“We played some old school video games and ate some damn fine pizza. We consumed exactly one beer each and ran through half a dozen episodes of Seinfeld. Overall a good evening. Don’t ruin it by playing amateur psychiatrist.”
“Like you do with me?”
“I’m allowed,” Colt grinned. “Don’t forget. You’re fragile.”
“My ass. Do I seem fragile?”
To his relief, Colt had to admit that Wyatt appeared to be in good spirits. He hadn’t fallen into a dark funk this year. More like a shady introspection.
“You look good.”
“I am good. But it still hurts, Colt. My child would have been five years old this year.”
“Wyatt… “
“Enough.” Wyatt took a deep breath. “I’m sick of my family treating me with kid gloves. It’s time to stop dwelling on the past.”
“I agree. Did you hear that?”
“What?”
Wyatt looked around, giving Colt the perfect opportunity to bounce a pillow off his head.
“Just paying you back. Wyatt.” Wyatt advanced, a pillow in each hand. Colt realized he was out of ammunition and held up his hands. “I was getting even.”
“I’ll show you even.”
Wyatt pummeled Colt with a double-barreled assault. Fast and furious.
“I thought you would have gotten this out of your systems by now.”
“Sable.”
Wyatt used the moment of Sable claiming Colt’s attention to give him one last shot to the head.
“And that is why you never win. You’re too easily distracted.”
“Poor baby.” Sable patted Colt on the head as she passed by on the way to the kitchen. “Are you bleeding?”
“No.” Colt reached for her hand but missed.
“Is your life in imminent danger?” Sable removed a bottle of water from the refrigerator, opened it, and took a sip.
“Not at the moment,” Colt muttered.
“Then stop whining.”
Wyatt laughed at Colt’s disgruntled expression. “For once a woman isn’t fawning over you. Boo hoo.” He put on his jacket. “Sable, you are a breath of fresh air.”
“Are you leaving?” Sable walked Wyatt to the elevator.
“I’ve had all the Colt I can take for one evening.”
“I love you, too,” Colt said, giving Wyatt the finger.
“Mom would be proud.”
“Again.” This time, Colt shot him a double middle-finger salute.
Wyatt ignored him, turning his attention to Sable.
“I’m sorry you have to deal with him, but I live with the happy knowledge that if he gets out of hand, you can kick his ass.” Wyatt gave her a friendly hug.
“How are you?” Sable asked in a voice only he could hear.
Surprised, Wyatt was touched by her concern.
“Spending time with Colt always helps.” Wyatt’s tone matched hers. “But don’t tell him I said so.”
“Your secret is safe with me.”
“Did you have a good time?” Sable asked Colt after Wyatt left.
“Same old. We mostly hung out. He says it’s better this year.”
“You don’t believe him?”
Sable slipped out of her shoes. The four-inch heels looked great but her feet were beginning to scream for relief. She sighed and flexed her toes, then sat next to Colt, curling her legs under her.
“Yes and no.” Colt took her hand, his thumb absently rubbing the back. He liked touching Sable and did so as often as possible. “Most of the time Wyatt is good at keeping his emotions in check. Too good. I believe he’s doing okay but I wish he had someone.”
“Someone?”
“Okay. A woman. He works crazy hours. Wyatt’s idea of leisure time is more work. He’s either in his office downtown, or the one at his house. If Mom didn’t insist he spend time with the family, I doubt he would ever take a break.”
“I know this isn’t any of my business.” Sable hesitated. “Is Wyatt celibate?”
“No. He has sex.”
Colt didn’t add that he suspected Wyatt paid for it. He never asked his brother for confirmation. But the signs were there. It made sense. Wyatt wanted to stay emotionally detached. What better way than treating sex as a business transaction.
Not that Wyatt would pick someone up off the street. There were plenty of high-class operations if you knew where to look. Colt doubted he did it often. But despite the image he presented to the world, Wyatt was only human.
