Audrey and Black Sabbath walked down to the deli and brought back lunch for her and Lydia. They sat in the grand reception area, at a table that was set up on the dance floor.
Lydia unwrapped her sandwich. “I can’t believe somebody would do that to you.”
“I’m not going to take it personally. I guess one thing I’ve learned is that people that are crazy… are just crazy. Their motives aren’t normal,” she said as she opened her sandwich and slipped Black Sabbath a piece of it.
“You know what would grind salt in their wound? You need to have your grand opening party. We need to move it up. What says screw you better than to fix the window, and have a party.”
Audrey laughed as she opened her bottle of water. “I like that idea. Yeah, it says screw you just fine.”
“Okay then, we get to work.” Lydia took a bite of her sandwich. “You know what? Why don’t we make it an event for the entire Bridal Mecca? Maybe we could have a sidewalk sale. We’ll get some media attention, but will emphasize your salon.”
The smile that tugged at Audrey’s mouth nearly hurt it was so wide. “This is why you are so fantastic at business. You think big, and you do big.”
Lydia lifted her hand to her shoulder and patted herself. “I am pretty good, aren’t I?”
Audrey lifted her sandwich to her mouth. “I assume that’s why Phillip Smythe is so in love with you.” She took the bite.
Lydia held up a finger, and her mouth went tight. “Phillip Smythe is an asshole. And if he is sweet on me, then it’s all one-sided. I will never, ever, have anything to do with that man.”
Audrey, like most of Lydia’s friends, had no idea why the woman hated him so much. But she was adamant about it. Audrey would let it lie, for a while. But she was pretty sure Phillip wasn’t done trying to impress Lydia.
For the next two weeks, preparations for the grandest party ever, according to Lydia, came to the forefront of everyone’s mind. Audrey was thankful for the distraction. Gregory was needed on set seven days a week, and nearly fourteen hours a day.
Black Sabbath stayed with her at the salon, which was in normal operation mode. Nichole, as promised, was a huge asset. Her books had been nearly full within a week and a half. She was a marketing genius. Audrey thought that could only be a benefit. Then, she wondered what would happen if Nichole and Lydia got together on a project. The thought made her laugh aloud, and Nichole looked up from her client. Audrey just shook her head and went back to wrapping up a perm for a client she’d had since Audrey was a teenager.
There had been no sign of Pepper Dawson. Audrey had grown accustomed to photographers around every corner, and Gregory made sure there was some security detail around her at all times. Even if it was somebody named Walker.
Phillip checked in with her at least twice a day. He assured her as long as the movie crew was in town, he would do so.
Then, he dropped by three times a day. She finally got smart to it and asked him why.
“The family of Pepper Dawson has issued a missing persons report. She never got on that plane that the production company scheduled her on. She was never picked up at the airport in LA. And as soon as her rent was late, the landlord started looking for her.”
“Missing? I think she’s some kind of troublemaker. Don’t you suppose she ran off with somebody else? Obviously, Gregory was done with her.”
Phillip shrugged. “I never know what to think until something else comes about. Therefore, I hang around a little more.”
“It’s a good thing everybody in this town knows you. I’d start getting worried if I were one of my customers.”
“I understand that. But nothing is happening to you on my watch.”
For that, she was grateful. She certainly would like to get back to life as it was. However, as long as she was in a relationship with Gregory Bishop, that wasn’t going to happen.
They’d been having some long conversations about what would happen when the movie wrapped up in a couple of weeks He was going to have to fly to Hawaii soon after. And then, there was post-production in LA.
Audrey wasn’t sure how she was supposed to wrap her head around it. The smart thing would be to say goodbye to him and let him go his way. But over the past month, she’d fallen in love with him.
She had yet to share the words, but he had. It made her too nervous to think of forever with someone who wouldn’t be around always. It was stupid. She knew that. Her heart, however, just couldn’t accept it yet.
That night, she laid in Gregory’s arms in his hotel room, she lifted herself up on her elbow and looked down at him, his eyes heavy and ready to sleep.
“Phillip filled me in on a few things today. You haven’t mentioned it, so I’m going to assume you didn’t hear, and that you’re not hiding it from me.”
She saw him tighten his jaw, as he ran a hand down the length of her hair. “He told you that Pepper Dawson is missing.”
“So you did know. Didn’t you think I might want to know?”
“I’m sure we found out at the same time. I just didn’t want to ruin the small time we had with talk of her.”
“It seems as though we’ve dived into a complete relationship. I think the time of keeping secrets is over.”
“Agreed.” Gregory shifted position so that she was laying down and now he hovered over her. “As soon as we wrap filming, I want you to go away with me.”
“I thought you had to leave for Hawaii.”
“I’ll have a week or so.”
She looked up into those dark eyes, so tired. “I don’t think it’s wise for me to take off any time. I just got my business going.”
“And I think Nichole could handle it for a few days.”
Curiosity had her. “Where are you taking me?”
A smile inched up from the corners of his lips. “Only to paradise, baby. I’m taking you home to Nebraska.”
