Stuck Landing

by Lauren Gallagher

  “Kind of?” She winked. “You’re not the first director I’ve worked with. Or the first producer.”

  “Yeah?” I grimaced. “I’m not the worst, am I?”

  Natalya burst out laughing so hard the other people in the restaurant—including Scott and Jeremy—turned toward us. “The worst? Oh no. No, no, no. Not even close.”

  “Oh really?” I leaned forward, dropping my voice to a conspiratorial whisper. “Who was?”

  “That’s easy—Sean Cromwell.” She covered her face and groaned before dropping her hands to the table. “God. If Scorch the Day had been a series, I’d have murdered the bastard.”

  “What? Really? I always heard he was fine to work with.”

  “Not for anyone with ovaries,” she grumbled.

  “Oh. One of those.”

  “Yeah. One of those.”

  “I swear this business has asshole quotas that they have to fill in order to greenlight a project.”

  Natalya threw her head back and laughed, and oh dear God, I loved the way she looked and sounded and made my pulse go haywire. She ran a hand through her hair, pulling it back and then letting it tumble onto her shoulders again, and . . . What were we talking about? Something about . . .

  Right. I took a drink, which wasn’t nearly strong enough. “So, Cromwell. What did he do?”

  She folded her hands on the table and leaned in closer. “Well, I knew it was going to suck because during preproduction, he was convinced I needed to be fired. Because I was a woman and a foreigner, he didn’t believe me when I said the stunts in the film needed a lot more safety equipment than he’d budgeted for. So he went and got Gary, the stunt coordinator, to look everything over.”

  “And Gary agreed with you?”

  “Of course he did.” She laughed. “Sean was a fucking moron. Gary told him people would die if we did things the way he’d planned.”

  “Bet he was thrilled.”

  “Mm-hmm. He was a dream to work with after that.” She rolled her eyes and clicked her tongue. “Fucking bastard spent the whole production waiting for me to fuck up.”

  “Did you?”

  She snorted. “Of course not.” She grinned and added, “My favorite thing in the world is usually watching my stunts go according to plan. With him?” The grin got even bigger. “It was seeing the look on his face when it all went off without a hitch.” She laughed wickedly. “Never got old.”

  I laughed too. “Oh, I can imagine.”

  “But you know, now that I think about it, there was one guy who was worse. Have you ever worked with Lance Hickman?”

  My stomach lurched at the mention of that jerk’s name. “I can tell you some stories about him.”

  “Me too. You won’t believe what he did while we were filming Stars Align . . .”

  After dinner, dessert, and a million stories about the various dick-bags we’d worked with, it was almost closing time. So, finally, we paid our bill and made our way out to the dark parking lot with Scott and Jeremy strolling behind us, hand in hand. We stopped beside her car while they hung back by their cars, giving everyone a little bit of privacy but still keeping Jeremy reasonably close to me.

  Natalya unlocked her car and opened the door, but didn’t get in yet. We locked eyes, and I couldn’t even pretend I didn’t have butterflies swarming in my stomach.

  “I had a really nice time tonight,” she said.

  “Me too.” I smiled despite my sudden nerves. “I’m still . . . you know, not quite sure what we’re doing, but—”

  She cradled my face and kissed me gently. “It’s okay. We’re just hanging out and sleeping together. It doesn’t have to be anything more than that.”

  But what else is there?

  “It works,” I whispered. “I do like it.”

  “So do I.” She kissed me again, then inched toward her car. “Let me know about going riding? I’m looking forward to it.”

  “Me too.”

  One more smile, and she got into her car. As she drove off, I stood there with my heart in my throat. I was overthinking this, wasn’t I? Just because she was interesting, and laid-back, and hot, and adventurous . . . that didn’t mean we couldn’t make this work as friends. It didn’t mean I’d get too emotionally tangled up in her for my own good.

  But really, it was hard to imagine a woman who checked more boxes for me. Our relationship—whatever it was—hit all the right notes without all the migraine-inducing stress of my last relationship. It was . . . it was everything I’d been missing before.

  And if I can have this with a friend, then I’ll definitely have it with my soul mate whenever she comes along. Doesn’t mean this is getting out of hand.

