Mending The Billionaire Movie Star (MacLachlan Brothers Romance Book 1)

by Bree Livingston

  Amber stuck her lip out. “Aww, that’s too bad.”

  “Penelope, what happened?” asked Jeanie. “I mean, I know you haven’t wanted to be here, but I thought things were turning around?”

  “Me too. And then they kept turning. The one-eighty was a three-sixty.”

  Before she could get to the door, Barb walked in. “Penelope? Why are you packed?”

  “Because I’m leaving.” Without another word, Penelope stomped to the door, opened it, and slammed it behind her.

  “Angus, what on earth happened?” Barb asked. “I’ve been gone all day and haven’t seen any of the scenes filmed today.”

  He palmed his forehead with one hand while he rested the other on his hip. “Clara. That’s what happened. It never changes.”

  “Hold on, sweetheart. Let me go talk to Penelope.”

  “It’s done, and so am I. I can’t…I just can’t.” He slowly walked to his room and slipped inside. Penelope wasn’t the only one finished.

  Whatever he thought he’d found was broken before he’d even had a chance to figure it out. But that was his life with Clara. She was the black plague. Getting mixed up with her was the worst decision of his life. If retiring freed him of her, maybe it was worth it. Maybe then he could have a chance to be happy.

  Chapter 29

  The door to the lodge opened, and Penelope looked over her shoulder. Why couldn’t they just let her be? She was done. What didn’t they get about that? She didn’t even slow her pace.

  “I’m finished. I quit. I’m done. There’s nothing else to talk about. Just leave me alone.”

  “What happened?” Barb asked as she caught up to her. “I know you’ve had your issues with the show, but would you please explain what’s brought this about?”

  Penelope stopped and glared at Barb. “The gig is up. I know all of it’s an act.”

  Barb’s eyebrows furrowed. “What’s an act? Who told you that?”

  Penelope shook her head. Man, they were hanging on like a dog with a raw steak. “Angus’s girlfriend, Clara. You know, the one who broke his poor whittle heart? She and Amber informed me that all of this is a show and all of you are actors. I want you to get me whoever is in charge and send me home now. I’m done with all of this.”

  Barb swore under breath. “I’m in charge. Clara is not his girlfriend, and I’m not an actor. I’m the producer, and I’m the one who came up with the idea and convinced Angus to do the show.”

  Crossing her arms over her chest, Penelope lifted an eyebrow. “Isn’t that convenient. Why should I believe you? Is that Clara woman in charge? If she is, I want her to send me home. I’m not playing this game anymore.”

  “If I was an actor, do you think I’d be standing here with not a camera in sight?”

  Penelope jerked her head around, letting her gaze sweep the lawn. She was right. There were no cameras. She’d been so mad that she hadn’t paid any attention. “That doesn’t mean you aren’t an actor.”

  Barb took her by the arms. “Sweetheart, there are no cameras because I’m the boss. They do what I tell them to do.”

  “But…”

  “Clara is a liar. Why would you be so quick to believe her?”

  Penelope opened and closed her mouth a few times. Why? It was a good question. She shrugged. “I don’t know. She looked confident and important and…” Because she expected to get hurt. She’d been expecting it, and she’d taken the first opportunity to close herself down again.

  “Well, she’s not.” Barb’s hands dropped to her side. “That woman broke Angus’s heart. Today he told her there was never going to be another chance for them to get back together. She’s had Angus on a yo-yo longer than is humane. When he rejected her earlier today, she decided to use you to get back at him.”

  For a moment, she stood in stunned silence. Once her brain caught up, she asked, “So, you are the producer? You aren’t an actor?”

  Barb chuckled. “No, darling. I’m good at a lot of things, but acting isn’t one of them.”

  “And Zora, Amber, and Jeanie?”

  “Women Angus picked because he had zero interest in them. I know he told you this show was to help revive his career, but I’m the one who talked him into doing it. Begrudgingly, I might add, because he had no desire to be in a relationship when the show ended.”

