CHAPTER 14
Maine hated that the first face he saw as he walked off the set was Clarissa’s. She’d spent hours with him last night too, and he just wanted to be left alone. His family had flown in from Texas, though, and they wanted to spend the day with him.
The morning news wanted a special feature, and Clarissa had begged him to take it. “It’s good press,” she said. “You’re a local hero. Everyone loves you.”
So he’d done it. He hadn’t anticipated the love connection question, and his answer burned the back of his throat.
If Orchid saw that…he’d tried to warn her he wouldn’t be allowed to be the same man she knew from the island.
And she wouldn’t want him anymore, he knew that. He didn’t even like this version of himself.
“You did great,” Clarissa gushed. “You looked professional and
