Dreaming Of Your Love (Hollywood Legends #3) (21 page)

“I’d
like to learn a few moves, too,” Paige said. She pushed her blonde hair over
one shoulder. “Nate has tried to teach me, but every time he puts his hands on
me, we end up doing other things. If you know what I mean.”

“He’s
a Landis.” Jade’s green eyes sparkled. “Of course we know what you mean.”

Sable
didn’t want to go there. It might be common knowledge that she and Colt were
sleeping together, but she felt a little uncomfortable talking about it. Even
with Jade and Paige.

“I
have a job. I can’t promise anything until I talk it over with Colt. His
schedule changes from day to day. Next week, the movie is shooting in San
Diego. Then Las Vegas for three days.”

“We
understand. But if we can coordinate everything, will you do it?”

Jade’s
expression was almost comically earnest. How could she say no to that?

“Okay.
One class.”

“Thank
you, Sable.” Jade jumped up and hugged her from behind. “This means the world
to me. And to my friends.”

“I
hope I can help.”

“I
know you can. You have no idea how much it means to take control of your life.
To stop being a victim.”

Sable
understood exactly what that meant. No woman should ever feel as though she had
no choices. Knowing how to defend herself was one more way to take back her life.
Her power. She would do this. For Jade and her friends. And for herself.

SABLE HADN’T exaggerated about Colt’s schedule. To save time
and money, the majority of the night scene shoots were bunched together over
one week. It meant getting to the set around five in the afternoon and working
until dawn. It threw everyone’s body clocks out of whack.

Everything
was flipped. Or as Colt put it, cattywampus. It was strange eating dinner at
five in the morning, trying to sleep through the afternoon, and catching
breakfast just as the sun was setting.

Handling
the change took some creative measures.

Colt
dealt with it by increasing the length of his workout routine. Drinking plenty
of water. And having sex as often as humanly possible. In his case, that meant
every chance he got—no matter the location.

“I
should say no.” Sable buttoned her shirt.

“Okay.
Next time say no. I promise to stop.”

“Mmm.”

“You
don’t believe me?” Sable could tell that bothered him.

“I
believe you. I was trying to imagine a scenario where I would want you to.”

In
lieu of a comb, Sable ran her fingers through her hair. Another benefit of
keeping it short. Quick post-coital grooming after heated sex in a potting
shed.

“You
like my improvisational style?”

Sable
tried not to smile. Why encourage him? But God, he was adorable. And gorgeous.
And sinfully sexy. Colt needed a comb more than she did but on him, messy hair
simply added to the allure. The rumpled shirt, the crooked grin. He looked like
a man who had women falling at his feet—all day, every day. And he did. Sable
could attest to the fact that he did.

“I’m
an enabler,” she declared. “My actions have turned an arrogant, cocky bastard
into a mega-arrogant, cocky bastard. Sex. Sex. Sex. We can’t keep up this pace.
Can we?”

Colt
pulled her into his arms. His lips nuzzled her ear, sending a familiar tingle
through her body.

“First.
I’m not arrogant or cocky. I’m confident. And charming.” His chuckle told Sable
that he knew exactly how that sounded. Cocky
and
arrogant. “Second. Do
you want us to cool off? For the pace to slacken?”

“No.”
That was the last thing she wanted. The sex was amazing and she couldn’t get
enough of Colt.

“As
long as we’re enjoying ourselves, does it matter where?” He kissed the side of
her neck. “Or how often?”

“No.”
Sable moaned. Automatically, she tipped her head to give him better access.
Then she realized what Colt was doing. “No!” she said firmly. “You need to get
back to work.”

“We’re
on a thirty-minute break. We still have,” Colt looked at his watch, “three and
a half minutes.”

Sable
thought about pushing Colt out the door. But when his lips brushed her ear, her
knees went weak. His touch made her ignore the fact they had done this just
minutes before.

“Condom?”

Colt’s
lips curved. “Front pocket.”

Sable
fished out the packet. “Three minutes and counting.”

He
unsnapped his jeans and took the condom.

“I
love a challenge.”

“I
love an orgasm. Think you can pull it off?”

“You
mean, can I get you off?”

