Unforgettable You

by Marci Bolden

  “I’m sorry.”

  “No, it was good. It was more than I’ve seen in a long time. I think it was good for her to be out of the house today. I’m going to try to plan more outings.”

  “You’re amazing with her. She’s really lucky to have you looking out for her.”

  “She looked out for me for years. I owe her.”

  “It’s more than that,” he said gently. “It’s family.”

  Carrie looked into her glass before voicing something that had been nagging her most of the evening. “I hurt your feelings earlier.”

  “You did?” he asked lightly.

  “At the museum, when I told you I didn’t want the attention being with you brings. I think that came out wrong.”

  Will shook his head. “No, I get it. I do.”

  “I upset you.”

  He stared at the fire. “I wasn’t upset. I was reminded of… Not everyone appreciates the circus that tends to follow me around. I understand that, but you have to understand that I can’t control it. I can’t control the media or how people respond when they see me. I can’t tell them to piss off, as much as I want to sometimes.”

  Carrie nodded. “I know, but I don’t want to be dragged into that, Will. Especially not when I have to answer to Donnie.”

  “You don’t.”

  “I do,” she insisted. “He’s paying the bill.”

  “The production company is paying the bill, Carrie,” he clarified.

  “Well, he represents them, and he’s made it very clear he doesn’t want this—whatever this is,” she said, gesturing between them, “to happen. If pictures of us get out, if people start picking me apart because I’m with you…nothing good will come of that, Will. Not for either of us. I’m sorry, but I have to be aware of that.”

  “This life has consequences that reach beyond me. I know that. My brother and I have barely spoken since my father’s funeral. He blames me for having to keep the service a secret out of fear that the press would have shown up or fans would have stalked us at the cemetery. I wish I could have told him that his fears were unfounded, but they weren’t. Either I didn’t attend the funeral, or we treated it like a top-confidential event. We chose the latter, and my brother resents it.” Will laughed lightly. “You know what he doesn’t resent? He doesn’t resent that I’m putting his kids through college or that Dad’s medical bills are paid or that Mom doesn’t have to worry about losing her house. That he doesn’t mind.”

  Guilt filled Carrie’s gut. Will was obviously hurt by his brother’s treatment. “It’s hard for us common folk to understand, I guess,” she said softly.

  “I know,” he said flatly as he stared into the flames. “I respect your desire to stay out of the spotlight, but you have to know that could put limitations on…”

  “Us,” she finished for him. “There are already limitations, Will. I don’t know what’s happening here, but I do know it needs to stay between us. Whatever this is, is not something to be shared with the rest of the world.”

  He focused on her and smiled sweetly. “No, it’s not. This is between us.” Putting his fingertips on the charm bracelet he’d bought for her, he said, “I should have asked before I bought this. I didn’t mean to offend you.”

  “I’m not offended.” She laughed lightly. “Mama wasn’t joking when she said I’d been eyeing this thing for a long time. I couldn’t justify the expense.” She toyed with a dangling heart. “I always wished that my mother had at least one piece of nice jewelry to pass down to me when she’d died. My father is a handyman. He helps around here quite a bit when needed, but he’s never made more than a living wage. If I ever have kids, I’ll be able to pass this down with the story of how the famous William Walker bestowed it upon me at a farmer’s market.” She laughed lightly, and his smile returned. “It will be the pride of the family for generations to come.”

  “Are you going to have kids someday?” he asked.

  She shrugged. “I don’t think so. My life revolves around Mama right now. Hard to know what the future holds. You?”

  “Same. Not the part about my life revolving around Mama,” he added lightly as he entwined their fingers. “But not knowing what the future holds.” He looked down at their hands. “Sometimes I think this might be it. This might be the last big movie I ever make. A year ago, that statement would have terrified me. Now, I find it comforting in a way. I find not knowing a lot more appealing than I thought I would.”

  “I think you’re struggling more than I realized.”

