Crashing Into Love

by Melissa Foster

  Trace locked the door behind them and ensured all of the curtains were drawn. She crossed her arms and arched a pierced brow. “What the hell was that?”

  “Media needs to eat, too,” Jake said. “They take pics when I’m out on the town with my friends anyway, because I hang out with actors all the time, so now they have a few nice photos to keep them busy for a while.” He led Fiona to a leather couch, sat down beside her, and took her hands in his. “You’re shaking.”

  “I’m not used to that. How can you be so calm?”

  He shrugged. “I’m the one who let the word out.”

  Fiona couldn’t believe what she was hearing, and the pleased look on Jake’s face only made her angrier.

  “Tell me you’re messing with me here.” Trace’s stick-straight, black hair was blunt cut at the shoulders. She was skinny as a beanpole and looked about eighteen years old with her dark eyeliner, skinny jeans, and plain white V-neck T-shirt. She had an earpiece hooked in place and a radio attached to her studded belt—and an angry look in her eyes.

  He set a serious gaze on Fiona and cupped her cheek. “I’m making changes, and I wanted there to be no question as to who I’m with. The paparazzi are always taking pictures when I’m out with actresses. This will keep those actresses off my back.”

  Fiona opened her mouth to say something but didn’t know if she should be honored or upset that he hadn’t alerted her to the attack.

  “Well, as sweet as that is, Jake, I’m your assistant.” Trace crossed her arms and thrust her hip out. “It’s my job to be apprised of these sorts of things, and I hardly think it’s fair to ambush Fiona, no matter how good your intentions were.”

  “Thank you,” Fiona said, surprised at how she and Trace had been thinking the same thing.

  Jake’s eyes filled with concern. “I didn’t mean to ambush you, Fi. I didn’t want to freak you out by telling you what I’d done.”

  “So it’s better to let her fall prey to those animals completely unprepared?” Trace rolled her eyes and waved her hand in the air, black nail polish on all four fingers, blue on her thumb.

  “Jesus, Trace. Don’t you have something to do?”

  Fiona could tell by the arch of his brow that he wasn’t angry at Trace, and the way Trace shook her head with a playfully annoyed smile also told her that they’d had this type of discussion before. She remembered the director hollering at him for whooping before he’d yelled cut. This was her Jake, through and through.

  “Yeah, like shooing out the dogs that you’ve left trails of food for. Sorry, Fiona. I’ll try to keep them off your back today.” Trace glared at Jake. “Next time take three seconds to text me, okay? Even if you’re the one leaking the info, I should know so I can run interference.”

  “You’re right,” Jake conceded. “Sorry, Trace. Now please get out of here.” He smiled and motioned with his hands for her to leave.

  “Thank you, Trace.” Fiona watched her leave and turned her attention back to Jake, who began explaining before she could say a word.

  “Before you get mad, hear me out. I’m sorry, but I know how uncomfortable you were last night when Megan was all over me, and I know how uncomfortable I was with all the guys checking you out. If we have a chance in hell of having any kind of sane relationship, I had to do something. I’m sorry, Fi. I probably should have told you, but I wasn’t thinking clearly. I still feel like I’m all wound up with no idea if I’m coming or going.”

  She rested her head back on the couch and sighed, already exhausted and the day had barely begun. “Is that a good thing or a bad thing, Jake? I’m so out of my element. Honestly, I appreciate what you’ve done.” She met his gaze and paused, trying to figure out how to tell him what she was really thinking.

  “But?”

  “But it was awful watching that girl paw at you last night.”

  He opened his mouth to say something, and she pressed her finger over his lips.

  “I know this is my issue. I know that this grand gesture that you made will probably change things, and I appreciate that. I said I could handle it, and I want to be able to. It’s just proving to be more difficult than I imagined.” She’d wanted to be with Jake for so long, and here she was throwing a monkey wrench into his efforts. She was confused and wanted to stop talking, but she couldn’t. Something inside her needed him to know how she was feeling. They’d always been honest with each other, and she didn’t want to start hiding things now, when they were on the cusp of what felt like something real.

