Everett and Douglas both patted their stomachs in appreciation. “No one can beat your roast, Aunty Liz.” Douglas grinned.
Mum smiled widely, loving the compliments and attention. She’d been in her element today with everyone around. She already adored Caroline, and I could tell she’d decided she would like to add her as a daughter, as well. Given how close Caroline and Douglas were, it didn’t seem too far of a stretch. It appeared we Wright men might be slow to find the person we loved, but once we did, we wasted no time at all. After the first few days here, Caroline gave up any pretense of staying with us, all of her things ending up at Douglas’s place. She had been such a good friend to Shelby and me while Shelby was in the hospital. I was thrilled for Douglas, whom I had never seen looking happier.
“Dessert anyone? Shelby and I made cupcakes.”
I groaned, having eaten too much to have any—even Shelby’s cupcakes. Luckily, everyone else agreed, so we decided to postpone it for a while.
Everett stood, holding out his hand for Cassidy to join him. “Why don’t we go talk, Liam?”
I nodded stiffly. I knew what he wanted to talk about. Mum spoke up. “Ye all go in the other room and I’ll tidy up. I’ll join ye in a bit, and ye can give me the highlights.”
Caroline stood, picking up some dishes. “I’ll stay here, too.”
I wrapped my arm around Shelby, and we went into the den, sitting and making ourselves comfortable.
“Okay,” Everett began, looking at Shelby. “First thing. Malcolm. We met with him.”
Shelby stiffened beside me. I hadn’t gone with Everett—he and Samuels were worried I wouldn’t be able to control my temper if I saw him in person, plus the fact that I didn’t want to leave Shelby for any length of time. I couldn’t stand to be away from her right now.
“I saw him yesterday with Samuels and Geo. His girlfriend dumped him a while back, and he’s alone now. All your money is gone, Shelby. He’s blown everything he took, and he hadn’t been paid in full by the rag yet. He spent what they paid in advance. I doubt he’ll see any other money since we have more than enough proof how inaccurate the story was. Add Liam’s suit against the rag and they are probably looking at bankruptcy, so his gravy train is gone.” He shook his head in disgust. “God, I hate that asshole.”
“My divorce?”
“Will happen fast.” Everett cracked his knuckles. “Trust me.” For the first time, I noticed some faint marks on his hand, and I raised my eyebrows at him in a silent question. I had a feeling Everett had “helped” Malcolm reach his decision. Everett met my eyes with a quick, almost unseen nod. I was surprised at how glad I was to know one of us got to him—I wasn’t usually violent, but that asshole deserved it. I’d make sure to find out all the details later, but right now, Shelby remained blissfully unaware of our silent exchange.
“I don’t care about the money. There wasn’t that much to begin with, I suppose. I just want to be rid of him.”
“Samuels had the papers drawn up. Malcolm signed. It’s a matter of rubber-stamping now. The rest of the charges, his lawyer can figure out.” Everett assured her. “Good luck with his public defender. He’s looking at a nice long stint in jail—years. We weren’t the only ones looking for him. Good thing his greed overpowered his brain. He should never have come out of hiding so publicly.”
“So, it will be over soon? I’ll be…free?”
Everett reached over and took her hand. “Yes. Free to move ahead with your life with Liam. Malcolm will be rotting away in prison for a long time, which is where he should be.”
Shelby breathed a small sigh of relief. I pulled her closer and kissed the top of her head.
“Good. The wanker deserves it,” I muttered. “I hope his cellmate likes him. A lot.”
Everett and Douglas chuckled, before Everett turned serious again.
“The paps.”
I waved at Everett. “We’ll discuss that later.” I knew charges had been brought against the two who caused harm to Shelby and Ryan. The rest was an uphill battle. There were fewer of them hanging around outside, but I was smart enough to know they were lying low and I would never get rid of them entirely. No matter how many charges were laid, how many rags went under, there was always a new one that would open up. There would always be a demand for that shot—that scoop. Sadly, it was the nature of the business. But anytime I could slow them down, cause them grief, I was all for it.
And when they hurt those I loved—it was gloves off.
