If I Loved You (Hollywood Hearts 1)

by Jean C. Joachim

  Briny smiled at her as she handed him Grady’s leash. “Thanks again, Briny, for taking him.”

  “He’s no bother. I like the company.”

  Meg tried to smile at him but was unable to. Tears stung at the backs of her eyes, and a cold sense of loneliness swept through her body, making her shiver even though it was only October.

  “Your car’s right outside, Missy.”

  Meg stopped.

  “I didn’t order a car.”

  “You sure? Said he was waiting for you.”

  Meg’s eyebrows knitted as she passed through the door Briny held open. She stared at the car and saw Bobby’s smiling face. Her mouth hung open but no sound came out. The back door opened, and Chaz stepped out. “Your car, Ma’am,” he said, making a sweeping motion with his hand.

  “What are you doing here?” Meg approached the car with uncertain steps.

  “I’m here to take you to Colorado.”

  “But your producers…your promise…your career.”

  “The woman I love needs me. There’s nowhere else I’d rather be. They’ll understand...and if they don’t, I’ll find something else. I can’t desert you now, little chick. I need to be here with you.” He opened his arms and she flew into his embrace. The tears she’d been holding back flooded her cheeks. He tightened his arms around her. “I couldn’t let you do this alone,” he whispered.

  “Thank you, Dunc. Thank you.”

  She raised her chin, and he kissed her deeply, still standing in front of her building. A crowd started to gather. When they broke, the bystanders applauded. Chaz rushed her into the car and slid in next to her. Bobby jumped out, closed the door, loaded the suitcase into the trunk, and returned to the driver’s seat. Once inside, Bobby drove to Ninety-Sixth Street to go across town to the Triborough Bridge to LaGuardia airport. Chaz sat back and reached into his breast pocket. He pulled out two boarding passes.

  “Two first class seats.” He waved the papers in front of her nose.

  “I always fly coach.”

  “Not anymore,” Chaz said with a grin.

  “I’ve never flown first class.”

  “The way you’re feeling…it’ll help…make a difference. The trip will be just a bit easier for you.”

  “Thank you.” Pleasure brought a blush to her cheeks.

  Chaz wiped her cheeks with his thumb. “I’m so sorry about your dad.”

  She nodded and rested her head on his shoulder. Chaz slipped his arm around her and drew her close. “What about the press?” She asked.

  “If we see any, we’ll deal with them then. Now, let’s just be us.”

  Much of the stress and tension Meg had been carrying in her shoulders and back seeped out of her. She relaxed against his hard body and soon her eyes were closing. Chaz kissed the top of Megan’s head as she drifted off to sleep.

  * * * *

  Bobby pulled up to the Delta Airlines Terminal, got out, and opened the door for Chaz and Meg. Then he placed their luggage on the sidewalk. Chaz stepped out first, offering his hand to Meg. Bobby came around and gave her a hug. “It’s gonna be all right. Dunc will take good care of you,” he whispered in her ear.

  People started turning to look and loud whispers of “Chaz Duncan” and “Grady Spencer” became audible. Chaz maneuvered them to the security line where their presence caused a stir. Still no reporters showed. Meg blew out a breath when they made it through security with no press in sight. Chaz signed autographs and chatted with his fans as he took off his shoes and his belt.

  “Oohh, maybe his pants are gonna fall down,” one woman joked.

  “Get your camera ready, Mabel, just in case,” laughed another one.

  Chaz managed to put on a good performance. Meg stood by quietly watching him deal with the crowd. They all seemed to love him. She was proud.

  “Hey, is she the Harvard Honey?” The first woman asked.

  “Who?” Chaz asked, pretending to look around.

  The woman pointed to Meg and he feigned surprise. “Lady, are you following me?” He raised his eyebrows at Meg in disbelief.

  She giggled, and hid her mouth behind her hand.

  “Aw…he’s foolin’ us. He knew it was her all the time. Yeah, they’re together.”

  “Ain’t it nice, Mabel?”

