by Jill Sanders
“That’s ... too bad,” she said, causing Ashley to nudge her.
“Do you still have a thing for him?” her sister leaned close and whispered.
“Shut up,” she said back between clinched teeth.
“Later.” Her sister narrowed her eyes.
Instead of driving her to her new condo, her brother took them into Golden with the excuse of having dinner with her family. But when she walked into her parent’s place, she was greeted with a loud “surprise” as a large group of old friends and family members jumped out at her.
Her eyes scanned the crowd and landed on Tom.
Tom didn’t know how he’d let Aiden talk him into coming to Amber’s welcome home party. Maybe, if he wanted to be truthful with himself, his friend didn’t have to try all that hard. After all, Tom had always had a soft spot for Amber. And if he was being totally honest with himself, he’d admit to the infatuation, but ... he wasn’t being truthful at the moment.
That was, until he saw her walk in. Suddenly all of the air left the room, leaving only staleness and heat. He could have sworn even his hearing had left him as his vision narrowed, until all he could see, was her. Her smile, her eyes, just her. What in the hell was he supposed to do with that?
So, he did what any man would have done. He spent the next hour trying to hide in a corner and brood about anything and everything. Several of his friends tried to strike up conversations with him, but he’d only sipped on his beer and shrugged his shoulders every time someone asked him something. Naturally, after several times, he’d been left alone. Even Ashley tried to talk to him, but then she faked a phone call and left him alone.
“Are you going to just stand in the corner and glare at everyone all night?” He hadn’t seen or heard her approach, but suddenly he’d been surrounded by her soft voice and sexy scent.
He turned and noticed her leaning against the doorframe less than a foot away. He shrugged once more and started to turn away.
“Is that how you greet an old friend?” She crossed her arms over her chest and he had to tear his eyes away from what the slight motion had done to her shirt and her perfect breasts. When he didn’t respond, she moved closer to him. “I’m sorry to hear about Terra.”
He blinked a few times, then turned to her. He’d put all of that mess behind him. Honestly, he was better off after she’d left. They had fought a lot more often as their wedding date approached. He couldn’t even remember anymore why he’d proposed to her in the first place. She’d kept the diamond ring he’d given her, and he was thankful he’d kept his grandmother’s bracelet in the safe, where it belonged.
“It’s okay,” he said, taking another sip of his warm beer. Then he turned back to her. “I saw a picture of you and—”
She rolled her eyes. “Yeah, I saw it too, and before you ask, no, we are not dating. It was for a promo shoot.”
He nodded. “Cool.” He couldn’t imagine her having a thing for the sexy dancer whose name and face had been in all the tabloids recently after he’d been caught cheating on his wife of five years.
“I suppose that happens to you all the time.” He turned slightly towards her again.
She nodded, then took his beer from his hands and swallowed the rest of it down. “Your beer is warm.”
“And gone,” he added with a smile.
“So, there’s more on the back deck.” She nodded towards the opened door a few feet away. He shrugged and followed her out the doorway.
When they stepped out into the cool night, he realized they were the only ones on the deck and thought about making a run for it. He didn’t think he could trust himself not to make a fool of himself in front of her. So, he did the next best thing and tried to remain quiet. After he grabbed a cold beer, he popped the top and handed it to her, then opened another and started downing it himself.
“Ashley told me you’ve opened a couple more stores,” she said, walking over and sitting down in her parent’s deck swing. Since he didn’t want to be rude when she patted the spot next to her, he walked over and sat down.
“Yeah, one in Aurora and another in Arvada.” He took another drink of the cold beer. The evenings were still warm enough that he felt a bead of sweat drip down between his shoulder blades. Or maybe it was being so close to her that had his body sweating?
She leaned slightly against his shoulder and sighed. “I’ve missed this.”
He glanced down at her with a slight frown. “What?”
“The smell of fall in the mountains.” She pushed the swing until they were swaying slightly. “The quiet.” She sighed and laid her head on his shoulder.
He didn’t remember putting his arm around her shoulders, or pulling her closer as they sat and looked up at the dark sky filled with stars. But when the back door opened and the light from inside washed over them, he jumped slightly at the sound of Aiden’s voice.
Dropping his arm, he scooted away from Amber as his friend approached.
“There you are. A group of your friends from the Buell Theatre are leaving.” He rolled his eyes. “They say that call time is early and they have to get their beauty rest.”
Amber smiled. “God, I remember those days.” She sighed and he got the impression that she actually missed those days as well. How many early morning call times had she shown up for? Too many to remember.
After she walked inside, Aiden took her spot and opened a beer. “Nice night,” his friend said, leaning back and glancing up at the sky.
“Yup.” He took another sip of his beer and waited for his friend to threaten him with castration if he ever got near his sister again. But, instead, they sat in silence for a while until Ann—Aiden, Amber, and Ashley’s mother—walked out.
“Oh, Tommy, there you are. I was hoping to introduce you to—”
Aiden interrupted his mother. “Mom, don’t.”
Ann put her hands on her hips and glared at her son. “Mind your own business, I’m just—”
“Not minding yours,” Aiden added, under his breath. Earning him another glare from his mother.
