“You always know, don’t you?”
“Sometimes I think we share a brain.”
“Please, spare me that. I would be a wrinkled crone if I knew everything you got up to.”
“Probably.”
“Mmm. For instance. Sable?”
“Is that what this is about?” Colt rubbed a hand over his face. “I wondered when someone would say something, but I expected it to be Dad or Wyatt.”
“I imagine your father will have a few words with you before you leave. I want to talk to you about Wyatt. Have you spoken to him lately?”
Colt watched as her eyes darkened. There was no mistaking the sign. Callie was worried about her oldest son.
“He called this morning. He sounded fine.”
Colt glanced at his brother. Then he looked. Really looked. Wyatt seemed a bit quiet. Almost removed from everyone. His eyes seemed tired—weary. And his hands were restless, arranging his silverware and fussing with his napkin.
Colt recognized the signs and it made his stomach clench. He did a quick mental calculation. Damn it. He had been so distracted with the movie and Sable, Colt had lost track of time.
“I forgot all about it.”
“Four years next week.” Callie kept her voice low. “That bitch wasn’t happy to torment him while they were married. She had to die—on their anniversary. Wyatt relives it every year.”
The truth was, Wyatt lived with the guilt of his wife’s death every day. It was a constant companion that he couldn’t shake no matter how much time passed. The bloom left the marriage early on. Stephanie was a manipulative, self-obsessed harpy. On top of that? She was a secret drinker who, the longer they were married, stopped hiding it. She came out of the proverbial alcoholic’s closet. Loud and proud.
Her death had been ruled accidental. A car accident, in the mountains, on rain-slickened roads. But knowing Stephanie, she chose the day Wyatt married her to end it. The perfect way to make certain he never forgot her. One last punch to his already battered gut.
“If I thought it would work, I would hire an exorcist to chase that she-devil from his soul.” Callie sounded close to tears.
Colt squeezed her hand. He knew better than anyone the pain and suffering Wyatt went through. Most days, he seemed fine. No. He was fine. But Stephanie was like malaria. Once in his bloodstream, one never knew when the disease would reappear. Only, in Wyatt’s case, there was no treatment. He couldn’t shake her, no matter how hard he tried.
“I’ll talk to him before he leaves. I hoped this year would pass without a problem.”
“It might,” Callie said. “I want to make sure someone is there for him. Just in case. When I ask, he claims that everything is fine. You’re the only one he opens up to, Colt.”
“I won’t let him close down, Mom. Please, don’t worry.”
“I’m a mother.”
“Right,” Colt nodded. He had heard this before. “Worry becomes part of your DNA.”
“I’ve been lucky. Your father and I have raised four strong, decent men. However, the world likes to throw all of us the occasional curve ball. It threw Wyatt a big, crap-covered one.” Callie shrugged. “He hurts. I hurt.”
“I have his back.”
“Then I can worry a little less.”
Callie sent him a smile, one he knew very well. This time, when Colt’s stomach clenched it had nothing to do with Wyatt. Oh, boy, he thought. Here it comes. “How are things with you?”
“Great. The movie is on time and under budget. That should help Wyatt’s spirits.”
“And Sable? Are you adjusting to a permanent bodyguard?”
“Temporarily permanent,” he reminded her.
“I like that jacket she has on.”
“It’s okay.”
“Colton.”
Callie patiently waited for him to tell her everything. She could afford patience. When she turned that sharp, silver gaze on them, her sons never held out long.
“Fine. I bought Sable a few things.”
“Really?”
“A lot of things,” he admitted sheepishly. “She needed them.”
“Twelve pairs of running shoes?”
Jesus. That many? Colt didn’t care about the money, but who needed twelve?
“Sable let me know I’d messed up, Mom.”
“I should hope so.” Callie smiled. Warm. Loving. Understanding. “I want you to think long and hard about why you found it necessary to buy her all those things, Colton.”
“Mom—”
“Long and hard. Understood?”
“Yes. Understood.”
