Rescuing Samantha

by Nicole Flockton

  A fissure of desire rippled through her as she remembered the way she’d brought Beck to the brink with her tongue and lips, only to have the tables turned on her. She hadn’t even tried to keep her screams of pleasure quiet.

  She was a grown ass woman, she didn’t have to hide her sex life from her sister. No doubt Rayne and Ghost were partaking in the same activity. She’d seen the way the both of them had practically devoured each other when Ghost swept her off to bed.

  “Okay, places everyone. Let’s do this one more time before we take a break.” Pascal’s voice boomed around the set and Sam took her place. The lure of a break ensured she’d give it everything she had.

  Forty minutes and two takes later, Sam collapsed on the couch in her dressing room. She’d done everything Pascal wanted and the only reason they’d had to do two takes was because someone had dropped something and the loud crash had made her jump along with her co-star. At the time she’d laughed it off, but on the inside, her heart was racing and she’d looked over to where Beck should’ve been sitting, only to find his chair was empty. He’d returned a few moments later and nodded his head discretely and she’d breathed a little easier.

  “Safe to come in?” Beck’s voice was muffled as he knocked at the door.

  She chuckled at the question, considering what he’d seen and done to her the past two nights, the question was a little unnecessary, then again, they were supposed to be maintaining a friends relationship on set so it would make sense for him ask it. Hauling herself off the couch she padded over to the door and opened it. “Always safe for you to come in.”

  He smiled big and it brightened up his whole face. Her heart caught in her throat. God, she could get used to seeing that every day. Without thought or care she launched herself into his arms and zeroed in on his lips. Beck’s arms tightened around her waist and she sunk into the kiss. All day she’d been wanting to do this. Feed the connection between them. It was like she couldn’t exist without it anymore. Didn’t want to exist without it. The depth of feeling she had for him could only mean one thing – she was in love with Cane ‘Beck’ Beckwith and it was the best feeling in the world.

  She pulled her lips away from his and rested her head on his shoulder. Her eyes drifted shut as he rubbed small circles over her back. It took everything in her to swallow down the words of love. The last thing she wanted to do was freak the guy out. Plus she had no idea if he felt the same way. He cared about her, there was no doubt about it. The way he touched her, looked out for her, made sure her pleasure was reached before his, spoke of a person who cared.

  “How long is your break?” he murmured, as if he didn’t want to speak loud and break the spell that had fallen over them.

  “I’m not sure. Pascal said he’d send someone to come and get me.” As much as she wanted to stay in Beck’s arms she needed to change and she’d probably need to go back to make-up. Resting her face on Beck’s shirt would no doubt leave smudges. Taking a step back she giggled at the brown and pink streaks from her foundation and blush enhanced the black of his shirt. She hoped he had another one somewhere otherwise everyone would know something was going on between them.

  “What are you laughing at?”

  Sam pointed to his chest. “There’s no hiding the fact that I smushed my face against you.”

  Beck looked down and chuckled as well. “I’ve got another shirt in the car.”

  “Always the boy scout.”

  “No ma’am, once a SEAL always a SEAL. I always have a backup plan.” He winked. “Let me go get it and then I’ll see if I can get us something to eat.”

  “Sounds good.”

  Another knock sounded at the door and Beck walked over to open it. Sam peered around his bulk blocking the doorway and spied Leigh, Pascal’s wife. “Hi, Leigh, everything okay?”

  The other woman pushed past Beck, his eyes narrowing at the action. Sam held her breath, hoping against hope that he wasn’t going to make a fuss about the other woman’s actions. She was the director’s wife, as much as her actions might annoy him, Leigh could do what she wanted.

  “Hello Samantha, everything is great. I hear your sister is visiting. That must be wonderful for you.”

  Sam had mentioned to the girls in makeup and hair that Rayne had surprised her, so it shouldn’t be shock that that piece of gossip had made its way to Leigh’s ears. “Yeah, she is. It’s been good to see her.”

  “Then you’ll be so happy to hear that I talked to Pascal and he said it’s fine for you to miss the rest of the day’s filming to go shopping with your sister. I’m going to take you both on an adventure.”

