Beyond Famous (Famous #3) (26 page)

BLOODY HELL! 
The night went on forever.  Davina clinging to me, like some sort of human parasite, drove me mad.  Especially without Brook there.  I mean, normally, I'd be flattered by the attention, but knowing this rubbish would be all over the media and Brook would see it, it was the last thing I wanted.

"Cade, Earth to Cade..." Davina invaded my thoughts again.

"Oh, sorry, Davina." I looked at her face.  She was very beautiful, but shallow and lacking warmth. She held an expression of agitation.  I was sure she wasn't used to anything less than complete and total attention from the men lucky enough to be in her presence. However my thoughts were on Brook.  I tried to mind my manners and concentrate on what she was saying.

"Did you hear anything I said?  I was asking you if you wanted to ride to the set together tomorrow?  I looked at the call sheet and it appears you and I have to be there early due to those damn wires.  So what do you say?"

"Oh.  Yeah, sure."  I took a pull from the beer in my hand and motioned back toward the table where a good number of the cast and crew were sitting.  "Want to go back with the others?"

"Not really," she purred and ran her hand along my arm.  "I'd like to get to know you better.  You spend all of your time locked up in your room."

I drew in a deep breath and tried to figure out how I was going to turn this conversation to Brook.  I had to drop the seed to get this bitch off of me. I was sick of peeling her off me every time I turned around.

"Um, mostly, I spend a good amount of time working on the script for my next film.  With Brooklyn Halloway,” I said bluntly, meeting her eyes without flinching.

Her eyes narrowed slightly, but she leaned toward me and licked her lips. "Oh, she’s just a girl, and that Remembrance thing was her first big break, right? She’s so young. I bet her attention span is like that of a gnat."

I almost laughed out loud, choking on my beer.
Brook
had the attention span of a gnat? “Um, she’s actually very mature for her age. She’s over the age of consent, by the way,” I said shortly.

“How fortunate for you,” Davina shot back nastily.

“Yes, isn’t it?” I smiled, more slyly than I wanted, but goddamn it! Enough was enough.

“Well, keep in mind this film is the priority. You wouldn’t want a leak of some fling with Brook. It could turn into something damaging. Besides, she’s dating some kid in L.A. David, something or other, isn’t it? She’s been with him practically her whole life. So cute.”

Inside I wanted to yell and scream at Davina, but the studio had constructed such an elaborate ruse, of course, she bought into it with the rest of the world.

I shifted uncomfortably in my seat and turned, preferring to look behind the bar since suddenly it was much more interesting than what she was saying.  It wasn't like Brook hadn't told me about how she met David, but for some reason when she told it, it didn't sound like some sickly sweet romance.  It was more like; 
Yeah, we hang; he's cool
. 

Davina’s comments were like a resounding reminder that David was in L.A. with Brook when I couldn’t be. Not that she’d see him, but it still didn’t’ sit well.

She never made it sound like she’d ever been madly in love with him, but maybe she was sparing my feelings.  Maybe I was still sensitive that David had what I loved, what I coveted, for almost a year before Brook and I got together that made me hate the poor bastard.  It wasn't even his fault.

Bloody hell.  I guess I asked for this.

"Hmmm...” I answered, because I didn't know what else to say, and I didn’t want to let her instigate a comment that I’d regret. 

Brook never lied to me about her relationship with David so I knew going in, but it didn't stop me from falling in love with her, and it worked out well in the end.

“Want to leave?” Davina said suggestively. “Afraid of a real woman?”

I huffed in agitation as she leaned in and tried to wrap her hand around my forearm. I pulled it back before she could.

"Oh, come on.  Loosen up, Cade.  We don’t have to go back to the hotel. We can find a club with open mic night and you can play.  I'd love to see you play in public.  You really are amazing, you know," she said in a sultry tone, but it left me unmoved.  The talk about Brook and David was making me uncomfortable and I longed to be on a plane to L.A.

