One More Moment (The McCormicks Book 3)

by Elena Aitken

  “You didn’t answer the question.”

  She smiled and lifted her eyebrows. “I’ll tell you,” she said. “It is a mother’s greatest pleasure in life to see her children happy. To watch Mitch get married, and see him with Jade and how caring and concerned he is about her and their unborn baby, it makes my heart happy. And Ian and Gwen. The two of them are just so perfect together, I couldn’t have picked a better match for my oldest. And you…”

  “And me what?”

  His mother laughed and shook her head. “You think you’re in love. But you’re wrong.”

  Cal stopped in his tracks and yanked his mother’s hand, bringing her to a stop as well. “I’m not wrong.”

  She laughed again, but her smile was kind. “You are my youngest, Cal. And therefore you always have a special kind of place in my heart. But you’re wrong about this. Because you think you’re in love. But darling, I know you are. There’s a big difference between thinking and knowing.” His mother’s smile was kind and full of love. “I can’t wait to get to know this woman who has captured you so completely.”

  Cal pulled her into a spontaneous hug and let his mother wrap her arms around him just like when he was a child. He may be over half a foot taller than her but he’d always be her little boy.

  In the entire time the Springs resort had been opened, Milena hadn’t been up there and now she’d been twice in the space of a few weeks. With the posh surroundings and amazing food, it was definitely something she could get used to.

  Especially the amazing food.

  “This is absolutely incredible.” Milena took another forkful of her salad. “What is this dressing? It’s delicious.”

  “He’s always coming up with something new,” Samantha said. “But this may be one of my favorites.”

  They’d all but devoured the special salads Jax had prepared for them and it wasn’t just the delicious food, but also the great conversation that Milena was enjoying. It had been way too long since she’d reconnected with her girlfriends. And for the life of her, at that moment she couldn’t remember why she’d waited so long to reach out.

  “This is really nice.” Milena put her fork down and looked at her friend. “Thank you for agreeing to meet me tonight. I know it’s been a long time and I haven’t really been the greatest friend, but I—”

  “Never mind.” Sam put her hand over Milena’s and squeezed. “It doesn’t matter. Sometimes we need to take care of ourselves before we can look after other things. I get it.”

  “You do?” Milena was incredibly lucky to have such amazing friends. She never wanted to forget that again. “Really? You get it?”

  Sam nodded. “I do. Milena, you’ve been through a lot with that Michael and taking care of yourself and everything. It’s okay. You needed to do that and I get it. Quite honestly, I think it’s me who should be apologizing to you.”

  “Why?”

  “I should have been there for you.” Sam shook her head and looked at the table. “I wish I’d been a better friend. You’re an incredibly strong woman to have gone through all that more or less on your own.”

  But Sam had gone through her own hard times not all that long ago, and Milena reminded her of that. If they weren’t careful, they were both going to descend into tears and blubbering and Milena definitely didn’t want their evening to go that way. They were celebrating being together again and reconnecting. There was no time for tears.

  “Let’s just agree to move on from here. How’s that sound?”

  Samantha’s face lit up with a beautiful smile. “I can’t think of anything better.” She raised her glass of wine and Milena met it in a toast. “To us.”

  “To us.”

  Their glasses clinked and they drank deeply when across the room, something caught Milena’s eye. Or more specifically, someone. Her glass hovered in the air. “Dad?”

  Samantha turned around to see what she was staring at. “Is that your—”

  “Dad.” Milena shook her head and put her glass down. “I forgot he was here today.”

  “At the Springs? We should say hi. I haven’t seen your dad in a long time.” She moved to stand, but Milena yanked her back down.

  “No. I want to see who he’s—is that Estelle?” Milena all but yelled it out. She quickly clasped her hand to her mouth and ducked down. “No way.”

  “No way, what?” Sam moved to twist around in her chair and look again, but Milena grabbed her.

  “Don’t look.”

  “At what? What’s going on?”

  “My dad.” Milena spoke in a hush despite the fact that there was no way her dad could see her from where they were sitting. Especially considering he had no idea she was there. “It’s the craziest thing,” she said. “He told me he was going to take the day off today and come up here. And if that wasn’t strange enough, Estelle took the day off, too. I don’t know why I didn’t think they might be…”

  “Here together?” Samantha flashed her a devious grin. “Isn’t that something?”

  “I guess. Do you think they just ran into each other?”

  Her friend laughed. “Do you think they just ran into each other?”

  She didn’t think that. Not at all. And judging by the way they were cuddled up together in the booth, that was definitely not the case. “Wow.” Milena shook her head, trying to let everything process.

  Her dad? And Estelle?

  Why not?

  “I probably should have seen it coming,” she said after a moment. “I mean, they’ve spent so much time together and Estelle has always been like a mom to me. But…”

  “I think it’s great,” Sam declared.

  It took Milena a moment, but finally she nodded. “You know what? It is great. I’m happy for them. I wish they would have told me, but maybe they’re just not ready yet.”

  “There’s something to be said about a secret love affair,” Sam said. “Isn’t there?” She wiggled her eyebrows and Milena had to laugh.

