by Janie Crouch
She missed having him around. Not just the sex, although heaven knew she missed that too, but just talking to him. Being around him. Getting each other’s coffee. He’d been such a huge part of her life the last three weeks that now his absence was noticeable.
That certainly did not bode well for when he eventually left. Because they were either going to catch this stalker or the studio would change their filming locations. Regardless, she knew what she had with Shane was temporary. She couldn’t very well see herself moving to Wyoming. And couldn’t see him staying on the set for the rest of his life.
She pushed the thought out of her head. At least the writing was finally going well. Justin was back from whatever flu he’d had, and even though he was still in just as bad of a mood as always, they were able to get the season finale written. And written well.
“If Shane’s presence is going to cause her to act this well, maybe we should talk the studio into hiring him as her full-time personal entourage,” Nadine said about Alexandra as they watched a particularly emotional scene where she had to choose between saving one friend or another.
“Yeah, don’t remind me,” Chloe said. She looked over at Shane standing near where Alexandra would be returning to sit between scenes. Admittedly, he wasn’t watching Alexandra, he was constantly observing other people looking for potential threats.
Especially since another had come in the form of a letter yesterday. Chloe hadn’t seen it, hadn’t wanted to, but heard it had arrived in the mail and had targeted Alexandra specifically. Violently.
Alexandra Adams must die.
Typed just like the other notes from the stalker. Blood dripped on the paper for good measure.
So Shane was watching diligently for any signs of danger. That was always the case. Chloe had never once seen him looking at Alexandra with anything other than complete professionalism. Alexandra was a job to Shane. Chloe knew that. Knew he was an honorable man.
That still didn’t mean that she liked having one of the most gorgeous women in the world fawning all over him.
“Are we still up to go see that cliff area and the cabin Noah found tomorrow?” Nadine asked.
“Yeah. How about if it’s just you and me? We’ll leave Travis behind. And Shane will be working anyway. We could use a little time just the two of us.” Chloe slipped her arm through Nadine’s. “I can’t remember an instance when both of us had…boyfriends at the same time.”
Boyfriend. Was that what Shane was? He seemed like so much more. Although in reality it wasn’t even that since they’d never spoken about it.
Nadine got that gooey smile. “Yeah, I think Travis really might be the one. For both of us to be writers? He understands me. Understands deadlines. Understands the importance of the show. I don’t want to jinx it, but I like him so much, Chlo. Our time in Wilmington was fantastic. He even showed me his sailboat.”
Chloe smiled at her friend. “Good. You deserve someone who understands and appreciates you. That he loves the show so much is just a bonus.”
“I know,” Nadine beamed.
“Okay, so we are on for tomorrow. They might make us take security, but that’s fine. It’ll be nice to get out of here for a few hours.”
The scene in front of them wrapped. There was some applause at Alexandra’s performance, and she gave a slight curtsy before flouncing over to her chair. And Shane.
Alexandra’s hand immediately flew to Shane’s arm as she reached up on her tiptoes to tell him something. Shane nodded, keeping his arms crossed over his chest. It was all professional, but Chloe still didn’t like it. Her teeth ground as she turned away to walk back towards her trailer.
“I’ll catch you later. I’m grabbing lunch with Travis.” Nadine’s goofy love smile was still plastered all over her face. Chloe gave her a smile back. It wasn’t Nadine’s fault that Alexandra’s hand seemed to be permanently attached to Shane’s bicep.
Nadine went off in her own direction as Chloe walked towards the trailer. This was not the direction she wanted to go. She wanted to go to Shane. Just wanted to touch him. Say hello.
Oh hell, who was she kidding? She wanted to march over there, plant a huge kiss on his lips and stake her claim.
Would that embarrass Shane? Would he even allow her close enough to do it?
Would Alexandra see it as a challenge and just decide to work even harder to get Shane’s attention? Because the woman was definitely taking advantage of his physical proximity.
