Chapter Ten

Adeline stilled. She’d have to let her friends know later what she thought of being thrown under the bus like that.

She stayed quiet for the moment, though, not giving in to her friends’ goading as heat rushed into her cheeks.

“Had I known how big of an affair it was, you might have won your bet,” Eli told her with a smile that made it seem like he was trying to help her feel better about the whole thing. But his gaze also bounced around, like he was uncomfortable and unsure how to feel about being the subject of a bet.

Adeline gave him a side glance. “You…didn’t know that it was a town event?” If he had been lured to the event under false pretenses, maybe her friends’ win would be void.

“No,” he said. “I was only invited to dinner. I thought it would be a small family gathering.”

Adeline could see how he’d have thought that, considering that was what normal people did. She folded her arms across her chest and gave Caleb her best mom-look. “He didn’t know what he was getting himself into, so it doesn’t count.”

Apparently, her mom-look needed some work, because laughter burst from both Caleb and Bree.

“Really?” Bree asked once she’d stopped laughing long enough to talk. “We’ve never known what we were getting into with your bets, and you’ve never let us off the hook. Not once.”

She had a valid point. But not one that Adeline would concede.

Eli looked intrigued, his gaze bouncing between Adeline and her two friends, then settling on her. “So, you’re a betting woman, huh?”

Adeline hesitated, wondering if he thought of that as a good or a bad thing. She didn’t know why it mattered, since she didn’t care what he thought of her. “On occasion,” she hedged.

That set off another round of laughter from Bree and Caleb.

“What Addie means by that,” Caleb said, “is that she doesn’t often get the chance to make bets anymore, because she can’t find anyone who dares go against her. We all know there’s some kind of information she’s leaving out if she’s wanting to make a wager.”

Eli nodded slowly. “I see.” Adeline could practically see the wheels turning as he continued to nod, like he was doing calculations of some kind, and she wondered what thoughts were running through Eli’s mind. After another moment his gaze landed on her. He wore a grin that made her excited and nervous at the same time. It held a mischievous sense of adventure, and she couldn’t help but want to know more. What was the man up to?

“Well?” she finally prompted him when he remained quiet, his grin still firmly in place.

He hesitated, his smile dipping slightly, then it returned in full force. “I have a bet for you.”

Oh, now she was intrigued. Adeline leaned forward, eager to know what he had in mind. It was normally she who made the bets and was at the mercy of others to take her up on them. She’d rarely been on this end of things.

Eli’s eyes seemed to laugh as her gaze remained fixed on his. They were the type of eyes that could suck a person in, hold on, and refuse to let go.

Adeline didn’t like that feeling.

When Eli remained quiet, not seeming in any rush to continue, Adeline leaned back, frowning. “You’re making this painful, you know.”

“I’m sorry,” he said, though not sounding it. “That’s what I do for my profession, though—build suspense with carefully placed pauses so it leaves you wanting more.”

That brought Adeline back to reality. For a moment she’d forgotten who she was talking to. A man who had been trained to become someone he wasn’t—a master at manipulating emotion. The gorgeous accent, the clothes that fit him perfectly in all the right places, not that she’d been looking—it was all fake. Carefully planned. Adeline pushed her chair back from the table. “I should probably get this party started.”

Adeline could tell she’d surprised him by the abrupt change of subject, and she swore she’d seen a flicker of pain—like she’d hurt him—as she hurried away.

But she couldn’t have, could she? Eli Hunt was indestructible. Fans worshiped him wherever he went, making sure he never forgot how wonderful and handsome and perfect he was.

Adeline greeted her friends and neighbors as she wound her way through them, eventually stopping at a small portable platform. A karaoke machine sat on it. It was the only portable microphone they’d been able to find that didn’t need an electrical outlet. The one they had used in previous years had had an unfortunate accident last Thanksgiving. Jules had been running the show, and Donna, Erwin’s golden retriever, had leaped onto the platform and wrapped her leash around Jules’ legs, and they’d both tumbled from the platform, the microphone and speaker crashing to the ground with them.

