“I’m sure he will, but I have an important business meeting scheduled tomorrow, and I want to check on our progress with Morton Industries.”
Colby nodded. She had almost completely forgotten about Morton Industries and the real reason behind her marriage to Sterling.
Sterling walked back over to the table to get his coffee but knew it had gotten cold. He took a sip anyway and studied Colby over the rim of his cup. She was moving around the room, unnecessarily tidying up. He could tell from her movements she was tired. They had spent most of the morning sight-seeing and then over dinner she had told him of her shopping adventure.
He set his cup down when he saw her smother a yawn. Walking over to her, he pulled her to him. “I think it’s bedtime.”
She pushed herself out of his arms. “Look, Sterling, evidently you didn’t understand—”
He placed his fingers to her lips to silence her. “Lighten up. I didn’t mean it the way you took it. What I meant is that it’s bedtime for you.”
She tinted, embarrassed she had jumped to conclusions. “I need to call James first.”
“Then I’ll leave so you can do that. It’s getting late and there’s a three-hour time difference between here and the East Coast.”
“Yes, I know.”
A faint smile touched his lips. “It’s my guess reporters will be camped out front in the morning, but the sooner we can leave here and go to my home in Malibu, the better. Things are more secure and private there. We won’t be hounded by any reporters.”
“All right.”
“Good night, Colby.”
“Good night, Sterling.”
Unhesitantly, Sterling lowered his head and brushed his lips against hers. He wanted to do more but didn’t. Instead he walked out of the room, closing the door behind him.
Colby walked over to the table and picked up the telephone. Taking a deep breath she began dialing numbers.
“Hello,” a deep masculine voice answered sleepily.
“Hello, James, it’s me.”
She could hear his soft, sleep-filled chuckle. “How are you doing, ‘me’?”
She grinned. “I’m fine.” A lump then formed in her throat. “I’m sorry to call so late but I have something very important to tell you.”
“Oh? What?”
“Remember that friend I told you I was coming here to see.”
“Yes, what about her?”
“I deliberately led you to believe it was a she.”
There was a pause. “And she’s not?”
“No, he’s not.”
There was another pause. “Colby, are you trying to tell me that your friend is really a he and not a she?”
Colby took a deep breath. “Yes.”
There was another pause. “I think I can handle what you’re telling me, Colby. After all, you’re twenty-six years old. Cynthia told me a long time ago I was too overprotective where you’re concerned. And she’s right. You’re out on your own and have been since completing college. You have a good head on your shoulders, and I trust you to make the right decisions in life. You’ve never disappointed me, Colby, and I’m proud of you. I know I don’t say that often enough, but I am proud of you. And I want you to know that no matter what, I’ll always be here for you. Cynthia will, too.”
Tears blurred Colby’s vision. “Thanks.”
“Are things serious between you and your friend?”
“Yes, very serious. I wouldn’t have traveled all this way to see him if they weren’t.”
“When will I get to meet him? And why haven’t I met him already?”
“You’ll get to meet him soon, and the reason you haven’t met him yet is because we were sort of conducting a long-distance relationship and weren’t sure how things would work out between us. Now we’re sure.”
Colby closed her eyes. She hated lying to him and knew she was about to do so even more. Crossing her fingers, she added. “We have decided to get married.”
“What!”
“I know it comes as a surprise, but we love each other and want to get married.”
“Colby, don’t rush into anything. Come home and we’ll talk about this. Marriage is such a big step. How long have the two of you known each other?”
“We met two months ago.”
“Two months ago? Colby, it’s too soon to think of getting married. People date for years before marriage. Cynthia and I dated for almost three years before we decided to get married.”
Colby smiled. “The two of you should have gotten married a lot sooner. You were driving each other, as well as me, crazy.”
She heard her brother chuckle. “Well, yeah, but let’s get back to you, young lady. Just how well do you know this guy?”
“I know him well enough to know he’s the man I want to spend the rest of my life with. He’s the man that I want to father my children.”
“But why the rush?”
Colby couldn’t help but shake her head. Nothing in life had prepared her for this type of conversation with her brother. He was the type of person who had to know everything and had to understand every little detail especially when it concerned her. After their parents’ death, he had tried wrapping her up in a covering of protection so thick it had taken Cynthia’s emergence into their lives to rip it apart.
Cynthia, a mere twenty-two years old and fresh out of college, had been Colby’s Spanish teacher in her first year of high school. She had gone head-to-head with the handsome James Wingate when he had refused to let Colby go on a field trip with the Spanish club. That had only been the beginning. Somehow through their constant teacher-versus-guardian battles over her, James and Cynthia had discovered they actually liked each other. And much to Colby’s delight, her favorite teacher and brother had begun dating.
“Colby? Are you still there?”
“Yes.”
“Well, answer my question. Why are the two of you rushing into marriage when you’ve only known each other a couple of months?”
“Because we don’t want to wait any longer to…”
There was a pause. “To do what?” James asked.
“To become intimate. You know my feelings on sex before marriage.”
“So you’re marrying him just so it’ll be all right for the two of you to sleep together?”