“Good.” She patted his hand. “Here is Lorena with dessert. Lemon icebox cake. Stop frowning and dig in. I know who much you love it.”
Colt ate his dessert and it was excellent. As always. But his mind was on his mother’s words. He didn’t want to think long and hard about clothes or motives. Or for that matter, Sable. They were having fun. Wasn’t that enough?
He looked across the table at Sable. She and Jade were laughing over something Garrett had said. As if sensing his gaze, she turned her head, her eyes meeting his.
The zing in the region of his heart didn’t mean squat. Too much rich food. As soon as he hit the gym, he would work off the calories and everything would be back on an even keel. He and Sable had a limited amount of time together. One movie shoot. At the most, five or six weeks left. He didn’t want to ruin it by examining his feelings.
Sable was his friend. His lover. He treasured her as both. But when they parted, he would move on. And so would she.
Shit. There it was again. Not a zing. This time, it felt like a vice tightening around his heart.
Colt shook it off and finished his dessert. He didn’t do long-term relationships. His career wasn’t suited to them. And he wasn’t ready to fall in love. Not with Sable. Not with anyone.
CHAPTER TEN
FILMMAKING WAS A mystery to Sable.
She had known the basics before she began spending her days on the set. Scenes were not shot in order of the story. The climactic reunion was already being edited. While today they were filming the first time the lovers met.
It seemed odd, but it worked. It had since the beginning of movies over a hundred years ago. Colt explained that most days he didn’t think about the story arc. He focused on the moment. The words. The emotions or actions he needed to convey right now. If he did his job, the movie would fit together seamlessly. With the help of a skilled, and often underrated, editor.
Sable understood all of that. What she couldn’t grasp was the outrageous waste of time. The soldier in her hated inactivity. In the Army, there was always something to do. Cleaning and repairing her gear. Working out. Tactical meetings. Or a few minutes of much-needed shut-eye. She never let time slip away without accomplishing something.
After a few weeks of observation, she concluded making a movie consisted of two things. Bursts of frantic activity. And hours of standing around.
“Today has been a bitch. For a nickel, I would chuck the business. Want to run off to Tahiti?”
Sable blinked in surprise. Colt never complained. Well, sometimes he grumbled about his co-star. In spite of her efforts, Colt hadn’t succumbed to the charms of Candice DeMarcco. If she really wanted him, she was going about it in the wrong way.
On a good day, Candice was temperamental. She treated the crew like crap, making demands that sent them running in every direction except the right one. She often flubbed her lines, or worse, hadn’t learned them. Today’s major delay had been caused by her complaint that her blouse wasn’t the right shade of pink. She refused to come out of her trailer until fuchsia was replaced by peony.
“Tahiti sounds great. When do we leave?”
“As soon as you change. I’m already dressed for island living.”
At the moment, Colt wore nothing but a pair of board shorts and flip-flops. Sable could see the goosebumps on his arms. Apparently his anger kept him warm. Knowing that wouldn’t last
long, she motioned for his assistant to get him a jacket.
“You wouldn’t make it to take-off.” Smiling her thanks, Sable took the jacket. “Stand up.”
Colt obliged. This was the first time Sable had fussed over him. He liked it. When she fastened the last button, he tipped her chin and gave her a sweet thank you kiss.
“I’m serious.”
“I know. And I don’t blame you. America’s sweetheart needs a firm kick in the butt.”
“Are you volunteering for duty?”
Sable leaned close, adjusting his collar.
“Trust me, it would be a pleasure, not a duty.”
Colt pulled Sable in for a hug, his arms slipping around her waist. He swayed, almost dancing, enjoying how easily she adjusted to his rhythm.
“We aren’t going to Tahiti.” He felt a touch of regret.
“No. Face it, pretty boy. You aren’t the type to skip out. This is a job, but more than that, it’s a promise. You made a commitment. Think of all the people you would put out of work. Nope. It doesn’t matter if you never joined. You, Colton Landis, are a Boy Scout at heart.”
