Come Away with Me, page 5
Shay considered it. “I’ll see what I can do. I met his manager earlier. Maybe I can arrange something with him, but no promises.”
“Great, still, if you ask me, the answer to what you need is staring you right in the face.”
“Talk to you later.” Shay closed her phone and turned. Dr. Love was busily signing a book while talking with a reader, nearly unaware of the constant barrage of clicking cameras around him. She watched. An instant later, as if he sensed her staring, he stopped and looked across the room right at her. Her stomach fluttered. Have mercy.
Chapter 6
Shay went to her suite and spent the rest of the evening researching and gathering as much information as she could on Quinn Anderson. If she was going to ask for an interview, she needed to know as much as she could about him.
Finding him online was easy enough. He was everywhere. There were hundreds of websites dedicated to him, his books, his lectures and his celebrity. She found that his credentials were impeccable and his professional background was even more impressive. He was born into a prominent, wealthy family. His father was an investment banker and his mother a college professor. His first book, written eight years ago, was based on his doctoral dissertation. It sold over a million copies in the first year. Since then his books had remained on bestseller lists for months.
Unfortunately, she also discovered getting an interview wasn’t going to be as easy as she’d hoped. The last one was more than three years ago. It was right before he was involved in a major scandal. She remembered it well, but still looked it up online. A woman had filed a paternity suit against him and her estranged husband accused Quinn of committing adultery with his wife. It was later proven that not only wasn’t he the child’s father, but he had never met the woman. All charges were subsequently dropped. Apparently the woman had had an affair and decided to name Dr. Love as the baby’s father. Since then there was nothing on Quinn other than his published books.
By now her curiosity had gotten the best of her. On paper it appeared his life was perfect, but Shay didn’t buy it. She quickly realized what was missing—his personal life. Even before the scandal, there was very little published about his personal life. It seemed he guarded his privacy very closely. She wondered how a man who professed to be an expert on love, romance and relationships had no one in his life.
As she continued to probe, her cell phone beeped. She picked up the phone, opened it and saw Jade had sent her a text message. She read the message then answered.
Jade: I forgot to ask before, how’s the vacation going?
Me: Stalled. I can only stay here at the resort for 1 night.
Jade: Why?
Me: Bruce cancelled everything. I should have checked and confirmed on my own. I guess I’m just so used to my assistant taking care of all my travel arrangements.
Jade: Bummer. What are you gonna do?
Me: They found me another room in Tucson—probably not as nice.
Jade: At least it’s a room.
Me: True.
Jade: Have you come up with an approach for Dr. Love yet?
Me: No, nothing! How am I supposed to do this?
Jade: Don’t know. I just read he doesn’t do interviews anymore.
Me: Yeah, I just saw that too.
Jade: There was a bad experience after a scandal years ago.
Me: Swell, more good news
Jade: What can I do to help from this end?
Me: Send me a miracle.
Jade: (LOL) I’ll look around and see if I have an extra one lying around.
Me: I don’t even know if he’s staying here at the resort or already checked out. The conference ended after the book signing this evening.
Jade: Then he’s probably staying over.
Me: I’ll find out tomorrow, so much for my nice restful vacation.
Jade: That’s why it’s called show business. Good luck!
Me: Thanks! I’ll let you know what I find out later…
She ended the conversation thread and closed her cell. She started to go back to her internet search, but changed her mind. She wasn’t getting any closer to coming up with a way to get an interview. She decided her best bet might be to ask Alona if it was possible to contact Danny Wilson. It was a long shot, but worth a try.
It was dark outside when she finally called it quits and looked up from her laptop. She was exhausted, but was too wound up to relax knowing sleep would elude her anyway. She never slept her first night on location. And tonight she knew it would be even worse.
Restless, she sat back and looked around the room. As promised, it was everything a luxury suite should be and more. Large and generously furnished, the chic rustic charm of the guesthouse was a pure Southwestern motif. It was stylish and sophisticated with an aura of historical authenticity. She got up, opened the sliding glass doors and then stepped out onto her balcony.
It was late, a little before midnight. The night was peaceful and there was a calm stillness hanging in the crisp cool air. Realizing she was hungry, she remembered seeing a quaint bodega-style restaurant in the lobby. She knew a full stomach and a walk in the night air would help relax her. She grabbed her jacket and key card, locked the door and headed out.
Her guesthouse suite was located at the far end of the resort property. It was surrounded by a tree-lined garden in a sea of brightly hued flowers whose faint floral fragrance drifted delicately on the evening breeze. She looked up. A billion stars sparkled brilliantly as the full moon shined down on her. The sensation was soothing. Everything seemed as if it had been suspended in time. She still couldn’t believe she was here. This was the last place she expected to be right now.
Truth be told, she never even wanted to come in the first place. It was originally Bruce’s idea. He’d set it up and then begged her to go with him. He seemed to think it would be good for them. She didn’t buy it. As far as she was concerned their relationship was just fine as it was. They broke up a few weeks later. Apparently she’d been wrong.
