Tinseltown (13 page)

Rolling over to find her place in Zach’s arms, she met cold air. Even the bed was cold. He had been gone for some time. Fighting against the hurt in her heart, Deb rolled onto her back and studied the ceiling. Why had he left her?

Things had moved too fast and if he proved to be playing her for the sake of the movie, she wouldn’t forgive herself. Not so soon after Brad.

Then a realization struck her. She had been so wrapped up in the moment, she’d forgotten the fateful day she and Zach had been forced to make amends by their boss. Zach had said he had plans over the holidays. What a desperate, emotionally starved idiot she was for forgetting and focusing only on her needs. Of course she would forget the one thing that could change everything.

No wonder she saw him on the phone a lot. When he wasn’t playing chess with her dad or spending time with her or taking a walk in her parents’ back yard, he was on the phone. He always abruptly got off when she was near, too. The cheat. She was his
wife
!

Well, this taught her a lesson for sure. She wouldn’t be made a fool of. She wouldn’t be the subject of gossip, and she wouldn’t let him get to her.

Throwing back the covers, she stood. Her heart pounded as she padded to the bathroom and got in the shower. Yeah, first she’d fallen for a jerk, now a man who could act a whole lot better than most. She was stupid to believe him. Sincerity reeked when he smiled, and his kisses felt so real. His tenderness even felt legitimate. But hadn’t he taken acting classes? Didn’t experience teach him exactly what worked best on screen to make things believable? He wasn’t the hottest actor in Hollywood for nothing. He was what every woman thought she wanted.

He had played her, lied to her. And the first chance she got, she was going to give him a piece of her mind. Even low-lives had the courtesy of leaving the next day without a backward glance. Here it was Christmas Eve, and she was going to be forced to spend the rest of this miserable holiday pretending they were a couple. At the moment, it almost didn’t seem worth it.

Lost in the vigorous scrubbing of her scalp, she didn’t hear the shower door open. Slick hands wrapped around her hips and dipped lower. Surprised, she twirled around and met Zach’s incredible eyes, smiling into hers.

“You give a whole new meaning to washing the man right out of your hair.” He grinned, but the gruff note in his voice and his obvious arousal low against her said he was here for more of her.

She was about to push him away when he turned her against the shower wall and kissed her hungrily. Heaven help her, but she kissed him back, lost in a torrent of confusion and helplessness.

But no, she wasn’t helpless. Hadn’t she learned from Brad? This was her life, and she wouldn’t be used again.

Deb wrenched away from him and turned her head to the side, ignoring his trail of undeterred kisses down her neck and her chest. “Get off me,” she said.

“Deb,” he whispered. “I can’t get enough of you.”

“Get off me!” She almost screamed and pushed at him. If there hadn’t been a door for him to grasp onto, he would have lost his balance.

“What’s wrong with you?” he snapped, shaking his head and getting to his feet. “Are you trying to kill me?”

“The thought crossed my mind!”

He stared at her, feigning the carefully placed confusion.

“Did you think I wouldn’t remember? Did you think I would be stupid enough to let it go on, once I did? I guess after what you witnessed with Brad, you would think that of me, but I learn from my mistakes, buster, and you won’t be the next Brad, taking advantage of me. I won’t give anyone control over my life.”

“What in the devil are you talking about?” Zach pinched at the water in his eyes and smoothed his hair back.

“The
plans
you had for the holidays? With the other woman? Yeah, Zach, I realized you haven’t said another word about it since you came here and decided to seduce me into compliance, so Fernbank wouldn’t fire us.”

“What other woman? What plans?”

“Just get out.” Deb cried as she felt the horror of tears pushing their way to the surface. “I’m not playing second fiddle anymore. You’re good, but at least I got out of this before it got too deep.”

“Deb.” Zach held his palms up in innocence. “I think we need to talk about this before you make a snap decision.”

“Believe me, if I had, the snap would have been your neck. I’ve thought this through enough.”

“We’re not going downstairs until this is resolved. You’re making assumptions about me.”

“Get out,” Deb forced through clenched teeth. The last thing she wanted to see was his beautiful body, sprinkled in droplets of water and a caring, loving — feigned — look on his face.