  Shock held Sam to the spot where she stood. Pascal had given her the rest of the day off? It didn’t seem like something he would do. Then again his wife had asked, so maybe that was the difference. She glanced over to Beck who still stood by the door, his arms crossed over his chest. He looked immovable but also ready to spring into action a moment’s notice. Sam also noticed another guy dressed all in black just outside the door. Looked like Leigh had her own security detail as well.

  “Well that’s fantastic. I know Rayne wanted to go shopping. She was supposed to be going today. Let me call her and find out where she is. Maybe we can meet her somewhere.”

  “Excellent. But I have a better idea, why don’t you call while we’re on our way. You know what traffic is like.”

  Leigh’s insistence seemed a little off to Sam, but perhaps the other woman was just excited about a shopping expedition. She certainly had the reputation of having the best of everything. “Umm sure, okay.”

  “Do you want me to check with Rayne?” Beck asked. There was something in his tone Sam hadn’t heard before. Like he was suspicious of Leigh’s motives. Which she supposed was his job, but the thought of shopping was beginning to excite her, not to mention spending time with her sister. That appealed a lot to her.

  “No it’s fine.” Sam turned back to Leigh and smiled. “Let me change out of these clothes and take my makeup off. How about I meet you in the parking lot in fifteen minutes.”

  Leigh looked between her and Beck again, speculation rife in her gaze. What did it matter if Leigh thought something was going on between her and Beck? It was true and besides, how many other hook-ups occurred on film sets? At least the both of them were single and it wasn’t like their relationship was going to end a marriage.

  In the end, Leigh shrugged. “Sure, I’ll see you by my car. And don’t worry, as I said, Pascal knows so you don’t need to check with him, in case you were thinking of doing that. Oh and if you’re worried about Sam’s safety, Beck, you needn’t be. My security detail will be with us the whole time.” She breezed out of the room, closing the door behind her.

  “I don’t trust her.” Beck said immediately.

  “She comes on strong, I’ll give you that. But she’s not had the best of lives according to the profiles I’ve read about her. Grew up poor in a small Mexican town. Made it big as a model and then met and married Pascal. He does indulge her so it’s not a huge surprise that she sweet talked him into giving me the day off. Besides she showed me support after the Miles incident and offered if I ever wanted to go shopping, she’d go with me.”

  “I still don’t like it. I should go with you. After what’s been happening, I don’t feel comfortable letting you go without me.”

  Sam walked to where Beck stood, wrapped her arms around his neck and pressed a kiss to his lips. “Look I understand that, but I’m tired of living in fear. I just want to feel normal. Plus you heard Leigh, she said her security guys would be with us. She’s a former world famous model and Pascal’s wife. He wouldn’t let her go anywhere alone. I’ll be fine. I promise. If I feel uncomfortable or worried at all, I’ll call or text you.”

  “But they’re not me. They’ll be focused on Leigh. If I go with you and Rayne, I can keep you both safe.”

  “I know but I saw one of Leigh’s guard’s outside, he looked as intimidating as you and Ghost.” She brushed her h
and against his cheek. “Please Beck, I know it goes against your natural need to protect me by letting me go without you. But for a few hours I’d just like to be a normal girl going shopping.”

  “Just this once.” Beck tightened his hold on her hips and captured her mouth again. His kiss was possessive and shivers of awareness rippled down her spine. As much as she wanted to spend time with Rayne, the thought of spending the afternoon wrapped around this man was highly appealing.

  She groaned and pulled away from him. “Don’t tempt me to blow off the shopping trip. Now go find Ghost and have drinks or shoot guns with him. I’m sure he’ll be happy that we’re going to save him from a day of walking around the stores of LA and Beverly Hills.”

  “I suppose you have a point about Leigh having security. Just be careful and if anything seems off, contact me. Always watch your back.”

  “I will and I’m sure Rayne will be getting the same lecture from Ghost when I call her.” She touched her hand to his cheek, his worry for her filling her heart. “Thank you for caring.”

  Beck grasped her hand against his cheek and brought it to his lips. “Always. And Sam?”

  “Yes.”

