Causing A Commotion

by Lynn, Janice

“It would be good for you,” he coaxed, his voice low and seductive. “Good for your career. Good in every way.”

  Ewww.

  “No.” She stood, turned to face him. “Max, as much as I like you as a person,” which she wasn’t so sure she did at this point, “nothing will ever happen between us. Not so long as you’re married.” At his look, she rushed on. “Not even if you weren’t married.”

  She wouldn’t elaborate. Now wasn’t the time to tell Maxwell about her fascination with Colin.

  “How are your needs being met if you don’t have a man?”

  Did she say she didn’t have a man? Again, probably better not to point that out. She shrugged. “Like most modern day women, I have batteries and know how to use them.”

  He stared at her long seconds, laughed, then grabbed her and kissed her. Yuck.

  She tried to twist away but he held her tight. She stomped down on his toes, then jerked back, spitting at him, still not freeing herself. “I said no.”

  When he didn’t let go of her arms, she brought her knee up, slamming into his groin with all her force.

  “I said no, and I mean no.” So much for finesse, she thought, stalking out of the dressing room, head held high, shoulders thrown back, chin jutted forward.

  Even if he fired her, she didn’t regret her actions. No meant no even if you were Maxwell Arnold and had the power of God.

  Too bad she’d just realized how much she liked her job and that it was her way of staying in contact with Colin until he realized what they had.

  * * *

  Colin glanced over the day’s agenda. No real news, but a whole lot of who’s who and who’s doing who kind of things. He sighed. What would his father say if he knew Colin played gossip for Hollywood’s hottest? He wouldn’t pat him on the back and tell him how proud he was, that’s for sure.

  Despite being one of America’s top heartthrobs and apparently a Colin Crandall show fan, Eric Ewing was not real news in Colin’s opinion. The man was a paid actor. An entertainer. Not news.

  But Jessie wanted him on the show, so on the show he’d be.

  Because Maxwell and J.P. gave Jessie whatever she wanted. He couldn’t blame them.

  Jessie.

  He closed his eyes and memories assailed. Memories he had no business recalling minutes before going on the air.

  He’d stayed long enough to finish the movie, and slipped out as quickly as he could after it went off. He’d called to check on her, make sure she was okay since someone had drugged her. She’d invited him to come over. Repeatedly. He’d forced himself to stay away, unwilling to fall into a pattern of spending every spare moment with her. Of thinking he had the right to the phenomenal sex they’d had.

  He’d restrained himself. Having sex with Jessie again would be a cosmic mistake. She tried a man’s control. She was hot and sassy and totally wonderful.

  Making love to her was a pleasure. A torture.

  He wanted more. More of the sweet loving she’d given. If it had been real. He wanted to believe it had, that she hadn’t faked her reactions to his lovemaking. Hell, he didn’t think she was that good of an actress.

  But going back for more implied they had a relationship. They didn’t. Wouldn’t. As soon as he figured out what was going on at Wolf, he planned to get rid of her from his show. Otherwise, he’d walk on his contract. Wolf could sue him if they wanted, but he couldn’t stand this patsy reporting much longer.

  He also couldn’t stand the thought of leaving Jessie unprotected. What if someone really was trying to hurt her rather than him?

  For so many reasons, he’d never forgive himself if anything happened to her.

  However, when he did walk away from Wolf, Jessie would be hurt. By him.

  Or maybe not if he presented it in the right light. After all, Jessie shined in front of the camera. Wolf could make her the sole star of Causing A Commotion. Jessie would go on without skipping a beat.

  Sensing she was near, he watched her stalk into the studio. His breath caught as it always did when she was within radar range. When she walked into a room, the air became thin and electricity crackled. Simply put, she short-circuited his brain. His body. Especially today since they’d short-circuited together the last time he’d seen her.

  Although she smiled and waved at the audience, he immediately sensed something was wrong. Her eyes blazed, her posture had a rigid edge, her chin jutted forward and when she slid into her seat next to him, he saw that her lipstick was smudged.

  For what seemed like an eternity he stared at those smudges. At her kiss-swollen lips. At her distracted stance. Reluctantly, his gaze dropped to the papers in front of him. One name leapt out. Eric Ewing.

  Jealousy hit him. She’d kissed Eric Ewing.

  He’d known once they had sex she’d move on.

  From the beginning. He’d known her pattern. He was a fool.

  Only Ewing wasn’t even moving on. She’d had him before. Maybe she bounced back and forth between lovers. Her appetite so ravenous no one man could satisfy her. She’d acted like their lovemaking was no big deal. Perhaps it really hadn’t been to her.

  Colin clamped down the emotions flooding him. What did it matter? He’d just admitted they didn’t have a relationship. Not a real one. Jessie was free to do anything she pleased.

  With anyone she pleased.

  Apparently Eric Ewing pleased.

  Hell.

  Colin didn’t want a relationship. Not with a brazen actress. Not with anyone. Yet the thought of another man touching her painted his insides a sickening green.

  Knowing they’d be on air in mere moments and that an audience watched their every move, Colin turned away, unable to look at the smudges any longer.

