Dreaming Of Your Love (Hollywood Legends #3) (25 page)

“We’ll
pop some champagne, but there’s something a bit more formal planned for next
week.”

“Okay.”

Okay?
Colt ground his teeth in
frustration.
Thanks for the resoundingly underwhelming interest.

“Hey,
gorgeous.” Gilda tapped his cheek with the brush she was using to smooth out
his skin tone. She was forty-six, as wide as she was tall, and hands down the
best makeup artist in the business. “Relax those pearly whites, honey. That
smile of yours won’t be nearly as appealing if you grind your teeth down to
nothing but nubs.”

Sable
straightened, a frown marring her normally smooth brow.

“Is
something wrong?”

“No.”
Colt’s retort was harsher than he intended. Sable didn’t want to know the kind
of thoughts swirling around in his brain. Too bad. It might clear up a few
things if she did. Because he couldn’t bring himself to ask the questions
plaguing him, he made up an excuse. “I was thinking about the final scene with
Candice. Things have been a bit tense.”

“With
good reason,” Gilda snorted.

Surprised,
Colt glanced at Sable. She simply shrugged, apparently as baffled as he was.

“What
reason is that?” he asked.

Three
people knew about what happened between them and Candice. He hadn’t said
anything. Neither had Sable. That only left Candice. Since she came out looking
like a ridiculous crazy woman, it didn’t make sense for her to say anything.

Gilda
laughed. “You grew up on movie sets. Did you honestly think something that
juicy could remain a secret?”

“Who
told you?”

“Kirk.”

“The
catering guy?”

“Who
heard it from Willie, the assistant grip, who heard it from Flubber.”

“Flubber?
Who is Flubber?” Sable asked. She looked as bewildered as Colt felt.

“FX,”
Gilda replied.

“Special
effects,” Colt clarified.

“I
get what he does. How did he find out?”

“Let
me cut to the source.”

“Please.”

“Word
has it, Candice cried all over her assistant. Sparing none of the details. You
didn’t come off very well in the original version.”

“Shocking,”
Sable chuckled.

“Don’t
laugh. You were the true villain. Candice painted you as a clingy, foul-mouthed
witch. I’m paraphrasing, but you get the idea.”

“I
embrace foul-mouthed witch. But clingy?”

Sable
looked at Colt for vindication and he gave it. Sable, much to his annoyance,
didn’t cling. Especially not to him.

“You’re
very independent.”

“Damn
straight,” Sable declared.

Colt
mentally rolled his eyes. Then he asked Gilda, “You said the
original
version?”

“The
assistant didn’t buy Candice’s version. When she relayed the story, and since
she was telling it in the strictest of confidence, she tacked on what she thought
was most likely the truth.”

“And
everyone ran with it.” Colt wasn’t surprised. “What about the assistant?”

“Do
you mean is she still among the living? Yes. But not the employed. Candice
fired her ass the second the whispers started.”

“That
was a week ago. How have I missed all the drama?”

“For
once, discretion reigned. Everyone decided that you’ve had enough to deal with.
I’m telling you now because it’s the last day. I thought you might like to know
that the crew had your back.” Gilda made one last stroke with her brush. “There.
Perfection.” She winked. “But I say it’s gilding the lily.”

“That
was nice,” Sable said as they made their way to the set.

“Gilda
is a peach.”

“I
agree.” Sable patted her hair. “But I meant her and the crew. They shielded you
from one more shit storm. And since I haven’t heard from my mother, didn’t
spread the story to the press.”

Sable
was right. His crew was a good bunch. And it humbled him to know they thought
so highly of him. Without conscious thought, Colt took Sable’s hand. It had
become a habit, walking around, connected. A habit he didn’t want to break.

“There
she is.” Sable nodded to where Candice sat. “The fictional love of your life.”

Colt
shuddered. “I know that was meant to be a joke, but seriously, Sable. I don’t know
if I will ever be able to watch this movie. I kissed that woman.”

“It’s
a shame. Until you write your memoirs and spill every detail, no one will know
that this could be your finest acting job ever. But I know.” Sable kissed his
cheek. “And so does everyone who worked on the movie.”