  Penelope’s head spun. “But Amber said she was an actor.” And Penelope believed her so easily.

  “I bet she did. She tried to kiss him while they were on their date, and he rebuffed her. And I can prove it.” Barb put the phone to her ear. “Jeff, send me that footage of Angus and Amber…Yes, that one. Now.”

  A ding went off, and Barb lifted her phone, tapping the screen as she stood shoulder to shoulder with Penelope. There was Amber, sitting on Angus’s lap. When Amber leaned in, he took her hands and put distance between them.

  Barb turned to Penelope. “I assure you, Clara and Amber both lied. They’re jealous because Angus is spending time with you.”

  Penelope palmed her forehead where a headache throbbed. Tears stung her eyes. “This is all too much. All this backbiting and drama.”

  “If you want, I’ll show you the entire day of Amber and Angus together. Amber is being petty because she was rejected.”

  “No, I…I’ve seen enough. I believe you. I don’t know why I was so willing to believe them.”

  Barb chuckled. “I do. You’re afraid.”

  Penelope had no decent comeback, and she couldn’t refute it. Fear didn’t begin to touch on what she was feeling. One night. One kiss. And she was a blubbering idiot. It made no sense to be so caught up in someone she barely knew.

  But then, it was Angus. Just thinking about him turned her into jelly. And she’d kissed him. Which is why she’d avoided coming out of her room until she was sure Angus was on his date. Life wasn’t supposed to be this complicated. At least, not her life. She’d worked to make it simple, and now it was a jumble of chaos and confusing feelings.

  Then there was Amber. How was she supposed to live in a house with that woman when she was being cruel? “And Amber?”

  Barb shook her head. “I’m really sorry. I wish I could send her packing, but I’m afraid she’ll need to stay. And I hate to tell you this, but it would be best if Angus didn’t know Amber was involved. If he found out, he would boot her in a heartbeat. Unfortunately, the drama and catfighting keep people watching. The more invested they are in Angus, the better it is for him.”

  Penelope grimaced. It was going to make living in the house a nightmare, but she felt like she owed Angus after the way she’d treated him. “Okay, I guess I can handle that.”

  “I’m sorry you are at the receiving end of all that drama. Just don’t let it get to you. Do me a favor. Let them think they got one over on you. I want to see their faces when they realize they didn’t.” Barb’s eyes twinkled.

  Penelope shook her head. “I don’t like to lie.”

  Barb rolled her eyes. “Admirable, but I’m not asking you to lie. Just…avoid them. It will all work out in the end.”

  She dried her eyes and sniffed. “Okay.”

  “I want you to walk back in the house looking like someone kicked your poodle. Slam your bedroom door and scream something.” Barb winked.

  Penelope smiled and nodded. She slowly walked to the steps and let her gaze drift up to the door. It loomed before her much like the guilt building in her chest. She’d said horrible things to Angus. How was she ever going to make it right? He’d been telling the truth, and if she was being honest, she’d known it. Shutting him out was just easier than trusting him.

  With a deep breath, she stormed up the steps, through the door, and straight to her room. As she slammed the door, she yelled, “I hate this show!”

  She walked to her bed and sat down hard, dropping her head into her hands. What were the chances Angus would forgive her? He’d poured his heart out to her. On camera, no less. He’d gone first, and this was how she repaid him. Throwing it back
in his face and storming out. All the while, knowing deep down that she’d only been looking out for herself.

  Maybe Angus wasn’t the only one acting this whole time.

  Chapter 30

  The sun was dipping just below the horizon, but Angus didn’t need a lot of light to enjoy the quiet comfort of the waves. He could understand now why Penelope liked it so much.

  Before he saw her coming, he felt her. His first instinct was to run, but he’d been the victim of Clara’s games before, so he knew firsthand how easy it was to believe her.

  He had no idea what Penelope had been through, but if it had been anything close to what he had, it was no wonder she’d reacted like she did. It didn’t make it sting any less, but the understanding helped dull the bite.

