“Not your fault. Listen, hire some more guys. I’ll pay for it. Stella, do you feel safe in your room?”
She shook her head. “Maybe I should move closer to your room, Cosimo.”
Biba felt a flash of jealousy run through her, especially when Cosimo nodded. “We’ll get you a suite in the big house. Biba can stay with you, then we can protect you both.”
Stella didn’t look enthusiastic, and Biba agreed with her. Sharing a suite would mean neither could indulge in secret assignations…was Cosimo doing it on purpose?
Biba trailed behind them as they walked up to the manor. She felt miserable and guilty. Miserable because she had blown it spectacularly with Cosimo, and guilty because clearly, Stella had been in danger. What the hell was going on?
Rich caught up with her. “You okay, boo?” She nodded but felt even more guilty. She’d said yes to a date with Rich and not even an hour later, she was naked with their boss. God, she was a mess, wasn’t she? Maybe Cosimo was right. Maybe the incident with Damon had fucked her up more than she liked to admit.
She got the answer to one question a little later when she and Stella were alone. They were changing for bed: Stella walking around completely naked, Biba shimmying into her shorts and T-shirt discreetly as always. She felt Stella watching her.
“Were you and Cosimo together earlier?” Stella was smoking a cigarette, blowing the smoke out of the window. “You seemed to arrive at my trailer at the same time.”
Ah. So, Stella had been watching them. “I was down by the lake at the same time, is all,” Biba said casually. “We just said hello when we heard the gunshots.” She was amazed at how easily the lie slid from her lips, but she really didn’t want to deal with Stella’s jealousy tonight.
“Huh.” Stella was fishing, Biba could tell. “I didn’t know you two were on chatting terms.”
“He was being polite.”
Stella seemed satisfied with that, but an hour later, Stella snoring gently beside her, Biba couldn’t help reliving the soft kisses, the taste of his skin, the way his intense gaze made her stomach flutter with desire. With it though, came a sense of certainty, of misery, knowing that by the way Cosimo reacted, there would be no repeat of this evening’s intimacy.
He’s right to withdraw, she thought, but the idea of being distant with him now was making her chest hurt.
She finally fell into a fitful sleep, only to be woken by Stella a couple of hours later, showing her the note that had been sent to her.
My darling Stella,
Know that tonight was just the beginning. We will together soon, my love, and you will never have to worry about anything ever again. If anyone tries to stop our love, know that I will do anything to stop them. Anything. Your director, the security teams, that pretty assistant of yours…all of their lives will be forfeit if they try to stop me.
Soon, my darling.
Soon.
Cosimo had called in the FBI, and they had agreed. “Guy’s a nutball,” Luke Harris, the FBI agent, said with a nod to them as they all gathered in the manor’s dining hall. “Luckily for you, nutballs are our thing.”
Biba hid a smirk at the agent’s words, shooting a look at Reggie. She knew he was thinking the same thing—this dude was a swaggering moron. Still, this wasn’t about their opinions, rather Stella’s safety. Biba didn’t even register that she too had been threatened until Cosimo spoke up. “Agent Harris, I need reassurances that Stella, Biba, and the rest of our staff are safe.”
“We’ll do what we can, but I have to say, with respect to Mr. Furlough and Mr. Wolff, your security here is lax. That this guy could break in and return later to leave a note…”
“Maybe he left the note before he tried to take Stella.” Biba spoke up, wanting to defend Cosimo. “It would make more sense.”
Harris looked miffed. “I don’t see…”
“It would make more sense. After all, he threatened to take Stella, and then tried to do exactly that. Perhaps Stella didn’t get the note before because it was at the manor’s reception?” Cosimo’s voice was smooth, but Biba detected anger in his tone. She was grateful for the backup.
Harris cleared his throat, two spots of pink appearing high on his cheeks. “We’ll check it out. But what I said about the security stands. You need to beef it up.”
“Already in motion,” Cosimo shot a look at Rich who nodded.
“We have ten more security guards, and the manor house has offered to close down completely to outside people.”