  “We have to talk, tonight, okay?”

  “Okay,” she whispered. Her heart pitter patted in her chest at his request. He looked so serious and she hoped against hope he wasn’t about to let her down gently. Break things off before they’d started. But what was there really to break off? They’d spent two nights in each other’s arms. Maybe he was wanting to take things further. She could spend all day speculating. She’d find out soon enough and if, at the end of the day, she’d be nursing a broken heart then she’d pick herself up and continue on.

  It was what she always did.

  She was a survivor.

  “This is really so nice of you to take us shopping, Mrs. Hernandez.” Rayne said as she sat beside Sam in the back of Leigh’s limousine. Sam loved being able to have one on one time with Rayne. When she’d called her sister, Rayne and Ghost hadn’t been too far from the studio. Ghost had agreed to keep Billy and had waved them off when she and Leigh arrived to pick up Rayne.

  “Oh please, Rayne, call me, Leigh. We’re all friends here.”

  “Okay then, Leigh. I’m glad to be going with someone who knows the fine art of shopping and won’t grumble if I take too long. I love my husband with my whole heart, but going from store to store isn’t his favorite past time.”

  Leigh laughed. “Pascal is the same. He’s more than happy to let me go off by myself. What about Beck, Samantha. Does he like to shop?”

  She and Rayne shared a look. Shit, perhaps she and Beck hadn’t been as discreet on set as they thought they’d been. Leigh had been on set a handful of times. Sam may have thought she didn’t care, but if the truth did come out she wasn’t sure how comfortable she’d be, not when it was so new. However, this was a question she could answer honestly. “I’m not sure, it’s nothing we’ve ever talked about. I’d say he’d be like most guys and rather not shop.”

  “Well they’re missing out aren’t they?” Leigh commented.

  Both she and Rayne made sounds of her agreement. Leigh’s smile seemed as if it was permanently affixed. Clearly she’d had Botox, because her face was unmarked with laugh lines and her forehead was as smooth as Billy’s cute baby bottom.

  “Where are we headed?” Sam asked. They’d been in the car for a while now. And they’d been moving the whole time, no stops or starts to suggest they were caught in any traffic snarls. Sam hadn’t noticed any other security guards, other than the one she’d seen outside her dressing room when Leigh had arrived. That guard was now driving the car. Perhaps they were that good at blending into the background.

  “Oh, somewhere special. Not many know about these exclusive shops. You’re going to love it.”

  “Not sure my bank account will,” Rayne murmured under her breath and Sam bit her lip to stop herself from laughing out loud. Yeah, Sam was pretty sure her bank account wouldn’t like the price tags if the stores were as exclusive as Leigh suggested they were.

  The car jolted to the right and Sam fell into Rayne. It then jolted to the left. They bounced up and down as if they were travelling down a dirt road. What type of shops were so exclusive they were down a dirt road?

  Apprehension filled her and Beck’s words of mistrust from earlier penetrated her mind. God, why had she told him she’d be fine? Another thought hit her—it couldn’t be could it? Could Leigh be the one who’d been threatening her all along? But that made no sense, she’d never met her until she started on this film. This was no shopping trip that they were going on.

  Needing contact with her sister, Sam reached over and took Rayne’s hand. A quick look at Rayne and she saw the happiness from checking out the stores of Beverly Hills wiped away and concern now lined her features.

  “Where are we going, Leigh?” Sam demanded, injecting steel into her voice. “And don’t give me a bullshit story of going to exclusive stores. The type of store you shop in aren’t at the end of a dirt road.”

  As if a mask had been ripped off, Leigh’s smile turned from serene to scornful. Her eyes were full of hatred. “Well there’s going to be shopping, just not the type you’re used to. Although,” her gaze swept over what she and Rayne were wearing. “I can’t say you both shop with any sense of style.”

  The car halted and Sam reached for the door, ready to open it and pull Rayne out. A click sounded around the car and Rayne gasped out loud, squeezing Sam’s hand tightly. “I wouldn’t do that if I were you.”

