“You think you have a good reason.” Sable wasn’t angry, but she wasn’t letting him off the hook that easily. “What did I say before I left?”
“Christ, Sable. I’m not a child. It isn’t necessary to chastise me.”
She simply took another sip and met his gaze over the rim. When she raised her eyebrows, he sighed.
“Candice called a couple of hours after you left. She was outside the building and was drunk.”
“Or claimed to be.”
“Yes,” Colt nodded. “But I didn’t know that. She swore she was going to drive home. I couldn’t let her do that.”
“You should have called her a cab.”
“She wouldn’t wait. And since, per your instructions, I couldn’t go out and stop her, I let her come up.”
“And then invited her into bed?”
“Fuck that.” Colt searched her face. Sable let him off this particular hook and smiled. His shoulders relaxed. “I thought she had passed out on the sofa. I put a blanket over her and called her assistant to pick her up. The ETA was an hour, so I decided to take a shower. I didn’t know when you would get back. I planned on getting dressed and ready to leave for the set.”
“Let me take it from there.” Sable set the cup on the counter. “As soon as you were naked—”
“And in the shower,” Colt reminded her.
“And in the shower,” Sable conceded. “Candice miraculously sobered up. She dropped her clothes and climbed into bed.”
“That about sums it up.”
“Except how did she know I wasn’t here?”
“You don’t think she had someone watching the building?”
“Creepy, but it’s the only thing that makes sense. When they saw me drive away, they called Candice. Obviously, it took her awhile to get here. From the look of her, she took the time to do her hair and makeup. Since I hadn’t returned, she took advantage of the situation. She once told me she didn’t like to improvise but in a pinch, she’s pretty good at thinking on her feet.”
Colt frowned. “She couldn’t have known how long you would be gone.”
Patting his hand, Sable shook her head. The poor guy still hadn’t grasped the entire situation.
“She didn’t care. No matter when I showed up, her plan was to make it look like the two of you had or were about to have, sex.”
“You didn’t buy it.” It wasn’t a question but a statement.
Sable wasn’t immune to the most basic human emotions. When she saw Candice in Colt’s bed, she felt a myriad of emotions. Surprise. Hurt. Anger. Disgust. But they came and went in a schizophrenic flash. It was too staged. Too obvious. And most of all—it wasn’t Colt.
Candice had badly miscalculated. She had spent too much time reading her own planted publicity. She believed herself to be irresistible. What man in his right mind would turn down a chance to have sex with America’s Sweetheart? And what woman wouldn’t believe it? Especially with the evidence right in front of her.
The answers to those questions were simple and succinct. Colt and Sable—that’s who.
Colt wasn’t the kind of man to jump from one woman to another with no explanation. And Sable wasn’t the kind of woman to run away in tears—with no explanation. Even if she had believed the setup, she would have waited for Colt’s confirmation.
However, it didn’t change the fact that Colt broke rule number one. Do not let anyone other than Sable and his family through his door.
“I know what you’re thinking.”
“I doubt it. Not this time.”
“Go on,” Colt said, confident and ready to take his medicine. “Call me a Boy Scout.”
“I’ll call you an idiot. Not even a Boy Scout would let a barracuda cross his threshold. You welcomed her with open arms—and wrapped her in a blankie for good measure.”
“In my defense—” Colt held up a hand when Sable started to interrupt. “It’s the only one I have, so let me finish.”
“Fine. Go on.”
“You would have done the same thing.”
That stopped her. She had all kinds of comebacks planned—one for every scenario she anticipated him using. But this she hadn’t expected. It was short and to the point. And, much to her consternation, he was right.
There was no argument for the truth.
“You didn’t follow orders.” Lame. Sable knew it and so did Colt. “Don’t you dare grin at me. I’m giving you this one. You don’t get to gloat.”
“No gloating.” Colt tempered his grin, downgrading it to a smile. “We have time before we have to leave. Breakfast or a nap?”