Audrey wrapped her arms and legs around Gregory and spun him over onto his back. Straddling his body, she looked down at him. “I sincerely thought you were more romantic than that.”
“Then I had you fooled. I’m absolutely not.”
But she knew better. In the short month they’d been together, they’d gone through highs and lows. He’d proven he was romantic when he’d bought her that beautiful dress, and took her to dinner the day after he met her. How many stories started like theirs?
“Okay, I’ll go with you to Nebraska. You’re going to have to find something there to impress me. You forget, my name is on one of the biggest ranches in this part of Georgia.”
He reached his hand to her cheek and caressed gently. “For the rest of my life, I promise to impress you.”
30
Gregory had fallen asleep after they made love. Audrey, however, couldn’t sleep at all. For the rest of my life, I promise to impress you. His words rang in her ears over and over again. Did he plan to take her back home to meet his family because he had bigger plans for them? What then? He said he’d see that he fit into Georgia, but could he do that? Could he give up living where all the action was for his career?
She supposed people lived everywhere, as long as they had the right connections, they could still work.
Was she ready for this bigger commitment? She thought of Pearl, Bethany, and Jake. Each of them had found love. Hadn’t Pearl and Jake both found love in an adversary? And she and Bethany in the creative-minded genius that was Gregory and Kent.
And there it was. She had just boxed them altogether. They were all in love, and so was she.
Looking at the clock on the nightstand, she realized it was two o’clock in the morning. The car would be there for Gregory at six. She didn’t want to wake him but, she felt as though she needed to.
Running a finger down his arm gently, he began to stir.
A few moments later, one of his eyes opened and then the other. “Are you okay? What’s the matter? Does the dog need to go out?”
Audrey chuckled. “I need to talk to you. I need
to tell you something.”
“Can it wait until tomorrow?”
“It should never have waited this long.”
Gregory rubbed his eyes, then rolled and turned the light on next to him. The room flooded with the glow, and the dog woke up and paced in a circle before laying back down and going back to sleep.
“What’s bothering you?”
She smiled. “It bothers me that it has taken me this long to decide that you need to know that I love you.”
His eyes opened wider, then he blinked them and opened them again. “Well, okay. That’s worth waking me up for.” He brushed his fingers over her cheek and pulled her in for a tender kiss. “I love you, too.”
Her entire body filled with the warmth that could only have been construed as happiness, because someone loved her. It was time to stop being so negative, and move forward. They would figure this out. It was fate that he had been cast in Kent’s movie. It was fate they filmed in Georgia. And it was even fate that he had gone off to Las Vegas with Pepper. Without all that, she wouldn’t be in his arms right now.
The invitations for the grand opening had been mailed out, responses were pouring in, and everyone had spent an evening at Susan’s helping finalize the catering since she was already far enough in her pregnancy to make it uncomfortable to stand that long.
With the party only a day away, Nichole and Audrey worked tirelessly to get the salon ready.
The windows and the mirrors sparkled. Flower arrangements had been set at the door. And at the back was a table which Gia set up, with samples of every product they carried.
When the door to the salon opened, and a delivery driver walked in, Audrey wondered what she had forgotten. They had cleared their books so that nothing would get messed up before the party on Saturday.
The man handed her a box, and she signed for it.
“Oh, what did you get?” Nichole asked as she hurried toward the counter to watch her open the box, as the man let himself out of the salon.
“I have no idea. We didn’t order anything. We’re stocked.”
“Well, get to it.” Nichole handed her a pair of scissors.
Audrey cut through the tape and opened the box. Inside, was a shoe box. “I didn’t order…”
She lifted the box out of the other box. Boldly, on the side of the box was written; Jimmy Choo.
Nichole gasped. “You can afford Jimmy Choo shoes?”
Audrey laughed. “Hell no.” She smiled widely. “This is a thoughtful gift a month in the making.” Pulling out one of the designer shoes, she studied it. Would he ever not amaze her?
Audrey put the shoe back in the box.
“Aren’t you going to put them on?” Nichole asked.
Audrey shook her head. “We’re done here aren’t we?”
“Sure. Everything is set.”
“Good. I will wear them. And he will be glad I did.”
Nichole gave her a roaring cheer, and hurried her out the door.
Gregory managed his way from the elevator to the door and pushed it open. He was exhausted. They’d filmed the scene that came after the spaceship’s crash, the battle scene. So he looked like hell anyway. He’d been covered in blood and dirt for fourteen hours. He’d been pushed to the ground at least twenty times. That foam rock, which they pushed him up against, had a sharp spot that went right into his back. The guy, whom he’d been training with all month, missed four times with the sword that went right into his arm. Thank goodness it was a prop. Had it actually been a taser sword, he would’ve lost his arm.
The fight scenes were brutal enough, he thought. But getting all that damn blood off his face, that was equally brutal.
He’d never say it out loud, but he certainly could use a few facials at Audrey’s salon when this was all done.
For right now, all he wanted to do was relax in a hot tub.
He dropped his bag on the couch and realized how quiet it was. They had agreed to meet at the hotel, right? Right then, Black Sabbath sauntered through the living room. He looked up at him, considered for a moment, and then went to him. He snuggled up to his legs as if he were hugging him. Always a sight for sore eyes, Gregory appreciated him. He knelt down and gave him a proper hug.
