Chapter 14
Chapter Fourteen
B lake couldn’t sit still after Piper went home. The house felt too empty, and he couldn’t get her out of his mind. Her scent lingered on the pillows. He could still taste her. Their heated rush ran through his thoughts over and over and over.
He was in trouble the second his lips had touched Piper’s. If it had been just one kiss, never mind the rest of that night and the following day, he could have sucked it up, done the scenes with Rachel in Marshall’s stupid little rom-com, and then had a good laugh over it while he dreamed up a way to get even with his best friend.
The second she said they could only have one night together, he’d felt a surge of disappointment and longing that merged into irrational irritation.
He wanted more than that, dammit.
More laughs, more sex, more everything.
He shouldn’t. He knew he shouldn’t. He didn’t have time for this kind of distraction, or the entanglement, but damn he wanted her in his bed again .
They were just friends blowing off steam. It was just one night. It didn’t mean anything.
But every time he told himself that, he heard Marshall’s mocking voice in his head.
I think you are a hell of a lot more into her than you’re letting on .
With Scorched on hold, he couldn’t come up with a plausible excuse to even text Piper without feeling like it would cross some sort of invisible line, so he buried himself in Conned.
He spent the three days doing casting calls for the minor roles before he joined Marshall in Vegas the rest of the week to check out locations. The ghost town was a no-go. The ranch would have worked if they were shooting a post-apocalyptic dystopian, but there was no way it would be used for anything else for quite a while.
The abandoned casino checked all the boxes, but the bar scene wouldn’t work in that space. They’d have to create something or keep searching for the right spot.
He kept wishing Piper were in Vegas with them.
He still believed it was a bad idea to take a good friendship and a great work relationship and try to turn it into something romantic. His parents’ disastrous marriage and long, ugly breakup were proof of that, but he almost texted her a photo of the casino several times, and once he’d dialed half her number before he stopped himself.
He didn’t tell Marshall about his broken deal, and dread was starting to build along with the knowledge that he had to come clean soon. He’d never kept a secret like this from his best friend before, but if he admitted what he’d done, it would involve a dump truck of mockery and hours of requests for a play-by-play, and he wasn’t ready for that.
He had a feeling Marshall knew something was up, but since Marshall didn’t outright ask, Blake didn’t have to answer the unspoken question. But he knew the day was coming .
As the wait for Scorched revisions stretched into the second week, he found himself watching Piper’s Wednesday Morning Coffee Chats in his hotel room, just to see her face and hear her voice.
“We’re still on hold with Scorched , so there’s not a lot going on in my neck of the woods. I’ve been gearing up for the next VIP concert. Check your calendars, because it’s almost sold out. There’s still room left on the lawn, though, and I’d love to see you.”
Why did it feel like she’d spoken directly to him with that last line? Wishful thinking, or had he lost his mind?
When the call came to pull them back to the studio, Blake was so conflicted he almost didn’t answer the phone. The entire main cast was scheduled to report first thing Tuesday morning, which meant he’d have an excuse to see Piper again.
It was what he’d been waiting for, yet now that it was here, he was feeling uncharacteristically unsure of himself.
He had to act like nothing had happened between them, for now. They were just friends. Nothing more. But he found himself in the drive-through at Starbucks in spite of himself.
Surely, a friend would bring a venti Pumpkin Spice Latte to another friend on the first day back at the studio. No big deal. Nothing to see here.
He bought two, just to make it seem more believable.
Blake carried them into the studio with practiced nonchalance, which worked fine until he met up with Gina in the hallway.
“Good morning, Blake. Good to see you.” Gina eyed the two cups with a sly smile as she fell into step beside him. “Did you bring enough for everybody, or just one particular person?”
“Would you like one?”
“Oh no.” She waved the thought away. “I’d hate to get in between a woman and her coffee, or between two women and the man holding coffee.”