“No, of course not. I told you, we love each other and we want to do the right thing. And it’s getting harder and harder for us to stay apart that way. He’s a good person and wants to do the right thing. You should admire him for that.”
“If he’s such a good person why hasn’t he made it a point to meet your family? I would think he would have if things are this serious between the two of you.”
“We didn’t think it was a good idea. Because of who he is, we had to keep things a secret.”
“A secret. Just who is this guy?”
Colby took a deep breath and plunged forward. “Sterling Hamilton.”
The pause on the phone was so long that for a moment Colby thought the line had gone dead. Then the explosion came. “Sterling Hamilton! The Sterling Hamilton! The actor?”
“Yes.”
“Colby, you can’t be serious!”
“I am serious, James.”
“Colby, honey, listen to me. I want you to come home immediately, baby. We need to talk about this.”
“Sterling is bringing me home day after tomorrow and we’ll talk then.”
“Listen, baby. I think you should come home now. Alone. Tonight. How on earth did you get involved with the likes of Sterling Hamilton? I read the papers and the magazines. The man is a nationally known playboy. He’s into women, lots of them. Besides, he’s almost ten years older than you. Colby, think about what you’re getting yourself into.”
“I have thought about it, and I want to marry him. I wanted to let you know that Sterling and I became engaged yesterday. Chances are an announcement of our engagement will make tomorrow’s papers. I wanted you to hear it from me first.”
&n
bsp; “Colby, don’t, baby. Listen to me for a—”
“No, I have to do this. I want to do this. Sterling is bringing me home on Friday. We’ll talk then. Tell Cynthia I’ll call her tomorrow. Good night, James.”
“Colby, wait!”
“Yes?”
“I love you, sis.”
Colby’s eyes became misty again. “And I love you. I know you want what’s best for me, but you have to take my word for it that right now Sterling is it.”
“I’ll expect to see you on Friday and we’ll talk—me, you, and Mr. Hamilton.”
“All right, James, good night.”
Colby hung up the phone. Tears she couldn’t control flowed down her cheeks, and sobs she couldn’t contain racked her body. For the first time in her life, she felt alone.
CHAPTER 10
Colby’s eyes were glued to the scenery outside the car window as it moved along a canyon road. It provided an unforgettable and breathtaking view of Santa Monica Bay with mountains on one side and the San Fernando Valley on the other.
She knew they were headed to Sterling’s home in the Malibu Beach Colony, a residential community of beach homes. She had read enough magazine articles to know it was a haven for numerous celebrities who wanted to get away and find peace and quiet.
And today she needed to get away.
Just as Sterling had predicted, a ton of reporters had camped outside the hotel. There had been even more of them than last night, with more cameras and more questions. Sterling had summed up an answer to their inquiries in one statement.
“Yes, Colby and I are getting married, and yes, we are very much in love.”
Colby sighed deeply. Lies, lies and more lies. She was now living the life of a lie.
She thought about her telephone conversation with James. He had not been completely satisfied with the information she’d given him. He had more questions and he would demand more answers. She leaned her head back against the seat and closed her eyes. At the moment all she wanted to do was to think about pleasant things and she couldn’t help remembering yesterday and the time she and Sterling had spent together. She had really enjoyed herself when he had taken her on a tour of the city. For some reason she felt torn by conflicting emotions. There were times the man actually got on her last nerve with his arrogance. But then at other times, he fascinated her with the way he handled things, like his handling of those reporters. She couldn’t help but admire his strength and control.
Sterling couldn’t help but notice Colby was unusually quiet. And from the look of things, it appeared she hadn’t gotten very much sleep. He could think of only one reason for both.
“I take it you talked to your brother last night.”
Colby opened her eyes and glanced over in his direction. “Yes.”
He gave her a searching look when the car momentarily came to a stop on the two-lane roadway. “And?”
“And even with my story, which I thought sounded pretty convincing, he still had a lot of questions. He has a big problem with the fact I told him we’d just met two months ago.”
“We both know the reason we decided on that.”
Colby nodded. Sterling had explained that his activities were usually monitored by one tabloid or another seeking a story. But two months ago he had outsmarted them and spent two weeks in a secluded lake house belonging to a friend in Virginia. Coincidently, the place was less than an hour’s drive from Richmond. They decided to use that to their advantage and tell everyone it was during that time their paths had crossed.
“I take it he doesn’t believe two people can meet and fall in love within two months,” Sterling said. “The media bought our story easily. What’s his problem with it?”
Colby gave him a wan smile. “Oh, he knows two people can fall in love in a relatively short period of time. He and Cynthia did. James just doesn’t think that I can.”
“Why not?”
“Because taking the time to fall in love wouldn’t fit into my hectic schedule. I don’t date much and most weekends I spend my time doing lesson plans or trying to come up with creative ideas to become more effective as a teacher. And when I do date, the men are usually other teachers who share my love for teaching. James definitely can’t see me falling in love with a well-known celebrity. It’s just not me, and of all people he knows it.”