  “It’s only been a day.” He scrubbed his hand down his face. “And what you saw was nothing, Fi.” He rose and paced. “When I go to a restaurant, fans are all over me. That’s one reason I did this. Those media hounds will get our pic in every rag magazine by tomorrow morning. In fact, I’d be surprised if it’s not already hitting the online gossip columns. That will at least pause the stampede.”

  He knelt beside her and placed his hands on her knees. “I did this for us. So we can have room to breathe.”

  “I know. I get it, Jake.” She did understand it on a cognitive level, but that didn’t make situations like Megan Flexx practically scaling Jake any easier to deal with. “I’m just being honest.”

  “Honesty is good. I want honesty, and you deserve it.” He held her gaze, and a slow smile spread across his face. “One day at a time, right? Please tell me that I didn’t mess up so badly that we’ll never have more than those few hours together.”

  “Jake...I can’t believe you want this as much as I do.” She couldn’t believe she’d let those words come out of her mouth.

  “Neither can I.”

  “One day at a time.”

  MORNING MOVED INTO afternoon seamlessly as Jake went from one set to the next, nailing every stunt. Trace did her job well, and by the time Jake had a break, security was tightened and there was no sight of the paparazzi. He headed over to the set where Trish was filming to try to catch Fiona, and stopped when he caught sight of her talking with Zane and Patch. The jealousy tearing through him was ridiculous. He’d had women at his fingertips for the past decade, and he’d never once become jealous over any of them. Fiona walked back into his life and suddenly he went green with envy. His brothers would have a field day with this.

  Zane saw him coming and excused himself from Patch and Fiona, intercepting Jake before he could reach her. He grabbed Jake’s arm and dragged him farther away.

  Jake had worked as Zane’s stunt double for most of Zane’s films since his career had taken off. They looked alike enough even without makeup that they could have been brothers, though at six three, Jake had a good two inches on Zane.

  “Dude, what was with that PR stunt this morning?” Zane crossed his arms and glanced over at Fiona, who was looking at them with a curious gaze.

  Jake held up one finger in her direction. “I’m giving it a go with Fiona and needed a little breathing space.”

  “Giving it a go?” Zane crossed his arms and looked down his angular nose at Jake. “What does that mean? Giving it a go?” He laughed. “You realize those pics will be plastered all over the Internet and gossip rags, essentially taking you off the market and putting you into the hot seat. The media will be tailing you everywhere.”

  “I threw them a bone with the agreement that they get these pics but they stay off our asses. We’ll see if they listen, but I needed to do something.”

  “Why? I mean, she’s hot, but, dude, giving it a go? As in not sleeping with other women?”

  Jake wanted to explain himself to Zane about as much as he wanted to be trailed by the media, but Zane was as much Jake’s cohort in womanizing as anyone could be, and they were friends. If he was really going to give this relationship a shot, he had to lay it on the line no matter how much shit he’d have to take.

  Relationship.

  That word was so foreign to him that even thinking it made him bristle—until he caught sight of Fiona again, smiling in his direction, and the word relationship had never sound
ed so good.

  “Yeah, that’s exactly what I mean.” He’d watched his brothers fall like flies for their significant others, and he’d vehemently denied he would ever follow the same path. Then again, he’d never entertained the idea of trying to make things work with Fiona again.

  “What’s so special about this one? Why on earth would you agree to a monogamous relationship?” Zane pulled him farther away from Fiona. “Jake, wake up, man. You’re at the top of your game. You’ve got a good thing going.”

  Jake didn’t hear anything after Zane referring to Fiona as this one. He narrowed his eyes and stepped in close. “We’ve got a good friendship going, Zane. I respect you, so respect my decision. And if you refer to her as this one again, I’ll have to teach you the meaning of respect. Got it?”

  “Whoa. Back off, man. What has she done to you? You’ve known her what? A week?”

  “A fucking lifetime.” He glared at Zane.

