Beyond Famous (Famous #3) (43 page)

“I'm wrecked. I wanted to be strong for you, so you wouldn't see it.”

“You don't need to hide from me.”

“I know. I love you.”

Brook's fingers drew circles on my chest and I began to relax. I would miss this part the most. I took knowing she'd be in my arms every night for granted. I knew she was tired, and I was exhausted. Tonight it was enough just to hold her close.

“Me, too.”

I smiled into the darkness. “Did you want to rehearse the baby scenes, Brook? It was selfish of me to discount that maybe you needed to.”

She shrugged in my arms. “I don't
need
to. But winging it isn't what we do. We never have.” Her voice was sleepy.

“Yeah, but the script is weak in that scene anyway. Not at all the way I'd imagined it to be.”

She let out a soft sigh. “We'll be fine.”

“I've rehearsed it in my head a hundred times, Brook.”

Her fingers stilled and she snuggled closer, her arm going up around my neck. “Me, too.”

“Screw the script. We'll make it perfect.”

“Yeah. Just remember to call me Julia,
Ryan
.”

I couldn't help but chuckle and I felt her smile against my skin. I quickly flipped her on her back and lowered my mouth to the sweet skin of her neck, dragging my open mouth lower, tasting her so thoroughly, taking control and pushing away my exhaustion. Jesus, I already missed her.

“How about a little love for your doctor,
Julia
?”

“Mmmm…Yeah, I need some medical attention.” We both laughed softly before our moods turned serious.

My body pushed into hers impatiently, seeking the amazing heat of her flesh surrounding mine. We were both so hungry, our bodies moving together in a familiar, yet desperate way. I'd never be able to live without this woman and it always felt like heaven and hell whenever our time together was dwindling.

“OH, MY GOD!
Brook! I'm gonna cry like a baby for his momma's tit!” Mickey fanned at his face with his hand, and I burst out laughing. I'd just spent two hours in the makeup trailer where he'd shooed everyone else away while he worked to make me look all disheveled and sweaty, then patted my fake stomach. It looked real; I looked really pregnant, and now all that was left was to hit the set.

“Mickey!” I laughed some more. “I'm going to cry myself!”

“Bitch, don't you dare! I worked like a dog on that face! It's perfection!”

“How can I look any worse? I'm gonna have to cry during the scene.”

“I'd be crying my ass off if I were having a baby with that, too. Jesus fucking Christ! I've been crying for almost three years already! Maybe he'll let me touch up his makeup?” Mickey wagged his brows and sighed. “At least I might get to touch him one more time. Maybe I can kiss him goodbye!”

I laughed harder, knowing what Cade's reaction would be. Priceless.

“Uh, probably not?” My eyebrows shot up in amusement.

“Nom, nom, nom….God. I have to stop! I'm going to hyperventilate and have to do something in the back!”

I was dying to the point of holding my fake belly as it shook against me. The tears started to accumulate, threatening to spill from my eyes. “Stop, Mickey! My stomach hurts!”

“You're still the luckiest bitch on the planet! The lovemaking scenes, oh my God! I swear I'd give anything to be you.”

I wiped at my eyes and hugged him. He hugged me back full force. “I love you, Mickey! Thank you for making this so much fun. I've been a little sad.”

“Awww, baby, I can understand, but you're takin' Cade home with you, so what's to be sad over?”

“Just the end. You know. I'll miss everyone. I'm certain I'll never have so much fun in hair and makeup as I've had with you.”

“Just name your first born after me! I don't ask for much!”

Sally came in to get me. “Martin called. They're ready for you.” She smiled. “Are you ready to have a baby?”

My heart fluttered. “Ready as I'll ever be.”

Soon she had me into the cotton hospital gown costume over a flesh-colored camisole and boy shorts. I looked like a whale, no getting around it.

The birth scene was intimate and since it was the last scene we were shooting, I knew I'd be an emotional mess. Cade asked that the set be on lockdown, as if it were a love scene. It was 2 AM and I hadn't seen Cade all day. He'd stayed away from me all day, saying he was working on music, but I knew he was dreading tonight's shoot as much as I was.

As I walked toward set, Martin and two or three crewmembers were checking the lighting, but nothing existed but the beautiful man that waited for me, dressed in surgical scrubs and hat. His eyes on fire, with the love I knew was more real and sacred than anything I'd ever hoped for, never left my face.

Cade took my hand when I was close enough. “This is it,” he whispered, too soft for the audio to catch. My heart swelled and fell all at the same time, the moment so bittersweet. My throat hurt and I struggled not to cry my eyes out. “You look perfect.”

I shook my head, a tear slipping from my eye. I quickly brushed it away, managing a tumultuous smile. “I'm fat.”

His hand squeezed mine, he smiled, and shook his head. “You're beautiful.”

Cade was as perfect as the character he'd embodied, even more so. I'd known it the moment I met him.

