Dreaming Of Your Love (Hollywood Legends #3) (28 page)

Sable
didn’t want to turn her back on Candice. There was no telling what the woman
would do. Keeping an eye on her, she hit speed dial.

“Sable?
Did you get lost on the way to the bathroom?

“No.
I’m still there.”

“What’s
wrong?” The humor had left his voice.

“With
me? Nothing. But Candice is in here and she’s a mess.”

“Alcohol
or drugs?”

Sable
had no idea. Though Candice’s pupils were a little off.

“Maybe
both. She can barely stand up and her speech is slurred.” Though when she
wanted to, she had no problem making her point. Sable kept that, and Candice’s
revelation, to herself.

“Someone
is on the way.”

“I’ll
stay until they get here.”

“I
figured you would,” Colt said warmly. “I’ll meet you outside the door.”

“Don’t
bother. There’s something I need to do.”

“What’s
going on, Sable?”

“Nothing
to worry about.” Sable hoped. “I won’t be long.”

As
soon as help arrived, Sable left the bathroom. She knew Colt would worry. And
she knew he wouldn’t stand around and wait for her. She loved him, but she didn’t
want to deal with him at the moment. As she searched the crowd, she made
another call.

“Wyatt?”

“What’s
up?”

“Find
Colt and keep him busy.”

“How
long do you need?”

Sable
smiled. She appreciated that he trusted her enough not to ask questions. There
would be plenty later, but not now.

“Twenty
minutes?”

“I
can do that with one hand tied behind my back.”

“Thank
you.”

“Sable?
Is this dangerous?”

Spying
her quarry, Sable’s smile turned feral.

“Not
for me.”

SABLE HAD PICTURED this moment a thousand times. Confronting
her former commanding officer was one of those fantasies she believed would
never come to fruition. That it would happen—and on tonight of all nights
seemed like destiny nodding its head in her direction. For too long she had
lived without closure. This was the perfect way to put it behind her—once and
for all.

Playing
it just right was the key. Sable didn’t want to walk up to him, filled with
self-righteous indignation. To get exactly what she wanted, she had to play it
cool.

Sable
wound her way through the groups of partygoers. Close enough for Montgomery to
notice her, but so it didn’t seem as though he was her destination. She wanted
him to approach her—not the other way around. She understood how his mind
worked, at least well enough to know he wouldn’t be able to resist oozing his
oily smarm all over her. His ego wouldn’t let her get away. And that was what
she counted on.

Keeping
him in her peripheral vision, Sable didn’t glance his way. He stood alone. Exactly
how she wanted him. He held a glass, now and then sipping the liquid as he
arrogantly surveyed the room. When she was almost directly in his line of
sight, Sable stopped, making a show of searching through her bag.

She
knew the instant he saw her. He raised his chin. His eyes narrowed. And he
smiled. Slowly. Like a predator spying its dinner. She didn’t mind playing Red
Riding Hood to his Big Bad Wolf. She knew the story. The wolf ruined many lives,
but in the end… Thwack! Off with his head.

The
middle of the room wasn’t the place for this showdown. Sable zipped her bag and
walked away. Certain he wouldn’t let her get away.

“Sable
Ford. I was hoping I would get a moment with you.”

It
was the perfect spot. Crowded, but removed from the main flow of people. She
and Montgomery would be seen but not heard.

Wiping
the smile from her face, Sable turned. He wouldn’t see the steely glint in her
eyes—because he didn’t believe women had backbones. Sable’s expression was
blank. For his benefit, she added a touch of wary.

“Colonel
Montgomery. This is a surprise.”
No lie there.

“When
I heard about tonight’s gala, I was anxious to attend.”

“It’s
a good cause.”

“Yes.
The poor, disenfranchised soldier.” He lowered his voice so only she could hear
the sneer in it. “Weak-willed. There’s always a name for it. Shell shocked.
Battle-fatigued. Post-traumatic stress disorder. A new generation, a new
excuse.”

“Soldiers
aren’t machines, Colonel. PTSD is real.”

“Because
a doctor says so? Bullshit.” He took a long drink, emptying his glass. From the
way he smelled, Sable guessed it wasn’t his first. He flagged a waiter. “Get me
a whiskey. Neat.”

“I’ll
leave you to enjoy your evening.”

“Not
so fast.”

Sable
didn’t object when Montgomery grabbed her arm. Instead, she gave him a look
that she hoped passed for fear. He smiled again, rubbing her skin with his
thumb.

Keep
going
, Sable
silently goaded him.
You’re playing your part perfectly
.

“Please,
Colonel. My fiancé is waiting for me.”

“That’s
right. Good for you. You nabbed a rich pretty boy with more dimples than sense.
Once again, you landed firmly on your back.”

