“Nay.” Alec shook his head, forcing a polite smile while he held out his hand. “I’m Alec MacDara. And who might ye be?” If Sadie wished for him to get along with her coworkers, he’d do his best to treat the lad kindly.
Sadie sidled around the table and stepped into the narrow aisle. “Alec, this is Abe Masterson. He’s one of the screenwriters I was telling you about.”
Abe wrinkled his nose and sniffed again. He pushed his glasses up higher, then shot a glance over at Sadie. He shook Alec’s hand with a limp, unimpressive grip. “She told you I was a quirky jerk, didn’t she?”
“She might ha’ said as such.” Alec shifted uncomfortably in the small confines of the camper. ’Twas barely enough room for two people in this box, much less three, even with one as scrawny as the man standing before him.
“Damn, that’s it!” Abe pushed his way past them to the table, grabbed up a pen, and scrawled feverishly atop one of the packets of paper.
Alec looked at Sadie. This Abe person was a great deal more daft than she’d led him t’believe.
Sadie shrugged and made a face—apparently she didn’t understand Abe either.
Abe turned back to Alec, fixing him with an owl-like stare that was even more magnified behind the thick lenses of his glasses. “Say something else. Anything.”
Sadie rolled her eyes and stepped forward. “Abe, we don’t have time for you to try to dissect Alec’s accent and capture it for the script.” She gave Alec a twitchy, one-shouldered shrug. “Sorry. Abe gets excited when he finds the answer to something that’s had him stumped.”
“Aye,” Alec agreed slowly. How the hell did Sadie ever fit into this strange world?
“Where are Seth and Holly? I need to know which scenes the team would like me to work on first or if I just need to come up with some new ones in case we need filler.” Sadie wiggled her way through the tight confines of the trailer to stand between Alec and Abe, gently taking the pen out of Abe’s hands and snapping her fingers in front of his nose when he seemed trapped in an unblinking stare at Alec. “Abe! Did you hear me?”
Abe finally blinked and looked at Sadie, his long, thin face lighting up as though he’d just remembered who she was. “What are you talking about? All the scenes and most of the fillers have been done for weeks. We’re just here to amp up historically colloquial dialogue and add more accents in case they need it.”
Sadie’s jaw tensed, the muscles rippling in her cheek. Alec could almost hear her teeth grinding together. The telltale signs of frustration and being betrayed stiffened her back ramrod straight. “Delia didn’t speak with you? With the team?”
Abe sidled behind the table, slid down to one of the benches, and opened the laptop. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Without looking up from the computer screen, he jerked his head toward the door. “Seth and Holly are over in wardrobe talking to Cat. Go pester them. I’ve gotta get his accent down for the sequel.” Finally pulling his attention up from the laptop, he pointed across the room at an empty coffeepot. “And while you’re out, we need coffee and snacks. Delia said keeping the campers stocked was your job. You better get your ass in gear. I heard Sorin bitching that you hadn’t stocked his trailer yet either.”
A burn of protective fury surged through Alec. He wanted to grab the bastard by the throat and shove that laptop up his arse. How dare he talk to Sadie in such a way! Alec leaned over the table, thumping his fists down hard on either side of the computer. He lifted his chin and bared his teeth, coming nearly nose to nose with the wide-eyed, bespectacled man. “Ye’ll no’ speak to her like that again. She’s no’ some servant t’be ordered about. Ye ken?”
Abe’s scraggly brows arched so high they disappeared into his ragged mop of dark hair. “Ken? What’s k-ken mean?” he stammered.
“It means ye understand that yer to treat this woman with the respect she deserves. Aye?”
“Aye,” Abe whispered, shoving back as far as he could get from Alec.
A light touch patted the center of Alec’s back. “Alec…come on. It’s okay. Really.”
Alec straightened, pulled Sadie from behind him, and steered her toward the door. “We’re finished here. We’ll find the others and see what they have t’say about yer screenwritin’ duties.”
“Screenwriting duties?” Abe repeated with a derisive snort. “She’s not a screenwriter. She’s Delia’s gopher.”