"Uh, thanks.  I really thought that music would be my career," I said, offhandedly and glanced at my watch.    It was two in the morning.  "You know, I think it's getting late and we do have those bloody scenes to do tomorrow."

Davina reached out a finger and ran it down my chest over my T-Shirt.  "Get rid of the others... I don't have to go just yet. Let’s practice."

 I smiled at her and ran a hand through my hair.  "That's um…” I laughed uncomfortably. “You’ve had a little bit too much to drink, and you wouldn't want to do anything you'd regret in the morning." 
Or, that I'll regret for the rest of my fucking life.

Davina took out her phone and started typing.  I felt a sudden rush of panic wash over me. 

"Who are you texting?"  She raised her eyebrows as she finished sending and then raised her eyes to mine.

"My manager. I’m going to see if we can get some time off. God knows, I love the time on set, but let’s face it, you and I don’t know each other that well and I think we need a little alone time, don’t you?"  Her well-manicured eyebrow shot up and reminded me of one of those over-exaggerated lightning bolts animators use in cartoons. “I mean, I saw that Remembrance thing you did with Brook Halloway and if you can get that hot and steamy with a young little thing like that, imagine what you can do with a real woman.” She smiled slyly.

I stiffened and my heart sank to my stomach.  I wanted to scream at her that I got it
.
Did she have to bring Brook into it?

“I’m not dumb, honey. I know you and she had a thing. It’s obvious by how you’re jumping out of your skin right now, but get over it. A man in your position can’t be ruled by silly romantic fantasies.”

Suddenly, I wanted to get out of there; frantic in my need to text Brook and make sure she knew the truth of this situation.

Davina's phone buzzed and she read the message and then turned the screen so I could read it. 

Sure, I can talk to them. I’ll let you know.

The thing that didn’t occur to her was that I didn’t want to spend time alone with her. All I could think about was the trip to L.A. "Look, Davina, that won’t work for me, " I began, but she interrupted me.

"Stop.  We'll go out and have a great time.  No big deal.  We're friends. We can
all
be friends," she said suggestively. “I’m not opposed to sharing, though frankly, I don’t see the appeal.”

I shrugged and downed the rest of my beer.  "It's getting late.  I need to get to bed."

"Look, Cade.  I can understand that you've been spending all this time with Brook and being around me might make her uncomfortable... but she was only hanging out with you for the role.  It's her job.  I can tell you that everything I hear around Hollywood is that Brook's heart is with David, so I’d hate to see you get all wrapped up in her for nothing.  And, as I said, your world has little place for romantic dreams even if you have her temporarily swooning over you. You have a job to do, too; with me. Let’s make it believable, shall we?"

 She looked sincere as she said the words; words I didn't want to hear. She reached out to touch my arm and it was all I could do not to pull away.  Her revelation wasn't anything I hadn't told myself a hundred times during the first film, but the days of uncertainty were behind me.  I leaned my head on my other arm as I looked at her, steadily.

"Thank you, Davina.  I appreciate your concern, but I assure you, I know all of this, and I'm not
wrapped up
in anything," I lied through my teeth for the contract and because I hadn’t discussed “coming out” with Brook.  The last thing I wanted was for Brook to think I was insecure ab0ut her now fake relationship with David or that I didn’t trust her. 

I pushed roughly away from the bar as Davina watched, then walked over to the guys.  I fell into a plush chair next to Daniel and he just looked at me in consternation. It was obvious he could read my mind.

"What's with that sappy face, dude?  Did you strike out with Davina?" He teased, with a laugh.

"Pfft.  Who was trying?"  I answered shortly, more perturbed than I wanted to admit.  He was one of the few who knew the truth about Brook and me. "I'm just tired.  Can we call it a night?  We all have that stupid shit tomorrow."

Daniel looked at me knowingly and leaned back on the couch.  "Sure, Cade.  Heard from Brook tonight?” I shook my head in quick answer. “How come?"