“Colt
is a good man.” The quaver in her voice was anger, but as she hoped, Montgomery
heard fear.

“Meaning
I’m not? My offer was made in good faith.” He looked at her finger. “I couldn’t
give you a ring. Tell me, what did you have to do for that?”

“I
don’t know what you mean.”

“Yes,
you do. Tell me.” Montgomery pulled her closer. “I want details.”

“You’re
drunk.” Sable made a poor effort at trying to get away.

“Not
drunk. More like feeling no pain. I have a room upstairs. I’ve always preferred
showing to telling.”

“I
said no when you were my commanding officer. My answer hasn’t changed.”

“But
a few well-placed words from me, and everyone will believe you came on to me.”

“It’s
a lie.”

“I
know it and you know it. But when a full bird colonel in the United States Army
speaks, the world listens.”

“But
you admit that you tried to force me into a sexual relationship? I quit the
Army because it was either give in to your demands, or you would have ruined my
career.”

“Sure,
I admit it. To you. You weren’t the first. Or the last. But no one would have
listened to you then. And they sure as hell won’t listen now.”

“They
won’t have to.” Sable took her phone from her purse. “I have it all right here.
In your own words.”

“I DON’T CARE if you paint my ass blue and call it the Pacific
Ocean. You take care of the publicity. I need to find Sable.”

Wyatt
had been yapping about PR for what seemed like an eternity. Colt didn’t know
what bee had gotten in his brother’s bonnet, but enough was enough.

“I
don’t find the idea of your ass, no matter the color, appealing. But for some
reason, the rest of the world does. I’ll keep the ocean idea in mind,” Wyatt
called after him. He looked at his watch. Twenty-four minutes, thirty seconds.
Not bad. He hoped it had been enough time for Sable to finish her business.

Frustrated,
Colt searched the room for Sable. It didn’t take him long to spot her. She was
engaged in an animated discussion with a man in an Army dress uniform. They
were too far away for him to make out the insignia, but from his age, and the
number of medals and other hardware on his chest, Colt guessed he was fairly
high ranking.

“I
seem to have lost my daughter.” Mathias Ford said, stopping by Colt. “Does that
frown mean you’re in the same boat?”

“She’s
over there.” Colt nodded. “Do you recognize the man she’s with?”

“Son
of a— I didn’t know that bastard was here.”

“Who
is it?”

“Colonel
Baker Montgomery.”

Colt
heard the anger. It echoed through him. But when Mathias started over, Colt stopped
him.

“I
know you want to save her. So do I. Sable can take care of herself. She needs
to do this, sir. On her own.”

Reluctantly,
Mathias gave a short nod, but he kept his eyes glued on his daughter. As did
Colt. He would let Sable finish with Colonel Montgomery. If there were anything
left, he would take his turn.

“GIVE ME THAT, you cunt.”

Montgomery
made a grab for her phone. Sable was way ahead of him. She had no intention of
taking any chances. Before putting it in her purse, she quickly sent a copy of
the recording to her boss, Alex Fleming.

“I
kept silent once. It was a mistake. This time, you’re going to pay, Colonel.
For what you did to me. And every woman you’ve ever harassed.”

Montgomery
sputtered. Sable had knocked the perpetual smirk off his face. In its place was
a look of disbelief—and growing rage. She needed the last nail in the coffin.
To get it, she poked the bear one more time.

“Don’t
take it so hard, Colonel. It isn’t the end of the world. Oh wait,” Sable slowly
smiled. “In your case, I guess it is.”

Sable
knew it was coming. Had planned for it. She used her training to move at the
last second. Even so, Montgomery’s punch hurt. When she staggered back,
clutching her face, it wasn’t entirely an act. But falling to the floor was.
She could have easily stayed on her feet. But the effect on the crowd wouldn’t
have been as dramatic.

She
lay in a heap, covering her face with her arm as though afraid he would hit her
again. Gasps echoed through the room. Shouts of outrage followed a brief
shocked silence.

“Sable!”

Colt
pushed his way through the crowd, her father close behind. Going to his knees,
he pulled her close.

“How
badly are you hurt?”

“He’s
dead,” Mathias growled. “If he’s breathing tomorrow, I’ll know the reason why.”

This
had gone on long enough. Baker Montgomery had shown his true colors. In front
of a crowd filled with high ranking military officers, reporters, and flashing
cameras. She didn’t want her father getting into trouble because she overplayed
her part.

“I’m
fine.” She let Colt help her to her feet, whispering under her breath, “If my
father goes for Montgomery, hold him back.”

“Is
this an act?” Colt whispered back.

“Yes.”

Colt’s
eyes met hers as if to say,
I got this
. Sable saw the moment it
happened. When Colt Landis, fiancé, became Colton Landis, movie star. He
turned, the fury was real, but the actor in him knew how to sell the emotion.

