“You look beautiful, sweetheart.” Garrett sat next to her on the lounge, then lifted her hand and tenderly kissed her wrist. “You always look beautiful.”
Marlene’s heart skipped a beat. If she’d had more strength, she might have fallen into his arms.
“I have something I want to say.” Garrett looked into her eyes. “I waited too long before to tell you the truth, to bare my soul to you. I won’t make that mistake again.”
Marlene nibbled at her lower lip, wondering what was coming.
“I used to envy guys who had a woman back home, someone to fight to return to. I didn’t have that,” Garrett said. “There was more to it, that day I first saw you at the event.”
Marlene held her breath.
“Your brother had talked about you a lot, and had shown me pictures…not your movie star pictures, but childhood photos. I know it sounds strange, but I felt as if I knew you. There was a connection when he spoke of you, told me stories of your family and of your youth.”
Garrett continued, as though he feared if he hesitated he might not get a chance to say it all. “The thing is…you’re special. Not because you are a movie star. Any red-blooded male in the country has likely fallen for you. But it was different for me.
“I love you, Marlene. I think I loved you before I ever met you that day. You are the only woman for me,” Garrett said. “And I want you to be mine.”
Before her eyes, Garrett dropped to one knee beside the chair. He reached in his pocket and pulled out a diamond engagement ring. “I would be honored to have you as my wife. I want to share my life with you, if you’ll have me.” He paused, choked up. “Will you marry me?”
Marlene’s eyes clouded with tears. She was so happy that she thought she’d burst. Garrett loved her. He wanted to marry her.
Garrett held the ring out to her. “Please say yes, sweetheart. Will you marry me?”
“I love you so much. I have for a while. I wanted to tell you, but everything happened so fast. And I wasn’t sure…” Marlene’s gaze locked with his. The love she saw in Garrett’s eyes made her heart swell with emotion. “Yes, I will marry you. You’ve made me so happy.”
Garrett leaned close, and when his lips touched hers, he kissed her sweetly, passionately. In that kiss, Marlene sensed the pent-up need, the unbounded love, and the sincerity of his desire for her. She kissed back, drinking him in, wanting all of him.
“I love you,” Marlene whispered, her lips against his.
Garrett grinned. “I’m the happiest man alive.”
*****
Ten months later, Marlene was fully recovered from her injury and she felt fabulous. The movie had released in December with rave reviews. It had been a box office hit.
At the Golden Globe awards ceremony the following January, excitement was high. Marlene had been nominated for an award and anticipated the evening with great hope. Garrett escorted her, dressed in a tuxedo, which, not surprisingly, suited him quite well. His hair was short, and his closely-trimmed beard was sexy. She was sure the attendees would think that he was an aspiring actor. He certainly had the looks for it.
Anna attended dressed in a glittery blue dress that fit her so well it looked like it had been painted on. Her wavy brown hair gleamed under the lights, and her bright smile captivated the fans. Marlene was pleased for her. Great things were in her friend’s future, and her brilliant performance in a supporting role had helped make the film stand out.
Marlene arrived in her limo with Garrett by her side. They strode along the red carpet together, while the photographers snapped pictures. It was a big night, and one that Marlene had long awaited. She slipped her arm through Garrett’s and looked at the diamonds glittering on her finger. The photos of her with her fiancé would make quite a splash.
She’d offered to let Garrett sit it out, but he’d refused. “This is a big night. I’m going to be there with you.”
They’d talked about it, how it would work. Garrett assured her that he could be on the Stealth team, even while married to a movie star. It wasn’t usually done, but Travis would make an exception. There were many assignments that didn’t require staying out of sight. He assured Marlene that he’d been on plenty of clandestine missions. He wasn’t clamoring for the limelight, but if being married meant tolerating photographers, then so be it.
Marlene had wrestled with her own internal conflict, but not for long. Her career demanded that she travel, and often film on location. She’d be away, unavoidably. In Hollywood, marriages tended to have a short life for all kinds of reasons. It was one of the things that had caused her to avoid relationships.
But Garrett wasn’t just any man. He was unique in too many ways to count. After all they’d overcome, he assured her that whatever they faced, they’d figure it out. “We love each other. We’ll make it work.”
Marlene didn’t argue. Being with Garrett was effortless; it was right. She felt like she’d known him much longer than she had. She was madly in love, and had no intention of letting anything break them apart.
Garrett’s career had inherent risk, and involved danger on a regular basis. For so long, Marlene had vowed to avoid falling for a man that could so easily be taken away from her, but she had changed. She no longer feared; she only loved.
That night Marlene proudly walked the red carpet on Garrett’s arm. Another bodyguard, recently hired, followed behind and kept the crowd under control. He wouldn’t live at her home; that was Garrett’s territory. But the new bodyguard would ensure her protection in public, and since he was a Stealth team member, Marlene felt very safe.
The event was thrilling, as well as entertaining. Marlene was anxious, but in a good way. Whether she won the award or not, she was happy. Garrett looked over and smiled at her, then squeezed her hand. The announcer began to preface the award for best performance by an actress in a drama.
Marlene trembled with excitement, and her heart pounded. The nominees were listed and the crowd rumbled with enthusiasm for each star. When the announcer read her name, she mentally pinched herself that this was really happening.
After a grand pause, the announcer proudly gave the name of that year’s winner: Marlene Parks. Tears of joy filled her eyes, and she stood to go up and receive her award. Garrett hugged her before he let her go. She managed to make it up the few steps to the podium on trembling legs.
The recognition meant a lot to Marlene, and she thanked everyone involved. She shared how much the film meant to her personally, and expressed her gratitude for the award. Then she looked out into the audience to find Garrett. When their eyes met, he beamed at her.
After the awards, there were parties to attend but Marlene bowed out. She wanted to be alone with Garrett, and share her special moment. Yet they didn’t go home. Instead they went to a late night feature and sat in the dark, eating popcorn and drinking Coke.
Surely she would have been recognized, but Garrett had reserved the entire theater just for her. Marlene thought of the time they’d sneaked out in disguise to go to the movies. It had been a memorable day. There had been one thing she’d wanted to do that day that she hadn’t.
In a private moment, Marlene had shared her wish with Garrett. It had seemed silly, but he hadn’t thought so.
That day at the movies, Marlene had wished she was just a woman at the movies with her boyfriend, making out in the darkened theater. Garrett put his arm around her, and they watched the coming features. Then he held her tighter and leaned over to nuzzle her temple.
Marlene pressed closer. “I don’t know how much of this movie we’re going to see.”
“What movie?” Garrett dug his hand in her hair and kissed her deeply. He raked his tongue next to hers and breathed her in, as if she was the air itself. Marlene’s hands roved over his rounded shoulders and down his rock hard chest.
“I can’t wait until I have you alone later,” Marlene whispered when he released her.
“Greedy, aren’t you?” But Garrett didn’t wait for a
n answer. He kissed her again, harder this time, and Marlene whimpered. His arms went around her and he held her tight. His kisses were hot, a temptation that was hard to turn away from.
But Marlene wouldn’t have to. She was going to be his wife, and could look forward to being in his arms every night and every morning. It was a wickedly delicious thought.
Garrett nibbled on her earlobe and brushed his mouth over her cheek. “I love you,” he whispered, then pulled back to look into her eyes. “You mean everything to me.”
“I love you with all my heart,” Marlene said, then gave him a teasing look. “And right now…I need more kisses.”
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This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are the products of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual events, locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher.
Cold Peril by Emily Jane Trent ©2016 All Rights Reserved
Published By Camden Lee Press
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