Beyond Famous (Famous #3) (42 page)

I nodded and snuffled, still unable to open my eyes. He was trying to be positive, but my sadness would be mirrored in his beautiful face. “I know. But this is…this is…”

“This is just the end of a job, not the end of you and me.”

He was right; I knew it. Logic screamed at me that this was the start of the rest of our lives, not the end of anything, but all my heart could recognize was that he'd be away from me so much more.

Somehow hearing the words fall from Cade's lips made it too real, and I lost the battle with the tears and his arms tightened around me even more.

“Listen, love; it's only a film. We're the real thing. You won't be able to get rid of me that easily. I'm sort of looking forward to it, actually.”

I pulled back and opened my eyes. I must look horrible with my eyes are puffy and my nose running. “What?” I frowned in bemusement.

Cade smiled, his lips lifting in the crooked grin I loved as he nodded. “Yeah. I mean, not about being apart, but um…when we're together after this madness ends, there'll be no mistaking that we're together.”

I huffed. “Pfft! Everyone knows, Cade. Jesus, it's no secret anymore.”

“We still haven't come out, formally. It will piss me off if you stay away from premieres and set visits just to keep from confirming. And I sure as fuck will not stay away from you.” He grinned at me. “So, don't do it either.”

I rolled my eyes. He'd already proven it when he'd flown to Los Angeles for my screen test with Sheldon Richards, walking off set, and leaving Martin to deal with a lost day of production. It was against my will and it was a surprise when he showed up in the middle of it, but damned if I wasn't happy as hell he did. “Yeah, I remember.”

“You were glad to see me. I know you were, so no arguments. You do a piss-poor job of convincing me you don't want me around.” His mouth found mine in a soft kiss, pulling one lip in between both of his, just before his teeth sank into the tender flesh.

My breathing quickened as the air charged. “Do I?” I said as my lips began playing with his. “Are you sure?” I bit him back as his mouth played with mine. Cade yelped and pulled back with a surprised expression, his eyes wider.

I could feel the tears clinging to my lashes, but the look on his face made me smile. “Ow! That hurt!”

“No shit?” I tugged on his hair harder than I needed to bring his mouth closer once again.

“Ow!” Cade said again. “I can play this game, too!” His fingers closed around my right nipple and squeezed, his eyes widening with mine, a smirk creeping slowly along his lips as I winced from the pain.

I grunted and pushed hard against his chest, toppling him off of the couch and onto the floor. He landed with a thud and I burst out laughing. “Oh, yeah?”

“Yeah!” Cade reached up and grabbed the leg of my sweats and then closed his fingers around my ankle to pull me down, shift me beneath him and start tickling me ruthlessly. “You're gonna get it, now!”

I gasped and struggled, giggling uncontrollably. “Stop! You know I can't stand it when you tickle me, Cade! Stop! Stop!” I screamed and tried to pry his hands away from my ribs but it only opened me up for more torture. “Please! Oh, God! Stop it, Cade!”

Cade laughed and kept it up, leaning over me and pinning me down. “Give!”

“Agggghhhh!” I screamed again as he continued his merciless onslaught. “Cade!”

“Give, Brook!” His face was animated, openly laughing at me now and clearly enjoying my predicament.

“Alright! I give! I give!”

Suddenly he stopped, still pinning me down, his body over mine. “What do you give?” he said softly, his tone serious and sensuous as his blue eyes burned into mine, still blurry from laughing so hard.

The fingers of my right hand reached for his jaw, skirting over the stubble, now softer from a full day's growth. “Everything.”

His brow crinkled and he looked at me skeptically, cocking his head slightly. “That sounds good, but-”

“Don't you trust me?” He felt so good, his breath on my face and arms around me. I relished in the closeness as his lower body settled into the cradle of mine. “You're bigger than me anyway.”