  “You might want to check your lipstick.” He couldn’t resist getting in a dig. Although it would serve her right if he’d let her go on air looking that way. No doubt Beverly or one of the other crew would have done a last minute check though and repaired the smudges.

  “Oh,” she sounded upset. “Thank you. I didn’t even think of that.”

  “Apparently,” he said dryly.

  He felt her gaze on him, then heard her call Elaine for a lipstick fix. Quickly the assistant repaired Jessie’s make-up.

  Ridiculous caked-on stuff. If J.P. had any sense he’d show the world how truly beautiful Jessie was and allow her to go on air without the paints, without the masks. Not that she’d likely be willing to do that. Few women would.

  Natural was a lot better than kiss-smudged lipstick.

  The countdown sounded and the camera started. Jessie and he ran through their opening spiels. As usual she was all smiles. Colin didn’t smile, but he wasn’t exactly frowning. She’d kissed another man mere days after having sex with him. He was frowning.

  No matter, worse case scenario, Wolf would fire him.

  Which would make him a free man.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Jessie’s bad day got worse. She’d wondered how Colin would react to seeing her. Now she knew.

  Not good.

  Not good at all.

  Quite horrible.

  Almost as bad as in the taxi cab the day they met and she’d told him she was an actress. Had they not come any further than this?

  She’d thought…no matter. Colin made love to her and still intended to give her the cold shoulder.

  Colin the Cold.

  Maxwell tried to grope her. Tried? Ha, he had groped. Then groaned when her knee collided with his privates.

  Maxwell the Mauler. Total ick factor.

  Refusing to let her thoughts show on her face, Jessie ran through the routine segments, smiled into the camera, and introduced today’s guest, her personal friend, “Eric Ewing.”

  Eric came into the pseudo-living room. Jessie and Colin sat in matching chairs. A comfy empty one waited on Eric.

  Ever the good sport, he worked the crowd, waving, shaking hands, smiling his deeply dimpled gin. When Eric made it onto the set, he shook Colin’s hand.
Much to her surprise he made a major production out of kissing her hand. The crowd oohed.

  Jessie did not.

  At least, not until she saw the fires in Colin’s gaze.

  Then she did. Did quite well. After all, she was a fab actress and after the cold shoulder he’d just given her, Colin deserved jealousy. Lots of jealousy. Plus, this was likely to be her last segment on Causing A Commotion, why not enjoy? Damn Maxwell for putting her in this position. Damn Colin for being a coward. Or cold. Or whatever other “c” adjective he was.

  Then again caring started with a “c”, too. And jealousy meant Colin cared. Caring was good.

  “Eric, darling, how have you been?” She kept her face angled to where camera number three would have a great view. To where Colin had a great view of her fake enraptured expression.

  “Better now that I’m here.” Eric winked at the camera in good ole Texas boy fashion. Clapping cheered him from the audience.

  “Tell us about coming out of the closet,” Colin interrupted, his tone brusque.

  Eric’s forehead wrinkled before he shrugged and answered, “In my latest movie, Faces in the Mirror, the viewers get the first glimpse at the skeletons in my closet during a scene where I’m celebrating my onscreen wife’s thirtieth birthday. Her twin brother is there. There’s a scene where it’s just me and him in the kitchen, and there are sparks.”

  “Were there any real life sparks?”

  Eric outright frowned at Colin’s hostility. “No, in real life, we’re both heterosexual.” Eric turned to the crowd and waggled his brows. “That means I prefer to play with the girls, Colin.”

  Good-natured laughs sounded.

  “Oh, is there any girl in particular we should know about?” Jessie jumped in, determined not to let Colin make a jerk of himself on air. Although he deserved to. Perhaps she’d let him. If not for the darling jealousy she’d gleamed in his blue gaze, she probably would after the way he’d left her apartment.

  “Well, since you’re not available,” Eric shot her a friendly wink, “I’m playing the field.”

  “Isn’t it true that you have a habit of playing the field and very rarely date a woman beyond however long it takes to finish whatever film you’re currently working on?” Colin’s question fired with the intensity of a general questioning a hostile enemy.

  Eric shrugged. “It’s not so much playing the field as it’s searching for the perfect blossom.”

  “Perfect blossom?” Colin looked incredulous. “I take it you’re a fan of Mr. Smith and plan to deflower this perfect blossom?”

  “Colin, if I found the perfect blossom, yeah, I’d deflower her.” Eric flashed an award-winning smile at the audience and Jessie. “Right after I made her my bride.”

  Colin’s lips thinned. “You plan to marry?”

  “Some day.”

  “Have you met this perfect blossom?”

  Eric laughed. “There have been a few times I thought I had, but with the exception of one, all the women in my life turn out to be exotic buds, but not the rose I’m looking for.”

  Jessie giggled. Eric was such a habitual flirt, always saying the right thing. He’d apparently been catching their show, because she knew he wasn’t really a fan of Mr. Smith’s poetry. So, she played into his hands and asked what he’d set up. “This exceptional one, is she someone we know?”

  “Yes.”

  “You think she’s perfect?”

  “Damn near.”

