Chapter 9
It took her a few minutes to realize that she had made a big mistake.
From the moment he picked her up at the inn, William had been going on about an account that he was handling.
He worked at the same firm as Brian, and they were the ones who handled her account.
That was how she had met him.
The drive to the movie theater took ten minutes and within those ten minutes, he was droning on about tax breaks and deductibles.
And how messy the client’s account had been before he cleaned it up.
He continued to pump himself up until she just wanted to scream.
Thankfully, they got to the theater before she gave into the urge.
And had to remind herself that he was really a nice person.
He might not look like a movie star with his thinning sandy hair and florid face, but he had attributes she admired.
She was just finding it very difficult to identify what they were just now.
And it was certainly not fair to compare him to Bryce.
She was so caught up in her thoughts that it took her a moment to realize that they had entered the darkened theater, and the show was just about to begin.
“Why don’t we sit here?”
He suggested, gesturing towards the rows of seats on the raised platform.
“It will give us much needed privacy and the viewing from here is much better.
I will just go and grab a box of popcorn and some juice.
I will be right back.”
He was gone before she could say anything.
Sliding into the row, she took a seat and looked around.
Flower Hill Entertainment was nothing more than an auditorium that had been transformed into the town’s only movie theater and was small by the usual standard.
She was surprised to see that down below was almost packed with mostly teenagers.
It was a Friday night, so that would explain why there were so many young people.
“Here we go, my dear.”
He swept in next to her and placed the goodies on the tray in front of them.
“It’s so strange that they are showing this movie.”
“What’s so strange about it?”
She asked digging into the box of popcorn.
“That movie star staying at the inn…”
Her gasp had him trailing off and turning to look at her.” “You did not know.”
“What?”
Dragging her gaze from the large screen, she stared at him blankly.
“They had another show advertised but changed it in honor of this action flick.”
He gestured to the screen where the credits were rolling.
There was his name, big and written in gold lettering.
‘Bryce Whitlock as Judd Lawson’ In the highly acclaimed box office smash hit: ‘Naked Rebellion’.
“Can’t see what the hype is all about.”
William sniffed beside her and was ignored.
She had run away from the inn to escape him and here he was live and in living colors.
The irony did not escape her.
The scene started with him guns blazing as he jumped from back of a dust covered jeep and confronted a group of men barreling towards him.
She knew the plot well, having watched the movie three times before.
He was a former navy seal who had stumbled upon secrets the government had taken great pains to keep hidden.
And even though he had retired, they still considered him a threat.
In order to get to him, they had gone through his entire family before he knew what was happening.
His parents, siblings, a brother and a sister had paid the price.
Infuriated and anguished, he had gone on a vengeance spree and that was when he had met her.
Ignoring the endless chatter that William was carrying on next to her, Zahra felt herself lost in the twists and plots, her heart hammering inside her chest.
He really was an excellent actor, she thought dazedly.
Her fingers curled into fists in anticipation of the first torrid love scene that had sent her to bed early, right after watching.
Cold sweat broke out under her arm and at her throat.
When he started to undress her, long tanned fingers sliding over his co-star’s white skin, she could tear her eyes away.
She had seen it before, but now it was different.
And she did not need to ask herself why.
Those times she had seen it – she had told herself he was someone from her past.
But now he was right there at her inn and the feelings she thought had died, were now here in full force.
Especially since after what he had said to her earlier.
Her throat burned as she continued to watch.
They were both naked, she was sure of it and under the sick feeling of jealousy, there was admiration for the most magnificent frame she had ever seen.
He was tanned all over, body lean and muscular, muscles rippling.
His buttocks were taut and well-shaped, his back lean and tapered.
His stomach was washboard flat, and they were spared a full-frontal view of him by lights and shadows.
“Nothing more than a porno flick.”
William’s annoying tone broke through the spell and had her whipping towards him.
“It’s much more than that.”
She snapped.
Even though she was sick at heart at the way he was holding and caressing and God! Kissing her.