“Someone
arrest that man. You saw it. He hit my fiancée. What kind of monster punches a
defenseless woman?”

“Careful,”
Sable warned. No need to overdo it. But Colt knew his audience and the crowd was
with him. The outraged voices grew in volume and as if on cue, two men dressed
in Army MP uniforms appeared beside Colonel Montgomery.

“Will
you come with us, sir?”

“I
will not.” The alcohol was wearing off, but Montgomery’s arrogance was bone
deep. “Remember who you’re addressing, soldier. I can have you stripped down to
private before you can cry for your mommy.”

“Take
him away, Sergeant.” Mathias Ford stepped forward in full colonel mode. “And if
he resists, you have my permission to use force.”

“Yes,
sir.”

Montgomery
seemed to weigh his options. He looked around for support, finding none. His
best course of action was to cooperate. He had friends, damn it. Important men
who had his back.

“You
think this is over?” He directed the words at Sable. “Burn me down, I will rise
from the ashes.”

Head
held high, Colonel Baker Montgomery walked from the room, flanked by military
police.

“I’ll
go with them.” Mathias took Sable’s hand. “You’re going to have a shiner. Not
your first, but I’ll bet the most memorable.”

Sable
hugged her father. “You won’t leave town without saying goodbye.”

“No.
I’ve been invited to breakfast with the Landis family. Do you think I would
miss the opportunity to sit across the table from Callie Flynn? Take care. I’ll
see you in the morning.”

Mathias
marched across the ballroom, stopping to speak with several Army officers, one
a general. Whatever he said had the men nodding in agreement. After the brief
conference, they left as a united force to be reckoned with.

“Ladies
and gentlemen.” On the bandstand, microphone in hand, Caleb Landis drew
everyone’s attention. “This shocking event will stay with us for a long time,
but as you can see, my future daughter-in-law, Sable Ford, is going to be fine.
Please, honor the cause we are supporting this evening by staying and enjoying
the party. And,” he winked, “opening your wallets.”

The
light laughter Caleb’s words generated seemed to do the trick. The band played
an up-tempo tune and the crowd began to disperse. Some toward the bar, others
the buffet. But the gossip ran rampant.

“Our
PR team has already put out a statement,” Wyatt assured Sable.

“That
was fast.” Sable was impressed.

“It’s
what they do,” Wyatt shrugged. “It was only a few lines—just to get ahead of
the inevitable demands for information. They will take care of everything. If
you want to do an interview at a later date, that will be up to you.”

That
was the last thing Sable wanted. She would have to give a statement to the
Army. If there were a trial, or court martial, her testimony would be read. She
was no longer military. They kept things as internal as possible. Sable wasn’t
adding fuel to the fire by making public declarations. What happened was now
between Colonel Montgomery and the United States Army.

“YOU GOADED HIM into punching you.”

They
were in the hotel suite. He had whisked her away as soon as his family had made
sure Sable was all right. The party would continue—without them.

“I
goaded him,” Sable admitted, sighing with pleasure when Colt placed a cool
cloth on the darkening bruise. “But I expected a slap. Bastard. Who punches a
woman?”

“I
wanted to kill him.”

“Me
too.”

“In
which case, we would be the ones in prison.” Colt had removed his jacket and
tie, draping them over a chair while he unfastened the first two buttons of his
shirt. “Will there be justice?”

Sable
reached to remove her shoes, smiling when Colt did it for her. He kept one foot
in his hands, massaging the sole. With a grateful sigh, she reclined on the
bed.

“I
can’t guarantee anything. However, the Army can’t ignore one of their colonels punching
a woman—in public. Nor will they be able to sweep the recording I made under
the rug.”

“So
smart.” Colt joined her on the bed, pulling her close. “Sending it to Alex. The
way your mind works fascinates me.”

“I
spent a lot of time picturing a confrontation with him. I wasn’t going to let
the opportunity slip away. He dug his own grave. I made certain he was too deep
to climb out.”

“You’re
still a soldier at heart.”

“Part
of me always will be.”

“Sable—”

“I
know what you’re going to say.” She rested her hand on Colt’s cheek. She looked
into his blue eyes and smiled. “That life is over. It was over the day I turned
in my papers. I had my regrets, but they weren’t because I left the Army. It
was
how
I left. Leaving Colonel Montgomery free to abuse other women has
eaten at me, Colt. It won’t anymore.”

“They
would take you back.”

“Maybe.
But I don’t want it. Not anymore.”

“You’ll
be happy here? Hollywood can be a bitch.”

“So
can I,” Sable grinned when Colt laughed. “Can you live with an ex-Army Ranger
who carries around a bit of an attitude? One who can kick your ass?”