  Not that what she and Cal had was a secret in any way. Not really.

  “Tell me all about Cal McCormick,” Sam said. “All the details. What’s going on with the two of you? Are you two a thing? Officially?”

  “As officially as it can be, I guess.” Milena shrugged, but she couldn’t hide the smile on her face.

  “So it’s true? I was pretty sure it was, but then Stars Secrets magazine published those pictures.”

  Milena shook her head and tried not to groan. “Those pictures…it’s all so fabricated. I don’t know what the photographer thinks when she takes those pictures and ignores the real story.”

  “Why don’t you ask her?” Sam pointed past Milena’s head.

  “What?”

  “Bria took the pictures,” Sam said. “And she’s right there, probably waiting for Jax. They’re dating, you know?” Milena had heard something about that, but she didn’t know either of them beyond hearing their names. “Let’s go ask her,” Sam declared.

  Before Milena could object, Sam stood and waved her hand in the air. “Bria.”

  What Milena really wanted to do was drop her head in her hands and hide, but that was the old her. The new her didn’t hide from things like that. Besides, it would be nice to know the woman. Especially if she was going to be taking more pictures in the future.

  A moment later, the woman appeared next to the table but before Sam could make the introductions, the woman was speaking. “Hi. You must be Milena.” She held out her hand, which Milena took. “My name is Bria Sheridan and I was the photographer the other night at the Mr. Summer party.”

  “I know who you are.”

  Bria cringed a little, but kept talking. “I just want you to know that I’m really sorry about the photos that ran in Stars Secrets. I realize they didn’t tell the whole story. I gave my client a thumb drive with all the images from that night, but those are the ones they chose to run. I really am sorry.”

  “It’s fine.” Milena actually found herself believing what she was
saying. “I know that tabloids aren’t interested in truth.”

  “They’re really not.” Bria shook her head with a smile. “And I try not to get involved with them at all, quite honestly.” She looked to Sam. “That was a lesson I learned the hard way, unfortunately.”

  “That was a long time ago. And it wasn’t your fault,” Sam said. “Besides, no one remembers that anymore.”

  Obviously there was a story there, and as much as Milena wanted to know it, it wasn’t the time to ask for details.

  “Maybe that’s true,” Bria said. “But regardless, if I thought those images would end up misused with a tabloid story to go with them, I never would have taken the job. I was told it was a publicity event for Mr. Summer and the publicists wanted some general pictures of the night with an emphasis of Cal and Bridget’s reunion. I had no idea you were dating Cal McCormick until later, and they really shouldn’t have—”

  “It’s fine,” Milena said again. “Please don’t worry about it. I know you didn’t mean any harm.”

  “I really didn’t.” Bria’s smile was so warm and genuine, Milena found herself instantly liking the other woman.

  “Please.” Sam pointed to the empty chair. “Sit with us for a bit. You’re waiting for Jax?”

  “I am, but he should be done any minute.” Her eyes moved across the room. “In fact, I think I see him now. It was nice meeting you properly, Milena. And I’m going to get you copies of the pictures I took the other night,” she said. “I have the most beautiful shots of you and Cal. You just look so much in love. I can’t believe Stars Secrets didn’t run those ones. They would have made a much better story, based on the love in your eyes alone.”

  Love.

  “Being in love is absolutely magical.” Sam clasped her hands together like a teenage girl. “I totally agree. Those pictures would have been a way better story.”

  “Love?”

  “Yes.” Bria laughed and looked at Sam. “It’s still new, isn’t it?” Sam nodded her confirmation and Bria looked back at Milena. “So you probably haven’t told him how you feel yet?”

  “How I feel?”

  “You do love him, don’t you?”

  “We’ve only been dating a few weeks.”

  Sam shrugged. “That has nothing to do with it.”

  “But it should.”

  “Should it?” Bria shook her head. “I knew pretty quick with Jax.”

  “Same here with Trent and me.” Sam nodded and took a sip of her wine. “I think when you know, you know. And you know, don’t you?”

  She could deny it. She could come up with a list of reasons why it didn’t make any sense, but she knew they were right. She felt it, too. “I do,” she said after a minute.

  “I knew it.”

  “Oh sweetie,” Bria said with a wave of her hand. “I knew the moment I saw you together at the party. And the camera doesn’t lie. He loves you just as much as you love him.”

  Chapter Twelve

  “So it’s taken care of?” Bridget peered over her half-fat, no-whip, extra-hot, hazelnut-flavored latte at Cal. They’d met at Dream Puffs first thing so Cal could get the meeting taken care of as quickly as possible.

  “I told you,” he said. “I spoke with Jade last night and as far as she’s concerned, your role is secure.” He felt sick saying the words, but he had to do what he had to in order to protect Milena. He’d do whatever it took.

  As long as she was safe.

  “So we’re good now.” he said. “Destroy the pictures.”

  “I can.” Bridget took another sip of her drink. “But I don’t think Stars Secrets will agree to destroying their copies. Besides that, I think it’s too late.”

  “What’s too late?”

  “The issue is probably gone to print and then there’s the Internet and I’m pretty sure they update their page first thing in the—”

  “What?” Print? Website? What the hell was she talking about?