But right now, I didn’t want to discuss it in front of Shelby. Talking about it made her headaches worse, and she had been having a good day. Not a single headache and she was able to talk without hesitation.
He nodded in understanding.
“Features has asked for their interview. They have one other request,” he said slowly, exchanging glances with Cassidy.
“What?”
“They would like Shelby to join you.”
The words were out of my mouth instantly. “Not bloody likely.”
Shelby squeezed my knee, her voice calm. “Why, Ev?”
“They would like to hear from both of you. They want to talk to you as a couple. About being a couple. They are also willing to use the pap angle and how it affects your life.”
I shook my head. “No. They get me,” I snarled. “That was the deal.”
But Shelby shocked me. “I’ll do it.”
I gaped at her. “What?”
“As long as you’re there, I’ll do it.” Her gaze was imploring. “It affects me a lot, Liam. I think I can offer a different perspective here.” She gave me a pointed look. “Plus, they were the ones who identified the paps who hurt me. I want to give something back to them.”
“Shelby—”
“Please.”
“Shelby is right,” Douglas interjected. “She would be a good addition. You can speak together.” I glared at him, then saw Everett and Cassidy nodding in agreement.
I huffed, knowing when I was outnumbered. “Fine. But not until she’s stronger.” I frowned at her, almost daring her to argue with me, but she nodded in agreement.
“I’ll set it up and explain the ground rules,” Cassidy assured me. “I’ll be there to run interference if needed and so will Everett.”
“Okay. Next?”
“The studio wants you back.”
I knew that was coming, but still, I groaned. I wasn’t ready to leave Shelby yet.
“I’m fine.” She assured me. “Your mum is here. Caroline is close.”
“You only have three weeks to go, Liam. David has been great working around your understandable absence, but you’re needed to finish,” Everett urged me. “You need to complete this movie. It’s all being shot here, so you’ll be home every night. Then you have a couple of weeks of promos for Nighthawk. After that, I’ve cleared your schedule for the next month. I even got them to have Megan and Seth handle the out of country promotion for Nighthawk. You only have to make appearances here and in New York.” He grinned. “By then, Shelby will be up to going with you, if you want. You’ll have a bunch of interviews and two red carpet appearances.”
I felt Shelby tense beside me. This incident had left her with her own fear of crowds now. Everett noticed and hastened to assure her. “I’ll be right beside you. No one is going to get to you with me there.”
She relaxed. “Okay. Good.”
“All right,” I agreed. “I’ll go back next week.”
“Great.”
“No more projects for a bit, right?”
“Nope. You’re done for a while until you find something you want to do. I’ve got some scripts at the office for you to look over.”
Beside me, Douglas cleared his throat and handed me a thick script he took from his messenger bag. “I’ve got something as well. I want you to look at this, Liam.”
“What is it?”
“My next movie—something I’ve been working on for a couple years. I’m excited about it—so excited, in fact,
that I’m putting my own money into it. I want to control this one. You’d be perfect for the lead.”
“You never said anything.”
“No. I’ve been keeping this close to my chest. I found the book in a used bookstore—not exactly a best seller—but it blew me away. I tracked down the author and bought the rights. She was amazing, and I even had her help write the screenplay. She also thought you were perfect for the part.” He winked. “She looks forward to meeting you.”
I frowned as I looked at the script. It was huge. “When?”
“Spring, maybe early summer. And I’m filming back home. It’s going to be massive. I’m thinking about a four-month shoot, minimum. My team is scouting locales now.”
“England?”
“And Scotland.” He grinned. “Aunt Liz’s cottage is gonna be one of the locations I use. It’s perfect. It’s a historical piece. Read it. It’s a great script.” He leaned back. “Epic, if you ask me.”
I thought about the cottage we used to go to when I was younger. Right by the water, in a small village—there were a lot of great memories there for me. The cottage was over one hundred years old and had been in my mum’s family the whole time. It would make a great backdrop for a historical film. Beside me, Shelby was flipping through the pages, pausing occasionally.
