DREAMING WITH A BROKEN HEART
HOLLYWOOD LEGENDS BOOK ONE
MARY J. WILLIAMS
Copyright © 2016 MARY J. WILLIAMS
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Want to know how to motivate yourself to write a book? Have your favorite football team lose the Super Bowl. On the last play. With an interception. The next day I was so depressed I tuned out all media. No TV, no internet, no newspapers — nothing. And I started to write. I’m still writing. As you can see, a little motivation can do wonders. Football will play a big part in my next series of books due out next year. And since I’m writing the ending? No interceptions. Guaranteed. Happy reading everyone.
Mary J. Williams
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MORE BOOKS BY MARY J. WILLIAMS
Harper Falls Series
If I Loved You
If Tomorrow Never Comes
If You Only Knew
If I Had You (Christmas in Harper Falls)
TABLE OF CONTENTS
About the Author
How to Get in Touch
More Books by Mary J. Williams
Prologue
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Epilogue
How to Get in Touch with the Author
Coming in March 2016
FOR ALL THE DREAMERS
PROLOGUE
THE ROOM WAS dark. Too dark for Garrett’s liking. A little stuffy, a slight antiseptic smell with an overlay of sex. That’s what you got from a cheap motel and furtive lovemaking. Odors and memories you’d just as soon forget.
The sounds from behind the closed bathroom door indicated his partner was trying to remove all traces of their recent activities. It shouldn’t hurt. This wasn’t the first time, and damn his weak resolve, it wouldn’t be the last.
If he smoked, he would have something to do with his hands. Watching his father struggle with lung cancer put the fear of God in him and his brothers at an early age. All four of them had their vices; smoking wasn’t one of them.
Get up. Get dressed. For once, be the first to leave. Even if he could find the balls to walk out on her, he couldn’t leave her alone at this time of night. In this part of town.
God, it was like a furnace in here. Despite having the AC wall unit on high, Garrett knew it must be hotter in here than outside. The sheet riding low on his hips was too much. Damn modesty. The room was too dark to see anything; if she didn’t like seeing his naked body, she could turn away. Garrett whipped off the coarse cotton material at the same moment the bathroom door opened.
“You don’t have to go,” Garrett said to the shadowed figure.
“Yes, I do.”
She always made sure the light was off. Her silhouette showed a tall woman, thin. Too thin. Even by L.A. standards. She was gaining weight — slowly. Garrett could attest to that. He knew it was a struggle. One she fought every day.
Garrett felt the anger drain from his body — his heart melt. Her demands were not capricious whims. They weren’t her attempt to gain the upper hand. Her goal was not to manipulate. She had her reasons. They were real. Legitimate.
“It’s still early.”
Garrett kept his voice low and even. Shouting didn’t help. She never fought back. Retreat. That was her coping mechanism. The last time he blew up it was two weeks before she would take his calls.
“I…” she cleared her voice. “His flight gets in at midnight.”
“Don’t be there.”
“You know how he gets.”
Garrett knew all right. She was devoted to a man who treated her like crap, forgot her existence ninety percent of the time, yet expected her to be there when he decided to come home. His fists clenched the mattress. It was the only thing preventing him from grabbing her, begging her to stay. For once, pick me.
“I don’t know when I can see you again.”
I don’t know if I ever want to see you again. Garrett thought the words. He would never verbalize them. She was his drug of choice. Weeks passed. The need for her grew. Outwardly, his life looked smooth as glass. Inside, the itch grew.
Garrett became an expert at compartmentalizing. His work never suffered. His family never suspected. No one had the slightest clue about what was raging inside of him. She knew. Because she shared his unbreakable habit. Enablers. That’s what they were. It was sick. Sometimes, like tonight, he hated himself. He wished he could hate her. Then, maybe, he could walk away.
“I’ll be out of town for the next month.”
Garrett wished he could see her face. Was she sorry he’d be gone? Relieved? Would she miss him half as much as he was going to miss her?
“Take care.”
Garrett waited a second, letting the motel room door close behind her. Jumping up, rushing to the window, he pulled back the thin, dingy curtain. He never walked her to the taxi. Even the minutest chance of them being seen was too much.
The ritual of watching until she was safely inside the vehicle, seat belt on, doors locked, was something he never ignored. Nothing bad would happen to her when he was around. It was when he wasn’t there that trouble found her. One more frustration. It wasn’t his place to protect her. Knowing that drove him crazy.
Garrett grabbed his jeans from a nearby chair, pulling them on. Unlike her, he wouldn’t clean up before he left. He would carry the smell of her with him — let it fill the interior of his car. Tomorrow he would pretend it was still there.
Damn it. Enough. He deserved more than this. They both did. One month. When he got back, one way or another, things were going to change.
