“I’m sorry. But this does explain a bit about why she wanted to buy the theater and restore it. Theater is her life.”
“Guess so.” He clenched his jaw. The theater had become his life too during the weeks he’d spent working with Tori on it. Had it all been part of her act?
“I wonder if she plans on going back to Broadway. If this was just a little break in her schedule.” Miss Eleanor frowned, her forehead creasing with wrinkles. “But if she leaves, what does that mean for our theater?”
He stood there trying to hold back his anger—and his hurt. Yes, he reluctantly acknowledged that it hurt that she hadn’t shared the truth about herself with him. There, he’d admitted it. “I don’t know.” He’d thought she cared about the theater. About its role in the town. Cared about Magnolia. Cared about him…
“I guess you should talk to her and find out. See if we have a problem on our hands. Can you do that for me?”
He nodded. “Yes. I’ll find out the truth.” That is, if Tori was capable of telling the truth because she sure had tricked him. She’d deceived him in a way he hadn’t thought her capable of. But, evidently, she was.
Gavin stalked out of the shop after Miss Eleanor left, his thoughts ping-ponging through his mind. How could she keep something like this from him? A Broadway actress. A famous one at that, according to the article.
As he walked down the sidewalk, he steeled his heart from any memory of last night. How Tori felt in his arms. Her warm kisses. The way she looked at him in the moonlight. None of that mattered. She was an actress, for Pete’s sake. She was probably acting last night. Playing a role. Passing her time while she worked on her pet project before heading back to the bright lights of the stage. Back to her adoring fans.
For all he knew, Tori had staged this whole thing as a publicity stunt. He wouldn’t put anything past her. When an actress thought she was hot stuff, there was nothing she wouldn’t do to keep her fame. They’d sell their very soul to get a front-page article about them. He knew that well enough from his time with Anna.
He rounded the corner, heading further down the street, and pulled up short. There, just down the block, Tori stood in what appeared to be a deep conversation with…Cliff Griffinof all people. Why would she…
He stepped back into the shadow of the doorway of the building he was standing in front of. Suspicion spiked through him. Tori and Cliff. His mind raced, trying to connect the dots. Did they have some kind of deal going on with the theater? Were they in this together? But then why would she have renovated it if Cliff was going to take it over? Because knowing Cliff, he would either tear down the historic building or convert it into an office building or something equally ill-suited to the needs of the town. Just like they didn’t need his ridiculous high rise at the end of the boardwalk.
But clearly, Cliff must have some angle on how he could use the theater. It was all starting to make sense. Cliff used Tori to hide the fact he was eventually purchasing the theater. That must be it.
He could only hear an occasional word drifting over to him.
“I think it’s a fair offer.”
His eyes widened as Cliff’s words reached him. He stayed in the shadows as the two of them continued to converse. Tori talked animatedly while Cliff listened and nodded. They were agreeing about something.
“It is a good offer.” Tori’s words reached him and he clenched his jaw, her deception cutting deep. She’d kept so many secrets. From him. From the whole town.
He turned on his heels and walked away in the opposite direction. Now was not the time to confront Tori. Oh, he would. He’d do exactly what Miss Eleanor had asked. But not until he had time to figure out exactly what she was planning to do with the theater. The real truth. Not some fabricated story like she’d made up about who she was.
There was more going on there than met the eye. He was certain of it. The two of them were up to something, and he was just the man to find out what it was and expose whatever scheme they had brewing. Because from where he was standing, it appeared she was planning on selling to Cliff.
Chapter22
Tori pushed open the door to Coastal Coffee at lunchtime, the bell jingling overhead as she stepped inside. The now familiar hum of conversation and clinking of mugs went silent as she stepped inside.
A hush fell over the room. Every single person in the cafe turned to stare at her, and the heat of a blush swept across her cheeks. It seemed that news traveled quickly in a small town.
She took a deep breath. Okay, so it was apparent everyone in town had heard the news. That much was clear. She squared her shoulders and threaded her way back to the counter, ignoring the stares, and sat on a stool. Beverly stood behind the counter, silently watching her.
“So, you heard. Everyone heard.” Tori didn’t have to ask. She knew the answer.
Beverly pressed her lips into a thin line and nodded in silent agreement.
“I just wanted to be Tori Duran. Someone who used to come to the island. Who loved the island. I wanted to give back to Magnolia Key.”
Beverly’s eyes softened slightly. “Why didn’t you just tell us who you were? Tell me? Tell Gavin?”
She sighed and ran her fingers along the smooth edge of the counter. “I wanted to leave that life behind me. Find peace here.”
Doubt continued to linger in Beverly’s eyes. “Is that really want you want?”
“Yes, really.” Besides, she could never go back to Broadway after what happened. Never. And she really had no desire to now. But she did have to keep Chloe safe. Keep her from being blacklisted in the theater world. And it did happen. Often. You crossed the wrong people and your career was over.
The door popped open, and a man walked in with a camera hung around his neck. “Victoria. Victoria,” he called out excitedly as he started into the cafe. “There you are. Can I have a few words from you?”