He suppressed the urge to groan. He’d been so focused on Piper that he’d completely forgotten Rachel would be here today. “I don’t need that kind of drama. Seriously, take one. Please?”
She laughed and took one off his hands. “Because it’s you, and because I’d hate to see a cat fight so early in the morning.”
The studio was already full of people milling around, waiting for the day to start. He slipped into the room behind Gina and found Piper. She paced slowly back and forth as she studied the tablet in her hands. She wore the black leggings and T-shirt he’d come to realize was her work uniform, but today her hair was down in loose waves.
It sent his thoughts racing back to the bedroom, where images of her naked in his sheets taunted him.
He was careful to say good morning to everyone standing in between him and Piper so that by the time he got to her it was just another greeting.
“Good morning.” She made grabby hands at the cup. “Tell me that’s for me.”
He held it a little out of her reach and watched with suspicion the way she bounced on her tiptoes. “How many of these have you had this morning?”
“Only one.” She blinked innocently.
He didn’t believe that for a hot second. “What size? Double? Venti?”
“This isn’t a caffeine high, it’s just excitement.” She wiggled the tablet at him. “The new lines are great.”
He handed her the cup. Her fingers brushed against his as she took it from him, sending shivers down his spine that lodged uncomfortably further south. His hand closed reflexively, and for a second, they played tug-of-war with the coffee cup.
Her eyes narrowed with a hint of mischief and amusement .
He cleared his throat and let go.
Piper took a cautious sip then sighed happily. “This is perfect, thank you. Oh, did you see this?”
She held out her phone for him to see a popular entertainment blog’s current headline: Rachel Morris and Marshall Weston Paired in Rom-Com She’s All Mine .
“Nice.” Blake skimmed the article. It was a press release with nothing more than basic details that focused on a planned premiere date two years in the future. “They’re getting a jump on the publicity. Smart move. Ours is running way behind.”
She tilted her head. “Have you told Marshall yet?”
“Hell no.”
Her eyes twinkled. “Coward.”
“Yes,” he said with feeling.
“Come on, how bad could it be? She’s a good actress, and it’s not a big part. You’d only have to spend a few days with her, right?
“More like a few weeks.” He looked around to make sure nobody was listening. Rachel was on the far side of the room, deep in conversation with Tamar. There were so many people talking in the small space, he doubted anyone could hear them, and though they hadn’t named anyone, he kept his head down and his voice low just in case. “She’s like a barnacle. Impossible to scrape off.”
Life with Rachel had gone from a dazzling week of hormones behind the scenes of a teen-angst movie to three months of gossip rag speculation about their sex lives. The near-constant contact with her left no room to breathe, or think, or do anything but try to dodge paparazzi.
“We were just having a fling one minute and the next our potential wedded bliss was all over the media.”
“Ouch.” Piper winced.
“I felt like a dog on a choke chain, every time I tried to disentangle myself, the noose got a little tighter. She’s a kraken. My advice is to stay out of the water.”
He’d missed being able to talk to her like this. It felt comfortable, like something they’d been friends for a long time.
“Good morning, everyone,” Paul called out from somewhere near the center of the room. “How are my favorite people doing this morning? What did you all think of the new script?”
“I really love the new lines,” Piper said. “And I love that shirt, Paul. It’s perfect.”
There was a murmur of agreement from others in the room.
It was covered in black pumpkins with eyes that actually lit up. Paul beamed at her. “Thank you! I had it made special. I love Halloween. There’s a giant bowl of candy on my desk if you want to go trick-or-treating later.”
Tamar climbed up on the couch in the studio to address them. “Good morning, and welcome back. Thanks for being here, thanks for working with us on the new schedule. We’ll be in the studio for the next two or three weeks. Okay, maybe four. We focus on the group scenes first, then the sisters, then the love birds.”
Blake’s thoughts raced ahead to calculate the time between now and the planned premiere. Three or four weeks of recording would take them almost to Thanksgiving. That left four weeks, or less, to do all the remaining animation, edits, and produce the final cut, never mind all the lead up to the launch like rounds of morning talk shows and interviews.