He obeyed and Deb took a long shower, leaving not one trace of his touch on her body. She didn’t want any reminders of yet another mistake in her life.

* * * *

Zach waited outside, trying to replay the conversation they’d had with Fernbank before he’d been forced to come here. He didn’t remember it all, but he did remember quite vividly that he allowed the director to think he was spending the holidays with a lover when, in fact, he planned to spend them with his half-sister. His schedule hadn’t allowed a visit yet, and the holidays were his first opportunity.

Sarah was a product of his father’s indiscretions. She had found him a few years ago when her mother had told her the truth about her paternity on her deathbed. From what he could tell, she lived a happy, fulfilled life. They had an easy rapport with each other and had become instant friends. She was young and vibrant, and the pictures she’d sent him showed it. He could even see the family resemblance.

After what seemed like an eternity, Deb opened the door. When she saw his position on the foot of the bed, she rolled her eyes. “Get out,” she demanded in a lifeless tone. He realized while sitting there waiting that he had made a mistake in not telling her about Sarah. If he had his way, they would all be family some day.

“Come here,” he demanded in an equally flat tone.

With eyebrows raised, she stood where she was and crossed her arms.

He shook his head, undeterred. “We shared something last night I don’t take lightly. You’re not running from it because you’re scared.”

“I’m not scared. I’m ticked, mostly at myself because I never thought to ask you who you were spending Christmas with. I even forgot about it, but that doesn’t mean you get to take advantage of me.”

Zach stood and walked over to her until she was about an arm’s length away from him. He wanted to stay out of her punch zone. He tossed her his cellphone and she caught it. “Good catch,” he mumbled. “Now scan through all my dialed numbers if you want. I’m an open book. Dial any number in there and you’ll get only business contacts and my sister.”

She tossed the phone back at him and he caught it. “I don’t want to spy on you. What you do is your business, not mine.”

“You’re afraid you’re wrong,” he mused, seeing how unsure she was of herself now. He handed the phone back to her. “You’re my wife. Look at the numbers, Deb. I’ve got nothing to hide. It’s the only way you’re going to get some peace of mind. I understand what Brad did to you. I’m trying to be patient here and prove myself instead of getting ticked off and waiting for you to come around.”

Deb hurled his cellphone at him, hitting him square in the jaw. Stars danced before his eyes.

“Stop saying all the things you know I want to hear. I wouldn’t know your sister from a prostitute.”

He kept his face straight. “Actually, you would.”

“No, I wouldn’t! No normal man would spend so much time talking on the phone to a sister he’s never mentioned!” Deb rummaged angrily through her drawers, finding underwear and pulling it on underneath the robe.

“I didn’t mention her because we haven’t met yet. I call every few days to check on her, and during the holidays I’ve called her several times to make sure she knew I loved her but couldn’t get away this year! Because I’m here, Deb. Because we’re married and I want to be here. I could have easily told Fernbank I had family to visit, but I allowed him to
assume
, if you’ll recall, it was some chick. It’s just the way it is in Hollywood. A good screw is much more feasible than a half-sister I’ve never met, right? Or maybe that’s just what you think.” He took a deep breath. He hadn’t meant to come across so angry, but what Brad had done to Deb was worse than he had originally thought. Now that they were closer physically, there was no way he was letting her retract emotionally, even if he had to strap her to the bed and bring his sister to her.

They stared at each other for a long while, and he could tell Deb tried to read him. “This is what I hate about dating actors,” she said quietly. “I can never tell if you’re lying.”

“I could say the same for you. For all I know, last night was just to secure my cooperation for a divorce and your career.”

She stared at him some more. He bent down and grabbed his phone, offering it to her once more. “It’s all yours if at any point in the future you decide to assume something about me without asking. I don’t play games, Deb, and I’ve got nothing to hide. There was a time when I was looking for casual, but not now. I’ve never told another woman I love her before, and I don’t take this lightly. You’re it for me, Deb. I’m not going to lie to you, and if there’s something you want to know about me, just ask.”

“I’m sorry, Zach,” she whispered and turned away.