  Grinning, Will said, “I think I’m struggling more than I realized. It’s been a long time since I’ve been surrounded by so much quiet. The peace brings clarity, doesn’t it? I see why you want to protect your space here.”

  “It’s not for me, Will. Mama’s mind is slipping more every day. I can’t invite chaos into her world.”

  “I know that. I wouldn’t ask you to. But I would like to ask,” he said hesitantly, “that when we’re alone like this, you try to forget that I’m William Walker and all the things that go with that title. When we’re like this, I’d like to be just your average guy having a midlife crisis.”

  She laughed. “I like that guy.”

  “Yeah?” he asked, with an underlying hint of insecurity.

  “Yeah,” she said honestly. She did like him. She liked that he seemed to be as lost and confused as she was. She liked that he was doing his best to get through his life and wasn’t so full of himself that she had to tiptoe around him and diminish her own existence to get his approval. She liked that he was real. As real as someone in his position could be, anyway.

  “You know,” he said, “I’m finding it very difficult to keep my distance from you right now.”

  The heat that filled her was not from the fire. Now that she’d cleared the air and made certain he understood her comfort level with exposing their relationship—if she could call it that—she felt like a barrier had come down between them. She didn’t have to be so guarded now. He said he understood her need for privacy and the need to protect Doreen. Carrie believed him, she trusted him, and without those defenses in place, she found herself much more open to wanting him. “What are you going to do about that?” she asked softly.

  A slow smile curved his lips. “Come with me.” He helped her stand and guided her away from the house and into the shadows of a nearby tree.

  Pulling her to him, Will searched her eyes in the dim silver moonlight illuminating their hiding place. His intense stare caused her insides to twist with desire, and she thought that even when his face was distorted by the shadows, he was the most handsome man she’d ever seen.

  “I’m in so much trouble,” she whispered.

  “Good,” he said quietly as he leaned down.

  His mouth covered hers as his arms went around her. Digging her fingertips in his shoulders, Carrie melted into him as he kissed her deeply. His tongue brushed against hers as their mouths worked together. Instead of easing the desire that had been building in her all day, the kiss only seemed to add to the need she had for him and she pulled him even more tightly against her.

  After several moments of exploring his mouth, she leaned back to catch her breath and accept that being with him like this was yet again leading them to a place they shouldn’t go. Swallowing, Carrie pressed her lips to his one more time.

  “I should go,” she said against his mouth.

  He moaned a plea for her to stay, causing her to put her fingertips to his lips to hush him. It wouldn’t take much to convince her to stay and let him kiss her like that all night. But if she did, she would want more. She already did. For now, she had the sense to stop before she went further than she knew she should. Leaning forward, she kissed him softly and tasted the wine on his lips one more time before heading inside alone.

  Will woke the next morning and, as they had been so many times in the last few weeks, his first thoughts were of Carrie. Before he’d even cleared the sleepy fog from his mind, he wanted to jump u
p and find her. Kiss her. See her smile at him. He hadn’t had a crush in a long time, but he was pretty certain he had a thing for the innkeeper.

  After rushing through the shower, he trotted down the stairs, whistling as he went. However, as he walked into the kitchen, his excitement dimmed a little when she glanced up but barely acknowledged him before returning her attention to the pile of fruit in front of her.

  “I’m running behind,” she said. “Could you take this juice out to the dining room?”

  “Yeah, of course,” he said and grabbed the pitcher. He found several people already at the table, a few of them mumbling about the lack of offerings on the usually overflowing buffet. “Breakfast is on the way,” he reassured them, ignoring the frown on Donnie’s face.

  “Maybe you should order in for everyone,” Juliet barked. “We’d certainly get fed faster.”

  Will smirked. “Maybe you should throw food all over the floor during another one of your famous tantrums. That certainly helped matters.”

  Juliet narrowed her eyes. “Maybe you should—”

  “Maybe you both should stop,” Grant stated from where he sat. “Jesus, it’s too early for this. Someone text me when there’s more to eat than oatmeal.”

