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“Get used to that,” Hale advised, then his sunglasses went to Fliss. “Felicity.”
She came in for a cheek touch.
“Yo, Hale,” she said, stepping back. “Looking good, as usual.”
Hale smiled at her then focused on Carole. “Finally, I get to meet Carole. Welcome to LA.”
She came in for a cheek touch too, then, “Nice to meet you, Hale.”
“You too,” he replied. “And I’m looking forward to tomorrow night, but I hope you’re not pissed I’m gonna steal her.” He gave me a gentle shake and tipped his head to the two shiny black Escalades that were also on the tarmac. “They’re here to take you to the Marmont. I’ve made reservations for you tonight at The Brown Derby. My treat. They’ll take you there and back to the hotel so you can enjoy yourselves.”
“Awesome,” Zoey breathed, staring at the Escalades.
“If you didn’t steal her, after that kiss, we’d be risking having to come up with bail for indecency charges,” Fliss said. “You two, go. Fuck like bunnies. We’ll see you at dinner tomorrow.”
I sighed. “Ever professional, my Fliss.”
“We’re not at work now,” Fliss pointed out.
I swung an arm to Chuck and Zoey. “My staff are right there.”
“If you didn’t jump him, I would. Pug would lose his shit, but…” Zoey trailed off on a shrug.
“Go. Have your reunion. We’ll catch up with you tomorrow,” Carole bid, pushing Felicity toward the Escalades
Pleasantries done, Hale nodded to the person who was loading my luggage into the back of his Jeep.
We climbed in.
I dug my sunglasses out of my bag and put them on.
And with the sun on our faces and the wind in our hair, Hale drove us home.
* * *
“Oh my God,”I gasped. “Oh my God,” I cried.
I did this as I wandered through Hale’s house, marveling at how perfectly LA it seemed. A mix of art deco and mid-century with a clean, fresh, modern energy that miraculously had a laidback feel. This was accomplished almost entirely in neutral tones, mostly white.
And then there was the view, nothing but the ocean. You could hear the gulls cry and the waves crashing on the beach from the inside.
Heading to the balcony, I turned and walked backwards, asking Hale, “How do you ever leave?”
I didn’t wait for his answer, I turned again, hit the doors to the balcony, unlocked them, opened them, and was blasted by sea air.
I was a city girl through and through.
But honestly, was there anything better than that?
I stepped out to the railing and looked up and down the beach, which was surprisingly unpopulated. There were a couple of people walking their dogs. A woman jogging. Someone down the way sitting under an umbrella, reading a book.
It was tranquil.
It was amazing.
I felt his attention from behind me and turned.
He was resting a shoulder against the door to the balcony, sunglasses gone, gaze on me, and I saw I had LA Hale.
