Dreaming Of Your Love (Hollywood Legends #3) (27 page)

“There’s
a party going on, Colton.”

“Ten
minutes. No one will miss us.”

“Add
on the time we’ve already been gone? Nope. You’ll have to wait.” Sable laughed
at his look of disappointment. He wasn’t alone. She wanted him just as much. “Anticipation.
And,” she added, “We will be able to take our time.”

“There
is that.” With a resigned sigh, Colt took her hand in his and headed for the
door. “Besides, the whole family is waiting to find out if you said yes.”

“Now
he’s in a hurry.” Sable tugged, but Colt had her hand and wasn’t letting go. “I
need to use the bathroom, Speedy. And I want to check my makeup. You—” Her eyes
widened. “What did you say?”

“A
lot.” Colt batted his baby blues. “But I imagine you mean my comment about my
family?”

“They
knew you were going to propose?”

Sable
felt her cheeks heat. She didn’t know why, but it was embarrassing to think
that everyone had been in on the secret. God, what if she had said no? She
liked the Landis family. Considered them friends. How would she have faced them
after turning down Colt’s marriage proposal?

“It’s
a good thing I said yes. Callie never would have forgiven me for breaking her
baby’s heart.”

“Sure,
she would have.” Colt paused to think about it. “In thirty or forty years.”

“Give
me a second.” Sable grabbed her purse. “Then let’s go. I want to stay on Callie’s
good side. Besides, I’m suddenly in the party mood.”

She
unzipped the bag. Sable sighed. The big disadvantage of having to carry your
gun this way was that it was always on top of something. Usually, the one thing
she needed right away. Setting the gun on the bureau, she looked again. There
it was. Her tube of lipstick.

“Why
don’t you leave that here?” Colt said when she started to put the gun back.

“In
the room? I know I’m no longer your bodyguard, but if my gun isn’t locked up,
it’s with me. I want to have fun. I won’t if it’s unsecured.”

“I
meant, don’t take it into the bathroom.” Colt pried the purse from Sable’s
fingers. “I have something to tell you and I’d rather you weren’t armed.”

“I
would never shoot you,” Sable assured him, leaving the bathroom door open. “Or
hit you.”

“What
about my balls?”

Sable
paused, the lipstick halfway to her mouth. “Did you sleep with someone else?”

“No,”
Colt said emphatically. “You don’t have to worry. I will not cheat. Never.”

“Then
your balls are safe. Come on. Spit it out. What could be that bad?”

“Your
father is here.”

Sable
waited for her hand to start shaking. In anticipation, she kept the lipstick
far away from her face. Moonlight Blush was her favorite shade. On her mouth—not
her chin.

But
as the seconds passed, her hand remained steady as a rock. Not even a tremor.

“Sable?
Did you hear what I said?”

“I
assume you mean he’s downstairs in the ballroom. Not here with us.”

“Yes.
Damn it, say something.”

“Why?”

Colt
looked up from where he sat on the bed. She knew what he saw. A woman with
perfect lipstick and freshly fluffed hair. On the surface, she looked calm,
cool, and collected. Inside, she didn’t know how she managed to place one foot
in front of the other.

“I
asked him.”

“Again.
Why?”

“Sit
down and let me explain.”

Sable
sat. Hands neatly folded in her lap. Her eyes were trained on Colt as she
waited.

“I
didn’t want to have one more meaningless party. I wanted it to do some good.
Mom helped me organize a gala to benefit returning soldiers. All of the
proceeds will go to help the men and women of our armed services integrate into
their regular lives. If someone is struggling—physically, psychologically,
financially—they can get help.”

“Why
didn’t you tell me sooner? I think it’s wonderful. I would have helped—any way
I could.”

“I
wanted it to be a surprise.”

“You
succeeded.” Sable closed her eyes for a moment. “That explains why my father
agreed to be here. He works hard on the behalf of veterans. He wouldn’t turn
down the invitation. Not for this.”

“But
he did.”

“What?”
Sable’s eyes whipped open. “I don’t understand.”

Colt
sat next to her. “Mom called him personally. He said he wished he could attend,
but his schedule was full. He couldn’t make it on such short notice.”

“He’s
here.” Sable was confused. “What made him change his mind?”

“She
told him you would be here.”

“Me?”

“You.”
When she began to shake, Colt took her in his arms. “He wants to see his little
girl. His words, not mine.”

