Dreaming With A Broken Heart (Hollywood Legends Book 1) (4 page)

“Jesus, Jade. Really?” Garrett took her hand,
smoothing out the fist. He massaged the back of her fingers with the pad of his
thumb. “Consistency is one thing. Not living your own life is another.
What do you do for excitement?”

“Take off for late night rides with strange men?”
Jade lifted her gaze from their joined hand. “Is it pathetic that you’re
the most excitement I’ve ever had?”

“We won’t call it pathetic.” Garrett lightly
kissed the back of her hand. “We’ll call it a start.”

“More like a one-off.”

“It doesn’t have to be,” Garrett assured her. He
didn’t want this to be the beginning
and
the end. Why should it be?

“Garrett? I have another favor to ask.” Jade’s
smile was tentative — a little shy. “Have I exceeded my limit?”

“With one car trip? Hardly. Ask away.”

“Will you kiss me?”

“Oh, Jade. Honey.” Garrett pulled her into his
arms, the console between them a minor barrier. “You’d be doing
me
the favor. I’ve wanted to taste you all evening.”

Garrett couldn’t remember the last time he thought about how
he would kiss a woman. Maybe as an untried teenager on his first date? Then he
worried about how to turn his head or if he should use his tongue. With Jade,
his thoughts weren’t about technique. He wanted this to be a kiss she never
forgot. If he knocked out the memory of every other man in the process, that
would be a nice added bonus.

At the first touch of her lips against his, he stopped
thinking at all.

Jade’s mouth was soft under his. Her sweet breath came out
as a sigh. Garrett’s fingers slid into her hair, the silky strands caressing
his skin. All of her was satin smooth, the skin of her cheek, the curve of her
lips. His sighs mingled with hers. This wasn’t a kiss. It was a feast and he
was a starving man who couldn’t get enough. Her taste was instantly addictive.
A lifetime wouldn’t satisfy his craving.

Garrett pulled Jade closer until they were chest to chest.
For such a slender woman, her breasts were wonderfully full and soft. The thin
material of her dress was little protection from his roving hand. He cupped the
firm mound, running his thumb over her peaked nipple.

“What are you doing?” Jade breathed the words into
his ear.

“You don’t like me touching you?”

“I like it too much.”

Garrett smiled, his teeth nipping at her bottom lip.
“No such thing as
too
much.”

“I wasn’t supposed to like it at all.”

Garrett let her pull away, a frown on his face.

“You asked me to kiss you hoping… What?”

“I wanted it to be nice. Pleasant.”

“I don’t know what to say. Sorry?”

Jade laughed. It wasn’t a happy sound.

“It’s my fault,” she said. “That wasn’t my
first kiss.”

“I wouldn’t think so.”

“It was the first time a kiss has, I don’t know. Worked
me up?” Jade shrugged. “Kissing is nice. Affectionate.”

“Kissing, when done properly, is hot as hell, Jade.
Nice and affectionate is reserved for family members and friends. Lovers are a
different matter.”

“We aren’t lovers.”

“Fine.” Garrett nodded. His eyes met hers, the color
a deep, intense gray. “Soon to be lovers.”

“No.”

“I hear the regret in your voice. Why? We’re both
unattached.” Garrett paused. “Are you married?”

“Not yet.”

“Engaged?”

“That’s the decision I need to make,” Jade turned
away. “My father thinks I should marry. It’s time.”

“Time? What does that mean?”

“I’m getting older and he wants grandchildren.”

“What are you? Twenty-two? Twenty-three?”

“Twenty-five next week.”

“Ancient.” Garrett took her hand again. He liked
touching her. “My parents want grandchildren, Jade. That doesn’t mean they
push my brothers and me to get married.”

“My father doesn’t push,” Jade assured Garrett.
“He bulldozes. In this case, though, I think he’s right. I want to get
married. Someday.”

“Someday is good.”

“I’m not seeing anyone special.” Jade sighed.
“I never see anyone special. About a week ago, my father pointed that out
quite forcefully. Since I wasn’t capable of finding a suitable husband, he
would find one for me. Or rather, he’s
found
a suitable husband.”

“Then let your father marry this guy. You don’t have to
tie yourself to a stranger.”

The whole idea was appalling. He couldn’t understand how
Jade could be so calm.