Sable
left him, walking to her usual chair. Surreptitiously, Colt touched his cheek.
The gesture was small, but it sent a warm feeling through his body. He didn’t
want to get used to living without Sable. She was a part of his life. Big—and
small.

He
took his place in front of the camera, freeing his mind of everything but the
final scene. Sable wasn’t going anywhere. Not right away. And if he had his
way? Not ever.

“Are
you ready, Colt?” the director called out.

Colt
glanced at Sable. Ready? Absolutely. For today. Forever.

“CONGRATULATIONS. YOU MADE it through another shoot.” Callie
hugged Colt.

“There
were times when I had my doubts if we would get it done.”

Callie
laughed. “You faced some unique and unusual challenges. But believe me. You
aren’t the first actor who had problems with his co-star.”

“I’m
just glad it’s over.”

Colt
had taken a quick shower in his trailer before he and Sable left the set. His
hair was still damp and he was bone tired. But for the first time in days, he
felt like he could finally relax. The last week had played havoc on his nerves.
He hadn’t known if Candice would go completely off the rails. She was unstable
on a good day. After the debacle at his loft, she became a true wild card.

But
they made it. Somehow. Someway. It appeared at first glance that they had a
damn good movie on their hands. Time would tell how the critics, and more
importantly, the public received it. That was out of Colt’s hands. He had done
his part—above and beyond.

“Sable
is ready to bolt.”

“What
makes you say that?” Callie glanced across the room where Sable was talking to
Wyatt and Nate. “Did she say something?”

“There
isn’t anything to say. The job is over. Time to get back to her real life.”

Callie
sighed.

“What?”
Colt knew that look of exasperation. He saw it on a regular basis. They all
did. And deservedly so. Dealing with the five Landis men took the patience of
Job. However, Colt had no idea what he had done this time.

“Have
you said anything?”

“For
instance?”

“Oh,
Colton.” Callie cupped his face with her hands. Her expressive eyes were filled
with impatience—and a touch of laughter. “A woman’s heart is her own. You can’t
force her to give it away. But, my dear, sweet baby boy. You have to say it.
Three little words. Is it really that difficult?”

Colt
swallowed nervously, his eyes darting to Sable.

“I
plan on telling her, Mom. After the party.”

“Ah.”

“Ah?”
Colt’s lips curved. He loved this woman dearly, but sometimes he needed an
interpreter. “Is that code for something? Because if it is, I’m lost.”

“Of
course, you are. Your father was the same way. Instead of simply telling me how
he felt, he planned this big elaborate spectacle. Always the producer, he
thought of everything down to the most minute detail. Except he forgot one
thing.”

“What
was that?”

Colt
had heard it a thousand times—and never tired of the telling. The big party.
The big declaration. A heart-melting happily ever after. Suddenly he was
finding out that the night hadn’t been the perfect fairy tale? It was a new
twist to one of his favorite stories.

“I
didn’t want to play Snow White to his Prince Charming. I wanted simple words.
Said from the heart. The whole thing almost blew up in his face—and mine.
Luckily for all of us, he figured it out before it was too late. The party was
wonderful. But the moment I always hold dearest came before. He took me aside,
away from prying eyes. It was those three little words—
I love you
—that
sealed the deal.”

“What
if she doesn’t want to hear them?”

“You
want guarantees?”

“Do
you have any to spare?”

“The
sun will rise. The sun will set.” Callie’s smile and her eyes turned
warm—filled with unconditional love. “It’s the best I can do, Colton. But even
that isn’t set in stone. “Don’t take it for granted. Not the sun. Or that,
because you’re young, time is on your side.”

“Tell
Sable what’s in your heart.”

“I
love you, Mom.”

“See,
that wasn’t so hard.”

“You
have to love me back.”

“No,
baby. Unfortunately, not even a mother’s love is guaranteed.”

Colt
kissed her cheek, breathing in her familiar, comforting scent.

“Then
I’m a very lucky man,” he whispered. “Not once, even for a second, have I ever
doubted that you love me.”

Tears
in her eyes, Callie hugged him close.

“Thank
you.” And because she knew the words were important, she added, “I love you.”

SABLE CHECKED THE hallway before slipping into the bathroom. It
was ridiculous to hide, but she didn’t want to answer any questions—especially
from Colt.

