Tinseltown

by Stephanie Taylor

  “Zach,” she began. Deb took a quick mouthful herself and turned to him.

  “Yeah?”

  “Thank you for such a wonderful holiday. I can say this has been the best Christmas ever.”

  He grinned and winked. “Not a problem.”

  “I’m serious, Zach. Not just because we’ve made love but because you… this… I think it’s changed me.”

  Zach pulled her into his arms as the countdown began. “Will I get a nice New Year’s kiss for it?”

  Deb grinned and reached up to touch his jaw. “Yes.” She could tell by the slight grin on his features he didn’t sense the seriousness of her train of thought. She struggled to restart the conversation but instead thought of a new idea. She turned her head and raised her glass in the crowd. “Five… Four… Three… Two… One… Happy New Year!” she shouted, and filled with excitement, she turned back to Zach and looked at him dead in the eye. “I luh—”

  But before she could get the words out, Zach’s mouth was on hers. His tongue swirled around hers and the heat of his passion made her almost forget what she wanted to say. Pulling back, she touched his cheek softly. “Zach, I—”

  “Deb, can we talk?”

  Annoyed, Deb looked over to the right to see Brad standing there, looking uncomfortable yet determined.

  Stunned to see him, but quickly just as perturbed, she said, “You weren’t invited to this party, Brad.” Deb released Zach. “Why are you here?”

  “I thought we could talk.” He shoved his hands in his pocket. Next to her, Zach tensed.

  “You thought wrong. Leave,” she said between clenched teeth. She held tightly to Zach’s hand, which he was trying to wiggle out of hers. A quick glance at him confirmed the ticking jaw and angry eyes. She definitely didn’t want this to get out of hand. If anyone threw a punch, it would be her.

  “Just a few minutes, Deb, it’s all I ask.” The straight line of Brad’s mouth told her he wasn’t going anywhere unless someone kicked him out. Deciding it was easier and less complicated to give him what he wanted, she looked at Zach.

  “Don’t even tell me you’re going to give this jerk the time of day,” Zach ground out, keeping his eyes trained on Brad.

  “I don’t want to, but it’ll give me a chance to make sure we’re clear on a few things.” She gritted her teeth.

  Brad frowned at her but was otherwise silent.

  Standing on tiptoe, she kissed Zach’s jaw and whispered in his ear, “This isn’t the kind of publicity we need right now if you two fight, which you know you will. And besides, I’ll be fine.” When she pulled away, he remained too preoccupied with Brad’s appearance to acknowledge her inference.

  Twisting out of Zach’s strong grasp, she led the way to the back deck of her parents’ house, the same place where things had ended. Perhaps the location would be a reminder of that night. Even though Zach had let her go without too much of a fuss, she knew he wouldn’t be far away.

  “What do you want, Brad?” she asked, her back turned. When she whirled around to face him, he was on her, cold lips searching out hers in a kiss, disgusting her. She wrenched away and scowled at him. “Don’t ever kiss me again,” she said, a warning tone lacing her voice as she pointed an accusing finger at him.

  “Oh, come on, Deb,” he said with a disbelieving expression. “You’ve never rejected me before when you were seeing someone.”

  “You had better start talking and tell me why you wanted me alone right now, or I’m going to go inside and have my father throw you out. Or would you rather I have Zach do it, because I know he’s itching to get his hands on you after the way you spoke to me last time.”

  Brad merely grinned. “I’m not afraid of him. One call to the press and his little reputation is ruined.”

  “You think you have the power to ruin a man like Zach? Please, Brad! Millions of women all over the world adore him. He’s done good deeds. He’s a good man. A nothing of a man like you holds no bearing on his reputation, bad or otherwise.”

  Brad narrowed his eyes at her, and she could see anger simmering there. “You really are the whore I thought you to be, but it looks like she’s finally getting what she deserves. I can see. You’re nuts about him, and it’s only a matter of time before he breaks your precious little heart. Those fancy rings don’t mean much to men like him. Not when it comes to real life. When he does dump you for someone prettier, don’t you dare come looking for me.”

  Deb snorted. “No worries there, believe me.”