Flipping
up Sable’s skirt, Colt pushed her panties to the side and entered her without
missing a beat. The breath left her lungs in a fast whoosh.

“Are
you counting?”

She
couldn’t remember her name. How was she supposed to count? Her head fell back.
Her body tensed. The orgasm hit and the world went black. Seconds later, Colt
joined her.

“Thirty
seconds to spare.”

“Don’t
gloat.”

“I
wouldn’t think of it.”

Sable
couldn’t move. She was limp. Worn out. Completely, wonderfully spent. Luckily,
Colt’s reaction was the opposite. Somewhere he found a hidden source of energy.
He cleaned them up and straightened their clothing. When a voice called out,
‘Mr.
Landis. You’re wanted on the set,’
he looked at his watch.

“Three
orgasms for you and a big fat one for me. Not bad.”

“Smug.”

“Happy.”
Colt corrected. He waited for Sable to open the shed door and check for lurking
boogie men before taking her hand. “And very satisfied.”

“Me
too.”

Sable
smiled when he kissed her palm. Colt was always doing things like that. A
little touch. A light kiss. She was getting used to the casual affection. No.
It was more than that. She looked forward to it. Craved it. If she weren’t
careful, it could become a full-blown addiction. What would she do for her fix
when she was in Harper Falls and he was a thousand miles away?

“Okay?”

Sable
pulled her thoughts from the future and something she couldn’t control. She had
the here and the now. And she was determined to enjoy it.

“How
do I look?”

“Fantastic.”

“Not
like I’ve had sex in a potting shed.”

“You
look like you’ve had sex. No one would guess the location.”

“Idiot.”

“How
do I look?” Colt paused. He put a hand behind his head, making his best
beefcake pose.

So
good.
Sable hid
her smile, giving him the once over.

“You’ll
do.”

COLT DIDN’T ASK the cast and crew what methods they employed to
get through the odd hours. He kept his secrets and let them keep theirs.
Whatever they did, on the whole, everyone adjusted nicely. Experienced
professionals, they behaved as such. But there always seemed to be an exception
who was determined to prove the rule.

In
this case, it was Candice. DeMarcco.

The
diva wannabe decided the night schedule was the perfect time to assert her
power as the movie’s female lead. In other words,
if I choose to flub my
lines and pout through every scene, so what? You can’t replace me. You can’t
ruin me. I’m a star. Live with it.

“There
is a woman who needs to spend a whole lot of time in a potting shed,” Colt
grumbled. They were on another break while Candice looked over her lines.

Sable
raised an eyebrow.

“Sex.”
Colt flopped onto the chair next to hers. “I meant she needs to have lots and
lots of sex.”

“I
know what you meant.” Sable held up her hands, her eyes filled with mock
horror. “Don’t look at me. I wouldn’t touch her with a ten-foot pole.”

“You
could shoot her.”

“No.
Too much blood. Besides, I really like that dress she’s wearing. It would be a
shame to ruin it.”

“Then
I’m at a loss.”

Colt
had her hand in his. Sable wondered if he knew he’d done it, the gesture was
becoming second nature. So was the little ping she felt around her heart when
he rubbed his thumb against hers.

“You
know what you have to do.”

“
I
have to shoot her?” Colt shook his head, blue eyes filled with mock regret. “Nah.
I’ve never discharged a gun outside of a firing range or an action movie. I
might miss and hit someone important.”

“Or,”
Sable playfully jabbed Colt in the ribs. His grin was her reward. “You could
use that famous Landis charm. A few words of encouragement might get this party
started.”

Colt
sighed. “Fine. But I still say your gun is more effective.”

“We’ll
keep it in reserve—just in case.”

Watching
Colt drag his feet as he walked to Candice’s trailer was as entertaining as any
scene in the movie. He paused outside the door. Took a deep breath and pulled
his shoulders back. Before he knocked, he turned toward Sable, pointing at his
huge, plastered-on smile.

Colt
had barely made one rap when the trailer door opened. A hand with long red
nails appeared, grabbed him by the arm, and pulled him inside. The door shut
with a resounding snap.