Walking briskly, she headed along the brightly lit path she took earlier to get to her suite. It circled around the side of the main resort, past the pool, spa and fitness areas. She got to the main entrance and went inside, seeing that the restaurant she intended to go to was already closed. She walked over to the man standing at the reception desk. He looked up as she approached. “Good evening, my name is Carlos. May I help you?” he asked, smiling.
“Good evening, yes,” she said, barely registering that he was the only person in sight. “My name is Shay Daniels and I’m in one of the guesthouse suites. Is there another restaurant around here still open?”
“Not on the premises. The two resort restaurants are closed for the evening. Room service is closed as well. There are several restaurants still open in town. May I call you a cab or have your car delivered?” he offered, reaching for the phone.
Shay looked around, considering her options. This certainly wasn’t what she expected for her first night. She quickly decided. “You know what, never mind. Thanks anyway.” She took a step back to leave.
“Would you like to leave a breakfast request?” he asked.
“No thanks, good night.”
“Good night, Ms. Daniels.”
She turned and walked back outside, looking around the deserted driveway and parking lot. Instead of heading directly back to her suite, she walked across the driveway to the lookout point. She stood peering out beyond the stone barrier near the edge of the large driveway. Much of the panoramic view she’d seen earlier was obscured in darkness, but she did see the glittering lights in the far distance. It was Tucson.
Resembling a scatter of sparkling diamonds tossed across black velvet, the view was stunning. She wrapped her arms around her body, feeling a cool breeze blustering near. The stillness of the moment gave her pause. Maybe she had lost her center. Maybe it was time to stop and refocus. But she had no idea what to do next. How was she going to interview Dr. Love and possibly get him on the show? It was impossible. She stared out into the distance as if the answer was somehow hidden in the darkness. Soon she lost herself in the peaceful still serenity of the moment.
Thoughts of Dr. Love took center stage. She had answered his question and he had avoided a valid response. She wasn’t really serious when she answered. But now the idea of him as her fantasy made her wonder what it would really be like to be with him. She considered a fantasy she’d always had, her and a complete stranger, stranded in the middle of nowhere with no one else in sight. They’d make passionate love beneath the stars. It was exciting and daring. Something she always wondered about doing. But there was no way she could do it. She wasn’t bold enough. Still the fantasy’s image made her smile, her and Dr. Love, her fantasy lover.
After the book signing, Quinn had a late dinner meeting with his staff then attended a private reception in Tucson with friends. Later he came back to the resort and went up to his office hoping to get some work done. But he didn’t. He sat at his desk distracted. The woman at the conference and her comments stayed on his mind. She’d gotten to him. He picked up his cell and called his manager. Danny answered on the first ring. “Did you get anything on that woman tonight?” he asked.
“Where are you?” Danny asked.
“In the resort office. I’m heading home in a few.”
“Okay, I’ll call you back in five minutes. I have something coming in now. I want to cross-check and confirm.”
Quinn closed his cell and tossed it on the desk. He looked up at the computer monitor. The word processing screen stared back at him. It was blank and ominous and he was frustrated and restless from staring at it all night. It had been over two months since he’d written a single coherent sentence.
He reached up and shut the computer down, removing his flash drive and closing the laptop’s lid. He turned the lamp off on his oversized mahogany desk and looked around his office. It was big and elegantly furnished like everything else in his world. He had the best of everything. He had what was an enviable lifestyle. Since birth, all of his wants, needs and desires had been instantly tended to. He never wanted for anything, particularly female companionship.
Women constantly threw themselves at him. Some he let pass by; others he caught. Still, a select few he held on to for a short while. He was certainly no saint and he enjoyed the pleasure of a woman in his bed. But he was also vehemently explicitly clear that there was no lasting relationship potential. Some believed, others didn’t at first but believed later.
With women he’d been teased, tempted and toyed with. All in hopes of securing that ever-elusive wedding ring. But it wasn’t going to happen. Once was certainly enough. Lately he’d been abstaining from physical intimacy. It wasn’t a conscious decision; it just happened. He hadn’t found a woman who interested him, until today.
His last relationship was with a woman who turned out to not only be merely separated from her husband, but also trying to land him as a partner in a reality TV show she wanted to sell to the networks. She had a serious agenda. She wanted to be famous and he was her ticket to the top. He'd ended it quickly.
He stood, walked over to the large picture window overlooking the beautifully manicured gardens below. The stair step plateau resort was designed to give every room an elaborate view of the city of Tucson, the Tucson Mountains or of the still lake below the mountain range. His office was located at the very top and afforded him a nearly exclusive view of everything around the resort for miles.
He rarely paused anymore to see the beauty of his surroundings, but tonight was different. He spared a moment to stand at the window and survey the ambiance. It was always a pleasure to be home, one he certainly didn’t appreciate as much as he knew he should. He’d bought Serenity four years ago. It was a small, private, barely sustainable resort at the time, but he saw potential. He also saw healing. Something he definitely needed, but as of yet was unable to find.
