by Nana Malone
Micha chewed her lip. “How come we’ve never talked about this stuff before? I feel like I’m only now learning about your life.”
“I don’t talk about it for obvious reasons. I don’t get a lot of sleep thinking about my past life. No reason for someone else to have nightmares.” He changed the subject. “How are you with this interview we’re going to do? Are you prepared?”
“I’m as ready as I’m ever going to be.” What she didn’t mention was her nerves.
“I don’t want you to worry about anything. I’ve added additional men, including some freelancers.”
What she wanted to say was, “I feel safest with you.” But she didn’t. Instead, she turned her attention back outside the window.
“Micha?”
She turned to face him. “Yeah?”
“I meant what I said. Yesterday. I need you to figure out what you want.”
I want you. “I need to think about it.”
Chapter 21
Throughout the set walk-through and hair and makeup, Micha couldn’t concentrate. Instead of going over her questions for Simon, her mind kept wandering to Caleb and the fat mess that was their relationship. She had been running from him, and Sabine had been the latest excuse. Question was, what the hell should she do about it?
Not like she could simply decide to be with him and have it be that easy. And they had to clear all this bullshit that was happening. She knew it was possible that what she felt for him could be the byproduct of the fact that he was her protector. You’ve wanted him for years.
“Come on, Micha, get your head in the game.” She was seeing Simon on-set in thirty minutes. She needed to be thinking about him, not Caleb. She still had a job to do.
There was a soft knock at the door.
“Come in.”
She’d assumed it was Caleb. Instead, Jax leaned against the door jamb, his long, lean body filling the frame.
Simon strode in full of confidence and practiced charm. Just like when she’d seen him at the office, her stomach bottomed out. Because of him, her whole life had changed.
Every muscle she had tensed, and she bit her lip. She could get through this. She could do this. She needed to breathe and relax. “Hello, Simon.” She stuck out a hand for him to shake.
He glared at it and instead enveloped her in a bear hug.
Caleb walked in as Simon squeezed her hard. A muscle ticked in his jaw. He made a move toward them, and Micha shook her head. He had a lethal gleam in his eyes, and she didn’t know what he would do to Simon. Very deliberately, she placed her hands on Simon’s biceps and eased herself back while she searched for something innocuous to say. She settled on, “You look well, Simon.”
He grinned. “Yeah, I’m fantastic. I’m so happy you’re here doing this interview. I thought our screen test went well. Clearly the executives liked it.” He clasped both her hands in both of his and held on for a minute too long.
Over Simon’s shoulder, Micha spotted Caleb’s glower. She did her best to ignore him and turned her attention on Simon. If she pretended she didn’t know what he looked like naked and remembered that Simon the movie star was not Simon the man she thought she loved all those years ago, she could do this.
“Now, Simon, I know we discussed some of the questions I’ll be asking you today. Your team hasn’t given me an additional list, so are there things that were fair game last week, that you’re not open to?”
She always liked to give her interviewees the out. If they opted to answer one of her questions, fair enough. But she’d play by the rules-for the most part. She always had her ways of getting recalcitrant interviewees to open up. Simon would be tricky because he knew her well, but that didn’t mean she wouldn’t get a story. After all, they were paying her to get the best story she could.
“I’m an open book.” He placed a conspiratorial hand on her arm. “Micha, so I’ve been thinking. Instead of filming in the house, I want to use the grounds. I think the setting will be better, it’s a warm day, and the fresh air will be good.”
Micha slid a glance to Caleb. His jaw was set tight as he stared at Simon’s hand on her arm. He gave her a curt shake of the head. She frowned at him. If she could concede something small, she was likely to get a good interview. But regardless of him acting like a Neanderthal now, she understood part of his concern was security. Her security.
“Jax, that’s a fantastic idea. But actually, I think the home setting makes you a little more approachable. So why don’t we start there for part of the interview as we discuss how you’ve branched out and the more serious side of your career and personal life. Then we can move the interview to the gardens. When we discuss how you’ve transitioned your career we can play up the more carefree angles of your personality.”