Sterling reached out and gently touched her cheek. A strange, faintly tender look flashed in his eyes. “Then I guess I’ll have to convince him that I swept you off your feet.”
Once again Colby felt that deep feeling of heat flow through her with his touch. “Yes, I guess you will, tomorrow. He definitely wants to talk with you.”
Sterling chuckled. “I’m looking forward to our meeting.”
Colby almost said she wouldn’t be overly anxious if she were him, but she refrained from doing so. “How much longer before we get to your home?”
“Not much longer. We’ll be there in less than ten minutes.”
“Who’re your neighbors?”
Sterling looked over at her and smiled. “Barbra Streisand lives on one side of me and Morgan Freeman lives on the other. Neil Diamond and Johnny Mathis live across the street.”
A short while later Sterling brought the car to a stop in front of a huge wrought-iron gate. Seconds later, after keying in a special code, the gate opened, allowing them passage.
They pulled into the driveway of an enormous two-story structure nestled among cacti and palm trees, and gardens that included numerous exotic flowers. The sweet smell of the surrounding botanical landscape and the strong salty scent of the ocean assailed Colby’s nostrils.
“You’re on the beach!” she exclaimed. A huge smile curved her lips.
Sterling couldn’t help but smile at her excitement. “Yes, I live on the beach. It’s a private beach owned by the people who live here. But that doesn’t mean you’re allowed to go skinny-dipping any time you want,” he teased.
“I don’t skinny-dip,” she said, opening the car door and getting out before he had a chance to come around and assist her.
“I really like this place, Sterling.”
“I’m glad. Come on and let me introduce you to Simon.”
“Simon?”
“Yes, my housekeeper. He’s been with me for quite a while. You’ll like him.”
No sooner had the words left Sterling’s mouth than a tall, thin elderly man opened the door for them. “Welcome home, Mr. Hamilton.”
“Thanks, Simon,” Sterling replied as he and Colby stepped into the foyer. “I’d like you to meet Colby Wingate, my fiancée.”
Simon smiled. “Yes, sir, I heard all about it. It’s in the newspapers, and it was announced on the Today Show this morning. I must say you and Miss Wingate have caused quite a stir.”
Then he gave his undivided attention to Colby. “I’m happy to meet you Miss Wingate and congratulations.”
“Thank you.”
“Simon, I have some business to take care of, and then later today I’m expecting Kyle Garwood. I’d appreciate it if you took care of Colby for a while. See that she’s settled into one of my guest rooms.”
“Yes, sir. I’ll be glad to.” He turned to Colby. “Let me show you to your room, Miss Wingate.”
“All right, Simon.”
“Colby?”
She turned and gazed up into Sterling’s dark eyes. “Yes?”
“Because of my business meeting with Kyle, I won’t be joining you for lunch. However, I’d like for us to have dinner together. And Kyle will be joining us.”
“Okay.”
Colby watched as Sterling turned and walked across the hall and into a large room. She caught a glimpse of the expensively decorated room with its thick carpet before he closed the door behind him.
“Not only is Mr. Hamilton a dynamic actor, he’s also a top-notch businessman,” Simon said proudly of his boss.
Colby nodded. She followed the man as he led her up some large, sweeping stairs. “I have quite a few message
s for you, Miss Wingate.”
She looked up at Simon, surprised. “Messages for me? Are you sure? Who would know to call me here?”
“Didn’t Mr. Hamilton tell you he had all your calls forwarded from the hotel to here ever since early this morning?”
Colby shook her head. “No, he didn’t mention it.”
Simon shrugged. “I guess he forgot. Well, here we are.”
Colby found herself in a room too beautiful for words. It had a bay window facing Malibu Beach. The view was magnificent. “It’s lovely, Simon.”
“I’m glad you like it. I’ll leave you to get settled and will bring your luggage up in a minute. If you need anything just call me. The messages for you are on that table over there.” Then he left, closing the door behind him.
Colby walked over to the table and picked up five slips of paper. One was from Ebony magazine requesting an interview. The other was from People magazine requesting the same thing and the other three messages were from Cynthia.
She picked up the phone and immediately called Cynthia. A soft voice answered.
“Hello, Cynthia, it’s me.”
“Colby! Is it true!”
Colby smiled. She could just imagine her sister-in-law’s excitement. “Is what true?”
“Don’t play games with me, Colby Wingate. Is it true you’re actually engaged to Sterling Hamilton? The Sterling Hamilton?”
“Yes. I guess James filled you in on everything.”
“Are you kidding? Your brother has told me very little. I think he’s still in shock himself. In fact he didn’t even mention it until breakfast this morning. And that was mere seconds before I opened the newspaper to discover it myself. He claimed the reason he didn’t tell me sooner was because he didn’t want me getting overly excited in my condition.”
“Yeah, that’s a thought.”
“Colby, you made the front page here today.”
“The front page?”
“Yes. It’s not every day a local girl snags a Hollywood superstar. There’re a number of pictures of you and Sterling in very interesting poses.”
“What sort of poses?”
“Poses of the two of you kissing. Obviously you and he enjoy doing that.”
One Special Moment Page 10