Fortunately, the gray-haired man who walked in didn’t look as though he’d be any more likely to know who Rosa was than the woman behind the register. He leaned over the counter and gave the woman a sweet kiss before saying something that made her giggle like a schoolgirl in love.
Love. It was something Rosa had once longed for, but as her fame grew, she’d quickly learned that the odds of finding it in the middle of her crazy life were so low there was no point in even trying. Not when every guy she’d been out with over the past couple of years only wanted to be with her to become famous himself.
Her chest felt tighter than ever as she walked up to the register and put her basket on the counter. The woman hummed softly as she rang up each item. At the end, when she put a freshly baked chocolate chip cookie into the paper bag “on the house,” that little bit of unexpected kindness had Rosa nearly bursting into sobs again.
Her hands shook from the effort of trying to hold her emotions at bay as she drew out a few twenty-dollar bills. Just as the woman was making change, the door flew open and the loud laughter of three teenage girls filled the store.
Oh God, they were going to recognize her.
Rosa’s heart started pounding so fast that she was glad her stomach was empty, or she might have thrown up all over the counter. As it was, she was so lightheaded from the quick rush of blood pounding through her that when she grabbed the bag, she tripped over herself making a dash for the door.
“Honey, you forgot your change!”
It was change she’d need, given that her cash was likely to run out soon and she couldn’t risk being tracked down by using her ATM card. But right then, it was more important to get out of the store as fast as possible.
She kept her head down, the grocery bag clasped tightly to her chest as she rushed through the pouring rain toward her car. She wouldn’t feel safe until she was back inside with the door locked. Wouldn’t even feel safe then, actually. Not when she no longer felt in control of anything in her life.
She was so out of control, in fact, that the next thing she knew, she ran straight into a wall. The chocolate chip cookie tipped out of her bag and landed—plop!—in a muddy puddle, a couple of apples following it a moment later. But as she blinked the rain out of her eyes, she suddenly realized she hadn’t hit a wall.
She’d slammed into a man with a very broad and muscular chest.
Rosa needed to hightail it to her car before he recognized her, but when he picked up her dropped groceries, then straightened to give them to her, she couldn’t get her legs to move.
He was gorgeous. But not in a slick Hollywood way. The total opposite, actually, with his bristly jaw and muscles flexing beneath wet flannel and denim.
What was she doing? This was the very last moment she should be drooling over some guy. Especially considering that, unlike the lady behind the register, he was the right age to know who she—
“It’s you.” He looked stunned. “I can’t believe I’ve found you. Here at the general store.”
Oh no. She needed to get into her car and start driving again. Somewhere far away from here. But when she moved to the side to skirt around him, he shifted his big, rugged body into her flight path.
“You were just on the cliffs outside my cottage in the rain. It’s private property, so I’m not used to seeing anyone there.”
Wait...that was why he recognized her? Because she’d been on the cliffs outside his house? Not because she was a star whose naked pictures were currently plastered all over the media?
The way he was looking at her—not as though she was some reality TV sideshow freak, but as though he truly couldn’t believe how lucky he was to have run into her in the general store’s parking lot—made it hard to think straight. So instead of hightailing it away from him, she found herself saying, “I didn’t mean to trespass. Back when my dad and I—” The words stilled in her throat as she choked up. “Last time I was there, I didn’t know the cliffs were on private property.”
“It’s okay.” The look he gave her was as gentle as his voice. “It looked like you needed to be there. I know we’ve just met, but if you need any help, maybe I can—”
Oh God. Of course he’d witnessed her meltdown. Her endless, wracking sobs, which had ended with her throwing her phone off the cliff.
“I’m sorry I trespassed,” she said again, her gut twisting at what a fool she must seem to him. She supposed she shouldn’t have any pride left at this point, but somehow she still did. “I need to go.”
He held out her food. “Don’t you want these?” She shook her head as she finally managed to get around him. “At least tell me your name.”
Shock sent her skidding through a puddle. He really didn’t know her name? Was he for real? But she couldn’t risk his finding out as she yanked open her car door and threw herself inside.
Only, before she slammed it shut, she heard him say, “If you want to come back to my cliffs, you can.”