It's Just Love by Kate Richards Page B

we might as well
too.”
    His disappointment knew no bounds. He considered the
pleasure of dragging the bastard from the row behind them outside and teaching
him not to interrupt others when they were enjoying a moment. But if he made
the headlines for the wrong reason— Best selling relationship expert arrested
for assault and battery, details at eleven —Aaron would have a stroke. Or
worse, Cheating Relationship Guru. Because the world, including Coral,
thought he was still involved with Geena.
    Could he come clean now? Would she even believe him?
    “Pssst, they’re leaving.” Coral’s whisper drew him out of
his thoughts, and he jumped to his feet. “Lucky you didn’t have the popcorn on
your lap. Let’s take it slow and follow them, see what they do.”
    He puffed out a breath and tried to look cool. “Sure, why
not?”
    “They know we’re around anyway, but let’s give them enough
space to connect if they want to.” She gave him a little nudge. “Come on, we’ll
lose them.”
    He grabbed her hand, and they hurried up the aisle and out
of the theater. The other couple must have been moving fast, because they were
nowhere in sight.
    “Shoot,” Gage said. “I think we lost them.”
    Coral pulled loose and took a step into the street. “No, I
see them down the block, heading toward the beach I think.”
    Gage shrugged. “I guess we’d better go, here comes our tail
now.” The slight woman emerged from the theater but didn’t look directly at
them. “Subtle.”
    “Yeah. Let’s see how subtle she can be trailing us down the
beach at ten o’clock at night. Two couples, each with their own cameraperson. I
mean not couples…just two group…pairs.” She stammered to a stop.
    “I wish I’d brought a jacket. It’s going to be cool down
there.”
    She grinned. “But at least it’s the beach. I’m always happiest
near the ocean.”
    So had he been, once, before his career and responsibilities
took the edge off any joy. They were only a few blocks from Venice boardwalk
and the beach, and, unlike Santa Monica, there was no big hill to descend to
get there. The closer they got, the stronger the scent of salt air, and his
spirits lifted.
    “No fog tonight.” He’d probably be warm enough as long as
that remained the case.
    “Nope, clear sky, not a cloud either.” She walked faster and
threw a glance at him over her shoulder. “I don’t see them, do you?”
    “No, I don’t.”
    “But the camera is still behind us.” Her voice held tension.
    “Are you still bothered by her? If we truly have lost the
others, I can tell her the evening is over and she should go away.” He slowed,
so he walked behind her, blocking the camera shot.
    “I don’t know,” she said. “I mean, yes, I am disturbed by
being filmed. It’s not something that happens every day—outside of security
cameras almost everywhere we go. But I don’t think we’re supposed to even
notice her, are we?”
    “She’s pretty hard to miss.” He moved beside Coral and
grabbed her hand. “Let’s try something.” The short street ended at the
boardwalk, and they turned onto it. “There are still quite a few people here,
even this late.”
    “True. Most of the bars and restaurants are open, even if
the tourist shops are all barred for the night.” She didn’t pull away.
    Gage leaned to speak in her ear. “We should be able to lose
her in the crowd if we’re clever. Want to?” Her hair held the fragrance of
green apples, fresh and sweet like Coral herself.
    She nodded. “Sure.” Looking up at him, she grinned, and he
smiled back. “Sounds like fun.”
    He began to move at a lope, tugging her along behind, past
clusters of people standing outside pubs and pairs walking along the concrete
“boardwalk” of Venice Beach. Jewelry vendors, henna tattoo designers, and performance
artists were all shutting up shop on the beach side, packing their wares into
duffel bags and backpacks, preparing to head home.
    Finally, they