“You’ve been glowering for the last half hour,” Max said, slapping his beer down onto the table and jarring Nate from his dismal thoughts. They were having a drink at the pub and catching up. “What’s going on?”
Nate’s first inclination was not to talk about what had happened but this was Max, his best friend and even more, a person who was in the same business. A few years older than himself, Max had walked in Nate’s shoes. Hollywood could be nasty, cold, and unkind and Max had been its victim a few times so of all the people Nate knew, Max would understand. Hell, he might even be able to give some good advice.
Nate sure as hell didn’t know what to do about the situation. Paige wasn’t going to budge and he wasn’t going to change his mind either.
“Paige and I had an argument and we haven’t quite resolved it,” Nate said, easing into the heart of the disagreement. It was a touchy subject for him, talking about how the studio didn’t think he was good enough. It was a blow to the ego.
“Give her whatever she wants,” Max said bluntly. “Whatever it is, Nate, give it to her.”
Easy enough to say but did he mean give her what she should want or what she said she wanted? Those were two different things.
“It’s not that simple–” Nate began, but Max cut him off with a wave of his hand.
“Whatever she wants, mate. You will never find another woman like Paige. Your number one goal should be to make her happy.”
She was one of a kind. The kind of woman Nate had dreamed of finding all his life but had given up hope. Max was right. Her happiness had to be his number one responsibility.
“All I want in the world is for her to have everything she wants,” Nate replied, desperation in his voice. He’d wracked his brain trying to figure out what to do. “I don’t want her to have to give up her dreams because she’s with me.”
Max’s eyes narrowed. “Her dreams? Nate, never take those from her. Never.”
“I’m not trying to but it’s complicated.” Nate bowed his head. “The studio doesn’t want me. They told her no movie deal unless she chose another lead and director.”
Inhaling sharply, Max fumbled for his beer. “Jesus, I’m sorry. That had to be tough to hear. There will be other movies though. If this film does well for her, she’ll get more say on the next one.”
Even Max assumed that Paige would go ahead with the deal sans Nate.
“That’s just it.” Nate groaned and scraped his hand down his face. “When they told her she couldn’t have me in the lead, she walked away. She and her agent said no to the deal and walked out of the meeting. She said there would be other studios and that we were a team. That we’d make the movie together or not at all.”
He would have laughed at the shocked look on Max’s face but it wasn’t that funny. His friend was so astonished his mouth was moving but no sounds were coming out.
Nate pointed to Max. “That’s about how I reacted but then I got angry. She gave it all up for me. She said she doesn’t care, but eventually when she realizes what she sacrificed she’s going to wish she hadn’t done it. She’ll hate me and I don’t think I can wait around for her love to turn to loathing. I love her too much to let that happen. I want her to have her dream and that’s the movie.”
“I don’t– I don’t know what to say. I’m…stunned, frankly.” Max took a deep drink of his beer. “That she was willing to give all that up for you speaks of great love. Shit, you’re one lucky son of a bitch. I’ve never been loved like that.”
“For how long though?” Nate asked hoarsely. “I can’t take this from her but I can’t convince her to get rid of me and move forward with the deal. She’s all about us doing this together and I can’t talk her out of it. She’s ruining what might be her only chance and here I sit idly by watching and doing nothing. I’ve tried to talk to her these last few days but she shuts me down immediately.”
Max drained the last from his glass and signaled the waitress for a refill. “If you can’t change her mind then all you can do is support her decisions.”
“Even if I know that sooner or later she’s going to wish she hadn’t sacrificed her dream for me? She’ll see that I’m not worth it eventually. Fuck, few men would be worth giving up what she’s worked for. Nothing good is going to come from this.”
Another beer was slid in front of Max. “Damned if you do…”
“And damned if I don’t,” Nate finished. “Either she hates me now or hates me later.”
Max shook his head. “She doesn’t hate you now. She loves you.”
“It’s that love that’s keeping her from making the deal.”
His brows pinched together, Max shook his head. “Are you suggesting that Paige fall out of love with you? That’s not going to happen. I’ve never seen a woman so devoted to a man. You two are truly in love. The real, forever kind.”
Yes, Nate would love her forever. He’d be an old man in a rocking chair reminiscing about the love of his life.
The love he’d die for if he had to.
This movie was his dream too. A handpicked role and a chance to direct. It would revive his career and that was something he’d worked his whole life for. His success was riding on this part. So was hers in a way.
One of them could have it though.
What was Nate willing to sacrifice for the woman he loved?
“I love her, Max. More than I love myself, and that’s fucking saying something, because I’m a selfish, self-centered git who has put everybody second to my precious career. Friends, family, and definitely relationships. But there isn’t anything I wouldn’t do for her.”
“It doesn’t seem like there’s anything you can do. The decision is hers to make.”
Throwing back the rest of his whiskey, Nate made his own decision. He’d promised her son Jason that he would put her first and that was exactly what he was going to do. For once in his self-indulgent life, Nate Mason was going to think about someone other than himself. There were worse things than being alone. The one person he loved above all others could hate him. That would truly be painful.