  Sam looked up and was confronted with the sight of Leigh holding a gun, pointed directly at Rayne’s head, confirming her earlier thought. Adrenaline pumped through her, but she tamped down the need to make a run for it.

  “It’s you, isn’t it? You’re the one who’s been threatening me,” Sam declared.

  “Give the girl a medal. I’d clap at your smarts, but my hands are kind of full.” Leigh waved the weapon around and Sam cringed hoping against hope the crazed woman wouldn’t pull the trigger.

  “Why are you after me? What have I ever done to you? I’ve only just met you.”

  “Oh sweetie, it’s not you I’m after. It’s her,” she spat shooting venomous sparks at Rayne.

  What the hell? That made no sense. Sam had no idea how Leigh even knew Rayne. Her sister certainly hadn’t indicated that she knew the former model in any way, shape, or form. But in the end, Leigh’s motive didn’t matter. No way would Sam let Leigh lay a hand on Rayne, not after all her sister went through in Egypt. For months and months Sam had done everything to keep Rayne safe and now what had she done? She’d led her sister right into danger. Sure she may not have known Leigh was her stalker, but hadn’t Beck warned her that something seemed off?

  Well, she would do whatever it took to keep her sister safe, if that meant she’d die, well than that’s what would happen.

  Nothing was going to happen to Rayne on her watch.

  Beck drained his glass and scratched the back of his neck, for the fifth time. Agitation filled him, something was up, he just knew it. Whenever he was on a mission, if the guys saw him acting this way they paid attention.

  Abruptly he stood and his seat crashed to the ground. At the same time his phone rang. Scooping it up connected the call.

  “Beck, speaking.”

  “Where the hell are you and Samantha? I expected you guys back on set two hours ago.” Pascal yelled down the line.

  Beck’s anxiety ratcheted up a notch. Because of how loud Pascal had spoken, Ghost was standing next to him too.

  “Sam is with your wife, Pascal. She told us that you okayed it for Sam to have the rest of the day off.” Damn, he should’ve insisted that he go with Sam or at least follow her. Why the hell hadn’t he listened to his gut?

  “Why the fuck would I do that? I haven’t seen Leigh all day. We’re on a sch—”

  “Pascal, I don’t know what the fuck is going on but I was with Sam when your wif
e came in and said she was taking Sam and Rayne shopping. That you were okay with it and Sam didn’t have to check with you.”

  In the background he was aware of Ghost talking on his phone, while he grabbed up his son from the highchair. What Beck needed to do was get back to set. He also needed to contact Ox and find out if Irish had any idea of what was going on as well. Irish had been on set, Beck had caught a glimpse of him before he’d left to meet up with Ghost.

  Fuck, this was where he wished he had his team at his back. Were the guys even in town? He’d love to be able to plan with them. Because there was no doubt they were on a rescue mission.

  Leigh Hernandez was Sam’s stalker and he’d let her walk away with the woman. Fuck, why hadn’t he insisted on following them? If anything happened to Sam or Rayne he’d never forgive himself.

  “There’s no way I would’ve told Leigh that it was okay to take the star of my film away from set at a crucial point in shooting,” Pascal huffed.

  “Don’t leave, I’m on my way to you.” Beck disconnected the call. He reached into his pocket, grabbed his wallet and extracted enough bills to pay for his and Ghost’s drinks and food.

  “What the fuck is going on, Beck?” Ghost demanded as they strode out of the diner.

  “Leigh’s taken Sam and Rayne. Pascal knew nothing about the shopping trip and he didn’t give Sam the afternoon off from filming.”

  Ghost cursed again and they picked up their pace to get where Beck had parked. While they walked Beck rang Alliez’s offices.

  “Cass, I need to speak to Ox now,” Beck said the second she answered the phone.

  “He’s not here. But I need to tell you something.”

  “It’ll have to wait. I need you to get in touch with Irish, Sam and her sister have been taken by Pascal’s wife.”

  “Shit, that’s what I was about to tell you. One of the leads I was following up paid off and I’ve got a picture of Leigh coming out of a store holding the doll that was sent to Sam. In light of that I tracked down the courier company and got confirmation that payment came from one of Leigh’s cards. She slipped up and we got her.”