Stone Promises (A Stone Brothers Novel)

by Samantha Christy

  When we first moved out here, I was sixteen and Kyle was fifteen. It was pretty much a dream house for kids. My parents gave Kyle and me the guest house above the garage, so it was like we had our own little apartment. Hell, it’s paradise here. And the only reason I moved out when I turned eighteen was that I had started using and didn’t want my family to see everything that went along with it. I was a stupid shit.

  I’m amused by Megan’s friend, Alyssa, as she tries her best not to get all fangirl around me. Usually when I hang out with Megan, it’s just us. Or now, us and Mal. But I didn’t want her to feel left out today with all the couples, so I asked her to bring a friend. I see Alyssa trying to discreetly take a picture of me, so I get up and walk over to her. “Alyssa, how about having Megan take a picture of us?”

  “Oh, my gosh, really?” she says, blushing.

  “Sure. And I don’t think the others would mind being in a few either.”

  Hayden, Ana, Noreen and I spend the next few minutes posing with Alyssa so she gets her pictures.

  “That was very nice of you,” Mallory says when I lie down on the towel next to hers.

  “Sometimes I find it best to just get it all out of the way so we can try and have a normal day.”

  “Well, you just made that girl’s year,” she says.

  I give her an incredulous look. “If that’s true, it would be kind of sad.”

  She shakes her head at me. “You have no idea the effect you have on people, do you? Years from now, Alyssa will tell the story of how she got to hang out on the beach with Thad Stone and his movie-star friends. It will be one of the highlights of her life.”

  Before I grab the football to throw with Hayden, I kneel over her. “I only want to be the highlight of your life,” I say, leaning down to kiss her.

  “Get a room!” Megan yells.

  I laugh and throw the football at her. She catches it, throwing a perfect spiral back at me. She comes over to keep Mallory company while I toss the ball with Hayden. I’m standing close to the towel they’re on, so I hear their conversation.

  “So, what’s it like to be Thad Stone’s girlfriend?” Megan asks Mal.

  “I don’t know, what’s it like to be Thad Stone’s best friend?” Mal asks her back.

  They both giggle and I smile.

  “You look great, by the way,” Mal says. “I love your shimmering silver bikini. You amaze me, Megan.”

  She doesn’t have to explain what she means. Not many eighteen-year-old girls with one leg would come to the beach. Her titanium prosthetic is more than obvious without pants to cover it. But Megan doesn’t seem to care. Not anymore.

  “What, this old thing?” Megan jokes. “It’s the only one that matches my leg.”

  Alyssa and the other girls join them and they proceed to talk about girl shit I have no desire to hear, so Hayden, Julian and I throw the ball in the surf.

  I haven’t had much time to talk with Julian this week. “How are things going?” I ask him after we’ve worn ourselves out.

  “Couldn’t be better,” he says.

  “Ana’s a great girl,” Hayden adds.

  Julian smiles, as he and Ana share a private look from a distance. “She is.”

  “Just how serious are we talking here?” I ask.

  He shrugs. “We don’t really talk about it. We’re having a good time. We see each other when we can, but it’s not like we’re making long-term plans or anything.”

  “You don’t think she’s long-term material?” I ask, offended on Ana’s behalf.

  “No. It’s not that,” he says. “I’m just not sure this is the lifestyle I want to live. I know it can be hard. I’m the one who has to deal with Mallory every time she comes back from seeing you, and every time you leave. It’s tough on her. And it’s not like it will get any better, man. Not unless you expect her to quit the job she loves. And hell if I’m going to quit my job and follow Ana around like a fucking puppy dog. She’s great. But I’m not sure it’s worth it.”

  “I don’t expect Mal to quit her job, Julian. That is completely up to her. We’ll make it work either way. And it sure as hell is worth it if you love someone,” I say, glancing over at Mallory who is laughing and having a great time with the girls. “Maybe you’re just not there yet. Give it time. But if you still feel this way in a few months, don’t string her along, okay? Ana is way too nice a girl for that.”