Chloe kept walking in the other direction. She grimaced as tightness gathered in her head again.
Conversation Hearts.
She was thankful that he’d stopped blasting his emotions through her mind lately. She hadn’t had any more blinding headaches or nosebleeds. Something had changed. He was still there, more obvious than everyone else, except now his thoughts were quiet.
Now his silence screamed through her mind. It wasn’t nearly as painful, but it was scary as hell.
He was waiting. Had a plan, she knew it. Chloe couldn’t help but feel sorry for the poor girl he had set his attention on. She knew he definitely didn’t have her yet, there was no satisfaction in his emotions. But he knew he would have her soon.
Feeling Conversation Hearts butting up so heavily against the insides of her mind had made sleep difficult. Or maybe it was not having Shane around.
Chloe shuddered. Was it too much to ask to want to get rid of both the stalker on the set, the one in her mind, and get her boyfriend out of the clutches of a gorgeous actress?
Chloe forced herself all afternoon to stay away from anywhere Alexandra, and thus Shane, might be. She had calls to make, reports to file, and budgets to create for next season. A number of things that she needed to do. That she tried to do. But really all she could do was think about Shane.
She just needed to see him. Touch him just for a second. How pathetic was that?
She wanted to feel the coolness of his emotions inside her mind coupled with the heat his touch brought her body.
Chloe knew she could find him near where catering was providing dinner. Knew the cast and crew were doing another scene tonight so Alexandra would still be on set.
And damn it, she was going to see him.
Chloe all but marched to the catering hall. As she stepped in the doorway she saw Alexandra first. The other woman’s eyes met hers from across the room where she was grabbing a cup of coffee then kept Chloe’s gaze as she walked slowly back to the table and sat down next to Shane, who was texting someone on his phone.
Alexandra motioned for Shane to move in closer so she could tell him something. Something that made Shane smile before nodding.
It was only after Shane’s gaze was fixed on her that Alexandra moved her eyes from Chloe’s.
Chloe wasn’t sure what to do. Wasn’t sure what Shane would even say if she came closer. He was still leaning towards Alexandra. True, Alexandra was known for being friendly with her touches. But Shane didn’t look very interested in pulling away. Not that Chloe could blame him.
She had done this. She’d given him permission, even encouraged him to become Alexandra’s personal bodyguard.
What sort of idiot was she?
Chloe wasn’t an unsure person. She learned at an early age to be independent. Self-sufficient. But hell if she knew what to do now. To stay or go.
Shane was just doing his job. There were more important things at stake than the casual hook-up between the two of them. Then why did it feel like this moment was the tipping point for everything?
Chloe turned. She should go.
“Stay.”
She’d been so wrapped up in her own thoughts she hadn’t felt the coolness surround her mind, but now it was unmistakable. Shane was right there behind her, but she found it impossible to turn.
“There’s nowhere I would rather be, no other person I’d rather be with, than you.” His hands spun her around so he was standing directly in front of her, so close she could smell the scent of him. Fresh. Male. Shane.
“I know you have a job to do,” she murmured. “I just didn’t think this would be so hard. You being with her all the time, especially knowing she wants you.”
“I don’t give a rat’s ass what Alexandra Adams wants. She can’t have me. I want you.”
If possible he stepped even closer. They were touching now from shoulder to knee. She finally looked up at him, her gaze immediately caught by those blue eyes. His hands moved to her hips.
“You did catch me texting on the job though.” He pulled her flush against him. “Telling Markus to get his ass over here because I needed to see you tonight.”
Chloe glanced for a second over his shoulder and saw Alexandra studying them through narrowed eyes.
“Alexandra’s not going to like that.”
“Perhaps you didn’t hear the part about the rat’s ass.”
“You owe the curse jar a few dollars.”
Shane’s lips moved till they were just inches from hers. She could almost feel herself breathing him in. Them breathing each other in. She wanted to resist, to hang on to her independence. She fought it.
