by Maggie Mundy
EVERNIGHT PUBLISHING ®
www.evernightpublishing.com
Copyright© 2017 Maggie Mundy
ISBN: 978-1-77339-464-0
Cover Artist: Jay Aheer
Editor: Audrey Bobak
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
WARNING: The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. No part of this book may be used or reproduced electronically or in print without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in reviews.
This is a work of fiction. All names, characters, and places are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
DEDICATION
For my husband Alan, and my daughters Jenny and Rachel who are my greatest fans.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the people who have made this book possible with their help, support, and encouragement. A while ago the concept for The Dark Storm series came to me, and I knew I had to tell the stories of the stars on the show and the people who they fall in love with.
Extra thanks go to my husband, Alan, and daughters, Jenny and Rachel. They never doubted I could do this even when I did. Thanks also to my critique partner, Delwyn Jenkins, who has been one of my greatest supporters, and has always been generous in sharing her time and knowledge. I also want to thank my number one fan, Suzanne Terry for her support and encouragement, and the odd nag to write more books. I would also like to thank Susan Berger for her information about the movie business in America. It was fantastic to have an actor to help me out with the acting industry.
I would like to express thanks to all members of The South Australian Romance Authors and The Romance Writers of Australia for the support and encouragement. These groups make the dream of publication possible for so many.
I acknowledge the support from my fellow Evernight Publishing authors who share their knowledge and expertise. They are truly a wonderful group that I am proud to be a part of.
Special thanks go to my editor Audrey Bobak whose patience and understanding during the editing process was outstanding. I would also like to thank Jay Aheer for her fantastic cover.
Last but not least, I would like to thank all the people at Evernight who bring their excellence and expertise in the area of publishing.
FANTASIZE
Dark Storm, 2
Maggie Mundy
Copyright © 2017
Chapter One
Gemma wanted to pinch herself. She was part of an award-winning show. Perhaps now her family would believe this was what she wanted to do with her life. No, her mother would never give up on her moving back to New York City. Mom’s ultimate dream was to arrange a big Italian wedding. Some things she’d needed to accept, no matter what she wanted. It didn’t matter though. Tonight was about celebrating.
Colin, the director of Dark Storm, had booked out the whole of Deltoro’s restaurant, and most of the cast and crew were here. She was determined to enjoy the night, even if Brandon, the assistant producer, was hovering. She didn’t know what it was about him, but he gave her the creeps. Sometimes a fan could get a bit weird but usually backed off. Damn, it was difficult dealing with a co-worker.
She’d used Declan to keep him at bay before. Last season she flirted with Declan on set. He had never been interested in her, but she played on the fact they had gotten drunk together once. Nothing had happened. She needed to apologize to her co-star for her behavior. Declan and Cassi were happy and it made her believe she might be content one day too.
Gemma made her way across the restaurant, sat down next to Cassi, and picked up a glass of champagne. There was something amazing about Cassi. She had a way of making her relax, plus Declan couldn’t keep the smile off his face when his lady was around. Well, this was a time as good as any to clear the air.
“Declan, can I have a word with you?”
He pulled a funny face at her as if he’d already had too much to drink and wouldn’t remember what she said.
“Oh, no. This sounds serious. What did I do?”
“You didn’t do anything. It was me. I’ve been meaning to say sorry for being an absolute pain in the ass in the past. I had someone pestering me and thought if he believed we were an item, he would back off.”
Declan laughed. “Oh, don’t go all nice on me, Gemma. I won’t be able to call you the spoiled brat from NYC anymore.”
“Are things okay now?” Cassi asked as she reached across and touched Gemma’s arm.
Cassi should’ve been mad at her for pretending to go after Declan, but instead was full of concern. It was a pity Gemma’s own family never bothered to ask how she felt. That wasn’t true. Dad always worried.
“I think he got the message. Sometimes in this business people think they own a bit of you. I need to grow a backbone and tell him to back off. Anyway, let’s celebrate. I don’t want it to spoil tonight.”
The food was fantastic, and Gemma knew her Italian food. The pizzas and gelato were to die for. She would be pounds heavier by tomorrow. Three champagnes later, Gemma needed some fresh air. At five-foot-three and tiny, the booze always went straight to her head. The paparazzi were still out the front, so that wasn’t an option. She headed down the corridor to the ladies’ restroom. Maybe she could splash her face and try not to mess up her makeup too much. Her back shivered. Someone stood behind her. She turned and Brandon almost bumped into her. What the fuck? Why does he have to creep up on me like that?
One of the cameramen from the show walked past on his way back from the men’s bathroom and winked at Brandon. Did other people on the show think her interested in this pest? The thought turned her stomach. It wasn’t that Brandon was bad-looking. He was in his thirties, tall, fair-haired, and of an average build. The sort of guy one would pass and not really notice on the street. It was his demeanor that caused her throat to dry up. As if he was always about to reach out and stroke her.
He freaked her out whenever he got close. She thought he would get the hint when she said no initially, but he kept persisting. He had backed off when he thought Declan was interested, but now she was out on her own again. He obviously presumed she was fair game. Damn, she needed to come up with something fast.
