by Alexa Aston
“How was your day working for Mr. Super Action Hunk? Is he rolling in the bucks? What did you do? Order tickets to Bali? Put up his twenty-foot Christmas tree? Sort a thousand pieces of his fan mail?”
Cassie sat on the edge of the bed. “Rhett’s really nice, Jo. The house is huge but not showy. It’s very tastefully decorated. He even took me out to lunch.”
Jolene sipped the coffee. “Somewhere good, I hope.”
“Actually, it was delicious Italian food. Very good but off the beaten path.”
“Ah, doesn’t want to be seen dining with the help.”
“No, nothing like that. If I’ve learned one thing about Rhett Corrigan, it’s that he cherishes privacy. He’s not the type to hang out at the coolest place in town. Especially if it’s crawling with paparazzi.”
Jolene finished off her coffee and set the mug down. “He’s okay as a boss? He treats you better than that creep Manny?”
Cassie smiled. “Better than okay. He gave me a Range Rover to drive. I have a credit card to do business with and a new cell phone. Also, he has a poker game once a week and I got to meet some famous people. One of them even knew you.”
Jolene’s mouth dropped. “Rhett Corrigan has a friend that knows me?”
“Zak Mercury. Said he’d caught your act before.”
Jolene threw the covers back. “Zak Mercury? We just saw him on Kimmel!”
“Zak said he’d like us to go see you perform sometime.”
Her roommate gave her a piercing look. “Us as in you and him us?”
Cassie blushed. “He asked me out but I told him no. I didn’t think it would be smart for me to date one of the boss’ poker buddies.”
Jolene grabbed Cassie’s shoulders and shook her. “Are you a fool? Zak Mercury is ultra hot. As in looks and career. He’s going places, Cass. Hitch on to his star and ride it with him to the moon."
Cassie shook her head. “No, he’s not for me. He’s nice but I’m not interested.”
Jolene got out of bed and looked her up and down. “You look ready. Come sit with me and talk. And by the way, I think you are totally insane. Bring Zak Mercury my way, Sister. I will become his life-long worshipper.”
Cassie followed Jolene into the tiny bathroom and sat on the commode. They’d been through this routine a hundred times. Jolene would brush her teeth, put on her makeup, and try to tame her hair while they talked. About guys, about work, about anything in the news. Jolene Farrell lived to talk. Sometimes, she’d even try out new bits on Cassie as she curled her lashes and spritzed on cologne.
“Who else was there? Besides Zak whom you’re not interested in Mercury.”
“Rhett’s trainer, Leo. A fireman named Chris who goes back twenty-five years knowing him. Darin Hart.”
Jolene’s mouth dropped. “Darin Hart. As in Darin just fuck me ‘cause I’m beautiful Darin Hart?”
“He’s even better looking in person. I didn’t think that was possible until Ken Cameron arrived. In person, the guy takes your breath away.”
“Ken Bedroom Eyes Cameron? Cassie, you’re living the high life. He’s one you better not turn down if he asks. Quit your job, girlfriend, if the Cameron Man comes calling. Schlepping around for Rhett Corrigan isn’t worth it if Dreamy Ken has a hankering for you.”
“Ken was pretty awesome looking. He’s very nice and pretty funny—even while talking about his wife.”
Jolene rolled her eyes. “Oh. Didn’t know Ken Doll was married. Too bad.”
Cassie continued. “The guy I like the most is Rhett’s best friend from kindergarten. His name’s Breck O’Dell. He’s a stuntman who lives with Rhett.”
Jolene put down her mascara wand. “Oh, no. My gaydar went off. Please, God, don’t let Rhett Corrigan be gay. American women couldn’t stand the heartbreak if the number one action man swings the other way.”
Cassie laughed. “It’s nothing like that. They’ve been friends for years and years. Rhett is very generous. Breck works on some of his movies but he also does his own thing. He showed me the ropes and is a lot of fun to be around. He’s Rhett’s entourage of one. You’d actually like him.”
“Is he male, honey? If so, I’d like him.” Jolene finished her last coat of mascara. “Sounds like you’ve picked a winner, Cass. He’s paying you a decent salary. So far, he seems nice. What more could a girl want?”