Alec lunged across the short distance, grabbed Abe by the throat of his stained T-shirt, and lifted him off the bench. “Is yer memory so short or is yer stupidity just impossible to overcome?”
“S-sorry,” Abe stuttered. “W-won’t happen again.”
“Alec,” Sadie hissed. “Put him down. Please.”
Shoving the scarecrow of a man into the corner of the bench, Alec jabbed a finger hard against Abe’s narrow chest, thumping the cringing man’s breastbone in time with every word. “Ye best remember what I said.” This poor excuse for a man had no idea how badly Alec wished to snap him in two.
Abe’s eyes widened behind the glasses that were now sitting slightly askew on his face. He bobbed his chin up and down in a trembling nod. “I’ll remember. Promise.”
“Alec.”
Alec couldn’t help but smile. Sadie’s tone reminded him of Máthair when her patience was nearly spent. “Aye, lass. We’re done here.” He motioned her toward the door. “On to find the others to see what they have t’say.”
Alec didn’t miss Sadie’s knotted fists as she blew out the door and stomped down the steps. As soon as she reached the ground, she whirled about, glaring at him with a murderous glint in her eyes. “I appreciate you defending me, but I can take care of myself. This is my battle. I’ll get it straightened out.”
Lore a’mighty. She’s even more beautiful when she’s angry. Alec clenched his jaws tight to keep from smilin’. No sense adding fuel to her righteous fire, but—’twas time she learned that no Highlander stood aside and allowed his woman to be slandered.
“I willna have anyone speakin’ to ye in such a way.” Alec squared off in front of her, doing his best to appear stern but finding it an impossible task. The way the breeze toyed with her hair, fluttering the dark ringlets of her ponytail back around her throat like a lover’s caress, reminded him of yesterday. And how she had been. Breathtakingly naked and glorious. Astraddle his body with her head thrown back in ecstasy. He pulled in a deep breath and smiled. “And by the by, ye do smell of strawberries still.”
Sadie’s frown melted away and her tensed posture visibly relaxed. “It’s my shampoo. Strawberry. One of my favorite scents.” She tilted her head to a teasing angle and smiled up at him—the same inviting look she’d given him while lying beneath him yesterday. “Especially after our picnic.”
His cock nearly roared to be set free. ’Twas a wonder the crotch of his jeans didna split asunder. Alec reached out, stepping closer and cradling her face in his palm. “So, I’m forgiven then?”
Her gaze locked with his, Sadie wet her lips, then pulled in a shaking breath and slowly blew it out. “Yes,” she said quietly. “As long as you promise to let me fight my own battles from now on. I’m a big girl. I can take care of myself.”
“I can make no such promise,” Alec replied, tenderly nibbling across the soft sweetness of her bottom lip. “I always defend my own,” he whispered, adding a light kiss to seal the oath.
“Sadie!”
Sadie jerked away and stumbled back a few steps. Shifting to Alec’s side, she kept her voice low while calling his attention to the man and woman walking toward them. “It’s Seth and Holly. Good. Maybe I can get this settled now.”
Doing his damnedest to hold his composure, Alec glared at the approaching couple. He already didn’t like them. They’d just rudely interrupted what was about to be a verra fine kiss.
“So, this is your assignment.” The woman, short and spritely, looking like a demonic elf with coal-black hair tipped in neon blue, sauntered closer. Her smirk, paired with the
insulting tone of her voice, colored her words an ugly shade. She gave Alec a brazen up-and-down glance as though sizing him up for breeding, then sidled up next to Sadie. “Delia said you’d finally hit pay dirt.”
“Don’t be such a shit, Holly.” The man at her side, a tall, lanky fellow with long, sandy hair pulled back in a thin ponytail, gave Sadie an apologetic smile. “Ignore her. You know she hates setting foot anywhere outside of LA.” He extended his right hand to Alec. “I’m Seth Hanover and this is Holly Mason.”