“Trying to help a friend out,” she finished. “Marcie works with Amy and doesn’t know anyone here. I was hoping you might introduce her to a few people.”
“Yeah, and give her a wedding ring in a few months,” Aiden joked as he took another swig of his beer.
“Well really, Aiden, just because you’re still floating in marital bliss, doesn’t mean you shouldn’t help a friend out.” Ann walked over and took Tom’s hands, pulling him up.
He could remember the first time he’d met Ann. He’d been five and a half. His mother had brought him over to Aiden’s house for a playdate. Tom hadn’t minded what his mother called it, as long as Aiden had those cool trucks he’d brought to school the day before. He did, and naturally, Tom and Aiden became best friends. Their friendship outlasted Aiden’s parents’ marriage, his parents’ marriage, and their mother’s friendship.
However, when Aiden, several years back, had caught him ogling his sister, he’d warned Tom, who instantly backed off. Well, he’d tried to back off. It wasn’t really his fault; Amber was the one that had made all the moves. Okay, to be honest, all but one.
Chapter 2
When she finally had a chance to talk to Tom again, it was only to say a brief good-bye as her brother pulled her towards the doorway several hours later.
“Morning comes really early and some of us have real jobs.” He took her arm and waved to the almost empty room.
To be honest, she was thankful Aiden had suggested they leave. Her head felt dull and she wished she were one of those people on a plane that could nap peacefully, gently rocked to sleep by the sound of the engines. Even in her first-class seat, she’d had a hard time trying to relax.
She glanced once more in Tom’s direction, but instead of catching his eye, she watched a pretty brunette walk over and wrap her arm around his. Tom, for his part, glanced down at the woman and gave her one of his, hey, there you are—I was just looking f
or you, sexy smiles. Amber’s heart dropped in her chest. Her eyes fixated on the floor as her brother pulled her around the room saying good-byes.
She hadn’t realized Aiden had pulled her in front of Tom and the brunette until she heard Tom’s voice. Her eyes moved up and caught his, briefly.
She believed that she was a good actress. After all, she worked very hard to become so. But, it didn’t matter how many hours she’d spent in front of mirrors practicing her “looks” or countless nights on stage in front of audiences, she couldn’t have forced the hurt from her eyes as she watched the woman cling to Tom in front of her.
“Good night, Amber.” Tom smiled at her like it was perfectly normal to have the woman cling to him.
“Night.” She glanced quickly over at the woman, whose smile only grew even more.
She didn’t get a chance to say anything else because her brother pulled her across the room towards the door.
“Thank god that’s over.” Aiden sighed as they settled in the car.
“Is Kristen coming?” She glanced back as Aiden pulled out.
“No, Ashley took her home about an hour ago.” He smiled over at her. “She gets tired really easy now.” She could see the pride and love in her brother’s eyes, and felt a twinge of jealousy surface. Turning her eyes away from her brother’s happiness, she glanced out the window into the darkness.
“Who was the brunette in the green?” she asked before she lost her nerve.
“Who?” Her brother turned onto the highway and she settled back in the seat a little more.
“The woman who was with Tom.” She held her breath.
Her brother’s silence caused her to glance over at him.
“Marcie. She works with Amy.” Aiden was now frowning as he drove. She knew instantly what was bothering her brother.
“It was just a question.” She shifted slightly to get a better look at him. Then crossed her arms over her chest when he remained quiet. “Why do you have such an aversion to—?”
“What?” He glanced over at her. “To my best friend messing with my little sister?”
She chuckled. “Really, Aiden. I’m twenty-three years old.”
“And Tom is almost thirty.” He glared at her.
“Just ...” She shrugged, then turned away. “There’s an age difference between you and Kristen.”
“Two years.” His voice rose slightly.
“Lots of people have years between—”
“He’s my best friend.” He almost growled it. “There’s a code.”
She laughed even harder. “Men and their testosterone.” She rolled her eyes. “It’s not like I have to ask your permission—”
“No, but Tom knows better ...” He pulled off the highway and she enjoyed the lights of the city as they drove down the wide streets.
She’d missed Denver. She’d spent most of her life here, downtown. She’d gotten her first acting part at the tender age of thirteen at the Buell Theater downtown. From there, things had moved quickly. She’d filled her time with everything from dance classes to acting classes to speech classes—even to kickboxing classes to fill one role. She’d lived, eaten, breathed, in the theater. When she’d finally graduated school, she’d moved into a small flat with a few other actresses. She didn’t mind that the four ladies had to share a bathroom, or that the microwave had burned out before she’d moved in.
What had mattered most to her was being on stage. She’d forgone the life of a normal teen girl. She’d missed all her school dances, football games, and sometimes, even classes themselves. Her grades had suffered, slightly. But a few things had remained steady. Her love for acting, her family, and her feelings for Tom.
“You made your choice.” Aiden broke into her thoughts. “Hollywood,” he answered when she glanced at him with question. “Tom has made his. He didn’t take, taking over his father’s business after he died, lightly. It was a struggle for him for the first few years.”