He wasn’t sure if it was an apology or a dismissal. “For what?”

“Freaking out,” she said, her back still to him.

He walked over to her and turned her around gently. “It’s okay.”

Deb didn’t pull away from him, but she didn’t readily fall into his arms. Looking up at him, she searched his eyes. “Will you take me to meet her?”

Zach smiled. “Because you want to meet her or make sure I’m telling the truth?”

She shrugged. “A little of both, I guess.”

“If that’s what it takes, then I’d be happy to. You’re one of her favorite actresses. When I told her we were working together, she got so excited.”

“How old is she?”

“Twenty-four. Five years younger than me.”

Deb took a deep breath and let it out shakily. “I guess we should go downstairs. My parents are probably wondering why we’re not down yet. My brother will be here later today.”

Deb stepped back from him, but he took her hand. “Can we kiss and make up first?”

A faint grin tugged at her mouth. “Sure.”

Not taking the chance she would change her mind, he crushed his mouth to hers in a searing kiss meant to heal wounds.

She pressed close to him.

Backing her up to the bed, he knew they wouldn’t be going downstairs until much, much later.

Chapter 11

That night, Deb and Zach huddled around a highly competitive game of chess as the Christmas tree lights burned festively beside them. Her brother had called and he was only minutes away.

“Checkmate,” her father said with a smug grin and leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms.

“Ahhh!” Zach let out an animalistic sound. Deb looked at the two men in her life and sent a prayer of thanks upward. She was blessed to have them both, and after Zach’s honesty about his sister, she couldn’t help but feel a little dishonest in her choice to keep her brother’s secret. But he would find out soon enough and she told herself this was his last test. If he passed, she wasn’t sure she could hold on to her heart.

Hearing the faint thump of car doors slamming and children’s excited squeals, Deb glanced at Zach. He winked and gave her a smitten look she was starting to believe was real.

“That must be your brother,” he said and stood, walking to the front door.

When Deb reached the front steps where Zach stood, she watched as Alyson, Eric’s wife, walked around to the back of the van and retrieved his wheelchair. As soon as Zach saw what she was doing, he ran to her side, offering help.

He introduced himself to her brother and shook his hand vigorously. He allowed Eric to get into the wheelchair by himself, something Deb admired. Zach understood, to Deb’s relief. No one ever seemed to understand Eric’s need to prove himself in the little ways. He’d had the disability for some time and was capable of doing things for himself.

Deb knew from experience the only help Eric didn’t refuse was being handed something out of reach. The rest was pure male pride.

Eric smiled as he looked up and saw Deb, causing tears to blur her vision. Seeing her brother so happy with such a wonderful family was more than she could take.

Brad had never even tried to connect with Eric. Zach certainly passed the first test. They were already striking up a conversation as Zach took packages from Alyson and handed a few for Eric to put in his lap, another amazement for Deb. Very few people would just hand gifts over to him without arguing. Zach didn’t even appear to think much of it.

“Aunt Deb! Aunt Deb!” Jesse and Elizabeth called as they attacked her middle in a three-way hug. Stumbling a little, Deb laughed and hugged them back.

“How are you guys?” She kissed the tops of their soft heads. Closing her eyes, she wondered if she would ever have what her brother had. Looking at Zach again, their eyes met and she couldn’t read his emotion. Was he angry at her for not telling him the truth? Or did he understand Deb’s needed to see his real reaction before she could fully allow him into her family?

“There’s a ramp at the side entrance,” Eric said to Zach. Instead of pushing him, which she knew Eric would refuse, Zach simply followed as Eric wheeled himself to it.

Inside, chaos ensued. Jesse and Elizabeth were immediately under the tree shaking gifts after the obligatory hugs and kisses to Deb’s parents. Deb watched them, enjoying their seven-year-old twin conversations. They finished each other’s sentences a lot, which never ceased to amaze her. She often heard of the twin intuition and knew while a lot of it was probably just myth, some of it was certainly real.

As she stood in the doorway, watching everyone, Deb felt arms go around her and a kiss planted on her neck. She smiled and leaned her head against Zach’s chest.