Sadie squeezed Alec’s right arm, nudging him to take Seth’s hand. “Seth’s been with Realm Spinners Productions since the beginning.” She nodded at Holly with a look that clearly conveyed she didn’t like the woman. “Holly joined our ranks last year.”
At least the man had the good sense to show a bit of civility. Alec took his hand, squeezing hard to leave no doubt as to who was the alpha here.
“Alec MacDara,” he said without releasing Seth’s hand. “ ’Tis good to meet those that Sadie will be writing with.” He ignored Sadie’s sharp intake of breath. If these two were going to behave as the disrespectful Abe had, ’twas best to flush the bastards out in the open straight away. Battles were best waged head on.
“Writing with?” Seth flinched as he drew his hand away from Alec’s iron grip. Massaging his fingers, he cradled his hand tight against his chest.
Holly snorted out a very unladylike chortle, increasing Alec’s dislike of her tenfold. “What the hell are you talking about? Sadie’s not a writer. She’s Delia’s flunky.”
“Delia didn’t say anything to either of you about me joining the team or helping with scenes and dialogue?” Sadie directed the question to Seth, pointedly turning her back on Holly as the woman stood impatiently tapping the toe of one ragged boot and chewing on the tips of her glossy black fingernails.
Seth cast a nervous glance at Alec and edged back a step with a quick shake of his head. “I’m sorry, Sadie. She didn’t say anything to us. As far as we know, it’s just business as usual, where Delia whines and bitches and you make sure everyone has whatever they need.”
“By the way, I’m out of nail polish.” Holly spit out the false fingernail she’d just peeled off with her teeth and held up her ragged-looking fingers for inspection. “Blacks and blues. Just like always.”
Alec gritted his teeth. He could feel Sadie trembling beside him, struggling to deal with the humiliating situation her damnable sister had thrown at her feet. He sucked in a deep breath and clenched his fists, noting with not a little satisfaction that Seth’s face had grown visibly paler.
With a wide-eyed glance at Alec’s fists, Seth backed up another pace and jerked his thumb back over one shoulder toward the long black bus parked at the head of the field. “Why don’t you go talk to Delia?” He bowed to Alec with a respectful dip of his chin. “I’m sure you’ll get it straightened out.”
“He’s right. Come on, Alec.” Sadie charged forward, pushing her way between Seth and Holly.
“Hey! Don’t forget my nail polish,” Holly called after them.
Without slowing down or looking back, Sadie shouted, “Fuck you, Holly!”
Chapter 11
She should’ve known better than to trust Delia. How many times, in all the years that she’d known her sister, had Delia ever kept her word? Never. Not one damn time. Sadie blinked hard against the tears of rage burning her eyes. Dammit. I will not cry. She’d learned early on to hide her feelings to survive. But when she was angered beyond reason, she cried. And crying pissed her off even more.
Alec strode along beside her in silence.
Sadie wouldn’t risk looking at him. She didn’t want to see what surely had to be a solid look of how in the hell did I ever want her plastered across his face. Stinging humiliation flashed through her. What must he be thinking? Delia’s usual shitty treatment was bad enough, but Sadie had endured it for so long it had become the norm—the dysfunctional continuation of the only family life she’d ever known. And now Alec had seen firsthand where Sadie fell in the pecking order. Great. I bet he’s thrilled. He’s probably thinking Delia saddled him with a real loser.
Flinching against the old, familiar churn of uncertainty, Sadie swallowed hard and walked faster, internally giving herself a neck-snapping shake. Bullshit! Don’t go there. You are not a loser. Therapy and her psychology degree had done wonders to set her on an even keel. She would not lose the sanity or self-respect she’d worked so hard to obtain. One obstacle at time. Delia first. Explain things to Alec later. She finally stole a glance at him. Oh, that’s just great. What a fucking expression! Alec was stone-faced and looked pissed to the nth degree, and Sadie didn’t blame him.