  The two ladies cackled, moving up to their place in the security line while Chaz and Meg made their getaway. On their way to the gate, Meg whispered behind her hand to him. “No reporters! Thank God!”

  “Not here. But be prepared to meet them in Denver. We’re renting a car there to drive to Sandstone.”

  “Isn’t it a long drive?”

  “We’ll stretch it over two days. That way, I get to stay in a motel with you.” He wiggled his eyebrows, making her giggle.

  * * * *

  Chaz had been right about first class. The staff was very attentive and totally cool with Chaz being a celebrity. Megan felt a little shaky after take-off, and Chaz held her hand while the stewardess plied her with champagne. The drone of the engines, combined with the champagne and the nearness of Chaz’s shoulder, calmed her. He signed a few autographs, but then the stewardesses ran interference for him while Meg relaxed against him.

  Although the pilot made a special concession and let them off the plane first, there was a throng of reporters waiting for them in the wide, modern corridors of the beautiful Denver airport. Chaz hugged Meg close to him as they walked at a normal pace, pulling their luggage behind them. The reporters cornered them about fifty feet away from the gate.

  “What are you doing here with him, Ms. Davis? I thought you dumped him.”

  “Harvard Honey and Chaz Duncan, together again?” Came another question.

  “Was your father murdered, Ms. Davis?” That question stopped her.

  She put her hand on Chaz’s arm, and then stepped slightly away from him.

  “I’ll say this once and only once and I’ll not answer any questions about my father. My dad was a rock climber. He was out here on a trip with friends. They returned to New York while my dad stayed out here to climb Mount Hope, a dream he’d always talked about. He fell accidentally into Hope Gorge, and because he was alone, was not discovered until recently. No one murdered my father. The Sandstone police have released his remains, and though they have not yet completed their investigation into his death, they feel certain it was an accident. My whole family was in New York when my father perished…” her words faltered and her voice shook.

  Chaz put his arm around her. After taking two deep breaths, Megan continued. “He perished out here alone. We are relieved to know what has happened to him, and devastated to have our worst fears confirmed. That is all there is to tell.”

  “What about Mark? What does your brother think?”

  “He feels the same as I do.”

  “How do you know that?”

  “Easy, we’re twins.” Meg managed a smile, and the reporters laughed.

  “What about you Chaz? What are you doing here with Harley Brennan’s girl?”

  “Meg was never Harley’s girl. She’s always been my girl.”

  “What are you doing here?”

  “This is a traumatic experience for Megan. Where else would I be but with the woman I love during this…this crisis?”

  The reporters buzzed at his words. Camera shutters opened and closed at lightning speed.

  Chaz leaned over and whispered in her ear, “Let’s give them something…”

  He took her in his arms and kissed her passionately. Megan stiffened at first, but quickly forgot people were watching as her tongue danced with his. The flashing bulbs were blinding, but the lovers didn’t stop.

  They eventually split apart, eyes glowing, and faced the reporters again. Chaz pulled her close and put out his arm to make a path. “Please let us go, we have a long drive ahead.”

  The press parted like the Red Sea and let them pass. Other passengers stopped to gawk and stare at Chaz. They practically ran to the car rental area
and were soon in their car and on the road. Chaz tossed the map to Meg. “You navigate, and I’ll drive.”

  Once they were on the highway, Chaz managed to slip his cell phone out of his pocket and hand it to Meg. She checked for messages. “There are several messages on here, Dunc.”

  “Read them to me.”

  “Sure there aren’t any from sexy women?” She cocked an eyebrow at him.

  “Jealous?” He glanced at her for a second.

  “Damn right. You’re mine.”

  She smiled as she fumbled with the phone, reading each message. One gasp from her drew his attention from the road. “What? What is it? Bad news?”

  “You got the part.”

  “What?”

  “The part…Broadway…Hustle and Dance.”

  “Oh my God! Really? You’re not kidding?”

