The actors were seemingly motivated to have some time off even if it meant being stuck in their homes. The next few takes went off without a hitch and by three o’clock they had finished for the day. Ryan was one of the last to leave and he locked his trailer behind him before climbing into his rented vehicle.
He gave one last look around, hoping to spot Sierra but she must have left before lunch since her scenes were done. She’d been difficult to speak to the last few days, always surrounded by others. He really wanted to talk to her, just the two of them. He wouldn’t press her to go out on a date with him – she’d made her feelings clear about that – but he simply wanted to spend some time with her. They’d had fun the other night. She was so smart and funny, not at all like his nightmare of a leading lady Angela.
Holy hell, that woman should come with a warning label and a bottle of Valium. No wonder Stan had collapsed on the set. She’d been driving Ryan crazy for two days, asking question after question about her character, her motivation, her dialogue. Anything and everything she could think of so that her ass was planted in his trailer between takes. He wasn’t an idiot. He knew good and well what Angela wanted. She wasn’t going to get it, though. He’d rather kiss a snake. With tongue.
The temperature was dropping rapidly so he was glad to be back in his little condo less than fifteen minutes later. The rain was falling steadily now and according to the weather report on the radio, it was all going to turn to ice overnight making driving conditions treacherous. All citizens were advised to stay the hell home.
Tired to the bone from trying to get the picture back on schedule, Ryan fell back onto the couch and flipped on the television. Daytime television sucked. There was nothing on but talk shows and old reruns. He settled on an episode of “Leave it to Beaver” and settled back to watch the Beav getting in trouble for some little thing that most parents wouldn’t give a shit about. And that Eddie Haskell needed to get his ass kicked.
At some point Ryan must have drifted off because when he woke the room was dark and the television was quiet. The condo was chilly and he pulled the throw from the back of the sofa around his shoulders as he stood to check the thermostat. The temperature must have really dropped outside for the house to be this cold.
I don’t remember turning off the television. Or this lamp.
Reaching for the switch, he turned it several times – the click loud in the silence – but the lamp didn’t turn on. Same with the television, the lamp on the other end table, and every light switch in the house. The power was out.
The house was cold and quiet except for the sound of the rain on the roof. He was safe indoors but for how long? No heat. Barely any food, and with the power off it would all spoil anyway.
Son of a bitch.
* * *
Bundled up in her coat, hat, and gloves, Sierra stirred the tomato sauce bubbling on the little camp stove she’d purchased at a big box store yesterday. She’d set it up on the screened-in back patio since there was no way she was going to use it indoors. Her cheeks were cold and rosy but she was keeping warm sipping a relaxing glass of wine while stirring the pasta and sauce.
Growing up in Wisconsin, she’d been in more than a few snow and ice storms, so she’d assumed the power would go off. Since her scenes had finished early yesterday, she’d headed out to buy supplies to get through, not wanting to be cold and hungry for twenty-four to thirty-six hours. Most of the bread and milk was gone, but she’d bought that earlier in the week on a regular shopping trip. Instead, she’d picked up a few staples and some storm must-haves too, like marshmallows for roasting over the fire.
The little two-burner propane camp stove had been her best purchase and now she wouldn’t have to eat cold food for two days.
“I thought I smelled food. Woman, what are you doing?”
The sound of Ryan’s voice had her whirling around to find him standing just outside of her patio door. He was wearing a scowl as if she had offended him deeply. She’d been trying to give him a wide berth the last few days and for the most part it had worked. He’d been so busy and she’d made sure not to be alone as much as possible.
What does it look like I’m doing? Making origami swans?
“I’m cooking dinner,” she explained, turning back to her red sauce. He looked absolutely delicious as well, dressed in jeans, a t-shirt, and an oversized brown coat. “What are you doing? You should be careful walking around. It’s slick out there.”
Ryan opened the screen door and strode in so he was right next to her. He leaned down and took a huge whiff of tomato and garlic.
“That smells amazing. But how are you cooking it? The power is out.”
Sierra pointed to the propane canister on the floor. “Propane. It’s a camp stove. Haven’t you ever been camping?”
He shook his head, still sniffing the sauce. “No, and I wasn’t a Boy Scout either. Did this stove come with the condo? Do you think I have one, too?”
Clearly, the man was hungry. And lost as to what to do when the power was out. Seriously, how did these millionaires function by themselves?
“Doubtful. I bought this yesterday when I saw the weather forecast, along with some food.”
“No point in buying food,” he shrugged. “Power’s out. It will just go bad.”
He was so handsome and sexy, yet he didn’t have a clue.
“Ryan, we can make ice easily and place it in the freezer to keep the food cold, not that I have that much perishable stuff. But it should keep what we have cold until we hopefully get power back tomorrow or the next day.”
“You’ve thought of everything. You’ll have food and I guess we can huddle around the stove for warmth.”
We? When did I become we?
You know you have to invite him to stay for dinner. It’s only polite. He’ll starve without you.
“Or you can light a fire in the fireplace,” she suggested. “That’s what I did.”
He frowned again. “You have wood?”
