by Cat Johnson
If only her manager hadn’t left the business a couple of months ago. She needed Roger’s advice now.
She probably would have called him last night and asked his opinion anyway, even though he didn’t work for her any longer, if it hadn’t been the middle of the night on the east coast.
For now, she was on her own in making this career-changing decision.
How would her fans react if she took something so totally different from her norm?
She guessed she was going to find out. Late last night, when she’d finally gotten to the end—and holy hell what an ending it had been—she’d texted her agent that she was interested.
So there it was. In the middle of the night, tired and hungry because the sushi hadn’t filled her up even a little bit—she’d made either the best or the worst decision of her career.
And she hadn’t gotten around to studying the pages for today, so guess what she did in the makeup chair this morning…
It was going to be a hell of a day.
Inside her trailer, she frowned when one glance around the small space told her Rick wasn’t inside.
In fact, she’d barely seen him recently.
He’d fallen asleep on the sofa in front of the television last night while she’d been in the bedroom reading. And though she felt horrible leaving him there, he looked as if he was sleeping so soundly she hadn’t had the heart to wake him so he could move to the bed after she’d finished the script.
Then, this morning, she’d had her nose buried in the pages while he drove them to the lot. After a quick kiss, he’d sent her into the makeup trailer where she continued to study the pages.
They’d had time to speak barely a handful of words since the moment he’d come home with the take-out order last night.
How did other actresses do it? Make a relationship work with someone not in the business? If Rick’s job weren’t to be with her during every waking moment, she’d hardly ever see him.
She grabbed her cell phone, about to punch in a text to tell him she was out of makeup, when a knock had her stopping.
That was probably him. He always knocked. He’d said he didn’t want to fling open the trailer door in case she was inside changing.
Polite to the core . . . or maybe Rick, who had an obvious jealous streak, just didn’t want anyone walking by to see her half dressed.
She’d spent all day yesterday naked on the set, and millions were going to see her like that in the movie, but she appreciated the sentiment.
Smiling, she yanked open the door, but the silly joke she was going to deliver about her not letting strange men into her trailer died on her lips when she saw it wasn’t him.
“They need you in a meeting,” the young male PA said.
“A meeting?” She frowned. “I don’t remember hearing about a meeting.”
Had she missed a text or an email? She looked down at the cell phone that was still in her hand as the kid, who—God help her—looked young enough she could have birthed him, shook his head.
“It wasn’t scheduled. The director just called it.”
“Oh. Okay.” Following the kid out, she pulled the door closed behind her.
Now she was really going to have to text Rick. She didn’t want him getting to the trailer and not finding her there, or in makeup, or on the set.
He’d freak the hell out. Probably call for a lock down of the lot. Before she knew it there’d be air support and a team of his former SEAL friends scouring the place.
She’d been the recipient of their collective attention before and it was intense. Best to head off any problems right now.
She was trying to text and walk—a no-no, she knew—when the kid opened the door she hadn’t realized they’d reached. He stepped to the side and she went through, hitting send on a text that was much shorter than she’d intended.
Meeting. Catch up after.
At least it would keep him from calling in the bloodhounds.
Did SEALs use bloodhounds? Doubtful. Hounds were more small town sheriff and prison guard type dogs.
Rick would probably use German Shepherds. At least that looked like the breed they used on that television show SEAL Team.
Sad how she got most of her real world knowledge from Hollywood. Sadder that so much of it was probably inaccurate.
But of course, Hollywood had it’s own kind of reality.
She gave up on waiting for Rick’s reply and lowered the cell. She raised her gaze and noticed the grave expression on the director’s face.
But that wasn’t what had her gasping. That came after she saw the mess that was Jamey’s face.
“Oh my God. Are you all right?” All else forgotten—Rick’s absence, Howard’s expression—she rushed forward toward the man who looked nothing like he had yesterday when she’d left him.
Jamey waved away the concern. “I’m fine. It’s nothing.”
“Nothing?” Her eyes widened in shock as she got close enough to truly appreciate the colorful bruise. “Were you in a car accident?”
“Uh, no.” He dropped his gaze away from hers.
What the hell was going on?
Confused, Sierra lowered herself into the seat next to him. She reached out and took both of his hands in hers.
They might have only met a short time ago, but she’d spent up to eighteen hours a day with this guy. They’d rolled around naked—or at least nearly naked. Why was he being so evasive with her now instead of answering a simple question?
“Tell me,” she said.
Jamey glanced at the director.
Sierra followed his gaze. Howard was sitting there silent but obviously stewing. Did he not know either?
She turned back to Jamey and squeezed his hands.
“It was just a misunderstanding,” he said.
A misunderstanding?
“You mean like a fight? Someone punched you?” she guessed.
“Yeah. Kinda,” he said.
Turning his hands over in hers, she inspected his knuckles. They were perfect.
She lifted her gaze to look at his swollen face. “But you didn’t punch back, did you?”
“No.” He pulled his hands away from hers. “I told you. It was just a misunderstanding.”
“A misunderstanding that is going to cost us weeks,” Howard said.
Jamey shook his head. “No, it won’t. It won’t even cost us a day.”