“It’s a start.” Harris looked back at Biba and Stella. “Be vigilant, little ladies. Don’t go anywhere on your own.”
Biba’s eyes narrowed, and Stella looked angry. “Such good advice, Agent Harris. Our tax dollars well spent.”
The sarcasm went over his head, and he left shortly after. “You asked for miracles, Theo. I give you the F.B.I.,” Reggie drawled in his best Alan Rickman/Die Hard impression.
It broke the tension—even Cosimo grinned. “Hey, listen…I’m sorry, folks. I’ve dealt with a lot of weirdos in my time, but I promise, I’ll do everything I can to protect you.” He sighed, rubbing his eyes. He looked tired and drawn, and Biba wanted more than anything to hold him, kiss him, tell him everything would be fine.
For the rest of the day, however, he kept his distance. They had all agreed that working would be best for them all to decompress and distract themselves from the unpleasantness of Stella’s stalker. Stella, of course, was milking it for all it was worth, but when she was acting, Biba had to give it to her, it lent a certain vulnerability to her character which made her more likable.
However diva-like and bitchy Stella could be, the one thing Biba loved about her was her performances. There was a reason Stella Reckless was the biggest movie star in the world: sheer magnetism and radiance. She was luminescent in front of the camera. Stella loved acting even more than she loved herself, and it showed. When she wasn’t causing trouble for the sake of it, she could deliver searing, hypnotizing performances which were peerless. Today was a day like that, and Biba watched Franco, her costar in today’s scenes, rise to the challenge. Despite the vast age difference, they were magnetic together, the romance between them utterly believable.
During the afternoon, Damon’s replacement, Sifrido, arrived on set and had an immediate impact on the cast and crew. Friendly, flirty, easy-going, Sifrido and Franco bonded straight away, and Biba could tell they would have fun teasing Stella. For her part, Stella didn’t seem to mind—she loved the extra attention.
Sifrido also had an effect on Cosimo. Biba could tell they were old friends with their easy joking around and the way Cosimo’s tension level seemed to ease. She was glad…although he still wasn’t meeting her gaze.
Let it go. Give him time. But it still hurt. Biba distracted herself with work and talking to Rich and Gunter. Rich was quieter than usual and later, when she asked him if he was okay, he pulled her aside. “Beebs…I can’t leave this unsaid, but I saw you. You and Cos, down by the lake.”
Her face flaming, Biba groaned. “God, Rich, I’m so sorry. That was…it wasn’t planned, I swear. And, in the end, nothing happened. It was a moment of…madness. I’m sorry.”
“You don’t owe me an apology,” Rich said with a smile, “or anything else. I can relate. We’ve all had that moment. I just didn’t want to know that and have you not know. It’s okay, really.”
Biba looked at him. “I do like you, Rich, a lot. This thing with Cosimo…I couldn’t help myself, and maybe that tells me something.”
“I gotcha. Hell, listen, as long as we’re friends…”
“Always, Rich. Always.”
Rich grinned, nudging her shoulder. “And if you like him, you should go for it. Cos is a good guy.”
“I don’t think there will be a repeat of what happened between us, but thanks.”
Biba was back in Stella’s trailer even before Stella finished work for the day, and when her boss got back, she gave Biba a strange look. Biba looked
up from her laptop. “Oh, sorry, was I meant to bring you something?”
“No, it’s fine. It’s just unlike you to hide away in here.”
“Not hiding away, just catching up on e-mails.”
“Even so.” Stella sat down opposite her, tapping out a cigarette from her pack. “Cosimo asked where you’d gone.”
Biba hid the thrill that went through her. “Oh?”
“Said he wanted to talk security with you.”
“Okay. I should go find him.” She got up, trying not to run right out of the trailer and go find him. She went through the mail and handed it to Stella. “No nasties, but nothing much of interest either.”
Stella threw the stack on the table. “I’ll get to it. So, you and Cosimo seem to be connecting.”
“Just as colleagues.” Biba hated lying but there it was. “I better go find him; he may want to talk about your security detail.”