  “Wait.” Zane’s eyes darted between Fiona and Jake as understanding dawned on him. One night when they’d first met, they’d been drinking at a cast party and Zane had spouted off about broken hearts being a bullshit crutch. Jake had been too drunk to stop his story from spilling from his lips. He’d never mentioned Fiona’s name, but he could tell by the widening of Zane’s eyes that he’d figured it out. That had been the one and only time Jake had mentioned that part of his past to anyone in LA.

  “Shit. She’s the one who broke your heart? Damn, man.” Zane coughed to mask a laugh. “And you’re giving up everything for her? What the hell are you thinking?”

  “I think now’s a good time for you to shut up and for me to walk away before you say something that really pisses me off.”

  Zane held his hands up in surrender. “Sorry, man. Just sayin’.” He patted Jake’s arm. “Listen, if this is what you want, I’m all for it. For you, that is. Not for myself, of course. I’ve got no interest in giving anything more than a night of no-strings-attached sex a try. But hey, if this is where you’re heading, I’m there for you. Really. She seems sweet, and she’s sharp as a tack. You know she’s a geologist? Of course you do.”

  Jake took a step away. “Yeah, she’s damn smart, all right. And sweet, and between you and me, she fucking blows me away.”

  “Just one question. What does she think about all the ass you’ve been getting? That stuff’s gotta come back to haunt you at some point. Do you really think this is possible? Small-town girl, big-time celebrity?”

  “Hell if I know, and it seems weird hearing you of all people putting the pieces together. But I’m going to try.” He already felt like he was playing with a team where he was a step behind. He didn’t need anyone else doubting him.

  Jake crossed the lot to Fiona and slid an arm around her waist, pressing a kiss to her cheek while eyeing Patch. Patch was a good guy. But he was also a damn handsome man, and just one of many men without the baggage of a string of women hanging around his neck, as Zane had so kindly reminded him.

  “Hey, babe. Hey, Patch. How’s it going?”

  “Looks like it’s going great for you two.” Patch patted Fiona’s arm. “I’ll give you some privacy. Catch you guys later.”

  “Okay, see you around.” Fiona waved to Trish, who was sitting in a chair having her makeup done.

  “How’s your day going?” Jake asked.

  “Crazy, but good. Yours?”

  He brushed her hair from her shoulder. “Better now. Did anyone bother you about this morning?”

  “No, but Trish said it’s all over the Internet, and Shea called me saying we should have spoken to her before doing that. I can’t imagine what I must look like in those pictures. I felt shell-shocked.” She lowered her eyes.

  He lifted her chin and smiled at her. He remembered how strange it was the first time he’d seen himself online and in the magazines. It was like an out-of-body experience; he was laid bare for the whole world to see.

  Aw, shit. Fuck-up number one.

  He hadn’t thought about how it might feel for Fiona. She wasn’t in the limelight by choice.

  “Hey, you’ll look beautiful. Listen, I’m really sorry. I’m so used to all this stuff that I didn’t take your feelings into consideration. I messed up, and I’m really sorry.”

  “Don’t worry about it. I came here wanting to be part of your life.” She paused and looked around the busy set. Worry passed over her baby blues, making his stomach take a nosedive.

  “And this is your life.”

  “Talk to me, Fi.”

  She shook her head. “Did you do this for publicity, or did you really do it to try to ward off being approached by women when you were with me?”

  “What? Why would you even ask me that?”

  “Because Shea said sometimes—”

  “I know she’s your sister, but she doesn’t know anything about me, Fi.” He paced, realizing only too late, by the dejected look on Fiona’s face, how harshly he’d spoken.

  “I don’t mean any offense toward Shea. I’m sure she’s very good at what she does, but I did what I thought was the right thing for us. That’s all I was worried about.” He reached for her hand. “I’m sure Shea was just worried about the public-relations mess I’ve created for my PR rep, Luce. I’ll deal with that.” He’d already ignored several calls from Luce, and at some point he’d have to deal with her. Right now the only thing he cared about was making things right with Fiona.

  “I thought this was the right thing to do for us, Fiona. The thought of you having to deal with what went on last night makes me sick to my stomach, and I know it’s my own fault. I created it, and I can make it stop.”