“The curse jar will have to bill me. I need you.” His forehead set against hers. “I need you, Chloe.”
The last of her resistance fled. “You can have me.”
Shane’s phone beeped and he grabbed it from his pocket to look at it. “Thank God. Markus is here.”
He turned to look back through the catering hall, and gave a nod. Then grabbed her hand and pulled Chloe out the door. She could hear Alexandra screeching behind them, but Shane didn’t even so much as slow down.
Chloe was nearly having to run to keep up with him. “Shane, slow down. I—”
He paused and backed her against the side of the security office trailer. The air left her lungs in a rush as his mouth slammed down on top of hers. There was no finesse in this kiss, just need and hunger. Chloe didn’t care, wasn’t interested in stopping it. She was already coming apart inside. When he pulled back they were both breathing hard.
“I’m going to need you to walk faster, peanut. Because if you don’t, the boys in the security room watching the CCTV feed are going to get much more of an eyeful than I think either of us want. Not to mention anyone walking by.”
He began walking again, and this time Chloe was right beside him.
The second the door was closed on her private trailer, Shane had her against the wall again, his lips back on hers.
“This is as far as I can make it.”
It was far enough.
He stopped for a second to remove the waist holster and set his gun on the counter then was back on her. Chloe peeled his jacket off his shoulders as he untucked her shirt from her jeans and pulled it over her head. The rest of their clothes were soon scattered on the floor as he grabbed protection.
“Your khakis are going to get wrinkled,” she said against his mouth.
He laughed. “This is worth wrinkled khakis.” His lips moved down to her throat and bit at the place where her neck and shoulder joined. Chloe felt like her body was on fire, every part of her alive with excitement. She clutched his shoulders, pulling him closer, as he grabbed the nape of her neck and held her in place for his mouth to go wherever it wanted.
They both moaned.
“I can’t wait,” he said against her shoulder, kissing back up her jaw.
“I don’t want you to.” She hooked a leg over his thigh, pulling his naked body closer to hers, then let out a sigh, as he reached down and hoisted her legs around his hips. Both of them stopped breathing, only able to feel, as he slid inside her.
She felt only Shane. Heard only Shane. Knew only Shane.
And it was all she’d ever wanted.
Chapter Twenty-One
The next morning Shane’s phone was beeping nonstop. He checked the messages but didn’t respond.
“I’m assuming Alexandra isn’t happy,” Chloe said from where she was tucked next to him in the bed.
“Alexandra will get over it. She’s safe, she has all the security she needs. She’s fine.” He tightened his arm around her, pulled her closer, and kissed her forehead. “Good morning.”
“We did say that you could be assigned to her.”
“And I’m still willing to be. But that doesn’t mean that I’m by her side twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. Everybody gets time off.”
“For good behavior?” She grinned at him. “Because I think some of yours last night actually qualifies as very naughty.”
He loved to see her so relaxed. Even if he knew they both had to get back to the real world soon, right now it was just the two of them.
“I don’t recall you complaining last night.” He felt her foot slide up and down his calf.
“No, no complaints whatsoever. The opposite in fact.” He felt her lips against his shoulder. “I guess you’ve got to go back to her today. I sort of feel like the other woman.”
Shane reached his arm around her hips and rolled her on top of him so she was lying on his chest. “You are very definitely not the other woman. You are the only woman.”
“That’s easier to believe right now when we’re both in this bed, but a little bit more difficult when you have one of the most gorgeous women on the planet hanging all over you, like she does after every scene.”
Shane gripped her hair gently to force her eyes up to his. “Temporary,” he said simply. “We’re going to catch the stalker and this will all be over.”
Her eyes shifted away again. “Exactly. This will all be over.”
She was talking about them, he realized. “Is that what you want, for us to be over too once the stalker is gone?”
“Is it what you want?”
