“Until you get them, why don’t I show you where the washer and dryer are? Get that out of the way,” he said, reaching over to close the laptop.
“Good idea. Thanks.” Just as she turned to her bags, her phone rang again.
Judging by the look on Camryn’s face, Maximo didn’t need anyone to tell him Lark was the caller.
Once Camryn had hit her limit with something, she was just done. Like now, with this entire Denny situation. No matter how painful the results might be, she needed to end the guessing once and for all.
“Hey, Lark,” she said when she answered the phone. After a moment’s thought, she put the call on speaker so Maximo could hear the conversation.
“Got your message. What’s up?” Lark sounded harried, as if she was talking while on foot.
“Have you been colluding with Denny to undermine Integrity?” Camryn didn’t beat around the bush. She went straight for the throat, hoping to catch Lark off guard.
Maximo arched a brow at her as if he was mildly surprised by her tactic.
“Colluding—what? What the hell are you talking about, Cam?” Lark’s confusion seemed genuine.
“I want to know if you gave those pictures to Denny, rather than him stealing them off your computer. Did you tell him about the recorder?”
“Cam, have you lost your freaking mind? I can’t believe you think I’d do such a thing. Denny was our acquaintance right up until he wasn’t—which was when he stole those pictures, shopped those other photos of you in bed with someone else, and generally pulled a Jekyll-Hyde on us. Of course I didn’t tell him about the recorder.”
Camryn knew right away, even without seeing Lark’s face, that her roommate was telling the truth. A huge weight lifted from her shoulders. Maximo seemed to think Lark was being genuine as well, nodding to affirm he believed her. That kind of shock was hard to fake.
“I had to be sure. Denny confronted me at the apartment, in the parking lot. He got rough with me and said that you’d been plotting with him all along. He used the recorder as partial proof,” Cam said.
A few seconds of silence preceded Lark’s sudden burst of indignant fury. Curse words better suited to a sailor lit up the phone, the slander so profound that Camryn joined Maximo in silent laughter.
Maximo mouthed, God help Denny.
“I don’t even have the recorder!” Lark said once her cursing streak was over.
Lark’s misunderstanding of how Denny had used the recorder cemented Cam’s belief that Lark had nothing to do with the threats. Her relief knew no bounds.
“He only said that you’d told him about it—which still leaves me clueless to how he knows about it in the first place,” Camryn said.
“I don’t know how he found out, and that’s worrisome in itself, but the next time I see that little bastard, I’m going to knock his teeth in.”
“By the way, I won’t be home tonight. I’m staying over . . . at a friend’s house,” Cam said. Might as well let Lark know while she had her on the phone. “Maybe even two or three days. I have my interview schedule with me.”
“I take it that means Maximo showed up and you’re going to ride him until you can’t wa—”
Camryn fumbled the phone in an effort to turn the speaker off. She accidentally hit End instead before the cell dropped on the floor.
Max threw back his head and laughed.
Twenty-Eight
The scent of sex and Maximo’s subtle cologne stirred Camryn’s senses when she opened her eyes. It was dark in his bedroom, with moonlight falling in the balcony doors and windows. Cheek on his chest, she stared across the mattress toward the wall, temporarily lost in memories of their evening just past. The love had been ferocious the first time and tender the second. She could still feel him in all her most private places and would for a few days to come. He was an extraordinary lover, sensitive to her wants and needs, which he put above his own.
Propping her chin on his chest, she swiveled her gaze toward his face. He was flat on his back, one arm flung wide. The whiskers on his jaw gave him a roguish appearance and enhanced the handsome shape of his cheeks, nose, and forehead. Lashes dark as ink swept half crescents across his skin, hiding the unusual color of his eyes.
“Do you always stare at people in the middle of the night?” Maximo asked.
“How do you know I’m looking at you? Your eyes are closed.”
“I can feel it. Your stare has the weight of a thousand suns.”
She laughed at Maximo’s absurd retort. “I’m going to tease you so bad about that when you’re actually awake and coherent tomorrow. Do you even know what you’re saying?”
“It’s three or four in the morning, or something. I’m not responsible for what comes out of my mouth.”
Camryn propped herself higher on his chest, peering down until he opened his eyes.
“Tell me what you’re thinking,” Maximo said.
Camryn opened her mouth then closed it again. She wasn’t sure what Max would think if she admitted what had actually been on her mind.
Max sifted her hair lazily through his fingers. “Go on. You can tell me.”
“I was thinking . . . that I could get used to this,” she finally replied. Camryn saw no censure in his gaze, no surprise or discord.
“Good. Because I could get used to it, too.”
“Really?”
“Yes, really,” he said.
“I know you’re busy filming a lot. What do you have coming up after this movie you’re doing?” Camryn wanted an idea how much time they might spend apart. She had work of her own to do. Between her job and his, she didn’t think there would be many nights spent together.
“I’ve got three movies back to back after I’m done with this one.”
“Will you be traveling a lot for them?” Camryn swirled her fingers over Maximo’s chest.
“Yes. But that’s not for a while yet. I don’t know my schedule exactly this next week, only that I’ll be home for the next few nights. After that, it’s hard to say.”