  “Then let’s see how Hollywood likes this,” he said in a low, rage-filled voice. Out of nowhere, Brad’s hand came down hard on her cheek. Unable to do more than see stars, she stumbled backward. Almost in the same instance, the patio doors shot open and Zach was on top of Brad, pummeling his face. Deb screamed at him to let him go, but deep inside she was pleased Zach protected her.

  “Zach!” Deb clawed at him to stop. “You’re going to kill him!” And wouldn’t that be just what they needed for their relationship: Zach Sparks sentenced to life in prison on a murder conviction after trying to protect his wife. Man, this had to stop.

  When Zach stopped hitting him, he grabbed Brad by the shirt and pulled him up to eye level. “I can promise you I’ll finish this if you ever come near her again. You’ll have to pick someone your own size next time, buddy. Do you hear me? Go ahead and call the press. Call whoever you need to make you feel a little bigger, but the truth of the matter is, man, you’re a sore loser. She doesn’t want you; she wants me. And the sooner you accept this, the sooner you can stop fearing for your teeth. You’ll never touch her again as long as I’m around or you’ll spend the rest of your life paying for plastic surgery.”

  Deb grinned as Zach pushed Brad back down on the patio into the snow. His nose was bleeding and looked broken, and his eyes were full of fear. It saddened her to think she had wasted so many years on Brad. Knowing Zach and how she felt now made her wish she had met him years ago. They could have been well on their way to happily ever after by now.

  Her eyes stung and tears welled as Brad scrambled away, and she looked at Zach as his expression became apologetic.

  “Don’t you say you’re sorry,” she stammered through her tears when he reached out to her. “He deserved every ounce of it.”

  To her horror, she saw tears in Zach’s eyes. His hair was in disarray and his knuckles bled. Sweat gleamed on his brow in the moonlight. He gazed at her intensely and clenched his teeth. “He’ll never hurt you again, Deb. I’ll make sure of it,” he whispered, tenderly turning her face to examine it.

  “I’m fine. But your hand is bleeding. We need to get inside and get you bandaged up.” Ignoring the fact that they were both crying, Deb took his forearm and tried to move him toward the door.

  “Come here,” he demanded and turned her face again. When he uttered profanity, Deb’s heart skipped a beat. She was so concerned for Zach she barely noticed the throbbing pain in her cheek. Softly touching it, blood stained her fingertips when she moved them away.

  “You’re bleeding,” Zach stated. Sniffing away his tears, he looked across the back of the house. “We can’t go in like this. People will have too much to talk about. Isn’t there a laundry room door around here somewhere that leads up to your room?” At Deb’s nod in its general direction, he took her hand and led the way.

  “Talk about an eventful evening.” Deb sighed when they entered their bedroom a few moments later.

  “Talk about a jerk. What was it you saw in him? Should I be worried about him hiring a hit man?”

  “No, he’s a coward.”

  “I’ll have to call Fernbank tomorrow. We can’t start filming again until we’re both healed. Your cut looks like it’s going to bruise up pretty good.”

  “Great. Won’t he be thrilled.” Deb walked straight to the bathroom, turned on the light, and examined her face. It wasn’t as bad as she thought. The cut was miniscule, but Zach was right, it did look like it would bruise.

  He sto
od behind her and the love and concern in his eyes undid her yet again. Embarrassment over her tears caused Deb’s cheeks to heat as he placed his hands on her shoulders and squeezed.

  “He’s a jerk, Deb, forget him.”

  Did he think she was lamenting Brad? Turning, she looped her arms around his neck and kissed him. “Thank you. But he’s already forgotten. I’ve been too preoccupied falling in love with you.” So this wasn’t exactly how she wanted to tell him, standing as they were in a bathroom.

  He searched her eyes. “Come again?”

  “You heard me. If Brad hadn’t screwed things up, I was trying to tell you at the stroke of midnight that I love you.”

  “One more time, just so I can make sure I’m not hearing things.” His mouth quirked into a dumbfounded smile.

  “Your endless charm worked, Zach.” Deb laughed through the pain in her cheek. “I love you!”