“It is her decision to make,” Nate agreed. “But I can show her what she’s chosen.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE
Another red carpet. Another party. But this time Nate was acting completely different.
It had been tense around the house the last few days. He’d been trying to convince Paige to have her agent call the movie executives back and she’d kept repeating her first answer.
No.
It wasn’t going to change. The longer she thought about it, the surer she was that she’d done the right thing. Her sixth sense had been on high alert during that meeting and her little voice had been telling her to turn around and run. She’d done the right thing calling that deal off. She’d tried explaining that to Nate but he’d been stubborn and pig-headed the last three days. He just stomped around the house and growled. For the most part she’d ignored him but he had her full attention tonight.
Every time she’d seen him at this party, he’d had another young beauty on his arm gazing up at him adoringly. At first she’d rolled her eyes at his blatant attempt to rile her up but now it was becoming downright hurtful. He’d ignored her all night and surely people were noticing his behavior. He was being an ass and she didn’t have the patience for it. Time to grow up and act like an adult instead of a spoiled and pampered movie star who had his every whim catered to. Except by her.
Frankly, she’d had enough of this shitshow. He might be acting like a jerk but she didn’t need to stand here and be a witness to his foolishness. The longer she stood here, the less respect she had for herself. Just what kind of woman did he think she was? Some passive little ingénue that hung on his every word? Fuck no.
Determined to put an end to this awful night, she tucked her purse under her arm and strode over to where he was holding court, a bevy of females surrounding him.
Prince fucking Charming, he was not.
Nate had his bac
k to Paige so she had to tap him on the shoulder to get his attention. He whirled around, his cheeks pink from the alcohol he’d consumed and his balance slightly off.
Great, he’s drunk.
Tensing, Paige steeled herself, determined not to show any weakness. She’d never seen Nate inebriated but she’d seen other men in that condition and they hadn’t impressed her with their common sense and decorum. She wasn’t going to argue with a drunk. There was no point to it and if what she thought was true, Nate had orchestrated all of this tonight because he was pissed and acting out.
“Darling, are you having a good time?”
He had a drink he didn’t need in one hand, the other arm around the smirking skank who was currently looking Paige up and down, probably wondering what Nate saw in her. If the woman had the poor taste to ask, Paige wasn’t above telling her that Nate loved how she gave head.
“Actually I think I’ve had enough fun for one night. I’m going back to the house.”
Paige didn’t imagine the woman’s hand clinging to Nate a little tighter, pulling him closer and smiling more invitingly. He scowled and seemed to have to think about what she said as if she’d spoken a foreign language. One of the six he didn’t already speak.
“Home? But it’s early.” He suddenly seemed to notice the appendage he’d grown since they’d last seen one another. “Darling, have you met Bethany Sinclair? Bethany, this is Paige Mitchell. Paige, this is Bethany.”
Bethany nodded coolly and Paige almost burst out laughing. Did this woman actually think she’d stolen something from Paige tonight? Like the man standing between them was a designer purse or a great pair of shoes? People weren’t objects and they came and went as they pleased. That’s why she’d chosen to go.
Paige ignored Bethany. This wasn’t about her anyway, not really. This was about Nate being a jackass.
“I’ll just take a taxi. You can take the limo whenever you’re ready to leave. Good night.”
Turning on her expensive high heel, she marched to the front entrance and out onto the sidewalk feeling rather proud of herself. She hadn’t lost her temper or made a scene. So far, so good.
She was about to head for one of the taxis lined up when a large and masculine hand landed on her arm.
Well, shit. She’d thought she was home free.
“What is your problem?”
Slowly, she turned to look at him, his question shaking her resolve to stay calm. She only had one problem right now and that was him. He’d been testing her patience all week and she didn’t have much left.
With the light of the streetlamp she could really see his face, unlike inside the club. His color was high and his eyes were red-rimmed. Drinking really didn’t look good on him. He looked old and worn, not nearly the cinema heartthrob he was supposed to be.
“I’m sick to my stomach if you must know. Now let go of my arm.”
If anything his fingers tightened and he leaned down, his usually soft blue eyes a sharp shade of gray. His breath stunk of whiskey and cigarettes. When had he snuck a smoke? He knew that she hated it. “Don’t be difficult. We came together, we leave together. Do you want the press to start talking?”
Paige almost fell off her Jimmy Choos. He had the nerve to talk about the press? Was he drunk and stupid?
Her gaze darted around the sidewalk where a few people milled, having a smoke or climbing into a cab. “This isn’t the best place to do this. Let’s go home.”
Nate was looking down his patrician nose at her. Honest to God. She’d read about it in books but had never actually seen anyone do it, but here he was with an arrogant haughty expression that defied logic. Did he think he had the moral high ground here?
“I’m not ready to leave,” he whined. “I want to stay and have fun. That’s your problem—you’re no fun.”
