Famous (Famous #1) (37 page)

Her voice was full of understanding. “I’m so sorry, Cade. We’re all working to get something done so maybe the two of you can have some time alone somewhere, extend your next L.A. trip, perhaps. There’s a lot of press to do and Martin called and said there are three scenes he needs. That means you may be here as long as two weeks.”

“Well, maybe that’s a blessing in disguise. Which scenes? Are they reshoots?” I wanted to know.

“Um, I think they’re all new, but I can’t remember what they are right now, sorry.”

“Are they sending us back up to Vancouver?”

“No, they’re scouting locations in LA.” The flight attendant began going over the in-flight safety instructions, so I wanted to finish the call.

“Listen, Denise, I need a favor, if you don’t mind,” I said hesitantly.

“Okay, what?” She was eager to help me. She’d been my manager since I was twelve, and I could always count on her for anything I needed.

“Well, I need to go to Tiffany’s while I’m in New York, but no one can know. Maybe you can go for me, or arrange a time when the store is closed when I could meet with only the manager? I’ll need to pay in cash, so there isn’t a paper trail.”

“Um…” Her voice was wary. “What
exactly
are you buying at Tiffany’s, Cade?”


I smiled, but I knew all hell was going to break lose as soon as I said it. “An engagement ring,” I said
softly.

Silence. I waited.

“Cade!” Her voice was panicked. “We can’t have Brooklyn parading around wearing a damn engagement ring, unless it’s from David.”

“Fuck David,” I growled at her. His name was the last one I needed to hear. He’d be rammed down my bloody throat enough in the next months.

“You can’t be seen buying one. Is that
clear
?” Her voice was stern.

I was annoyed at her resistance. “Look, I’m in love with her, and by some miracle she loves me, too. We aren’t telling anyone and she won’t wear it until we can come out with our relationship, but I
need
to buy this ring. I need to know she’s mine.” My voice was low and serious. “Will you help me, or not?”

“If she isn’t going to wear it, can’t it wait?” she almost begged.

“I’m not giving it to her until I’m back in LA, so we have a month. I’m going to be in New York, so I thought I could get it while I’m there.” I paused and sighed. “Doing this will help me feel less separated from her, less miserable. Right now, I’m sick with it. You want me to function, don’t you?” I tried to lighten the mood with light teasing.

She sighed on the other end of the phone. “Okay. I’ll see what I can do, but I’m sure as hell not letting
you
go in anywhere to buy it. I’ll have to figure this out and get back to you.” I could hear the reluctance in her voice, but she knew I was serious.

“I appreciate it, but I want to pick it out myself. It has to be perfect.”

“Cade! You barely know her.”

“I’m not going to argue about it.”

“God, you’re impossible! I’m only doing this because I love you,” she said tightly, but I knew she was probably smiling.

“I know. What would I do without you?” I was the last to board the plane so the flight attendant’s announcement was beginning.

“Not a whole hell of a lot!” She laughed.

“I’ve gotta go, they are making me shut down my phone while we take off. I’ll call you when I get to New York. Thanks for everything.” I rang off and settled back in my seat as my phone buzzed in my pocket.
Brook’s message flashed on the screen before flipped the phone to airplane mode.

I won’t forget. I love you, more.

I sighed and closed my eyes. She loved me more?
That was impossible.

Chapter 18

Stolen Moments

I kept busy during my time without Cade, working on my upcoming role and also reading a couple of scripts Jeanne had given me to look through for future jobs. I still couldn’t commit to anything, though, because we didn’t know if we’d be doing the rest of the Remembrance Series, so I needed to keep my calendar relatively clear in the spring.
Army of Two
was slotted to begin filming in the summer months, but if I was going to be a successful actress, I needed to get more projects lined up beyond that.

David and I talked and were on pretty good terms. I sensed he was still hurt, but agreed that being friends was something we would always have, and really, what our entire relationship had been based on. It was still awkward, but I was hoping that over time it would get easier. I had some appearances with Cade coming up that David would be attending with me, per our arrangement, and while it was apparently necessary, it would be weird for all of us.

I saw Jennifer and Wendy a couple of times. We all met for lunch at a sushi bar about a week earlier, and to give Wendy credit, she didn’t even mention Cade once. I would have thought it strange except I knew about the conversation in his room the last time he was in LA.

She was angry that the Vanity Fair shoot had been changed to only include Cade, Noah, Sarah, Gavin and myself. That magazine was a big deal and promotional powerhouse, so she had other reasons to be disappointed, beyond not seeing Cade.