“Breakfast,” Sable said emphatically. “A nap won’t be enough. I’m better off staying awake.”
“Me too.” He took eggs and butter from the refrigerator. “A cheese omelet. Bacon? Toast?”
“Cholesterol alert?” Laughing, Sable poured more coffee, grabbing another cup. “Why not? If you promise to eat a salad for lunch. And not one drenched in ranch dressing.”
“No problem.” With the skill of a man at ease in the kitchen, Colt broke the eggs with one hand and whisked them with the other.
Sable settled on a stool to enjoy the show. Food? Cooked by a sexy bare-chested Colton Landis? Sounded like the perfect way to start her day.
“IT’S THE LAST day.”
“Mmm.”
“We made it.”
“Yes, we did.”
Colt looked at Sable’s reflection in the mirror. She thumbed through a copy of Architecture Digest while he sat through another session in the hair and makeup trailer. She looked cool, breezy, and relaxed in a pair of cotton drawstring pants and sleeveless silk blouse. Her hair, which Gilda, the same woman working on him at the moment, had trimmed last week, was flawlessly messy—and sexy as hell. She wore just the right amount of makeup, giving her a natural look that drove him crazy.
Colt knew the truth. It wasn’t what Sable wore, or how her hair and makeup were done. It was her. And he couldn’t get enough of her.
He knew how he felt. He loved Sable. For him, it was as simple as that. But getting a handle on how she felt wasn’t as easy. Hell, he would have settled for not easy. Sable was harder to read than ancient Sanskrit.
Tell her how you feel. That made the most sense. All she could do was— What? Laugh? No. Sable wasn’t a cruel person. She would let him down with kind words. And it would kill him. Laughter he could react to. He could rail. Call her names for her callous treatment. But kindness? It left a man with no alternative. He had to be kind in turn—even while dying a little inside.
There had been times over the past few weeks when he thought Sable felt the same as he did. The look in her eyes. Her smile. The way she touched him. Not when they made love. The relaxed moments. A natural brush of her hand against his. Or how she curled up next to him when they were watching television.
It felt like love. It didn’t seem possible that he could be in this alone.
Then she would talk about what she planned on doing next month. Or a trip she wanted to take over the Christmas holidays. It was done with a casualness that made Colt uncomfortable. As though she had already moved on. Left him behind. He didn’t like the way she spoke of the future. Her future away from him.
“Mom wants us to stop by after we wrap. No matter how late.”
“I know.” Sable lowered the magazine. “She called me yesterday. I know I’m new to all of this, but isn’t there usually a wrap party?”
“We’ll pop some champagne, but there’s something a bit more formal planned for next week.”
“Okay.”
Okay? Colt ground his teeth in frustration. Thanks for the resoundingly underwhelming interest.
“Hey, gorgeous.” Gilda tapped his cheek with the brush she was using to smooth out his skin tone. She was forty-six, as wide as she was tall, and hands down the best makeup artist in the business. “Relax those pearly whites, honey. That smile of yours won’t be nearly as appealing if you grind your teeth down to nothing bu
t nubs.”
Sable straightened, a frown marring her normally smooth brow.
“Is something wrong?”
“No.” Colt’s retort was harsher than he intended. Sable didn’t want to know the kind of thoughts swirling around in his brain. Too bad. It might clear up a few things if she did. Because he couldn’t bring himself to ask the questions plaguing him, he made up an excuse. “I was thinking about the final scene with Candice. Things have been a bit tense.”
“With good reason,” Gilda snorted.
Surprised, Colt glanced at Sable. She simply shrugged, apparently as baffled as he was.
“What reason is that?” he asked.
Three people knew about what happened between them and Candice. He hadn’t said anything. Neither had Sable. That only left Candice. Since she came out looking like a ridiculous crazy woman, it didn’t make sense for her to say anything.
