by Rye Hart
Her scream ripped through the music, and the sound man turned it off. “Are you fucking for real? This is my hair, dammit! It takes hours.” She stomped her bare feet around the stage, and I waited for her to fling herself to the floor and beat her fists, she was so pissed off.
I hurried onto the stage and surveyed the damage, but she wasn’t done bitching. She waved her arms and Brock hurried to her side along with the makeup artist who was picking little flecks of plaster from her hair and face.
Brock shot daggers in my direction. “How long is that going to take to fix? If it sends me over-budget, I’m taking the cost out of your sweet little ass.”
My temper flared, but before I could speak, Brock turned and started in on Star. “And you, get your shit together and let’s not worry about our fucking hair.”
I glanced down to see Patrick was standing near as if he didn’t like the tone Brock was taking with her. She walked over to where he was, and the two exchanged a smile. At that moment, something flashed in Star’s eyes and she and Brock exchanged a quick glance. It was as if there was something happening right before my nose, but I wasn’t privy to it. Like some secret that only the two of them knew, but then she turned back to Patrick and gave him a wink as she straightened the corset of her costume.
I called my team together and put them to work on the patch job and went to the back hoping to find that we still had the paint we needed. A few of the team members, including Jefferey, were mumbling under their breaths, but I didn’t have time for it. I made sure I was right in the middle of the repairs, taking full responsibility as needed.
Fifteen minutes later, things were back in place, and Star was on her mark. The music was blaring, and she was dancing around the set. When it came time to toss the damned prop again, I held my breath, but this time it was her catching ability that stopped things. Brock even went so far to call her a clumsy bitch under his breath within my earshot. Finally, after five takes, she caught the damned hoop.
After the first full run-through, Brock headed on stage and pulled her back behind a prop wall, and I saw him lean into her. Patrick was standing at the door where he belonged for the first time all morning, and I wished Duncan would arrive.
Something must have held him up at the office, and I leaned into Jefferey with a lifted brow. “Did they just kiss?”
“Mhm. Those two are so full of hormones today that I’m about to get a hot flash.” He glanced over to Patrick and then lifted his shoulder. “Guess that one’s not as hot as he looks.”
Five minutes later Brock called things into action, and it was then that I got a short message from Duncan who was running late, but wanted me to know he loved me. The sentiment made me smile, and as I enjoyed that moment of perfection, Brock suddenly yelled cut.
The music came to a halt. I knew by the end of it that I’d never want to hear another bubblegum pop song for the rest of my life.
Brock stormed the stage cursing and got in her face, and she stomped away a moment later, grabbing Patrick and pulling him into her dressing room. Brock wasn’t having that, and he called for us to take a break and joined the two.
Duncan entered the side door a moment later, and I hurried to greet him. I knew we’d been careful not to put our affection on public display, but I needed him.
“Where’s Patrick?” His voice was thicker than usual.
“He’s in back with Star and Brock.”
Jefferey approached giving me a warning glare. “This could take a while.” But Duncan wasn’t having it. He pulled his phone from his pocket and headed to the back, leaving Jeffery and me standing there helplessly. I had no idea what to do, but I knew Duncan was not happy with Patrick and I wasn’t getting in the middle of him and his employee.
“Someone’s about to get fired.”
Suddenly, there was a commotion, and I hurried back with Jefferey on my heels. When I arrived in the hall, Duncan was holding his phone like a camera and aiming it into the room.
“You didn’t lock the fucking door!” Star screamed at Patrick and Brock was pulling up his pants.
Patrick held his hands up and wore a crooked grin, the muscle in his jaw feathering as he glared at her. Then he took the time to put his shirt back on and button his own pants.
“Take that camera from him!” No one seemed to listen, and Duncan turned off his phone and put it in his pocket.
“Duncan, what are you doing?” Jefferey’s laughter took my attention away for just a moment and then Duncan clapped his hands at Patrick and told him to get back to work. The man wasted no time rushing out past me and Jefferey. I was a bit confused why the man still had a job to get back to.
“I’d suggest the two of you get back to work too, and everyone will keep nice and quiet about your little habits as long as you stop harassing Rachel and see to it that she’s paid.”
“You set me up!” Star balled her fists and then pushed past Duncan and me and hurried into the bathroom. Her manager, who stayed on her phone most of the time, came out of the office next door as if she’d only just heard the commotion. She rushed into the bathroom with Star.
“Duncan, what’s going on?”
“Hey, I said I wouldn’t kill him, I didn’t say I wouldn’t blackmail him.”
“Genius,” said Jefferey with a wide grin. “I like you better already.” He high-fived Duncan and I felt like I was losing my mind.
“We’ll get back to work in ten. I need a moment.” Brock’s expression was as if someone had died and he kicked his foot against the door to close it as Duncan took me by the hand.
“He’s not going to be harassing you anymore, and you’ll get your money, that’s all that matters. But to answer you, I called Patrick after you left last night and made him spill some information to keep his job. He admitted that Star was trying to arrange a threesome and I made him help me so I could get some dirt on Brock.”