“Enough about that.” Colt leaned close and gave Sable a kiss. “Mmm. I missed you.”
“I was only gone a few hours,” Sable reminded him. But it was nice hearing Colt say it.
“Was that all?” When he looked at her, his eyes were a warm shade of blue. “It seemed like longer. Did you have a good time?”
“Yes. But,” Sable sighed. “Something happened.”
“What? Why didn’t you say something sooner? Are Jade and Paige okay?”
“Slow down.” Giving Colt a reassuring smile, Sable patted his leg. “I wouldn’t have waited to tell you if it were anything serious.”
“Right. Tell me.”
“We arrived at the club. Had a drink. Danced. With each other,” Sable added before Colt could ask. “It was fun.”
“How many guys hit on you?”
“Not many.”
Colt didn’t respond but his look told her he didn’t buy what she was selling.
“Honestly. We made it clear that we weren’t there to be picked up and after a few lame attempts, we were left alone.”
The truth was, the men kept coming, but they were good sports, taking the rejection well. Until they were getting ready to leave.
“After a few hours, we decided we’d had enough. On the way out, a man made a pass at Jade.”
“Shit.”
“He had too much to drink and got handsy. I was about to step in when she used that move I taught her. She had him on the floor, sobbing for mercy, before I could react. Didn’t even break his finger.”
“Great.” Colt was impressed. Jade was nobody’s victim. Not anymore. She had come a long way in a short time.
“Not great. But not bad,” Sable said in a rush. “The car was waiting for us. I’m here and Jade and Paige are on their way home.”
“Then what’s the problem?”
Sable sighed. She handed Colt her phone. “See for yourself.”
The video wasn’t the best quality, but there was no mistaking Jade. Her long red hair stood out in any crowd. Colt watched as someone stopped her by putting a hand on her arm. Jade tried to push him away, but when the man tightened his grip, she grabbed one of his fingers, twisted, and quickly had him on his knees. It was an impressive move. Especially considering that Jade was in a dress and heels and the man outweighed her by close to a hundred pounds.
“Who the hell filmed this?” Colt asked, watching the clip again.
“According to the post, someone called Musiclover666.”
“These days you can’t fart in the wind without it hitting the internet.”
“That’s a lovely analogy,” Sable laughed.
“And accurate.” Colt set the phone down and pulled Sable into his arms. “Paige would have done the same thing.”
“Probably. I taught her the move.”
Colt nuzzled her neck, smiling when she stretched her head to the side, giving him better access. He breathed deeply. The night spent in a crowded club couldn’t mask her unique, heady scent. The smell shot a jolt of desire through his body.
“You have turned my brothers’ women into fierce, take no shit, warriors.”
“If I had my way, I would give every woman in the world the ability to take care of themselves. Do you have a problem with that?”
“Are you kidding? That is so damn sexy.”
Colt slowly unzipped her dress, his hands sliding under the material to caress her warm back. So strong and so soft. The combination drove him crazy.
Sable melted into his touch. “You like that I’m able to take care of myself?”
“The world can be a scary place, Sable. You never know what you’re going to find when you step out your door. Hell, sometimes you don’t have to leave your home. Shit can find you anywhere.” He took her hand and kissed the palm. “Your strength is beautiful.”
She didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. To solve her dilemma, she kissed him.
Sable had traveled the world. Seen sights both breathtaking and horrific. She had rubbed elbows with heads of state and goat farmers. Who would have guessed that, in the middle of a town that dealt in make believe, she would find a man who accepted her for her true self?
“Let’s go to bed,” Colt whispered.
“Later.”
Hitting the switch by the sofa, the room went dark. Sable picked up the remote that worked the window shades. Slowly, the city lights came into view.
“Here?” Colt asked when Sable straddled his legs.
Sable pulled Colt’s shirt over his head and rested her hands on his chest.
“Here.”
She wrapped her arms around Colt, her lips meeting his.
Hollywood was all about dreams. For a little while, she wanted to let herself believe that a wish could come true. Sable looked into Colt’s eyes and suddenly she felt the possibilities were endless.