Zahra could appreciate a work of art, and He had it in spades.
His character was so moving, so real, it drew her in.
And she was not the only one.
The entire theater filled with young people were silent and enthralled.
“Children should not be watching this,”
William huffed beside her.
She turned to face him and examined the florid complexion and the unimaginative look on a very plain face and wondered at the fleeting thought she had that one day she might marry him.
She must have been insane.
Not bothering to grace his outrageous comment with an answer, she turned back to the screen and forced herself to watch to the very end.
Her heart ached and her eyes blurred with tears as she watched him moving slowly, in the age-old act of lovemaking.
The scene changed to them cradled in each other’s arms and with him promising to keep her safe.
*****
He found himself pacing the length of the library.
Jessica had served up some delicious chicken pot pie that he had not done justice.
His stomach was tied up in knots, as he wondered what the hell they were doing.
Was she with him at his place or out having dinner? He wanted to take his own vehicle and drive around the blasted town until he discovered the vehicle.
Surely, it would not take long, considering that the place was so damned small.
And finding them, he would drag her pretty ass back here with him and warn off the bastard.
Where the hell was she? He walked back to the window again and the need to have a smoke was choking him.
Shoving his hands into his pockets, he stared broodingly outside where the driveway was visible from this vantage point.
And a bloody storm was brooding.
Tilting his head up, he scanned the scatter of ominous dark clouds obscuring the stars.
Where the hell was she? He never thought he could get so hot and bothered over a damn woman.
But this was Zahra, and he should have realized that things between them had been left up in the air.
That something so intense, could never die down just like that.
His body tensed, as he recalled the first time.
It had been at her place, because her mother was always absent.
They had been studying for a test, and she had invited him back to her place.
At first they had stayed in the living room, before going up to her bedroom.
She was intense, he recalled whimsically.
His Zahra had always been intense and focus on her studies.
And annoyed when he continued to crack jokes and distract her by trailing his fingers down her naked arm.
She had blistered him with her sharp tongue and flounced from the room to get them something to eat.
When she came back, he was lying flat on the bed with the pillows bunched up at his head.
It was during a pillow fight that things had turned, and he had kissed her.
A wet sloppy kiss that had her pushing him away at first.
But he had persisted and even after so many years, he could still remember her honeyed taste and how much he had wanted more.
Closing his eyes and resting his head on the coolness of the windowpane, he allowed the bittersweet memories to wash over him.
They had both been innocents and not known what the hell they were doing.
She had wept in his arms, but not from the loss of her innocence, but from the intensity that had taken them by surprise.
He had never been able to recapture that.
Nothing had even come close.
And he had been with too many women to count.
Lifting his head, he stared out the window and felt his anger growing.
*****
Zahra felt the familiar jolt low in her stomach when she saw him lounging on the porch.
She felt another smaller one when she noticed he was smoking.
Smoking? She had seen him in several movies enjoying the vice, but she thought it was just for props.
And seeing him after watching him on screen, made her wish that she was vindictive enough to invite poor William inside for a nightcap.
But after the movie and a miserable dinner at the Irish pub, she had just wanted to come home and go straight to bed.
And forget the entire night.
She could not even allow him to escort her up the porch steps.
The night had been a disaster and they both knew it.
“Well goodnight then,”
he murmured awkwardly, not commenting on the man sitting on the porch.
“Thanks for…,”
she cleared her throat as she searched desperately for the right word.
“Thanks for dinner.”
Opening the door, she stepped out into the sharp wind that tossed her jacket and hair sharply.
He drove off immediately and she had to steel herself to approach the steps and climb up.
“What are you doing out here?”
She had intended to just sail past him and go on in.
She should have known that was not going to happen.
“Here?”
He blew smoke upwards, eyes narrowed against the smoke.
“Just enjoying the weather.” He turned sharp eyes in her direction, gaze wandering over her.
“Is that not allowed? Is the porch off limits after a certain time?”