“He isn’t a stranger. Stephen works for my father. I
went on a few dates with him last year.”

“Were his kisses pleasant?”

“His kiss,” Jade emphasized the singular,
“was fine.”

“Fine being a step down from pleasant?”

“He’s handsome, well-spoken. Stephen fits in
socially.” Jade smiled. It didn’t reach her eyes. “I like the idea of
having my own home, Garrett.”

“You want to get away from your father. I understand
that. You don’t have to get married to do that, Jade.”

Seeing her hesitation, Garrett took a big leap.

“Come away with me.”

“Garrett…”

“Hear me out. I’m going to Vancouver tomorrow to scout
movie locations. Two weeks in Canada. Have you ever been?”

“No.”

“It’s beautiful. We’ll take our time. Eat at some great
restaurants. See the sights.” Garrett gave her his most charming smile.
“Separate rooms. Or not. That will be up to you. No pressure. I
promise.”

“There wouldn’t be separate rooms,” Jade said.
“We both know that.”

“No. But it will be your choice.”

“I can’t, Garrett.”

“You can.”

“I have three charity events in the next week. I’m
chairing one; the others are very dear to me.”

“Jade…”

“Take me home, Garrett.” When he would have
protested, she squeezed his hand. Her eyes begging him to understand.
“Please.”

Garrett started the car without another word. There were
plenty of things he wanted to say. Instead, they rode in silence. He knew where
she lived. The Marlow estate wasn’t far from his parents’ place. He and Jade
grew up a few houses apart. They went to the same school. Only a few years
separated them. Yet this was the first time they had spoken more than a few
words. Now, when it was too late.

The hell with that
, Garrett thought. Jade wasn’t
married. She wasn’t engaged. She certainly had no strong feelings for
Stephen
.
Who said it was too late?

Garrett pulled to a stop outside the gated house.

“Don’t.”

Jade stopped him when he would have pushed the intercom.

“I’m not letting you walk to the house, Jade.”

“It isn’t that far.”

“Far enough.”

Garrett pushed the button then waited for the gates to open.
He drove the short distance to the house. Before Jade could make her escape, he
put a hand on her arm.

“Tell me you were tempted.”

“I wanted to say yes the second you asked,” Jade
told him.

“I want to see you again, Jade.” Garrett lifted
her chin until her eyes met his. “Two weeks. That isn’t long.”

“In this case, it might as well be forever.”

Before Garrett could answer, the passenger side door opened.

“Jade.”

Jade winced. The voice wasn’t loud or harsh. It was firm.
Commanding. Cold.

“Get in the house. Stephen was worried about you.”

“Stephen can kiss my…”

“Garrett.” Jade shook her head. “It’s fine.
Honestly.” She looked at her father. “I’ll only be a moment.”

“Now, Jade.”

She sighed. There was more than regret in her hazel eyes.
Sadness. And something Garrett couldn’t quite define.

“You don’t have to go, Jade. I’ll take you anywhere you
want.”

“This is home.”

There was no fear. Resignation. That was it. He saw it in
her eyes and heard it in her voice. For some reason, that alarmed him more than
anything.

“Two weeks.” He was giving her a lifeline. All she
needed to do was grab on.

“Thank you for driving me home, Garrett.”

Jade slipped from the car. Before she could say anything
else, her father slammed the door. He escorted her up the steps and into the
house. Garrett waited until they were completely out of sight before he pulled
away.

He
would
see her again. Nothing would stop him. Not
an over-controlling father or a would-be husband. God, it was going to be a
long two weeks.

GARRETT KNEW LESS than a week into his trip that he’d found the
perfect spot to shoot his movie. A rural setting that could pass for Michigan
in the nineteen-twenties. The lake he was particularly interested in was
exactly as the screenwriter described. A log cabin sat on the shore of the
north side. The inside was too modern; that they could get around. The outside
suited his vision.

Which was a good thing. Garrett’s budget was tight. There
wasn’t room to build what he needed. Coming in on time, with money to spare
meant solidifying his reputation. He worked fast, cheap, and produced a quality
product. None of his movies lost money. He planned on keeping it that way.

Next up was Garrett’s first “studio” film. Bigger
budget, better locations. He could finally afford to take his time. Every shot
would be planned out. No more flying by the seat of his pants because the money
was running low. Not that he planned on going overboard. He was too much his
father’s son to waste money. Letting a film run over budget was not in his DNA.