Gilda laughed. “You grew up on movie sets. Did you honestly think something that juicy could remain a secret?”
“Who told you?”
“Kirk.”
“The catering guy?”
“Who heard it from Willie, the assistant grip, who heard it from Flubber.”
“Flubber? Who is Flubber?” Sable asked. She looked as bewildered as Colt felt.
“FX,” Gilda replied.
“Special effects,” Colt clarified.
“I get what he does. How did he find out?”
“Let me cut to the source.”
“Please.”
“Word has it, Candice cried all over her assistant. Sparing none of the details. You didn’t come off very well in the original version.”
“Shocking,” Sable chuckled.
“Don’t laugh. You were the true villain. Candice painted you as a clingy, foul-mouthed witch. I’m paraphrasing, but you get the idea.”
“I embrace foul-mouthed witch. But clingy?”
Sable looked at Colt for vindication and he gave it. Sable, much to his annoyance, didn’t cling. Especially not to him.
“You’re very independent.”
“Damn straight,” Sable declared.
Colt mentally rolled his eyes. Then he asked Gilda, “You said the original version?”
“The assistant didn’t buy Candice’s version. When she relayed the story, and since she was telling it in the strictest of confidence, she tacked on what she thought was most likely the truth.”
“And everyone ran with it.” Colt wasn’t surprised. “What about the assistant?”
“Do you mean is she still among the living? Yes. But not the employed. Candice fired her ass the second the whispers started.”
“That was a week ago. How have I missed all the drama?”
“For once, discretion reigned. Everyone decided that you’ve had enough to deal with. I’m telling you now because it’s the last day. I thought you might like to know that the crew had your back.” Gilda made one last stroke with her brush. “There. Perfection.” She winked. “But I say it’s gilding the lily.”
“That was nice,” Sable said as they made their way to the set.
“Gilda is a peach.”
“I agree.” Sable patted her hair. “But I meant her and the crew. They shielded you from one more shit storm. And since I haven’t heard from my mother, didn’t spread the story to the press.”
Sable was right. His crew was a good bunch. And it humbled him to know they thought so highly of him. Without conscious thought, Colt took Sable’s hand. It had become a habit, walking around, connected. A habit he didn’t want to break.
“There she is.” Sable nodded to where Candice sat. “The fictional love of your life.”
Colt shuddered. “I know that was meant to be a joke, but seriously, Sable. I don’t know if I will ever be able to watch this movie. I kissed that woman.”
“It’s a shame. Until you write your memoirs and spill every detail, no one will know that this could be your finest acting job ever. But I know.” Sable kissed his cheek. “And so does everyone who worked on the movie.”
Sable left him, walking to her usual chair. Surreptitiously, Colt touched his cheek. The gesture was small, but it sent a warm feeling through his body. He didn’t want to get used to living without Sable. She was a part of his life. Big—and small.
He took his place in front of the camera, freeing his mind of everything but the final scene. Sable wasn’t going anywhere. Not right away. And if he had his way? Not ever.
“Are you ready, Colt?” the director called out.
Colt glanced at Sable. Ready? Absolutely. For today. Forever.
CHAPTER TWENTY
“CONGRATULATIONS. YOU MADE it through another shoot.” Callie hugged Colt.
“There were times when I had my doubts if we would get it done.”
Callie laughed. “You faced some unique and unusual challenges. But believe me. You aren’t the first actor who had problems with his co-star.”
“I’m just glad it’s over.”
Colt had taken a quick shower in his trailer before he and Sable left the set. His hair was still damp and he was bone tired. But for the first time in days, he felt like he could finally relax. The last week had played havoc on his nerves. He hadn’t known if Candice would go completely off the rails. She was unstable on a good day. After the debacle at his loft, she became a true wild card.
But they made it. Somehow. Someway. It appeared at first glance that they had a damn good movie on their hands. Time would tell how the critics, and more importantly, the public received it. That was out of Colt’s hands. He had done his part—above and beyond.