  There’s no way he’d heard that right. He’d met her demands.

  “What are you talking about? How would Stars Secrets have copies of the pictures? I talked to Jade—I made sure your job was safe. I did what you…” There was no point. He should have realized she’d do something like this. She never had any intention of destroying the pictures or keeping them out of the hands of the tabloids. He should have known better.

  “Actually…” Bridget looked at him and for the first time, Cal could see something that may have resembled remorse reflected in her eyes. “The truth is, I never thought you’d do it.”

  “Do what?”

  “Talk to Jade.” She shook her head. “I didn’t expect you to…”

  Realization flooded through him as he realized exactly what Bridget was saying. “You didn’t expect me to protect my girlfriend? Really?”

  “No.” She shook her head again. “I didn’t think you really cared enough.” He opened his mouth to object but she held up her hand. “You don’t understand, Cal. I know how much your career means to you and how excited you are to be part of this show. I just didn’t think you’d want to jeopardize your career for the sake of—”

  “For the sake of the woman I love?”

  Bridget sat back hard in her chair. “Love?”

  Cal ignored her. “Do you really think I would sit back and watch while Milena got hurt? Do you really think I’m that big of an asshole?”

  “Cal, I just thought—”

  “You didn’t think.” He slammed his palm against the table, not caring who was watching. “What the hell is wrong with you anyway? Why even give me an ultimatum if you always planned on sending the pictures in? What the hell, Bridget?”

  “I just assumed you wouldn’t do it so I thought I would save myself some time.”

  He shook his head, unable to formulate a thought that could possibly be adequate to express how angry he was.

  They sat in silence for a moment, and it was Bridget who finally spoke up. “You wouldn’t have done it for me.”

  “Pardon?”

  “You wouldn’t have fought for me like that.” Her voice was small and weak and for the briefest moment, he actually felt sorry for her. “The entire time we were together, you never would have put yourself on the line for me like that. You never would have fought for me. So I just thought…”

  “You thought it was the same with Milena.”

  She nodded. “But it’s not.”

  “No,” Cal said. “Being with Milena is nothing like I’ve ever had before. I’d do anything for her and that includes protecting her from ugly people like you.” He’d had enough. He’d had way more than enough. Cal pushed up from his chair, but before leaving, he planted his hands on the table and leaned over until he was only inches away from her. “Not only do I think you’re a mediocre actress, Bridget, I think you are a mean, spiteful, and jealous person. I actually feel sorry for you. Maybe one day you’ll be able to move past your own misery, but until then, I don’t want anything to do with you.”

  He walked out of Dream Puffs and out onto the street, only vaguely aware that people were staring at him. He didn’t care. It didn’t matter whether anyone had witnessed their little meeting or his showdown with Bridget. The only thing that mattered was getting to Milena before she saw the article.

  Every morning since their first date, Cal had sent Milena a good morning text with a cute graphic and a sweet message like, Good morning, beautiful. Or, Have a great day, gorgeous. Or something equally sweet and romantic. Which was why it was so strange when Milena’s phone beeped later than usual, with a simple text message from Cal that read:

  Where are you? We need to talk.

  A trail of icy fear ran down her spine. She wasn’t the type of girl to worry about where her man was and what he was doing, but it was more than strange that he’d kind of blown her off the night before and then followed it up with a cryptic and somewhat urgent text.

  Was he going to break up with her?

  Maybe he’d decided it was too mu
ch to try to have a relationship when he was trying to get his show going. Maybe he’d fallen for—

  No. Milena wasn’t an insecure woman. Not anymore. She was confident in what she had with Cal. How could she be anything but? Whatever was going on, she was going to wait until she knew more before she panicked.

  She took a breath and responded to his text:

  At the office. Come by.

  She set her phone down on her desk, straightened her hair and clicked over to her email while she waited for his response. She might as well get some work done while she was waiting. Besides, it would keep her mind from going to the worst-case scenario. Whatever Cal had to talk to her about, she’d wait to hear it from him before she started guessing and making up elaborate stories in her head.

  She focused her attention to her email.

  Her inbox was full.

  Not only was that unusual, but only a few of the messages were work related. Her fear turned to panic as she read the subject line:

  Star of hot new show spotted with mystery chubby lover.

  What? Milena hovered her finger over the mouse. She shouldn’t open it. She shouldn’t read whatever it was. She shouldn’t…

  She clicked the email and her screen lit up with a photo of her on the paddleboard in only her shorts and sports bra. In the shot, she was clearly trying to gain her balance. To say it was an unflattering photo was putting it mildly. But the next photo was worse.

  The photographer had captured Milena straddling Cal in an intimate moment in their tent hideaway. It was mostly in silhouette as the sun was setting, but his face could be made out. There was a black bar over her breasts, and her hair covered her face, but it didn’t matter.

  Someone had taken pictures of her and Cal in an intimate moment.

  And worse, they were on the Internet.

  Milena’s eyes scanned the accompanying article, which had been published on Stars Secrets. Her stomach roiled and she had to swallow hard to keep from throwing up when she read about herself in a most unflattering way.