For a few hours, deep in her heart where no one else could see. Where no one could guess what she wanted more than anything else, she would let herself dream.
It was crazy and impossible. But she didn’t care. Here, in his arms, she didn’t want to be sensible. There would be time enough for practicality tomorrow. Tonight, she would let herself dream of Colt’s love.
CHAPTER TWELVE
SABLE COULDN’T REMEMBER laughing so much in her entire life. Colt had a way of telling a story, no matter how mundane, and bringing it alive. Sometimes he acted it out. But he was equally gifted when he only used words.
Today he expounded on the hazards of a screen kiss.
“I’ve encountered everything from an overabundance of saliva to stubbly upper lips. But the worst is bad breath. God knows I’ve kissed my share of garlic-laden leading ladies.” He laughed. “Try saying that three times fast.”
Sable proceeded to do precisely that.
“Nice.” Colt was impressed.
“Back up. Do you really expect me to believe that an actress would eat garlic before a love scene?”
Sable stuck her head out of her closet. Colt was in what had become his usual spot. At least, when she was dressing. Reclining on the bed, his head propped up on his hand. His feet hung off one side, the double mattress wasn’t made for a body that long.
Most of the time, like now, he wore nothing but a pair of jeans. No socks. No shirt. It made Sable think of a restaurant though she couldn’t imagine anyone denying Colt service.
Dark hair. Laser-bright blue eyes. A killer smile. Not to mention a body that would make the dead drool. Lord, he was gorgeous. And for now, all hers.
Colt would stretch out while she dressed, talking the entire time. Sable loved these moments. She learned more and more about him. He spoke of his childhood. His love of acting. Why he thought cottage cheese was creepy and the difference between brands of root beer. Colt preferred Diet Barq’s. And the reason he always hung up his car keys on the caddy on the wall by the elevator the second he walked into the loft. Because his father taught him to do it that way.
“It happens. Talk about acting.”
“How do you prepare?” Sable pursed her lips and made a smacking sound.
“You laugh, but I have a set routine. I floss. Mint flavored. Then I brush. Followed by mouthwash. Right before the camera rolls, I pop half a dozen Tic Tacs.”
Sable shook her head and muttered, “I was right. Boy Scout.”
“I think you mean that as a compliment,” Colt called out after her.
“I think you’re right.”
Sable took a dress from the long row. Mint green. It had a flirty skirt that would hit her just above the knees. Perfect for a casual Saturday. Colt was free until Monday when his schedule would get crazier. Longer days and a lot of night shooting. He wanted to take advantage of the downtime. A leisurely lunch. A drive through the hills. Lots and lots of sex.
If they were staying in, Colt would have the dress off her in five seconds, but for lunch it was perfect.
“What do you think?”
Sable turned in a circle, the skirt twirling around her long legs. She held her shoes in one hand. As much as she loved the strappy sandals, she didn’t want to put them on until they were about to leave. Her feet would thank her later.
“The last time I was in Rome I had some gelato. It was exactly that color.” Colt pulled her onto the bed. “And delicious. I’ll bet you taste better.”
“If we’re going out to lunch, you’ll have to wait to find out.” Sable scooted out of his reach. “Go get dressed. I’m hungry.”
“I could make you change your mind.”
“No, you couldn’t. I’m definitely hungry.”
“Har, har, har.” Colt weaved right, then left, before swatting Sable on the butt.
“I take it back,” she called out as he zipped from the room. “You aren’t a Boy Scout. You’re a dickhead.”
“Really?” Colt leaned through the bedroom door. “Want to kiss my,” he wiggled his eyebrows, “head?”
“Go.”
Chuckling, Sable took a purse from the shelf. A lemon yellow cross-body bag that complimented her dress perfectly. She added a few items and was debating what else she needed when her phone rang. The ring tone, Big Boss Man, letting her know who it was before she looked at the screen.
