Memories of Love

MEMORIES
OF LOVE

HOLLYWOOD
HEARTS 3

Jean C.
Joachim

Mainstream Romance

Secret Cravings Publishing

www.secretcravingspublishing.com

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A Secret Cravings Publishing Book

Mainstream
Romance

Memories of Love

Copyright © 2013
Jean C. Joachim

E-book ISBN:
978-1-61885-673-9

First E-book
Publication: May 2013

Cover design by
Dawné
Dominique

Edited by Tabitha
Bowers

Proofread by Rene
Flowers

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and logo copyright © 2013 by Secret Cravings Publishing

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Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead is strictly coincidental.

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Dedication

To Dr. Robert
Ganz
and Mrs. Mary Walden, two of my inspiring college English teachers at George
Washington University who encouraged my love of reading and writing.
 

Acknowledgments

I’d like to thank the following
people for their help and support: Doug Hardin, retired Sheriff, for his help
with police procedure research, Larry Joachim, my editor, Tabitha Bower,
publisher, Beth Walker,
Dawne
Prochilo
,
Marilyn
Reisse
Lee, my friends and readers who make
writing books so worthwhile.

The
author acknowledges the trademark status and the following trademark owners mentioned
in this work of fiction.

Vitamin
Water

Bergdorf
Goodman

Henri
Bendel

Etch-A-Sketch

Vanity
Fair

American
Girl

Nobel
Prize

Yves
St. Laurent

Manolo
Blahnik

Gucci

Movado

Drambuie

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MEMORIES OF LOVE

HOLLYWOOD HEARTS 3

Jean
C. Joachim

Copyright © 2013

Chapter One

Washington, D.C.

Grant Hollings stood naked at the
apartment window.
Three a.m., no one can
see me.
He leaned his toned, tanned body against the window sash. The
lights of the city didn’t distract him from the pain shooting through his heart.

I’ll
never see her again.
A lump formed in his throat, choking him, bringing
tears to his eyes. He brushed his dark brown hair off his forehead, scratched
his chest, then padded back to bed, lowering himself gently so as not to wake
Carol Anne.

She stirred slightly in her sleep.
Easing onto his side, his stare roamed over her. Moonlight kissed her, creating
highlights that emphasized the perfect planes of her face. He lowered his gaze
to her creamy shoulders then all the way down to where the sheet hid her from
further perusal.
She’s lovely. She’s
mine. For one more day.
A sigh escaped his throat as he slid closer to the
young woman, the love of his life.

Moving up against him, she muttered
something he couldn’t understand. Grant pulled her into his embrace, folding
his arm around her naked body. He kissed her blonde locks and tried to fall
back to sleep. He dozed on and off until the early autumn sun peeked in and
woke him at six o’clock. The red melting into orange sunrise began the last day
Carol Anne Brewster and Grant Hollings would be together before she flew to Los
Angeles to star in her first film.

He rolled over and ran his hand down
her side.
So soft and smooth.
She cozied
up to him. He spooned her, nuzzling her neck and pulling the soft, fleece
blanket up to shield them against the cool, October morning air. She shifted to
her side then lay still. Grant loved cuddling in the mornings, before the
outside world intruded on them with work obligations, acting classes, and court
appearances. Now it was just Grant and Carol Anne.

He breathed in deeply, enjoying the
sweet scent of her skin. Her looks, so breathtaking to the public, ran deep. Her
inner beauty, and vulnerability which she bared only to him, had captured his
heart. Forsaking other women, he cleaved only to her, which was a big deal for
Grant Hollings, up-and-coming D.C. attorney and former heartbreaker.

He rested his hand on her breast.
A perfect fit.
He smiled, remembering
the first time he had touched her and how exciting it had been. His body
reacted. Desire began to flow through his veins, even before his first cup of
coffee, as he pushed a little against her rump.

“Hmm, seems like someone is up
early,” she whispered, slyly.

He laughed. “Can’t fool you, can I?”

“Not when you’re flush up against
me, G.”

“No reason to rush out of bed. I
took the day off so I can take you to the airport.”

She turned to face him. “And make
love to me a zillion times before the plane leaves?”

“That, too.” He gently moved strands
of silky, blonde hair off her face, his fingers caressing her cheek.

“You can’t fool me. I read you like
a book, mister.” She grinned.

His hands wandered from her
shoulders, down across her chest to her behind.
Must remember every nook, every swell, every curve.
His eyes
watered a bit, which he tried to hide with a few blinks, but he was
unsuccessful.

“This isn’t our last time, Grant.”
She touched his face.