“Oh, really. And how do you figure that?” Howard asked.
“Makeup can cover the bruise,” Jamey said.
Sierra nodded. “The bruise, but not that swelling. It’s going to show.”
“They can shoot me from the other side,” Jamey suggested.
“Oh, yeah. Great solution. We’ll just always have you in profile for the next week or two.” Howard rolled his eyes.
“Then we’ll juggle the schedule. We shoot the flashback scenes now instead of next month. My character is at war. It won’t look odd if I look a little beat up. Besides, under grease paint and in a helmet with night vision goggles on, no one will see.”
Howard shook his head. “There are so many things wrong with that plan I can’t even begin to tell you.”
“Come on, Howard. Work with me here. Why can’t we swap out the scenes?” Jamey asked.
“For one, we had planned on two dozen extras coming in for the big ambush scene next month, not tomorrow. That’s besides the fact that it requires the entire crew travel to another state. That requires hotel rooms and the location itself, all of which are reserved for, as I’ve said, next month.”
Sierra heard the sound of the door open and close behind her. She turned and saw Rick.
He must have seen her text and tracked down where the meeting was being held.
Not a surprise. He was like a bulldog with a bone, a real problem solver when it came to finding her. It was as endearing as it could be annoying sometimes. But right now, she had bigger things to worry about than why Rick was here in her meeting, or why he looked so grim abo
ut it.
She turned back to face Jamey. His gaze was also on Rick, until he dragged it away and focused on Howard. “I’ll personally cover whatever the delay is going to cost.”
Sierra heard Rick’s sharp intake of breath but didn’t turn. She was too busy waiting to see if Howard was going to take Jamey up on the offer. A delay in production could cost hundreds of thousands of dollars, depending on how long it lasted.
Howard let out a snort. “I think I’ll take you up on that offer. Perhaps it will teach you to be a little more careful. For Christ’s sake, Jamey, what were you thinking? Did you go out and get drunk and get in some bar brawl? Or hit on some girl with a jealous boyfriend?”
Jamey remained silent, accepting the dressing down but not responding to Howard’s questions.
“I’m asking you what happened. I’d like an answer,” Howard said, his tone sharp.
Jamey pressed his lips more tightly together, his body language broadcasting that he wasn’t about to tell. “It doesn’t matter. Just take the money and let’s figure out what to do about saving as much time as we can.”
“Oh, we’ll do that. After you tell me,” Howard said.
Rick stepped forward.
Sierra cringed. Of all times for him to not be his usual invisible but ever present self . . . This was definitely not the time for Rick to make himself the object of Howard’s attention. Not when the man was livid.
Howard lifted a brow as his gaze landed on Rick. “Can I help you?”
“It’s my fault. Not his,” Rick said.
“What do you mean?” Sierra asked before Howard had a chance to.
“Rick—” Jamey’s words were cut off as Rick held up one hand.
“No. I won’t let you take the blame or bear the cost of my mistake.” Rick turned from Jamey to Howard. “I punched him.”
“Why?” Sierra asked.
Howard’s eyes widened. “Yes, I’d like to know that too.”
Rick drew in a breath that somehow seemed to make him look taller. Or maybe it was just that he’d straightened his spine, lifted his chin and held his head high. He was braced to face whatever came next, though Sierra didn’t know why.
What the hell had happened? And when? He’d only gone out to get sushi. But he’d also stopped by the lot to get her pages . . .
Her gaze dropped to his right hand and she noticed the swell of bruising. He wasn’t lying. He’d punched Jamey.
“I thought he was sleeping with Sierra.” Rick added, “In real life. Not just the movie.”
“What? Why would you think that?” She stood to face him. He might be taller, but she was madder.
“It’s my fault.” Jamey stood too. “I said something that he misinterpreted.”
Shocked, she spun to Jamey. “You told him we were sleeping together?”
“No. Of course not. Why would I do that when it’s not true? I was on the phone and he overheard me talking about something else and thought I was talking about you.” Jamey shook his head. “It doesn’t matter. It’s nobody’s fault. It was just a mistake.”
“I want you off my lot. Now.” Howard’s words had Sierra’s head whipping around to see who he was talking to, though she really didn’t need to see Howard’s deadly glare leveled on Rick to know.
Rick nodded, eerily calm. “I understand. And I’ll go. But not before Sierra’s new security team arrives and I get them up to speed. They’re on their way. It won’t be more than an hour. I promise.”
The whole time Rick focused on Howard, as if she wasn’t even there though this most definitely involved her.
“What new security team?” she asked. “Who? And how did you know to bring them in?”
Finally, he glanced at her. “I wasn’t going to let him take the blame for something I did, so this morning I got in touch with the team and told them I need some experienced operators here to replace me.”
“SEALs?” Jamey asked, taking a step forward.
Rick smiled sadly. “Yeah. You’re going to get your SEALs.”
“Who’s coming?” Sierra asked.
“Jon and Zane.”
She frowned. “Shouldn’t they be in Virginia Beach?”
“I was lucky. They happened to be at Coronado. They’re coming today to get the lay of the land then they’ll assign someone from their west coast operators to take over your security for the rest of the shoot.”