“You know I have a job waiting for me out in Wyoming. We—”
His phone rang this time, cutting him off, and he let out a curse under his breath, grabbing it. “Damn it, it’s Sheriff Linenberger. I’ve got to take this.”
“Of course,” Chloe whispered, slipping off him and walking towards the bathroom.
“Chloe—”
“It’s okay, we’ll talk later,” she said, still not looking at him.
Shane cursed again and hit the button on his phone. “Westman.”
“Shane, it’s John.”
“What’s going on, Sheriff?”
“I had some of my boys doing follow up on where the cast and crew were during the break. Came up with a discrepancy.”
“What sort?”
“Seems that one of the crew had bought a ticket to Portland but ended up at a cabin just outside of Charlotte.”
Shane sat up. “Who?”
“Guy by the name of Justin Poll.”
Shane’s expletive definitely would’ve cost him a dollar.
“I’m assuming you know the guy? I don’t recollect ever talking to him.”
“Yeah, he’s part of the writing team. Not very sociable so I’m not surprised that you haven’t had much contact with him in town.”
“Writing team? As in, works with Chloe on a regular basis?”
“Yep. As in, every day.”
Now it was the sheriff’s turn to curse. John knew as much as Shane how much Chloe didn’t want the stalker to be someone they worked closely with.
“I think we need to bring him in for questioning,” the sheriff said. “I can’t let you do it, but I can let you observe. Maybe he has an alibi for the cabin and we won’t even need to let Chloe know about this.”
“That sounds good. Send someone to pick him up quietly. I’ll get to the station as soon as I can.”
Shane hung up with the sheriff and made a call to Markus, explaining the situation. Alexandra would have to wait even longer before she had her pet bodyguard back.
Chloe was coming out of the bathroom obviously having taken a very quick shower. She’d already dressed in jeans and a T-shirt.
“Everything okay?” She was pulling her long blonde hair back in a ponytail.
“Yeah, I just need to go to
town and check out a few things. Leads the sheriff might have. I’ll let you know if it comes to anything.”
“This afternoon Nadine and I are going to check out a set location Noah found. It’s a cabin on a cliff an hour or so from here. It might be perfect for what we have envisioned for the season finale.”
Having Chloe out of the way while they checked out Justin was probably a good idea.
“Not just the two of you, right? You’re taking somebody from the security team?”
She damn well would be. Shane wished he could go himself.
Chloe nodded. “Kassler.”
“Okay, good. Kassler is good.”
They stood there staring at each other awkwardly. Shane wanted to bring back up the subject they were discussing before, mainly get her opinion about him sticking around rather than going to Wyoming, but the moment had passed. It would have to wait.
“Um, I’m going to head out and let you take a shower. I know we both have stuff to do.” She said moving further away.
“Chloe, we need to talk.”
At his words, her features shuttered more. “A big talk isn’t necessary. This was always temporary, right? We both knew that. No need for either of us to get caught up in emotions or anything.”
Shane’s shoulders straightened. He guessed he had his answer: she definitely wasn’t interested in him staying once they caught the stalker. ”Right. No need to get caught up. Exactly.”
She nodded. “I guess I’ll catch you later. Or maybe even tomorrow. Nadine and I need to see the new set possibility at twilight, so I’m not sure when I’ll be back.”
“Yeah, I’ll be with Alexandra, so I probably won’t be available. She, at least, wants me around.” He knew it was a low blow even as he said it. Her flinch confirmed that. Dammit.
“Chloe…” He reached for her but she slid by him and he couldn’t go after her in his current state of undress.
“Catch you later, Avalanche.”
He watched her walk out the door.
Justin Poll was a pasty bastard, with dark eyes that constantly darted around and uptight posture that screamed surly. Shane hadn’t talked to him much — hell, nobody seemed to talk to him much, the guy was so prickly. Chloe had mentioned how Justin didn’t get along with others. But evidently he was a damn good writer, so she kept him around.