“Wow, so Patrick was sleeping with them both?” I turned to look at Jefferey who was nodding slowly.
“Well, they were trying to make that happen, and though he admitted he’s open-minded, he wasn’t really interested in more than being with Star. He was going to deny the advances.” We continued hand in hand to the front door where Patrick was standing against the building, still stone-faced.
“I need to have another talk with him,” said Duncan. “At least to let him know his job’s safe and I won’t let the video leak.”
“You wouldn’t do that, would you?” I couldn’t believe that he’d do anything that cruel, even for me.
“No, of course not, but they don’t know that.” He met my eyes and rested his forehead to mine. “Are you upset?”
“No, I’m just surprised you did all this, that you thought of it.” But then I didn’t know why I was surprised. Anytime when we were kids and someone messed with me or Shauna, he’d always come to our rescue and defense, whether it was punching the kid in the stomach or setting up a booby trap in their fort.
He gave a little shrug. “You’re my girl. I’m not letting some asshole hold shit over you. I only showed him that two could play his game. I have a feeling these two have been using every opportunity to line this kind of thing up before, and I seriously doubt he’d want his daddy to find out about his preferences.”
“So, you’re not going to tell Shauna or Harris?” I couldn’t imagine either of them would be proud to know they were working with such an asshole and offering him support.
“Oh, hell yeah, Shauna already knows. Harris is going to tolerate the little prick until he can get his father’s contract and then he’s done with him, too. Business is business, but family is family. You’re part of it, you know—my family. You always have been.”
I lay my head against his chest and held him tight.
He’d stood up for me, and even though I hadn’t wanted him to get involved, I was glad now that he had. The past two days had been unbearable, and when I left him there and went back into that room, seeing Brock and Star take their plac
e on the stage I created, when Brock called action, still straight-faced from being put in his place, I knew things would be okay.
There was just one more thing I had to do, and it was far past time I made it right.
CHAPTER NINETEEN - DUNCAN
A week had gone by before I transferred the video from my phone to a file on my computer, but nothing had happened in the final days of filming. The production of the new Star Summers video was a wrap. It was time for me and Rachel to take our relationship away from work. It would be hard not seeing her every day, but considering what we’d been through, it would be a lot healthier this way.
Her dinner invitation had come short notice, but I had already planned to spend a quiet evening alone with her, home cooking or not. I decided to spiff myself up a bit since she was going through all the trouble of preparing our dinner, and I had even cleaned my goatee up a bit and tried a new aftershave.
My hard work paid off with her greeting smile, and as she led me inside, I took the opportunity to get a good look at her. She had dressed too and had on a sexy pale purple dress that flattered not only her smooth complexion but her soft curves as well. I remembered a time when she was nothing more than knees and elbows and had a smattering of sun-kissed freckles across her nose and cheeks. It was long before I realized she’d one day hold my heart in the palm of her hands.
I sat watching her, settling at the bar as she checked all of her dishes and stirred what needed stirring. She threw a glance over her shoulder and then turned to lean across the counter for another kiss. “You look dapper,” she said running her hands through my trimmed beard.
“Yeah, well, I thought since you were going through the trouble, so would I but I didn’t expect you’d be so dressed up yourself. I’m going to hate peeling you out of that dress.” She pulled her lips in tight and tried not to smile. “Is this some special date from a decade ago that I forgot about?”
“No, but it is something that is long overdue.” She gave me a worried glance as the doorbell rang.
“I’ll get it.” I started to stand, but she came around the counter and waved me back. “No, but please join me in the living room, I had no idea he’d be here this early. I wanted to prepare you.”
Prepare me? Shit. “Your father?” All the wind was let out of me as she gave me a pleading look and hurried to the door.
She stopped and glanced back at me before swinging it open. “Daddy!” She was all smiles for the old man, and I knew the mood was sure to turn sour the moment he realized he wasn’t her only guest. I had a feeling he was being tricked the same as me.
“How’s my little girl? I’ve missed seeing that smile.” I rose as Mr. Dean entered the room and as he stepped around the corner and met my eyes his smile barely faltered, but tightened enough to let me know it was forced.
It was as if all the air had suddenly been sucked out of the room as she made the introductions. “Daddy, you remember Duncan Kelley.” Her voice wilted on the last syllable of my name, and he gave a curt nod in my direction as he extended his hand. I took it giving him a firm grip.
“Of course. How could I forget?” His tone implied he’d surely tried and though she offered him a seat beside me, he took the chair across from me. “I was sorry to hear about your mother’s passing. She was a delightful woman, much like your sister in that regard.”
“Thank you. It’s been an adjustment for Shauna and me both, but we’re leaning on each other and staying strong.” I smiled at Rachel, and she seemed to relax a bit. I wasn’t convinced.
She steepled her fingers as if saying a prayer that we play nice. “Dinner is almost ready, so I want to go and cut a fresh salad. I think you two could catch up a bit.” She hurried out of the room, and the two of us remained silent for a moment as we stared at everything but each other.
