Garrett shifted uncomfortably in his seat. Guilt carved into his gut, razor sharp. But this was not the time to dwell on what had happened to Andrew Parks.
Social media was a problem. The two incidents, one right after the other, had things in an uproar. Rip had taken steps to suppress what he could, such things as public use of photographs, including those of Garrett’s backside on the red carpet. But there was only so much he could do.
“What about connections? Is there anyone who would want to harm her?”
Rip rolled his chair back from the desk and furrowed his brow. “There have been stalkers, death threats. Marlene Parks is a celebrity, so that’s to be expected. But there doesn’t seem to be a connection to what’s happening now. Not that I could find…yet.”
Garrett slapped the thick binder onto the desk. “There has to be something.”
“Too bad we didn’t get the gun along with the bullet. Then we could track this guy down,” Rip said. “Any idiot walking the streets with tungsten bullets in his gun is a menace.”
“And he’s trigger happy.”
“He wants to show you what he’s got.”
“I’m not impressed with some guy wielding a gun at a woman. That’s the lowest…”
“Yeah, I agree.” Rip drummed his fingers on the desk. “My next step is to look into the fundraisers. All the charity functions that Marlene organizes, and personally attends, put her at risk. It’s an avenue to get to her, and one that’s not as easily screened as her domestic staff. I’m looking into those connections…see what I can find.”
“She’s a high-profile personality. Yet even after being attacked, she refuses to temporarily stay home.” Garrett frowned. “I don’t like it.”
“Have you been to see Coop?”
Garrett shook his head. Cooper Brennan, Coop to the team, was ex-Navy like the rest of them. He was the computer specialist, and most likely a pro hacker, although he hadn’t openly admitted it. But the data he got his hands on couldn’t be explained any other way.
“I stopped here first.”
“He’s got a secure phone for you to take to Marlene. Only one way that guy knew where you were dining last night. He hacked into her phone, probably into a text she sent. I know he didn’t get into your phone,” Rip said. “So that’s how Coop figures he knew…unless you told him.” He gave Garrett a fake smile.
“Right. I thought I’d make friends so I invited the creep to dinner.” Garrett let out a long breath. “Okay, I’ll head down the hall to see if Coop’s got anything solid for me. Otherwise, get back to me on those connections. It’s damn little to go on, only knowing the guy’s first initial, and a description that fits half the men in the city.” Except for those ice-blue eyes.
Coop was a computer geek turned Navy SEAL, now ex-SEAL. He was a genius when it came to the techie stuff that baffled Garrett. And he’d been no slouch out in the field, from what Garrett had heard. But he didn’t have a lot to go on just yet. Although he knew more than Garrett could have imagined, from Marlene’s computer and phone, as well as those close to her. There was no privacy anymore. Secrets were a thing of the past.
Except for the dark secret that haunted Garrett’s every waking hour. At some point, he was going to have to tell Marlene what had happened in that battle. And he would have to confess his failure. But not yet. She had enough going on, and more than enough pressure to deal with. Unburdening his soul would have to wait.
Chapter 9
For the next few days, Marlene was immersed in filming. It would be easy for viewers to think it was all mocked up, that when acting the scenes she was playing a role; it wasn’t real. But it wasn’t that straightforward. Her method of bringing the story to life was to get into character, become the character for that brief period. In doing so, she felt every heartbreak and joy that the woman she portrayed did.
The movie was filled with the love of friends and family, along with a romantic interest, but it wasn’t a lighthearted story. The war scenes and reactions to the personal losses that resulted from battle were difficult to play. The emotion paralleled Marlene’s own experiences. Thus, she could create the character’s feelings realistically, but not without it taking an emotional toll on her.
During breaks, it cheered her to see Garrett. His familiar presence was reassuring. Just noticing him watch all that transpired, Marlene didn’t feel quite so alone. He appeared stoic, standing there without smiling or chatting with the others. Yet he exuded warmth that wrapped her in a sense of security.
