Causing a Commotion (22 page)

Despite being one of America’s top heartthrobs and apparently a Colin Crandall show fan, Eric Ewing was not real news in Colin’s opinion. The man was a paid actor. An entertainer. Not news.

He’d stayed long enough to finish the movie, and slipped out as quickly as he could after it went off. He’d called to check on her, make sure she was okay since someone had drugged her. She’d invited him to come over. Repeatedly. He’d forced himself to stay away, unwilling to fall into a pattern of spending every spare moment with her. Of thinking he had the right to the phenomenal sex they’d had.

He’d restrained himself. Having sex with Jessie again would be a cosmic mistake. She tried a man’s control. She was hot and sassy and totally wonderful.

Making love to her was a pleasure. A torture.

He wanted more. More of the sweet loving she’d given. If it had been real. He wanted to believe it had, that she hadn’t faked her reactions to his lovemaking. Hell, he didn’t think she was that good of an actress.

But going back for more implied they had a relationship. They didn’t. Wouldn’t. As soon as he figured out what was going on at Wolf, he planned to get rid of her from his show. Otherwise, he’d walk on his contract. Wolf could sue him if they wanted, but he couldn’t stand this patsy reporting much longer.

Or maybe not if he presented it in the right light. After all, Jessie shined in front of the camera. Wolf could make her the sole star of
Causing A Commotion
. Jessie would go on without skipping a beat.

Sensing she was near, he watched her stalk into the studio. His breath caught as it always did when she was within radar range. When she walked into a room, the air became thin and electricity crackled. Simply put, she short-circuited his brain. His body. Especially today since they’d short-circuited together the last time he’d seen her.

Although she smiled and waved at the audience, he immediately sensed something was wrong. Her eyes blazed, her posture had a rigid edge, her chin jutted forward and when she slid into her seat next to him, he saw that her lipstick was smudged.

For what seemed like an eternity he stared at those smudges. At her kiss-swollen lips. At her distracted stance. Reluctantly, his gaze dropped to the papers in front of him. One name leapt out. Eric Ewing.

Only Ewing wasn’t even moving on. She’d had him before. Maybe she bounced back and forth between lovers. Her appetite so ravenous no one man could satisfy her. She’d acted like their lovemaking was no big deal. Perhaps it really hadn’t been to her.

Colin clamped down the emotions flooding him. What did it matter? He’d just admitted they didn’t have a relationship. Not a real one. Jessie was free to do anything she pleased.

Colin didn’t want a relationship. Not with a brazen actress. Not with anyone. Yet the thought of another man touching her painted his insides a sickening green.

Knowing they’d be on air in mere moments and that an audience watched their every move, Colin turned away, unable to look at the smudges any longer.

“You might want to check your lipstick.” He couldn’t resist getting in a dig. Although it would serve her right if he’d let her go on air looking that way. No doubt Beverly or one of the other crew would have done a last minute check though and repaired the smudges.

Ridiculous caked-on stuff. If J.P. had any sense he’d show the world how truly beautiful Jessie was and allow her to go on air without the paints, without the masks. Not that she’d likely be willing to do that. Few women would.

Natural was a lot better than kiss-smudged lipstick.

The countdown sounded and the camera started. Jessie and he ran through their opening spiels. As usual she was all smiles. Colin didn’t smile, but he wasn’t exactly frowning. She’d kissed another man mere days after having sex with him.
He was frowning
.

No matter, worse case scenario, Wolf would fire him.

Which would make him a free man.

Chapter Fifteen

Refusing to let her thoughts show on her face, Jessie ran through the routine segments, smiled into the camera, and introduced today’s guest, her personal friend, “Eric Ewing.”

Eric came into the pseudo-living room. Jessie and Colin sat in matching chairs. A comfy empty one waited on Eric.

Ever the good sport, he worked the crowd, waving, shaking hands, smiling his deeply dimpled gin. When Eric made it onto the set, he shook Colin’s hand. Much to her surprise he made a major production out of kissing her hand. The crowd oohed.

Jessie did not.

At least, not until she saw the fires in Colin’s gaze.

Then she did. Did quite well. After all, she was a fab actress and after the cold shoulder he’d just given her, Colin deserved jealousy. Lots of jealousy. Plus, this was likely to be her last segment on
Causing A Commotion
, why not enjoy? Damn Maxwell for putting her in this position. Damn Colin for being a coward. Or cold. Or whatever other “c” adjective he was.

Then again caring started with a “c”, too. And jealousy meant Colin cared. Caring was good.

“Eric, darling, how have you been?” She kept her face angled to where camera number three would have a great view. To where Colin had a great view of her fake enraptured expression.

“Better now that I’m here.” Eric winked at the camera in good ole Texas boy fashion. Clapping cheered him from the audience.

