#1 Muse

by T Gephart

  “Pretty presumptuous aren’t you? Kissing me on the street, dismissing my ride home. What if I didn’t want to go with you?”

  He gave me a nonchalant shrug. “Then I guess I’d have to eat the cupcakes all on my own. Baked goods are only for passengers.”

  “You have cupcakes!” I looked around spying his silver coupe parked against the curb slightly up the road.

  “Well, I wasn’t going to show up with a bunch of flowers, how predictable would that be?” His arm snaked around my waist, his words hot in my ear. “Plus, with cupcakes, I get to lick the frosting off your lips, so I was really only thinking of myself. It’s best you know upfront how selfish I can be.”

  He wasn’t the only selfish one, I was pretty greedy myself and I had no other intention than getting into his car with or without the cupcakes.

  “I like you selfish, should we get into your car or should we flirt a little more on the street?”

  “Ooooooo, tough choice.” He looked as if he was giving it some serious thought. “Why don’t you get into my car and we can flirt in there. Then you can also tell me how the meeting went since I texted Jessica half an hour ago and she refused to answer me. You’d think with my brother dating her she’d have more loyalty to the family. Poor Dave, I’m going to have to insist they break up.”

  I laughed, tugging on his arm as we headed toward the car. “Okay, let’s get you home before you can do any more damage.”

  With more PDA than I was usually comfortable with, we walked to his car and hopped in. It was amazing how easy he made me forget, the idea that someone might have been watching us the furthest thing from my mind as he started the car and drove away.

  I told him about Jeremy and his plans to pitch it to a network. He was drawing up a contract for me to sign that I would hopefully have by the end of the week. Of course, that meant I also had to find a lawyer, there was no way I was signing anything without someone else going through it. The whole thing was surreal and slightly overwhelming, ironically the same way my life had become.

  “I have a lawyer I can recommend,” Nick suggested, his hand linked in mine as he drove.

  He didn’t need to tell me who he had in mind.

  There were five Larsson boys in his family, three actors, Eric, Dave and of course Nick—all of which I had met—and two in law, both of which I hadn’t. One was a certified badass who apparently made Jeremy look like a nice guy—Nick’s words not mine—and the youngest still in law school.

  “Hmm.” I tapped on my lip. “Are you suggesting your brother, Roman? Thanks, but I think I’ve had my fill for intimidation for one week.”

  He barked out a laugh. “Roman isn’t intimidating, he’s an arrogant pain in the ass, but he is a really good lawyer. Don’t tell him I said that, I’ll deny it.”

  As much as I would love to use Nick’s pain in the ass—I still bet he was intimidating—albeit awesome lawyer brother, I was already neck-deep in gratitude. There was also part of me that wanted to do it on my own, something I’d been doing for a long time, and didn’t want to feel like a damsel in distress.

  “Thanks, but a friend of Luke’s is a lawyer. I used him once before so it’s probably easier if I just give him a call.”

  If he was offended, he didn’t show it, shrugging it off as we arrived at my house. “But even though I’m not retaining his services, I’d still like to meet your brother though, and the rest of your family sometime.” Assuming they wanted to meet me. God, I hoped they liked me. Maybe we should hold off a little longer, introduce him to my family first. Yeah, that was a much better option. “And maybe we can go see mine in Colorado? My mom is going to come visit when Scully has her baby, so if we haven’t had a chance before then, at least I can prove I’m not an orphan.”

  His thumb brushed along my jaw as his eyes filled with sincerity. “I would love to go with you to Colorado to meet your family. We should make time before I start filming again.”

  Oh. God.

  I think I loved him.

  Not falling, but certifiably and genuinely in love with him.

  Him.

  Nick, the guy I’d met five years ago but had finally gotten a chance to know.

  Not a character from a television show, not a fantasy I’d built up in my head. But the man—perfectly full formed, with nothing I’d want to change.