“You’re a hard woman to get alone, Gemma,” he said as he ran his hand up and down her arm. Goosebumps came up on her skin.
Gemma moved his hand away. “Perhaps it’s because I want to be on my own.”
“Come on. Declan has Cassi now. You need a man like me around. I can help you in the business and the bedroom.”
“What I need is to go to the ladies’ room.” Gemma didn’t wait for him to say anything else, but turned and slammed the restroom door in his face. She’d been pestered by people over the years, but Brandon was worse. He used his position of power as associate producer to get what he wanted. She was doing well for the first time in ages and he had the ability to screw things up for her.
Once inside the restroom, she leaned against the cool tiled wall. Her hands became clammy. Damn him, for making her feel like this. Some men were a pain and could be even more bothersome in L.A. than in New York. She washed her hands and splashed her face. She needed to go back out but couldn’t deal with Brandon right now. One of the waitresses came in. When the young woman came out of the stall, she washed her hands, peeked across at Gemma, and smiled.
“Hi,” Gemma said.
“I know we’re not meant to pester you. But I love when your character beats some guy’s ass. Makes me think I could tell some of the dudes I know to take a hike.”
Gemma wished it was true in real life. “Thanks. I really appreciate that right now. One of the guys here is annoying me. Is there another way to get bac
k to restaurant other than this corridor?”
“Yep, sure. Just turn left out of the bathrooms and then second left again. It takes you through the back of the cloakroom to the front desk. I can tell him you weren’t here if you want.”
“No, that’s okay. I’ll pay you back sometime.”
“That’s okay. Us kickass women need to stick together. Maybe I could be an extra on the show sometime.”
“Here’s my card. Send your résumé to me and I’ll pass it on.”
The waitress hugged her and left. Gemma took a deep breath. The hell with Brandon. She’d get back to Cassi and the others, and he could get lost. She would be the kickass woman she acted as on set. Gemma peered out the door and sure enough, Brandon stood at the end of the corridor. Thank goodness he was chatting to someone. Gemma made a run for it.
Damn it. She couldn’t remember if it was the first or second door. She needed to go before Brandon saw her. Too late.
“Gemma,” Brandon called out. She didn’t bother to glance back, but pushed on the handle of the door and ran forward. The door slammed behind her. In the dark, her eyes took a moment to adjust. The noises of the restaurant were replaced with cars driving by and an ambulance in the distance. This wasn’t the cloakroom, but the alleyway at the back of the restaurant. She tried to grab onto the rail at the top of the steps as the heel snapped on her shoe. The world altered as she toppled forward. She never hit the ground, as someone caught her in their arms.
Chapter Two
Mitch had a tip from one of his fellow paparazzi. “Go to one of your regular haunts for some great pictures and remember you owe me.” Deltoro’s restaurant always catered to the rich and famous, and tonight would be no different. The actors from Dark Storm were celebrating winning some award. He hoped it would mean money for him. He needed it.
Mitch probably could have gotten inside the restaurant. After all, he knew one of the actors. Declan Reed was a good guy. Mitch didn’t want to call in the favor yet. When Declan and Cassi were having trouble, he made sure the other paparazzi stayed away from her. He told them fake information of where she would be. It hadn’t always worked.
The bouncer at Deltoro’s wouldn’t let Mitch or any of the other paps in though. Mitch was well built, over six-feet tall, and could hold his own, but Rodrigo, the bouncer on the front door, was built like a Sumo wrestler. He merely wore more clothes than a Sumo guy’s white linen G-string. The fact both of them were Hispanic didn’t help Mitch’s case. In fact, Rodrigo seemed to single out him even more. As if Mitch showed him up. In Rodrigo’s opinion, paparazzi shouldn’t be Hispanic, and he should get himself a real job. Mitch didn’t want to think about it. He needed to get pictures and pay bills.
If Mitch got lucky, he might get a photo of the rich and famous behaving badly. If not, then a boring photo would get him some money. Beggars couldn’t be choosers. Mitch stood out front and snapped away on his camera along with the other photographers. A well-known model and her elderly husband walked in. Mitch, along with his coworkers, knew the rumors about her cheating on the old guy. Her new fling had the body but no money. She would stay where the cash was. He saw a couple of other paparazzi and nodded. All of them worked alongside each other but were competitors after the same shot. Most would stab him in the back or steal his camera to get the shot if they could.
Mitch kept to himself as much as possible. He didn’t want to be a drinking buddy with these guys. There was the odd lady pap, but they needed to be even more ruthless than the guys to survive in the game. He needed the money, but some of the guys would sell naked pictures of their grandma if it made them a buck. Surprise, surprise. Mitch still had some morals left. He kept fooling himself it was okay to take these photos to add to his income. He convinced himself almost, because it was for a good cause.