“Mmm.” His breath tickled her ear. “Sounds boring.”
“There is nothing boring about a good man.”
Colt felt his chest puff out. He heard it in her voice. She handed him the ultimate compliment. In Sable’s world, good men were few and far between. He was proud to be added to that short, but precious list.
“Rene is at her wits’ end.”
Sable tried to pull away, but Colt muttered, “Nope.” And held her firmly in place. He knew she could get away in a heartbeat, but she understood. He needed comforting. She stayed put and turned her head.
“You look pretty frazzled yourself.”
Kiki Donahue flopped onto one of the chairs.
“What the fuck is the difference between fuchsia and peony?”
“Peony is a paler shade of pink.”
Sable and Kiki gave Colt matching stares of amazement.
“My mother loves her garden,” he said with a grin. “Real men love flowers.”
“No question. You are without a doubt a real man.”
Kiki made a gagging sound. “Give me a break. Rene is giving me grief because she has no recourse to deal with Candice. I broke up with my boyfriend over a month ago, so I’m in the middle of a sexual drought. Do me a favor? Keep the lovey-dovey crap to a minimum. At least, when I’m around.”
“That’s it.” With a kiss on her cheek, Colt set Sable away from him. “I gave the bitch a long piece of rope and now she’s hung herself. I’m going to remind her that she’s supposed to be a professional. And if that doesn’t work, I’ll call in the big gun.”
“Should we be worried?” Kiki asked Sable as they watched Colt stride toward Candice’s trailer.
“No. Colt won’t hurt her.”
“I know that. I meant should we worry about his threat? The big gun? Whatever it is, it sounds dangerous.”
“Not what. Who. Candice needs to pay attention to Colt. Because from what I’ve heard, nobody wants to get on the bad side of Wyatt Landis.”
IT TOOK HIM an hour. Sable didn’t know what Colt said to Candice, but when she returned to the set, she was all sweetness and light. And she was wearing the original blouse. Bright fuchsia. Not a peony in sight.
The beach scene went off without a hitch. They wrapped it up in only two takes. Rene called cut, and the crew began breaking down the set. The privately owned oceanside property was rented until sundown today. If they hadn’t finished on schedule, the overage costs would have been astronomical.
Colt saved the day, artistically and financially.
Sable waited while Colt conferred with Rene about tomorrow’s schedule. He had a producing credit in the movie. At first, Sable had been surprised by how seriously he took the title. He never left the set without making sure everything was set for tomorrow. It made his day longer, but he never complained. It wouldn’t have occurred to him. He grew up learning every end of the family business. Sometimes through osmosis. Mostly by asking questions and doing his homework.
The more Sable learned about Colton Landis, the more she admired him.
“Hi, Janis,” Sable smiled. She hadn’t seen the actress for over a week. She only had a handful of scenes with Colt, so they were always missing each other.
“Promise me you won’t shoot the messenger?”
“That sounds ominous.”
“I say it’s a ball of crap, but…”
“Spill the beans, Janis.” Sable preferred that everything was done in a straight line—including gossip.
“Candice is telling anyone who will listen, and around here, that’s just about everyone, that Colt talked her around the old-fashioned way. Horizontally.”
“She claims they had sex?” Sable shook her head. “That is sad and pathetic.”
“I agree. Unfortunately, juicy gossip has a way of spreading. Each retelling is embellished. Tomorrow the rags will have Candice pregnant with Colt’s love child.”
“It can’t hurt me, Janis. I know it’s a lie.”
Sable meant every word. Her skin was tough. Forged by the kind of maliciousness that Hollywood could never come close to matching. Once you had survived the military grapevine, you could survive anything.
“I admire your attitude. But remember. When a lie is juicy enough, nobody cares about the truth.”
“The truth is the only thing that matters. Even if you’re the only one who knows what that is.”
“God! I want to be you.” Janis laughed when Sable snorted in disbelief. “Honestly. You have your shit together. And I wouldn’t mind taking over your body for a few hours. What’s it like to look like a supermodel?”