“I know.” He took a deep breath.
Sure about that?

“You’ll visit me. I’ll visit you…you’ll
come, won’t you?” A worry line creased her forehead.

“Of course. It’s just that this case
right now…I had a hard time taking even today off.”

“I love you, body and soul. I wish
you were coming with me.”

“You don’t need me. You’ll be fine.”

“I’m scared.”

“This is your big chance. You’ll be
great, Cara Mia.”
Far away from me.

“Great? How can you say that?” She
pushed up on one elbow.

“I’ve seen you act a hundred times.
You’re amazing.” He kissed her.
And all
mine until you step on that plane.

“But what if I’m not amazing? This
is my one chance. What if I blow it?” Her voice rose an octave.

“You won’t. You’re ready.”

“You think so?” Her eyebrows
knitted.

“Absolutely.”
But I’m not ready for you to leave.

“I’ve picked a stage name.” She
raised shy eyes to his.

“What?” His fingers combed through
her long, blonde hair.

“Cara. Cara Brewster, instead of
Carol Anne.”

“But that’s my name for you.”

“It’ll be like having you with me.
Do you mind?” Her blue eyes opened wide.

“Not really.”
I hate that other people will be calling you that.

“Do you like it?”

“I love it.”

“I’ve never done anything without
you there, behind me. I need you so much, G.” She cuddled up to him, hiding her
face in his strong chest. She ran her hands through the dark hair there.

He held her to him, and they lay
together, caressing each other, for a long time. Passion was building inside
him, causing a reaction between his legs. “I’ll always be with you, always love
you, Cara Mia,” he whispered.
Come back
to me.

“Me, too. Body and soul.”

Grant cupped her cheek and kissed
her. His hands skimmed over her flesh, zeroing in on her most sensitive spots, working
to light her fire. He was burning and needed her to be the same. After their
year together, he knew her body, knew how to bring out her desire. Small moans
escaped her throat. She stretched out, pushing against him, hooking her leg
around his waist as he mounted her.

* * * *

Sweet, heartfelt pledges to stay
together and love each other forever were challenged in the taxi on the way to
the airport. Grant disintegrated emotionally, when her leaving became so real. Anger
flooded into his heart.

“Let’s be honest, Carol Anne. You’re
never coming back.”

She gasped and turned to face him.
“How can you say that?”

“Because it’s true.” He grasped her
arms, holding her still. “Can you honestly deny it?”

“You’re assuming a lot, here. Like I’m
going to be successful. A big leap…based on nothing.”

“And if you’re not successful with
the first film, are you going to stay for another or come home to me? Huh? Stay
and keep trying, right? You’re no quitter.”

“I’m not, but that doesn’t mean…”

“Doesn’t mean what? Doesn’t mean
that you’re quitting me? Come off it. Be honest.”

Carol Anne burst into tears. “I love
you. I don’t want to quit you, Grant. Are you leaving me?”

“I’m not going anywhere.”

“Always the lawyer. Are you breaking
up with me?”

“I can’t. I wouldn’t. I love you too
much,” he whispered.

“Then what are you talking about?”

“I’m talking about reality. We’ll be
three thousand miles away from each other, Cara Mia. That’s
beyond
geographically undesirable.
That’s straight to…impossible.”

She flung herself into his embrace,
sobbing against his chest. “Please don’t break up with me. I’ll come back.
You’ll see.”

“I’d never break up with you,
honey,” he said, stroking her hair. “But I can’t ask you to be celibate,
either.”

“If I’m seeing other people, will
you, too?” She raised her tear-stained face.

“It’s only fair.”

“So you want to see other
women…sleep with other women?” Jealousy tinged her voice as she shoved away
from him, hugging the door.

“I don’t want to. If I could pick up
and move, I’d go with you. But I’m not going to tell you, if you’re not here
for months, that I’m not going to be with other women.”

“I suppose that’s too much to ask.”
She sighed, her eyes watered.

“Of you, too. It kills me to think
of you with other guys.”

“Okay. After all, you were a playboy
when we met. Sleep with whoever you want. But don’t you dare fall in love with
anyone else.” She extracted a tissue from her purse and wiped her face.

He smiled. “I can’t promise
that…it’s not logical. And neither can you.”

“Yes, I can. You’ll see.” Her lower
lip jutted out in defiance.

He wiped away one last tear with his
thumb. “I love you, body and soul, Cara Mia.”

Reluctantly, they agreed to date
others. Grant closed his mind to images of her with other men, unable to take
in the possibility without being overwhelmed by frustration and possessiveness.
What he wanted was her, all the time, forever, and on his terms. But it wasn’t
to be.