“Okay.” But there was an icy tone to Stella’s voice—she didn’t believe Biba’s claims of simple friendship with Cosimo. Biba shrugged and left the trailer.
At the manor, she asked the receptionist where Cosimo was. “I think Mr. DeLuca is in his suite,” the young man said with a smile. “Want me to call up?”
“Yes, please.”
Biba waited patiently as he called Cosimo. A second later, he smiled at her. “He says to go up.”
Heart pounding, she took the stairs to the second floor, needing the exercise to shed some nervous energy. Tapping lightly at Cosimo’s door, she still jumped slightly when he opened it almost immediately.
For a long moment, they gazed at each other, then he smiled. “Hey.”
“Hey yourself.”
“Come on in.”
He stood back to let her in, and as she passed, she smelled soap and shampoo, saw his dark curls were damp, his sweater freshly on. Her senses reeled, and she wobbled.
“Hey, are you alright?” Cosimo caught her before she fell. Biba, mortified, nodded. “Sorry, I forgot to eat today.”
He rolled his eyes and grinned at her. “Now, I already know that’s not like you.”
God, why did his smile make her stomach hurt? Cosimo called down and ordered room service for them both. “Little impromptu dinner party.”
Biba chuckled. “Can it really be a party with just two?”
Cosimo considered. “Okay, a suite picnic.”
“Nice.”
Cosimo laughed. “Burgers okay with you? I ordered all the fixings.”
“Perfect. I just forgot to eat today.”
Cosimo sat down next to her, and she leaned against him. He put his arm around her. “Biba…”
“I know what you’re going to say. I’m too young; I’m still a virgin; I’m damaged from my past; You can’t take on someone with so much baggage.”
Cosimo gave her a sad smile. “The first three are true. The last, not so much. Except…I can’t take advantage of you. I would never be able to forgive myself if I caused you more pain.”
Biba nodded, misery seeping through every cell in her body. “I know. It’s the responsible thing to do.”
He pressed his lips to her temple. “It’s not that I don’t want you, Biba, because, Lord knows, I do. But I have a responsibility towards you, the movie, and my son, of course.”
Biba looked up at him—he was so Goddamn beautiful she could cry. “I know. Nicco comes first. And hey, on the bright side, if we stop this before it begins, we have a good shot at being friends.”
She saw him visibly relax. “I think so, too. There’s nothing I’d like more…well, there’s one thing, but that’s not an option.”
“Yet…” Biba said, her voice was almost a whisper, willing him to agree. He met her gaze steadily.
“Yet.”
Their eyes locked, and then his lips were against hers. “God damn it,” he said as they paused for air.
Biba chuckled. “Look, let’s do this. When room service arrives, that’s the holy line of demarcation. That’s when we cross from whatever this is to just friends. Until then…”
He groaned and took her face in his hands, his lips hungry against hers. “I hope they forget our order.”
“Me, too.”
But room service came quickly and efficiently, and Cosimo and Biba broke apart regretfully. As they sat down with their burgers, Biba smiled at him. “Actually, once you see the wolverine way I eat fast food, you’ll be put off me anyway.”
Cosimo laughed. “Is that so?”
Biba took a huge bite of her burger, making a growling noise and chomping loudly. Cosimo laughed and followed suit until they were both laughing helplessly. Biba almost choked on her burger. “Told you so.”
Cosimo reached over and wiped a smear of mustard from her bottom lip, making it tingle. “You weren’t exaggerating.”
“So, as an Italian American, are you big into pizza and stuff?”
“Actually, I’m just Italian. I was born in Venice.”
Biba’s eyebrows shot up. “Really? Well, dang that search engine.”
“Ha. You Googled me?”
Biba rolled her eyes. “Of course I Googled you, dude. I’m a millennial.”
Cosimo groaned again. “God, I feel old.” Biba grinned.
“So, Mr. Italian, what’s the food like over there?”
“Sublime. Haven’t you been? I thought I heard your father was stationed in Europe for a while.”
