Blurred Boundaries (22 page)

“I’ve had just about enough of Teddy Craig Mason, Jr.”

Evan had waited patiently for her to say those words. He just wished it hadn’t taken them getting shot at for her to reach such a realization.

“Buckle up.”

Evan saw Tam fasten her own seatbelt and quickly did the same. He had no idea what she had in store for Teddy Craig, but he couldn’t imagine it was anything good.

The Bugatti was all but riding their bumper. Tam didn’t spare it a second look as she pushed the Escalade faster and faster. After slamming around curve after curve, Evan breathed a little easier when a straight stretch of road appeared ahead. Until he got his first taste of how hilly the thing was. They went up. They went down. Bounced all around.

Tam cast an evil smirk in the rear view. It was a look Evan instinctively feared. She pushed the SUV faster even though the sports car had dropped back a few feet.

They hit one hill and went flying. Evan had never been airborne in a car before. It was quite a surreal experience especially since he hadn’t been expecting it. They landed with a bit of a bang, but were otherwise still mobile thanks to the high chassis. He spun in his seat and watched the Bugatti take the same hill.

The little car caught some serious air. It seemed to fly forever before descending like the brick it actually was. When it slammed back down to the pavement, Evan would swear that he saw pieces of it shoot off in every direction. “Oh, crap!”

Tam, who’d been watching in the rear view, slammed on the brakes. The Escalade skidded to a halt, but she floored it again when the Bugatti slid sideways down the road toward them. All four wheels were missing and the body sparked something fierce when the car scraped along the asphalt.

Tam stopped the SUV. Once the vehicle came to a rest, she joined Evan and turned in her seat see the mess they left behind.

“Okay. So I didn’t expect that to be quite so spectacular.”

“Should we go check to see if he’s okay?” Evan asked.

“Not unless getting shot at once wasn’t enough.” She reached for her phone.” Let’s let the professionals handle it.”

She used his phone to dial 911 over the SUV’s Bluetooth. Evan listened while she reported a single car accident. She also warned the first responders to approach with care since she believed the driver was armed. Next, she called Trey. Unlike 911, she filled him in on the entire story. Not having seen the video, Evan listened intently to what she discovered. Hearing the depths of Teddy Craig’s scam erased any compassion he might’ve felt for the man after losing his Bugatti in such a horrific fashion.

While she was talking to Trey, Evan noted that Teddy Craig’s door opened.

“Tam, I think we should drive away.”

“What’s happening?” Trey asked.

“He’s getting out of the car.”

Tam spun in her seat to look.

“I agree with Evan. Get a safe distance away I’m on my way.” Trey instructed.

She drove a couple miles away before parking on the side of the road.

Tam turned the engine off and gave Evan a relieved smile. “Bet you wish you hadn’t gotten on that plane now.”

He gave a one-shouldered shrug and squeezed her hand. He was surprised to note that it was trembling. His unflappable little hellfire was shaking like a leaf. He put an arm around her and pulled her close. Kissed the top of her head.

“There’s no place I’d rather be.” Surprisingly, it was true.

That was when Tam gave him the shock of his life. She pushed herself up so she was kneeling in the driver’s seat. Her eyes dropped briefly to his lips before meeting his gaze again. That was the only warning he got as to her intent. He smiled, but forced himself to remain still and let her take the lead. No way was he going to scare her off now.

For a moment, he saw a flicker of doubt in her eyes. Still, he didn’t move. His patience was rewarded when she leaned forward and planted a tender kiss on his lips. Progress! And all it had taken was following her halfway across the country and getting shot at by a lunatic who used to have an awesome car. He’d been right.

She was worth it.

“You created a monster, I’m telling you. Every conversation is about college. She just finished 10
th
grade. I was not ready for this.” Vivian heaved a heavy sigh and Tam snorted. She didn’t, for one second, take her friend’s complaints seriously.

“I cannot believe you’re putting the blame solely on me. If memory serves, you were standing right there, too.” Tam glanced at the rental car’s GPS. Her destination was ahead.

“I was having a moment of weakness. I didn’t think things through. You were supposed to be a good friend and think them through for me. You know what the latest is?”

“Whatever it is, I’m sure it’s my fault.”

Despite Vivian’s grumbling, Tam couldn’t keep the smile off her face when she drove through the now familiar gates of the studio. Last time, she’d been summoned here. This time, she couldn’t wait to arrive. Both times, Evan was the cause.

“She wants ‘Uncle’ Evan to give her a personal tour of Yale. You know how much Yale costs these days?”

Tam cringed when she parked her rental car. Okay. So the latest might just be her fault. Well, technically, it was Evan’s since he’d offered to show Missy around the campus now that she’d gotten her grades up enough to actually get in.

“I have faith in you and Peter. Ya’ll will figure it out. Hey, I just got here so I’ve got to go.”

“Seriously, though, Tam, thank you. I never thought…”

Tears welled in Tam’s eyes when she heard the emotion in Vivian’s voice. She nodded even though her friend couldn’t see her over the phone. “I know. Love you.”

“Love you, too.”

Tam took a moment to compose herself before she climbed out with her laptop. There were fewer trailers on the lot this go round since the film had a much lower budget than the show. She bypassed them and headed straight for the set. The red light was off so she was clear to step inside.