“But you're more devious. I know how your mind works. You'll suck me in, get me all soft and gooey, then move in for the kill.” Cade rested his elbows beside my head and bent to kiss my mouth as my heart threatened to burst from my body. His lips brushed mine. “But if this is dying, kill me now.”

“I'll miss you. Miss this.” I brought my knees up beside his hips, which brought him more intimately against me. I reached up and our mouths moved in intimate unison, tongues moving together as the kiss deepened and the ever present passion flamed between us as his body moved against mine. When his lips finally lifted, we were both left breathless as he rested his forehead on mine.

“This is the stuff I think about when we're apart.”

I wrapped my arms and legs more tightly around him and buried my face into the crook of his neck. “What will I do without you?”

“Love, let's not be sad. We still have three weeks of shooting and I want to make the most of it. And after, it won't be so bad, I promise. We'll see each other as much as I can make happen. I'll have Denise work with Jeanne on the schedules. And I bought the house in L.A.”

I drew in a sigh and let it out. “I know, but I'm used to being with you constantly.”

“Yes, I've spoiled you rotten and enjoyed every bloody second of it.”

My fingers raked down his back and he hissed as they settled on his firm ass, pressing his hardness tighter against my sex. “Mmmm….yum,” I whispered and his mouth devoured mine again and again. I never wanted it to end as I responded passionately. The rush never left. Every time he touched me, it was amazing. I moaned in protest as his mouth lifted from mine and my hands grasped the back of his head, telling him I wanted more.

“Fuck Brook. This sucks, but haven't you got somewhere to be?”

I pulled back with a sigh, my heart dropping. “Shit. Thanks for reminding me.” I frowned. “Wanna come with?”

I had the final costume fitting and I couldn't miss it. I'd have to wear one of those fake bellies. We'd be filming in a week and frankly, I was anxious for him to see it.

“Um, no. I'm just gonna hang with my guitar .”

“You're choosing that over me?” I teased as I found my shoes in the corner and shoved my feet inside. Nick would have the car waiting soon. “I see how you are. Please come, Cade.” I didn't want to spend any time away from him.

“I don't want to see you in that getup, Brook.”

I was taken about, perplexed. My expression twisted. “Is that what this is about? Why, for fuck's sake?”

“I just think that I should wait. For the film.”

I rolled my eyes and crinkled my nose, checking my cell phone for messages. “Cade. You're being weird. It's just a costume.”

Cade moved back onto the couch and retrieved his guitar from its resting place. “No, it isn't. It's you pregnant.”

I pulled on my grey zippered sweatshirt and plopped down next to him. “Are you serious? You weren't this goofy when I had to get the wedding dress fitted.”

He reached for my hand and brought it to his mouth. “Because I knew it wasn't something you'd really choose. Humor me. I just don't want to see you like that until we film.”

“Cade…for
Only Us
what's-her-name had a pregnancy suit. Were you this ridiculous with her?”

“Davina.” Cade supplied her name then bit his lip and his eyebrows lifted. “This is you.”

“Hmmp,” I sighed. “So you're planning on avoiding me during set up, too?”

He nodded. “Yeah,” was the simple answer.

“Why? Because I'll look like a whale? Next you'll be saying you don't want to rehearse.”

“That's not it, but probably not.”

“You're crazy.” I ran my hand through my hair and leaned in to place a quick kiss on his mouth. My heart thumped in my chest as I gazed at his handsome face in wonder. He was so damn romantic.

“Crazy for you.” I smiled and ran a hand through his hair before walking to the door.

“Love you.”

“I know.” He nodded with a brilliant smile and strummed
Brahm's Lullebye
on his guitar.

“Bleh! I hate that stupid song!”

His delighted laughter followed me into the hall where the bodyguards were waiting, as patiently as ever, as I shoved the sunglasses over my eyes.

