by Marci Bolden
“You’re up early.”
Doreen smiled brightly at her. “That nice girl you hired is starting today. I want to make sure everything is in order.”
Carrie’s mood dipped slightly at the reminder, but she pushed her depression aside. “I’m really glad you like her, Mama.”
“Why wouldn’t I? She reminds me of you.”
Carrie kissed the woman’s cheek before heading for the coffee pot. “It’s going to be a beautiful day today. I thought we could skip a few chores and go to the nursery and finally get those rosebushes we’ve been talking about.”
“Skip chores? Buy rosebushes? Who are you, and what have you done with my Carolyn?”
Carrie laughed softly as she filled her mug. “I’m easing back into the routine of being an overachiever. I have to take it slow. Doctor’s orders.”
“Well, I’m glad you’re listening to someone. You work too hard.”
“I know, Mama. You’ve told me.”
Setting her coffee down, she went to the stove, ready to start preparations for egg white omelets and a side of fruit, which Doreen was well in the process of preparing, as well as freshly squeezed orange juice.
She was beating the eggs when the door opened. She immediately thought of Will sweeping in to say good morning. Her smile froze when she noticed Donnie taking in the scene of breakfast being made. The only time this man dared to venture into the kitchen was when he was walking through to the backyard or when he needed to warn Carrie about going against his wishes.
She knew by the look on his face it was the latter, and she sighed heavily. “Good morning.”
“I need you for five minutes. I’m sure she can handle things for that long.”
Carrie was tempted to remind Donnie that “she” had a name, but decided it was too glorious of a morning to start an argument. She’d listen to what he had to say, let his latest complaint roll off her back, and return to her good mood as soon as he was finished.
“I’ll be right back, Mama.”
Doreen frowned as she glared at the man. “Take your time, honey.”
Wiping her hands on her apron as she went, Carrie followed Donnie into her office. He held the door, letting her go in first, and then closed it behind him. She tried not to instantly become angry, but from her experience with him, she knew that he was displeased. When he was, it was usually over something so insignificant that his need to talk the issue over with her was ridiculous.
“What can I do for you, Donnie?”
“First off, let me tell you how happy we all are that you have recovered from your accident so quickly.”
He didn’t sound happy. In fact, he sounded outright resentful that he had to extend such niceties.
“Thank you,” Carrie said, knowing he was setting her up for one of his lectures.
“It was quite a scare for all of us.”
“Well, I appreciate your patience with the situation while Natalie and Doreen covered for me.”
He nodded, which seemed to heighten the tension in the room. “We need to discuss what happened.”
She waited for him to expand on his comment, but he didn’t. “I fell.”
“Did you?” he asked.
“Well, I didn’t jump,” she said with a sarcastic lilt to her voice that she hadn’t intended.
“Juliet is very uneasy around Doreen. She has been from the start. This has increased her anxiety.”
“My falling down the stairs increased her anxiety of elderly people?”
“Do not be contemptuous with me.” He stared her down, anger boiling behind his dark eyes. “We’ll only be here a few more weeks, a month at the very most. I think it best if, for that time, Doreen found other accommodations.”
Carrie leaned a bit closer and tilted her head as she lifted her brows, certain that she had misunderstood what he’d said. “Excuse me?”
“Doreen needs to find another place to stay,” Donnie stated.
A bitter laugh escaped Carrie’s lips. “Really? Perhaps you have forgotten that this is her home. You are the guests here. She has no other accommodations, nor does she need them.”
“We will not stay where Juliet is not comfortable, and she is not comfortable in this house with that woman.”
Carrie shook her head slightly, not believing the words that were coming from this man. “You arrogant bastard,” she whispered. “She is a sixty-four-year-old woman with dementia. She isn’t a leper. It isn’t contagious.”
“She’s dangerous.”
“To whom?” Carrie demanded with narrowed eyes. “What has she done to that little bitch that makes her such a threat?”
“Do not call my star—”
“You leave.” Carrie pointed toward the office door. “You go upstairs right now, and you tell your precious stars, every single one of them, to get the hell out of my house.”
Donnie reared back. “What?”
“I’ll write a reimbursement for what’s left of your payment. I just want you gone.”
“You dare—”
“Now, Donnie,” she said firmly. “Get out now.”
He stared at her, obviously fuming at her response to his request. “I have never been treated so shabbily before in my life.”
“Nor have I.” She stared him down until he turned.
He jerked the door open and then slammed it behind him. Once he was gone, she let out her breath, hating that it sounded more like a sob.
Who the hell did he think he was? Telling her to kick the woman who was practically her mother out of her own home? And what kind of person was so scared of a little old lady that she’d want her gone?
“It doesn’t matter,” she answered herself. “It doesn’t matter.”
Sitting at the desk, she turned on the computer and irritably tapped her fingers on the desk as she waited for it to boot up. Once it did, she opened a spreadsheet to start determining what she owed the production company.