She shrugged. “Not much else. Especially after Manny. I should be home at a decent time tonight. You doing anything? Maybe we could go out and celebrate my new steady paycheck.”
What she really wanted to do was break down and tell Jolene all about Randi the Brat. Cassie knew Jolene would be up in arms the minute she heard about what the mean girl model had done to Cassie’s rental.
She couldn’t share it, though. She realized things would happen on the job that she could never tell Jolene. Her roommate was a notorious gossip. Cassie couldn’t spill any dirt about Randi since the world had no idea Rhett and Randi were seeing each other. It was one thing to tell Jolene about a poker party list. Totally different to reveal that Rhett was sleeping with an unstable maniac.
Jolene pushed her fingers through her hair and fluffed it a little. “I’m doing a set tonight at Bonkers. I go on at nine. If it goes well, I can have the ten-thirty slot, too. Wanna come?”
“Probably. I’ll let you know. I’ve got to go. Have a good day, Jolene.”
“You, too, sweetie.”
Cassie walked down the hall and found TJ sitting in the doorway to the kitchen.
“I fed you already.” She sighed. “You have the saddest eyes in the world, TJ. Okay, a few little treats and that’s it.”
Cassie shook the Pounce can just to watch TJ dance around. He did love his salmon snacks. She scratched the cat’s head and gave him a swift pat on the rump before grabbing her purse and keys and heading out to the parking lot.
She turned the corner, excited to be behind the wheel of the Range Rover again. What had started as nervousness driving the large vehicle changed by the time she arrived home last night. Cassie had never ridden in, much less driven, something so luxurious. The Rover turned on a dime and gave a really smooth ride. It would make commuting to Rhett’s house a pleasure.
Except it wasn’t there.
Cassie panicked at seeing the empty spot. She knew this was where she’d left the car last night. Frantically, she raced around the parking lot, avoiding broken glass and gum and grease spills.
It was gone. Someone had stolen it. Cars just didn’t drive themselves off. Why had she thought she could take something that nice home with her? She knew the part of town she lived in. Hell, she’d even joked with Rhett about it being stolen and now her words had come hauntingly true.
She dissolved in tears. Her dream job had just gone up in flames.
CHAPTER 9
Rhett gritted his teeth for the tenth time in the last ten minutes. At this rate, he’d grind down to his gums by noon. Maybe he’d start a new trend—an action star with dentures.
He glanced into his rearview mirror. His older sister, Suellen, sat in the back, her fiancé’s head in her lap. Franz slept like the dead as Suellen stroked his stringy, black hair. Rhett decided to take another stab at talking some sense into her before it was too late.
“Suellen?”
“Mmm?” She looked up and met his eyes in the mirror. “Another lecture, Rhett?”
“No. I only want you to think about what you’re doing. That’s all.”
“You don’t like Franz?” she asked defiantly.
Not one bit. But Rhett knew better than to voice that outright. Suellen had trouble listening to anyone who didn’t agree with her. She could turn stubborn as fast as any Corrigan.
“I don’t know Franz well enough to like him or not like him. I’m worried about your future, Sue.”
She giggled. That flaky giggle that made him think of her as an overgrown hippie who’d missed her calling in an era long ago.
“Rhett, you know me. I’m not much
of a planner. I try not to think too far ahead into the future. I’m a drifter. How many times did I try college?”
“Four—that I know of.”
Suellen shrugged. “I’ve painted ceramics and been a hair stylist and managed a sumo wrestler. None of that’s made me happy. Franz does make me happy.”
“He’s looking for a green card, Suellen. You’ve only known each other six weeks.”
“Two months.”
Rhett clenched again and then forced his jaw to relax. “Whatever. A person can’t make you happy, Sis. You have to be happy with yourself. Then a man can add to that happiness. Don’t you enjoy being a tattoo artist now?”
Suellen nodded. “Yeah. I’m good, Rhett. I wish you’d let me give you a little sample.”
He would have to be ready to go six feet under before any needle would ever pierce and burn his skin into permanent disfigurement. Especially one wielded by Suellen Corrigan.
“No. Not good for my movies, Sue. Too identifiable.”