IT HAD BEEN ONE
hell of a week; the press junkets, the traveling, and the crowds. I'd just come off of presenting at the Oscars with Davina. Jesus, I was tired. I'd wanted Brook to meet me in Los Angeles for the awards, but she chose to stay in Vancouver. I missed her, but I couldn't really blame her. Even though it nagged in the back of my mind that she was still keeping us a secret, I realized with all the interviews I had on the radio and other media, I wouldn't have had time to be with her anyway. It was necessary, and I cared about this new film, but bloody hell it wore me out. The screaming fans everywhere I went, while a measure of my success, had gotten worse.

I was dreading the end of
The Remembrance
movies, as much as I was looking forward to moving beyond it. It had owned me for the past three years, but without it, my life would be so different without Brook's constant presence. Life would calm down as time moved on. I doubted that I'd ever see a greater success than I had with this job. To think I hadn't even wanted to move from action movies to romantic drama. I should thank Denise. Without it, without that obscure audition with an unknown actress my whole life would be so different. Meeting Brook was destiny. These books were written, produced, made and marketed, only for us, so we would meet, fall in love, be together. It was fate, pure and simple. I knew it as surely as I was breathing.

The end was emotional and bittersweet. I tried to be encouraging and supportive of Brook when she was feeling melancholy, but the truth was; I was a mess. I'd grown used to having her with me constantly, and even though we worked on other projects during breaks, there was always another of these films on the horizon that would bring us back together for months. Now, that was over.

I now had four journals sitting on my bedside table, one from each film, which held all of her notes. Director's notes, notes to me. The first was the most precious because it represented that first, fragile year, but the others were memory books of our time as a couple. She was amazing. Was then, was now, and would always rock my world without question.

I wasn't sure I was ready to see Brook in her pregnant costume. Even though I had it in my head that we'd be together, get married, and have kids, neither of us was ready to think about it. I wasn't sure how I'd react seeing it on her. On the plane, I'd re-read the scene in the book. I couldn't picture it, but I was certain, whatever it looked like, it would make me even more anxious for the charade to end, for the world to see and finally know without doubt, she belonged to me. Her choice was
with me
. I sighed deeply.

I was sick of the haters, the hackers, and all the bullshit. I was even sick of the jobs that would take us to different parts of the world. I wanted to be normal; with Brook.

I left Davina in L.A. the minute we were finished presenting. I had tomorrow off, but Tuesday we were filming the last scenes of A Love Like This and tonight, I wanted to see Brook.

The soft sounds of her breathing soothed me as I came in and threw my jacket on the sofa, followed quickly by my white shirt as I kicked off my shoes. I undid my pants on the way to the bedroom and shed them before lifting the covers to slide into the bed beside her.

Her body shone translucent where the moonlight landed on her skin. She stirred softly as I slid in next to her, letting her scent envelope me as I reached toward her, my fingers aching for her flesh.

“Cade?”

My heart leapt in my chest. Even asleep, my name was on her lips.

“Yeah, babe. It's me. Come here.”

I opened my arms and she curled up next to my body, her head coming to rest in the crook of my shoulder and her fingers playing lightly on my chest.

“I missed you,” she murmured softly and again my heart thudded inside me.

“Did you miss me enough to wake up for a minute?” I pushed her hair back and let my fingers twine around the silky strands. So soft. So Brook.

Brook propped up on one elbow and leaned in to kiss my mouth in a feather kiss. “Yeah. What's wrong?” She blinked twice and wiped her eye.

“I lied to you last week.”

I turned toward her and slid one leg between two of hers. She had on sweat shorts and a tank top, unsure if I'd be home tonight.

She was puzzled; her blue eyes almost black in the shadows. “What? About what?”

“I am
not
looking forward to this. I'm miserable.”

She let out her breath in relief before melting into me, our arms automatically closing around each other. She felt so damn good. “I know.”

“You do?” I asked.

She huffed in the darkness. “Cade, come on. We've been inseparable. I can barely breathe just thinking about it. We share everything so why would you think I couldn't tell?”