  I watched until her taillights were gone, then headed back toward where my bodyguard and his boyfriend were saying good-bye. They glanced at me, then shared a long kiss. As Scott drove off, Jeremy met me beside his own car and unlocked the doors.

  I scowled. “Sorry you couldn’t leave with him. Looked like the two of you would’ve preferred to keep your date going.”

  “It’s okay,” he said as we got in the car. “We’ll meet up later.” He pulled the door shut and turned the key. “He can wait a little while.”

  I scowled. “I’m sorry you can’t just—”

  “Don’t worry about it.” He flashed me a smile. “This is the job I signed up for, and working for you is the reason I met him in the first place. Trust me—we can both cope with a few extra minutes before we see each other again tonight.”

  “Okay. But if it gets to be a hassle, I can try to talk the studio into hiring someone for the evenings. Even if it means he stays overnight at the house or something to justify having him on the clock all night.”

  Jeremy’s lips quirked. “Well, I did already put in for them to bring in someone else while my son’s in town starting in July. Maybe that could just segue into the other guard working nights while I work days.” He studied me in the light from the streetlamps. “You don’t mind someone else?”

  “I’ve made do whenever you’re out of town or on vacation.”

  “True.”

  “It’s fine. I want you to have a life too, you know. We’ll talk to the studio and the security company and see what happens.”

  “Sounds good.”

  As he cruised up the highway toward Bluewater Bay, I said, “So, how would you feel about going horseback riding on the beach?”

  Jeremy’s brow creased. “Come again?”

  “If Natalya and I go riding. Out on the beach. I’m, um, assuming you’d have to do it too.”

  “Uh, well . . .” He shifted. “I’ve never ridden a horse in my life, but I don’t think the studio would accept me hanging back at the barn until you all get back.”

  “We could get you a Segway or something.”

  He rolled his eyes. “A horse will be fine, thank you very much.”

  “Good.” I paused. “And, um, if Scott wants to come along, he’s more than welcome.”

  “Hmm. Well, I can ask him. But I’ll be there, of course.” He glanced at me and drummed his fingers on the wheel. “So, things are going okay with her?”

  “So far so good.”

  He gave a slight nod. “That’s great. Glad to hear it.”

  I just smiled. Yeah, I was glad to hear it too. Still didn’t quite know what to make of us—of where the hell this might go—but considering the rough start we’d had, I’d take it. Taking things slow worked.

  What do I do if she does want more, though?

  What do I do if I want more?

  Naturally, the first day Natalya and I could have gone down to Kalaloch for a ride was also the day the skies opened up and dumped on the Olympic Peninsula. The coast was drenched, and although Bluewater Bay was in a rain shadow that kept us dry most of the time, it didn’t stop us from getting the occasional torrential downpour. Like this one. Lucky us.

  Since riding on the beach wasn’t in the cards today, we opted for the second best thing—hunkering do
wn and watching movies with Levi and Carter.

  As an added bonus, Levi’s house was one of the few places where we weren’t required to have our personal security on hand. Our bodyguards were thrilled—as soon as they found out what our plans were for the day, Alfonse headed to Portland to see his girlfriend and Jeremy took off somewhere with Scott.

  Shortly after Jeremy dropped me off at the guys’ house, Natalya arrived. Hopefully the guys didn’t notice my nerves—this would be the first time we’d socialized with them as a couple, and I was a nervous wreck. Would they all get along? Would someone say something that rubbed someone the wrong way and turn the whole visit into an awkward nightmare of nightmarish awkwardness?

  Oh God, I need a drink.

  The rain was coming down in buckets, so Levi went out to offer Natalya an umbrella, but she was already halfway to the front door.

  “I was going to help you stay dry,” he said, chuckling as we both stood aside to let her in.

  “Pfft.” She shrugged off her wet jacket. “It’s just rain. Never hurt anyone.”

  “Suit yourself.” He put the umbrella aside and took her coat.

  I put an arm around Natalya. “Not everyone melts from a little rain, Levi.”

  Natalya laughed, brushing a few damp strands of hair behind her ear.