He looked down into the night, seeing a solitary figure dressed in white casually walking in the garden. The area was safe enough, so that wasn’t a concern, although he did wonder about that person out this late. It was odd, since most resort guests seldom ventured out after dark because of the chilly nights. His thoughts drifted back to the end program and the woman who’d answered his question.
He was attracted to her the instant he saw her. She was the one. Denying it was only prolonging the inevitable. They had fire and passion, even in a crowded room. He felt it and he knew she felt it, too. It was in her eyes. The last time he felt the intensity of desire was with his wife. Their whirlwind romance had consumed them.
She caught him off guard. Few people were able to do that. But it was her remark that had hit him hard. “Some teach because they can no longer do.” It troubled him. She was more on target than anyone around him suspected. No one had even come close to the truth. He was hiding behind the facade of privilege and power. But she had somehow seen through him. He looked down at the gardens again. The figure in white was gone. He turned, picked up his phone and flash drive then grabbed his jacket. He needed to clear his head. It was time to leave.
Heading down to the lobby he refocused on his work. Just as he stepped through of the elevator doors his cell phone vibrated in his pocket. He pulled it out knowing only a very few people had his phone number and even fewer would call him this late at night. He saw the caller ID then answered. “Yeah.”
“Her name is Shay Daniels,” Danny began. “She’s staying at the resort in guesthouse suite number two. She works for a cable network in New York.”
“In TV, doing what?” he asked, instantly tensing, thinking he had to contend with another television wannabe trying to make a name for herself.
“She writes and hosts a cable television show called, Romantic Destinations on the Romance Network. It’s not a bad show actually.”
“I’ve never seen it.”
“Doesn’t matter now. It looks like the show’s about to be cancelled. The ratings are good, but the network is struggling financially.”
“What’s she doing here?” Quinn asked, loosening his tie and waving at Carlos as he passed the reception desk.
“I don’t know, but as far as I can tell, she’s just on vacation.”
“Is she alone?”
“The original reservation was under another name, Bruce Payne. I presume he’s her ex.” “Why?”
“The original reservation was for one room, but he cancelled it a while back. She apparently didn’t know until she arrived. Alona found her a room here for the night then she’s staying elsewhere. She checked in alone.”
“What else did you find out?”
Danny continued with a few more details, generally pertaining to her job and her educational background. Quinn stepped outside still listening intently to his friend’s report. The cool crisp air immediately invigorated him. He stood at the entrance of the resort, listening closely. Then, looking around, a figure in the darkness got his attention. “That’s it so far,” Danny said, ending his report. “She looks harmless.”
“It’s the harmless ones that concern me most. See what else you can find out. Maybe she’s freelancing.”
“Okay, I’ll call you tomorrow,” Danny said. “How’s the research coming?” he added before hanging up.
“About the same.”
“Maybe you should consider Shay Daniels. You had serious chemistry and she certainly got your attention. And you are running short on time. You have four weeks before the lecture.”
“I know. And she is a possibility. I’ll think about it. I’ll talk to you tomorrow,” Quinn said, then closed his cell and started walking to his car, but he slowed his gait slightly, glancing across once more at the figure still standing at lookout point. The person hadn’t moved. He paused curiously. Like a ghost from the past, the solitude of the person standing there alone in near darkness brought back a memory he hadn’t thought about in years. It used to be him at lookout point in the middle of the night. That’s when he decided to walk over.
As he approached, the familiar silhouette of a woman’s body and her perfectly rounded apple bottom kept his focus. She stood at the stone barrier, hands pressed securely atop the chest-high pilings. He watched as she peered over the wall into the darkness below then back out toward the glittering lights of Tucson. He stood a few feet behind her, observing her stillness. Seeing her standing there reminded him of his wife and the life he almost had.
He’d married right out of grad school and she’d died shortly afterward. Each day he was reminded of the loneliness he resolved himself to live with. He still blamed himself for her death. Had he been there when she needed him, she might still be alive. The pain and guilt of that knowledge would be forever scarred in his heart. There was no way to move on. So he resolved himself to helping others find and keep love and not make the same mistake he did.
As he neared, he expected the woman to turn around. When she didn’t, he moved closer, barely seeing her face in profile. Classic and serene, she was fully enamored, lost in silent meditation. Even though it was dark, he could tell her eyes were intent and focused in the far distance. He wondered what she was thinking. Then he turned to look out at the view he so often took for granted. To visitors and guests of the area, he could easily see how it would appear mesmerizing. “It’s a little late to be out sightseeing, isn’t it?” he said, looking out at the bright lights of Tucson.
Chapter 7
It was déjà vu all over again as Shay yelped, flinched and whipped around, obviously startled by the unexpected intrusion. “Are you nuts, sneaking up on me like that?” she stammered breathlessly, holding her hand to her chest, sparing a quick glance in his direction before looking away to get herself together. “What is with this place? Does everybody sneak around scaring people? You nearly scared me to death.”