While he mulled it over, Caleb nodded reluctantly. Well, there wasn’t much she could do about Simon. He would do what he wanted. He’d already proven that by showing up at her office last week. He was unpredictable.
Caleb spoke rapidly into an earpiece, and Simon frowned at him.
“Why’s he so uptight? He’s looks like I’ve kicked his puppy or something.” Simon stood up straighter and assessed Caleb. He was six feet tall, a little shorter than Caleb. Their builds were similar. Both were handsome, but there was something prettier about Jax. He had that over-polished Hollywood look about him, like he’d been manscaped to death.
And then there was that lethal air to Caleb. Even Jax couldn’t miss it. Sure, Jax was an action star, but the difference between the two of them was the difference between having a stunt double and not. Caleb was the stunt double. Simon was the actor. And it showed in their walks and in the way they carried themselves. Caleb moved like a panther. Jax had a swagger, and he was sexy, but next to Caleb, he paled in comparison.
As they made their way out of the prep room, Caleb stepped in their way. “Mr. Jax, if you don’t mind, walk out ahead of Miss Bennett. We’ll then have two of our men follow you.”
Micha scowled at him. This was not one of the protocols they had discussed. His team had already been all over Jax and his house. Caleb didn’t need to do this.
Simon frowned and looked back at Micha. “Excuse me?” he said incredulously, then he looked between Micha and Caleb and narrowed his eyes. “Micha, are you seriously sleeping with the—”
Micha gave him a sharp shake of her head. “I’d watch your mouth, Simon. Caleb gets cranky about my safety. Seeing as Adele Westhorpe hired him, he takes his job seriously. If you have something to ask me, you can, but in an adult manner that does not offend my friend Kujo here.”
Caleb’s expression was impassive as usual.
Jax smirked. “Right. Whatever you say.”
Simon led the way to the living area, and she followed. When he was far enough ahead of them that he couldn’t hear, she leaned back to Caleb. “Are you kidding me right now? What’s your problem?”
“No problem, Miss Bennett. I’m just here as your protection. I take my job very seriously.” His tone was cool. “When you see my friend,” he let the word drip with sarcasm. “Can you tell her Casanova is scamming her? All that lovey-dovey touching isn’t a good idea. He’s likely to get his hands broken.”
“I can take care of myself, Caleb. Stop acting like a Neanderthal.”
“Stop letting him put his fucking hands all over you,” he bit out.
***
Caleb knew he was being an idiot. Shit, Micha didn’t belong to him, but that didn’t help matters. All rationality was gone when he’d come in and found that guy with his arms wrapped around Micha. His Micha. Conventional wisdom might say that was a hug between friends, but he knew better. He knew what Simon wanted from her. Because he wanted it too.
He had to get his head in the game. In his earpiece he heard Tom and Rodney both clear the outside perimeter. And the garden. If Lover Boy wanted to take Micha on a walk it would be allowed, but Caleb didn’t have to like it. Relax, dufas. She’s buttering him up for the interview. It didn�
��t matter what rational things he told himself. He was still ticked off and only getting angrier. He hadn’t like the prick when he’d come to the office, and he didn’t like him now. The guy was too slick. Caleb would bet cash money that this guy had never had his hands dirty.
As the interview commenced, Caleb watched Micha’s reaction carefully. He’d worked with her enough this past week and a half to know she was skipping into journalist mode. This was her favorite part. He could tell she loved it by the fact she always smiled just a little as her cameraman signaled the start of the interview. If Simon Jax wanted to take his shot with Micha, Caleb would welcome a little friendly competition, but he had no intention on losing Micha. Not ever.
Chapter 22
Micha could do this. This was her space. This was what she did. She just had to pretend she didn’t know her subject so well. “So, Jax, why don’t you tell me about starting anew. You reinvented yourself after leaving New York several years ago.”
Jax blinked rapidly as if he was confused she’d actually gone to the past. But it was on the list of approved questions.