His stomach clenched. Even if the grunt work of the animation was already done, there was no way they would finish putting it all together in time for a Christmas release.
He looked around the room, but nobody was reacting to the obvious delay except Piper, who appeared to have come to the same conclusion he had.
“That’s not enough time, is it?” she whispered .
“Doubt it,” he muttered.
“Piper and Rachel, that first song still works,” Paul continued as if he hadn’t said anything explosive. “The final song, though, has been altered a little, so we’ll need a new take on that.”
Rachel smiled, the very picture of cooperation. “Whatever you need, Paul.”
“What’s this doing to the premiere?” Blake asked.
Paul glanced at Tamar as if yielding the floor to her.
“The studio has decided to push the date to Valentine’s Day to avoid competing with the other new animated release. The new script lends itself to a love story, so that works well,” Tamar said. “I know this might conflict with other projects, but hopefully we can make it work.”
He should be able to swing it. He could work his scenes around the tour of interviews and the wrap party and the red carpet event. The main part of his commitment here would be done in plenty of time, but what really worried him was whether the studio would honor his deal for Conned if Scorched didn’t premiere on time, or if they would pull the funding.
If they did, his movie wouldn’t get made. He was already down twenty. Marshall’s option B was turning out to be significantly more expensive, but they both liked the new locations a lot better than the cheaper, but now crispy ranch.
He had no idea where he was going to get the extra twenty, never mind if the studio deal went south.
“You okay?” Piper whispered as she nudged him with her shoulder. “You look like you just swallowed something sharp.”
He smiled. “It’s fine. Just going to need another whiteboard to handle all the scheduling details, that’s all. Maybe ten more spreadsheets and an IV of caffeine, but I’ll make it work.”
Piper squeezed his arm. “Just no more sticky notes, okay?”
The image of them bumping into the whiteboard then ripping their clothes off derailed all of his thoughts for a few seconds.
From the glint in her eyes, Piper knew exactly what she’d done to him. She turned to greet Gina, looking pleased with herself.
He noticed Rachel staring at them in a way that made his skin crawl. Her smile had that tick near the right corner that jumped when she was tense, and she clutched her bottle of water hard enough to make a dent. She used to do that every time she saw him talking with another girl, or hell even Marshall, back when they were a thing.
She was angry, but which part bothered her more, that he hadn’t immediately cast her as his lead, or that he and Piper were friends.
“Places, everyone. Let’s start from the top of scene ten,” Tamar said.
The run-through was different this time. Jeremy’s evil villain inspired them all the step up their game. Gina’s dragon was perfect, and Piper’s performance was so far from her initial stiff and stilted beginning that it was unrecognizable.
He caught Rachel staring at Piper with hard eyes and pursed lips more than once, but her take was flawless. Whatever storm was brewing on the inside, it didn’t show up in her voice.
They spent two days as a group, taking their time to get it right. By Thursday afternoon, they only had one last spot to wrap up.
“And that is what I call an exit,” Gina said in her dragon voice.
“Thank you, Xandria. Thank you so much. Because of you I have my sister back, and Jesse’s kingdom is safe, and Malignon will never hurt anyone else ever again.” Piper’s delivery was just the right amount of happy enthusiasm. He’d heard her sound a lot like this when describing her morning coffee, so he knew where she got her inspiration.
“My dear, you did this all by yourself. Well, you and him . I merely cleaned up after.” Gina cackled and licked her lips. “Be sure to stop by for a visit. Bring the carrot cake. The children love it.”
Piper laughed. “I will! I promise!”
“And…cut,” Tamar called out. “Perfect. That’s the group scenes done I think, yes? Yes. Fabulous. Thank you again, everyone, for all the hard work today. Gina, you were fantastic. I think all we need from you now is a few alternate takes but we can handle those anytime you like in the next few days.”