“I remember.” She thought back to the months after Tom’s father had died on the floor of his upscale furniture store. She remembered seeing how it had affected Tom. She’d never lost a parent, but had felt her own heart break for him.
“He’s landlocked here.” Aiden pulled into the parking garage of her new building and pulled to a stop by the doors. “You’re a butterfly now.”
She smiled at her brother’s old joke. He’d always called her a caterpillar when she was younger. She didn’t want to ask him when he thought she’d gone through her cocoon stage.
“You’re meant to flutter in the wind and shine. I’m glad you’re home, but I would be fooling myself to think that you plan on staying for too long,” he said and reached over to brush a tear from her face. She hadn’t known she’d been crying. “And don’t let anyone ask it of you. It would break you.” His smile faded slightly.
“I love you.” She smiled over at her brother. She leaned in and sighed when his arms wrapped around her. “Now, go home and take care of your wife.” She pulled back. “I bet she’d appreciate a stop at the store for a pint of her favorite ice cream.”
He laughed and nodded. “The freezer is already stocked.” He sighed and tugged on her hair. “I’ll see you later this week.”
She nodded. Then got out.
“Do you need help?” He started to get out, but she stopped him.
“No, most of my things were delivered yesterday. I just have this suitcase.” She patted the small carry-on and the other bag on rollers. “I hate traveling heavy.”
He nodded. “Night, sis.”
“Night.” She turned and knew he would wait until she was safe in the building before driving away.
As she took the elevator up to the top floor, she closed her eyes and wondered why California was short on men like her brother.
Stepping into the place she would call home for the next six months was an eye-opener. The last time she’d been in Denver, she’d been crammed into a room with three other roommates. Not only had the microwave not been working, but when they flushed the toilet, the shower made noises and shook. And there were more cockroaches than cracked tiles on the floor. But, she’d loved every minute of it. Now, she stepped into the massive condo and sighed. The place was gorgeous.
A wall of ceiling-to-floor windows looked out to the city. She knew that in the daylight the mountains would be visible as well. The furniture was a little more modern than her liking, but of the best quality.
Walking over, she flipped a switch and had the gas fireplace turning on. Leaving her bags by the sofa, she walked over to the windows and sighed as she looked out. The place felt empty. She missed her small apartment and noisy roommates.
Closing her eyes, she thought about what the next few months would hold for her. Shooting didn’t start until later next week. Which meant she had a few days to finish the script and memorize her lines. She had a hair appointment early Tuesday since the role called for her hair to be a few shades lighter. There were meetings with wardrobe fittings and meetings with the new makeup artist. All of this was followed up with dinner with Marcus on Friday.
Turning away from the lights of the city, she headed into the kitchen and opened the fridge. Everything she’d requested was there. Pulling out a water, she sipped on it as she familiarized herself with the place. There was a small balcony off the living room, but the real gem had been the rooftop private swimming pool. She stepped out the door off the kitchen and enjoyed the smell of chlorine and the crystal-clear blue water in the pool. She couldn’t wait to dive in first thing in the morning, a ritual she’d become accustomed to over the last two years.
Walking back inside, she found three smaller bedrooms, an office that she doubted she would use, and the master bedroom. Once again, ceiling-to-floor windows looked out to the city. Long thick drapes hung open and a massive television hung in one corner of the room. The massive bed was covered with the new sheets and comforter she’d picked out. Large plants sat in the corners of the room. Walking over, she ran a
finger down the green leaves and smiled. Then turned towards the bathroom and smiled.
She loved the older French style. Everything in the condo was modern, except here. The classic marble tub sat in the middle of the room, with another gas fireplace next to it. There was a massive shower with glass walls and a whole wall covered in a low marble seat.
Instead of windows here in the bathroom, mirrors covered from the ceiling to the marble floors.
She had plenty of space to work with here. Walking into the massive closet, she ran her fingers over her clothing, which had been delivered and arranged by color.
She shook her head remembering she’d arrived in California with only two small bags of items. Now, she had three large trunks of just shoes themselves. She turned away, pulled off her clothes, and stepped into the glass shower to rinse off the travel smell.
She couldn’t have stopped her mind from wandering towards Tom if she’d wanted. He’d been the only constant thing in her dreams. So, what if her hands slowed as she ran them over her body. When her eyes closed, all she could remember was the one beautiful night they had been together. So many years ago. Too many. Her fingers moved as she replayed that night over in her mind. The only night she’d let a man touch her. The night Tom had taken her virginity and she’d fallen helplessly in love with him.
Tom woke from the dream feeling frustrated and hard as hell. Running his hand over his face, he tugged lightly on his hair before dropping his hand and reaching for the light. It had been years since the last time he’d had that dream. Years. Actually, it was when he’d seen Amber.
Lying back on the bed, he stared up at the ceiling and groaned as the image of her naked body flashed in his mind. Why the hell had he touched her in the first place? Hadn’t he known she’d wreak him? She’d been so damn ... irresistible.
It had been the one time he’d made the move. There had been nothing he could have done to stop himself.