She paused at the entrance and waited for her eyes to adjust to the dim lighting. There wasn’t a lot of commotion nearby so she listened to determine which way she should head. She heard Evan call, “Action!” and smiled. Quietly, she tiptoed around the unused sets until she spotted him in Video Village.

She just stopped and stared at him for a moment. She could not believe what a difference a year could make. He was still sexy as hell, but he was hers. Well, she still shared him with an adoring television audience every Wednesday night, but the rest of the time she got him all to herself.

She’d had a glorious first season on the show as a co-producer and Schenecki had not hesitated to bring her back the moment they were picked up for a fourth season. Finally, her career was taking off.

Besides that, she’d decided to take Evan up on his offer to write the low budget film that he wanted to direct. They learned that they were insanely compatible partners, which was why their trip back to Atlanta was serving double duty. Film shoot and honeymoon.

Evan stopped the scene to give the actors some direction. She decided to sneak up on him. He knew she was on her way, but not when she’d arrive. She was almost to him when a short, stocky dude popped up in her path. She recoiled, startled. Where had he even come from?

“I’m sorry ma’am, this is a closed set.”

“I know. I’m—”

“If you’ll come this way, I’ll escort you out.”

She danced from his grasp when he reached for her arm.

“I’m the writer. I’m expected.”

He gave her a side-eye. “No one informed me of your impending arrival. Wait here. I’ll have to clear your presence with the AD.” He paused to look at her again. “What’s your name?”

“Tamara Josephs.” She deliberately used her married name to see how on it the guy was. Apparently, he was as sharp as a cotton ball, since instead of the expected expression of recognition, he hurried away.

Tam shook her head. Her phone lit up in her hand with an incoming text offering a distraction. She blushed when she recognized the bachelorette party pictures Denise was sending her. Tam and Evan’s youngest sister had become thick as thieves from the moment they’d met.

Tam jumped when a pair of arms slid around her waist. Looked over her shoulder at Evan who’d sneaked up behind her.

“Whatcha looking at?” he asked.

“Darn it. I was trying to surprise you,” she groused and totally ignored the question. At the moment, she didn’t feel like explaining the stripper on her lap nor the dollar bills Denise kept stuffing in her bra for said stripper to fish out with his teeth. She put her phone away. “You have quite a security team on the payroll.”

His smile was amused. The subject was only temporarily closed. “I take it you’ve met George.” She dropped her laptop and turned in his arms to embrace him. She never tired of staring into those gorgeous blue eyes of his. Poor stripper. He tried so hard. And still came up lacking when compared to Evan.

“He didn’t introduce himself, but I believe I did. He’s off clearing my presence with the AD.”

Evan chuckled. “Good. That means I have a minute to do this.” He claimed her lips with his. Just as she had every other time he’d kissed her, she went all weak in the knees and had to cling to him to remain upright. She’d never get tired of that feeling.

“I’m sorry, ma’am. The AD knows nothing of… Oh!” George must’ve returned while they’d been otherwise occupied.

Reluctantly, Tam and Evan turned to look at him. Evan gave the man a kind smile. “I’m so sorry. I forgot to tell you that Tam was due in today. She’s responsible for the amazing script we’re shooting.” He grinned at her. “And because I have incredibly good luck, she’s also my wife.”

Tam blushed at the compliment. She was the lucky one. She had never expected to date someone who would understand all the time she had to put in on her career, much less marry him. The fact that he was talented and successful himself was icing on the cake. That he was smoking hot was the ice cream on the side.

With a smile, she held out her hand to shake George’s. She wanted him to know there were no hard feelings. “Nice to meet you.”

“I’m sorry about before.”

“No need to be. How’s everything coming along?”

“You arrived right on time.” With an arm still around her waist, Evan walked her to Video Village. “I’ve got a line that I need, but an actor who can’t get it out. Can you work some of your magic?”

“Let’s see what we’ve got,” Tam said and accepted the pair of headphones George handed her with a smile. Evan rolled the playback and they got right to work.

Tam figured out that the actor, a nice young man named, Troy, had battled a lisp as a child. He still had some residual problems now, but was too proud to admit it. She rewrote the line for him with fewer S sounds and no big fuss. The look he gave her was pure gratitude. He nailed it on the first try so they could move on.

The rest of the day flew by. It was all putting out fires and getting great shots amid a lot of laughter. In other words, perfect.

Evan rode with her back to the hotel since George had insisted upon picking him up every morning. He grabbed her luggage and escorted her up their room.

Tam laughed. “Can you believe it? We’re actually staying in a hotel room. Together. On purpose.”

Evan opened the door for her then teased, “So you’re saying I don’t have to find any more excuses to bunk with you?”

She held up her left hand with the understated diamond ring and wedding band on her ring finger. “I think the last excuse stuck.”

She got her first look at the two queen beds in the room then looked at him with a frown. “I thought I reserved a king room.”

Evan caught her hand and pulled her close. “I figured, why mess with a good thing? Besides,” He kissed her nose. “I don’t feel like chasing you all over that big of a bed.”

Tam giggled and slid her arms around his neck. She could not believe that this was her life. Talk about hitting the jackpot. “The last time I ran, you just followed so I’m thinking trying to escape is kinda pointless.”

“You got that right.”

“Good thing I’m done running.” She gave him a light kiss.

He smiled and agreed, “Good thing.”