“No problem,” Gina said.
“Rachel and Piper, can you be here by nine tomorrow?” Tamar asked. “We’d like to run through the sister scenes next. I anticipate needing only a day for the voice, as the changes were minimal. We would like one more take of the opening song because the chorus changed a little, but it may have to wait until next week because there is some trouble with the soundboard.”
“Of course. Whatever you need, Tamar,” Rachel said with a smile.
“Sure,” Piper said. “See you tomorrow.”
Tamar took her tablet, and she and Paul went back to the booth.
Gina gave Piper a big hug. “Great job, sweetie.”
Blake clapped enthusiastically. “Really well done, Piper. Excellent work.”
“Yes, nobody would guess this is your first time,” Rachel said in a syrupy voice. “You’ve had excellent coaches.”
Jeremy clapped a hand on her shoulder. “You’ve come a long way, kiddo. Proud of you. Super proud. You know, you have an acting career waiting for you if you want it.”
Piper’s smile was genuine and filled with delight. “You’re too sweet, Jeremy. You and Gina made it really fun and you’ve taught me so much. I couldn’t have done this without you, and Blake.”
“You did the work,” Gina said. “We were just your cheerleaders. Come on, everybody, let’s go celebrate a great day. Jeremy’s buying.”
Jeremy protested as the three of them left. Blake fell into step behind them, but then Rachel put a hand on his arm to stop him.
He looked at her questioningly, but she cast a significant glance in Piper’s direction and waited until the trio had left before she spoke. “She’s certainly improved. Did she take lessons or something?”
“Something like that,” Blake said. “She’s a quick study.”
Rachel nodded. “I suppose she’s all right for a beginner. I do think Jeremy is being cruel, though. She doesn’t have a real future in this business. She’s much too…commercial.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
Rachel’s meanness was always subtle, but he couldn’t figure out why she thought commercial was a bad thing.
“Oh, you know.” Rachel waved a negligent hand. “She’s fine as long as she’s animated, but she doesn’t have our background for live performance.”
“Actually, she does.” He felt his temper rising and did his best to tamp it back down. She could pick on him all she wanted. He had no problem pushing back. But this venom directed at Piper was out of line. “She’s spent her entire life performing live.”
Rachel’s laugh was low and derisive. “You mean as a pop star? Please. That’s not acting. That’s not craft. That’s dancing around on a stage like a performing bear. She’d never make it in this business in front of a camera. It’s too up close and personal.”
The anger he’d been trying to suppress surged up through his chest and out of his mouth before he could stop it. “That’s enough.”
Rachel’s eyes widened. “I’m sorry? ”
“Just because you’re a good actress doesn’t mean you have to tear everybody else down.”
Rachel’s face reddened. “Blake, I didn’t…that’s not what I meant.”
“Yes, it was. You have no idea when to stop playing the game and just be a decent human being. You never did. So let me set you straight. I’m not casting you as my lead because you’re not right for the part.” He stared into her icy-blue eyes and drove his point home. “You never will be.”
It wasn’t just one part he was talking about. It was all of them. As long as he was directing, he would never, ever cast Rachel. Not even as an extra.
It took a second, but then he saw the realization of what he’d just said wash over her face. The pretend hurt melted into anger, then rage.
“And she is?”
“Piper has more natural ability than some people who’ve been in the business for twenty years. She’s good. Really good. She’s going to win awards, starting with Scorched .”
Rachel huffed out a laugh. “Please. She’ll be gone tomorrow. Just another one-hit wonder on the road to nowhere. She’ll never have a star on the Walk of Fame.”
“Funny, I’ve never seen your name on a star. Wonder which of you will get there first. My money’s on her.” Blake turned to leave and caught Piper watching them from the booth.
Her arms were crossed, her gaze was locked on him, and her face was an unreadable mask. The door was open, but since it led into the hallway, he wasn’t sure she could hear what was said unless the mics were still hot.