CHAPTER ONE
HOLLYWOOD. DREAMS FULFILLED. Dreams crushed. It happened every day. Wide-eyed kids still came hoping to be a star. More often than not, they went back home — a nobody. Iowa, Nebraska, Texas, Georgia. Insert state here. Small town, big city. It didn’t matter. The movie industry seemed vast from the outside. In truth, it was the most insular of worlds. Making it took determination, perseverance, and a whole lot of luck. Talent was so far down the list it wasn’t funny.
Connections. That was what got you through the door. If you had a recognizable name, the door swung wide, the smiles welcoming. If you couldn’t pull your weight once you were inside, no one hesitated to kick you out. That famous name only got you so far. The rest was on your shoulders.
Sink or swim. No life preservers were thrown your way. If anything, you were fitted with cement shoes. The only thing this town loved more than a winner was the child of a Hollywood legend falling flat on his face.
Garrett Landis felt the weight of those expectations every time he stepped on a movie set. His father set the bar so high none of his sons was expected to reach his lofty heights. The fact that all four seemed well on their w
ay to not only matching Caleb Landis’ achievements, but surpassing them, caused quite a stir.
Resentment simmered under the surface of hearty backslapping and insincere ass kissing. Their father taught his boys many things. In this business, never turn your back on friend or foe. Treat everyone with respect, from the lowliest crew member to the head of the studio. The most important thing? In this business, trust no one — except brothers. Eight years after making his first low-budget independent film, Garrett followed those rules without question. The Gospel according to Caleb Landis. His father’s words were his bible. His brothers were his rock.
Wyatt, the oldest, followed directly in their father’s footsteps. He was a hard-ass, bottom-line producer. Nathaniel, Garrett’s fraternal twin, was the daredevil of the bunch. He was the most in-demand stuntman in Hollywood. Baby brother Colton was blessed with movie star looks. His charisma leaped off the screen, pulling in even the most cynical audience member. Or so one critic wrote after seeing Colt’s first movie. Individually, each Landis brother was formidable. Together, they dominated almost every branch of the industry.
“How can we be behind schedule when we haven’t shot a single frame?”
“Welcome to the glamorous world of moviemaking.”
Garrett grinned when he answered his assistant director, Hamish Floyd. This was their fourth collaboration. The first two made a nice profit. Number three broke box office records. Expectations for Exile went through the roof the second Garrett’s name became attached. With Wyatt behind the scenes, the movie’s success was practically guaranteed.
Garrett didn’t believe in sure things. He worked hard on every project, no matter the size. Bigger budget, more potential headaches. That included a prima donna leading lady who couldn’t get her ass on set at the designated hour. Garrett refused to start leaking money on day one.
“You want me to coax America’s sweetheart of the week out of her trailer?”
“You’d never get past her PA,” Garrett told Hamish. “Lynne Cornish thinks one hit movie and a few magazine covers give her the right to make her own rules. She’s going to find out on this movie set, there is only one set of rules — mine.”
“She has a contract.”
“Wyatt’s standard contract. She signed it. Her mistake if her lawyers didn’t read the fine print.”
Contracts were fluid. Before they were finalized. Each actor, depending on their box office leverage, could get their people to make demands, tweak the perks. The basics were non-negotiable. Under no circumstance, barring personal injury, a death in the family, or a genuine nervous breakdown, was an actor allowed to delay production. Once, you were warned. Twice, bye-bye. As far as Garrett’s big brother was concerned, potential loss of a lead actor was the reason they paid huge insurance premiums. It hadn’t happened to Garrett. Not yet. There was always a first time.
Tim Bodine, Lynne Cornish’s PA, waylaid Garrett before he was halfway to her trailer.
“Lynne isn’t feeling well.”
“She was fine an hour ago.”
When she was flirting with every man on the set. Apparently, Ms. Cornish could drag herself to any early breakfast if adoring men were present. She found out quickly that Garrett wasn’t among them. Whether her sudden illness was a result of a hurt ego or plain laziness, he didn’t give a damn. Starting right now, Lynne Cornish needed to know who was boss.
“Does she need a doctor?”
“Nooo.” Tim drew out the word.
The PA’s lack of concern only ratcheted up Garrett’s annoyance.
“Five minutes.”
“What?” Tim yelled at Garrett’s retreating figure. When there was no response, the man hurried to catch up. “She can’t make it in five minutes. Lynne doesn’t think today will work for her. At all.”
Garrett rounded on the smaller man. He topped him by at least eight inches. Tim was slight, Garrett muscular. Yet that wasn’t what had the PA stepping back several feet. It was the look in Garrett’s steely eyes.
This man exuded confidence. Strength, both physical and psychological, radiated from his core. You didn’t mess with Garrett Landis. Not if you had half a brain.
“She was looking a little better when I left her trailer,” Tim said, clearing his throat. “She wanted to speak with you. Privately.”