“What do you think?”

“Hamish,” Garrett slapped his AD on the back.
“I hope you like trees. Starting next month, this is our home. One month
of roughing it. No takeout pizza or egg foo yung at two in the morning. Think
you can handle it?”

Hamish shrugged. He grew up dirt poor in Scotland. If his
father lost his job or someone got sick, food became a premium they couldn’t
afford. Since coming to the States, he’d gotten used to eating regularly. As
long as that didn’t change, he could handle the boondocks.

“Down the road about a mile, there’s a bonny widow and
her sister. They’ve invited us to dinner.” Hamish wiggled his bushy, black
eyebrows. “I got the impression
dessert
was part of the
package.”

Garrett looked at his friend. They were close to the same
age. They had similar appetites. During their last shoot, it was the co-eds —
college roommates who weren’t shy about having sex in the same room. After six,
long celibate weeks and a few too many beers, neither was Garrett. The next
morning he swore never again. If they couldn’t find separate rooms, he would go
back to his old standby. Masturbation was a lonely form of gratification.
Still, it beat the hell out of getting a glimpse of Hamish’s ass in mid-thrust.

“I’ll pass.”

“Come on. They have their own bedrooms. No
sharing.” Hamish had to hurry when Garrett started walking around the
lake. He was eight inches shorter. With shorter legs, it took three steps to
keep up with Garrett’s one. “Besides, the older one’s front teeth are
missing.”

“I know I’ll be sorry I asked,” Garrett said.
“Why is that a good thing?”

“All gums on the blowjob.”

Hamish covered his teeth with his lips, providing Garrett
with a visual he wouldn’t soon forget.

“Tempting.”

“Are we on?”

Garrett shook his head. “They’re all yours.”

“Why?”

Their plan was to stay in the cabin tonight, and then head
out early. They were done a week early. The only thing left was fine-tuning the
details. Garrett was happy to leave the haggling to Wyatt. It was his job as
the producer of the film. Besides, he was good at it. It was taken care of on
conference calls that bored the tears out of Garrett.

He wanted nothing more than a good night’s sleep. They were
scheduled on the eleven-thirty flight to Los Angeles. If he were lucky, the
plane would be on time. By seven tonight, he hoped to be having dinner with
Jade.

Thoughts of her crept into his mind at the damnedest times.
It wasn’t constant. He had a job to do. He was focused and professional. That
didn’t stop him from thinking about Jade’s smile. Or her laugh. When he was
alone at night, visions of her long, silky legs wrapped around him teased his
sleep.

“I’m not up to it, Hamish,” Garrett told his
friend. It wasn’t a lie. “Can we leave it at that?”

“Sure.” Hamish gave Garrett a speculative look
before letting it go. “Maybe the sisters will be willing to share. Hamish
Floyd can handle two at once.”

The next morning, Hamish looked worse than what the cat
dragged in. Garrett didn’t ask how the evening went and for once, Hamish didn’t
volunteer the information. It was a story that would eventually get told.
Probably on a long, cold shoot when there was nothing else to talk about.

The flight back to L.A. was blessedly uneventful. Hamish
slept while Garrett poured over his notes, jotting down thoughts while they
were fresh in his mind. Vancouver was going to be the last thing on his mind
tonight. He planned on devoting all his attention on Jade.

“Do you want to share a cab?”

Hamish was awake. Barely. His bleary eyes focused on Garrett
long enough to acknowledge the question.

“Make sure the driver takes the quiet way home,”
Hamish mumbled. He settled into the back of the cab, asleep before Garrett
joined him. What quiet way? This was L.A. This time of day there was no such
thing. Garrett shook his head. He doubted Hamish knew what he was saying.

Garrett gave the driver the address. He was about to call
Jade when his phone rang.

“Wyatt. Your timing, as usual, is impeccable.”

“Good flight?”

“Smooth,” he said. “What’s up?”

“I wanted you to know I finalized the Vancouver deal.
You’re all set.”

“That was fast.” Even for Wyatt, this was record
time.

“They were amenable to our terms. There was no reason
to delay.” Garrett heard Wyatt shuffling papers. “I know you must be
dead tired, but Mom is having the family over for dinner tonight. I told her
I’d mention it.”