She
sat on the closed toilet seat and took out her phone, hitting speed dial. What
she was about to do was the coward’s way out. And she was just fine with that.

“Sable.”

“Alex.”

There
was a pause.

“Should
I guess why you called or is something wrong and you don’t know how to tell me?”

“Everything
is fine.”

“Good.
If our client were in the hospital, I would have heard by now. An injured
Colton Landis would break the internet.”

“I
returned him to his family unbroken.”

“Interesting
choice of words.” Sable held her breath, waiting for the next question—a
personal question, but to her relief, Alex let it pass. “What’s up?”

“Today
was officially my last day.”

“I
know. I have it marked on my calendar with a big, red circle. As events go, it’s
right up there with Dani’s birthday or our anniversary.”

“Sarcasm?
Really? What did I do to deserve it?”

“You
tell me?”

Sable
breathed in, then out. Her words came in one long, uninterrupted rush. “I need
another job. Something quick. Two or three days. Please?”

“I
spoke with Wyatt earlier today The family is very happy with H&W Security.
And you in particular.”

“That’s
good.”

“He
mentioned a party. Some big shindig wrapping Colt’s movie? My understanding is
that you’ve been invited.”

“I’ll
be there.” Sable hadn’t known how to decline. “It isn’t until next week.
Monday. Since today is Thursday…”

“You
have three whole days to fill.”

“Right.”

“When
was the last time you took a vacation?”

Sable
frowned. What did that have to do with anything? “I’m always taking time off.”

“A
day here. Two there. I’m talking about a real vacation. A week or
two—completely away from work.”

What
do you think this was
?
Sable almost asked. For all intents and purposes, her time in Hollywood had
been nothing but fun and games. And a lot of amazing sex. She didn’t need a
vacation. She needed to get away from Colt. To think and clear her mind. Sable
couldn’t think of a better way to do that than working a
real
job.

“Alex.”
Sable hated the catch in her voice. She swallowed and tried again. “A couple of
days. Please.”

“There’s
a job in San Francisco. It’s only one night. You follow a guy around on Sunday
night. In and out. I was going to send Baxter but if you want it, it’s yours.”

“Sold.”
Sable had never been as grateful to her boss as she was right now.

“I’ll
text you the information. It won’t hurt to get up there a few days early. Check
in with the client. Get the lay of the land.”

“I
can leave right away.”

“Tonight?
Jesus, Sable. What are you running from?”

Myself
. But she didn’t want to open
that can of worms.

“Call
it a breather.” Sable rolled her eyes. She used to be a better liar. “I’ve
spent too much time with one client. It’s time for a change of scenery.”

“If
you say so. I see there’s a flight out of LAX in three hours. Can you make it?”

“Not
a problem.”

“Sable.”

“I
know what you’re going to say, Alex. I can’t talk about it. Not now.”

“Okay.
But remember. You have a lot of friends who are good listeners.”

Sable
hung up, thankful that she had an understanding boss. And a friend who
understood when to back off. He could have pushed. Instead, he gave her what
she asked for with few questions asked. Those would come later when she was
home in Harper Falls.

Sable
didn’t have the answers. Not now. In a week? A month? Ever? Only time would
tell.

SABLE PACKED ONLY the things she had brought with her when she
arrived in Los Angeles.

This
wasn’t a glamorous assignment. It would be her job to ride shotgun with a
nervous scientist while he delivered some papers from one lab to another. It
seemed silly, but a lot could happen from point A to point B. Especially when
it involved something experimental and potentially worth millions of dollars.

This
wasn’t her first such assignment—and it wouldn’t be her last. Alex called them
their bread and butter. Small, fast, and profitable.

“This
doesn’t make any sense.”

“It’s
my job. It doesn’t have to make sense to you.”

Colt
paced the bedroom floor, a scowl marring his forehead. It formed when she had
told him about the sudden assignment and hadn’t eased. Not on the ride to the
loft nor while she packed.

“Why
now? Why you?”

“I
told you. The client is jumpy. I’ve worked with him before and he specifically
requested that I take the job.”

It
was a lie. Bold-faced and obvious. At least to her. But Colt didn’t comment.
Maybe she hadn’t lost her touch after all.