“It’s the clothes.”
Sable lovingly ran a hand over the teal-colored cashmere jacket. Every morning, because she knew she couldn’t be seen, she danced around her closet deciding what to wear. She discovered something new every time. It was like her own personal designer outlet.
She would never let Colt know, but it was going to be torture to leave it all behind. For now, it was hers. And she reveled in wearing something different whenever she went out.
“Please.” Janis scoffed. “You would look good in a gunny sack. It’s the long legs. And the cheekbones. And the attitude.”
“Attitude?” Sable asked, puzzled. “I have an attitude?”
“You said it yourself. You don’t care what other people think.”
“That’s a loose interpretation of what I said, Janis.”
Sable didn’t care what strangers thought. But there was one person whose opinion meant more than anyone else. At one time, her father was her biggest supporter. Now, she didn’t know what he thought. Until he answered her endless messages, she would never know.
“Nope. I stand by my words.” Janis hopped off the chair. She fluffed her blonde hair before giving Sable a quick hug. “I have to run. There’s a certain hunky sound man with killer blue eyes who claims to make a mean margarita. Tonight I’m going to find out. If all goes well, I’ll get a little tipsy and have my way with him. See you later.”
“Is it me?” Colt slung a friendly arm around Sable’s shoulders. “Janis is always rushing away whenever I arrive.”
“It isn’t you.” Sable turned into his embrace. “As far as I can tell, she rushes everywhere. Tonight she’s rushing to get laid.”
“I can’t think of a better reason.”
“Me either.” Sable brushed her lips against his. “I’ll race you to your trailer. First one naked wins.”
“How about this? You take your clothes off while I watch and I will do anything you want.”
“Anything? Careful what you promise. I can be very demanding.”
Grinning, Colt took her hand, leading her toward his trailer.
“We have all night. Demand away.”
COLT HAD WAITED a few days to speak with Wyatt. He knew from experience that his brother wouldn’t appreciate his
interference. When he began to slide into his personal black hole, he wanted to do it alone. Colt loved him too much to let that happen. He made sure he was always around to pull Wyatt out.
Once it meant flying in from the Australian Outback. He looked like a Yeti and smelled like the underside of a koala, but he made it. And he would do it again. Any time. Anywhere.
Since he was shooting his current film in and around Los Angeles, keeping an eye on Wyatt was simpler. Colt called his brother as he was getting ready to leave for the set.
“Why don’t you stop by after work? We’ll order a couple of pizzas and catch up.”
“I’ve been expecting your call.” Colt could hear the impatience in Wyatt’s voice. “Mom put you on my scent.”
There was no point in denying it.
“Come over, Wyatt. If you don’t, I’ll track you down.”
“You can try.”
Great. Colt sighed. Wyatt was in one of those moods. His brother went to work every day in a suit and tie. He presented a polished, sophisticated image to the world. However, when the mood hit, he could be the toughest badass in town.
This time? Colt had a secret weapon.
“I’ll send Sable.”
At first, Wyatt didn’t respond. Then Colt heard a deep, heartfelt sigh.
“You don’t play fair, little brother.”
“I learned from the best.”
“Fuck you,” Wyatt grumbled.
“I love you too,” Colt shot back. “I’ll see you at seven. Sharp.”
COLT WATCHED AS Sable dabbed a bit of color on her lips. Red. It matched the dress that caressed the creamy skin of her shoulders and hugged the swell of her hips.
His view from the bed was prime. Every time she bent to pick something up, her short skirt tightened across her gorgeous ass. As a bonus, it crept up her thighs, exposing an extra inch or two of her long, shapely legs. He reclined on one elbow and smiled.
“Promise me you won’t leave the loft.”
“We went through this already. Wyatt is coming over. Unless the place catches on fire, we won’t budge.”
“Fire. I should have thought of that. I can’t go.”
Dreaming Of Your Love (Hollywood Legends #3) Page 12
