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“Nice job.”
My head flew up at the unexpected sound of Scarlett’s voice right behind me. I twisted my torso and watched her approach, then passed me by.
“Your portrayal of a bull-headed, self-righteous asshole was spot on. Perhaps because you two are so much alike.”
I almost missed what she’d said because my eyes were glued to her perfect ass and swaying hips as she sashayed down the hall. My lips curled into a frown as I scowled at her back. “Is that all you’ve got, Red?” I asked in a caustic tone, using the nickname that had always pricked her temper. “You’re going to have to come at me with better ammunition than that if you want to hurt my feelings.” I laughed, somewhat bitterly because the truth was, she’d already caused me pain—while giving me a hefty blow to my ego. I never expected her to turn out like the other fame-hungry women who’d used me to further their own agendas.
“If I thought you had any, I’d try harder,” she sassed as she stopped outside the door to the next dressing room and pierced me with her unreadable amber eyes. “But, like Hunter, the wall you’ve built around yourself is too thick to penetrate. Perhaps that’s what makes you both so blind.”
I folded my arms across my chest and raised an eyebrow, silently staring at her, which was all the reaction she was going to get.
Scarlett watched me for a moment and stuck her hands in her back pockets. “You miss out on a lot when you aren’t willing to open your eyes and see beyond your assumptions.” Then she rolled her eyes and cocked her head to the side. “And heaven forbid you ever admit when you’re wrong.”
“One date and you think you know me so well?” I scoffed.
“No,” she mused with a shrug. “I thought I did. But I’m willing to admit I was wrong, because clearly, you weren’t who I thought you were.”
“Really?” I asked dryly. If anyone had turned out to be different, it was her. I had been completely sucker punched when I learned what she had done.
“Really.” Her eyes narrowed, and her sexy mouth pursed, irritation bleeding through her blank mask. “I would have pegged you as someone who would ask for an explanation before reacting. You have a reputation for being laid back and open-minded. So, did I see the real you? Or does the rest of the world and I’m just special?” The last part was said in an acidic tone. Then she shrugged and disappeared into the dressing room.
What was that about?
Her words had more of an impact than I expected. I’d never questioned how I’d handled the situation with Scarlett two years ago. There was no excuse as far as I was concerned…so I didn’t give her the chance to explain. Even though I still wondered why.
However, it had been her eyes that penetrated the wall of bitterness around me. Other than working on projects together from time to time, we hadn’t really spoken since the news broke in the rags.
Scarlett was a stellar actress, but I’d worked in this business since I was five and had a main role on the sitcom,A Boy Named Lancelot. I could spot bullshit a mile away. And I’d worked with Scarlett enough to know when she dropped the mask of her character. But our last conversation had been over the phone…well, conversation was a bit of an overstatement. I’d been so angry that rather than let her speak, I hung up as soon as I’d said my piece. We’d never discussed it in person.
As she’d been speaking to me in the hall, though, her beautiful amber eyes had sparked with anger. And a wealth of pain…she’d looked hurt and resigned.
For the first time, I admitted to myself that I might have made a colossal mistake.
Two
SCARLET
Istudied Audrey—my favorite hair and makeup technician—in the mirror as she carefully removed one of my false eyelashes. The big, round bulbs made it easier to watch the play of emotions on her face when I asked about her relationship with Luca. She was working awfully hard to seem nonchalant, but I hadn’t missed the way he looked at her. There was something simmering between them.
Before I could ask her another question, the makeup trailer shook slightly as someone stomped up the steps. The door was flung open and in walked Luca, his commanding presence immediately filling up the small space. He was brilliant, with a brooding and tough exterior, but I’d seen a softness there when he was with Audrey that made me smile. However, he could be a little intimidating, even to me. Especially when he was on a warpath like he seemed to be tonight—if his expression was any indication.
“What’s wrong with your hands?” Audrey snapped. “Don’t you believe in knocking?”
Holy shit, I thought as I gasped. I didn’t take bullshit from anyone, butno onespoke to Luca like that. Although, part of mewanted to laugh at Audrey’s spunk. He might not have realized it yet, but she was just what he needed.
Luca’s hands were curled into tight fists at his sides, and a muscle ticked in his jaw. He scowled at me and I smiled back, even as I stood up, ready to make my escape.
“Could you please report to Security and get your name checked off the list? Ryder’s doing a headcount,” he growled.
Audrey wasn’t oblivious to his mood, so she quickly handed me a mini make-up remover pack, which I gratefully accepted before slipping out of the trailer and heading toward security.
With the sun down, even Southern California could get a little chilly on a December night, so I hurried across the lot. However, my steps slowed when I spotted a tall, muscular, but lean (thank you soccer) man with short, dark blond hair, a chiseled jaw, and a diamond stud in his left ear. His mouth was pressed together in a frustrated expression, but my heart skipped a beat when I thought about his swoon-worthy smile. The one he’d used to convince me to go out on a date with him two years ago. Kane Remington was lethal—the epitome of a Hollywood heartthrob.
To my horror, I’d been caught up in his charm when we met two years ago. We’d played opposite each other as the supporting actors who had their own romantic storyline. Kane was laid back, naturally suave, and he’d made me laugh. When he flashed that panty-melting smile at me and asked me out for dinner, I didn’t think twice about saying yes.
I knew how private he was, so I wasn’t surprised when he took me to a small, out-of-the-way restaurant. But it hadn’t bothered me one bit. I loved it. It was romantic, and I’d appreciated that we wouldn’t be interrupted by fans or paparazzi. We’d talked and laughed, and at the end of the night, I was already falling for him. It was only a few days beforeChristmas and the atmosphere had made our time together even more magical.
He took me home, and when he asked to see me again, I couldn’t agree fast enough. I suggested we keep it casual in public so that we had time to explore a relationship before word got out and we had to face public scrutiny. He’d lit up like my Christmas tree, told me he loved the idea of having me all to himself for a while, and pulled me in for the most incredible kiss I’d ever experienced.
