie stars. Who cares? I like that stuff.”
“Some movie stars and…” Your daughter. “No one you recognized?”
Guy snorted. “I don’t know those people’s names, Will. I barely know my own. What does salacious mean, anyway?” He tried to get the remote.
“It means…” Things he didn’t want to think about Jocelyn doing with anyone. “Sexy.”
“I can take the dirty stuff, pal. I’m too old for it to have any effect.” Guy managed to grab the remote and get the sound right back. Unable to help himself, Will turned back to the TV.
“Jocelyn Bloom has yet to talk to the media,” the reporter said. “Or issue a statement to deny the accusations. Right now all we know about this woman is that she is a certified life coach and counts Coco Kirkman among a long list of wealthy and well-known clients.”
Will looked hard at Guy once more, but the older man just stared at the TV without so much as a flicker of recognition.
“What the hell’s a life coach, anyway?” Guy asked with a soft harrumph. “Sounds like an excuse to pick rich people’s pockets and bust up their marriages.” He punched up the volume.
Was that who Jocelyn Bloom had become?
“According to an attorney for Coco Kirkman, Ms. Bloom has been a close confidante for well over a year, and during that time, she has been frequently an overnight guest of the couple.”
Will’s stomach tightened as he forced himself to leave the room.
“Fuck!” Smoke and the smell of charred food filled the kitchen, and he lunged for the pot handle to slide the scorched spaghetti off the burner. “God damn it all!”
As he shook his hand more out of sheer rage than any real pain, a string of new curses fell from his lips. Pulling it together, he stirred the spaghetti and folded the bits of black into the noodles. Guy’d never notice a burned dinner. Hell, Guy would probably never notice dinner.
Forcing the image of a girl he once loved out of his head, Will put the food on a plate and carried it into the living room, where, thank Christ, Guy had switched to a game show.
“Where’s yours?” Guy asked as he straightened his chair so he could reach the TV table. “Come and spin the wheel of fortune with me.”
When Will had returned to Mimosa Key, he’d tried to hate the old coot, he really had. But over time, well, shit, how can you hate a guy who had no memory of what a nasty prick he’d ever been? The worst thing Guy Bloom did now was start and never finish a shit-ton of craft projects.
“Not tonight, Guy. I have some work to do.”
“You worked all day.” There was a tinge of sadness in his voice, enough to tweak Will’s guilt. Guy was lonely, plain and simple, and Will was all he had.
“Just have to check my e-mail and pay some bills.” Because who else was going to pay Guy’s bills? He glanced at the TV, his mind’s eye still seeing Jocelyn’s beautiful features instead of a game-show hostess the screen.
“I’ll check on you later, Guy.” Meaning he’d be sure the old man