Thankfully, Jules had only needed a few stitches, and Donna had happily run on her way once she’d been freed of her leash. The portable speaker had not been so fortunate.

Adeline stepped onto the platform and picked up the microphone, turning it on and tapping the top to make sure it was working. “Happy Thanksgiving,” she called out. The speaker that came with the karaoke machine was so small, she doubted the sound carried far, but she was met with hoots and hollers, so she figured everyone got the message. “We have a lot to be grateful for this year,” she said. “We had a fantastic tourist season, but the highlight, of course, was Leanne Warner moving back to Starlight Ridge and her and Isaac’s subsequent engagement.” That set off more hollering. Adeline smiled and waited for them to quiet down.

“Of course, Isaac’s surfing accident put a slight damper on things, but another miracle and blessing occurred when he had a follow-up appointment this past week.” Adeline placed a hand over her eyes, blocking the sun as she searched for Isaac. “I can’t find you.” A collective laugh rippled through the crowd.

Then, about halfway down the boardwalk, across from the hardware store, Isaac stood up. A gasp rose from those who hadn’t yet seen him. He still had trouble walking and was currently using a cane and Leanne for support, but he was on the road of recovery.

“Now, if anyone sees Isaac using his surfboard as a cane, and he’s headed toward the waves, tackle him. No surfing for at least three more months,” Adeline said.

Isaac laughed but shook his head at the same time. Even though they had joked together about it over the last few days, it seemed to still be a painful point for him.

“But seriously, it’s been an amazing year,” Adeline said. “I’ve asked Davis to give our annual Thanksgiving prayer—”

“You forgot something,” a man called from the front.

Adeline searched for the source of the interruption but couldn’t place who it had been. “I’m sure I’ve missed a lot, but I see a lot of hungry people staring up at me, and if I don’t get this thing started, I think we’ll have a riot on our hands.”

People laughed and nodded in agreement, but the person wasn’t giving up. “What about Leanne selling her screenplay?” Adeline finally located the owner. Erwin, the owner of the restaurant, Seaside Bay. “It’s brought Eli Hunt to Starlight Ridge, and it’s already done wonders for my place. Since the film crew started arriving, I’ve had to extend my hours.”

“Hear, hear!” someone else called out.

And then people were encouraging Eli to stand so they could give him the attention they felt he deserved.

Adeline was left standing on the podium, forced to watch as Eli soaked it all up. He gestured for Leanne to stand with him, his grin evidence of how much he was enjoying the attention. But then his and Adeline’s gazes met, and, like at the Sunset Stroll the previous week, his smile faltered. And it returned just as quickly.

“All right, all right,” Eli said, while laughing. “I need to get some pumpkin pie in me, so let’s turn things back to Adeline.” He paused. “Addie.” He nodded to her, then sat down.

She felt a flutter in her stomach at the nickname. He didn’t know her well enough to use it, so why had he? Adeline stuttered along for a moment, trying to remember what she’d been saying before Erwin had taken over. Oh, right. “Davis,” she said, motioning for him to take the microphone from her so he could say the prayer. She’d asked him to do it this year as a sort of peace offering, for all the teasing with her reggae music.

He’d accepted, but not without suspicion. Even now, as Davis stepped onto the platform, he eyed her like he expected her to prank him before he had the chance to say the traditional Thanksgiving prayer. But she merely smiled, handed him the mic, and moved off the platform to give him more room.

Davis waited a moment before deciding there wasn’t going to be any funny business, and he moved forward with the prayer. The moment he finished, lines formed, everyone anxious to weave their way through the shops and get their hands on traditional foods such as turkey, yams, mashed potatoes, and homemade rolls. There were also non-traditional foods that one might expect from a seaside community, like shrimp, fish, and clam chowder.

