An Accidental Love Affair

by Davida Ann Samenski

  “I’m reserving judgment.” She turned away, searching for her sister and finding her in the corner of the room, conversing quietly with Damon Westmore.

  Nicole tugged on Reece’s arm, gaining his attention and pointing her head in the young couple’s direction. “Should I be worried? They’ve been spending a lot of time together in LA. I have a hunch he followed her here.”

  Reece followed the direction of her gaze. “I think he’s smitten. What is it about you DeLancey girls? What powers do you possess that you can turn a movie star’s head?”

  “Plain old North Carolina, country-girl charm,” she replied with an exaggerated southern twang, reminiscent of Scarlett O’Hara.

  He blinked, tugging her closer. “That was sexy. Say something else.”

  She grinned flirtatiously. “I do declare, Mr. Collins, you truly do talk divinely.”

  His body jolted in arousal. “I want you to talk dirty to me using that accent. Will you do that?”

  She leaned up on her toes, whispering something quite filthy in his ear.

  It took all his willpower not to throw her over his shoulder and carry her off to the nearest closet. “We’re going to do all that?”

  She licked her bottom lip. “We’re going to do all that and more.”

  To say Reece was on a mission was putting it mildly. He rushed through his toilette, hurrying their party away for a celebratory dinner. Time wasn’t moving fast enough for him. When they said their goodbyes to their families at the restaurant, he practically threw Nicole into a cab to get back to the Savoy.

  As soon as they entered his suite, he had her against the wall and half-naked before she could blink. He held her to every whispered promise. When he finally fell asleep, it was with a satisfied grin on his face.

  ~ ~ ~

  Nicole and Davis were finishing up the last pages of the screenplay, with not a moment to lose. The movie was set to begin filming in two days. They were nervous wrecks. If this didn’t go well, their heads were going to be on the chopping block.

  There was so much riding on the success of this film—Reece’s career being her foremost concern. She wasn’t worried so much for her own life. She knew she’d always have her writing. Even if she never wrote another best-selling novel, she could say she had once upon a time.

  There was a knock at the office door, and Reece popped his head inside. Nicole squealed when she saw him, running to greet him properly.

  Davis turned to say hello, stopping instantly. His co-writer was kissing, rather passionately, the movie’s star. Had he missed something? “Nicole, what will I tell your fiancé?”

  She turned abruptly, laughing. “Don’t you read the tabloids, Davis? I dumped my fiancé to carry on an affair with Reece Collins.” Her co-writer continued to stare. “Davis, this is my fiancé, Colin Woodhouse,” she said, deciding to let him in on the secret.

  Reece offered his hand. “It’s nice to meet you. Nicole can’t say enough about you.”

  Davis put his hand across his heart as it all fit together in his head. “Oh my lord. You lied to me, girl. We’ve been working on this script for months. You never told me you were engaged to the man of the hour.” He focused all his attention on Reece. “She waxed poetic about this Colin chap and never once let on that you and he were one and the same.” He glared at Nicole. “You are so due for a spanking,” he swore in mock outrage.

  She giggled. “Sorry, Davis, but I wasn’t at liberty to tell anyone. We were trying to keep his public and private personas separate.”

  Her co-writer rolled his eyes. “Girl, you’re in the wrong business if you thought that was going to work.”

  “I’ve come to realize that.” She turned back to Reece. “What are you doing here? I wasn’t expecting to see you until filming began.”

  He draped his arm over her shoulder. “I had to meet with the casting director and run lines with Lizzy. Have you met her yet? I think she’s going to do well in the part.”

  The casting director had been searching frantically for an actress to play the lead role opposite Reece. It was coming down to the wire. The only actress to have that spark had been Melanie Daniels, and both Reece and Nicole had been adamant about her not being cast for the role. He had to threaten to back out of the project to get them to listen. Thankfully, a clip from Lizzy Thompson’s last movie was found, and they asked her to come in for a reading. She’d been hesitant about playing opposite Reece, but when they met, they’d hit it off. The rest was history.

  Nicole hadn’t met the actress yet, but she was looking forward to it. She couldn’t help but wonder if the girl could play the character as she had written her. She had to remember not to be too judgmental.

  “I think I’m supposed to meet her tomorrow. She wanted to get a few insights into the character,” she said.

  Reece smirked. “You mean she wants to see what the real Nicole is like.”

  She shrugged. “I guess.”

  “I’m sure she’ll be wonderful,” Davis supplied. “I don’t think we have anything to worry about.”

  Reece glanced at their desks. “Are you almost finished?”

  Nicole nodded, peering at Davis. “We’ve just faxed over the last revisions to the script. Everything’s good to go.”

  “Does that mean I can take you away from here?”

  “Yes, dear. Where are we going?” Davis asked, winking at Reece. “Oh, you didn’t mean me, did you?” He pouted. “Damn, there goes my fantasy.”

  Reece didn’t know how to react, but Nicole was giggling behind her hand.

  “Davis flirts with everyone. Don’t take it personally.”

  “Or do, if you like?” the man said, winking at Reece again.