“I
don’t know how he does it.” Janis, made up for the scene Candice couldn’t get
through, joined Sable. She had a wry smile on her face and a cup of coffee in
each hand. She gave one to Sable before hoisting herself onto Colt’s vacated
seat. “No one else has the nerve to beard the barracuda’s den.”

“He
feels a responsibility to the cast and crew.”

“And
Candice knows it. Her little tantrums are all about manipulating Colt.”

“How
so?”

“Do
you mind some gossip?

“Do
you mind if I take it with a grain of salt?”

Sable
had lived most of her life on one Army base or another. Gossip was the fuel
that powered many a backyard barbecue or weeknight poker game. Her mother had
lived for every tidbit, taking it as gospel—unless it reflected poorly back on
her. Then it was all petty lies and backstabbing.

Her
father used to say,
Listen if you must, Sable. But always remember. Gossip
never benefits anyone but the teller.

“Hell.
You can take it with a whole shaker full,” Janis laughed good-naturedly.

“Then
gossip away.”

“Well,”
Janis leaned closer, her eyes sparkling with the excitement of being the bearer
of less than reliable news. “One of the grips overheard Candice on the phone.
It seems she is not happy with the state of her romantic relationship with
Colt.”

“What
romantic relationship?”

“Exactly.
By now, she thought they would be hot and heavy. The darlings of the internet.
Splashed on the cover of every checkout line celebrity magazine. Colt is
everywhere, but not with Candice on his arm. There’s one major problem standing
in her way to the top of the trending charts.”

“That
Colt is too smart to be dragged under by a publicity-hungry bitch?”

“There’s
that,” Janis nodded. “But the answer is more succinct. The problem, according
to Candice, is you.”

“The
problem is that Colt isn’t interested. If he were, he would be with her.”

“Logic.”
Janis tapped the side of her head. “Not Candice’s long suit. She sees you as
her only obstacle. Eliminate you, and Colt will fall at her feet like the
proverbial piece of ripe fruit.”

“Delusional,”
Sable whispered under her breath.

She
knew the type. Her mother was a prime example. Once Iris Ford convinced herself
something was true, there was no reasoning with her. Apparently, Candice
suffered from the same affliction.

“And
then some.” Janis tapped a packet of artificial sweetener against her hand. She
opened the packet and added it to her coffee, absently stirring it in.

“For
the sake of crazy, let’s say she was right. What’s her plan? Because I’m not
going anywhere.”

Until
the movie wraps
.
Sable couldn’t help silently adding that for her own benefit. After that, Colt
was free to get involved with all the nitwits his heart desired. It left a sour
taste in her mouth, making it hard to swallow her mouthful of coffee. With a
grimace, she set aside the cup.

“Plan?
Candice? She doesn’t strategize. She leaves that up to her management team.
They’ve pulled some crazy stunts to get some attention for her. But the latest
tantrum has Candice written all over it. Poorly thought out and destined for
failure.”

Before
Sable could respond, the trailer door burst open. She and the entire production
crew heard Colt’s voice before they saw him.

“That’s
it,” Colt yelled. Sable’s brows rose in surprise. Angry Colt was rare.
Especially on the set. She edged off the chair, poised to step in if Colt
appeared to be in danger.

“Colt…
“

Though
out of sight, the whiney voice obviously belonged to Candice.

“No.
I’ve had enough.”

Colt
jumped from the trailer. His hair was messed up, standing in multiple
directions. But it was the state of his shirt that had Sable on her feet. It
was torn, leaving his chest exposed. And if she weren’t mistaken, there were
scratch marks, red and angry-looking, marring his skin.

“I’m
fine.” Colt held up a hand, keeping Sable in her seat. She didn’t move, nor did
she relax.

“Colt.”
Candice stood in the doorway, wearing nothing but a skimpy piece of lingerie
and a pout. “Come back. We were just getting started.”

“Listen
to me. If you ever pull something like this again, I will have you thrown off
the set. The hell with the movie.”

“You
don’t mean that.”

Sable
wondered at the woman’s lack of self-preservation. An idiot could see Colt wasn’t
just angry. He was livid. His face was red, his fists clenched. And the vein on
his temple throbbed with alarming intensity. Yet Candice, entrenched in her own
cuckoo world, approached Colt without an ounce of caution.