“Don’t be ridiculous!”
“How was the date? I noticed the poor bastard did not even get out to open the door for you? I thought chivalry was at its best in these little towns.”
His derisive tone had her bristling.
“I can open my own door.”
“But that’s not the point of it, is it?”
He blew out more smoke and continued to watch her.
“A man takes a woman out for a date, the most he can do is walk her up the steps, make sure she gets inside in one piece.
Evidently, the guy is lacking in basic social skills.”
“You’re smoking,”
she blurted out foolishly and wished she could bite her tongue off.
“Am I?”
Taking out the slim cheroot, he studied it as if he was just noticing it.
“Yes. Problem?”
“I never knew you did.”
“You don’t know a hell of a lot about me.”
She realized that there was something different about him, something dangerous and sharp.
And suddenly she was brought back to the movie and the lurid sex scene she could not get out of her head.
“We went to the movies.”
His jaw tightened.
“Good for you.”
“And watched one of your movies.
Naked Rebellion, aptly named, considering that you and your co-star were naked in bed for close to half an hour.”
He straightened, feet slapping on the hardwood floor as he stared at her warily.
He had been waiting to drag her from the vehicle and God help the bastard if he had laid a finger on her! The anger had been churning inside him waiting for an outlet but had lost its sharp edges when she came out alone.
Now the tide had turned.
Zahra…”
“How long did that relationship lasted? You were involved with her, were you not? It was not just some rumors floating around.”
She lifted a hand as if painting the words.
‘Stars in the explosive movie: Naked Rebellion, lovers in real life.’ End quote.
“Don’t they make a beautiful couple?” Her eyes flashed and she backed up when he rose slowly.
“Yes, we were involved.”
“How long?”
Pitching the cigar away, he faced her.
“Six months.”
“Who ended it?”
“I did.”
“Why?”
Shoving his hands into the pockets of his sweats, he studied her mutinous face.
“What difference does that make?”
“Why?”
Biting off a sigh, he rocked back on his heels.
“We lost interest in each other.
Look, the career does that to you.
The industry pushes you together for the publicity and it never usually lasts.
We had a thing and then we didn’t.”
She squared her shoulders and gave him a look that had his heart sinking.
“Goodnight.”
“Just wait a damn minute…”
She rounded on him furiously.
“You come here with your Hollywood smoothness and words you think I want to hear.
You cannot hold a relationship for longer than six months and you expect me to what?”
She lifted her hands.
“To just be so grateful that you, the hottest actor in Hollywood is paying me attention? You can just go to hell! I was doing so well until you came and now…”
She turned away and shoved open the door and went inside.
He caught up with her just as she reached the base of the steps.
His fingers digging into her arm, he spun her around.
“Now what?”
He asked softly, eyes burning into hers.
“Now - Nothing.
Just leave me alone.”
“Not likely.
Now what?”
“Let me go.”
His fingers only tightened and without another word, he was dragging her along the hallway and into the library.
Slamming the door shut behind them, he stood there, blocking it.
Folding his arms across his very impressive chest, he stood there staring at her.
“I spent the night alternating between anger and despair and squelching the desire to go and find that son of a bitch and beat him to a pulp.”
Her heart turned over inside her chest, but she refused to let his words affect her.
“And I spent the night watching you heat up the sheets with another woman.”
He winced at her expression.
“It was the job.”
“Was it?”
“Yes.”
He bit out.
“And yes, Sara and I were involved for a little bit, but it was nothing serious or at least, nothing that would have led us further than what we shared.
And we were not bloody naked.
I have never done a nude scene in my life.”
“I don’t care.”
“Apparently you do.”
“I need to go to bed.”
Her chin lifted as his eyes flared. “Alone.”
“We need to talk.”
“We have nothing to talk about.”
“I am not moving from this door until you hear me out.”
Huffing out a breath, she marched over to the desk and sat down at the desk.
“I’m listening.”