“We’ll figure it out. I’ve got interviews lined up, plus the exclusive releases with Martin for this movie you’re doing. I wonder if he’ll invite me to the set here, too?” When Camryn recalled that there were sex scenes coming up, she wasn’t sure if she wanted to be there or not. She would see it on screen eventually anyway, she reminded herself.
“Maybe once the love scene is done. He only allows relevant people on the set for that.”
“Because it might be awkward otherwise?” Camryn asked.
“Yes.”
“Do you have to kiss her?”
“Yes.” He arched a brow. “It’s going to be somewhat explicit.”
“How many times have you had to practice for that?” She hoped she didn’t sound sarcastic. Aubrey wasn’t her favorite person, though at least the woman had backed off a little in Switzerland.
“Four or five. Hopefully the filming will go smoothly and we won’t have to do too many takes.” His chest shook with silent laughter.
Camryn pinched his skin near his ribs. “I hope you get it done the first time and that’ll be that.”
“Trust me. I’d like nothing more.” He paused, as if thoughtful. “Do you usually work the red carpet for movie premieres?”
“Sometimes. Lark usually does them because she’s more into that kind of thing than I am. Why?”
“I have that movie about to drop in two weeks. I’ll be at the premiere, and though I don’t usually stop for reporters and questions, I’d stop for you.”
“Imagine the firestorm that would create,” she said and gave a quiet laugh. “You bypassing all the top entertainment news anchors to speak with me.”
“It could be great for business,” he said.
Camryn knew that to be true. She might score a few other high profile interviews, too. “All right, then. If I show up, stop and let me ask you some questions. The paparazzi can think what they want to.”
“It’s a date.” Maxim
o winked.
Camryn’s biggest concern was that Denny might show up and undermine the whole thing.
Three days with Maximo Payne just wasn’t enough time. Camryn could have spent weeks exploring his beautiful home, and exploring him at night in bed. Already she knew she would miss his touch, his scent, his nearness.
It hadn’t taken long to get addicted.
She said her goodbyes before the sun came up that final morning and departed his estate with mixed emotions: elation at the budding relationship and trepidation at what she might find waiting at home.
Cam wasn’t in any mood to deal with paparazzi—or Denny—today.
The flash of headlights in her rearview mirror drew her attention to the presence of another vehicle, one that apparently needed to travel the same route out of the exclusive neighborhood as she did.
After the fourth turn, with the headlights still in her rearview, Camryn started to get suspicious. She took another left, then a right, maintaining a moderate speed.
The vehicle followed.
You’ve got to be kidding me. What now? she thought with no small amount of irritation. It could be paparazzi, having discovered Maximo’s new address. She imagined the car following her all the way back to her complex, blocking in the Fiat, and blinding her with relentless photographs.
Second Secret Mistress Strikes Again!
She set aside her sarcasm to consider the possibility that it wasn’t the paparazzi at all, but someone with nefarious intent. A random thief, maybe even Denny. How could he have known she was at Maximo’s, though? She didn’t recall being followed from her apartment.
Instead of driving home, Camryn drove straight to the police station, which was only a handful of blocks from her complex. She pulled into the parking lot, swerved into a parking space, and glanced back to the street.
The vehicle had already sped past, too quick for her to discern the details. Camryn considered going straight into the station to file a report, but didn’t think she had enough evidence to prove anything.
After a moment, she dug her phone out of her purse and dialed Maximo’s number. For all she knew, someone might have thought it was him in her car, and she’d always believed it was better to be safe than sorry.
Twenty-Nine
Max raked a hand through his wet hair as he walked across his bedroom to the dresser. His skin still tingled from the sting of a hot shower. Just as he pulled open the top drawer, his cell phone rang. He glanced over to the nightstand. It was probably Lenni, or Martin, both calls he knew he shouldn’t put off. If he was lucky, shooting would be delayed another day or two due to Aubrey spraining her ankle on set.
“Hello?” he said, carrying the phone back to the dresser from the nightstand.
“It’s me.”
“Get home safe?” Maximo asked, pleased to hear Camryn’s voice on the line.
“Actually, I’m sitting at the police station. I wanted to let you know that someone followed me from your house. They might have thought I was you. So, you know, just be aware. Be careful.”
He frowned at the news. “Did you get a look at the car or the driver?”
“Unfortunately, no. The headlights were too bright and the car had already passed the parking lot after I turned in. It could be nothing, but I don’t like coincidences and wanted to give you a heads-up.”
“Do you think it could be Denny?” he asked, drawing on a pair of jeans.
“As far as I know, no one followed me from my apartment when I drove to your house. I can’t figure how he would know I was there to begin with,” Camryn said.
“Did you file a report?” He yanked a shirt over his head, pulled on socks, and slid his feet into a pair of lace-up boots.
“I thought about it. But really, I don’t have a lot of information. You know? Besides, there’s still the possibility the person thought you were driving, using my little car as a distract-and-divert tactic.”
“Listen, go in there and file a report anyway. Get something on record. You should also tell them about Denny roughing you up a few days ago.” Max’s protective instinct kicked into overdrive. He didn’t care who liked it.