“Sable is ready to bolt.”
“What makes you say that?” Callie glanced across the room where Sable was talking to Wyatt and Nate. “Did she say something?”
“There isn’t anything to say. The job is over. Time to get back to her real life.”
Callie sighed.
“What?” Colt knew that look of exasperation. He saw it on a regular basis. They all did. And deservedly so. Dealing with the five Landis men took the patience of Job. However, Colt had no idea what he had done this time.
“Have you said anything?”
“For instance?”
“Oh, Colton.” Callie cupped his face with her hands. Her expressive eyes were filled with impatience—and a touch of laughter. “A woman’s heart is her own. You can’t force her to give it away. But, my dear, sweet baby boy. You have to say it. Three little words. Is it really that difficult?”
Colt swallowed nervously, his eyes darting to Sable.
“I plan on telling her, Mom. After the party.”
“Ah.”
“Ah?” Colt’s lips curved. He loved this woman dearly, but sometimes he needed an interpreter. “Is that code for something? Because if it is, I’m lost.”
“Of course, you are. Your father was the same way. Instead of simply telling me how he felt, he planned this big elaborate spectacle. Always the producer, he thought of everything down to the most minute detail. Except he forgot one thing.”
“What was that?”
Colt had heard it a thousand times—and never tired of the telling. The big party. The big declaration. A heart-melting happily ever after. Suddenly he was finding out that the night hadn’t been the perfect fairy tale? It was a new twist to one of his favorite stories.
“I didn’t want to play Snow White to his Prince Charming. I wanted simple words. Said from the heart. The whole thing almost blew up in his face—and mine. Luckily for all of us, he figured it out before it was too late. The party was wonderful. But the moment I always hold dearest came before. He took me aside, away from prying eyes. It was those three little words—I love you—that sealed the deal.”
“What if she doesn’t want to hear them?”
“You want guarantees?”
“Do you have any to spare?”
“The sun will rise. The sun will set.” Callie’s smile and her eyes turned warm—filled with unconditional love. “It’s
the best I can do, Colton. But even that isn’t set in stone. “Don’t take it for granted. Not the sun. Or that, because you’re young, time is on your side.”
“Tell Sable what’s in your heart.”
“I love you, Mom.”
“See, that wasn’t so hard.”
“You have to love me back.”
“No, baby. Unfortunately, not even a mother’s love is guaranteed.”
Colt kissed her cheek, breathing in her familiar, comforting scent.
“Then I’m a very lucky man,” he whispered. “Not once, even for a second, have I ever doubted that you love me.”
Tears in her eyes, Callie hugged him close.
“Thank you.” And because she knew the words were important, she added, “I love you.”
SABLE CHECKED THE hallway before slipping into the bathroom. It was ridiculous to hide, but she didn’t want to answer any questions—especially from Colt.
She sat on the closed toilet seat and took out her phone, hitting speed dial. What she was about to do was the coward’s way out. And she was just fine with that.
“Sable.”
“Alex.”
There was a pause.
“Should I guess why you called or is something wrong and you don’t know how to tell me?”
“Everything is fine.”
“Good. If our client were in the hospital, I would have heard by now. An injured Colton Landis would break the internet.”
“I returned him to his family unbroken.”
“Interesting choice of words.” Sable held her breath, waiting for the next question—a personal question, but to her relief, Alex let it pass. “What’s up?”
“Today was officially my last day.”
“I know. I have it marked on my calendar with a big, red circle. As events go, it’s right up there with Dani’s birthday or our anniversary.”
“Sarcasm? Really? What did I do to deserve it?”
“You tell me?”
Sable breathed in, then out. Her words came in one long, uninterrupted rush. “I need another job. Something quick. Two or three days. Please?”
“I spoke with Wyatt earlier today The family is very happy with H&W Security. And you in particular.”
Dreaming Of Your Love (Hollywood Legends #3) Page 25