  He nods. “No way would I do that to her, Chad. I’ve hurt one too many girls in my life as it is.”

  My stomach growls and the sun is starting to set. “Come on,” I challenge the guys. “Let’s go pick up our girls and race to the top of the stairs.”

  “How can we race?” Julian asks. “They are too narrow to pass on.”

  I look up at the long stairway leading up to my parents’ house. “Good point.”

  “We can have Megan and Alyssa keep time,” Hayden says.

  “Hell, yeah,” Julian says, running over to scoop up Ana.

  I laugh. We were always super competitive as kids. It’s nice to know some things haven’t changed.

  We spend a few minutes making rules as the girls all roll their eyes at us. Then we send Alyssa to the top to time us on her phone’s stopwatch. Megan will yell from the bottom to start.

  After I watch Hayden struggle with Noreen, I decide to change my tactic. I throw Mallory over my shoulder in a fireman’s hold. She fake screams at me while snapping me with the waistband of my board shorts. Megan is laughing and taking pictures. “What are you laughing at?” I ask her. “I’m coming right back down for you. All my girls get door-to-door service.”

  As I make my way up the steps, Mallory says, “I don’t think I’ve ever loved you more.”

  I smile. And then I kiss her ass. Literally.

  Chapter Twenty-four

  Mallory

  Dear Mr. and Mrs. Olive,

  We at Canyon Properties truly hope you enjoy your stay. Cleaning will be done every Monday and Thursday. If there is anything you need, please do not hesitate to contact us at any time.

  Next to the note, there is a huge basket of non-perishables along with several bottles of wine. And as I look around, I see Kendra has done her job fabulously, making sure Chad and I have everything we need in our home away from home. Or should I say castle?

  I stand in the middle of the expansive home, circling around to take it all in. The impressive great room, the chef’s kitchen, the breathtaking view of the red rock desert. The alluring pool with a waterfall that matches the picturesque landscape behind it. I turn to Chad and raise my eyebrows. “Is the whole cast staying here?”

  He laughs. “No, but Cole is. Don’t worry though, he won’t bother us.”

  “Bother us?” I say. “He won’t even be able to find us. How many bedrooms are here, six?”

  He looks embarrassed. “Eight, actually.”

  Before I can pick my jaw up off the floor and scold him, he adds, “Well, you said you wanted a private pool, Mal. And don’t get your panties in a twist, it wasn’t any more expensive than the Presidential Suite in New York City.” He comes up behind me and wraps his big arms around me, burying his mouth in my neck, sucking on a spot below my ear that makes me moan. “Just think of all the places we can—”

  Cole clears his throat behind us and I quickly pull away from Chad as he chuckles that we got busted. “The place looks secure enough,” Cole says, handing Chad a piece of paper. “Here are the instructions for the security pads, there’s one by the front door, back door, garage door and in the master bedroom. The entire property is fenced in, but as the neighborhood is not gated, you’ll have to be cautious when you’re outside, just in case.” He points to an electronic keypad on the wall. “There’s an intercom throughout with a small panel like this in every room by the main light switch. If you need me, you can push the white button and it will broadcast in every room. There is also a safe room in the center of the house, through the kitchen pantry. Instructions for that are written down for
you as well.”

  “Safe room?” I ask Chad. “What are you, James Bond?”

  He shrugs. “Comes with the house. It’s not like I requested it or anything.” He asks Cole, “Did you find a bedroom for yourself?”

  “Yeah, I took the one back by the mudroom, it’s pretty out of the way. You won’t even know I’m here.”

  “You don’t have to do that, Cole,” I say. “I’m sure there are plenty of nice rooms for you to choose from.”

  “That’s okay,” he says, shaking his head and smirking. “I’d prefer to be back there. You know, so I’m not near any of the places you will—”

  “Okay,” Chad interrupts, lifting his hand to cut Cole off. “Well then, we’ll just go get settled.” He grabs my hand, dragging me and my beet-red face behind him. “I’ll meet you back here in ten, Cole.”