“All right. Still, though, be careful.”
“I will. I’ll talk to you after I’m done shooting for the day.”
“Bye, Max.”
“Bye, baby.” He ended the call and pushed his phone into his pocket. There were no messages from Martin or Lenni, which meant filming was back on schedule. He tried not to think about the explicit scenes he needed to shoot, and instead considered putting a small security detail on Camryn until the situation resolved itself. It surely couldn’t hurt.
The question was whether or not she would agree to the plan.
Camryn eyeballed every other car in the apartment complex parking lot with open suspicion. Specifically, she looked for Denny’s vehicle, or anyone sitting behind the wheel like they were waiting for something.
Or someone.
So far, so good. Nothing seemed out of place. No paparazzi lingered in the lot either to hinder her transition from car to the sidewalk.
After snatching up her belongings, she exited the car and hurried along the pathway toward the security gate.
Almost there.
She glanced back once. Twice. No one followed her.
When she’d punched in the code and let herself inside the gate, she breathed a little easier. The police had taken her statement and cautioned her to be more aware of her surroundings, which meant she didn’t let her guard down until she’d entered her apartment and locked the door.
“It’s about time we see your ugly mug—what’s wrong?” Lark asked as she exited her bedroom.
Camryn met Lark’s gaze across the apartment. The woman always knew when there was a problem. In minute detail, she explained to Lark what had happened from the moment she departed Max’s estate until she’d left the police station.
“Do you think Denny would seriously go to this extreme?” Camryn asked after she’d told her tale. She set her bags aside and went straight to a couch where she unceremoniously flopped onto the cushions.
“Well, I didn’t think Denny would steal pictures off our computer, and he did. I also never thought he’d actually get rough with anyone, despite his reputation for being aggressive while taking photos of celebrities.” Lark slouched into a seat opposite the couch.
“I was pretty surprised myself. He seemed genuinely angry that day in the parking lot. Except I’m pretty sure no one followed me to Max’s house, so I don’t know how he knew I was there in the first place. Maybe it wasn’t Denny at all.” Camryn rubbed her forehead. She had work to do and didn’t have time for this nonsense.
“Seriously, Cam. You know how fast rumors travel around here. There’s no way Maximo’s residence would stay a secret for long. Denny might have just gotten lucky. He could have been staked out there, waiting for Max to show, and saw your car instead. He knows what you drive,” Lark said.
“Maybe. I don’t know what else to do except get on with things and hope that Denny loses interest in us.” Camryn had a feeling that the situation would not resolve so easily.
“We’ve been getting interview requests left and right, and not all of them have been D-listers. I’ve done eight interviews in four days. It’s crazy.”
“That’s great. Thanks for taking over the bulk of the work. And, again, I’m sorry I ever doubted you.” Camryn smiled sheepishly at Lark.
Lark waved off the apology. “Don’t even think twice about it. I might have paused to consider things, too, if he’d done the same thing to me. But we know now, so that trick won’t work twice.”
“No, it won’t. Besides all that, we need to get ready for Maximo’s new release in two weeks. He said that he’d stop for questions on the red carpet, but only for me.”
Lark surged to her feet with a whoop. “That means all the cameras will be on you. We need to get T-shirts made! You should wear something with our logo on it. Wow, what an opportunity, C
am.”
“We don’t have a logo.” Camryn laughed.
“We will by tonight. C’mon. Let’s go to work.”
Camryn rolled to her feet and followed Lark into the dungeon.
Forcing her mind to creative pursuits would distract her from the uneasy sensation gripping her spine.
Thirty
Maximo wrapped his naked hips with a white towel, tucking one end into the waist to hold it in place. He thrust both hands back through his hair in frustration as Martin called him over to the side of the set. A rustic bed with rumpled covers doused in ambient lighting was the scene of Aubrey’s latest tirade, a scene Maximo was only too happy to get away from.
“I have to apologize, Max. I really thought Aubrey would step up for the role. She’s taken the whole crew by surprise with her increasing demands and meltdowns,” Martin said. “I knew I should have chosen Jace McBride for the role instead.”
Maximo couldn’t disagree with Martin. Aubrey was proving to be more than a handful. Not only that, but her acting had taken on a disingenuous edge which put the entire film at risk. Along with his career. One serious bomb had the capacity to wreck all future ventures.
“I have to be honest, Martin. Aubrey’s going to sink this movie. The chemistry between us is as cold as the Arctic Ocean. It’s like she’s getting worse with every take.”
“Yes, yes.” Martin scrubbed the tips of his fingers against his stubbled chin. “Jace is a complete unknown, but she knows all the lines. If I fire Aubrey, that sets our schedule back at least six weeks.”
“We’ll make up the time somewhere. If Jace is even half as good as you say, we should be able to get through the scenes without too much trouble. I know it means flying back to Switzerland, but I think it needs to happen. There’s a lot at stake here. For everyone.” Maximo watched Martin’s expression shift from pensive indecision to acceptance. If nothing else, Max knew he could count on the director to do the right thing.
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