  The car swerved, dipping into the next lane. Chaz yanked the wheel to the left, and the car quickly returned to its own lane. Meg held her breath as the driver behind them leaned on his horn. Chaz lowered his window and hollered. “Not every day you get cast in a Broadway musical!”

  When Megan could breathe normally again, she turned her gaze on him. Always bigger than life, now he fairly glowed.

  “I have both my lifelong dreams now,” he said, his smile dialing up to a thousand watts.

  “Oh?” She raised her eyebrows and tried to hide a smile.

  “A Broadway play and the woman I love beside me…does life get any better than that?”

  * * * *

  Chaz stayed with Meg when they returned to New York City. He helped with funeral arrangements and met Meg’s mother, who was utterly charmed by him. Mark was so grateful to Chaz for going with Meg to Colorado that he stopped being an “over-possessive jerk,” as Meg referred to him, and allowed Chaz to move in.

  Readings, singing, and dancing practices began almost as soon as they returned home. Between burying her dad and getting her business underway, Meg barely had time to say “hello” and “goodbye” to Chaz as they breezed in and out of the apartment. After dark there was always time for passionate lovemaking followed by snuggling.

  Plans for Thanksgiving dinner were delayed since Mark’s team was slated to play on Thanksgiving Day. Elaborate plans were underway for a sumptuous meal on the following Saturday instead.

  On one rare night when they were together before seven o’clock, Chaz made drinks and they sat close together on the sofa.

  “I have a surprise.” He leaned forward.

  “Oh?” Meg took a sip of her vodka and tonic.

  Chaz tossed an envelope on the table. “A week’s vacation on St. Timothy Island in the Caribbean. You and me, a bungalow on the beach, and a good restaurant a short walk away. I begged for a week off. We leave in two days.” A smile curled his lips.

  “Oh my God! Dunc!”

  “I want some time alone with you in the sun on the beach. We’ve never made love in the sand.” He inched closer to her.

  “Sounds wonderful.” Her green eyes danced.

  He lowered his head and captured her mouth with his. Need gripped him, and he pushed her suit jacket off her shoulders, and then yanked her jersey top over her head. Lacy pink…will the bottoms match? His hungry eyes devoured the sight of her breasts straining against her bra. She pulled at his tie while he nibbled her neck, his arm snaking around to unhook her. “Much better,” he said, staring.

  “Now you.”

  They pushed to their feet and shed the rest of their clothes quickly. Meg laced her fingers with his and led him back to the bedroom. Chaz picked her up and tossed her on the bed, diving in after her.

  * * * *

  The plane ride to the Caribbean was a little bumpier than Meg was used to. At one point, the small plane bounced around in a wind pocket for a few minutes. She grabbed Chaz’s hand and squeezed hard.

  “Nervous, little chick?”

  She nodded.

  “We’ll be fine. It’s okay.” He put his other hand on top of hers, which helped calm her nerves.

  Meg let out a sigh of relief when the plane touched down and taxied to the gate. There was a car waiting for them and within fifteen minutes, they were unpacking in a charming bungalow on the beach. The small building had a large front veranda, a small living room with a kitchenette, and a spacious bedroom. The colors on the walls and furniture were the colors of the island—transparent turquoise, soft green, sunlight yellow, and oyster white on the furniture. Steps led from the veranda to the beach, with the Caribbean perhaps fifty feet away.

  Meg was enchanted. “How did you find this place?”

  “Quinn.”

  “He didn’t strike me as the type to come to a place like this.”

  “He’s much more romantic than you think. Guess I’m glad you didn’t see that side of him.”

  They changed into bathing suits quickly and ran into the warm, gentle surf. Splashing, swimming, and dunking each other wore them out quickly. Chaz spread their blanket on the beach and they lay in the sun to dry.

  “This is paradise.” Meg sat up and handed him a tube of sunscreen.

  He squeezed some of the white cream into his hand and moved behind her. His hands spread the cream on her shoulders and down her back. Then he slipped her bathing suit straps down and applied cream to her chest, his fingers creeping slowly down until they reached her breasts. His hands scooped her breasts right out of her suit. His fingers pinched her nipples lightly while his lips nibbled on her neck.