“Germany. And he wasn’t big on vacations. Or being a father.” She didn’t know why she blurted that out, but Cosimo nodded.
“From what you told me last night, I wouldn’t think so. God…you believe your child.” He spat the words out, and Biba was touched he was so angry on her behalf.
“You’d think. It took me a while to figure out that it wasn’t normal family behavior to be like that, and that it wasn’t my fault. He failed me. My mom failed me. And I have every right to be angry about it.”
“If I could go back and kill the guy who did this to you, I wouldn’t hesitate.” His green eyes were almost dangerous-looking now, and a shiver went down Biba’s spine. She could believe it.
“Thank you.” She wanted to change the subject now. “You must be looking forward to seeing Nicco next weekend?”
Cosimo nodded, then sighed. “Yes and no. I have a feeling that it’ll be twenty-four hours of monosyllabic conversation and heavy teenage sighs.”
“He is sixteen.”
“Yeah. Look, this may be asking a huge favor but…”
“I’d love to,” she said preempting his question. “I can think up some cool stuff he might enjoy…I could bring Reggie, too. He always seems to know the places to be in the city.”
Cosimo looked relieved. “I’d be very grateful. I just can’t reach him at the moment.”
Biba nodded, and for a few minutes they ate in companionable silence. “Can I be personal for a moment?”
Cosimo nodded. “Of course.”
“Stop thinking you’re old. You carry this world-weary look around with you—but look at you. You’re only forty, and you look fifteen years younger than that when you smile. I know losing your wife must have been the worst, the absolute worst. But she would want you to be happy, Cos.”
Biba blushed scarlet after her little speech. Who was she to lecture this grown-up? But he smiled at her. “You’re good at this friend thing.”
“I try.”
Cosimo reached over and linked his fingers with hers. Biba could barely stand the tension between them and slowly withdrew her hand. “I can’t.”
“I know, I’m sorry.”
They finished their meal and Biba stood. “I had better go tell Stella that we just talked.”
“We did just talk.”
“True.” She smiled at him as he walked her to the door. “Thank you for dinner.”
He opened the door for her, but then shut it again before she could leave, closing his eyes. “Biba…”
She pressed her lips to his. “I know.”
&nb
sp; They kissed again slowly, and then held each other for a long moment. “Bye, buddy,” she said, softly, trying to make him smile, but he shook his head.
“If you only knew what I was thinking.”
She touched his face. “I really do know. Goodnight, Cosimo.”
“Goodnight, Biba.”
It was only when she knew she was truly alone that Biba let herself cry.
Chapter Eight
“Nicco will be here tomorrow morning,” Cosimo told her a week later. “He’s coming down on the bus. I said I’d send a car for him.”
“He’s just showing his independence. Let him.”
“Yes, oh wise one.”
Biba chuckled, nudging him gently in the ribs as they stood in the craft services line. Cosimo wasn’t one of those directors who demanded to be served first. When they had their meal, they sat down with Rich and Gunter. Gunter was in the middle of one of his rants.
“But why zey exist at all? Zey are just demons disguised as fluffy bees but without ze fluff. Zey are the devils.”
Rich looked bemused. Biba grinned at him. “What’s he talking about?”
“Wasps. Damn wasps.”
“Demons.”
“They’re just wasps, dude.”
Gunter grumbled to himself, and Cosimo grinned. “You have a strange relationship with the insect world, Gunter.”
“I just don’t know how zey make a life.”
Biba scooped a spoonful of granola into her mouth. “Cosimo’s son is coming to Tacoma tomorrow.”
“Cool. What are you going to do?”
Cosimo smiled. “Biba’s in charge of the day’s activities. I like to call it ‘The How-to-Amuse-a-Teen Challenge.”
“I got you covered, Cos,” Biba said, marveling at how easily they could be ‘just friends’ in front of everyone else. When they had been alone this past week, they’d struggled not to break their new rule. More than a few kisses had sneaked through their ‘holy line of demarcation’. “Nicco is going to be so impressed; he’ll tell all his friends what a cool dad he has.”
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