The busy CEO of Highland Life and Legends…and a damn good lover, I might add…shouldn’t have to lower himself to the pettiness of the Williamses’ family squabbles. Sadie pointed toward the Jeep. “If you want to wait in the Jeep while I talk to Delia—”
Alec caught her by the arm and jerked her to a stop. He stared down at her. Silent. Brooding. The emotions flashing in his eyes were unreadable—well, maybe not too unreadable. Maybe she just didn’t want to acknowledge what that dangerous mix of ice and fire was really telling her in Alec’s heart-stirring Morse code. Alec pulled her closer as he spoke, his voice deep and raw with emotion. “Ye no longer have to battle alone, Sadie. Not as long as I draw breath.”
Damn. All coherent thought left her. No one had ever said anything like that to her. She’d always been alone. Always. Slowly, struggling to regain her composure, she forced her mouth open to speak. “I—”
Alec pressed a finger across her lips and shook his head. “Nay.” The pressure of his warm, callused finger against her mouth softened, making her catch her breath. “There is no ‘I.’ There is only ‘we’ from now on.”
Her heart came dangerously close to thumping its way out of her chest. How the hell do I argue with that? Sadie eased in a deep breath, momentarily losing herself in Alec’s steady gaze.
“We,” she obediently repeated, shivering with the warm tide of feelings crashing through her. Such a strange thing, this being cared for and defended.
Alec smiled, pressed a gentle kiss to the tip of her nose, then tucked her hand into the crook of his arm. “Aye. That sounds much better.”
As they moved toward Delia’s bus, Sadie gave his arm a squeeze while struggling to regain her composure and figure out exactly what she was going to say to Delia. “But I really need you to let me do the talking—okay? It’s up to me to stand up to Delia.”
Well…to sort of stand up to her sister. Financially and career-wise, she couldn’t say everything she wanted to say. Delia not only held the purse strings, she also owned the keys to the screenwriters’ kingdom. If she pissed Delia off too much, big sister would make good on her threat, and she had enough connections in the business to ensure Sadie’s writing would never be discovered.
Alec’s jaw tightened and Sadie braced herself for the argument she could see stewing. He had to understand. Delia could permanently kill the dream Sadie had been nurturing since she was big enough to hold a pencil. “Please, Alec?” They came to a stop at the base of the retractable metal steps leading up to the door of the bus. “Please?”
Alec’s mouth tightened into a displeased line. His nostrils flared as he drew in a breath deep enough to make it appear as though he’d wakened the demon within and was tripling his already massive size in preparation for unleashing the beast. He glared up at the bus, then looked back down at Sadie. “I will remain silent unless I deem it necessary. I can promise ye no more than that.”
Part of her wanted to throw herself into his arms and thank him for wanting to protect her. But another part of her was shouting, “Run like hell!” She’d never been sheltered by anyone. She’d always had her back against the wall and fought her battles alone. And that part of her didn’t dare trust this sudden turn of fate. How could he be real? And even more importantly—how long could this possibly last?
“No offense taken.” Sadie shrugged. “I could’ve told you that a long time ago.” She climbed the steps, sympathetically patting Dwyn on the shoulder as she passed him. “We’ll meet you back at the Jeep after I’ve had a few words with my dear sister.”
“Hmpf.” Dwyn stomped away, muttering under his breath.
The overwhelming stench of Delia’s essential oil diffusers hit Sadie head on before she’d even walked through the door. Ugh. Eucalyptus. Delia must’ve been a koala in a past life, because she adored the scent of eucalyptus. Said it rejuvenated and energized her. As far as Sadie was concerned, it just made the room smell like cough drops. She wrinkled her nose against the pungent aroma filling the opulent interior of the travel bus.
Delia sat behind a table of rich, chocolate-brown marble flecked and veined with gold striations. A pair of leopard print readers were perched on the end of her nose as she squinted at the laptop in front of her. Without looking up, she flicked her fingers in a bored wave back toward a kitchen so well fitted with every state-of-the-art accoutrement that any chef would drop to his knees and give thanks he’d been chosen to use it. “If Mr. MacDara would like some refreshments, I’m sure you can find something to suit him. The kitchen’s well stocked.” Still concentrating on the computer, Delia continued. “You can have a water, but get one out of the cabinet. The chilled ones are mine.”
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