Four months. Four months away from here, back home where things were less intrusive—especially off the beaten path. I could even add on some extra time at the end and take Shelby to all the places I knew she wanted to see. Show off where I was born, let her see where I grew up, and meet more of my family and friends back home. Make it a vacation for us.
Shelby moved closer, her eyes gleaming with mischief as she pointed to a page in the script. “There’re dukes,” she murmured. “Swords.”
“Liam would be playing a Scottish lord. A laird,” Douglas offered with a wink.
Her smile grew wider. “A kilt, Liam. You’d have to wear a kilt.”
Everett and Douglas chuckled at the glee in her voice.
I nudged her with my elbow. “Like that idea, do you, Beaker?”
Her cheeks colored slightly, even as she shot me a cheeky wink. “As long as you wear it…properly, Oscar.”
I started to laugh, pulling her against me. “Fancy a trip across the pond then, lass?”
Her eyes were bright with excitement. “I’d love that!” She tapped the page and mouthed “kilt,” at me again.
I kissed her before turning back to Douglas. “I’ll read it.”
SHELBY
A Month Later
Movement caught my eye, and I looked over, smiling at Liam. Lowering my book to my lap, I watched him sleep. He had one arm tucked under his head, the other lying across his bare stomach, his fingers twitching as he slumbered. He slept more peacefully these days, with me beside him—his days of dragon-slaying rare, but tonight he was more active than normal. Leaning over, I caressed the hair falling over his forehead, pushing it back and grinning when it fell right back into disarray across his face. He needed a haircut again but refused to have it done until I could do it. He was looking a little shaggy but steadfastly declined.
I gave the air cast on my arm a glare. It had felt like heaven when they cut off the heavier, plaster one and replaced it with this much lighter alternative, but I was still anxious for this one to be gone, too. I was allowed to remove it to bathe, but that was about it. I had to wear it for another week or so, then I was done.
I looked at the clock with a grimace. It was well past one o’clock, and yet I still couldn’t sleep. I didn’t want to admit to Liam how nervous I was about the interview in the morning. If he thought it was bothering me in any way, he would cancel. Even with him beside me and Everett not far away, the whole idea of talking to a stranger about myself, my ex-husband, and my relationship with Liam seemed bizarre. Never having been one for gossip of any kind, the idea that people were curious about me seemed odd. But I’d agreed to do it, and now I simply wanted it done. Liam was finished filming, and he still had a few days before his publicity appearances. I was flying to New York with him, and while part of me was excited to go somewhere I had never been before, the larger part of me dreaded the public part. I wasn’t sure if I would ever be comfortable again in a crowd.
Liam’s fingers twitched again, and I frowned. He’d been rather quiet tonight, almost nervous, tugging on his hair often, muttering to himself, and now his sleep was restless. Maybe he was also feeling anxious. Knowing how much it relaxed him, I moved closer and ran my fingers through his hair, smiling as he sighed quietly in his sleep, a small smile of contentment on his face. I loved how much my touch soothed him. How I soothed him.
My fingers slipped through his soft hair as I gazed at him, still slightly amazed I was here, beside Liam Wright. I had fallen in love with him hard and fast, struggling for months to be the one thing I thought I could be to him—his friend, never thinking he could possibly love me back. Surrounded by so many people who only wanted to use him and take from him, he trusted few people, and I was determined to be one of them. To those who really knew him, he had a naturally warm and open nature and a need he kept hidden from the rest of the world. His panic attacks were crippling, and when I realized my presence helped him, I fell in love with him even more. His need for me only fueled my feelings, and when he had confessed to loving me, it seemed almost too good to be true. I was scared of the what-ifs—what if it didn’t work out, what if he decided I was too old for him, what if… There had been many, but he made me realize they were my fears only—not his, and that he did, indeed, love me. And as with everything else in his life, when Liam did something, he did it with his entire being. His love was all-encompassing, reaching out and surrounding every aspect of our life.