  “Here,” Carrie said, carrying a platter in. “I’m so sorry. Here’s the fruit.”

  “And the yogurt?” Juliet asked.

  Carrie’s hard stare only lasted a moment before she plastered on a warm smile. “It’ll be here in a minute.”

  “That’s what you said fifteen minutes ago,” Juliet said.

  Will watched Carrie rush from the room before sitting. “Calm down, Juliet.”

  “Enough,” Donnie warned. “From both of you. I don’t want to hear another word. From anyone until we get on set. If we ever get on set,” he added, causing Will’s defenses to spike again.

  Rather than comment, he sat silently while everyone else got their breakfast and Carrie darted in and out of the room looking flustered. Once everyone else had gotten what they wanted, he went to the buffet and sighed at the lax offerings. This was the first morning there hadn’t been biscuits and gravy available since he’d made the request. Juliet had pouted until Donnie nixed the sausage and eggs. Apparently, the smell made her sick.

  But he’d compromised and allowed the other two dishes to remain a staple. Will was about to settle for oatmeal when Carrie stepped beside him and presented his coveted breakfast food.

  “Sorry,” she whispered. “Mama’s still in bed. I’m on my own this morning.”

  “Everything okay?”

  She smiled, but the dark circles under her eyes and the frustration of her morning betrayed her attempt at reassuring him. “Yeah.” Then she disappeared again.

  After covering two hot biscuits with gravy, he sat at the table and ate in silence, as did everyone else. The clinking of silverware and sipping of drinks was almost enough to drive him mad, so when his plate was empty, he didn’t stick around. He rushed upstairs to brush his teeth again, grab his script, and get ready for the day.

  By the time he returned downstairs, everyone was gone, but the mess of their breakfast was still on the table. Mama and Carrie would be cleaning things up by now. Something was definitely off this morning. When he didn’t find Carrie in the kitchen, he went to her office and gently pushed the door open.

  She looked up, and the tension on her face eased. “Sorry about breakfast. It was a bit of a mess today.”

  “Don’t worry about it. What’s going on?”

  She focused on her computer screen. “Mama had a bad night.”

  “I’m sorry.”

  “She was up and down until about three o’clock, waiting for Mike to come home.”

  “How do you deal with this?” Will asked. “I mean, when she comes at you with things like that, how do you handle it?”

  “Just roll with it,” she said sadly. “I used to try to correct her, but that only upset her. Distracting her works well most of the time. Lie to her,” she said, sounding guilty for her confession. “It seems to be getting worse. I’m wondering if it’s the new medication she’s on.”

  He moved around the desk to where he could see the screen. “So you’re looking it up?”

  “Trying. It’s hard when there are so many variables.”

  Leaning over her shoulder to see what she’d been reading, Will asked, “Like what?”

  “Like everything.” After a moment, she tilted her head back so she could see his face. “Are you really interested in this?”

  “Of course I am. I want to know what’s happening so I can help.”

  Carrie turned her chair, bumping into him so he had no choice but to step back. “I wasn’t sleeping well even before Mama woke me up. I kept thinking about us.”

  Will didn’t like the look of doubt on her face. “You’re not dumping me before we even start dating, are you?” he asked as lightly as he could.

  “You have to admit that this is insane.”

  “Why?”

  “Because,” she said.

  “Because?”

  “Yes. Because.”

  He couldn’t seem to be able to stop the corners of his mouth from moving upward. She looked absolutely worn out. She looked frazzled. But more than that, she looked like she needed him to scoop her up and hug her tight.

  “You are a huge star, Will, and as Donnie so eloquently put it, I am but a mere innkeeper.”

  The lightness he’d been feeling faded, and anger started to boil beneath the surface. “Did he say something to you this morning?”

  “I don’t need Donnie to tell me that we live in two completely different universes.”

