Big Love in a Small Town (Contemporary Romance) (9 page)

***

Despite being exhausted from his busy day and his time with Tessa, Nate stayed awake long after she’d fallen asleep. He was worried. He’d put the feelings aside to focus on Tessa, and to keep her from catching on to just how much of a concern he felt this warranted. Those things could wait until she had slept, but the conversation he’d had with his agent earlier about the current press problem wasn’t something that he could easily cast aside.

Tessa had acted so nonchalant about the rumors, but Nate knew that it was going to be a lot worse than she was expecting. He wanted to be prepared to be whatever support she might need. He would be there for her, and he wasn’t going anywhere. They would make it through this. Nate was determined to see their fledgling relationship through the worst of the media storm that was about to batter them.

Nate hadn’t spent the last couple of months with Tessa occupying his every waking thought and haunting his dreams to let her slip through his hands because of this. What he and Tessa had shared when he had been filming in Georgia had changed everything for him. He’d heard it before, and now knew it was true – love wasn’t so much about time. Sometimes, you just knew when it was right, and Nate knew that he and Tessa belonged together. He just knew.

When she had shown up at STK last night, Nate’s heart had soared. He hadn’t thought twice about the press surrounding them – all he could focus on was keeping Tessa from leaving him again. That was his sole priority, getting her to stay. If he’d been thinking, he would have tried to keep their interactions even more private than he had.

Thankfully, Tessa was a part of his life again, and as she sighed and snuggled up against him, Nate silently vowed to protect her from the slew of press that he knew she wouldn’t be ready to face. The press could be ruthless, and they could push and ask questions that were downright heartless.

Nate didn’t feel comfortable with Tessa leaving for Georgia in a couple of days without him. After pondering his options as the morning light filtered into his bedroom, he knew what he had to do. He was going to clear his schedule and go back home with her. That was all there was to it.

They would have to work out details, but if it ended up that he had to move to Georgia, then he would just move to Georgia. Whatever he needed to do, he was going to do it to make their relationship work. Bottom line.

***

“Well, are you all packed?” Tessa asked Nate three days later. She still couldn’t believe he was flying back to Georgia with her. Even though she’d tried her best to insist that he didn’t have to go with her, Nate wasn’t taking no for
an answer and
Tessa, while not making a big deal about the press, was secretly glad that she wasn’t having to tell him goodbye.

“Packed and ready. Are you?”

Tessa surveyed her luggage, mentally checking everything off of her list. Nate had his assistant go over to Tessa’s hotel to collect her things and bring them back to his house.

“Yep, all set.”

“The driver’s ready.”

When the private car was loaded and they were seated, holding hands, as they headed down the short, but private, drive, Tessa leaned her head against the black leather seat and reflected over the past couple of days.

They hadn’t left Nate’s house – they’d simply spent the past few days in their own private bubble with no outside worries or concerns. They’d enjoyed spending every second with each other, whether it was listening to music and sipping wine, making love in the heated pool, or just watching a movie cuddled on the sofa. It had been the perfect respite from the rest of the world.

But, as the gate to Nate’s drive opened, Tessa realized that the rest of the world was waiting impatiently for them to reenter it. Dozens of paparazzi flanked either side of the curb as the skilled driver managed to maneuver his way out. Tessa swallowed. Nate hadn’t been kidding – this was a little much.

“This is nothing,” Nate murmured, leaning in close to her, subconsciously trying to shield her.

“Nothing?” Tessa queried, her voice quivering with nerves.

“Yeah, sometimes it can get really out of hand, but everyone seems to be mindful today, and they stayed out of the driver’s way.”

Tessa observed the crowd of cameramen, furiously snapping pictures and waving. They must have been camped out by the gate – waiting, knowing that at some point, Nate would have to leave with his “mystery woman” in tow.

“Why isn’t there a law against that kind of stuff, like a privacy law or something?”

“Even though it can be frustrating, the entertainment industry needs them snapping pictures and inadvertently promoting celebrities. Fans want to see pictures and read stories about their favorites. They wouldn’t be camped out by my gate if the story and the pictures wouldn’t sell.”