Marlene looked forward to dinner with him in the evenings. After the one meal out, she acquiesced to staying home in the interest of safety. Laura cooked gourmet meals, so the food was as good as anyplace they’d go. Dining alone was intimate, and that couldn’t be avoided. Nor did she want to.
Garrett did little to encourage her, but Marlene was falling for him. She cautioned herself that it was a reaction to being alone too much. And maybe it was. The public was given the impression that, as a movie star, she led a charmed life.
And in many respects, Marlene supposed that was true. But men were a challenge. Too often a man wanted to be with her for her fame or fortune—even those that had plenty of both already. It had been a crushing blow, after opening her heart a few times, when Marlene had realized that she was little more than a possession.
It boosted a man’s ego to have her on his arm, show her off, and to be seen in the entertainment magazines with her. Speculation did much for careers, pushing a star into the public eye. It was easy to perceive more than was there, to conjure romance where none may exist.
Too many times, articles claimed she was seeing a man in secrecy, that she was engaged, and even that she had marriage plans. All were falsehoods, and were hurtful. Marlene strove to ignore most of it, in order fend off the effect of such publicity.
That wouldn’t have been so bad if there had been love involved. But each relationship turned out to be one-sided. While Marlene wanted to get to know a man she dated, it was demeaning to realize that not one of them actually knew her or cared to. Rarely did they know anything about her that truly mattered.
And Marlene began to think that anyone outside her circle of friends, any man she might really connect with, would be too intimidated to call her or ask for a date. So her fame was a double-edged sword. She didn’t want a love affair based on superficialities, but she scared away any authentic relationship before it got started.
Garrett was in a category all his own. He was in her employ, and she wasn’t dating him. The usual stigmas didn’t apply. There were no social pressures or expectations. So as the days went by, a relationship of sorts developed.
Marlene was able to talk about personal issues without having to put on a show. After all, Garrett was with her due to her most pressing issue, the precarious situation that had been thrust upon her. And from all the background checks and security assessments, she was certain he knew a lot about her.
Although she could hide her emotional pain from her fans, she couldn’t keep it from Garrett. Whether by training or instinct, he was a perceptive man. When he looked at her, Marlene sensed that he saw beyond what she showed to the rest of the world.
Having Garrett with her did much to alleviate the loneliness, but she dared not depend on him overly much. His presence in her life was temporary, yet she already dreaded him leaving. It was foolish, really. But feelings of the heart weren’t easily subdued.
On Saturday, the studio shut down and Marlene had the day off. She didn’t want to stay at home, and preferred to do something enjoyable, like going on a date. But with Garrett along that would be awkward.
Since she didn’t have to be on the set early, Marlene took the luxury of sleeping in. After eating a leisurely breakfast, she found Garrett in the study scrolling through his phone. His hair was slightly messed up, as if he’d raked his hand through it. He wore jeans that hugged his lean thighs, and a cotton shirt with tight sleeves that strained against his biceps.
&n
bsp; One glance at his strong jaw with a bit of scruff on it sent heat spreading low in her belly. Marlene’s imagination began to run wild, so she looked away.
“Good morning,” Garrett said. “I thought I’d let you eat in peace. I got up early and jogged on your treadmill. That’s quite a workout room you have. I’ve been making use of it.”
The way Garrett spoke, he might have been a friend, not a hired protector. It was nice when threats weren’t hovering, and his guard was down. He was a man, like any other—even if he was a force to be reckoned with, and sexy as hell. Home was the safest place to be, he’d told her, so it was likely the one environment where he could relax some.
Marlene sat on the edge of the sofa, across from him. “It’s my day off. I don’t want to be cooped up all day. I want to go out, and do something. But…”
Garrett raised his brows.
“Danger aside, I could make a call, go on a date, I suppose.” Marlene hesitated. “But it would mean that you’d tag along.”
Garrett frowned.