He relaxed enough to move towards the desk and to her consternation, rested a hip on it, his foot blocking her.
“For years, I was restless.
After university, I took a year to decide if acting was what I really wanted to do.
I had studied theater and art as well as the business behind the camera and was unsure what direction I should take.”
He gazed off across the room, noticing that the storm which had been brewing was making its presence felt.
“I traveled.
Went to Europe for a while and relished the freedom of pretty much doing what I bloody well pleased.
I had money, because when I turned twenty-one, I came into my inheritance from my grandfather on my mother’s side.
They could not control me any longer.
It went to my head at first and I partied, thumbed up my nose at the restrictions and slept with women I had no idea of their names.
Then three months in, I realized that I was wasting my life, and I really wanted to act.”
Balling his hands into fists, he thumped them on his thighs, his face tight.
“I wanted nothing to do with Blaine Whitlock and was determined to find my own way.”
“I started from the bottom.
I was hired on the set and was more or less a gofer.
I loved it.
I was being treated like a normal person for the first time in my life and it had nothing to do with my parents.
I worked my way up. I modeled some and that gave me exposure.
I became serious enough to study lines and threw myself into knowing everything about the career I decided I wanted.”
He paused again and just sat there staring out the window.
The rain, fat drops of it lashed the pane.
Streaks of lightening illuminated the outside and the rumble of thunder shook the place with its fury.
“Then my break came after almost a year.
It was a small part, but it was a shoe in, and I was determined to be so damned good, the next part would be a lead.
I practiced the few lines until I could say them in my sleep.
I turned a simple part into something so big, I impressed the directors and had them approaching me.
I knew then I was on my way.”
He turned to look at her, eyes bright and unreadable.
Zahra felt her heart aching for the lonely boy who had to fight his way to get out of his father’s shadow.
But she was not stupid enough to feel sorry for him.
Bryce Whitlock was wildly successful and a pioneer in his field.
His acting was superb, and he had no doubt found his niche.
“I am happy for you.”
He smiled at her nonchalant tone.
“Are you?”
“Yes.
Is that all?”
“No.”
He shoved her back down when she started to rise.
“What are you doing?”
“Forcing you to listen.
I was jealous of that little bastard you went out with and wanted to commit murder.
I came this close…,”
he narrowed the distance between his thumb and index finger to prove the point.
“And if he had come out of the vehicle and walked you to the door, I would have punched his damn lights out.
I stood upstairs watching him put his hands on you and it took willpower to just stand there.”
She simply stared at him and tried to ignore the painful thumping of her heart.
“You have no right…”
“Don’t I?”
He asked grimly, face hard and taut.
“I told you that things were not resolved between us, and they aren’t.” His eyes took on a molten glow that sent tremors racing through her body.
“We can’t…”
She broke off with a gasp as he spun her chair around and pressed his thighs against hers to simply trap her.
Leaning forward, he took her hands in his and hauled her up.
Her knees were trembling, and she could swear a fire had been lit inside her.
“Don’t do this.”
She whispered, unable to believe this was her voice.
“Do what?”
His hands framed her round face, thumbs caressing and appreciating the smoothness against his fingers.
“Yearn to feel you against me?” His deep voice had dropped to a whisper.
“Dream of kissing you and waking up hard as stone?”
He bent his head towards her, making her faint from his cigar and whiskey breath.
“I do.
That’s a condition that has been plaguing me since I got here and it has not eased, not one bit.”
He tilted her chin up, eyes blazing.
“I hurt you before and I can only apologize for it.
I cannot make excuses, I won’t.”
He traced the outline of her bottom lip and watched as it parted for him.
“I cannot take it anymore.”
Her hands clamped around his wrists as she told herself that she need to stop this.
No good would come out of any of it. “Please.”
He tilted her face up and bent to brush her lips with his.
The kiss was so light, it was almost as if he had not done anything.
But she felt it to her core.
Her breath shuddered out and she closed her eyes as she waited for him to do more.