Tessa contemplated what Nate was saying. It made sense, but it still didn’t make it any easier to get used to the idea of so many people being interested in her. Her musings were interrupted when she heard Nate’s phone vibrate.

“Thank God,” he said as he read the text message he’d just received. Relief flooded his face.

“Good news?” she ventured.

“The best. Ansley just told me that she released a statement through her publicist that said we are only close friends, and that she wished me every happiness. She even closed it with saying that she couldn’t wait to meet my new girlfriend.”

“Oh, that is good news.”

“Yep. A lot of fans that hoped we were seeing each other in real life will be disappointed, but it’s better than everyone thinking that I cheated on her. Both of our agents and publicists agreed. We have a movie coming out in a few months, so hopefully the ripple will have smoothed over by then.”

Tessa squeezed his hand. “I’m sure it will, everything will be fine. We’ve got each other, and all the details will keep falling into place, sweetheart.”

Nate kissed her temple. “I love you, you know that?”

“I had a feeling you did.”

“Okay. Good.”

***

“What in the world is going on, Tessa?” Mr. Hart asked, hurrying to her when she managed to break through the crowd and get into the newspaper office, locking the door behind her. She hadn’t expected her first day back at work to be like this. Thinking maybe a few paparazzi might show up, she’d driven to work instead of walking, but the crowd of twenty or so cameramen that swarmed her car and surrounded her for the short walk to the front door had caught her off guard.

“I’m sorry, Mr. Hart. I had no idea it would be this bad,” she said as she set her bag and keys down on her desk. The phone was ringing furiously.

“That thing has been ringing off of the hook for days. People wanting to know if you work here, where you live, who your parents are, if you are seeing some guy.”

“All of this is because I am seeing a guy. But he isn’t just any guy, as I’m sure you’ve figured out. It’s Nate Wilder, and we are more than just seeing each other – this is the real thing.”

“While I’m glad to hear that you’re happy, this concerns me, Tessa. We are just a small-town newspaper – I’m not sure if we can handle the flood of inquiries coming in. Have they bothered you at home?”

“Not really. They can’t trespass on private property. I’ve had a few stragglers hang out near the street, but since the drive is long, and there isn’t much to see, I think they all figured that it would be more productive to wait for me here. This will die down in a few days – the story is just breaking, so everyone wants to know about me right now, but once the novelty has worn off, I think things will go back to normal.”

Mr. Hart eyed her skeptically. “I may be an old man, but if you are going to share your life with a celebrity, I don’t think you can ever expect things to go back to your version of normal.”

Tessa glanced through the glass door at the crowd still hovering outside. Mr. Hart was right. The press would lose a good bit of interest in her once the newness of her and Nate together wore off, but as long as she was with him, she would stay on their radar.

“I’m sorry if this causes issues for the newspaper. I didn’t expect this many people to be here.”

“Tessa, we’re a newspaper – we are the press. I’m not worried about the interest – I just want you to be okay. I may be your boss, but I’ve known you since you were a little girl, and your well-being is what’s most important to me. If you need to take a leave of absence, you can do that.”

“I don’t know what will happen, but that means a lot, Mr. Hart.”

“I think it’s best if you take today off. I don’t think you would be able to get much work done with all those folks trying to stare at you through the door,” Mr. Hart said while gesturing to the onlookers peering in through the glass door.

“You’d think people would have better things to do...” Tessa mumbled, but she knew he was right.

“Do you have someone that could pick you up? Should we call Chief Allen and get a police escort over here?”

“No, that’s not needed. I haven’t had anyone threaten my safety. I’ll call someone to come pick me up, though. It might be overwhelming trying to get back home by myself.”

“Good idea, Tessa. That makes me feel much better.”

Tessa grabbed her phone out of her purse and dialed Nate’s number.

“Hey, Tessa, what’s up?” he answered.

“I’ve got a situation. The press are here swarming, and Mr. Hart thinks it’s best that I take the day off. Do you mind coming to get me? I don’t feel comfortable leaving alone.”

“I’ll be there in five minutes. Is there another entrance? It would be best if your boss can escort you out when I pull up. If I’m seen, the situation will just get worse.”