She was digging for her checkbook when the door to the office opened again. Her anger almost shattered into tears when Will looked at her with concern.
“What the hell happened?” he demanded.
“Donnie wanted me to ‘find other accommodations’ for Doreen,” she said, mimicking his tone as she quoted him.
“He said that?”
“Apparently Mama makes his prized hen nervous, more so after I fell down the stairs. What that has to do with anything, I don’t want to know, but under no circumstances am I telling Mama to get out. He can go to hell.”
“What are you doing?”
She started taking her anger out on the calculator. “I told him to leave. I owe him for the room and board that you guys haven’t used.”
“I’m not going anywhere. So he owes you for me.”
“Hey,” came a voice from the door. Grant and a few of the other actors were crowding into the office. “What’s up?”
Will looked at him. “Juliet strikes again.”
“She sucks,” Grant said.
“Donnie told Carrie that Mama has to leave, so Carrie kicked him out.”
Grant nodded. “Good for you.”
“I’m staying,” Will told his co-stars. “What about you guys? Do you want to stay?”
Carrie smiled sadly when all but two agreed to stay at the inn. “He’s not going to like that.”
“Who the hell cares?” one of the actors grumbled.
“You get to tell him,” she informed them.
“With pleasure.” Grant herded everyone out.
When they were gone, Will closed the door and circled the desk as he opened his arms to her. She immediately rose and leaned into him, exhaling some of her anger as he wrapped his arms around her.
The stress Will had been feeling all day faded away when he walked into the kitchen and found Carrie and Natalie giggling as they stood at the island working on dinner. Seeing Carrie smile made him forget all his worries.
When she noticed him standing in the doorway, her smile widened. “He
y.”
“Hey,” he responded, a little less enthusiastically. Sitting next to Carrie, he kissed her on the lips, not caring that Natalie was right there to witness the interaction. “I hope your day was better than mine.”
Carrie frowned. “Donnie?”
“Of course.”
“What’d he do?”
Will shook his head as he scanned the contents of the countertop but didn’t really see them. He was trying to release the frustration that had been building all day. The last thing he wanted was to add to Carrie’s problems with his own. “He was an ass all day to everyone who didn’t walk out of here with him.”
“I’m sorry.”
“I’m not. I’d much rather be here. Trust me.” He looked across the island, finally acknowledging Natalie. “Hi.”
She scrunched up her nose and grinned. “You two are so freaking adorable. I can’t stand it.”
“Shut up,” Carrie said.
“Seriously,” Natalie continued. “Adorable. I’m going to sideline that mother-in-law of yours so she doesn’t catch the two of you together.”
When they were alone, Carrie leaned toward Will, giving him another gentle kiss. “So it was bad, huh?”
“Oh,” he said, snagging a carrot slice off the counter, “he threw his weight around all day, as if he had any to throw. I already made a few calls about it.”
“To?”
“Let’s just say that Donnie will find it hard to get some people to work with him in the future.”
Leaning back, she widened her eyes. “Holy shit. You’re the Godfather of Hollywood.”
Will laughed. “If I were the Godfather, he’d be waking up in the morning with Juliet’s head on the pillow next to him.”
Her laughter filled his soul as she took his hand. “Thank you.”
“For what?”
“For standing up for me. It means a lot that you’d stay here despite what he wanted.”
Cupping her face, he held her gaze. “I’ll always stand up for you.”
“That’s good to know.” She sighed and looked into his eyes as she leaned closer. As her lips neared his, the sound of approaching footsteps caused her to stop. Before whomever was headed their way could enter the room, she stood and headed for the stove. The door swung open and a small group of her remaining guests barged in, asking if Carrie had any champagne. They wanted to toast her for finally ridding them of Juliet Ramirez.
She didn’t need more prodding than that. Within minutes, she was setting flutes on the counter as Grant popped the cork. The atmosphere in the kitchen was so much more relaxed than it had been their entire visit that Will couldn’t help but join in toasting Carrie. Of course, she insisted she didn’t deserve the accolade, but she did appreciate the thought.
With the casual air in the room, Will nearly forgot his relationship with Carrie was a secret. He’d started to reach for her at least twice, catching himself both times, but he also caught a suspicious look on Grant’s face. Anyone in the house would have to be blind to not have picked up on the change in Carrie and Will’s relationship, but it was important to Carrie that they keep things quiet.
Honestly, it was important to Will too. He didn’t want the chaos of his life to touch hers more than it had already. The sense that he needed to protect her grew even stronger.
Chapter 15
Will walked into the kitchen the next evening and smiled at the glasses of wine sitting on the counter. “How did you know?”
Carrie glanced up as she finished capping the bottle. “I’m a mind reader.”
“Oh, that could be dangerous.”
“Could be.”
“How did Mama’s doctor appointment go?”
Carrie sighed and shook her head. “I started a fire.” She eyed him. “Would you like to sit with me and unwind?”
Will put his arm around her shoulder to guide her to the back patio. “This is my favorite part of the day. Just so you know.”