Adeline always moved to the back of the line, allowing everyone else to go first. She’d just taken her place when Eli walked up and stood beside her.

She started. “What are you doing all the way back here?” She’d expected he’d be with Bree and Caleb, who were close to the front.

“I thought you could use the company.” Eli said it like it was the most natural thing in the world. “And I wanted to tell you how much I enjoyed your speech.”

Adeline allowed herself to fully look at him. His tone had sounded sincere, like he’d really needed to hear something she’d said. When their gazes met, his eyes conveyed the same thing his voice had. That he was grateful.

“And I didn’t mean to steal your spotlight,” Eli continued, looking away. “I get enough of it already, I didn’t need any more.”

She raised an eyebrow. “Is that what you think? That I wanted the spotlight—that I need the attention?”

Eli’s gaze whipped back, his lips parting in obvious surprise. “I didn’t mean… I just…”

“You just thought that everyone is like you.” Adeline didn’t mean for her words to come out as bitter as they did.

His eyes narrowed, and his accent disappeared. “I don’t ask for it. I don’t wake up in the morning thinking, I wonder how many autographs I can sign today, or how many selfies I’ll get with my adoring fans? I don’t even eat at restaurants anymore, unless I have to, because with all the interruptions I receive, my food is always cold by the time I get to it. But I never say no to those autographs or picture requests, or refuse to stand up at a small-town Thanksgiving dinner. Because that would be rude.” And then he spun on his heel and walked in the opposite direction, away from where all the food was.

Adeline groaned. Why didn’t she have more impulse control, or at least a filter? Eli was right. She’d never seen him behave rudely toward anyone, and yet she’d treated him terribly since he’d first set foot in town. She’d assumed everyone in Hollywood was just another version of her father, and, at least in the case of Eli Hunt, it wasn’t true. And it wasn’t fair.

She turned and hurried after him. The man must have had long legs, because he’d already made it to the beach. When she’d nearly caught up, she called, “You’re right.”

Eli slowed to a stop and turned so he could see her, but he didn’t face her directly, like any wrong move on her part and he’d be out of there.

“You’re right,” she repeated. “You’ve done nothing wrong, and it’s me who should apologize.”

Eli didn’t say anything, instead watching her like he was waiting for her to continue. All right. She would.

“I’m sorry. For judging you. I expect everyone to be like my fa—” Adeline cut herself off. She hadn’t meant to say that last part. No one in Starlight Ridge knew who her father was, only that he’d abandoned her family. She’d moved there as a child with her already-single mother. Well, almost no one knew. Bree did, but only because they had been roommates in college, and Adeline’s dad had unexpectedly shown up at her apartment a few years back. That hadn’t been a good day.

Eli hadn’t missed it. He spoke slowly as he fully faced her, his gorgeous accent back in place. “You see me as you would your father?”

Oh, he had taken it in the worst way possible. Because the way he was looking at her right now, she was feeling things no one should ever feel toward their father.

“N-no. I mean, not in that way. I—well, none of this is coming out the way I mean.” She stumbled over her words, and the more she tried to backpedal, the worse it got.

Eli took a step toward her, and the smell of his cologne hit her, making her heart race, leaving her breathless. “What do you mean?” he asked, his tone soft.

Adeline didn’t know anymore. Her brain felt foggy. “That…I’m a jerk who is asking for your forgiveness.”

His lips quirked up into a smile. “All right. You’re forgiven.”

She took a step back, needing some space to breathe. Away from him. Away from his cologne. “Great.” Adeline’s gaze landed on what looked like a picket fence in the sand. She took a few steps toward it, unsure if her eyes were playing tricks on her. “Is that…”

“Jessie’s spot,” Eli finished. “Yes.”

Adeline’s lips parted. She couldn’t believe it. Someone had built a fence to make sure Jessie never again lost her spot for the Sunset Stroll, or at any other time, by the looks of it. Adeline took another few steps. It looked big enough for at least four camping chairs to fit comfortably inside. Adeline turned back to Eli. “You did this for her?”