“Tell us about coming out of the closet,” Colin interrupted, his tone brusque.

Eric’s forehead wrinkled before he shrugged and answered, “In my latest movie, Faces in the Mirror, the viewers get the first glimpse at the skeletons in my closet during a scene where I’m celebrating my onscreen wife’s thirtieth birthday. Her twin brother is there. There’s a scene where it’s just me and him in the kitchen, and there are sparks.”

“Were there any real life sparks?”

Eric outright frowned at Colin’s hostility. “No, in real life, we’re both heterosexual.” Eric turned to the crowd and waggled his brows. “That means I prefer to play with the girls, Colin.”

Good-natured laughs sounded.

“Oh, is there any girl in particular we should know about?” Jessie jumped in, determined not to let Colin make a jerk of himself on air. Although he deserved to. Perhaps she’d let him. If not for the darling jealousy she’d gleamed in his blue gaze, she probably would after the way he’d left her apartment.

“Well, since you’re not available,” Eric shot her a friendly wink, “I’m playing the field.”

“Isn’t it true that you have a habit of playing the field and very rarely date a woman beyond however long it takes to finish whatever film you’re currently working on?” Colin’s question fired with the intensity of a general questioning a hostile enemy.

Eric shrugged. “It’s not so much playing the field as it’s searching for the perfect blossom.”

“Perfect blossom?” Colin looked incredulous. “I take it you’re a fan of Mr. Smith and plan to deflower this perfect blossom?”

“Colin, if I found the perfect blossom, yeah, I’d deflower her.” Eric flashed an award-winning smile at the audience and Jessie. “Right after I made her my bride.”

Eric laughed. “There have been a few times I thought I had, but with the exception of one, all the women in my life turn out to be exotic buds, but not the rose I’m looking for.”

Jessie giggled. Eric was such a habitual flirt, always saying the right thing. He’d apparently been catching their show, because she knew he wasn’t really a fan of Mr. Smith’s poetry. So, she played into his hands and asked what he’d set up. “This exceptional one, is she someone we know?”

Jessie’s insides melted, but she just grinned, winking at Eric and the audience. “Why, thank you, Colin. Although I can’t accuse you of being a perfect blossom, you’re not too shabby.”

He stared at her, a look of mock annoyance on his face. “That’s not what I meant.”

“No?”

“You really should be more careful at expressing yourself then because I distinctly recall you just saying I was the perfect blossom.” Jessie turned to the audience. “I have witnesses, Colin. You said I was perfect. Can’t change your mind now, dude.”

Eric nodded. “You did, man.”

“I was pointing out that Ewing thought so.”

“Actually, although Jessie is a special lady and always will be,” Eric winked. “I spoke in regards to a nurse in the military who is currently serving overseas.”

Which was a joke as she was pretty sure he referred to his mother, who served as a nurse in the armed forces. “Overseas?”

Eric’s gaze jerked to her and silent messages passed back and forth. “As I said, I’m searching for the perfect blossom, not playing the field,” he said for the benefit of the camera. “When I find her, well, with all the rag magazines out there, the world is likely to know before I do.”

Jessie smiled into the camera. “And, we at
Causing A Commotion
hope you find that perfect blossom and pluck her as your very own.”

“Thank you, Ma’am.”

Colin crossed his arms and leaned back to watch them. Not willing to let him put a damper on Eric’s interview, Jessie smiled, asked Eric another question about his current movie. The one he’d agreed to come onto the show so he could promote. She and Eric chatted and Colin watched, silent and brooding. On television. Silly man.

* * *

Colin avoided being cornered by Jessie only because several fans cornered her first. While Jessie chatted and signed autographs, he slipped from the studio and headed toward his private room.

A stomach virus had hit the boy’s home and basketball practice had been canceled for the week. Which sucked because he needed the distraction more than ever.

Not that anything distracted him from thoughts of a feisty blonde for long. Nothing did.

Colin got his door unlocked—-since the graffiti incident he kept the door locked any time he wasn’t in the room. He opened the door to go in, planning to steal a few moments of privacy prior to escaping the building. Tonight, he’d go home and work on decoding a voice mail he’d gotten on his cell phone. One that unfortunately hadn’t been long enough to be traced. One that implied he should take a closer look at why one particular firm had been repeatedly awarded military contracts and what one particular senator had to do with those contacts.

Apparently the informant hadn’t watched the show in months or they’d have only called in if Jennifer Lopez had been seen entering a liposuction clinic or some other such nonsense.

Or perhaps the informant knew Colin’s distaste for Senator Bill Thomas and that he’d never given up watching for the crook to slip up. He’d gotten an email that suggested the Senator had played a role in those contracts.