  For a moment he didn’t say or do anything, only stared. “Are you sure? You’re not just saying this because I rescued you?”

  “Zach,” Deb whispered. “You rescued me in a lot of ways, but it’s not hero-worship. You proved to me over the past couple of weeks what a good man you are. I’m sorry I doubted you. I’ve been thinking about Vegas ever since it happened, and the best conclusion I can come to is we both wanted more, and the alcohol gave me the courage to go for it. It just took all of this to admit it to myself.”

  “You love me?” he asked in a quiet, high-pitched voice. “You love me? I think I’m imagining things. Say it again, just so I can be sure.”

  “I love you, Zach.” She took his hand and squeezed.

  “Wow. I’m speechless. I think hearing you say you love me was the last thing I expected. ‘You’re awesome,’ maybe. ‘Thank you,’ definitely. Maybe after making love. I never thought I would hear you say you love me after I did nothing more than protect you.”

  “You don’t sound speechless to me.”

  “Are you sure about this?”

  “Yes.”

  “You don’t regret marrying me anymore?”

  “I regret not marrying you sooner.”

  His brow lifted and he smiled.

  “Okay, you have me there, but I think we’re going to be happy for a long time to come.”

  “Of course. Because I’m the best husband in the world.”

  Laughing again, Deb kissed him gingerly. “Let’s both get cleaned up and ring in the New Year properly.”

  “Deal.”

  Turning, she knelt and grabbed the first aid kit under the sink as Zach washed his hands. After Zach’s hands were bandaged and Deb was comfortable the bleeding had stopped, he turned her into his arms and kissed her sweetly.

  “Please don’t change your mind about us, Deb. This feels too right.” He touched his lips against hers.

  “Don’t give me a reason to change my mind. But nothing has ever felt more perfect than being right here.” He chuckled when she squeezed him in a hug. Looking up at him, she waited.

  “What? Oh, I was just thinking there’s another place that feels pretty perfect too, where you and I are involved.”

  She smiled. “Then take me there, Zach.”

  His pupils dilated and he smiled. He obeyed and lifted her into his arms.

  Chapter 14

  The next morning was their last in New York. Zach rolled over, grimaced as he stretched, and his hands ached at the movement. Next to him, Deb slept peacefully, the ugly bruise from Brad’s hand a dirty reminder of the rage he’d felt last night.

  Not once had he felt such anger before. No one would ever mess with Deb. When he saw the flash of Brad’s white hand across Deb’s face, he didn’t remember much of what happened afterward.

  He touched her face softly and she sighed. Even in her sleep, she was an angel. And to think she loved him. He wasn’t sure what he’d done to deserve it, but he wished he could find out so he could do it again and ensure she didn’t change her mind. Deb was his rock, his fortress. Where his younger years had been riddled with chaos and uncertainty, the future of her love was a promise of a life he had always hoped for.

  “I love you,” he said in her ear. He felt like a lovesick fool or a giddy teenager, he wasn’t sure which, but he did know he was suddenly excited about life. His acting career could go away, and he would be happy as long as he could wake just like this — next to Deb — every morning. It was a new experience, but it was intoxicating. It fueled his libido but he tamped it down, knowing the past few weeks had been centered on their lovemaking. He wanted to focus on making her secure in her declaration for him so he could be secure that she wasn’t going to run the moment something bad happened. There wasn’t much certainty in life, least of all a woman’s emotions, and things wouldn’t be perfect forever. He had observed his parents’ relationship enough to know that. But he could hope to learn from their mistakes.

  Tomorrow, they would fly back to Los Angeles to resume filming. Of course, after a call to Fernbank today, that might be delayed a few days until their cuts and bruises healed. The director wouldn’t be happy about the turn of events, but Zach didn’t really care. Deb knew how serious he was about her and how far he would go to protect her. That was all that mattered.

  “Zach?” Deb asked softly.

  “Yeah?” He smiled. She was so beautiful. Long hair spilled over the swell of her breasts and she gazed up sleepily at him.

  “Are you okay?”

  “Yup. Just admiring what’s mine,” he teased.

  “I am yours, aren’t I?”