  “Jake, whatever happens between us will have to stand the test of time, which I have a feeling will include all sorts of challenges where your career and lifestyle are concerned. I’m glad you did what you did.” She went up on her toes and kissed him. “I really am. It was thoughtful, even if I felt ambushed.”

  “Really?” Thank the heavens above she hadn’t turned into an unreasonable woman.

  “Really. But…”

  “Give it to me straight.” He noticed that Trish was out of the makeup chair, which meant they’d soon be interrupted.

  “Next time, can you just slow down and talk to me?”

  He folded her into his arms. “Yes, of course. And don’t worry. You’ll look like a million bucks in those pictures, and if anyone says otherwise I’ll take them out.”

  Trish headed in their direction.

  “I have to get to work,” Fiona said, eyeing Trish.

  “What exactly do you do as her assistant? All the normal stuff?” He loved the way her eyes sparkled in the afternoon light, and he wanted her to keep talking so he could see them longer. He wasn’t ready for their brief reprieve together to end.

  “Don’t tell anyone, but she’s not paying me to do this, so she can’t fire me. I couldn’t take money from my best friend, and I’m not very good at this, so…I try to keep her organized and make sure she’s got her lines memorized and she’s where she’s supposed to be. All the things that any good assistant would do. I kinda suck at it, though, and she doesn’t need me at all. She’s a professional. I know she’s just playing it up so I feel useful. But the truth is, I’ve been a little sidetracked.” She flashed a coy smile. “I took the job to be near you. I was offered a promotion at work, and I’m on a six-week leave of absence while I decide if I should take it. It worked out perfectly.”

  He touched his forehead to hers. “So you’re more of a groupie stalker than an assistant?”

  “Yeah, you might say that.”

  “And you’re taking a six-week leave of absence from work? You risked your job for me?” Everything she did blew him away, and it made him wonder if he could ever be that selfless. She was peeling back layers of Jake that he hadn’t even realized existed and was forcing him to face sides of himself that he wasn’t sure he liked.

  Chapter Eleven

  FIONA FLOPPED ONTO the couch in Trish’s trai
ler with a loud sigh. Her trailer was about half the size of Jake’s, but it was comfortable and clean. It was six o’clock, and Trish had just wrapped her final scene for the day.

  “Can you believe I had to do that scene five times?” Trish sank onto the other side of the couch and put her feet on Fiona’s lap.

  “So what?” Fiona eyed Trish’s feet. “You need to pay extra for foot rubs,” she teased. “Oh, wait. I’m working for free.” She kicked her feet onto the couch beside Trish. “Get to work, woman. My feet are tired from chasing you around from set to set, fetching scripts and bottles of water for the princess.”

  “I have a feeling this will be my first and only film with Steve Hileberg.” Trish covered her eyes with her forearm and groaned. “I was so embarrassed. Five times, Fi. Five.”

  “I would think they’re used to that, and besides, when you finally got it right, it was amazing.” She massaged Trish’s feet as she watched her friend’s lips curve up.

  “Do you think so? You can be honest with me. If it totally sucked, I’d rather hear it from you than the critics. They’re out for blood when they review movies.” Trish lowered her hand and tugged at the bottom of the khaki shorts she’d had on in the last scene. “It’s not like I can woo them with my body. I have to wear these boy shorts in almost every scene.”

  “Your scenes take place in the desert and in caves. It’s not like you can wear evening gowns. Besides, you look hot in that outfit. I saw a bunch of the extras checking you out.” She patted Trish’s calf. “And you know you’re an amazing actress. You were nominated for an Academy Award last year. You said yourself that you’re just nervous because this is your very first movie filming with Steve Hileberg…and Zane Walker. Zane Walker! The whole thing is insane. I should bow at your feet.”

  Trish sighed. “Yeah. It is some crazy life, isn’t it?” She pulled her feet from Fiona’s lap and leaned in close. “It’s also insane the way Jake looked at Patch like he wanted to throttle him.”