“Holy shit.” Jamey spun to Howard. “Do you realize what this means?”
“That I’m wasting a whole lot of valuable time listening to bullshit that is not getting my movie made?” Howard scowled.
“No. You’re wrong about that. Do you even know who this guy is?”
“I figure he’s Sierra’s boyfriend as well as her security. Though I’m not really sure which came first, not that it matters.”
Jamey shook his head. “He’s a Navy SEAL. And so are his buddies who are coming today.”
“And?” Howard asked.
“So is my character. Don’t you see? They can help us.” Jamey was visibly excited.
Howard cocked up one brow. “We have a military consultant.”
Jamey shook his head. “Not a SEAL.”
Howard shrugged. “What’s the difference? Military is military.”
Rick let out a snort as Sierra prayed he’d keep his mouth shut.
Getting tossed off this one movie was bad enough, but Howard could easily do worse than that. He was a powerful man with lots of friends. He could easily get Rick blackballed. Banned from any future movie sets.
Then where would they be?
She’d never see him. Hell, his behavior could affect her career too.
Producers and directors took many things into consideration when hiring an actress—her having a boyfriend and head of security with an obvious temper who destroyed the leading man’s face in the middle of production would certainly be one of them.
Just thinking about Rick’s behavior, what he’d done, how he could possibly think she would cheat on him, had her blood pressure rising.
She shot him a glare, as much to silence him from pissing off Howard any further, as to let him know how unhappy she was with him.
He pressed his lips together and thank God remained quiet.
“It’s not the same,” Jamey said. He spun to Rick. “Tell him. How many things do you see in movies and on television that are inaccurate?”
“It’d be easier to list the few things they get right.”
“See!” Jamey threw his hands in the air. “We need him. And his friends. I’ll pay them out of my own pocket if I have to.”
Howard sent Jamey a glare. “You sure are eager to spend your money. Apparently we paid you too much for this movie.”
“I want it right.” Jamey shook his head. “I don’t care what it costs or if I don’t make a penny, as long as it’s accurate.”
Howard let out a snort. “I’ll remember your feelings next contract negotiation with your agent.”
“If it’ll help, I’ll go over the script. No charge,” Rick said. “And I can watch the dailies, check the equipment and the uniforms, even the battle strategies if you want and make a list of what I see wrong. I owe you at least that for all of this.”
Howard focused on Rick. “I haven’t decided yet if I’m going to even let you stay on the set, but if I do you’d be here on a probationary basis. You’d listen to me. Follow orders, no questions asked. And you’re right, you would be doing this consulting for no charge to make up for what you’re costing us in time and money because of your jealous fit.”
“And you won’t charge Jamey for the delay if I do this?” Rick asked. “I don’t want him paying for my mistake.”
“No, I won’t take his money, even though he’s all too eager to offer it up.” Howard shot Jamey a glance.
Looking visibly relieved, Rick tipped his head in a nod. “Then I’ll do it.”
“What about your friends? Will they help too, you think?” Jamey asked, looking like a kid
about to meet his favorite major league baseball player. “I’ll pay them.”
“I don’t know. I can’t answer for them, but we can ask.” Rick shrugged. “You gotta understand that they’re real busy. Zane mentioned having to be in Djibouti next week.”
“Djibouti.” Jamey spun back to Howard. “See? These guys are no shit, real deal military.”
“Are you?” Howard asked Rick with a smirk, not looking as impressed as Jamey. “Are you really no shit, real deal military?”
Rick shot Jamey a glance, looking as if he was amused by the hero worship even as he enjoyed it just a little. “Yes, sir. I guess I am.”
“Tell me, how many punches did it take you to do that to his face?” Howard tipped his head toward Jamey.
Rick’s brows shot up at the question. “Um. One.”
Howard pressed his lips together. “As much as I hate to say it, I wouldn’t mind having a real SEAL on the set. And the fact you owe me doesn’t hurt. But I want this understood. There will be no diva attitude. No taking time off. No complaining over long hours or too much time on your feet. You’ll have to be present for all the military shoots and trust me, there will be long hours with no breaks and late nights.”
Sierra could see Rick trying and failing to hide his amusement. “I’ll be fine.”
Howard drew in a breath and let it out loudly. “Okay. But you step out of line just once—”
“And I’m off the set,” Rick finished Howard’s sentence. “I understand.”
Scowling at being cut off, Howard shot Rick a glare before moving on to Jamey. “And you. You go to makeup and see what they can do with that face.”
“Yes, sir.” His lips twitching with a victorious smile, Jamey jumped to extend his hand to Rick. “Thanks for agreeing.”
“Don’t thank him,” Howard raged. “You should fucking thank me. And all of you get out of my office. I’ve got to figure out how to salvage this schedule and convince the production department I haven’t lost my mind.”
“Thank you, Howard.” Jamey shot him a crooked painful-looking smile as he moved toward the door Rick had opened. “This movie is going to take home an Oscar because of this. You’ll see.”
“It better,” Howard shouted at their retreating backs.
Sierra hung behind. “I wanted to say I’m sorry. I had no idea any of that went down last night.”