He
held her while she cried. Two and a half years of pent up hurt, anger, and
frustration poured out. Because, for the first time, she had someone she
trusted enough to let down her guard.

“I
was afraid you would be angry,” he said several minutes later, when she was
able to pull away.

“No.”
Gratefully, Sable took a tissue from the box Colt held out. “I was stunned.
Now,” she gave a watery laugh, “I’m a mess.”

“Your
eyes are a little red. I’ll get you a cold washcloth.

“There’s
my Boy Scout.”

“Lie
back.”

Sable
sighed when he placed the cool cloth across her eyes.

“That
feels good.”

“We’ll
give it five minutes and you’ll be as good as new.”

“Thank
you.” She smiled when she felt the bed sag and Colt curl up next to her. “For
the cloth. For my father.”

“I
love you.”

“And
most of all, for that.”

“It
works both ways. Next time I feel like crying my eyes out, you can hold me.”

Sable
reached for his hand, knowing without a doubt that it would be there. Smiling,
she rested her head on Colt’s shoulder.

“It’s
a deal.”

COLT WAS RIGHT. Five minutes and Sable’s eyes were ready to
face the world. Her makeup and his suit jacket were another matter.

“That’s
what you get for letting weepy women cling to you.”

“And
like any good Boy Scout, I’m always prepared.” Colt opened the closet. “Black
or white?”

Incredulous,
Sable set down her mascara and looked around the bathroom door. “You brought
not one, but two spare jackets?”

“
The
Lady Eve
.”

“I
don’t know what that is.”

“Only
one of the greatest screwball comedies ever made.” When Sable pointed to the
jacket in his right hand, Colt slipped on the black double-breasted. “Barbara
Stanwyck. Henry Fonda. Slapstick at its finest.”

“Next
movie night.”

Walking
to the full-length mirror, Sable looked at herself—top to bottom. Miraculously,
her dress had been spared. Not a tear stain or wrinkle in sight. Magic
material, indeed. Her face, with the help from judiciously placed concealer,
was none the worse for wear.

Colt
stood behind her, a hand on each shoulder. “Gorgeous. As always.”

“I’m
ready.” She wanted to go before her nerves got the better of her.

“One
more thing.”

“I
swear, Colt. If you make me cry again, I
will
kick your ass.”

“I’ll
take my chances,” he chuckled. “I forgot something before.”

“Can
it wait?”

Impatient,
Sable looked at the clock. They had been up here over an hour. She didn’t want
her father to think she was avoiding him.

“After
spending most of one day helping me pick it out, my mother will never forgive
me if you show up without this.”

Sable
gasped.

Colt
held an open ring box in his hand. Square cut, set on a platinum band—and a
deep sparkling blue. As stones went, it wasn’t the biggest diamond, but as far
as she was concerned, it was perfect.

“Should
I get down on my knee again?”

She
shook her head. She held out her left hand. Colt slid the ring on her finger.

“What
do you know? A perfect fit.”

Sable
met his gaze and smiled. Her thoughts exactly.

THE PARTY WAS in full swing and as far as Sable could tell,
their absence hadn’t been noticed. The free-flowing alcohol and rocking band
might have had something to do with that.

Laughter
and music greeted Sable and Colt as they stepped into the ballroom.
Surreptitiously, Sable looked around. As much as she wanted to see her father,
she couldn’t control her nerves.

“It
will be fine,” Colt reassured her.

Sable
nodded. She wanted to believe him. But her stomach wasn’t cooperating. Taking a
deep breath, she pulled back her shoulders. No matter what, tonight was the
beginning of a new chapter in her life. And she was determined to enjoy the
party.

“I
take it back,” Sable said over the noise. “We could have stayed in the room for
a private celebration. No one down here would have cared.”

“Now
you tell me.” Colt squeezed her hand. “Thirty seconds ago, we could have made
our getaway. Not anymore.”

Callie
was the first to reach them with Caleb close behind.

“Is
it good news?” she asked. “Of course, it is. You’re smiling. You wouldn’t be
smiling if it weren’t good news.”

“Take
a breath, sweetheart.” Caleb laughed. “Give them a chance to speak.”

“Right.”
Callie looked from Colt to Sable then back again, her gray eyes wide and
anxious. “Well. Tell me. I’m dying to know.”

No
matter how tempting it was to tease his mother, Colt loved her too much to draw
out the moment. Besides, he wanted to share his happiness with his family.

“You
want to show her?” he asked Sable.

Sable
held out her hand.