“I had some delivered. There was an ad in the local paper.”
Sierra couldn’t let Ryan freeze and starve to death. His well-being was far more important than her emotional comfort. She couldn’t make this about her. Time to woman up.
“I have enough food for two,” she said. “And you’re welcome to stay with me. You know…if you want to. It’s not super warm but it’s better than what you’d have at your place.”
Ryan stepped back and shook his head. “I don’t want to intrude. I’ll be fine on my own.”
But he was looking longingly at the sauce.
“You’re not intruding. It will be nice to have the company. The pasta should be done so I’ll take this inside and strain it. Why don’t you go get your things next door and then come over? We can eat and then roast marshmallows for dessert.”
It must have been the mention of marshmallows that did it because a grin crossed his face and he bounded away with a cheery, “Thanks, I’ll be right back.”
I am so stupid, but I couldn’t send him away. We’d find his body in the spring thaw.
Sierra was going to spend the twenty-four hours or more alone in an intimate space with a man she lusted after.
What could possibly go wrong?
CHAPTER TEN
Ryan was a man with a healthy appetite. Between the two of them they’d managed to finish off all the pasta plus half of the crusty loaf of bread Sierra had picked up at the bakery downtown. Over dinner he’d regaled her of tales from the movie sets he’d been on while she listened mesmerized to the behind the scenes stories of some of her favorite stars.
“Wait,” Sierra said, sitting up from where she was lounging in the front of the fire. They’d built a mound of pillows and eaten dinner there. “You were an actor? I had no idea.”
Chuckling, Ryan stretched out more comfortably. “I did always want to be a director but I did some acting jobs early in my career so I could see things from both sides. Believe me when I say that I prefer being behind the
camera.”
“When the power comes back on, I’m going to search for those movies and rent them. I must see this.”
She had to admit to a certain curiosity about how Ryan looked almost twenty years ago.
“Then don’t blink. Because in a couple of those masterpieces, my screen time is almost nothing. I’m not complaining, though. I think it’s probably best that no one thinks about me when they remember those movies.” He leaned forward so they were almost nose to nose. She could smell his aftershave mixed with the oak scent of the burning wood. “In other words, they sucked. Really badly. I wasn’t much better. I think the entire industry is better for me being retired from acting.”
Sierra sipped at her wine, enjoying its warmth in her belly. “What was your first big break?”
He thought about her question before answering it immediately, his fingertip tapping his chin. “I don’t know if it was my big break but it was a milestone for me. I directed a short in film school that caught the attention of a few people in the business. I didn’t get a job out of it but they basically encouraged me to keep going. It was just the thing I needed at the time. I was becoming rapidly disillusioned with the movie business. You know how it is.”
Technically…no, she didn’t. Sierra hadn’t said a word but her expression must have told the story.
“You don’t know how it is,” Ryan replied, laughter in his tone. “Well, let me tell you it’s a jungle out there. A real dog eat dog kind of profession.”
“I have seen it,” she protested, not wanting to seem like she’d used her contacts and friends. “It’s just I’ve been lucky enough to not have experienced it.”
“You don’t have anything to apologize for, honey. Show business is all about who you know, and you know some powerful people. There’s no shame in that. If you weren’t any good, you wouldn’t have snagged this part. You absolutely would have gotten the audition, but they wouldn’t have cast you. You’re good.”
She felt the heat rush to her cheeks at his compliment. That was something she wasn’t sure she would ever get used to hearing. Kind words were an item that she and Billie didn’t get much of growing up, nor had Sierra found them with her ex.
Did he realize he called me honey? I kind of like that.
“Thank you. I’ve been very lucky.”
It seemed better to not make a big deal about it.
Ryan refilled his own glass and held up the bottle but she shook her head. As pleasant as this was she needed to keep a clear head on her shoulders. She didn’t want to make a fool of herself, which was entirely possible if she had too much to drink.
“You and Billie are twins, right?”
“We are, although not identical.”
That was pretty obvious but some people didn’t get the distinction regarding one egg compared to two separate ones.
“That must have been great growing up. You had a built-in friend. I bet you’re really close. Are you the kind of twins who know what the other is thinking and feeling? Would you know if Billie was hurt or sick?”
Yes, but it isn’t as great as it sounds. Feeling someone else’s emotions is creepy.
“It was nice,” she replied instead. Talking about her childhood wasn’t high on her to-do list. “Billie is the best sister ever.”
“I’ve never met Tyler but he seems like a good guy. I have met Sam Collins and Nate Mason, though. All solid actors. Did you know I almost directed the last Thunder picture? We couldn’t work out the scheduling, though.”
Sierra could see Ryan hanging out with Tyler and his friends. They were very much alike.
“They would have liked that but be warned they like to play practical jokes on set.”
Ryan threw back his head and laughed. “I’ve heard about a few of them. I might have a few up my sleeve as well. I grew up in a house of five brothers. You had to be ruthless to survive.”
He’d already spoken about his childhood in Southern California. It sounded idyllic to Sierra, who hadn’t had the best upbringing. Two parents that loved him. Security. A warm home and food on the table.
