Chapter 12
CHAPTER 12
FORD
“You do whatever you need to do, Gray, but I need you to make sure that Jack Remington cancels the rest of the reshoots for today.”
It’s 9 a.m. And having dropped Emmy at the studio with Kyle, Zane, and Thom, as well as three more additional Sentinel staff, I’m presently standing in front of the desk of a smirking Grayson Hunter.
Who’s clearly cruisin’ for a fucking bruisin’.
“I don’t know what you find so funny, Rich Boy. I’ve done plenty of favors for you over the years and I’ve never asked for a goddamn thing.” Gray sobers slightly as I add in an almost pleading tone, “I can’t watch another afternoon of soft-core porn at Vesper. Come on, man. Help a guy out here!”
My friend—or soon-to-be ex-friend, depending on how the remainder of this conversation plays out—leans closer, resting his elbows on the desk between us as he looks up at me.
“I’m flattered that you think I hold that kind of power, Tex; alas, I do not. You might gain some traction with Alex, though it’s unlikely. He’s dead set on Vesper becoming the crown jewel of DeMarco US.” Then he shrugs. “You’re welcome to try…”
As my gaze flicks down the hall in the direction of Alex’s office, I weigh the pros and cons of telling another person about my past with Emerson, about rehashing everything to do with Jasper Holloway and the trial that united Americans in their hatred for the man responsible for such reprehensible crimes before I settle heavily into the seat opposite Grayson’s.
He sends me a look of empathy as resignation swirls in my stomach, along with the nausea that’s been my constant companion since yesterday.
“They were so fucking into it, man. The chemistry was…” I heave a sigh as I lean forward, covering my face with both palms to scrub them up and down in sheer frustration, wishing I could remove the visual that’s imprinted in bold technicolor on the back of my eyelids.
“I’ve seen some of her movies. She’s one hell of an actor, I will say that.”
“Didn’t look like acting from where I was standing.”
Another one of Emerson’s moans echoes in my mind, and I’m both horny and nauseated in equal measure. “I can’t watch him put his hands all over her.
I drop my hands from my face with a weary sigh. “I don’t even know why I’m getting so fucked up over this, Gray. I mean, I’ve been hired to do a job. She’s clearly doing her job. So why are my insides twisted up more than a motherfucking pretzel? I have no claim to her?—”
“You’re still in love with her.”
Gray’s softly spoken words, paired with the understanding within his dim green eyes—eyes I’ve only ever seen light up for his kids—plow into me like a runaway freight train.
My forehead creases. “Of course I love her, Gray?—”
“No.” He shakes his head firmly. “You’re in love with her. It’s entirely different.”
At my blatantly confused face, he continues patiently. “Listen, I love my kids. I love weekend trips to Vermont. I love sunny days at the beach. And oh man, do I love a medium-rare steak with crispy fries and a side of mushroom sauce.”
He blinks slowly before shifting his gaze away from mine, staring at the early morning Manhattan skyline.
“But I’m still in love with my wife. And that’s the kind of love that doesn’t fade over time. It’s the kind of love that grabs you when you least expect it. That takes hold of you when you aren’t looking for it. That you’re not altogether sure you wanted, but somehow, it’s everything you needed, and when you realize you’ve found a love like that, you know that you’d move mountains to keep it.”
Silence surrounds us for several long minutes before Gray turns his attention back to me. The pain in his eyes is palpable, and he furrows his brow heavily.
“You’re tied up because you never fell out of love with her, and the time apart has only amplified that, Tex. Don’t make the mistake of letting her go again.”
His voice drops as he murmurs so quietly that I need to strain to hear his next words. “Because some of us don’t get second chances.”
“Someone called in a bomb threat?”
I inject as much incredulity into my voice as I can muster as Emmy holds my gaze in the rearview mirror. She nods her head, her eyes blown wide.