“Oh,”
Callie sighed. “It’s perfect.”

“Don’t
you dare cry,” Sable warned when she saw Callie’s eyes begin to fill. “I don’t
think I can take another round.”

“No
tears,” Callie promised as they began to roll down her cheeks. “I’m sorry. My
baby is in love. And getting married.” She took the handkerchief Caleb wisely
tucked into his pocket before they left the house.

Callie
was crying. Caleb beaming. But Sable had to ask.

“You
approve?”

“You
were already part of the family,” Caleb enveloped her into a big, warm hug. “Now
I have another daughter. I couldn’t be happier.”

“I
have a hankie if you need it,” Colt told her.

“She
can share mine.” Callie dabbed at Sable’s eyes before the tears could spill
over, then pulled her into her arms. “I knew from the moment we met that you
would be important to this family. I love when I’m right.”

“If
you wanted to keep this a secret, you can forget it. I was washing my hands in
the men’s room when somebody asked me for confirmation on your engagement.”

“What
did you tell him?” Colt asked as Wyatt hugged him.

“What
I always say in that situation. I never discuss family business in the
bathroom.”

“Did
that discourage him?”

Wyatt
nodded to where a thin man in a burgundy tuxedo alternated between taking
pictures of them with his phone and frantically typing on the tiny keyboard.

“The
internet is blowing up as we speak.”

“Great.
It will save us from having to put out a press release.”

Wyatt’s
bark of laughter had the reporter lifting his phone to snap another picture. It
was a good one. And would turn out to be profitable. All the major news
services used it. It showed Wyatt and Colt Landis grinning, with a glowing
Sable sandwiched in between.

“Here
is the champagne,” Callie declared. “And the rest of our family.”

Garrett
and Jade had arrived with a tray filled with sparkling wine. Nate and Paige
were with them.

“A
toast.” Caleb held up his glass. “To the happy couple. May this be the saddest
day of the rest of their lives.”

“Hear,
hear.”

The
clink of crystal and sips of the excellent vintage was followed by more
congratulations. Sable accepted more hugs which she warmly returned. She was
floating. Only one thing could have made this moment better.

“Sable.”

An
arm around her waist, Colt felt Sable stiffen. He looked around, recognizing
the source of her sudden tension.

“Colonel
Ford.” Colt held out a hand. The colonel automatically returned the gesture,
but his eyes didn’t move from Sable.

“Sir.”

Sable’s
heart raced. She took in every detail of her father’s appearance. To her
relief, he looked exactly the same. Tall. Lean. Perhaps a bit grayer sprinkled
in his dark hair. The strong, handsome lines of his face were wonderfully familiar—the
same face she had watched with pride so many times as he commanded the soldiers
under him.

She
loved him without reservation. No matter their differences. Or any harsh words
he had spoken. But until he made the first move, her feet were glued to the floor.

Then,
his eyes softened and his arms opened wide.

“Sable?”
The little hesitation. The trace of uncertainty—that she had never heard before
loosened her reserve.

“Daddy.”
With a sob, Sable raced to him.

“Come
on,” Caleb gently moved his family along. “Let’s give them a little alone time.”
He smiled indulgently when he saw tears in the women’s eyes, then realized he
had shed a few of his own. “We need more handkerchiefs.”

“I’ll
be around if you need me,” Colt told Sable.

Her
head still on her father’s shoulder, Sable smiled at him and mouthed, “
Thank
you
.”

“I’m
sorry, Sable. For everything. That text.” Frowning, he shook his head. “I’d had
a God awful day and your mother was going on about you and your movie star. I
regretted it immediately, but once I hit send, there was no bringing it back.”

“Let’s
forget it.” Sable didn’t want to rehash the past. “All I care about is that you’re
here.”

“No.”
Mathias Ford lifted her chin and looked her in the eyes. “Don’t let me off the
hook that easily. I let you down. As a father.” He swallowed, his shoulders
straightening. “And as a superior officer.”

“What
did Colt tell you?” Sable took a tissue from her purse. “Here.”

Surprised,
her father stayed still as she wiped his cheeks.

“Should
I frame this?” she teased. She slipped the damp paper into her purse. “When was
the last time Colonel Ford cried?”

“The
day you were born.”

“Oh,
Daddy.”

The
music changed from up-tempo to something slower. Sable recognized the song
immediately. Her eyes flew to her father’s. Would he remember? Mathias smiled.