Eli seemed embarrassed, his gaze dropping to the sand. “I had a little time on my hands.”

Adeline could see through that lie a hundred miles away. Why wouldn’t the actor want her to know the sacrifice he’d made to do a good deed?

“I haven’t been to the stroll for the past couple of nights, but I’m sure Jessie will have seen it, and the moment she sees you, she’s going to wrap you in a tight hug. Because that’s one of the nicest things someone has ever done for her. Seriously. Thank you.”

He seemed even more embarrassed now, pink tinging his cheeks, but he met her gaze. “You’re welcome.”

Adeline caught herself staring but struggling to look away. Eli was such a complex person that she didn’t know what to make of him. He was still talking with that ridiculous though insanely attractive accent, which told her that Eli was supposed to be his character at that moment. And yet, he didn’t seem to be acting. The soft look in his eyes—that was genuine. There was no way someone could fake that.

She tore her gaze away and glanced back toward the boardwalk. “Oh, look, the line is shorter. We should jump in while there’s still food left.”

The abrupt change of topic didn’t seem to catch Eli off guard. Instead, he continued to watch her, a slight smile in place. “Do I make you nervous?” he asked.

“Not in the slightest.” Adeline squared her shoulders as if that would prove it.

He didn’t look like he believed her, but he didn’t push it, instead starting back toward the Thanksgiving festivities.

She quickened her steps, then matched his pace. “Can I ask you a question?”

Eli gave her a side glance. “Sure.”

“What were you going to bet me?”

His eyes danced, like he was going to tease her as he had done before, but then he seemed to think better of it. “It was more of a challenge than a bet.”

“Oh?”

As they approached the line entering Caleb’s scuba store, they slowed their steps. “I wanted to challenge you to a bake off. I see now that might not have been the best of moves.”

A bake off? Adeline refrained from laughing out loud. Sure, he had been a pastry chef in one of his movies, but acting like someone who knew their way around a kitchen and actually knowing what they were doing were two different things. In a baking challenge, there wouldn’t be anyone to call “cut” if things went awry.

“I agree, that challenge would not have been in your favor,” she said, picking up a plate from a table inside the entrance to the store. “There are some things that acting classes just can’t prepare you for.”

Eli gave her a curious look. “I had only meant that challenging you to a bake off wouldn’t have been respectful, considering what you do for a living. I didn’t want you to think that I was trying to show you up and what you do for a profession. It would be like you challenging me to an acting competition.”

Wait, he actually thought he could win?

“First off, making chocolates is not the same as baking. It’s more like if I challenged you to a stand-up comedy competition or something. They’re both done on the stage, but that’s where the similarities end. Same with making chocolates and baking. They both just happen to be done in the kitchen. Jessie is the real baker in Starlight Ridge.” Adeline moved forward with the line, and, not being able to decide between the turkey and ham, she took some of both. “Second, I accept your challenge. Name the day and time, and I’ll be there. Jessie can come up with the rules and moderate things to keep them fair.”

This wasn’t quite Adeline’s style. She usually just made off-the-cuff bets that she knew were in her favor, but this could be exciting—something she’d never done before.

Except, Eli was suddenly quiet, and Adeline glanced toward him, wondering if he’d heard her. His brows were scrunched together, and he seemed to be concentrating awfully hard on scooping the cheesy potatoes onto his plate. After a moment, Eli’s expression relaxed, and he finally met her gaze. “In two days, then. Saturday. After that, I will hardly have a moment to myself.”

Perfect.

“What will the winner receive?” she asked.

Eli stilled, like he hadn’t thought that far. “I’ll come up with something. And don’t worry, it will be something good.”

With someone like Eli Hunt, Adeline could only imagine.

She smiled. “I can’t wait.”