Well, shit. Garrett didn’t see that coming. Lynne made it clear, early on –she was interested. He made it equally clear he wasn’t. End of story. They would have a friendly, professional relationship. Finding out his beautiful leading lady was angling for more didn’t hold the thrill it once had. It made Garrett… tired. His personal life was full of enough turmoil — he didn’t need the added drama of an on-set romance.
“I don’t have the time, or inclination, Tim.”
To Garrett’s surprise, the PA blushed. In Hollywood, that ability was knocked out of a person fast.
“I can’t guarantee anything.”
“Then Lynne will be out of a job. How long do you think you’ll last after that?”
Tim Bodine looked like a smart man. One capable of cajoling his uncooperative employer. Garrett didn’t care what it took to get his star in front of the camera as long as it happened. Immediately.
“Five minutes?” Tim asked, a little panicked.
“I’ll give you ten.”
Garrett wondered if it was too late to get out of feature films. Animation. That sounded good. No location shoots. Voice-over actors happy to skip wardrobe fittings and hours in the makeup chair. A little direction on his part. Mostly setting the scene. One or two takes. Right now, it sounded like heaven.
“What’s the word?” Hamish asked him.
“Bitch?”
“Any chance she’ll be joining us in the near future?”
“Your guess is as good as mine.”
Garrett looked around. They were ready to go. Cameras primed, leading man looking as impatient as Garrett felt. At least he’d lucked out with Paul McNally. He was a professional through and through. No power plays. No outlandish demands. There was no propositioning the director. Paul’s first job was a small part in a Caleb Landis production. He was a great actor. More importantly, he was a friend. Garrett felt lucky to work with him.
“Once again, you’ve lived up to your reputation,” Hamish said with admiration. “You really are a miracle worker.”
Garrett looked over his shoulder. Lynne Cornish. In full costume and makeup. A little pouty. He could work with that. It complimented the scene.
“Tell them five.”
“We’re shooting in five minutes, people,” Hamish called out Garrett’s directions. “Pee now or forever hold it.”
Garrett moved over to camera A, checking the shot. Perfect. This was his world. He knew what he was doing. No one questioned his authority or failed to jump at his command. Unlike his personal life, his professional life stayed on a clear path.
Unwanted, a quick image filled his mind. A woman. In the shadows. Frustrated by the intrusion, Garrett shook it off. He called for the actors to take their marks. He wouldn’t let her get in his head today. He had hundreds of people depending on him to stay focused. Rolling his shoulders a couple of times, he looked around to make sure everyone was ready.
The clapperboard was struck. Garrett felt the familiar energy begin to build. With a sigh of satisfaction, he opened his mouth.
“Action!”
THE ROOM WAS perfect.
Even so, Jade Marlow made one final inspection. The ballroom sparkled. The floors were polished, the tables set with an eye towards casual elegance. People would be amazed how much work it took to achieve casual. Jade knew. This was what she did. This was her world. It was the only place she had total and complete control.
“Ms. Marlow. The shrimp arrived.”
“Thank you, Teresa. Crisis averted.”
“We had a backup plan,” the caterer laughed. “Shellfish can be iffy, even when delivered on time. I brought twice as many of the stuffed mushroom caps. Who wo
uld care if we had four hors d’oeuvres instead of five?”
My father. Jade kept her hands from clenching; her teeth were another matter. Relax your jaw, Jade. The last thing you need, with a soon to be house full of guests, is a headache. Jade took a deep breath, then another. Not so long ago, breathing in and out wouldn’t have been enough. Certain triggers, like the thought of her father’s disapproval, required a pill. Those little pink ones. The ones she flushed down the toilet a month ago. She kept that bit of information to herself. As far as her father was concerned, a medicated Jade was a superior Jade.
Those days were over. Jade was getting stronger. Inch by inch. Second by second. That meant she filled the prescription on a regular basis. Then disposed of them. She continued the weekly visits with her parental-approved therapist. Then went to see her own the next day.
Slowly but surely, she was regaining control of her life. Without her father’s knowledge. She wasn’t strong enough to fight his objections. Not yet. Soon. When she was, she would tell him to mind his own business. She would pack her bags and leave his home. A little apartment sounded nice. For the first time in her life, she would have a place all her own.
Unbidden, she wondered what Garrett would think of her plans. Not that it mattered, she assured herself. She would never again live her life for someone else’s approval. When she made her move, it would be for herself. Period.
“Jade. Darling.”
“Melinda.”
Jade put on her best hostess face. Melinda Hurst was not a friend or acquaintance. More like a viper. Seeking out weakness then striking. Her greatest pleasure was the pain of others. For some time, Jade had been her favorite target.
I can do this, Jade thought. Nothing she says matters. They are only words.
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