"How the fuck should I know?  It's not my day to babysit. Why does everyone always think I know everything about her all the bloody time?"

"Whoa. Because... you
do
, Cade.  I mean, I've never heard you talk about Brook like that before, mate. You worship that girl, so what the hell?  What gives?" He nudged my arm with his elbow.

"Nothing!  Nothing gives.  Just...” I sat up and motioned for my bodyguards to come closer. “Can you guys get Davina out of here?"  I put a hand over my eyes and pinched the flesh at the bridge of my nose.   "I don't want any hassles right now. Romantic or otherwise."

"Yeah, she's a man-eater," John said under his breath. "I saw how she was working you. I doubt romance has anything to do with it.  You'd wake up with your dick missing."

I burst out laughing.  "Yeah, and I might need it later."

He turned and motioned with his arm and called out to her.  "Davina, let's go.  Cade is tired and he asked me to make sure you get back to your room."

Davina draped over me in a big hug and brought her hand to my face, but I pulled back.  "Night, baby," she said.  Daniel rolled his eyes over the top of her head and I stifled a smile.

"Good night.  See you on set."

Daniel took Davina's arm and started to lead her out of the door.  "Yes. Call me later, if you want. I’ll be up." She smiled lazily, but looked put out that I’d asked her to leave.

Immediately after, I left myself and in a matter of minutes I was in my room stripping off my shirt on the way to the bedroom. I threw myself down on the bed in the dark. 

"Bloody hell," I said into the silence of the room.  I reached my hand into the pocket of my jeans and pulled out my phone.  I knew I wouldn't find a message from Brook because it hadn't vibrated.  I knew she hadn't called because her ringtone had been silent all night.  My thumb ran over the screen as I scrolled through the hundreds of texts we'd exchanged over the last month.  I longed to send a message.

What was she thinking?  I was well aware of the pictures had been clandestinely taken on fans phones and paparazzi on the sidewalks. Ugh! I was seriously screwed.  Either way, I couldn't win.  I struggled with what to say, as I pulled out my phone to send a text to Brook.

It wasn't the same without you tonight.  Sweet dreams.

I waited a few minutes, staring at the damn thing and willing a message to come in with all that I had.  It never did.

Fuck, fuck, fuck!

I threw my phone down, unbuttoned my jeans, pushed them down and kicked them to the floor.  I rolled over and grabbed a pillow, bunching it up in my arms.  Morning couldn't come soon enough.  I just needed to look in those gorgeous blue eyes.  Then I would know what she was thinking.  Then I would have some peace.

I WOKE UP THE
next morning with a feeling of dread for the day ahead.  Somehow I’d made it to set for the 5 AM call and the love scene, while awkward and uncomfortable, had wrapped in only three takes. Thank God.

I was dragging, but I rushed back to my suite, showered and dressed quickly. I didn't bother shaving; just jammed a blue stocking cap on my head and shoved my feet quickly into my Nikes. The limo ride to the airport and the flight on the private plane was painfully long. I’d held off texting Brook more after she didn’t return the others from last night. I felt sick; my heart heavy, even as I willed the miles and time between New York and Los Angeles to melt away. I was worried at what I’d face when I got to Brook, but I couldn’t wait to get there, nevertheless. The three hours on the plane felt like years.

Upon landing, I’d called Jeanne, who filled me in on Brook’s schedule. She only had a rehearsal today, so hopefully she’d get done earlier than usual. I knew Jeanne would be waiting for me because she’d agreed to take me to set.  After I climbed in the car, Jeanne gave me a rundown of Brook’s day. She met with her director and the special effects team early, and then they were taking test shots for camera angles, the lighting tests and to see how well everything would mirror the storyboards. I ran a hand through my hair as I stared out the window. I didn’t care about this shit.

Today the sun would shine in New York, but for the rest of the week the forecast called for overcast skies; which would justify my escape to L.A. if I were questioned.