“I wanted a fresh start. I thought I could have a longer career if I left the stage and diversified.”
“Do you miss the stage acting at all? It was your home for so long.”
He shook his head. “No regrets.” He angled his head and gave her a pensive look. “At least not professionally.”
She smiled and easily deflected. Out of the corner of her eyes, she could see Caleb with his jaw set. “And though you’ve had those less than stellar numbers for your last movie, you maintain that this move was still the most ideal for you.”
“Yes, of course. Even when one thing doesn’t go exactly as expected, you can’t run away. Any actor who wants to make it in this town had better have a good dose of perseverance to go with their dream.”
And back and forth they went for another thirty minutes. Her segment producer kept yelling in her ear that they needed to ask the question about his only regret. They wanted that personal angle. Micha gritted her teeth. She might not like it, but she still had a job to do. “So Simon going back to an earlier question. Can you tell us about your biggest personal regret?”
She thought he’d be pissed. After all, his personal entanglements were on the list of do not ask questions. She’d side stepped the restriction, and she didn’t know if he’d bite or not. On the contrary, he looked anxious to talk.
“I was in love once. I hurt her very deeply. I regret not making it right with her.”
Micha’s jaw hurt from clenching it so tight. She inhaled deeply and forced every muscle in her jaw to relax, one by one, so she could speak. “How would you go about making that right with her?”
He gave a classic Simon smile, but it lacked the usual depth and warmth. “I destroyed what we had with one lie. I could have told her the truth, and I didn’t. I will always regret that decision.”
A tight fist gripped her gut as her heart thudded. Was he really airing their dirty laundry? And then because she couldn’t help herself, Micha asked, “What stopped you from going back to her? A wise man once told me when you love someone you keep trying with them until they hear you.” She couldn’t look at Caleb when she spoke, but she felt his intense gaze on her skin, searing her flesh.
Simon was silent for a long minute. Her segment producer was yelling in her earpiece to stick to the script, but Micha kept her impression schooled and composed. She’d have to teach that woman that screaming at her would get her nowhere.
Finally Jax spoke. “I was scared. And because of what I didn’t have the courage to say, I endangered her. I knew I had screwed up, and I had no idea what to say to her to make her believe me. But I hope she knows I genuinely loved her. Still do. I’d do anything to have her back.”
***
Caleb followed Simon and Micha from a safe distance. He didn’t like the asshole. He didn’t trust the guy. But he also wasn’t an idiot. It was unlikely that Micha was in any real danger with Mr. Wanna-Be-Bad-Ass.
Caleb’s team had the perimeter, and Simon had his personal security on the premises as well. Micha was safe for now, but Caleb continued to follow from a close distance. Every now and then, Micha would turn toward him and scowl. Tough, princess. I’m not going anywhere. Sure, he was acting like a bit of a jealous prick. But what the hell did he care? He wasn’t going to give up until Micha was talking to him again. She was running, and he knew why. But that didn’t mean he was going to let her run.
He’d been too patient, too understanding. Given too much space. And now Jax was busy giving her the googley eyes. Caleb knew a man in love when he saw one. Jax was wearing an expression he was well familiar with. Caleb had been sporting it himself for the last year or so. Too bad Micha was oblivious.
Micha and Jax rounded the corner on the maze ahead, and Caleb checked the GPS he had on her pin. He could check in on her without having to hear every single bit of their conversation. But he couldn’t see what Jax was up to, and that made him nervous. “Shit, you have got to get a grip.”
His radio buzzed in his ear, and Tom’s voice came over the airwaves. “Caleb, come in. Over.”
“What is it? Over.”
“We have a suspicious white male, early twenties coming onto the grounds, using the garden entrance. He made it through all gates and seems to have a key, but I don’t have him on my list of approved visitors today. He’s headed toward the cars in the private bay. Over.”
Jax’s people had cleared out the private garage bay as a nod toward Micha’s safety. Whoever was headed over there had no business snooping around the vehicles. “Copy. Over.”