“I didn’t mean it exactly like it sounded.” Marlene fidgeted with the hem of her top. “The thing is that I’m not really dating anyone. It’s frustrating, really.”
“Not having a boyfriend?”
“Not so much that. I’m used to it. I hire escorts for events when I need to.” Marlene sighed. “But just for once, I’d like to go out to the movies like a normal person. I star in movies, but I can’t watch them. Except in private theaters, and that’s not the same thing.”
“Why can’t you go out?”
Garrett really didn’t get it. Even following her around day after day, it hadn’t really sunk in. He hadn’t lived like she had, under a microscope with eyes on her every time she went out. “Whatever I do is media-worthy. Anytime I go out in public, I’m recognized. I’m seen everywhere I go.”
“You don’t have to be.”
Marlene laughed. “Yeah, right.”
“No, I mean it.” Garrett leaned forward with his elbows on his knees. “Clandestine missions are my specialty.” His eyes lit up. “You’re an actress. We’ll do our own version.”
“How will we do that?”
“I’ll show you.” Garrett stood up and reached for her hand. Pulling her up, he said, “If you want to go the movies, then we’ll go.”
“I can’t believe you aren’t cautioning me about danger and risk and…”
“No need. There’s only danger if you’re seen.” Garrett grinned. “Stick with me. This will be an adventure.”
Garrett was right about that. Every day with him was an adventure, and Marlene had no doubt this would be too. She followed him to her closet, and he walked into it like he owned it. After scanning the rows of dresses and racks of shoes, he said, “Is this all you have?”
Marlene laughed. There he was standing in the middle of a fortune’s worth of dresses and designer shoes, acting as though she had nothing to wear. “What was it you had in mind?”
“Don’t you have any clothes you wear just to hang around the house? I mean, other than cashmere sweaters and ballet slippers?”
“Hmm, maybe something like this?” Marlene slid open a drawer and pulled out a pair of ratty beige pants and a faded cotton shirt. “My gardening clothes.” She shrugged. “It’s a hobby.”
“That’s more like it,” Garrett said. “Now you need something to wear over it.”
Marlene fished through some shirts hanging on a rod, and found her gardener’s jacket. She lifted it up. “It’s even color-coordinated…beige.”
“You’re catching on.”
Next Garrett shuffled through her casual shoes and picked out some hiking boots that she’d actually worn enough for them to look used. Then he selected a hat that would shield her eyes from a casual observer. “No makeup,” he said. “It’s better to look au naturel. Twist your hair up under the hat, and bring sunglasses.”
Garrett headed back toward the hallway. “I’ll go change. Meet me in the kitchen.”
Marlene dressed as instructed, hardly recognizing herself. Then she went to the kitchen and chatted with Laura until Garrett emerged. He wore slacks and a shirt that were baggy enough to cover his muscular build—or sort of, anyway. Over one arm, he had a winter coat, and he held a pair of sunglasses. The ball cap he wore low on his forehead made it more difficult to see his face.
Laura was busy cleaning up from breakfast. She was too professional to question their antics. But Garrett let her in on a secret. “We’re playing a game,” he said. “As you can see, we’re in disguise.”
Laura smiled, but didn’t comment.
“You can have the rest of the day off,” Garrett said, and the cook glanced at Marlene to see if she offered any objection. “We just need to leave with you. When you pull out, we’ll be hiding behind the back seat with a blanket over us.”
“The gate guard won’t see you. He just waves me through,” Laura said.
“I thought so.” Garrett gave her a warm smile. “So, are you just about ready?”
Laura finished up, then they went to her car and took their positions. There was no problem getting away without being seen. “Drive to the mall and go up a crowded aisle in the parking lot. Then you can stop and let us out.”
It wasn’t far, and when Laura stopped, they slipped out of the back seat. It was a busy area and no one seemed to pay attention to a blandly dressed couple walking toward the mall entrance.
Garrett pulled his phone out. “I’ll let the team know we’re fine. We’re not hiding from them.”