  “Nick, I—”

  I hadn’t had the chance to finish the thought or the sentence when my front door opened and Scully came waddling down the stairs. She had some serious speed for someone who was growing a life form, prompting Nick and I to quickly get out of the car.

  “Slow down, you’re going to trip and fall.” I managed to grab her around the arm.

  Nick was on the other side, making sure she stayed upright. “Scully, I’m afraid I have to agree with Claire on this. I don’t think running down the stairs is a wise choice.”

  “You were supposed to bring her right home.” She pointed accusingly at Nick. “You are on my shit list.”

  “Babe, it was peak hour traffic in Los Angeles, we got here as soon as we could,” I tried to explain, the drive taking a little longer than expected. Not that I had noticed, just being with Nick and talking making it seem like the minutes had flown by.

  She waved her hands animatedly. “Psh, I don’t care about reasons, tell me what happened.”

  “Fine, but let’s go inside and talk like civilized people.” I gestured toward the door.

  “Okay, fine,” she agreed, glaring at Nick like he was somehow responsible.

  As Scully slowly climbed the stairs back up to the front door, he laughed leaning into me. “Something tells me this conversation is going to be a while. She looks mad.”

  He was right, but however long and drawn out Scully’s interrogation was going to be, it was still easier than deciding whether or not to tell Nick that I was in love with him.

  I smiled back, slipping my arm through his, hugging his body. “It’s okay, there are worse things in the world.”

  Like him not loving me back.

  “Either way, I’m going to get the cupcakes from the back seat.” He kissed the top of my head. “Today was huge, and we needed to celebrate.”

  The day had been huge in more ways than one.

  EVERY SINGLE TIME I WENT to say something, I chickened out.

  It wasn’t the right time.

  And why did it need to be said anyway, it wasn’t like not saying it would end our relationship. It wasn’t going to fall apart like Whoville if I didn’t make enough noise. Everything was great, and I wanted to keep it like that.

  Jeremy had given me a contract I could barely understand, so I gave it to Luke’s friend, Tyler. He practiced corporate law, spending more time in a boardroom than a courtroom, but could navigate the legalese like Jacques Cousteau. He wanted some of the verbiage tweaked, which the Levin Murphy lawyers readily accepted, so it was conceivable that very soon I could be holding an option for my screenplay.

  Okay, so maybe soon was optimistic, and with even a successful option there was no guarantee anything would see the light of day anyway. But I was happy, and happy people didn’t see things as impossible. Instead they saw endless possibilities, my career only being one part of it.

  The screenplay I’d started writing the first night in Nick’s house had also been finished. I hadn’t broached the subject of selling it yet, wanting to fine-tune it before anyone read it. But even in its rough first-draft form, it was probably the strongest piece of work I’d ever written.

  “That dress looks terrible.” Scully sat on the edge of my bed, thankfully not critiquing my wardrobe choice for the evening as she spoke on the phone. “The episode calls for a gown for a gala, she isn’t going to wear something she picked up at JC Penny.”

  Unlike whatever dress Scully was talking about, mine had been purchased from a boutique on Beverly. Not a single department store in sight.

  “You people are color blind, it isn’t candy apple red, it’s vermillio
n. And it doesn’t change that it looks like shit.” Scully huffed into the phone. “Okay, fine, then find someone else if you know better.”

  She tossed the phone onto my bed, her body collapsing with it and what looked like utter defeat.

  “Everything all right?”

  “No.” Her body curled up into a ball as a sob escaped her lips. “I’m pretty sure I just quit my job.”

  Scully had been determined to work until the day she went into labor. Luke and I had joked that the baby was probably going to be born in a trailer in a studio back lot because she hadn’t shown any signs of slowing down.

  “I wasn’t ready to go,” she sobbed into her pillow. “I’m not ready.”

  And if I thought her tears were for the job she may or may not have resigned from, then I wasn’t a very good friend.

  “Babe, it’s going to be fine.” I rubbed her back in tight circles. It was one of the few things I’d picked up from the birthing class before we made our hasty exit, never to return again. “They didn’t deserve you, and you should have told them to take a hike months ago.”