“There’s a back door facing the alley – don’t pull your car in there or you’ll get stuck. I’ll meet you. Just text me.”

She hung up with Nate, and explained to Mr. Hart what they needed to do.

A few minutes later when Tessa got the text from Nate, she and Mr. Hart sprang into action, hurrying through the back door and down the three hundred or so feet of alleyway to the street where Nate’s car sat waiting.

Tessa jumped into the passenger seat after giving her boss a quick hug. As soon as she shut her door, Nate started moving, and Tessa breathed a sigh of relief that her exit had gone off without a hitch.

“Tessa, I hate to say it, but I think you may have to consider working from home for a while,” Nate said as he drove back towards Tessa’s apartment. He was wearing a ball cap and dark shades.

“Nate, I don’t like skulking around. This really sucks,” Tessa said with conviction.

“Trust me, I know it does. But, this won’t last forever. As soon as a more interesting story hits, the swarm of media will be over.”

“I’ve read magazines, watched E! News and clicked on the online stories. People want to know everything about you. They can’t get enough. Clearhill is pretty used to celebrities because of all the movies filmed here, and the citizens usually don’t bother the sets and stuff, but if you are just going to be out and about with me on a regular basis, even they are going to notice,” Tessa told him.

They pulled into her drive and got out, the conversation on hold for a moment. She scurried up the steps, knowing somewhere near the street, a lens was surely zooming in, hoping to snap a newsworthy shot of either her or Nate.

Once inside, she sat at the kitchen table and motioned for Nate to join her. He took a seat, removed his glasses and hat, and took her hand that was resting on the table.

“What are we going to do?” she asked, her eyes searching Nate’s face.

“Whatever it takes,” he replied.

“I know that – we’ve figured that part out, but I mean literally. What are we going to do? What’s our next step?”

“To be honest, Tessa, I don’t think me in LA and you being here is going to work. It just isn’t.”

Tessa felt like the wind was knocked out of her. Was he already calling it quits? How could she have been so wrong about what was happening between them? She thought they were both in it forever.

“What are you saying?” she managed to squeak out. Nate’s eyes grew wide and he shook his head furiously.

“Oh no. No – not what you are thinking. I’m not saying we shouldn’t be together. I’m saying we should be together. We need to live in the same place. I know it seems crazy and so soon, but that isn’t how it feels to me. It feels right. I’ll move here if you want me to, or you are welcome to move to LA and live with me. Wherever you choose. It’s your choice.”

“So you’re saying that you want us to move in together?” Tessa had to make sure that she was getting this right.

“Yes, but if you aren’t comfortable with that, I can get a place nearby, or we could find somewhere in LA for you.”

Tessa mulled over her options. Never in her wildest dreams had she ever considered moving to Los Angeles – and moving in with someone was such a big step. Plus, what would her parents and Natalie say?

She’d just told her parents about Nate, and it had freaked them out. They were worried. Tessa knew they would flip if she told them that she was moving, but Natalie would probably wish her the best and tell her to go for it.

There were more opportunities for her career, also, if she moved to Los Angeles. But on the other hand, Clearhill was home with its oak-lined streets, antebellum homes and historic square. She loved Clearhill and its residents.

“I’m going to have to take some time to make this decision, Nate.”

“I know – it’s a big step. Take as much time as you need. It’s easier for me to do whatever you decide – whether we live here or in LA. A lot of movies are shot on location now and I can keep my home in LA for when I do need to spend extended time there. Plus, my mom lives in New York and Dad lives in Denver, so I don’t have any family there.”

“But I know it’s good for you to be in LA. I’m going to take this all into consideration. You need to fly back Wednesday, right?”

“Yes, I can’t put off shooting the rest of my scenes any longer or the director is going to explode,” he said sheepishly.

“I’m going to stay here for a couple of extra days to gather my thoughts, and I’ll fly out over the weekend. I need to really think.”

“I understand. Will you at least let me hire security? They won’t bother you – they’ll just follow you at a safe distance. It’ll make me feel so much better about leaving you.”

“If that will make you feel better, you can hire security.”