And the miracle was, he really was mine and would be forever.

WHAT THE HELL KIND
of a name was Sheldon for a man?
I wondered in irritation. The name was weird, though it was my abhorrence of the man that dictated my disgust. I'd just arrived on the set of Brook's new movie, and Pinnacle didn't want me to be there, but I didn't give a rat's ass. The studio's reign over my relationship with Brook was coming to an end, but the contracts still bound us until
A Love Like This
released three months from now.

I'd always found the sod irritating, but now I hated his guts. My eyes narrowed as I watched from behind the director's chair, following his every move as he leaned in and spoke to Brook. She was beautiful, her cheeks flushed pink, and she was laughing at something the wanker said. The skin on my neck and face began to burn uncomfortably, and my fists clenched involuntarily.

My presence at the screen test should have told the other actor to keep his distance from Brook when they weren't on set, but the familiarity between them grated on my nerves. I was in physical pain; as if a knife had been pushed into my gut.

I'd wanted to surprise Brook, and so I'd jetted off my own set the first chance I had without telling her to expect me. I missed her and the late night Skype sessions helped but didn't take the place of holding her and waking up beside her. It had been three weeks since we'd been together in Los Angeles and I could barely stand still in my anxiousness to let her know I was there, but I'd agreed to wait until this scene was wrapped. Maria Denton, the director on this gig, was particularly anal, and while she produced quality on film, she was annoying as hell to work under with. I'd done one film with her three years before, and I couldn't wait for the damn thing to wrap.

During my break between films, I'd managed to purchase a house in L.A. and Brook and I covertly moved in together. Denise and Jeanne did an excellent job of scouting properties and arranging for Brook and me to check them out during a few middle-of-the-night shopping excursions and Joel had drawn up a non-disclosure for the real estate agents and agencies were required to sign before they were even told who the client was.

By some miracle, we'd managed to skirt the paparazzi's intruding lens for most of it, though when the bill-of-sale was recorded on public record, the tabloids blew up in speculation. Brook and I didn't go out together, but they became merciless in chasing us around Hollywood individually. I expected it; it was my property, but in the five years I'd been working in Hollywood, I hadn't moved from London, so there were sound bites, articles and magazine covers screaming everywhere I looked.

The Pinnacle execs weren't happy that I didn't wait until the last movie premiered, but screw it. It was much more likely we'd be discovered if I were constantly sneaking in and out of her condo or parent's house. The privacy fence and lush foliage of the property would help. The amped up press made Brook wary and she was still wavering on keeping the relationship a secret, though Joel assured me the most the studio could do was keep a chunk of the salaries.

Standing here watching this sod move in on my girl, made me all the more determined to come out with it. I was fed up.

“Maria, how many more takes will be necessary?”

She was a small woman, dressed in jeans and a hooded sweatshirt, her hair pulled into a knot at the top of her head, and tortoise shell glasses sitting on her pert nose. “Who knows? If I didn't know better, I'd think Shell didn't want to finish. But my production budget for the day is basically blown, so I need to get it done.”

“Shell,” I murmured in disgust. “What kind of fucking name is that for a man? His manager did him a disservice by not suggesting he change it to something tougher. I'm surprised he even gets cast for characters who have a dick.” I ran a hand through my hair, in exasperation.

Maria laughed out loud. “If we don't get it this time, I may call it a day and just see what we can piece together in editing.”

“I know that's not how you work.” I smirked at her.

“True.” She shoved her glasses further up her nose. “Fall back into the shadows, please. I don't need another interruption so I'd rather Brook not see you until we're finished.”

“No problem.” I took four steps back until I was cloaked in shadows. The scene was an office scene and while Brook had mentioned the script, I hadn't read it through. She was dressed in a business suit, as was the wanker to her left, though Brook's jacket was fitted, hugging her curves and topped a short pencil skirt and stiletto heels. She looked amazing as the makeup artist came to retouch her face and fluff and spritz her hair.

“Do I want to watch this?” I murmured under my breath.

“Places!” Marie called loudly and the crew got ready and the support staff left the set. “Quiet on set! Action!”

As the scene unfolded in front of me, I became more agitated, though I put on a good front; my hands in my pockets and my stance full of forced nonchalance. This was just another job; my mind screamed as his mouth smashed down on Brook's, one hand fisting in the back of her jacket and the other sliding over the curve of her ass. My heart tightened and my lungs constricted inside my chest. My expression tightened and the muscle in my jaw worked overtime as my teeth clenched. I tried to inhale deeply, hoping to ease the feeling of claustrophobia I felt. This was an open set, on a big soundstage, but I felt like I was in a coffin.

“Mr. Carlisle, would you like anything? Coffee? Soda?” A soft voice whispered.

I glanced down at a young production assistant, clearly star-struck. I noticed the name on her badge and shook my head. “No thank you, Sharon. I'm good.”