“
Moondance
.”
He took her right hand in his left, and placed his other hand on her waist. “May
I have this dance?”

Unable
to speak, Sable nodded. They were content to move silently to the rhythm,
letting the old memories circle around them. When the last notes faded, her
father took her hand and led her toward the balcony.

“I
need a little fresh air.”

“That
sounds good.”

The
night air was wonderfully cool. Sable took a deep breath, lifting her face to
the gentle breeze.

“It’s
my turn to apologize.” She said, turning her head to meet her father’s gaze. “I
was a coward.”

“Never!”

“Hear
me out before you make such a definitive declaration.”

“From
what your young man told me, you left the Army because you weren’t given a
choice.”

“At
the time, I didn’t think I had an alternative.” Sable sighed. “But by not
speaking out, I lost you. And I betrayed female soldiers who came after me. It’s
been over two years. How many women do you think Colonel Montgomery has
harassed in that time?”

“It
was your word against his.”

“That’s
what I told myself. But Dad,” Sable gripped his hand. “I should have tried. At
least, I could have raised some doubt. Then the next time a woman filed a
complaint against him, it might have counted for something.”

“That
was up to you. But you shouldn’t have let him use me as a weapon against you.”

“Damn,
Colton.”

“I
need to thank him. You weren’t going to tell me that part.”

“Colonel
Montgomery has powerful allies, Dad. He would have tarnished your reputation.”

“He
could have tried.” Mathias sighed. “I have a few friends of my own. But that’s
beside the point. It wasn’t up to you to protect me.”

“No,
sir.”

“But
I love that you wanted to.” He pulled her close, brushing her temple with his
lips. “I love you, Sable.”

“I
love you, too, Daddy.”

GOD, WHAT A night.

Sable
looked at herself in the bathroom mirror. Considering all the tears, her eyes
were in pretty good shape. A little puffy and a touch red. But she didn’t care.
She was in love. Engaged to marry the most amazing man in the world. And her
father was back in her life.

After
their talk, Sable felt closer to him than ever. She had told him everything.
And he believed her—without reservation. Mathias reminded her that it wasn’t
too late. She could press charges against Colonel Montgomery and he would stand
behind her.

Sable
promised to think about it. Tomorrow. Tonight, all she wanted to do was
celebrate.

Sable
patted her nose with the pad from her compact, not looking when the bathroom
door opened. She was searching her purse for her lipstick when someone jabbed
her arm with a long, sharp fingernail.

“You,”
Candice DeMarcco slurred.

“You
got it in one.” Sable sighed. The last thing she needed was a drunk crazy
actress killing her buzz. “Why don’t you stay in here for a few minutes,
Candice?” Sable tried to steer the woman to the sofa in the corner. “You aren’t
very steady on your feet.”

“I
don’t need your help.”

Candice
pulled away, stumbling backward. The marble vanity kept her from falling on the
floor. She caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror and smiled.

“So
pretty.” Awkwardly she patted her image. “Prettier than you.”

“Okay.
I’ll leave you to it.”

Sable
turned to leave, but Candice grabbed her arm.

“Why
you?” She lurched to the side when Sable removed her claws. This time, she hit
the marble with greater force, causing her swept-up hair to fall over one eye. “You
get the guy?” Candice frowned. “That’s wrong.
I’m
the lead. He’s
supposed to fall in love with me.
I
get the happily ever after.”

The
booze, and a healthy dose of delusion, made Candice sound crazier than usual.

Resigned,
Sable took out her phone. She couldn’t leave Candice alone. The woman would
probably stumble into a stall and drown in the toilet. Colt could send someone
to take the actress off her hands.

“Not
that you’ll get one.” Candice snorted. “Cock-sucking bitches don’t get happily
ever afters, do they?”

Great.
Now it was deteriorating into foul-mouthed name calling. Candice looked a
little green around the gills. In self-defense, Sable took two big steps back.

“If
you plan on throwing up, aim for the garbage can.”

“Not
sick. But you will be.” Candice pushed her hair off her face, but it fell right
back. “I spoke with an old friend of yours.
Conel Mongomry
.”

Candice
slurred the name but Sable understood her. A chill ran down her spine. Followed
closely by a surge of heat.

“Colonel
Montgomery is here? Colonel
Baker
Montgomery?”

“Mmm.”
Candice sneered. “He had a fine tale to tell about you. How you spent most of
your time in the Army on your knees. The press will eat it up. Good luck
getting Colt to the altar after that shit hits the fan.”