She laughed. “Hey, they use makeup on Angelina Jolie all the time to cover up hers.” She grinned wickedly. “I could put it in a very private place.”
“Suellen!” Rhett took a deep breath. “All I’m saying is don’t rush into anything.”
“I’m thirty-two, Rhett. I haven’t rushed for at least thirty years. Don’t think I’ll start now.”
Rhett pulled up to the curb of her duplex. He turned and stared at her. She was as lovable as a teddy bear but very childlike. He didn’t need some slick Eurotrash like Franz Ruslan muscling in on his sister and making her his meal ticket to permanent residence in California.
“Live with the guy for a while,” he suggested. “Don’t slip a ring on. That’s serious stuff, Suellen. Besides, this situation could escalate. Public intoxication and a sloppy drunk today could lead to a mean, messy drunk tomorrow. I don’t want to see you hurt.”
“Okay,” she said grudgingly. “I’ll think about it.” She bent and ruffled Franz’s hair and kissed his cheek. “Wake up, sleepyhead. We’re home.”
Franz sat up, blinking a few times.
Rhett got out of the car and helped both of them exit. He glared at Franz. “No more bailing you out, Franz. This is twice I’ve played white knight. I won’t help again.”
“Okay,” Franz said agreeably. He leaned on Suellen as Rhett watched them stagger up the stairs to the front door.
“Call me later,” Rhett shouted before he got back into his car.
He watched to make sure Suellen got inside safely and then turned the ignition, tamping down his sour mood. Lack of sleep coupled with missing his morning workout made for a bad combination. He needed something to jump-start him, preferably something awful that would cause Leo to groan.
Rhett saw a convenience store and pulled in. He bought two Krispy Kreme donuts and a large regular coffee and took it back to the car. He downed the donuts in seconds and licked his fingers clean of sugar, wiping a hand on his faded jeans. Glancing in the mirror, he might have been a bad guy from one of his movies. His hair was matted, he had circles under his eyes, and dark stubble shadowed his face.
Rhett pulled out and decided he definitely fit the neighborhood. Suellen lived on the edge of what was becoming a rough part of town. Then it hit him. He was pretty near Cassie’s apartment. Curiosity led him to turn in her direction. He would simply drive by and see if it was as bad as Norman led him to believe.
Sure enough, rundown didn’t begin to describe her area, with dilapidated buildings and storefronts bearing iron bars. He decided to cruise through Cassie’s parking lot as he came to her corner and see if it got any better. It worried him where she lived.
As he turned right, Rhett saw Cassie standing in the parking lot, bawling her eyes out. One glance and he knew.
The Range Rover was gone.
Rhett parked his SUV and got out. As he walked toward Cassie, she took all her anger out over the car being gone on him.
“I can’t believe you’re checking up on me. Did you just happen to be in the neighborhood? Okay. Get it over with, Corrigan. Just fire my ass now.”
“Actually, I was in your neighborhood. A few blocks from here. With my sister.”
Her blue eyes flashed fire at him. “Right,” she said, sarcasm lacing her voice. “Well, you trusted me with your precious Range Rover, even though I warned you, and just like that—poof! It’s gone! So fire me and let me call the police and we’ll file whatever report needs to be filed, and then I’m out of your life. Permanently. Okay? Knocking two Corrigan cars out of your rotation in a week is my limit.”
She pulled out the cell Rhett gave her yesterday. “Is this emergency enough to call 911 or do I just dial the operator?” She frowned. “I don’t even know the license plate. Or what year it is. Or who your insurance company is. I hate this!”
Cassie dissolved into tears again. Rhett enfolded her in his arms as sobs racked her body.
“I will never, ever get ahead here. I’m moving back to Texas. Everyone will know I’m a failure at twenty-seven.”
“Shhh.” Rhett stroked her silky hair, trying to quieten her.
“I’ve tried. Lord knows, I’ve really tried. Nothing’s worked. Acting proved a huge disaster. They said I’m not tall enough. I’m fat. My boobs aren’t big enough. Plus, I wouldn’t sleep with any casting directors. I don’t do drugs. I don’t have enough talent. I don’t have any talent. Trying to go the talent agent route was even worse. I suck. Totally suck. At everything.”
