Making people happy had never been so much fun.
Sage wrote up Lorna’s background to support a career as a plant psychologist—a.k.a. botanist extraordinaire. As Wayne, Eric strolled the streets of London with Lorna, looking for people in need. He would never tire of watching her introduce herself to someone and work her way into their life.
As Eric and Sage, they introduced John to Bella’s neighbor. If John cared that Eric’s scar had mysteriously disappeared or that he was a big screen actor, he didn’t give any indication. From the moment John met Bella’s dog-crazy neighbor, not much else mattered. The man was instantly smitten.
Helping others became its own addiction. Eric funded shelters for the homeless, purchased land for neighborhood garden projects, and worked with schools to fund needed programs. He and Sage made sure it all stayed anonymous, and Eric had never felt better about himself.
The day came when the acting CEO of Eric’s film company asked him to make another Water Bear Man movie. Eric was half-inclined to refuse to produce another, but after talking it out with Sage, he decided the good outweighed the bad. More money meant he and Sage could continue to have resources to bring joy and financial relief to countless clients. Water Bear Man was no longer a fraud—he had a noble purpose as well.
Eric was happier than he could ever remember being. It was for that reason that a mild panic filled him the day Sage left his house early and texted him to meet her because she wanted to talk to him about something important.
Was that code for things not going as well for her as they were for him? She told him to come as Eric and gave him an address in the theater district.
Was she taking him to a play? Why the secrecy? He told himself it was probably something good, but raced to her side anyway.
As instructed, Eric parked in a small lot behind the theater and knocked on the rear door. A man opened the door and beckoned him inside. He led him to the back of a stage and told him to wait there.
Sage appeared, and she was smiling. Eric started to breathe more easily. “What’s this about?” he asked.
She handed him a script. “Mr. Kirby’s friend owns this theater and supports new playwrights. I told him you might be interested in auditioning for a role in their next production.”
Eric scanned the first page. It was a drama, not slapstick action. “I just agreed to produce another Water Bear Man movie.”
“They’ll work around your schedule.”
Eric read the second page of the play. His heart started beating wildly in his chest. Could he do this? Could he return to the stage as a serious actor? “The theater really wants me? Not Water Bear Man?”
“He’s willing to take a chance on you.” She winked.
Hating himself for not instantly jumping at the chance, Eric scanned another page of the script. “I’ve tried to take serious roles before. The audience wasn’t receptive.”
“Then show them what they’re missing,” Sage said emphatically.
Eric devoured the next page of the play. The dialogue was contemporary and moving. He flipped another page. “I’ll do it.”
“Easy, tiger,” Sage said. “First you must audition.”
“You’re serious,” Eric said, pointing toward the stage. He caught a look in her eyes that told him he was missing something. “Why am I auditioning?”
The smile she’d been holding back spread across her face, easily making her the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen. “Because Nicolette is out there waiting to see her brother take his first step toward following his dream.”
Eric peered around the curtains and saw that his sister was indeed out there. As were the rest of his brothers and sisters, his parents, his grandmother, and her royal boyfriend. With the script still in one hand, he picked Sage up and spun her around. “How did you get them all here?”
In unison, they both said, “Delinda.”
“Marry me while they’re all there. This weekend,” Eric said. Never had anything felt more right.
Still laughing and clinging to him, she asked, “Can we do it that fast?”
“We can,” he said, “because we play by our own rules.”
They kissed deeply, then Sage gave him a push and said, “Now get out there and break a leg.”
As Eric read the page of dialogue the director handed him, he found the character’s voice. For a moment, he was more than Eric Westerly—more than Water Bear Man—he was who he was meant to be. Acting, this kind of acting, filled him with a joy he’d thought couldn’t return. When he finished, there was a pause, then everyone rose to their feet to give him a standing ovation.
He motioned for Sage to join him on the stage. Holding her hand, he took a bow. She chuckled and bowed as well. The Westerlys kept clapping.
In a voice just loud enough for him to hear, she said, “I feel silly up here. I didn’t actually do anything.”
He turned and framed her face with his hands. “They’re clapping because, like me, they know that a successful performance is just as much about what happens backstage as onstage. You gave me back a piece of myself I thought I’d lost.”
She placed one of her hands on his. “I didn’t give you anything, Eric. It was always there, you just didn’t see it.”