  We take a quick tour of the house before Chad has to go on location to do some last-minute fittings due to costuming changes. They are also going to try and get some shots of him and Courtney at sunset in the desert. “Are you sure you don’t want to go with me?” he asks.

  “No, that’s okay. I’d like to get us unpacked. I’d like to call my dad, too. I haven’t talked to him in a few days. And I thought you might like a home-cooked meal when you get back. The kitchen looked pretty stocked.”

  “That sounds great. I’ll only be a few hours.” He hands me the piece of paper Cole gave him. “Go over this. And Mal, don’t go outside when Cole and I aren’t around. I’m just not sure how secure it is. Can you do that for me?”

  I look at the concern etched into his forehead. I was going to go for a dip in the pool, but I can see that would make him uncomfortable and I don’t want him worrying the whole time he’s gone. “Of course. There are plenty of other things I could do. Take up billiards. Or watch a movie in the theater room. The possibilities are endless.”

  “Good girl,” he says, drawing me in for a kiss before he leaves. “See you in a few hours.” He walks to the door and turns around. “I love you, Mrs. Olive.”

  No matter how many times he’s said it in the past, it still makes my heart thunder. “I love you too, Mr. Olive.”

  I stare at the door he and Cole left through. Then I turn around and shake my head at the absurdity of it all. This home is massive. I’ll bet it’s ten thousand square feet. I hope he knows he doesn’t have to do this to impress me. His heart is the only thing I’ll ever want from him.

  I realize I’m still holding the piece of paper he gave me. I glance over it, amused that the security code happens to be my birthday. I wonder if I share that day with one of the owners.

  I head to the master bedroom to unpack our suitcases. We’ll be here for a month so we may as well get settled. After I call my dad and text Melissa pictures of my new digs, I walk the house again, deciding what to do to keep myself busy. When I find myself in the kitchen again, I check out the pantry and cabinets, which are loaded with just about everything one could need to cook a gourmet meal.

  I come across some pecans and chocolate chips. Once I confirm the rest of the ingredients are here, I commence to making Chad’s favorite cookies. He’s loved them since we were kids. He travels so much that I want him to feel the comforts of home. I smile thinking this should do the trick.

  While they are baking, I recall the talk I had with my dad earlier. I wonder if Denise was there when we were on the phone. I could hear the TV in the background and he never watches TV.

  Shortly after Julian told me my dad was dating someone, Dad brought Denise home to meet me. It wasn’t nearly as weird as I thought it would be. She’s nothing like my mother. Denise is petite with red hair. She’s also ten years younger than my dad. And she’s as quiet as a mouse. She lost her husband to cancer three years ago, so I guess she and my dad have a lot in common.

  I think if I would have met her before Chad and I got together, I might not have been so accepting. It was always just my dad and me. I’d sworn off men and anyone who turned his eye would have just been an intrusion. But now . . . Now I think if Denise can bring him even a fraction of the happiness Chad brings me, my dad deserves that.

  Before I know it, I’ve not only made Chad’s cookies, but I’ve whipped up one of his favorite dinners as well. Chicken casserole with broccoli and rice. We didn’t get a chance to eat anything healthy today while traveling from L.A., and it would be a shame to let any of the food they provided go to waste.

  Chad and Cole come home just as I’m taking dinner out of the oven. I turn to see Chad leaning against the doorway to the kitchen, staring at me in awe. He closes his eyes, drawing in the aromas of my labor. “Are you for real, Mallory Kate?” he asks, not moving from where he stands.

  “What?” I say. “I just feel bad that you have to travel so much and work such long hours. I wanted it to seem like you were at home for a change.”

  He pushes off the wall, taking long, purposeful strides over to me. His hand comes around me, pressing into my lower back as he pulls me against him. He puts his forehead on mine. “Wherever you are, that is home to me,” he says.

  ~ ~ ~

  I’m not sure which would be harder, watching my boyfriend do scenes with the queen bitch of Hollywood, or the sweet, nice woman she’s transformed into after rehab. I mean, Courtney is someone I could see hanging out with Mel and me. If she hadn’t been in Chad’s bed, that is.