  “Stop it, you big tease. You’re scaring him.” Nicole laughed as she hugged Davis goodbye. “I’ll see you in two days. Behave yourself until then.”

  “Nag. You never let me have any fun.”

  Nicole shook her head, leading Reece out of the office. He was quiet as they entered the elevator. “What’s wrong?”

  “I’ve never been hit on by another man before. It was somewhat disconcerting.”

  She leaned back against the elevator wall. “Are you having any strange urges? I’m sure Davis would be more than willing to bend over to the front and touch his toes.”

  Reece’s jaw dropped. “Do things come out of your brain in an instant, or do you sit and think about it?”

  “I have a medical condition called Spontaneous Smart-ass. Don’t worry. Only 1 in 50,000 have it. It can be contagious in some cases, but I think you’re safe.”

  He blocked her, pressing her back against the elevator rail. “I don’t ever want to be safe from your mouth.”

  She smiled, standing on her tip toes. “Good to know.”

  He leaned in, skimming his nose through her hair. “So, tell me, Miss DeLancey, are you willing to bend over to the front and touch your toes?”

  She wrapped her arms around his neck. “I guess you’ll have to wait and see,” she teased as she kissed him to silence.

  ~ ~ ~

  Over the next four months, they were inseparable. The movie went on location to New York and London, but thankfully they stayed away from her hometown of Goldsboro. They did film the beach scenes in Wilmington, North Carolina, though, which was only a hop, skip, and a jump away.

  Most of the story was made up from Nicole’s imagination, but some parts, like their first meeting, were dead on true. She didn’t hold any of that back: the first time she saw him, the moment he kissed her on the plane, and the plan to make him invisible. In those scenes the fantasy was reminiscent of reality. Nicole spent those filming days with a sense of déjà-vu.

  The film stayed as true to the book as possible, with only a few changes for dramatic effect. And of course, t
he sex had been tamed down for rating purposes, which suited Nicole just fine. She may have lived the sex with Reece, but she didn’t want to see it onscreen, with him enacting it with another woman.

  She was a nervous wreck when they shot the first love scene, dreading having to watch him roll around in the bed with his co-star, but after she saw how much work went into it, she relaxed. There was no way they were enjoying themselves with cameras and lights glaring in their faces and thirty crewmembers watching every move. Sex on a movie set wasn’t sex at all; it was a very difficult job. Reece was very good at making it look believable.

  When the scene ended, she disappeared from the set. Reece found her in his trailer, hunched over the toilet and vomiting.

  “Are you okay, luv?”

  Nicole sat on her haunches, leaning her head on the arm draped across the toilet seat. She wiped her mouth. “What would you do if I said you were forbidden from ever doing another love scene? Would you go for it?”

  He chuckled, handing her a damp washcloth. “I’d say, no can do. It’s all part and parcel of the job. Besides, you wrote the scene that way. I’m only acting it out.”

  “I know, but watching you with another woman, doing what we do, obviously makes me nauseous.”

  “I may be glib in saying this, but you’ll get used to it.”

  “Will I?”

  He squatted down beside her, brushing the hair out of her eyes. “If it makes you feel any better, I didn’t enjoy it.”

  She grimaced. “Obviously, neither did I.”

  He chuckled. “Come on, up you go.” He helped her to her feet. “You were done, weren’t you?”

  Her look was rueful. “Yeah, pretty much. I hope I don’t react this way every time I watch you in a love scene.”

  “They never bothered you before.”

  “I wasn’t with you then.”

  He smiled, turning toward the sink. “Brush your teeth. I’m not kissing you with toilet breath.” She stuck her tongue out at him.

  He laughed. “Don’t stick it out unless you intend to use it.”

  And when she was done with her teeth, she did just that.

  ~ ~ ~

  Nicole was standing in the Kraft Services tent, helping herself to a steaming cup of coffee. The temperature outside had dropped when rain began coming down in sheets. Filming was delayed for the time being, and everyone of importance was hiding, biding their time in their trailers.

  She took a sandwich from the tray, settling in at a table in the corner with her back to the entrance. She was working on an upcoming scene the director wanted re-tweaked. It wasn’t going well. She couldn’t wrap her mind around how to give him what he wanted without completely changing the story.

  She was focusing on her assignment, trying to act oblivious to anyone else’s presence, but she couldn’t help tuning in to a conversation at a table nearby.

  “I don’t get it. He’s so . . . and she’s,” the voice dropped.

  “I know,” another replied. “He must’ve lost his mind.”

  Nicole was intrigued. Who were they talking about?

  “Did you see that ring? It must’ve cost him a fortune.” There was a snide sounding laugh. “She must have chosen it. I can’t imagine he’d pick out anything so gaudy.”

  “Let’s just hope he can return it once their sham engagement is over.”

  Nicole sat up straight. Were they talking about her?

  “Do you think their engagement is a publicity stunt?”

  “I can’t see it as being anything else. According to their people . . . well, his people, she’s a nobody. I doubt she even has people. Anyway, according to his people, they were friends with no romantic interest. Two months later, she’s running around with that ring on her finger, and he’s acting like he’s completely besotted with her. It’s a sham. It must be.”

