Yours Truly(115)

I stopped. I didn't want to believe her words, but the little voice in my head was listening. She hadn't said a single thing that wasn't true yet. But she hasn't said anything that she couldn't have guessed, I argued with myself. She walked slowly to my side again.

“Did he tell you about the trial?” she asked, her tone seductive. “Or did he say he didn't want to talk about it because he liked the way you looked at him?”

Her words hit their target. I swallowed hard. That was almost exactly what he had said.

“Don't feel bad. He's done it before. The land-stealing part. That's actually what the trial was about.” She shrugged as if it meant nothing. I stayed quiet, and she took it as her cue to continue. “It was a couple of years ago, but the parallels to this are interesting. Basically, he found out, through a lovely girl like yourself, that some prime real estate was up for auction. The girl wanted to turn it into a bird refuge and was getting donations to do so.”

My heart was pounding so hard I could barely hear Danica. She had to be mistaken or lying, and yet her story rang true.

“Anyway, he bought it out from under her. There were some issues with zoning, but the man's made of money and just bought everyone off.” She moved so she could look at me better. Her lipstick was perfect and made her mouth lovely to watch, much the way a cobra is beautiful before it strikes. “Sounds familiar, doesn't it?”

She waited for me to say something, but I remained silent. This couldn't be true. It couldn't.

“There was some question as to the legality of what he had done. The girl sued him, and their case went to trial.” She brushed a windblown strand of dark hair off her cheek. “I was there for the whole thing. I'm actually surprised you didn't recognize him. It was all over the news for weeks. Such a scandal.”

I faintly remembered seeing something about a hotel land-buying scandal on the news, but I hadn't paid any attention to it. It was one of those news stories that was always on at the oil-change place. I had watched it more because there was nothing else to do for thirty minutes besides read old magazines about cars. Could that really have been my Noah? Could the man who had comforted me, let me cry on his shoulder, and held me like a child been the one to do this? There was a small voice in the back of my mind, the one that always thought the worst of everything, that whispered yes.

“He didn't win the lawsuit, by the way.” Her eyes watched my expression like a hawk. I knew my face was betraying my every thought, but I tried my best to mask them. Her lips turned up in a sinister smile. “He settled. Which means, he knew he was guilty. He knew. Just like he knew he was buying your property.”

I cringed like she had punched me in the gut. Anger started to swell. I didn't have to listen to her lies. She just wanted a news story. A nice quote to go above her byline. I knew my Noah. I knew he wouldn't have intentionally hurt me. It had to be a different Noah. It had to be.

“I don't have to talk to you,” I said crossly, forcing my feet to move forward. She stepped back and held out a business card.

“You're right, you don't. But here's my card in case you change your mind,” she said, voice smooth as honey. She moved out of my path, and I didn't take her card. “But, I know more about Noah Black than anyone else. He's not what he appears to be. I thought you should know.”

“Thank you for your concern,” I replied, sarcasm dripping from every word as I walked faster. If I got to Adele's, I would be safe. I could think there without her bothering me. Adele would make sure I was okay.

I hurried into the restaurant and took a deep breath, inhaling the soothing scent of baking sugar and butter. It was still early, but Adele's was starting to get busy. Danica had followed me up the path, but she wasn't coming in the restaurant. I had a moment to think.

“Hey, honey,” Adele greeted me, setting a carafe of coffee on an empty table and coming over to give me a tight squeeze. “I heard about the sale.”

I sighed. The news was out. “Did you hear who bought it? Doc didn't have much information last night.”

Adele's sweet face smiled gently, her eyes full of pity. She patted my cheek before turning and picking up the morning paper from a recently vacated table. I had to read the headline twice.

Diamond Hotels Buys Island Property. Next to the article was a picture of Noah, smiling and dressed in a trendy business suit with Beth in the background. My heart sank. It was my Noah.

I scanned the article, feeling tears form behind my eyes. The lump in my throat threatened to suffocate me.

Noah Black, President and owner of Diamond Hotels has purchased beach front property on Key Island. An inside source confirms that hotel/condo plans have already been drawn up and submitted.