Call me selfish, but I was glad I wouldn’t have to deal with the possibility of her attitude. It would’ve been odd seeing her reaction around Cade when he’d told her he wasn’t interested in her. I was sure it hurt her, and I felt a little bit guilty, though I still felt real jealousy at her blatant attempts to seduce him. I knew her well enough to know that his discouraging words wouldn’t deter her forever.

Cade texted several times but we only spoke a few times a week on the phone or Skype. It probably would have been more often, if we didn’t get so sad when we said goodbye. It seemed we were in touch a little less as time went on. Another one of our unspoken communications; it kept us sane.

His sweet words coming across my phone reminded me he was thinking of me, but made me anxious for the time we would be together again. Most of the messages were filled with love, but some were a little bit naughty, too. I giggled at the thought. He either had my heart swelling, or my body aching. I loved it, either way.

The distance was getting a little bit easier to bear, or maybe it was just time passing that made me acclimate. I told myself that the real test would be the next time he’d leave me, but I wouldn’t let myself think about that, and shifted my focus to seeing him.

He was coming in tomorrow and would be in L.A. for two full weeks. I longed for some time alone with him, but we would also be doing additional scenes for the film, which would take several of those days, some mall appearances, and a couple of interviews on radio and entertainment TV. This was life after our private little filming bubble popped, I thought ruefully. It was likely to get even more maddening as the premiers came closer, the first of which would be at the end of October in Rome. The schedule would be brutal, but at least I’d be seeing much more of Cade. I was missing him more than I let myself admit.

Jeanne was on her way over to discuss the schedule for the weeks to come, and take me to the VF shoot. I wondered what she and Denise came up with to allow alone time with Cade.

We were lucky that we had so many people we trusted working to help us maintain our contracts with Pinnacle, and help us to see each other under the radar. It wasn’t ideal, but it was better than nothing. I could sense Cade’s frustrations when he
and I talked. I worried that he’d do something rash, not caring about the contracts or future work with the studio.

I hadn’t seen my manager since that day she came to take Cade to the airport a month before, but we’d maintained close contact on the phone and through email.

Jeanne and Ken were the business end of my career. They handled all the mundane stuff like finding jobs and negotiation of contracts, which left me to the part that I loved. Acting. She arrived dressed in a business suit and I smiled brightly.

“Hey!” I said, as I jumped in the front seat of her SUV. My cheeks felt heated; I was flushed and excited.

“Hi, honey,” she said as she leaned over toward my seat and hugged me. “You look really good!! Much happier than the last time I saw you.” She gave me a squeeze.

“Um, yeah. Sorry about that. I never mean to be such a mess, but…” I began.

“Oh that’s okay, Brooklyn.” She looked at me and as she put the car in reverse and starting to back out. “I want to apologize for doubting that yours and Cade’s relationship was the real thing.”

“It’s, okay.” I shrugged and shook my head, surprised by her admission. “I guess it was evident by the way I fell apart before, huh?”

“And, by Cade’s reaction in the car on the way to the airport.” She paused as she searched my face. “He was pretty much a mess. He really loves you, Brook, and I decided then and there, I was going to do whatever I need to do to help the two of you see each other.” She smiled.

I wondered what she had planned, pleasure at her words racing through me.

“After the shoot today, you guys have three days before any of your other commitments and so we’re sending you off together.”

My breath caught in my throat and I felt my stomach lurch. “What?” I gasped out.

“Denise and I worked it out. You can’t travel together, but she’s got him booked on a flight for Vancouver tomorrow morning,” she used her hand to make quote marks in the air, “to visit Daniel, who has a concert up there. And you will be staying home all weekend. Poor thing, he’s got what amounts to a day-long plane ride, just to keep up the illusion, and you… You’re going to get
so
damn
ill.” Her eyes sparkled, a big smile on her lips.

I couldn’t help the giggle that burst out.

“We’ve chartered a plane to pick up Cade at a private air strip and fly him down to meet you in San Diego. My parents have a bungalow down there by the ocean and I’ve managed to get it for you.”

I felt my heart leap inside my chest. Did
she just say what I thought she said? Three days alone with Cade?

“Really?” I couldn’t believe it was possible. She nodded, and I wanted to hug her. “Oh Jeanne, I’ll never be able to thank you!! Ahhhhhh!” I screamed.

“Well, don’t get too excited. You won’t be able to go out sight seeing or anything like that. Cade is too recognizable, but there is a pool and gated grounds, and I’ve had the refrigerator stocked with everything you’ll need.”

I was practically jumping in my seat. “I’m so nervous. Why am I nervous?” I fell back against the seat laughing. “I’m so happy! Thank you, Jeanne. I owe you big time!” I squealed. “Oh, my
God
! Does Cade know?”

“Yes, he’s known for a while, but he wanted to surprise you.” She was as breathless as I was.