  He rolled his eyes. “This is what I get for trying to be a gentleman?”

  Snickering, I said, “It’s going to take a lot more than an umbrella for—”

  “Yeah, yeah. Get in there.” He herded me toward the kitchen, and I smothered a giggle as I led Natalya down the hall with him on our heels.

  In the kitchen, Carter was balancing Zelda on his shoulders as he poured some chips into a bowl. He looked up and smiled. “Hey, Natalya. How are you?”

  “Hi. I’m well.” She cocked her head. “The cat . . . why is she . . .?”

  Right then, Link trotted out from behind the kitchen island and right up to her. His tail was straight in the air, and he made soft chirping noises at Natalya.

  “He wants you to pet him,” Levi said.

  She eyed Link uncertainly but crouched down and offered her hand. As Link sniffed her fingers, she said, “I’m not really a cat person.”

  Levi chuckled. “Well, I know whose lap Zelda will be sleeping in, then.”

  Natalya looked up. “What?”

  “She gravitates toward anyone who’s not into cats. Just be glad you aren’t allergic.”

  “No kidding,” Carter said. “She’s— Ouch! Damn it!” Zelda vaulted off his shoulder, onto the island, and then onto the floor with a heavy thump. She shoved Link out of the way and looked expectantly at Natalya.

  “Zelda.” Levi clicked his tongue. He scooped her up onto his shoulder, wincing when he straightened. “He’s allowed to have attention too, you know.”

  Link hung back for a moment, but shyly approached Natalya again.

  “Well,” she said, petting Link’s long back. “I see who wears the pants in this house.”

  “Not Link, that’s for sure.” Carter dusted some chip crumbs off his hands. “Okay, we’ve got chips, sodas, pretzels. You have any preference for drinks, Natalya? We’ve got enough Coke to last through the apocalypse, but we also have—”

  “Coke is fine.” She patted Link and rose. “I’m not picky.”

  Levi laughed as he put Zelda on the floor. He started to speak, but I wagged a finger at him.

  “Don’t even.” I shot him a glare.

  He showed his palms. “What? I didn’t say a word!”

  “Not yet, you didn’t.” Under my breath, I added, “Brat.”

  Carter snorted, shaking his head, and didn’t say anything as he poured Cokes for everyone. Natalya and I exchanged glances, and she laughed softly. Okay, so far so good. No weirdness. No awkwardness. It wasn’t like Natalya hadn’t met the guys before, but they may as well have been ships passing in the night for all they interacted at work. Meeting here, in private, in a small social setting . . . that was where things could get weird.

  But we were off to a good start. Natalya was friendly with Levi’s cats, which would earn her points with him. Carter was a sweetheart to everyone, and Natalya was generally polite even if she was professional to the point of standoffish, so I shouldn’t have been surprised. And I supposed I wasn’t—just relieved. This was such a switch from the relentless tension whenever Leigh and I had come over.

  “Well.” Levi gestured at the bowls of munchies. “I think we’ve got food covered. If we want something more substantial later, Natalya and I can go into town and grab some pizza. Since, you know, we don’t require adult supervision.”

  “We’ve got frozen pizzas too,” Carter said.

  “I’m happy with whatever everyone else wants to do.” Natalya shrugged and rested her hands on the island. “I’m just looking forward to relaxing and watching movies all day.”

  “I like the way you think,” Levi said, and turned to put the chip bags back in the pantry.

  “Hmm, I don’t know about this,” I said. “We’re alone in a cabin in the woods in a rainstorm without our bodyguards. Isn’t this how some horror movies start?”

  “Or some pornos,” Levi said.

  “Um, no.” I wrinkled my nose. “No thanks.” Glancing at Natalya, I added, “I mean, not if it’s starring all four of us.”

  She winked and laughed.

  “Hey.” Levi pulled a jar of salsa down, then elbowed the pantry door shut. “I’m just trying to be an optimist. I’d rather be in a porno than a horror movie.”

  “As a character?” Natalya asked. “Or an actor?”

  He chuckled. “A character. As an actor, horror movies are fun as hell.”

  “What about pornos?”