“Where is our girl?”
As if the dog understood the question, he started toward the bedroom and Gregory followed.
Standing in the doorway, he took in the sight. Audrey laid on the bed completely naked and asleep. She’d pulled the sheet over her shoulders, leaving everything else exposed. And on her feet, were the new Jimmy Choo shoes.
It gave him great pleasure to see her there. It was obvious she was trying to surprise him. Had that blood come off quicker, he’d have been home an hour earlier.
Kicking off his shoes, he walked to her as he pulled off his shirt. Audrey stirred as he sat down on the bed next to her.
“Were you waiting for me?” He asked as he trailed a finger up the outside of her thigh.
“I was trying. What time is it?”
“Eleven. Did you get some new shoes?”
Audrey nodded, her eyes drifting closed again. Then, her eyes shot open. She sat up in bed nearly hitting heads with him. “I thought you bought me the shoes. Didn’t you buy me shoes?”
Panic had filled her voice, and he didn’t much like it. “Of course I did. Who else would buy you Jimmy Choo shoes that match the dress I bought you?”
She rested her hand on her chest and lay back down. “I don’t know. There’s just so much in my head right now. The party. The broken window. Phillip telling me Pepper is missing.”
“That shouldn’t be bothering you.”
“Of course it bothers me. She threw that brick through my front window and…”
“We don’t know that.”
“My gut knows it.” Audrey sat up, pulling the sheet over her, to his dismay. “I’ll just feel better when she surfaces.”
“I’m sure she will. And we’re going to keep going on with our life as planned.” Gregory pulled the sheet down. “Were you sleeping and not trying to seduce me?”
The smile that formed on Audrey’s beautiful lips answered the question for him. She raised her hand up around his neck and pulled him down on top of her.
That was where the conversation ended. The rest of the night would be all about forgetting everything outside that door.
31
The phone ringing on the nightstand brought Audrey straight up in bed. Gregory came out of the bathroom brushing his teeth. He mumbled, “It’s your phone.”
Audrey fumbled to come to her senses. She reached for the phone, and answered it. “Hello?”
“It’s Phillip,” the voice said on the other end. She tried to put it all together, and a moment later she came to enough to realize exactly who Phillip was.
“What’s wrong? Why are you calling me this early? Something happened. Who’s hurt?”
“Calm down, calm down. We have a problem. Nobody is hurt. Can you get to your house?”
Gregory moved to the bed and sat down. She stared silently. Then Phillip repeated the question, and she took a breath. “Yes. What happened?”
“Just head this way.”
The call disconnected, and Audrey dropped the phone.
Gregory gathered her hands, they shook. “What’s going on?” He asked in a calm tone.
“Phillip needs me at my house. He didn’t say why.”
Gregory nodded, then stood. “I’ll call and let them know I’m going to be late. I’ll drive you to your house.”
She agreed. Everything imaginable went through her brain. Why her house? What could have happened? She supposed that was what Phillip wanted to tell her. But he wanted to tell her in person. That always made it worse.
* * *
Gregory pulled up in front of Audrey’s house and parked behind Phillip’s cruiser. There were two more cruisers on either end of the street. He gave her hand a squeeze before he stepped out of the car and Phillip opened her door.
> Audrey looked up at the house as she stepped out of the car. “What happened?”
“It looks like someone broke in. One of your neighbors called around four to say that there was some ruckus, and that she was sure you weren’t here. They found forced entry. The glass back door has been broken.”
Gregory moved in next, put an arm around her shoulders. “Can she go in and look?”
“That’s what we want to do. We don’t think anything is missing or destroyed. But it’s obvious somebody was in there. Some drawers were open and a couple of cabinets.”
Audrey couldn’t think of a thing she kept anywhere that would be of any use to anyone. Perhaps a few pieces of jewelry, but she didn’t keep many things of value. “I’ll look around.”
Gregory escorted her to the house with his arm around her. The door was already open.
Carefully, she stepped inside. Her heart ached to think that somebody violated her personal space. What could somebody want with her? In her mind, there was one person who seemed to be vengeful against her. Had they found Pepper Dawson?
She saw glass scattered on the floor. She stepped carefully over it and walked toward her bedroom. Inside the room, drawers had been opened and their contents tossed around.
“I didn’t keep anything in my drawers,” she said as Phillip walked in the room.
“What about the kitchen cupboards?”
Audrey thought. “Kitchenware. Maybe a few bottles of wine.” She tried to mentally walk through all the cupboards of her kitchen. What else was there but food and dishes? She sucked in her breath. “My extra set of keys are there. Keys to my salon, Pearl’s bridal salon, and a few keys to ranch vehicles.”
Phillip gave her a slow nod. “Go and see if they’re there. If not, we might’ve found what they were after.”
Audrey and Gregory quickly maneuvered past the broken glass to the kitchen. The weight of the anxiety was heavy in her belly. “They’re gone,” she said as she felt around with her hand in the cupboard.
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