Easing into one of the chairs sitting around the fire pit, he brushed his thumb over her hand. “I think Grant is on to us. He was watching us last night.”
She sipped her wine. “I noticed that too.”
“He gave me a few curious looks today too. I’ll talk to him.”
After a few seconds, she sighed. “Won’t that confirm what he suspects?”
“Maybe.”
“So maybe you shouldn’t. Let him think it, but unless he says something, assume it’s only a suspicion.”
He looked at her, wishing the light were better so he could read her eyes more clearly. “I don’t think he’s the type to spread gossip, but I can’t say for sure.”
Carrie frowned and looked into the fire. “I’m more concerned about Juliet or Donnie than I am about Grant. We’re on both of their shit lists, and something tells me that won’t end well.”
“They won’t come after you,” Will said softly. “I’ll make sure of that.”
She smiled slightly and glanced at him. “Are you sure you’re not the Godfather?”
He laughed softly. “Even if I was, I wouldn’t admit it.”
When she looked into his eyes, his heart rolled over in his chest. Her smile faded, but then she looked away.
“You turned away again,” he said.
“You were looking at me like that again,” she responded lightly.
“Like what?”
“You know what.” She grinned, staring into the fire.
Will thought that was ironic, considering the slight curve of her lips set his insides on fire. “Come with me,” he said.
Carrie chuckled when he stood and pulled her up. “I know where this is going.”
“Do you?” he asked.
“Mm-hmm. You’re about to take me into the shadows.”
Will’s smile widened. “Why would I do that?”
Carrie feigned innocence. “I have no idea.”
When they were hidden in the darkness, Will turned and pulled her against him. Before she could say anything, his mouth was on hers and his stomach flipped over and knotted, a feeling that was becoming increasingly familiar. She wrapped her arms around him, clinging to him as he held her close.
After several moments of passionate kissing, he needed to breathe. Pulling back, he licked her kiss off his lips as she rolled her head back and gasped for air. Will took the opportunity to move his mouth to her neck and then lower, trailing the neckline of her shirt and coming dangerously close to her breasts. She breathed his name as he worked his way up the other side, eventually finding her lips again.
He moved his hand under her shirt to caress her lower back. He wanted nothing more than to feel the warmth of her body. She indulged in his kiss for another minute before leaning back and meeting his gaze. The look in her eyes, even in the darkness of the shadows, let him know that she was thinking the same thing.
They stood in silence, panting to catch their breaths, while Carrie seemed to be holding an internal debate. Oh, this could be so dangerous, he realized. But it felt so damn good.
“Stay here,” she said, stepping away from him.
He gripped her hand. “Where are you going?”
“Just…stay.”
She left him standing there with his body in knots. He felt like a teenager sneaking around so his parents didn’t catch him. He’d laugh at the assessment if he hadn’t realized that added an unexpected element of excitement to their relationship.
After what felt like hours, Carrie reappeared with a flashlight and a blanket. “Come with me.”
He took the flashlight from her as the previously recognized excitement amped up a few notches. “You sure?”
Instead of answering, Carrie took his hand and started toward the path they’d traveled so many times already. He thought they’d been down it so many times that they probably didn’t even need the light.
When they were out of sight of the house, Carrie stopped. “I don’t want to get too far from the house. Mama might need me.”
He looked around at the overgrown grass and bushes. “Right…here?”
She smirked in the light of the half-moon. “Unless you’re afraid of the dark.”
Will enveloped her in his arms and kissed her deeply. After a moment, he took the blanket from her, walked several feet from the path, and spread it out. “Are there snakes out here?” he asked.
“Maybe.”
He glanced around. “What about raccoons or…fifty-pound rats?”
Carrie laughed as she eased down on the blanket. “I’ll protect you.”
“Even from a fifty-pound rat?”
Holding her hand out, she gestured for him to come to her. “They are far more afraid of us than we are of them.”
“That’s what they always say.” He lowered his body over hers. “And then somebody gets dragged off into the brush.”
Carrie touched her fingertips to his cheek. “You’re thinking of serial killers. Serial killers drag you off into the brush. Fifty-pound rodents eat the evidence.”
He sighed as she pushed his shirt up. “Oh, you don’t have serial killers in Iowa?” He dipped his head down and captured her neck.
“I don’t think so. But just in case…” She pushed him onto his back and straddled his thighs. “You should probably shut up and have sex with me while you still have a chance.”
“I love it when you talk dirty.”
Carrie’s laugh rang out as he pulled her down to him.
“That is some smile,” Mama commented when Carrie walked into the kitchen to help with breakfast.
“It’s a beautiful morning.” Swooping around the island, she kissed Doreen’s cheek as she stole a piece of freshly sliced apple.
“Have you looked outside? It looks like rain.”
Carrie turned and looked out at the dark clouds. “The world would be a dry, dreary place without rain, Mama.”
The older woman chuckled. “I guess that’s one way of looking at it. That, or you had a very good night.”