  “I wouldn’t be surprised if he agreed to it just to build interest in the movie.”

  “There can be no other explanation. I mean, she’s a screenwriter, for Christ’s sake. Reece Collins is a freaking God. He can do so much better than that drab, little nobody, who always has her face stuck in a book.”

  Nicole’s shoulders hunched. Was it true? Was the engagement a sham? Unasked questions filled her mind, but she didn’t have the time to dwell on them.

  Davis poked his head into the tent. “Delancey, how’s the re-tweak? Shepherd is waiting on it.”

  “Almost done, Davis. I’m finishing it up now. Tell him I’m emailing it over.” She hit send.

  The conversation behind her stopped abruptly, an awkward silence descending. A very large elephant had entered the room.

  She stood up, downing the rest of her coffee. She didn’t acknowledge the women as she passed their table. She didn’t give any indication she’d even heard their conversation, but she considered it. She should thank them. They’d given her plenty to think about.

  ~ ~ ~

  As filming continued, she thought more and more about the conversation she’d overheard. And Reece’s answers were vague to say the least. She asked him when he’d like to get married. His answer was after filming was complete. Where did he want to go on their honeymoon? Anywhere she wanted. Should she contact a wedding planner? Did he want to get married in England, California, or North Carolina? Was it too soon for her to start looking for a wedding dress?

  He wouldn’t answer, and she grew more frustrated with every evasion. The doubts were creeping in, doing their damnedest to wreck her confidence.

  She stopped watching the filming, disappearing to quiet places on the set. Sometimes she’d write; other times she’d stare into space.

  Tonight, she was standing on a bridge, leaning against the railing and staring down at the water. The film was done; the final shot had been taken. Everyone was celebrating, but she wasn’t in a partying mood. She wanted to be alone with her thoughts.

  The countdown was on. She was certain Reece was going to announce to the world the engagement was off. There was no more need for him to play the devoted, loving fiancé. She knew it like she knew her own name.

  “Nicole?”

  A hand waved in her face. She spun around. Reece was beside her with a concerned look in his eyes.

  “There you are.”

  She frowned. “What do you mean?”

  His head tilted, trying to read her mood. “You get a look in your eyes at times, and I know you’ve disappeared inside your head. What’s wrong?”

  She shook it off. “Nothing’s wrong. I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  “What were you thinking about so hard?”

  She leaned her back against the railing. “A new story idea.”

  “Care to tell me about it?”

  “No, I haven’t fleshed it out yet.”

  He reached for her, but she flinched away. It was a slight, barely noticeable reaction, but notice he did. “You left the party.”

  She scuffed her foot against a wooden slat. “I didn’t feel like celebrating.”

  “Me neither. I’d much rather celebrate with you.” He sidled close. “Alone. In my trailer. Under the covers.”

  Her pulse leapt. “Sounds intriguing, but the playground is closed at the moment.” It wasn’t, but he didn’t need to know that.

  “We could still go back to the trailer and snuggle. You could lay in your nook while we talk.”

  “Talk about what? Are we finally going to begin making plans?” Her voice was rising.

  Reece leaned away. “Plans for what?”

  “The wedding.”

  “What about it?”

  She slapped her hands against her legs. “I don’t know. How about setting a date? Or what kind of ceremony you’d like or . . .”

  He scratched h
is head. “Nicole, I thought we agreed we’d talk about this after the movie is released.”

  No, that’s what you want. “You said after filming was over.”

  He reached for her again. Something was on her mind. It had been eating at her for a while. “Nicole . . .”

  She stepped away. “I need to go.”

  He stopped her. “Go where? Nicole, talk to me.”

  She glanced toward the party, desperate to get away from him. “Do you want to marry me, Reece?”

  He dropped her arm. “What kind of a question is that?”

  “Don’t answer a question with a question. Do you want to marry me? You haven’t shown any kind of interest in it since you told me we were engaged.”

  “That’s not true.”

  “It is,” she cried. “I haven’t been able to get a straight answer out of you about anything.”

  He gave her a bemused smile. “Don’t men usually leave these decisions up to their women?” he joked, but she wasn’t laughing. “Why don’t you call our mums and start making plans. I’m sure they’d love to help you.”

  She wished she could ask him straight out if they were engaged or not. But if he said it was indeed a sham, it would shatter her dreams. She didn’t want it to be a sham. She wanted the fairytale to be real. She wanted Reece Collins to be in love with her. She wanted him to love her more than his career.

  “Lindsey says you haven’t picked out a dress yet. Maybe you could start there.”

  “What’s the point? It’s not like you’re in any hurry to tie the knot.”

  His anger was rising now. “I wouldn’t have asked you if I didn’t want to marry you.”

  “Then set a damn date, Reece. I need something concrete to hold onto.” Tears were building in her eyes.

  Was she crying? What the hell? His anger evaporated at the first tear. “You’re getting all discombobulated again, aren’t you?”