“Alex. Did you check out that list of names I sent you?”
“Hello to you, too.” Sable could hear the smile in his voice. “And yes, I did. They all checked out. Your boy can feel safe hiring any of them.”
“He isn’t my boy.” Sable didn’t know why she said it. Or why she sounded so defensive.
“It was a figure of speech, nothing more,” Alex assured her. “Is there a problem I need to know about?”
“No. Everything is fine. Boring.” Sable slipped her gun into the purse. It was such a part of her everyday routine, she did it automatically. The way some women would carry lipstick or a comb. “Colt was right. He doesn’t need a bodyguard.”
“As you know, it isn’t always about need. The money people behind the movie feel better if their investment is protected.”
“They’re worried about money, but they waste it hiring me. Does that make sense?”
“No. But it is our bread and butter, Sable.” There was a pause. “What’s wrong?”
Sable had no idea. Before Alex called, she felt great. Terrific. She had been getting ready for a day out with her… Crap. She was thinking of Colt as her boyfriend, not her client. Alex was a reminder of who and what she was.
Opening her purse, she looked at the gun. That is your life, Sable. It was before you came here, and it would be again after you leave. She could dress it up with pretty clothes and fancy meals. Colt could take her in his arms and make her feel things she never knew existed and hold her close while she slept. But it didn’t change the facts. Nothing would.
Sable was hired muscle. And Colt was her client.
“Nothing is wrong. Honestly.”
“I’m always here if you need to talk. No subject is off the table and it stays between us.”
Once or twice Sable had been tempted to spill her guts to Alex. It wasn’t easy keeping why she left the Army bottled up and he understood the military and how it worked as well as anyone. But even though she trusted him and knew he would sympathize, she held her tongue. He couldn’t fix what happened. No one could.
But Sable didn’t think Alex was speaking about her past. He was concerned about the here and now.
“I’m doing the job, Alex.”
“I don’t doubt it for a second.
I’ll let you go. But remember. It’s okay to let your guard down, Sable. No one will think less of you.”
Sable put down the phone. She sat on the edge of the bed, her mind working furiously as she calmly slipped on her shoes. Alex was right. At this point, who was going to care if she enjoyed her time with Colt—guilt free?
One minute she would tell herself sleeping with him was wrong. Unprofessional. The next, she grabbed him and tore his clothes off. Sable waffled between embracing their temporary affair and worrying about it ending.
The facts were simple. She was Colt’s bodyguard. At the moment, she was also his lover. Crossing that line hadn’t been the end of the world. Crowds weren’t gathering with torches and pitchforks. The tar and feathers were nowhere to be seen.
Sable was the one making something out of nothing. Why couldn’t she have fun? Tomorrow—the future—was coming no matter what she did. One day soon, she would kiss Colt goodbye and wish him well. She hoped they would part as friends. If she had to deal with a slightly broken heart, so what? She wouldn’t be the first or the last woman to live with that affliction. They survived and so would she.
Sable opened the purse. She lay her phone next to her gun which lay next to her lipstick. Three items. Seemingly incongruous. But in her world, they were part of her everyday life.
Sable Ford. Woman. Bodyguard. Friend. Lover. From the outside, the pieces may have seemed odd. But every day she found a way to make them fit.
She had two choices. Pull back and be miserable. Or stop worrying about the future and embrace every moment. Here. Now.
When put like that, there wasn’t a choice. Sable wanted to be happy. With Colt.
DINING OUT IN Hollywood often was more about business than pleasure. Executives met to finalize deals. Others sat in trendy restaurants, picking at their overpriced meal, desperate to be noticed. The Shack was not the place to go to do either.
The small, family-owned café served rib-sticking fare. It was bright and cheery and filled with loud voices, laughter, and the aroma of spicy tomato sauce. It attracted a working-class crowd. And it was one of Colt’s favorite places to eat in the world. He wanted to share it with Sable.
Dreaming Of Your Love (Hollywood Legends #3) Page 14