  “I wouldn’t know.”

  She shrugged. “Well, I suppose that saves me some time on Google.”

  It took Levi a second to realize what she’d meant, and when he did, his eyes widened.

  She rolled her eyes. “I’m joking.”

  Jealousy tried to flare in my chest, but I tamped it down. She was joking. I shook myself and turned to Levi. “So, I’m surprised you guys aren’t using your day off to plan your wedding.”

  Carter groaned. “No. I put my foot down. We’re getting a day off from that too.”

  “Hey, I didn’t exactly put up much of a fight,” Levi said. “Who knew planning something like that would be so exhausting?”

  “Ugh,” Carter said. “At least it’s almost over.”

  “Well,” I said, “you did have the option of going to Vegas, but no, you both insisted on—”

  “Yeah, yeah.” Levi waved a hand. “No, we’re doing the real thing. Just, you know, taking a day off from it before we kill each other.”

  “Isn’t that the sign of a couple who’s meant to be?” Natalya asked. “If they can plan their wedding without killing each other?”

  “I thought the true test was hanging wallpaper together,” Carter said.

  Levi shot him a look. “If you think we’re putting up a single scrap of wallpaper in this house—”

  “I wasn’t suggesting anything.” Carter put up his hands. “I just thought that was how you tested a couple. If they can hang up wallpaper without bloodshed.”

  “Hmm. Maybe wedding planning is enough.”

  “Yeah.” I grimaced. “Carter, I’d hire a professional if you—”

  “Quiet, you,” Levi muttered.

  “She’s got a point,” Carter said.

  They exchanged playful glares.

  Natalya laughed. “You were right,” she said to me. “They are entertaining.”

  “Told you.” I laughed, relieved she was falling into step with our nonstop banter. What a switch from the stick-in-the-mud I’d brought over in the past. “Just watching them is worth having to cancel plans.”

  “Glad we can help,” Levi said, chuckling. He opened the salsa and poured it into a smaller bowl. “You guys have some weather-permitting plans today or something?”
>
  “Yeah.” I snatched a chip from the bowl, narrowly escaping before he swatted my hand. “We’ve been trying to get down to Kalaloch to go on one of those rides on the beach.” I paused, stopping myself just before I suggested they tag along. As much as it would be a blast to go riding with those two, I was looking forward to spending that time alone with Natalya. Well, and with Jeremy. And our guide. And whoever else signed up for the same group ride.

  Levi shook his head as he rinsed out the salsa jar. “You two are insane.”

  “What?” I scoffed. “Why?”

  “Horses? Out on a beach? No fences?” He put the jar in the recycling bin. “In-fucking-sane.”

  “Why?” Natalya asked. “You’re afraid of horses?”

  “I don’t know if ‘afraid’ is the word I’d use, but after the one I had to ride while we were filming Tin Horse? Can’t say I’m a fan of fifteen hundred pounds of crazy between my legs.” Carter and I opened our mouths to speak, but Levi shot us each a glare. “Quiet. Both of you.” The three of us laughed while he rolled his eyes and shook his head.

  “Horses aren’t that bad.” Natalya snorted. “Come on. I have screws and bolts holding pieces together, and I’m still not afraid to ride.”

  “You’re part of the stunt department.” He gestured dismissively. “By definition, you’re both crazy and falling apart.”

  I laughed. Natalya shot me a good-natured glare, and I shrugged. “What? He’s got a point.”

  “Hey!” She nudged me with her elbow. “You’re supposed to be on my side!”

  “Natalya. Honey.” I put my hand on her lower back and held her gaze. “I’m always on your side, but when we’re talking about whether or not you’re crazy . . .” I grimaced.

  “Don’t take it personally, Natalya.” Carter patted Levi’s arm. “I never miss a chance to call him crazy either.”

  Her lips quirked. “I can’t imagine anyone can argue with that.”

  “Hey!” Levi sighed dramatically. “Fuck you both.”

  Carter started to fire back with something, but Levi hooked his finger in Carter’s belt loop and pulled him closer to cut him off with a kiss.

  “You’re lucky you’re cute, you know that?”

  Carter just grinned.