  The network had been passing her around like a whore at a gangbang, knowing at some point she would need to leave and not wanting her committed to any one show. I highly doubted she would miss erratic schedules and rotating crews. What she was going to miss—and what she wasn’t ready for—was the perceived loss of herself.

  Something she’d worked hard for—her career—was going to have to take a backseat. And while there wasn’t a doubt in my mind she would love that baby with every ounce of her being, part of her was going to mourn the loss of her old life.

  “You look so beautiful, Claire.” She wiped her tear-stained cheeks, snuffling as she turned her head to get a better look. “You’re going to have the best time tonight.”

  Her hiccupped words tugged at my heart, and I felt like the biggest piece of shit alive. I’d been so preoccupied with Nick and the new job that I’d checked out a little with her. And she needed me more than ever.

  There was a knock at the door before it opened, a well-dressed Nick filling the space. Head-to-toe black in tailored mastery, he oozed sexiness and style with an ease of unpretentious flare.

  No wonder I’d been distracted.

  He looked like a God.

  But I wouldn’t let that be an excuse—not any more.

  The debut appearance of Niclaire—our couple name as I’d imagined it—was going to have to be postponed, the apology ready in my throat when he stepped into the room and went straight to Scully.

  “Hey, Scully.” He knelt down beside her on the bed. “You need more time?”

  “No, it’s fine.” She blew out a breath. “She’s all yours, have a great night.”

  Nick looked confused, furrowing his brow before looking between us. “You’re ditching us? Wow, you know I’ve won an Emmy, right? You can at least pretend to be impressed. I’m hurt.” He palmed his chest with so much drama I wasn’t sure he wasn’t gunning for his next one.

  She laughed, rolling her eyes as she shuffled to sit up. “You know your celebrity doesn’t work on me, what are you even talking about?”

  She wasn’t the only one confused, the what-the-what responsible for my lack of participation in the conversation.

  “I forgot, Dave is your favorite.” His lip curled into a sneer at the mention of his brother, adding a shake of his head. “If you two conspirators had your way, he would have usurped my next staring role. Nice try sliding it to him, instead of me. Lucky for you, I’m forgiving.”

  If his explanation had been supposed to enlighten us, then I hadn’t followed. It was only supposed to be the two of us going out, but I did love that he was attempting to make Scully laugh. He might not get to go out with me tonight, but he was getting a blowjob later.

  “You’re forgiving me?” Scully scoffed in disbelief.

  “Well, okay, since you asked so nicely. But you’ll need to get changed and put on something decent. I still have a reputation to uphold and some people are impressed by my celebrity.”

  “Changed for what?” Scully echoed my thoughts.

  “Well, you didn’t think Claire and I were going to go out in the wild without an entourage did you? I need people—lots of them—around me at all times so I feel important.” His lips spread into a grin.

  My heart burst.

  Shattered into pieces, overwhelmed by his consideration and kindness and it was more than I could take.

  I wanted to leap off the bed, into his arms and tell him I loved him, only stopping the words just before they came out.

  I didn’t want it to be a reaction; to have him think the feeling was out of gratitude. I was grateful, but I loved him for so much more than that.

  “What do you think, Scully?” I squeezed her hand. “You want to come out with us and help me make Nick look good?”

  She glanced at Nick, her eyes filling with tears she tried to blink away. “Are you sure? I don’t want to be the third wheel.”

  “I absolutely want you to come, and to be honest you kind of owe me. It would round out the apology and prove that you are indeed genuinely sorry.”

  I was going to cry.

  So incredibly touched and grateful that I wanted to throw myself at him and cover him with kisses.

  “Well, I do want you to accept my apology.” Scully tipped her head to the side as if considering it. “So, I guess, I am sort of obligated to come.”

  He shrugged. “I’m not too proud to take obligation. Is that a yes?”

  “Yes!” Scully lifted her hands in the air in celebration.

