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Tugger barreled up to her as she entered the kitchen. “What’s new with you, Tugger-roo? Did you bite the nasty man? Did you?” She patted his head. “I wish you had. I’d like to take a chunk out of that slimy bastard.”
The house phone rang. She reached for it. “Hello?”
There was a pause on the line. “I’m sorry,” he said.
She stiffened. “Sorry for what? Sorry for being with me or sorry for not believing in me?”
“Nicole, I . . .”
“Have a nice life, Mr. Collins. Thanks for the fantasy.” She hung up before he could say more. She stared at the phone—the image blurring.
She inhaled deeply, swiping at her eyes. She wasn’t going to cry over him again. She may have been mistaken the first time around, but she was not this time. His actions were dead wrong. She wasn’t going to suffer for them.
When he finally discovered the truth, he might feel ashamed, coming back and begging for forgiveness, but she remembered the old saying about being foolish. She didn’t plan to be a fool for him any longer.
When the phone rang again, she turned off the ringer, disconnecting the line. She wanted no more distracting phone calls from ‘Mr. Hollywood’ and his smarmy sidekick.
She walked toward the desk, determined to get more writing done, but she took one look at the computer and turned away. She didn’t feel the pull for storytelling right now, moving toward the stairs. As she entered her room, she flopped across the bed, dragging a pillow toward her. It carried the scent of his cologne. She closed her eyes, tears leaking from beneath her lowered lids.
Okay, I’ll have this one good cry and get it out of my system. Then I’ll be done with him once and for all.
She cried herself to sleep that night, sleeping through most of the next day. When she woke, she didn’t feel any better, but she knew there were things she had to do. She walked and fed Tugger, and then climbed back into bed. She heard somewhere that sleep was the best remedy for a broken heart. She needed a lot of therapy.
~ ~ ~
Reece paced the confines of his hotel room, wishing he were anywhere but here. He was going crazy, worrying about Nicole. After she’d hung up on him the first time, he called back, but the line was disconnected. She was purposely avoiding him. He didn’t like it. Why was she acting like she was the wronged party? They both knew she was guilty. She admitted she bought the cottage. Why didn’t she tell him? What was she hiding?
“Come away from the window, Reece. We need to discuss the script.”
He crossed his arms. “I told you I’m not doing another spy movie. I’m sick of being pigeonholed into one type of role. Find me something else or announce my retirement from film. I’ll go home and perform on the London stage. I was happy there, portraying characters with substance.”
“You were also as poor as a church mouse.”
He glanced over his shoulder at his brother. “Money isn’t everything, Marcus.”
“Says the man who is rolling in it for the roles he disparages.”
He turned back to the window. “I’m not saying I’m not grateful for my big break, Marcus. I’m thankful every day for that first part, but I’ve grown as an actor. I want to try something new. Perhaps the role will flop, but at least I can say I tried.”
Marcus threw his pen down. “That little hussy did quite a number on you, didn’t she? She must be fantastic in the sack.”
“Don’t talk about her like she’s a whore, Marcus. Nicole is the best thing to happen to me in a very long time. I’ve been discontent with my career for a while now, but you’ve been too busy collecting your percentage to notice.”
“So this is my f
ault? Admit it, Reece. You haven’t been the same since that little tramp landed in your lap.”
Reece gritted his teeth. Marcus would not let up on the name calling. “I’m not telling you again, Marcus. Speak of Nicole with respect or else.”
“Or else what, Reece? Are you going to fire me?”
“I may. You have no idea what that girl means to me. You don’t want to know. You’ve never taken the time to pay attention to what’s really going on in my life. You’re completely satisfied as long as I do what you want, act in the roles you want, and appear with who you want.”
“Of course I am. I helped build your career, Reece. I’m not going to watch you throw it away on some little . . .” That was as far as he got. Reece’s fist plowed into his jaw, sending him barreling backward over the couch.
Marcus sat up, wiping blood from the corner of his mouth, rotating his jaw to make sure it wasn’t broken. “Are you insane?”
Reece smiled. “No, I’m not. That felt bloody wonderful. I’ll have to take this stance with you more often.”