  “And you have made me the happiest man on earth because of it.”

  Cocking an eyebrow at him, she reached between them. “I see.”

  He tsked, although he felt himself losing control. “You know that’s not what I meant, young lady.”

  “Maybe I’d like to pretend it was.”

  Yeah, he’d have to work on the whole friendship thing a little later.

  * * * *

  Deb finished packing her bags as she heard her father’s yee-haw at yet another game of chess won against Zach. Shaking her head, Deb smiled as she sat to put her shoes on. It was almost time for them to leave for the airport. Fernbank hadn’t been pleased about the news of their injuries but sent word through Zach he was glad Deb was okay and could rearrange a few shooting schedules to give them time to heal.

  “Hey, sis,” Eric said as he wheeled into her room. The ramp up to the bedrooms on the second story was a workout for Eric, and he rarely came up to that floor during the day.

  “Hey, what are you doing up here?”

  “Just came up to make sure you don’t let this one get away,” He wheeled to a stop in front of her and looked at her earnestly. “I don’t get all mushy-gushy over other men, Deb, but this one’s a keeper. It’s been so plain to all of us he’s nuts about you, and after what happened with Brad, it does me good to know he would do what I would do if I was capable. It gives me a warm-fuzzy about him, you know?”

  Deb grinned. “Since it gives you a warm fuzzy…”

  Eric frowned. “I mean it, Deb. Brad never even tried to get to know me, because he couldn’t see past the wheelchair. At least Zach talks to me.”

  “Zach’s not like everyone else.”

  Eric thought a moment. “You’re right. He’s not like everyone else. He loves you. Don’t let the Hollywood hype get to you, sis. He’s it. Finito.”

  “I know, Eric. You can butt-out now.” She stood, only to turn and sit in her brother’s lap, wrapping her arms around him in a hug. “I’m glad you guys love him as much as I do, and I’m glad you’re looking out for me.”

  “You lived most of your life without Hollywood. Don’t let them strip the first good thing since your career.”

  Deb pulled back and shook her head, laughing. “You think after all these years I’m going to change who I am?”

  Eric smiled at her and pushed her hair back from her face, tweaking her nose. “I’m proud of you, Deb. You break the mold.”

  A
swell of love for her brother tugged at her heart, and she hugged him again. “No, big brother, you break the mold. You’ve got a wife who adores you, two children… You’re happy. There was a time I never thought you would be, but you proved to all of us what a strong, heroic man you are. You’re such a role model for Jesse and Elizabeth. I love you.”

  “Aw shucks,” he said with a chuckle and pushed her away. “Now get up. Your butt is so big I can’t feel my legs.”

  Laughing at his joke, she obeyed. If her brother, her hero, saw what she saw in Zach, then she had made a good choice.

  * * * *

  As they boarded their plane a few hours later, Deb was quiet. She and Zach were headed back to reality where filming schedules, promotions, and paparazzi ruled their life. This would be the true test for their marriage. Deb figured in a few months, maybe even weeks, she would know how permanent things would be between them. Once Zach wasn’t forced to be around her every day, their connection might change. He might wonder what on earth he had done marrying her. Or see someone who was prettier.

  Looking over at him as the plane taxied the runway, she took his hand in hers. He opened his eyes and rolled his head toward her, smiling.

  “Thank you for not making me look like a fool in front of my family.”

  He squeezed her hand. “As it turns out, I didn’t have to do much acting. Falling in love with you was the easiest thing I’ve ever done.”

  She smiled sadly. “I’m just afraid of what’s ahead for us. Romances like ours are driven apart by paparazzi and just… well… life.”

  Zach leaned over and kissed her forehead. “It won’t if we don’t let it. I’m a firm believer that if our relationship is strong enough, we’ll make it through anything. Even our crazy, hectic lives.” His fingertips trailed her jawline. “So stop worrying. We’ve still got another month of shooting, and you might decide you want rid of me later.” He gave her his best Hollywood smile, and Deb rolled her eyes.

  “You know,” she said after a while. “Even though your parents weren’t the best in the world, they did a great job at showing you what not to be.”