  Funny thing, I had never met her before they started filming a few weeks ago in L.A. I’d only heard what Chad and Hayden and the others would tell me about her; and then there was everything I had seen on TV and read in magazines. But it’s hard for me to picture this Courtney as that horrible person. She’s nothing like the stories they would tell me. Stories about the diva who would throw a tantrum if her very specific kind of bottled water wasn’t in her dressing room.

  She wasn’t always that way, though. Chad said before she started doing drugs, she was much more like she is now. Nice. Accommodating. Breathtakingly beautiful.

  It makes me wonder if they would still be together if she hadn’t gone rogue. What would have happened if she were still that person? Would she have been with him at the club the night of the premiere? Would he have even seen me that night; and if so, would he have bothered to look me up after?

  Thoughts such as these plague me as I watch them have casual conversation between takes. As I see them laugh and banter the way Chad and I have always done.

  Yesterday, after they wrapped up early due to technical issues, he invited her to go climbing with us. When we were in L.A., Chad took me to the place he trained for the movie. He taught me to rock climb so we could spend some quality time together on his days off in Sedona.

  Well, I shouldn’t say he invited her per se. More like she found out what we were going to do and showed such an interest it would have been rude not to ask her along. Still—rock climbing was supposed to be our thing. And since she hadn’t been properly trained, Chad pretty much had to spend the entire time teaching her what to do even though he chose the easiest climb. It had me wondering if her nice-girl act is all for show. Is it some elaborate scheme to win him back?

  “Whatever it is that you’re thinking, stop it.”

  I turn around to see Noreen has snuck up behind me. “What is it that I’m thinking?” I ask.

  “I see the way you’re looking at them, Mallory. They are the leads in this movie, it behooves them to get along. Believe me, them hating each other would make this so much worse.”

  “For whom?” I ask, looking back at them.

  She touches my shoulder, bringing my attention from them back to her. “I’m telling you, that man only has eyes for you.”

  I nod as if I agree with her. Sweat trickles down my cleavage as the sun beats down on me on this sweltering day. We walk over and sit down in chairs under a tent.

  “Hayden tells me you’re all Thad talks about when they are together,” Noreen says. Then she laughs. “He says it’s starting to get pretty disgusting. He calls Thad a l
ove-sick puppy.”

  I try not to smile, but don’t do a very good job of it. “Thanks, Noreen.”

  I look back to try and find Chad, wondering when they’re going to do the cave scene. I saw it on his call sheet, and I could tell this morning at breakfast that he was nervous. In Defcon One, they spent so much time in a cave that he became claustrophobic.

  “I’m worried about him,” I tell Noreen. “You were there last time, right? When he freaked out in the cave? What if it happens again?”

  She nods. “Hayden and I tried to convince the studio to make a set so he wouldn’t have to actually film in a cave again. But when Thad found out about it, he told them not to. Said it would cost too much and take too much time. He said he was fine and he could do it.”

  “You didn’t see him this morning,” I say. “He’s trying to be all big and brave about it, but I think it’s a real issue for him.”

  “He’ll be fine, Mallory. He’s an actor. He can act like he’s not claustrophobic.”

  “I hope so.” The words are barely out of my mouth when John, one of the ADs, comes running over. I don’t like the way he’s looking at me. I don’t like it at all.

  “Ms. Schaffer, please come quickly.”

  I jump up out of my chair. “What is it? Is he okay?”

  John pulls me along by my elbow, guiding me through the maze of trailers, tents, and cameras. “I think he’s having a panic attack,” he says. “He ran out of the cave and won’t go back in. This could set us back days; weeks if we have to build a set. So if you think there is anything you can do, please help him.”

  I find Chad sitting on the ground next to a boulder, head slumped, elbows on his knees. The back of his shirt is drenched with sweat. It’s hot here, yes, but this kind of sweat, it’s from stress.

  Everyone else is standing back. Nobody seems to know what to do. David, the director, looks pissed. He looks at me and then waves his arm at Chad as if to say ‘deal with him, would you?’