Idolized (Hollywood Stardust Book 3) (47 page)

CHARLES

I had no doubt.

ROXY

I thought I could take you for a coffee.

CHARLES

That’s it?

ROXY

Yep.

(She winks at him)

CHARLES

(Nods)

All right.  Looks like little Roxy grew up.

ROXY

Yeah, I think I finally made my way around the sun too.  It took a while.

Chapter Twenty-Three

“ONCE UPON A TIME.” Ryder turned down an unpaved road and spoke his first words since they left her office.

Cora focused on the man who, over an hour before, decided to rescue her mainly from herself. Though he only said the beginning of every fairytale ever told, she longed to hear the story.

He glanced over at her, giving her a dramatic pause before continuing. “There was a man who gave his wife a little cottage for a gift.”

With the lack of asphalt, the car bounced along the road, but she kept her eyes on him. Only drove two hours out of the city, it might have been another world. The higher they went, the denser the trees became, and the sky seemed to turn the most vibrant blue, almost as if someone decided to paint the scenery to provide them a storybook backdrop.

“Nine months later a beautiful child was born, and she had the distinction of growing up to be the mother to someone who would later become a very famous Hollywood actor.” A slight grin made Ryder’s lip upturn in the corner.

“Years later, the man and the woman, gave their only grandson the little cottage with the promise to keep it in the family and use it as a sanctuary, a place to go where he could clear his head.” Ryder followed a bend in the road and suddenly a little wooden cabin seemed to sprout out of the forest. If she were in a fairytale, it would be made out of gingerbread.

He stopped the car, got out, and dashed around to her side.

In a move he no doubt got out of a movie, he opened her door, leaned down and picked her up right out of the seat. “To this day, no matter where the grandson is, he always keeps the keys to the cabin on his person, because one never knows when he will need a little retreat. It’s a safety net of sorts.”

Without the strength to protest, tell him she could walk, she wrapped her arms around his neck and allowed him to carry her into his little hideaway and continued to hang on every word of his story.

He let them inside and she didn’t know if she should stare in wonder, laugh or burst into tears. “The grandson also made sure to keep everything the way it was when he first took over the cabin. He always thought it possessed a little bit of magic.”

No truer words were ever spoken. If the outside was gingerbread, the inside was a sugar cookie, sprinkles and frosting all rolled into a picture perfect representation of a cabin in the woods. The entire place was wood, the kind of wood that had history, with knots and nicks that said people lived here, loved here, experienced here. Everything about the space was tiny, cozy and homey, with overstuffed couches and afghans.

Instantly Spike claimed his spot on a cushion by the flagstone fireplace. With her still in his arms, Ryder carried her right into the small bedroom. The sight of the four-poster bed with pillows and blankets was almost too inviting.

As if reading her mind, Ryder pulled down the green puffy comforter and laid her down among the bedding, and held up on hand telling her to stay in place. “Throughout the years from time to time, the grandson came up here, but he always made sure it was for all the right reasons.”

He walked around the room, first putting her laptop and purse on the dresser, then pulling a pair of socks out of drawer, disappearing into what she assumed to be the bathroom for a moment, with more items in his hands, he went to the closet, pulled out a white button down and returned to her.

“The grandson has come here to get away and think, and even used the outside woods as a location shot for his movie.” As he spoke, he removed her suit jacket and camisole. After removing her bra, he leaned in and kissed her neck, then stared at her while he helped her into his oversized white shirt.

His fingers grazed against her as he fastened the buttons, giving her the shivers. “In all the time he has been coming here, he has never brought a fair maiden into his world.” He gave her a wink and kneeled down, removing both her shoes, taking a moment to treat her to a little foot massage. “Especially now that he has royalty with him.”

Yes, she was relieved at his admission and her heart swelled at the way he continued his tale, his words and his hands. She couldn’t help but let out a moan.

Once getting her out of her pants and putting her clothes aside, he slid the socks on her feet and kissed both her kneecaps. He took a hairbrush he brought from the bathroom and joined her on the bed.

When he went behind her, humming as he began to brush her hair, and she leaned against him, his sweet attention making her feel drugged, drowsy and safe. “Ryder.” She spoke her first word since they left her office.

He braided her hair and kissed her ear. “Just in case you need to know, this grandson would slay any dragon for his princess.”