Marlene had left her phone at the mansion. It was the new secure one, but she didn’t need it as long as she was with Garrett. It had been a clever ploy. Anyone watching her home would have seen the cook leave, just like she did every day. And would assume that Marlene was still at home.
It was a bit like being a young girl again, and sneaking out to see a boyfriend. There was a certain thrill involved that made Marlene feel more alive.
Garrett stopped beside an outdoor planter. “So, what do you want to see?”
Marlene marveled at his appearance. “You look like a janitor,” she said. “And I notice that you’re walking differently, with your shoulders kind of slumped.”
“It’s part of going unnoticed. It’s best not to act or move like you normally do. You’d be surprised how many people can be recognized by how they walk.” Garrett smiled. “Try it. Pretend you aren’t a movie star. You’re a regular girl, kind of average, nervous about being on a date with a good-looking guy like me.”
Marlene giggled. “You had to add that last part in, didn’t you?” She took on the role with ease, and walked along the length of the planter then back. “This is kind of fun. I haven’t been cast as a plain Jane before. I rather like it.”
“I’ll see what’s showing.” Garrett scrolled on his phone and listed off movie choices.
After some deliberation, they decided on an old Marlene Dietrich film. “That’s the thing about LA. It’s so big, you can get any type of food, see any movies you want…well, most people can.”
“Today, you can too.” Garrett took her hand. “We’re supposed to look like a couple.”
His big hand wrapped around hers, and Marlene’s heart beat in a staccato rhythm. She took some shallow breaths to calm down, but it was useless. She was on a date with Garrett. It was a pretend date, but it felt as real as a real date. “How are we going to get there?”
“The bus.”
“The bus?”
“Sure. You’re not a snob, are you? The bus will get us there in time, and it’s better than a cab. Even your most ardent fan wouldn’t dream of seeing you on a bus. That’s part of our cover. People see what they expect to see. And they don’t see what’s not believable.”
“I’m learning a lot.”
Garrett squeezed her hand. “It’s not so hard, once you understand how things work.”
They made it to the theater in time to see the previews. Marlene was so excited. She was sitting
in a dark theater, crowded with people. The padding of the seat was a bit worn, and the interior of the place could use some renovation. She loved it.
Garrett bought her popcorn, Coke, and Milk Duds to go with it. “They still sell these in regular theaters?”
“Sure, what’s a movie without Milk Duds?” Garrett whispered in her ear. “You can take off the sunglasses now.”
The lights were low, and they’d sat in a crowded area midway back. The audience focused on the previews flashing in front of them. Marlene blushed when she saw her face ten feet high on the big screen, followed by a few scenes from her upcoming movie.
Garrett put his arm around her, but had no reaction to her picture as it loomed large for the audience. He was just another guy at the movies with his girl. Marlene took her clue from him, and didn’t say anything—although she sank deeper into the squeaky seat.
Then the main feature started. It was a 1936 romantic drama called Desire. A devious French jewel thief, played by Marlene Dietrich, sped off to Spain with stolen pearls, then dropped them into the pocket of Tom Bradley, an American vacationing in Europe—played by Gary Cooper.
It wasn’t the only time Marlene had seen the movie, but it was one of her favorites. She ate handfuls of popcorn and sipped her drink. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Garrett munching on the candy. It was the first time, in longer than she could remember, that she was on a date that had no particular cachet or sophistication. And it was the most fun that she could recall.
The mood was just right. The movie was romantic, as well as delightfully humorous. Garrett’s thigh pressed against hers, evaporating any resistance to his charms. Her only regret was that they couldn’t make out in the dark theater. But it wasn’t truly a date. And Garrett wasn’t her boyfriend.
Marlene knew from memory what Garrett’s buff physique looked like, dressed in his usual jeans and shirt. So she had no trouble imagining, even though the too-large clothes covered him up. He was just as luscious in his nondescript outfit as he was in his macho casual wear. And he would be even better without any clothes at all. Or so she envisioned.
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