“The set was evacuated so fast, I didn’t even get a chance to change back into my own clothes.” She glances down at the cap-sleeved, fitted red dress that reaches her mid-thigh. “Though I can’t find it in me to complain. This is my favorite item from the entire shoot.”
Hayley chuckles when I revert my eyes back to rush-hour traffic as I drive the girls to meet Hayley’s mom, Reese, at Fern for their usual Friday get-together. They decided to adjust their plans to lunch instead of dinner on the heels of the bomb scare at Vesper that saw production shutting down.
As I cross lanes, I can’t help but smirk, recalling Vaughn’s face when I asked for his help after leaving DeMarco Holdings earlier. In true Vaughn Burton style, he was already well aware of my past with Emerson and was morally grey enough to resort to nefarious methods to cease production.
I didn’t stick around to find out how exactly he pulled it off, wanting to plead at least partial ignorance, but his stealthy text before we’d left the studio had been all the confirmation I needed.
VAUGHN
Don’t say I never gave you anything.
With a dark chuckle, I pull into the parking bay outside Fern, noting more paparazzi than usual due to the change in our schedule.
Dammit!
In my devious delight, I’d gotten sidetracked and forgotten to rework everything with Andreas.
“Oh shoot!” Emmy’s loud exclamation tells me she’s spotted them, too. “Guess my luck couldn’t last forever.”
I slip from the car, shooing several paps away with a growl, “Snap one picture without Miss Hart’s express permission, and I’ll snap your neck. That clear?”
They nod frantically, taking several steps back to allow me to open the rear passenger door unimpeded. Hayley emerges first, followed by a smiling Emerson, who graciously smiles and poses for a handful of images before I escort them both inside Fern.
Though usually empty of diners to allow Emmy some peace with her family, the restaurant is more than half full because, with the last-minute change of plans, Fern still needed to honor their lunchtime bookings.
Heads turn to face us from almost every table, but Emmy takes it all in her stride, stopping to sign whatever’s put in front of her with beatific smiles for everyone until we finally reach Reese.
The older woman stands from her seat, embracing both of her daughters before turning to me. “Ford! How wonderful to see you.”
Her eyes twinkle brightly as she grasps my biceps, giving me a genuine smile. “You must join us for lunch.”
Before I can politely decline the invite, Hayley shoots out of her seat, her voice filled with reproach. “ Mom !”
Reese turns to her daughter with questioning eyes, waiting for her to elaborate.
“Mr. Holloway has work to do. You can’t expect him to drop everything?—”
“Oh, pish posh, Hayley.” Reese looks back at me. “I absolutely insist you join us.”
Hayley opens her mouth to protest once again, but Emmy gets there first, standing to put a reassuring hand on her protective sister’s shoulder.
Her soft smile is aimed at me when she speaks. “Sentinel won’t fall to pieces if you take an hour to dine with us.”
EMERSON
I smile gently at my sister, silently assuring her I’m okay with the turn things have taken today.
This time last week, I could never have imagined sitting calmly and contently opposite the man who broke my heart beyond measure. However, these past couple of days have proven me wrong.
Apparently, despite how he left me and all that ensued, my trust in Ford Holloway was never broken.
The cherry juice had been the catalyst, but with each minute spent in his presence, I have felt the defenses within me crumble.
His protective nature. His need to care for me. Ensuring I’m eating properly. Getting enough sleep.
The respect he has for me by not mentioning our past, just as I’d requested, even though I know he would love to address the elephant in the room.
Not to mention how I can feel his eyes on me, regardless of where we are or who we’re with. His gaze follows me, touching my skin as tangibly as a caress, and I inherently know that he’d quite literally give his life to protect me.
And it’s only now, with the benefit of hindsight, that I can see if a man as honorable as the one opposite me walked away from what we had, then it was with damn good reason.
And I’m going to find out why!
“And how long have you lived in Manhattan, Ford?”
Reese takes a sip of her Sauvignon Blanc, watching Ford over the rim of her glass as he slowly chews his mouthful of salmon. He swallows before answering her question.