Rhett glanced down at her. “You’re what, five-six? About one-thirty?”
Cassie sniffed. “Right on the nose. You’ve got a good eye, Corrigan. Must be all those cop roles you’ve played.”
“You’re plenty tall. And you’re not fat. Plus, you’ve got amazing calves.”
She looked slightly mollified. “I run a lot.” She shrugged out of his arms and put a little distance between them.
“Pardon my observation but your boobs look in proportion with the rest of you. Besides, sleeping with casting directors is vastly overrated. No matter what they say, it usually doesn’t lead to landing the role.”
Rhett sighed. “I know you’re talented enough to run Manny’s agency while he coked up. You’ve already got my household perking along after one day. I can’t wait for you to start reading scripts for me and running lines with me. I think you’ve got plenty of talent, Cassie Carroll. Don’t go back to Texas.
“Move in with me instead.”
She gasped. “What did you just say?”
“You live in a terrible neighborhood, Cassie. You know you’ll have to put some long hours and days in on the job. Wouldn’t it be easier if you were in Brentwood?”
Her face couldn’t hide how her mind whirled as she mulled over his offer. Her hesitation made him plunge ahead.
“I guarantee you would have your privacy. I have a gatehouse on the property, behind the cabana. It’s where Breck started out but he wound up moving into the big house with me. The gatehouse has two bedrooms, both really spacious, and it’s just a short walk to the main house.” He flashed the famous Corrigan grin, certain it would seal the deal. “You can’t beat a commute like that.”
It startled the hell out of him when those luscious lips of her spit out a very strong, “No.”
Rhett frowned at her. “Why not? Don’t tell me you’re attached to this place.”
“No. It’s Jolene. My roommate. I can’t leave her, Rhett. She waits tables, barely makes enough to get by, and hits the comedy clubs at night doing stand-up. I pay her share of the rent half the time and then juggle the rest of the bills. Without me, Jolene would starve. I can’t turn my back on her, no matter how generous an offer you make me.”
Rhett took a deep breath, admiring her loyalty to her roommate. “You’re saying it’s a package deal. Both or neither. Right?”
Cassie smiled through her tears. “I suppose you could say that. Plus, my cat. TJ. He’s the deal maker or breaker, I guess.”
“Then I suppose you two ladies and Mr. TJ will need a little time to get packed.”
◆◆◆
Hesitation flickered inside Cassie. Jo was a fiend of a gossip. Could her friend really keep to herself all that she saw at the Corrigan estate? Rhett’s generosity could solve so many problems. She was worn out pinching pennies and fighting to keep her head above water.
Cassie stuck out a hand and Rhett shook it. “You’ve got a deal, Corrigan.” She did a little jig. “I can’t wait to tell Jolene.”
“Tell me what?”
She turned and saw Jolene standing right beside her.
“Holy fuck! It’s him! Mr. Superstar!”
Cassie took her roommate’s arm. “Behave,” she hissed, under her breath. She turned back to Rhett. “Rhett, I’d like you to meet Jolene Farrell.”
Rhett’s wry smile caused Cassie to stifle a laugh.
“Pleased to meet you, Jolene. Cassie’s got a proposition for you.”
Jolene looked back to Cassie and then to Rhett again. “Cut the crap. What gives? You two are hiding something.”
Cassie’s fingers dug into Jolene’s arm, warning her. “Jo, we’re moving into Rhett’s gatehouse.”
“No shit!”
She flashed her friend a warning look. Jolene had the decency to look slightly apologetic. “Thank you, Mr. Corrigan. I don’t know how much more of Roach Motel we could’ve stood. That’s a terrific deal you’re offering.” She eyed him a moment. “What’s the rent?”
Cassie knew Rhett would say they could stay for free. He’d already revealed a generous nature but she didn’t want to take advantage of him. She still had some pride and refused to become a charity case. She caught his eyes before he answered.
“What are you paying now?” Rhett asked.
Jolene told him, shaving off twenty dollars. Cassie glared at her but Jolene looked as innocent as Snow White.
“I’m sure my accountant will agree to that,” Rhett told them. “Especially since no one’s been using the gatehouse for a while.”