  “Well, go get ready then. Tell Luke I expect him to come too, he was complicit and therefore guilty as well and needs to make amends. But he’s not allowed to dress better than me,” Nick warned, keeping a straight face the entire time.

  Luke appeared at the doorway at the mention of his name. “What are we doing?”

  “Heading out.” Scully tugged at his arm. “Come help me find something to wear and I’ll tell you all about it.”

  Luke didn’t argue even though I knew he already had plans. He—like Nick—decided to put the need of a friend in front of his own.

  He looked over at me, a knowing glance passing between us, and then tapped Scully’s arm. “Just let me make a phone call and we’ll do whatever you want.” Luke tipped his chin to Nick and then let Scully lead him away.

  “You are the most wonderful man alive.” I wrapped my arms around him and kissed him.

  Nick’s body accepted my weight, holding me close as he smiled against my lips. “Because I’m arrogant? Or because I won an Emmy? Let’s just say all of the above and cover all our bases.”

  I didn’t answer him, preferring to give my response via the appreciation shown by my lips. He seemed to find this acceptable, shutting my bedroom door shut with his foot and pushing me up against the wall.

  My hands ran along the front of his shirt, his firm muscles flexing under my touch as we deepened the kiss. His eyes were hungry, loaded with the promise of what he wanted to do but the heart that beat underneath my hands was full of something else.

  “Thank you,” I whispered against his lips. “Inviting Scully means a lot to me.”

  “She’s a friend, and we take care of our friends, right?” He brushed the hair off from my face.

  I nodded, the emotion in my throat as I looked up at him. “Yeah, we sure do.”

  Lit—the club we were at—was not aptly named. It should have been called muted light or almost darkness, our eyes requiring a few minutes to adjust to the dim interior lighting.

  There had been a few photographers at the front asking Nick who I was, but he just put his arm around me and led me inside. The flashes in my face were disconcerting, but I was more worried about what words they were going to write to accompany the photo. Ready or not it was all in the open now, and as nervous as I’d been, I couldn’t make myself regret people knowing we were together.

  “See, it wasn’t so bad.�
�� Nick had bought the group a round of drinks, joining us as we sat on a red leather banquette.

  Scully accepted her orange juice, grinning as she relaxed into her seat. “It’s probably because you’re not that famous. I mean, if Eric were here, or even Dave, we’d have to call the LAPD just to clear a path to the door.”

  I loved that the little game she was playing with Nick distracted her from the anxiety she had been feeling at home. Tonight, she was given a small reprieve and Nick would happily play along with her, even at the expense of making fun of himself.

  “I think you’re better looking than Dave,” Luke deadpanned, taking a swig of his beer.

  “Well thank you, Luke.” Nick clinked his beer with his new buddy, smirking at me and Scully. “You have an excellent eye.”

  Luke nodded, adding with a smile. “Eric, well, he has that blond, Viking thing going for him so that’s tough to go up against.”

  “Couldn’t have just left it there? I take back my statement about your taste.” Nick laughed, turning his attention to me and kissing my neck.

  I could feel eyes on us, people looking, possibly some discreetly using their phones to take a photo. But I didn’t let it bother me. I was too busy being loved up, openly kissing a man that I’d dreamed about for years to care what anyone thought.

  “Want to dance?” He nodded to the dance floor. Or at least where it would have been if it weren’t packed with gyrating hot bodies.

  I slid off the banquette, standing and knotting my fingers with his as I gave him a little tug. “Sure, I did offer to go anywhere with you. The dance floor seems like I got out of it pretty easy.”

  “That’s right, you did say anywhere.” He grinned as he joined me on his feet. “I really need to take better advantage of this open-ended clause.”

  We left Scully and Luke to enjoy their drinks as he let me lead him to the dance floor. He wasn’t more than half a step behind, his hand on the small of my back as we weaved through the sea of people.

  He brought his mouth to my ear, his voice competing with the music. “Have I told you how beautiful you look tonight?”