“What? How could he keep it from me? He must have been dying to spill it! I think I’m going to torture him later.” I laughed.

“Yes, I’m sure you will,” she said knowingly.

We pulled up to the studio and she grabbed my hand to stop me from bounding out of the car. “We’ve got to go in, but I haven’t told you what will happen today. There are several costume changes because they are shooting for more than one issue. One set will be you and Cade, with the other cast members; another will be just you and Cade in the rain.”

She ran through it fast but I was so excited I hardly heard a word she said.

I didn’t understand why not much of it matched the movie, but I was so excited to get inside, I didn’t care. “Is Cade already here?” I was breathless as she nodded, quickly.

“Okay, I need to calm down,” I said.
I grabbed Jeanne’s hands, ready to squeal. “What the hell is wrong with me? I’m jumping out of my freaking skin!”

“Just take a deep breath Brooklyn. Remember you have to keep your feelings under wraps, no one can see it,” she said calmly as she gripped my hands harder. “Can you do this?”

“Yeah.” I closed my eyes and tried to steady my breathing. “Yes, I can do it,” I said more forcefully. “I can!” I looked at her, then burst out laughing. She smiled and raised her eyebrows.

“Cade will already be in make-up, so you go to wardrobe and then meet me in the make-up room. I’ll make some excuse to get everyone out of there for five minutes so you can say hello to Cade in private. But I’m serious, Cinderella!
Five
minutes!” she exclaimed with a smile.

I put my arm around her as we walked in to the studio, the green screen was there for the shoot and they would put some backgrounds in later. “I love you, Jeanne. Thank you.” I hugged her again. “I really mean it.”

She smiled. “Off to wardrobe now.” She shooed me away and as I walked I made a conscious effort not to look around in search of a particular pair of blue eyes or full head of golden hair. Even though I knew I wouldn’t see him, I had to force myself to rein it in.

A few minutes later, I came out of wardrobe in the dark blue dress they’d given me for the first part of the shoot; my stomach was fluttering in anticipation. It was all I could do not to run down to hair and make-up.

Sarah, Gavin, Noah, Jen and Ethan would arrive in about an hour, joining Cade and I for some shots after we’d taken several alone.
Alone…
What a beautiful word
.

I remembered Cade’s from earlier that morning, as heat rose under the skin on my face. He had a habit of sending a text once a week or so, that showed the days, hours and minutes until he’d be with me again. I thrilled at this morning’s version because it was now down to hours, minutes and seconds.

3 hours, 26 minutes, 13 seconds, until I get to see those beautiful blue eyes.

I shook my head and smiled softly to myself. He was so amazing. How could any one person be so incredible?

My breath caught as I stopped on the other side of the door where I would finally see him after so long.
Jesus, I was shaking, but had to stop. I had to stop. I took a deep breath and fanned my hands out in front of me. “Okay,” I told myself. “Breathe.”

Then, inhaling, I opened the door to the make-up room and saw him sitting with his back to me, an overly excited girl working on his hair. She was talking about a film he’d done a couple of years earlier, barely taking a breath. His eyes met mine in the mirror and he smirked at me, the corner of his mouth lifting in a crooked grin as our eyes locked on one another. Every inch of my skin vibrated as I looked at him. He was so beautiful. Always so flipping beautiful. On film, I’d always found him striking, but when he was looking at me, for me, he was unlike anything I’d ever seen.

Jeanne put up her hand to stop the make-up woman’s chatter, then she began talking to him, and he nodded at something she said. As I was ushered into the seat next to him, she kept her promise to clear the room. I could almost feel the heat radiating off of his skin. His eyes were flashing fire at me as we looked at each other in the mirror.

I dropped my gaze so as not to give too much away. I had to bite my lip to keep a huge smile from splitting across my face.

“Mary, Jason,” Jeanne called to the make-up artists. “Can I have a word with you outside? I want to talk about the look for the last set,” she said. “Can you help me find the stylist?” she asked them, and then looked pointedly at Cade and I. “If you two will excuse us,” she raised her eyebrows at me, “We won’t make you wait too long.” I knew she was reminding me of our five minute limit as she opened the door and followed the artists out.

The minute the door closed, we were both out of our seats and in each other’s arms.

“Jesus, you feel so good, love.” He held me tight, breathing me in, his arms pulling me tight against his chest. I could feel his hands on my back and waist, pressing into my body. Closer, I wanted to get closer.

My arms went around his neck, into his hair, and tears pricked at the back of my eyes; my throat tightening. “I love you,” I whispered as his mouth closed over mine in a hot, hungry kiss. We devoured each other, our lips sucking, nipping and tasting each other. My breasts burned through my dress as he pressed me closer.