“As the middle child I would have thought you wouldn’t get involved in shenanigans like that.”
His smile was evil and he waggled his eyebrows. “I was the worst of all of them but I was good at blaming it on all of my siblings. No one ever suspects the middle child. We pretend we’re quiet but inside…”
“You’re a troublemaker,” she finished for him. “You wanted the attention you didn’t get in your childhood?”
She’d asked the question in jest but his smile told her she was on the money.
“Hell, yeah. But I want the attention on my terms. Being a famous actor isn’t my thing, so I guess it’s lucky for me I didn’t have any talent. Now directing, that’s something I love and I get just enough attention for it. What about you? Did you get enough attention as a child, Sierra?”
She’d heard all the theories about actors and actresses. How they craved external approval and were riddled with insecurities. She’d spoken at length to her therapist about it and they’d concluded that she liked having an avenue to channel her emotions whether happy, sad, angry, or hurt. It was a safe avenue for her but mostly she simply enjoyed inhabiting another person, if only for a little while. She liked seeing the world through their eyes, figuring out how they would respond to a situation. It didn’t hurt that she had years of hurt, fear, and disappointment to tap to bring the characters to life.
He’d opened up to her, so she didn’t want to be rude. In the last few hours, she’d felt closer to him than she had almost anyone since she’d left Wisconsin.
“I wouldn’t say that my childhood was any sort of blueprint for a healthy adulthood. As for attention, that’s something that Billie and I didn’t want from our mother. It was never a good thing.”
His smile fell and he frowned, his brow furrowed as he appeared to digest her reply.
“I’ve never heard Billie talk about her childhood in interviews. I’m guessing that it wasn’t a good one.”
“It wasn’t,” Sierra confirmed, finding that it wasn’t as difficult as she’d imagined to tell him. In fact, it felt rather freeing. She didn’t have anything to be ashamed about. Her mother’s failings weren’t Sierra’s. “My mother had a drinking problem and my father left soon after we were born.”
His expression was sympathetic but not pitying, a fact she appreciated. She didn’t want his pity. She didn’t want anyone’s pity.
I’m not a victim. I’m a survivor.
“Christ, I’m so sorry, honey. That must have been tough, growing up like that. So did you and Billie leave home for Hollywood together?”
And just when she thought she was on solid ground, the earth moved under her and she was weak-kneed like a newborn colt. That question was a loaded one. Ryan didn’t have a clue.
I could tell him.
But I haven’t told anyone.
Maybe that’s why I should.
It’s not my fault. I shouldn’t have to hide and lie.
But he might not understand. He might think you’re weak. He might blame you for not leaving.
If he does, then I’ll know who he truly is.
“No,” she finally answered, realizing she’d left a long silence in the air. “Billie left but I stayed in Wisconsin. I had…a boyfriend. I later married him. That was a mistake. I should have left with Billie.”
Short. To the point. Few details. He might just take it at face value and move on with the conversation.
Ryan sighed and scraped his hand down his face. “And that’s why you turned me down when I asked you out? You just got out of a bad marriage? I hope you didn’t think I was pressuring you. I’m not like that. I just really like you. Christ, I can’t seem to get the words out right. If I had known you’d just split up with your husband, I wouldn’t have–I wouldn’t have asked you out.”
She had to admire his ego. It was certainly healthy as a horse. He didn’t think she’d turned him down
because she wasn’t interested. He was assuming it was because of her past relationship.
Which was actually the truth. She was interested, and she’d said no because she was an idiot.
“It wasn’t that recent and I’m not heartbroken. Maybe I just turned you down because I’m not attracted to you. Maybe you make me physically ill.”
She couldn’t help teasing him a little. He deserved it.
“Physically ill.” He slapped a hand on his chest dramatically. “How painful. Is it my hideous face? My body? Or my boring personality? I know…I smell. That’s it, isn’t it?”
If only… Resisting him would be easy.
“All of those things,” Sierra said matter-of-factly. “You’re just not my type. But I guess you are Angela’s type from what I’ve seen on set.”
There. I said it.
He groaned and rolled his eyes. “She’s a royal pain in the ass. I was warned about her but she’s even worse than I thought.”
“She spends a lot of time in your trailer,” Sierra replied, holding her breath.
I am not jealous, though. It doesn’t matter.
“I need a shoehorn to get rid of her,” he scoffed. “Believe me, we’re not doing what everyone thinks we’re doing. Mostly she’s driving me bat crap crazy.”
“She is really beautiful.”
“And crazy,” Ryan added. “I’m not interested in her.”
Sierra was happy to hear that but she wasn’t quite ready to let this go.
“No one would blame you if you were.”
“My friends would have me committed. I’m not interested. In her, anyway.”
Ryan rolled closer so that she was looking into his blue eyes, their lips mere inches away from one another. If either of them moved even slightly, they would be kissing.
Move. Move closer. Kiss him.
She stayed as still as a statue. So did he.
But his gaze seemed to bore right through her, stripping her of all the veneer she’d built up to deal with the world over the years. It was as if he was seeing deep inside of her and that was scary.
And the Winner Is Page 6