“You’ve been seeing my daughter again. That must have been your sister’s doing.” He tapped his fingers on the arm of the chair and then leaned forward, pouring himself a drink from the selection Rachel had placed on the coffee table before our arrival.
I stayed still, my posture so straight my back was screaming, but I dared not dip my chin or slouched. I wasn’t the child he’d sent away. “Yes, she did have something to do with us reconnecting, but as it turns out, I’m still very much in love with Rachel.”
He pulled his lips into a tight line and his jaw twitched slightly. “I’m sure she’s still equally fond of you or else she wouldn’t have bothered putting us all in this awkward situation.”
“With all due respect, sir, I’m not the one who made it awkward.” I had mowed the man’s yard, washed his cars, and done every other odd job around his house for nothing more than a thank you when Rachel’s mother had passed, and when I fell in love with his daughter, suddenly I wasn’t good enough. He’d been the only father figure I’d had after losing my own so young. Instead of welcoming me like I’d expected like he’d done all those years before, he’d treated me like a stranger.
“You’re right. I did. But if you’re hoping for an apology you’ll be waiting a long time. My daughter needed to live her life, you knew it as well as I did. You didn’t even fight me on it. You went right along with it. I know you villainized me and used me as your scapegoat the first moment you could.”
“Because I had respect for you and I knew you’d only get in the way, and things would be a mess. I didn’t want to drive a wedge between you two. You were the only parent she had.” I shifted in my seat and leaned forward. “And yes, I knew she deserved to follow her dreams, but not your dreams for her— her own. I encouraged that before I left, and I’m glad she stuck with it.”
He leaned forward. “Yet, here we are. Who knew respect had an expiration date.” He sipped his drink and swallowed it with a scowl.
“So, you still don’t want me with your daughter? Even though she’s a grown woman and chooses who she loves, you’d rather he be with someone else?”
Rachel came through the door. “I didn’t invite the two of you here to argue. Neither of you have a choice in what I do with my life, so your opinions of each other are moot.”
I stood up and took her hand. “I’d like to still respect you, Sir, but I’m not some kid you can send away, and as long as she wants me in her life I’ll be here.”
“I just wanted a nice evening with the two men I love most in the world. It’s not like you are strangers, dammit, you’ve known each other all my life. I’d think you’d have something else to talk about but my welfare.” She pushed my hand away and stormed to the kitchen.
“There’s that fire I’d hoped to see.” He sipped his drink casually and then turned a glance my way. “Well don’t just stand there, go after her.”
“You’re giving me your blessing?” The man was impossible but then a smile spread his lips, and he nodded.
I made it to the kitchen just in time to find Rachel pulling her lasagna out of the oven. Her lip was curled in anger as she spun around. “Are you two done posturing?”
I closed the distance and pulled her close. “He gave his blessing.”
She relaxed in my arms and tears filled her eyes as she looked up at me. “I was so hoping he would. I wanted everything to be perfect. Now— well, now I suppose it is.” She brought her mouth to mine, and I walked her back against the counter.
“Yes, it’s finally perfect, and after dinner, once he leaves us alone, I still plan on peeling you out of that pretty dress.”
Her eyes flashed, and she gave me a devilish grin. “Then I better serve it while it’s hot.”
I helped her carry everything to the table, and after a moment her father joined us. We sat talking about future plans and old times. We shared so many memories, the three of us, and as I caught her exchanging smile between us both, seeing the happiness it brought knowing we finally had his approval, I was ready to make more.
EPILOGUE - RACHEL
“Your stuff can’t go on this side!” I called out to him as he went to get the last of the boxes mark
ed bedroom. I raked my hands through my hair and pushed Duncan’s shirts against the opposite wall of the closet.
We’d spent the entire day moving things into our new house, and even Shauna and Harris had stopped by the lend a hand. Shauna had helped me unpack and sort through our kitchen utensils, and since we had two of most things we’d created quite the donation box. Harris helped Duncan and a couple of the guys from his personal security office unload the heavy furniture. Since we had plenty of space and three bedrooms, we’d kept all of it and even bought us a new king size bed with the biggest headboard I’d ever seen for the master.
It had been delivered in the early morning and was being used to sort our clothes.
It was amazing what just six months could do, but then again, after being apart a decade, we were ready to spend every moment together.
Duncan carried another box in and placed it beside the others.
“Why can’t I put my stuff on that side.” I wasn’t sure he’d heard me.
“I want to be on the left side. I’ve already got all my shoes on that side. We can’t have our clothes on one side and our shoes on the other.” I gave him a smile, and he pulled me close giving me a deep kiss. It had been such a long day, and we were finally alone, so I melted against him.
He brought his arms around my waist and lifted me. He moved us around the stack of boxes and placed me on our new bed, away from all the clutter at the foot.
“It’s so comfy. I can’t wait to sleep in it curled against you.” I had so many things I was ready for. Our tub and shower were going to be fun, and we had plenty of rooms to break in. We’d vowed to claim each one and judging by the hardness of his cock that he pressed against me as I lay back on the bare bed, our bedroom as going to be first.
“I can’t wait to make love to you in it,” he whispered.