He shouldn’t have said it, especially where other people might hear. Rachel managed to push a button he didn’t even know he had, and now that button was staring back at him like he’d just grown a third eye .
Dammit. He knew better. He’d been around this crap all of his life. He knew how to handle the petty backstabbers and the kiss-assers and every flavor of bully that existed.
He could hear his mother’s voice in his ear right now.
Was that smart, Blake? You don’t want to be the guy nobody wants to work with. You want to be the cool guy. He’s the one who gets the parts.
Crap. She was right, too.
Piper still had to work with Rachel, and he’d probably just destroyed the hornet’s nest, but there was no taking it back now. He’d meant what he said, and he had a feeling Piper could handle Rachel just fine.
All the same, he needed to apologize to Piper and do some damage control. Fast.
“Blake—” Rachel said.
He held up a hand to stop whatever bullshit she was about to spew. “Let’s just drop it, okay? It’s been a long day.”
Rachel stared at him. “Sure. You’re tired, I get it. Okay. I’ll see you around?”
Not if he saw her first, he wanted to say. Instead, he managed a nonchalant “See ya” and left before he said anything to make it worse.
Piper came out of the booth and walked down the hall with him in silence. Neither one of them said anything until they were almost to the parking lot.
“You really think I could get a star on the Walk of Fame?” Piper asked.
He glanced at her. She had a delightfully soft smile, like he’d just offered her a treasure she’d been seeking. “Absolutely.”
They’d almost reached her SUV when she spoke again. “Do you have one?”
“It’s between Argyle and Vine, next to Michael Douglas. Don’t go look for it though, it makes it look like I have tiny hands. I was young and I hadn’t finished growing.”
She laughed.
He wanted to kiss her right here in the parking lot. He wanted to take her home and spend the rest of the night with her.
He couldn’t do that. They’d agreed. Besides, the last thing they needed was Rachel stumbling onto them doing something like that in the parking lot.
He couldn’t see the harm in walking Piper to her car, though.
“Sorry about what happened back there.”
“What are you sorry about?” Piper pulled her keys out of her bag. “You weren’t the one talking smack.”
“I made it worse for you. She’ll be a royal pain to deal with tomorrow.” He glanced back at the building. Rachel lingered on the sidewalk in front of the parking lot, staring at her phone. She was probably waiting for her ride, since he’d never known her to drive herself anywhere.
“You stood up for me. Don’t ever apologize for being the good guy.” Piper followed his gaze, and her expression hardened. “Besides, I’ve had a lifetime of dealing with divas. I can handle one more.”
“Seriously, watch your back. You don’t know her like I do.”
“Trust me, in the music business you get used to checking for snakes in the weeds.” Piper bared her teeth. “Southern girls know how to fake polite and get the job done. Don’t worry.”
An invitation for her to follow him back to his place lingered on the tip of his tongue, but he bit it back.
She gave him a look that he thought might be regret before she opened her door. “See you next week?”
“I doubt it.” He dipped his chin at Rachel as she climbed into her ride. He stayed in the shadow of Piper’s SUV until Rachel was gone. “She drags her feet when she’s pissed. She’ll probably take at least a week on the song. ”
“I’m not spending that kind of time in the studio with her. We’ll get it all done by Tuesday,” Piper said firmly.
“I hope you’re right. I’m looking forward to wrapping up this project so I can see you somewhere other than here.”
The corners of her mouth crooked up enough to make the dimple appear. “You can always join me for coffee on Wednesdays.”
He laughed and shut her door, then waved as she reversed out of the parking spot.
Watching her drive away was harder than he thought it should be. It was like he’d told Marshall, it wasn’t that he couldn’t have a woman, it was that he couldn’t have this particular woman until the project was finished.
He had to wait until Scorched premiered in February. Four months wasn’t that big of a deal. He just had to be patient.
He scowled as he got into his car.
Patience had never tasted so bitter.