“I moved here when I finished the North job in London.”
“Ah, I see.” Reese deposits her wine on the table as she nods. “And did you go straight into working for yourself, or…”
She trails off pointedly, and I await his answer with bated breath.
“No, Mrs. Hart?—”
“Mrs. Hart is my mother-in-law.”
The three of us chuckle at the look of disgust on Reese’s oval face before Ford amends himself with a grin. “Okay then, Reese .”
My stepmom nods in approval, and Ford continues. “I worked as head of security at Rogue down in Tribeca for two years—practically lived in the place, for that matter—before striking out on my own. Private security was never my goal…” He shrugs easily. “It just kind of fell into my lap.”
“Don’t be so modest. I’ve seen that Sentinel has covered dozens of high-profile events.” Reese’s gaze shifts to mine. “Including the Frances Young Awards that you presented at in Los Angeles two weeks ago, Em!”
Ford’s attention shifts to his food and his tanned cheeks flush ever-so-slightly as he pokes at the salmon.
“I didn’t know that, Ford.” He raises deep blue eyes to mine. “Have you secured many events in the industry?”
“In the last three years, Sentinel has been contracted to run security for one hundred and eleven domestic and thirty-three international events where you have been in attendance, Emerson.” His gaze is unwavering, the intensity of his eyes setting my veins aflame. “I’ve been in attendance and ran point on every single one, including the Frances Young Awards.”
I stare unblinkingly, silence shrouding our table as my jaw practically unhinges. “I—I had no idea.”
My heart races, the sound filling my ears, when suddenly his eyes fill with mischief, and his lips twitch at one corner with a threatening grin. “The look on your face when you bit into that blue cheese appetizer.” He snorts, and I feel my eyes blow wide. “Good call on dumping it into Willow Grace’s clutch bag.”
As I gasp, he takes a sip of water, his eyes twinkling. “In your defense, they were foul.”
Ford’s deep chuckle sets Reese and Hayley off, and I can’t help but join them, holding my stomach when it aches from laughing so hard. I’m wiping tears from my cheeks when I shoot him a wide-eyed, innocent look as I squeak, “I did come clean later, I’ll have you know.”
“Yeah, sure you did.” He winks broadly, his words laced with a heavy sarcasm that sets us all off again.
Hayley sobers first, sitting forward with wide, intrigued eyes. “Can we rewind a little bit?”
Ford chews another mouthful of his lunch, nodding so that she continues.
“Are the rumors about Rogue true?”
“What rumors might they be, Hayley?”
My sister glances to one side, shifting in her seat as she mutters something indiscernible aside from the words sex and club .
He quirks a devilish brow. “Might be.”
Hayley’s shocked face at his deadpan reply makes the rest of us laugh loudly when her cheeks pinken, but as the opening bars of “Iris” hit my ears, my features freeze and my gaze clashes with Ford’s.
I wait for the usual gut-wrenching sadness to overtake me, as it always does upon the rare occasions I hear this song, but it doesn’t come. Instead, the music surrounds Ford and me, drowning out everyone and everything inside Fern until it’s just us two in existence.
His eyes swirl like turbulent waves on a stormy sea as he watches me with a depth of emotion that takes my breath away. My skin comes to life beneath his fixation, and I’m wholly sure that I could happily stay in this moment forever.
Then, without warning, the music stops, and a flustered Inga appears at Ford’s back.
“I’m so terribly sorry, Miss Hart. I have no idea how this song made it onto today’s playlist, especially after what happened last week. I can assure you, this will not happen again.”
Ford frowns, and I can feel my face heat at the thought of him finding out about my mini breakdown. Thankfully, he returns his attention to his meal, and I do the same, while Hayley and Reese chatter about Sunday night’s upcoming ICON gala.
Yet I can only focus on how his simple presence kept the memories at bay.
How at ease I still am with him by my side.
And what my life will look like when he leaves me once again.