He turned and looked at his family, who were all now quietly watching them. They might be an unconventional family, but they were his and they loved him—he no longer doubted that. “I am going to spend the rest of my life finding ways to make you as happy as you’ve made me.”
Her face lit up with a smile. “That’s funny. That’s exactly what I intend to do for you.”
They shared a laugh and took one final deep bow before leaving the stage to meet with his family and a very pleased-looking theater director.
Epilogue
Still glowing after their honeymoon, Eric and Sage returned to their English estate. Excited, Reggie immediately led them to Eric’s lair and unveiled a new section . . . one just for Sage. As grand as Eric’s, it had three labeled wardrobes. One for Sage, one for Lorna, and one for Water Bear Woman. Water Bear Woman?
Sage’s mouth dropped open when she saw a gray spandex superhero costume similar to Eric’s, but smaller. Oh no.
“I took the liberty of working with your writers to create a new character.” Reggie dramatically lowered his voice. “There’s been another accident. This time in the waters off Antarctica. A chemical spill that only one woman knew how to clean up. Sadly, she slipped into the sludge—sludge filled with water bears—and was bitten by thousands of tardigrades . . . becoming . . .”
“Water Bear Woman?” Sage asked with a nervous laugh. He had to be joking. He didn’t look like he was. She turned to Eric.
“Come here, Mrs. Water Bear Man,” Eric joked, puffing his chest out with mock pride.
Sage shook her head and stood her ground. “I am not wearing that thing.” Spandex was unflattering on the best of bodies. Even as she refused, though, she had to admit there was something endearing about being invited into this corner of Eric’s life. They would be truly partners—in the real world as well as on the big screen.
“Not even for the children?” Eric asked with puppy-dog eyes. “Come on, imagine the team we’d make visiting children’s hospitals together. Try it on.”
There was no refusing him when he looked at her that way. Smiling, Sage pointed at his suit. “I’ll wear mine if you wear yours.”
“Deal,” Eric said.
In an unspoken race, they each flew to their own areas and changed. Reggie politely left the room just as the clothing began to fly. A few minutes later, Sage and Eric stood facing each other. Feet apart, Eric had his hands on his hips, his chest pushed out, and his chin arrogantly in the air. Sage mirrored his stance.
A serious expression darkened his eyes. “Before you, I didn’t know who I was, and I didn’t think I liked any of my options. Now, I see that it doesn’t matter what people call me or even what I call myself—I’m me. And with you at my side, I feel like
that’s good enough.”
A wave of love for him washed over Sage, and she blinked back tears. “It’s better than good enough. Before you, I pushed people away. Sure, I helped them, but then I cut them from my life. I was so afraid that if I opened my heart to someone, really let them in, they would leave me, like my parents did. You showed me that love is worth that risk. My family is crazy. Your family is nuts. But somehow we’ll make it work. Together.”
Eric wrapped his arms around Sage and kissed her deeply. It was a kiss full of gratitude, love, and promises.
Reggie returned and snapped a photo of them. “Now look this way,” he instructed, and took another. “For the first time, I officially present to you, Mr. and Mrs. Water Bear Man.”
They struck a pose worthy of any superhero movie poster. Reggie snapped more photos.
He shared them with their friends and family via social media: #HollywoodHeir #HappyEnding
Acknowledgments
Thank you to:
Montlake Romance, for letting me explore my superhero side. Special thanks to Lauren Plude for rolling with the schedule when I broke my leg. My very patient beta readers. You know who you are. Thank you for kicking my butt when I need it.
My editors: Karen Lawson, Janet Hitchcock, Marion Archer, Krista Stroever, and Marlene Engel.
About the Author
Ruth Cardello is a New York Times bestselling author who loves writing about rich alpha men and the strong women who tame them. She was born the youngest of eleven children in a small city in northern Rhode Island. She’s lived in Boston, Paris, Orlando, New York, and Rhode Island (again) before moving to Massachusetts, where she now lives with her husband and three children. Before turning her attention to writing, Ruth was an educator for two decades, including eleven years as a kindergarten teacher. Hollywood Heir is the fourth book in her Westerly Billionaire series. Learn about Ruth’s new releases by signing up for her newsletter at www.RuthCardello.com.
Hollywood Heir (Westerly Billionaire Book 4) Page 23