He hadn’t thought that when he was fucking her on every horizontal or vertical surface in his house the last few months but then she had to remind herself this was all part of his plan. He was pushing her into a confrontation so he could get his way.
“Depends on your definition of fun, Treetop. Now I’m going. Are you staying?”
His hand dropped from her arm and the fucker sneered. Sneered. Shit, he’d pulled out all the stops for this. “Go home then. It’s much more enjoyable without you.”
Maybe a saint or a smarter woman could have walked away but Paige was neither of those. She was human and when stabbed, she bled just like anyone else. She should have turned her back and walked away but her mouth was in charge.
“Bethany looks like she knows how to party. You better get back in there before she finds another guy who’s better-looking and has more money.”
That smug smile was back on his face and she wanted more than anything to smack it off.
“You’re jealous,” he said so condescendingly it made her want to hurl. What was it about the British accent that could make something sound so pompous? “Really, darling, you’re going to have to get used to women flirting with me. If you can’t take it, then perhaps this relationship isn’t going to work out.”
Pressing two fingertips to her temple, she would have sworn there and then she’d just had some sort of stroke. He couldn’t have said that. No way.
But as she played his words backwards and forwards she realized he had. He was going a hell of a lot further than she’d thought he would. This was the plan and he wanted them to have it out, right here and now.
Alrighty then.
“Nate, I have been dealing with women flirting and throwing themselves at you since the day I met you and I think I’ve been doing a damn good job with it. You see, that doesn’t really bother me all that much. What burns my ass is when my boyfriend, the man I’ve been sharing a bed and my life with, spends the last few hours flirting back. In front of me. In front of your friends. In front of the press. You said you’d never humiliate me but tonight you did. You deliberately hurt me tonight because you’re mad.”
If she thought Nate might back down and apologize, she was wrong. She should have remembered he’d told her he had a temper. He bent over so they were nose to nose.
“I can do anything I fucking want. I’m Nate Mason. You’re so uptight and anxious, such a control freak. Every fucking thing has to be your way. I just wanted to have some fun tonight but you couldn’t allow that, could you? You can’t stand for anyone to do something without your permission.”
Silently reminding herself that this was all to provoke her, she held onto her temper by a slim thread. This was not the time or the place for her to blow her stack. Her brain couldn’t stop her body from reacting, however, and a red tide of heat swept over her, making her legs jelly and her heart race. She was literally shaking with rage. It was only through years of keeping her cool that she was able to speak somewhat rationally.
“Only a child thinks they should be able to do anything they want, Nate. Real adults know that isn’t possible. As for having fun, no one is stopping you. Rock on or whatever. I’m done with this conversation. You want me to scream and make a scene so you can justify what you did here tonight. You’re frustrated and mad because you think you know me better than I do myself. News flash. I’m not as dumb as the women you’ve dated in the past. You’re about as transparent as your skank-friend’s dress.”
She turned and grabbed the door handle of a taxi but she wasn’t quite fast enough.
“Go. I’m going back to Bethany. At least she appreciates me. Go back to the suburbs and your boring pathetic existence.”
For fuck’s sake.
She whirled back around, her temper battering at the bars of its cage like a wild animal desperate to be let out. He’d taken one step too far. What had started out as Nate lashing out for imagined slights had turned into something far different. He was angry because she wouldn’t listen to him. Well, she was listening to him now and not liking what he was saying in the least.
“My poor baby, you don’t feel appreciated? I don’t adore and worship you
enough, like one of your fangirls? Welcome to the human race, you asshole. Nobody is appreciated enough. You’re spoiled,” she hissed, no longer able to control all the emotions that were threatening to spill out and make a mess. Angry tears pricked the back of her eyes and her hands shook with the effort it took not to slap him into next week. “A spoiled little mama’s boy who needs everybody to love him and tell him how great he is. If all you want is a woman to tell you how handsome and sexy you are, how great of an actor you are, and never, ever call you on your bullshit, then you’re absolutely right. This relationship could never work out. Go back to what’s-her-name because I don’t have the time or energy to prop up your king-sized ego twenty-four seven.”
This time she did manage to wrench the taxi door open and stumbled into the back seat. Nate didn’t come after her, simply standing there on the sidewalk as the cab pulled away and into traffic. Tears she’d been holding in began to fall, her body shaking with sobs she couldn’t control. She turned to look out of the back window. To see him one more time.
He’d gone back inside.
CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR
Worn out and now dry-eyed, Paige shoved socks and underwear into a bag along with the jeans and shirts she’d already packed. She’d changed out of her cocktail dress and high heels and into a pair of trousers and a sweater. The dress was pretty but just looking at it made her wince. It would be forever tainted after tonight. Shoving her cosmetics on top of her panties, she looked around the room for anything she’d forgotten. She was only packing for a day or two, needing the space to think. She couldn’t stay here and deal with his drunken ass when he finally stumbled home, probably smelling of whiskey and Bethany’s perfume. Sitting around and waiting for a man to come home simply wasn’t her style. Depending on the outcome of her time away, she could always come back and pack the rest of her things if she needed to.
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