“I got another email today.” She shook her head, but she had to be honest with him.

“For your truth, you shall be rewarded.” He got in bed with her, nestled them under the covers and held her tight. “I will now play my finest role, as human pillow for my royalty.”

At this moment, she could think of no better prize. She turned over, settled down on his chest and glanced up at his glorious face. “Ryder?”

He dipped his head down and kissed her. “I don’t care if I have to build a moat around us, if I have to slay a dragon and an ogre, or if I have to cast some sort of spell on someone, you will not be harmed again. Never. Do you hear me?”

Tears clouded her vision and reached up to touch him, make sure he was real. He might have brought her into a fairytale, but in a musical, this would be the point where the female lead would sing about her love for the unattainable male.

At her thought, she sat up.

“What’s wrong?” Ryder’s eyes widened.

She shook her head. Did she love him?

He pulled her back down. “My fair lady, you need rest. It seems to me someone needs her person to sleep properly.”

Again, she lay back down, this time hooking her arm over him. The simple act of being back in her normal position calmed her. “Will you hum some more?”

“I, for one, didn’t sleep a wink without you. I just want to be with you.” He yawned and held her. “Right here, just you and me.”

She shut her eyes and felt her body finally begin to succumb to sleep as his sweet humming filled the air. There was no sense denying she loved him, and now she could only hope for a happily ever after.

* * * *

ANY GOOD HERO knew how to slay dragons. Ryder had the experience of not only playing the hero all his life, but about five years ago, he played a medieval superhero hybrid off some video game franchise, and everyone called him a natural.

While he bided his time on doing away with the real villains who terrorized his lady, two smaller, yet still treacherous, dragons needed to be dealt with post haste, and he approached the location where the evil lay in wait.

In one swift movement, he slid open his dresser drawer. There they were. Some called them miracles of technology, and in many ways they were, but in so many other ways they were messengers of pure horror. He faced his lofty opponents in the form of his and Cora’s cell phones.

While he banned all use of those in his kingdom, or more specifically banned Princess Cora from all things electronic as part of their negotiation, at least he had to check her messages and calls. Or as he called it, the fire this particular dragon breathed.

On the flip side, the fact he had been trusted with such an act told him how far they had progressed.

His first encounter with the beast wasn’t as successful as he hoped. After an hour, he realized that aside from the texts and messages to and from him, he had no idea what any of her work entailed.

However, he was now equipped with a second in command, so to speak, and he enlisted the help of one secretary.

At his own tactical excellence, he nodded and hit the button.

A message from Rodger filled the screen.

Ryder, everything is set up in the back for your campfire. Tell Cora, all is fine here, all taken care of. I can fly you up to Arizona when ready. Studio is at bay for now. Ultracom has agreed to let Cora video conference her meetings when you go to Arizona. Rodger.

He typed back.
Thanks I shall knight you upon my return to the city proper.
Hey, he had to stay in character.

Before he put the dragon to rest, Rodger replied.
Thou art insane.

He killed the first beast by turning it off and sliding under sock mountain and then went to the more ferocious animal, his own device.

We hope Cora is feeling better. Because of the extenuating circumstances and the fact we know production has been delayed, we are giving you two weeks for another collateral installment or sign the movie rights over to us. Your decision. Glen

Yes, this dragon would be a bit harder to deal with. A direct stab to the heart wouldn’t do it in. This required more finesse, starting with the fact he had to respond and he typed back.
Duly noted
. Nothing would get in the way of his time with the princess, he needed to treat her like a queen. He temporarily disabled his enemy by switching it off as well, and continued on his mission.

With a gallant step, he went to the living room.

Curled up in his castle, sat Miss Cora, finally reading the script for
Working Title
. Rodger also proved an excellent resource on getting things off computers, having them printed and delivered to his cabin. Before Arizona, he had Madeline take one last look, and though he wanted to keep tweaking, he had to let his baby out of the nest. Yesterday when she awoke from her slumber, he decided to present her with the token. He understood she couldn’t blindly give funds, and he hoped this would appease her.

The fact she had not moved from her position for the last two hours was either cause for concern or celebration.

Keeping his eye on his lady, he grabbed his grandfather’s old cane, swiped it through the air, and marched toward to the front hall closet, peeked over at Cora, back in the closet and then back to Cora.