He had changed a great deal in the past few months, starting subtly before we finally admitted our feelings and coming into his own when I was injured. He had slowly grown into himself and found his hidden strength. When I’d been hurt, he’d blown everyone away with his take-charge attitude and the way he had cared for everyone around him, especially those who were used to caring for him. He said he grew up; I felt he simply recognized he could, that he’d had the strength all along but only now had finally grasped it. He hadn’t stopped since then, taking over more of his own decision-making and finding a deeper focus when working. Always professional, his co-actors noticed a quieter depth to his work. The producer he just finished working with had nothing but good things to say regarding what he brought to the role, especially after returning to the set.
I looked over at the large script sitting on the nightstand. Douglas was right—Liam was perfect for the role. A strong, intense, historical character, with the backdrop of the rugged coasts of England and Scotland, the movie was aggressive in its reach. Liam was at the exact right place in his life to do justice to the character. I knew he’d be brilliant. He was thrilled at the prospect of working with Douglas as well as filming back at home. The script was covered in notes Liam scribbled as he read it repeatedly. He was so convinced of the success of the movie, he was partnering with Douglas on the making of it—neither of them wanted the influence of a studio clouding their vision. Rumors were already swirling about the Wright boys and their giant venture, due to the vast scope of this project. It was the first time since I met Liam that I had seen him this excited about a role. I was thrilled to watch him as he and Douglas sat and planned. I was going for the whole shoot; Liam refused to consider anything else, saying he wouldn’t be able to be apart from me for any length of time. He had already rented a large house for us. Douglas had one nearby as well. Caroline had some commitments but would be joining us whenever she could. Liz was beyond excited “her lads” would be close for such a long period of time and had many things arranged already for all of us.
Ryan and Lesley were going to be staying at the house. Liam had exercise equipment installed, and the guesthouse was being remodeled to suit Ryan’s needs. Liam would have the peace of mind knowing the h
ouse and Thor would be looked after, and Ryan had a purpose to keep going while recuperating, until Liam returned. Ryan had made huge strides already, and I knew Liam and Everett had plans for him once this project was over. Liam’s generosity knew no bounds when it came to Ryan.
My gaze drifted back, and I was surprised to see Liam’s green eyes watching me intently.
“All right there, Beaker?” he asked quietly.
I felt bad I had woken him.
“Should I stop?” I asked, indicating my fingers that were still pulling through his hair. “You seemed a little restless.”
“No. I like it.” He pulled my hand down, kissing the inside of my wrist. “I like it when you touch me.” Then he frowned. “Why aren’t you asleep? Are you really okay?”
“I was reading and lost track of time.”
“You ready to sleep now?”
I knew I wasn’t, and lying there beside him, trying not to toss and turn wouldn’t work. “Soon. Will the light bother you?”
“No.”
I sat back and lifted my book, adjusting my glasses. I tried to lose myself in the words, but I found myself reading the same passage over and over. My eyes drifted over to Liam, only to see him staring back at me.
“You’re supposed to be sleeping.”
“I like looking at you.”
I tilted my head. “Are you okay, Liam? You seemed…distracted tonight.”
He tugged on his hair again, and I grabbed his hand, pulling it free. “Stop that, Oscar. You’ll be bald soon and lose all your appeal to the masses. Then what will you do? Be a judge on the X Factor?”
I gasped as I suddenly found myself underneath a grinning, teasing Liam. “Would I still appeal to you, Shelby?” he growled.
Giggling, I buried my hand in his thick hair. “You would. But then I couldn’t do this.” It was his turn to gasp as I pulled him down, our mouths fusing together. Our tongues met, sweeping and sweet as we kissed intensely. He moaned low in his chest as he pressed me deeply into the mattress, his body hard and unyielding against mine, and I reveled in his closeness. It had taken days after I came home from the hospital for him to touch me with anything but the sweetest of caresses. It was only after I almost lost it on him that he was able to make love to me without worrying he would hurt me. The last few days, he had been more like his usual self, but this was the first time I’d felt his control slide away and his passion fully unfurl as he lay on top of me, his lips demanding, his body surging against me. His cloth-covered erection was trapped between us, and in one swift movement, he lifted my leg over his arm, grinding his hardness into me. I moaned out his name as I bucked against him, wanting, needing, more of him.
Changing Roles Page 24