“Sounds
fishy.”

Okay.
Her prevarication skills needed some work. Damn Colt. He was such an open,
straight to the point kind of guy. Apparently some of that had rubbed off on
her.

“You
should have stayed at your parents’ house. There was no need for you to
interrupt the party. I could have called a cab.”

“Are
you coming back?”

“Of
course. I’ll be here for the party.” Sable plastered a bright smile on her face
before exiting the closet.

Colt
gave her a long, searching look. She didn’t know what he saw, but to her
relief, he kept it to himself.

“At
least let me drive you to the airport.”

“And
cause a stampede? If one fan gets a glimpse of you, thousands will follow.”

“Thousands?”
Colt smiled for the first time in almost an hour. For him, that had to be a
record.

“Hundreds?”

It
felt good to tease him. Almost as good as when his arms slipped around her
waist.

“Try
again.” Colt nuzzled her ear.

“At
least ten,” Sable grinned. One brush of his lips and her body relaxed. His kisses
were so much better than Xanax. Unfortunately, they were highly addictive.

“Now
you’ve wounded me. A shot,” Colt made the sound of an arrow hitting its target,
“straight to my ego.”

“It,
and you will survive.” Reluctantly, Sable backed away, picking up her bag. “The
taxi will be here at any moment.”

“Sable.”

“Yes?”

She
held her breath. There was something in Colt’s eyes. Something anxious.
Intense. Frightening. Suddenly, she wanted him to speak more than she wanted to
breathe. Her phone buzzed. Glancing down, she released the air from her lungs.
Whatever he had been about to say would have to wait.

“That’s
my ride.” When Colt started to follow, Sable held up a hand. “Stay here.”

“You’re
off the clock.” Colt took her hand, kissing the back. “I can come and go as I
please.”

“What
will you do without me to keep you out of trouble?” she asked lightly.

“I
have no idea.”

Four
words. Simple. Brief. But Colt’s answer—and the look in his deep blue eyes as
the elevator doors closed—would stay with her all the way to San Francisco—and
back.

UNEVENTFUL AND BORING. There was no other way to describe the
last four days. Not even a hilariously awkward sexual proposition could lift
her trip from anything but what she had to call drudgery.

Her
cute nerd scientist client didn’t know the first thing about talking to a
woman. He stammered and blushed. Sable found it adorable. Another time she
might have kissed him and seen where it would lead. But that was B.C. Before
Colt. No man, not even one as sweet as Dr. Joshua Lowenstein, could measure up.
The bar had been set at a very high level. Too high.

Sable
spent most of her time kicking herself for not being with Colt. She had
panicked. There was no other way to put it. She saw her time with him ending
and she didn’t have the guts to say what she wanted to say.

I
love you
. How
difficult could it be? People said it every day. But not Sable. No. Rather than
act like a reasonable adult, she begged her boss for a lame-ass job that anyone
with half a brain and a license to carry a gun could have done. And from what
she could tell whenever she went to the local range, there were plenty of gun
owners who fit that description.

Sable
shook off her wandering thoughts. She was in Los Angeles. In a car. Watching
the buildings go by. Not exactly full circle—but close enough. Seven weeks ago,
she had no idea how her life was about to change. She had thought that acting
as Colton Landis’ bodyguard would be fun. A breeze. She pictured a little
flirting. Maybe a few easy kisses. If she decided to take the leap and Colt was
amenable? A brief, no-strings affair.

Fun
and breezy? Absolutely. Colt made her laugh. He was the least negative person
she had ever known.

A
few kisses? Hardly. It would be fruitless—but pleasurable—to try to count how
many they had exchanged.

As
for the no-strings affair? The person who said, be careful what you ask for,
would laugh his ass off if he could see Sable now. She wasn’t dealing with
strings. They were ropes. Tied in big, intricate knots. Just like her stomach.

The
taxi pulled to a stop outside of Colt’s loft. She paid the driver, exiting with
her case in one hand and her metaphorical heart in the other.

Sable
breathed deeply. The Los Angeles air wasn’t quite as clear as Harper Falls. It
didn’t have the river view or the pine trees lining the road she took to work
each day. But the city had its charms. Number one being the man who lived
twelve flights up.