  “Chaz!”

  “There’s no one here. No one can see.”

  She leaned back into his shoulder and closed her eyes. Heat from his massage filled her body. The touch of his hands and lips on her flesh excited her. He shoved the bikini top down to her waist. She moaned and cracked open an eye. A boat, once far away, seemed to be getting closer. Meg eased his hands away, pulled up her top, and pushed to a standing position.

  “Come on,” she said, extending her hand to him. “Let’s take this inside.”

  * * * *

  Megan was towel drying her hair when there was a knock on the door. She tightened her robe, combed her damp hair with her fingers, and padded barefoot to the door.

  “Package Miss,” said a short young man in a uniform.

  Meg smiled and took the parcel wrapped in brown paper. He left quickly before she could tip him. The sound of the shower running stopped. A minute later, Chaz entered the living room with a towel wrapped around his waist. When he looked up, Meg was opening the rectangular box.

  “What’s that?” He asked, rubbing a second towel through his wet hair.

  “Don’t know. It just arrived.”

  She pulled a white, eyelet sundress with spaghetti straps out of the box. “This is beautiful!” While unfolding the dress, a small box fell to the floor.

  There was a note attached so she opened that first.

  Thought you might like to have a new dress to wear tonight. Also enclosed my Grandmother’s sapphire necklace. Have fun!

  Love,

  Penny & “The Lug”

  “How sweet to send me this…and her grandmother’s necklace too. But how odd…”

  One more item lay in the box, a pair of silver sandals. Meg checked the clothes and everything was in her size.

  “Wear it tonight, little chick.”

  She nodded. After disposing of the box and wrapping, she slipped on lacy white bikini panties followed by the dress. Sliding it up her body made her tingle, causing her to turn her gaze on Chaz. He stood in his boxers, picking out a shirt to wear.

  “Hmm. Staring for a reason?” His eyes glittered with lust.

  “I like looking at you…is that reason enough?” She reached out to stroke his back.

  He sighed as her fingers pushed gently into his muscles.

  “Like touching you.” She stepped closer to him and brushed his back with her lips.

  “Feeling is mutual.” The shirt fell from his hand as he closed his eyes.

  Meg wrapped her arms ar
ound him and moved her hands to his bare chest. He groaned as her fingers splayed over his pecs, stroking his muscles.

  Meg’s stomach rumbled.

  “Dinner.” She slid her hands slowly down and off his body.

  “Oh yes, dinner.” Chaz opened his eyes. “You hypnotized me with your hands.”

  She planted one more kiss on his shoulder before pulling the straps of her dress up and smoothing it over her waist. After slipping her feet into the sandals, she ran a brush through her mahogany hair. “Will you fasten the necklace for me?”

  Chaz finished buttoning his shirt before taking the delicate chain with the sapphire pendant from her hand. She turned her back to him, and he looped the chain around her neck, then fumbled a moment with the tiny clasp. A shiver ran down her spine at the light touch of his fingers on her skin. She picked up a small tremor in him and wondered why he was nervous. When he finally managed to connect the two ends of the necklace, she turned to face him.

  As he picked up his pants and stepped in, she looked up into his eyes and saw a flash of anxiety. “No reason to be nervous. No one can find us. No one knows we’re here…except Penny and Mark, and they wouldn’t talk. Relax, Dunc.” He smiled at her as he zipped up his pants.

  “That’s right. Tonight is just about us.”

  He kissed her lightly on the nose and opened the front door. They walked hand in hand to the open-air restaurant. A table for two had been set up in a dark corner outside. Two candles burning brightly, plus a small bouquet of white flowers in a vase, gave the table a romantic glow.

  Chaz pulled out her chair and Meg sat down, spreading the full skirt of the dress out over the seat. As soon as they were seated, the waiter appeared with a bottle of champagne and two flutes.