  Another soft laugh. “Tell me about her.”

  Colin guffawed. “Quit playing dumb. It’s you. You’re the perfect blossom.”

  Jessie’s insides melted, but she just grinned, winking at Eric and the audience. “Why, thank you, Colin. Although I can’t accuse you of being a perfect blossom, you’re not too shabby.”

  He stared at her, a look of mock annoyance on his face. “That’s not what I meant.”

  “No?”

  “You really should be more careful at expressing yourself then because I distinctly recall you just saying I was the perfect blossom.” Jessie turned to the audience. “I have witnesses, Colin. You said I was perfect. Can’t change your mind now, dude.”

  Eric nodded. “You did, man.”

  “I was pointing out that Ewing thought so.”

  “Actually, although Jessie is a special lady and always will be,” Eric winked. “I spoke in regards to a nurse in the military who is currently serving overseas.”

  Which was a joke as she was pretty sure he referred to his mother, who served as a nurse in the armed forces. “Overseas?”

  Eric’s gaze jerked to her and silent messages passed back and forth. “As I said, I’m searching for the perfect blossom, not playing the field,” he said for the benefit of the camera. “When I find her, well, with all the rag magazines out there, the world is likely to know before I do.”

  Jessie smiled into the camera. “And, we at Causing A Commotion hope you find that perfect blossom and pluck her as your very own.”

  “Thank you, Ma’am.”

  Colin crossed his arms and leaned back to watch them. Not willing to let him put a damper on Eric’s interview, Jessie smiled, asked Eric another question about his current movie. The one he’d agreed to come onto the show so he could promote. She and Eric chatted and Colin watched, silent and brooding. On television. Silly man.

  But how she adored the brooding expression that told her more than he’d ever say with words.

  Colin wasn’t ignoring her because he didn’t still want her. He did want her. Badly. She snuck a glimpse at his dour expression.

  Very badly.

  After the show she’d confront him, let him know she wanted him just as badly and together they’d figure things out.

  Like his place or hers.

  * * *

  Colin avoided being cornered by Jessie only because several fans cornered her first. While Jessie chatted and signed autographs, he slipped from the studio and headed toward his private room.

  A stomach virus had hit the boy’s home and basketball practice had been canceled for the week. Which sucked because he needed the distraction more than ever.

  Not that anything distracted him from thoughts of a feisty blonde for long. Nothing did.

  Colin got his door unlocked—-since the graffiti incident he kept the door locked any time he wasn’t in the room. He opened the door to go in, planning to steal a few moments of privacy prior to escaping the building. Tonight, he’d go home and work on decoding a voice mail he’d gotten on his cell phone. One that unfortunately hadn’t been long enough to be traced. One that implied he should take a closer look at why one particular firm had been repeatedly awarded military contracts and what one particular senator had to do with those contacts.

  Apparently the informant hadn’t watched the show in months or they’d have only called in if Jennifer Lopez had been seen entering a liposuction clinic or some other such nonsense.

  Or perhaps the informant knew Colin’s distaste for Senator Bill Thomas and that he’d never given up watching for the crook to slip up. He’d gotten an email that suggested the Senator had played a role in those contracts.

  “Hey, man, I want to talk to you.” Eric Ewing pushed his way into the office, slamming the door closed behind him.

  Great. Just what he needed. A face off with lover boy.

  “Come on in,” Colin said sarcastically.

  Of course, he couldn’t deny that he deserved whatever Ewing had to say. He’d been a total jerk. A sulking, attacking jerk. Hell, if Ewing punched him, he’d have no right to even take a swing back. Although that didn’t mean he wouldn’t. Letting his fist crunch into the face of the man who’d smudged Jessie’s lipstick appealed a great deal. Appealed too much.

  He flexed his fingers.

  “What the hell was that all about?” Ewing rounded on him. “I’ve been interviewed by people who weren’t fans before, but you just took the cake.”

  Colin bristled. “I interviewed you.”

 
“Interviewed me? Hell, you interrogated me. I’ve always admired how you put people on the spot, but my assumption was that you’d done your homework and those people were guilty of whatever you were accusing them of.”

  “Your point?”

  “What is it that you’re accusing me of?”

  Colin didn’t answer.

  “I got the impression it had to do with Jessie.”

  Colin supposed the fact he looked up gave him away because Eric smiled.

  “Ah, so you’ve fallen under her spell.” Ewing’s grin spread wider than the state he heralded from at Colin’s clenched fists. “She’s a wild one, isn’t she? Easy to love, hard to hold.”

  “I wouldn’t know,” he denied.

  “Say what you will, but it’s as plain as the nose on your face.”

  Colin almost reached up to touch his nose. “What are you talking about?”

  “You’re in love with her.”

  “You’re mistaken.”

  “Am I?” Ewing laughed, all his earlier bluster having faded. “Does she know?”

  “I am not in love with Jessie.”

  “Whatever.” The actor didn’t look convinced. “She’s a special lady. Make sure you treat her right.”

  “I told you--” Colin interrupted.

  Eric’s hands went up. “Hey, man, I just call them like I see them.”

  “You should have your eyes checked.”