  He noticed that she didn’t answer his question. However, before he could press, she continued.

  “How in the hell are we supposed to—whatever when our lives are so completely incompatible?” she asked.

  “Our situations aren’t ideal at the moment,” he said, “but those could be altered if we wanted. This doesn’t have to be decided today, Carrie. I thought we were in agreement on that last night. What changed?”

  She sank back in her chair and shrugged. “I’m feeling very unsure of myself these days. I don’t know if I’m doing the right thing for Doreen. I don’t know if I’m making the right decisions for her. It’s all starting to feel very overwhelming.”

  Cupping her face, he brushed his thumb over her cheek. “You can lean on me as much as you need to. I want you to.”

  She gave a half-hearted laugh. “I’m so tired of taking on the world all by myself, I might take you up on that.”

  Grasping her hands, he yanked her to her feet and into his arms. He hadn’t realized how scared he’d been that she really was ending things before they’d started until she didn’t. Holding her close, he inhaled deeply and slowly released the fear with his breath. “Whatever you need,” he promised, holding her against him, “I’ll be here.”

  “Thank you.”

  “You’re welcome.”

  “I’m sorry I’m so flustered,” she said.

  “It’s okay,” he reassured her as he dipped his head down. Their lips barely touched before they jerked away from each other like sneaky teenagers at the sound of someone approaching.

  “Hey, Care.” Natalie skidded to a dramatic stop inside the office. “Whoa. Um, yeah, so I got here as soon as I could, but it looks like breakfast is done. So…should I clean up?”

  Carrie nodded. “Yes. Please. I’ll be there in a second.”

  “Should I close the door?” Natalie started backing out of the room.

  “Go,” Carrie insisted.

  Natalie smirked and winked. “Just askin’.”

  “Great,” Carrie moaned when she and Will were alone.

  He didn’t want to laugh, but the sound slipped from him anyway. “Is she going to give you a hard time?”

  “She wouldn’t be Natalie if she didn’t.”

  Tucking her hair behind her ear, Will waited for her to look at him. “I meant wh
at I said. Anything you need.”

  “Thank you. I appreciate it.”

  He took advantage of the moment they had alone and put his mouth to hers. While it was more comforting than passionate, like the kisses they had shared the day before, it still made his stomach tighten and his heart flip. Carrie had teased him the night before, saying she was in trouble. In that moment, Will realized she wasn’t the only one.

  Chapter 9

  Carrie stared blankly at Donnie. On a whim, she and Mama had whipped up peach cobbler after they’d finished serving dinner for the day. Apparently, that displeased someone. If Carrie had to guess, it was Juliet. Because everything displeased Juliet.

  “Stick to the menu, Miss Gable.”

  “The peach cobbler was for me and Doreen. I offered it to our guests to be polite. Ms. Ramirez could have said no.”

  “I expect, going forward, you and your mother-in-law will keep your unhealthy food choices in the kitchen and out of sight.” He sighed heavily, as if he was exhausted from trying to explain the situation to her. “I’m asking that you take the eating habits of your guests into greater consideration.”

  “It seems to me that most of the guests are happy with the food that I’ve been serving.”

  Donnie tilted his head back, literally looking down his nose at her, clearly trying to determine if she was intentionally being difficult or if she really didn’t understand. “I made it clear to you that Ms. Ramirez and Mr. Walker are your top priorities. While you seem to have figured out that all William needs is a pretty smile and batting eyelashes, you have a long way to go before Juliet is pleased with her accommodations.”

  Carrie couldn’t help the smirk that tugged at her lip. Not only had he gotten in another jab at her for befriending Will, but he’d also managed to make the laughable suggestion that Juliet Ramirez was able to be pleased—and all in one sentence.

  “I’ll try harder,” she said.

  “Please do.” He left, closing the door behind him.

  Carrie exhaled some of the frustration that had built over the course of the conversation. Her patience was wearing thin with Donnie.