What a crock of shit. He intruded into the lives of these people and then sold it on. “Two wrongs don’t make a right,” his Nan used to say. Mitch didn’t have much choice and would have to ignore her advice for now. At least Nan would’ve been pleased his sister. Lili was making something of her life. He might be twenty-eight and Nan gone ten years, but he still missed the old battle axe. She’d made up for their parents who never showed any parental responsibility, which even led to their own death. He’d never mourned them. He couldn’t mourn what he never had.
Mitch left the other guys out the front and made his way around the back of the restaurant. He would try to sneak in through the kitchen when the garbage was brought out.
He stopped and stared around. As alleys went, it was clean and not very wide. Mitch skirted around the rubbish bins down one side. The bins didn’t stink, so the restaurant must have them changed frequently. He might even eat here one day. If he could ever afford it, which would be never.
He remembered how he lay in garbage before to get a shot of someone. Rotting fish and putrid potatoes. To this day, he couldn’t work out which was worse. It took days to get rid of the smell. He hoped he didn’t have to do that tonight. He glanced around to get his bearings.
There was a wooden fence separating the restaurant from boutique next door. Steps came down from the back door, and the kitchen jutted out to the small lane that went down around the back to the staff car park. He was thankful no one was out having a cigarette break.
A slither of light came from the kitchen window and he could hear the chef yelling at staff inside. Mitch liked to cook, but he never understood why people put up with being treated like dirt by these chefs. He didn’t care how good their food was. Mitch had no right as a paparazzo to condemn anyone else for their behavior though. In L.A., some chefs were as famous as the movie stars they cooked for.
Mitch climbed the three steps and tried the door. It was locked from the inside, as expected. He had two choices, wait for someone to come out or join his coworkers out front again. He stood at the bottom of the kitchen steps for a few minutes, but the door stayed shut. This was wasting time when someone could be leaving out the front of the restaurant. The other paps would all have the same shots, and the pictures wouldn’t be worth much. He needed someone naked and dancing on the tables inside.
He was about to go back up the alleyway when the door opened. Yes. Now was his chance to get inside. Someone ran out onto the top step. The person was female, but he couldn’t make out her features with the light behind her. The woman glanced back and the glow from inside outlined her features. Shit, it was Gemma Cassini. Then the door slammed shut.
She tripped on the top step and fell forward. If he didn’t catch her, she would go head-first into the ground. Gemma yelped as he caught her and held her to his chest. He peered down the alleyway. Her shriek hadn’t attracted the other guys from the front of the restaurant. Her heel hung from her shoe where it had snapped off and her ripped skirt showed her left thigh. His heart thumped rapidly in his chest at the thought of holding her in his arms.
Gemma’s hand shook as she pulled the material back over her skin. He didn’t say anything. It would be foolish to deny he hadn’t been looking. She seemed distressed and didn’t need him leering at her right now.
Mitch didn’t want the others to see her like this either. Her whole body trembled as he held her close. When she peered up, he could see fear in her wide-eyed stare. For some reason, he didn’t think the fear was of him as she glanced back at the door.
“Mitch. Help me? I need to hide.”
She remembered his name. He met her once at an auction for the Women’s Refuge, but he didn’t think she would remember him. Cassi liked the work he’d done of the homeless and let him rub shoulders with some of the rich and famous for the night. He’d noticed Gemma before and thought she was the hottest woman he’d ever seen. He really didn’t think she’d remember a scum pap and know his name.
He glanced back at the street and knew the other paps would be waiting. The guys would be charging down now if they knew she was in his arms. The picture would probably make some of them up to ten grand. For once, he didn’
t care about the money. Mitch couldn’t do this to her. He was going fucking soft. Mitch scanned around. Where the hell did she think he could hide her, and more importantly, who was she hiding from? The narrow laneway between the restaurant and the boutique next door would be their only solution.
Mitch let her feet down to the ground. She couldn’t be more than five-four now he was standing next to her. Gemma pressed up close as if she was scared he would leave her alone. He’d never been there for anyone but his sister, and now he was giving up the photo opportunity of a lifetime to do so.
“Will you do what I say?”
She nodded and he hoped he wasn’t putting himself in a situation he was going to regret later. He took off his hooded leather jacket, put it around her shoulders, and pulled up the hood. It swamped her tiny frame, but it would hide her face. He grabbed her hand and she limped across the laneway with him as she hobbled on one heel.
“If whoever is after you comes out, they’ll think we’re a couple making out. You okay with that?”
She nodded again.
She had her back to the wall in the laneway and he used his body to shield her. The two of them made it just in time. The door to the back of the restaurant flew open again and a light shone across the alleyway. Mitch bent his head down to her neck. Dear God, she smelled good. He fought the urge to lick her neck. He needed to control himself so he wasn’t just some other guy bothering her.
“Gemma. Where are you? You can’t keep avoiding me. If I don’t get what I want, you’ll suffer,” the intruder shouted from across the alleyway.
Mitch’s anger rose as the person’s steps got closer to them. He had beaten people up in the past when he needed to protect himself. He certainly didn’t want Gemma to see that side of him. Gemma’s body trembled as he held her. He would make this prick pay for upsetting her.