  She sat beside him. “Your agent is a piece of work,” she said, keeping her face pointed in the direction of the ocean.

  He nodded. “Aye. That she is. At least she’s gone home now.”

  She cast her gaze to the sand. “And I believed her until Barb set me straight.” He barely heard her above the waves.

  “I know.”

  By the look on her face, she was in turmoil. “I can’t tell you how sorry I am. I’m so sorry,” she said, lifting her head and locking gazes with him.

  “For what?”

  “I believed the worst about you. I thought you had used me.” She continued to hold his gaze.

  It would have been easy to make that leap, based on what she knew of him. “I understand. All of this started as a lie. I can’t say I wouldn’t have felt the same way.”

  She covered his hand with hers. “No, Angus. You told me things that were private, from the heart, and I threw them back in your face. I was horrible to you, and you didn’t deserve that. What I did to you was wretched and awful.” Her voice caught as she pulled her hand away and cast her gaze back to the sand. “I’m sorry. I truly am.”

  He’d been so hurt when he plopped down in the sand. First by Clara, and then Penelope. He was crushed that he’d trusted her enough to bare his heart and she’d flung knife after knife. But here she was, tearfully apologizing. Satan would have been wearing snow boots before Clara ever did that.

  Angus took her hand in his and threaded his fingers through hers. “I won’t say your words didn’t cut or that I wasn’t hurt, but you had every reason to believe her. You called me out the second you met me. You knew what all this was. You had no reason to believe me. But I swear to you, I will never lie to you, Penelope.”

  “I think that’s what’s making this so hard. Deep down, I knew you were telling the truth, and I was still awful.” She lifted her gaze to his, and tears clouded her eyes. “I’ve been accusing you of all sorts of sins while living in a glass house and throwing rocks out of knee-jerk reactions.”

  Angus shook his head. “I should’ve known Clara would do something. It was my fault for not warning you. Every time I get even a wee bit close to happy, she comes in like toxic gas and kills it. I don’t know why I didn’t see it coming, but I think I’m still waiting for her to change.”

  That’s what it was. That’s why he’d started the show wanting nothing to do with a relationship. He’d been holding out hope for Clara, a small lingering vestige of love for her because he was desperate for scraps. The emotion of the revelation came on so suddenly that he felt blindsided. He took a deep, shuddering breath and let it out slowly.

  “Are you okay?”

  “Aye, I am,” he said, touching her cheek and brushing his thumb across her lips. “Thank you.”

  She knitted her eyebrows together. “For what?”

  “You didn’t let me get away with going through the motions. You fought me. Made me take a hard look at who I am and what I want. I don’t want leftovers anymore. I want all of it, and if I can’t have that, I don’t want anything.” His hand left her cheek as he slid his arms around her and pulled her flush against him. He put his mouth to her ear and whispered, “Thank you.”

  Slowly, she wrapped her arms around him. “The people who really care about you will want what’s best for you, not what’s easiest. They’ll fight you, Angus.”

  “I’m slowly coming to realize that.” He released her and turned to face the waves again. “I’m looking forward to having a day with you.”

  “Right.”

  He smiled. “I’m serious. I’ve been looking forward to it. I enjoy your company.”

  Heartbeats passed before she sighed and said, “I’ve been mean and hateful to you. I’ve got this monster in my past, and it keeps crawling from under my bed and attacking.”

  “You also kissed me.” He glanced at her sideways and bumped her shoulder.

  Penelope huffed. “You aren’t going to let that go, are you?”

  “Naw, and I wouldn’t be opposed to another.” Not at all. He’d enjoyed that kiss, and he’d been hoping for more. Maybe he should have said that was the way she could make all this up to him. Naw, if she kissed him, he wanted it to be pure and unobligated. He wanted her, free of anything.

  “You’re not nearly as funny as you think you are.”

  Angus grunted a laugh. “I am too.”