At the airport, Grant took her to
the security line. They clung to each other, slowly moving forward as if the
equipment were a gas chamber. Something in him was dying, and he struggled to
keep from falling apart.

They hugged, kissed, and clasped
hands until she had to move on. As he watched her amble slowly toward her gate,
a sharp pain in his chest took his breath away. She turned and walked
backwards, keeping eye contact with him for as long as possible. People in line
whispered, some loud enough for him to hear, “Wish I had someone who felt like
that about me.”

When she was out of sight, pain
flowed through his body from head to toe. He could barely speak and tears stung
his eyes. Flagging down a cab, he left quickly. Watching the taxi drive away,
putting mile after mile between him and Carol Anne, he broke down sobbing in
the car.

The driver tossed a box of tissues
into the backseat. “She ain’t worth it, buddy.”

“Yes she is,” he mumbled, drying his
eyes.

Parting from her was bittersweet.
The price of having such an all-consuming love was learning to let it go. Too
steep for Grant to pay, he planned to drum her out of his heart. But only succeeded
in locking her in. He went on with his life as best he could.
The only way to get her back is by allowing
her to leave. I pray that’s true.

Grant moped around the apartment for
a few days, playing sad songs and missing Carol Anne. They talked every night,
but it wasn’t enough. The calls began to wane, first every other night, then
once a week. Then not at all.

During that time, he consoled
himself with a parade of eligible women. One secretary at his firm took him
under her wing. She cooked for him, tried to cheer him up, and slept with him.
Her attentions didn’t make up for the emptiness inside, but he kept it to
himself.

His sadness slowly turned to anger.
I’ll show her, I’ll find someone else
.
By accident, he did.

* * * *

Seven years later, Washington, D.C.

Grant Hollings and his wife, Evelyn,
sat in folding chairs in the main office at the Capitol Day School. They faced
the principal. Evelyn leaned over to whisper to her husband. “What’s Sarah done
to get us called in here?”

Grant shrugged his shoulders and
raised his finger to his lips as the principal, Mrs. Craig, entered the room
and sat down. Two other men he hadn’t seen before walked in and stood behind
her.

“First, let me reassure you, Sarah
has done nothing wrong. But there’s a very serious situation we must discuss.” After
a moment of silence, she went on. “Our teachers have seen a man taking pictures
of Sarah. During recess, they saw him, on more than one occasion, across the
street. He was trying to hide behind a tree. Concerned for the safety of both
Sarah and the other children, we called in the police.”

Mrs. Craig took a sip of water
before continuing, “These two detectives from the fifth precinct are here to
advise you. I hope you listen to what they have to say.”

“I’m Bill Parsons. My partner, Dave
Shoemaker. After Mrs. Craig called, we cruised the area at various times during
the day. We did see the
perp
on one occasion, but he took
off before we could question him.”

“Was he taking pictures of all the
children or just Sarah?” Grant asked.

“At first we thought it was all the
children, but then we noticed him follow Sarah. We even tried bringing her
inside, randomly, during recess. But then he was spotted at dismissal time.” Mrs.
Craig folded her hands on her desk.

Grant turned to Evelyn. “Do you ever
see this guy when you pick up Sarah?” Evelyn shook her head.

“The point is, Mr. Hollings,”
Detective Parsons continued, “This man has your daughter in his sights. We
believe he has some foul plan up his sleeve. We’re worried about her safety. Unfortunately,
we don’t have the manpower to guard her night and day.”

“Do you really think this is a threat
to Sarah?” Evelyn asked, sitting back in her chair and crossing her legs.

“Yes, ma’am, we do.” Detective
Shoemaker said. The expressions on the officers’ faces were solemn. They didn’t
look afraid, but neither did they look unconcerned.

“What do you suggest?” Grant asked,
his eyebrows knitted in worry.

“The safest thing is to get out of
town. Move away. Take your daughter and leave.”

Silence fell on the room.

“That’s pretty extreme,” Evelyn
muttered, leaning forward.

“Yes, ma’am, it is. If it were my
kid, I’d take her out of here in a heartbeat,” Detective Shoemaker said.

“But if he’s only taking
pictures…how sinister can it be?” Evelyn asked.

“These slime buckets take pictures
of pretty kids and sell them to pedophiles, who then snatch the kids. Hold them
hostage for years for—God forgive me—things I don’t even want to think about.”
Officer Parsons’ face crinkled.

Panic seized Grant. He couldn’t
breathe. “Sarah!”