Caleb could have Esteban check it out, but he’d rather do so himself.
The loud bang toward the garage bay had Caleb in motion. But instead of running toward the garage, he went right for Micha.
In his earpiece, he could hear the scattering and sounds of his men running to check it out. But their sounds were muted. All he could think about was Micha.
Sprinting into the maze, he caught up to Jax and Micha. Jax stood too close to her for Caleb’s comfort. The cameraman was also there, but that didn’t stop a streak of jealousy from taking over. In three long strides, he was on them. He snagged Micha by the wrist and tugged her along.
She tugged back. “Caleb. What the hell are you doing?”
Jax tried to step into his path, but Caleb shot him a glare. “You want to start explaining who the fuck is trying to access the private garage bays without authorization?”
Jax paled. “Who’s here?”
“Dark haired. Young. Has keys. Tats. He’s not on the list today.”
Jax ran his hand through his hair. “Shit. He’s my nephew. He wasn’t supposed to be home today.”
Micha struggled in Caleb’s grip, but she didn’t say anything. Just glowered.
Tom came charging into the maze. “Kid’s clean. I repeat kid is clean. Was looking for tools.”
Jax smirked. “Yeah, he’s working on an old Mustang. I didn’t think to put him on the list.”
Caleb turned to Jax. “Can you go with Tom to identify your nephew? My men are under strict orders to detain anyone who’s not supposed to be here.”
Jax looked like he was going to argue for a moment, but then he complied.
Micha stared up at him. Caleb stared back. He wasn’t backing down. Not when it came to her safety. She might as well get used to it.
Chapter 23
“How could you?” Micha scolded under her breath as they left the main house.
Caleb ground his teeth. “Look, Micha—” He reached for her arm.
She snatched it away. “Don’t. This is my career. This interview was important, and you acted like an overgrown oaf. A jealous, overgrown oaf. I mean, you can’t do that. I needed this interview to go well. You think that wasn’t hard for me? It was excruciating. But I was doing my job. I didn’t need you to make that any harder.”
Shit. “Micha, I’m sorry. I didn’t—”
“Stop, Caleb. My life has been turned upside down in the last two weeks. And then you act like a moron.” She sighed. “Damn it, Caleb, just take me home, I knew this was a mistake.”
“Oh no, you don’t get to do that. I—” He clamped his mouth shut as the rest of the security team walked by to their cars. He waited until they were all headed toward the main gate before he spoke again. “I’m sorry. You’re right. I acted like an idiot, but I couldn’t sit there and watch him with his hands all over you. And then that bit where he pretty much told you he still loved you.”
Micha’s big grey eyes closed for three seconds as she dragged in a deep breath. “Do you think I’m an idiot?”
What? “I don’t understand.”
Micha crossed her arms over her ample endowments. “An idiot. Do you think I am one?”
“No, of course not.”
“Yet still you think I’m dumb enough to fall for his line of bullshit? I mean, he’s a fucking actor, for the love of God. He gets paid to make people believe that he’s in love. He’s full of it.”
“I know men, Micha. And he means it. The way he looked at you when he came in. Shit, the way he looked at you when he came to the office last week. That’s a man who wants a woman. And I know how he feels.”
“So you think that cleared you to act like a moron.”
“I wasn’t acting like a moron. I had your best interests in mind. He was changing security protocols on the fly. And putting his hands all over you and acting like he owned you.”
“So you act like an idiot.” Micha threw her hands up.
Blood boiled through his veins. “You are the most infuriating woman I’ve ever met.”
Her eyes narrowed. “Good thing you’re not saddled with me permanently then.” She whirled around and jabbed him in the chest. “I’ve had enough, Caleb. Of you acting like you own me. Telling me that you love me. Being crazy in front of a client. I’ve had it. I’m not interested in playing this merry-go-round with you.” She sniffed. “You know what? I might as well go back in there and give Jax what he claims to want. His brand of bullshit I know how to deal with.”