  Penelope shook her head, but her laugh was light and authentic. She quieted, and the silence lingered until it was uncomfortable. “I was crushed when they told me it was a lie. I didn’t want to be, but I was. It mixed with the old memories, and I don’t understand how or why. I haven’t known you long enough to react like that.”

  “Well, get to know me.” He lay back and stretched out on the sand with his arms behind his head. “It’s cliché, but I’m an open book.” Only to her.

  Penelope twisted in the sand and looked at him, her eyebrows knitted together. “You had to know you couldn’t fall in love and get married in such a short time.”

  “Why are you so insistent on putting a time frame on falling in love?”

  She scoffed. “Because it takes time to grow and become something more than infatuation.”

  “The way I see it, when you live with someone twenty-four seven for twelve weeks, that’s equivalent to at least eighty-four dates. Most dates are…what? Three or four hours?”

  “Do you really think you can get to know Zora or Jeanie or Amber well enough that you’ll be able to propose by the end of this show, though?”

  She couldn’t be serious. Angus snapped into a sitting position, making sure he was as close to her as he could be. “I have no desire to get to know them, much less propose. I’m continuing to play along because I told Barb I would, but as far as I’m concerned, the only person I want to get to know is you.”

  Her lips parted as her breath caught.

  Angus held her gaze. “You’re going to ask me questions now. I’m going to give you the most honest answers I have, and at the end of the night, I’m going to kiss you. If you have a problem with that, you should go ahead and leave.”

  For a moment, she stared at him, wide-eyed as her gaze dipped to his lips. “What’s your favorite thing in the world to do?”

  He smiled. That was what he was hoping for. “Other than acting, playing with my dogs.”

  “Who was the first celebrity you met, and what did you do?”

  “Stone Gallagher, and I babbled like an idiot.” He chuckled as the memory flooded back.

  With each question, she relaxed more, softening against him. “Are you glad you chose acting as a profession?”

  Had she sensed his conflict over that? It was a question he’d been asking himself more and more over the last year. “I’ve actually been thinking about that. I’m not as certain now as I used to be.”

  “Why?”

  Angus shrugged. “I’ve been miserable. I love acting, but being surrounded by people that I know want to use me up and spit me out has left me empty and alone.”

  She held his gaze as she brushed her fingertips across his cheek and threaded her fingers through his hair. “I’m sorry.” She pulled her hand away and cleared her throat. “What’s your favorite type of
music?”

  Angus wished she wouldn’t stop touching him, but seeing her open up was plenty reward for him. “I don’t really have a favorite. I have songs I like. I like the old crooners, Dean Martin and the like. Some eighties music. A few pop songs.”

  “I like eighties. That’s my favorite. I like Dean Martin too. Love seemed…less complicated back then.”

  “I agree.”

  The hours passed as they talked. She’d dig her toes in the sand when she’d ask a question that seemed too personal, and then she’d veer in a direction that took the conversation to a lighter subject. With each question, he learned just as much about her as she learned about him—family, home, children—heart-penetrating questions. By the time she was finished, he felt as though he’d regained some of who he was before he started acting. Or Clara.

  Instead of kissing her like he said he would, he waited. The way she looked at him, the gentleness he felt coming from her, made him want nothing more than to kiss her. It was the intimacy of the conversation too. Someone genuinely interested in the things that held meaning to him. With each question and answer, the more tied to her he became. He’d wanted this. An exchange of experiences, longing, needs, beliefs, and wants. Something that went beyond just the surface and into the deepest part of what made him who he was. And he wanted the person he shared it with to give it back in return.

  He didn’t just want her. The chase was fun, but he wanted substance. If nothing else, this show had taught him that beyond anything, he wanted depth and a feeling of home. And he needed her to meet him at least halfway—for now. So he decided to let her take the lead, hoping she’d kiss him. As he waited in silence, the air between them seemed to electrify.

  During their talk, they’d drifted closer. At some point, he’d pulled her legs over his lap and put his arms around her. He had no idea how long they’d been wrapped together like that. He liked that too. It felt natural and easy to get lost holding her.