Page 18 of Broken Rules

“Holy shit,” Clay whispered, setting his glass down on the bar to turn his full attention to her.“I think I’m about to meet my future first ex-wife.”

I barely stifled a laugh before introducing them.“Hi, Danica.Have you met my good friend, Clayton Manning?”I asked, gesturing toward him.I figured it made more sense to introduce them than to go through whatever awkward mating ritual she wanted to enact with me.I knew that look in her eyes—I’d seen it my entire life.If not directed at me then at the powerful men around me with the ability to shape a career or destroy it.

Her smile faltered, but not for long once she connected the name to the man standing in front of her.“Mr.Manning,” she purred, extending one slim hand.“What a pleasure.I’ve been hoping to meet you for a long time.”

“I guess it must be fate.”He held her hand longer than necessary, staring at her like she was the only woman in the world.It was something he’d polished over the years, drawing a woman in, making her feel special so her panties slid off more easily.He would be thanking me by morning.

For the time being, I was more than happy to quietly make my escape, drifting away to where a group of people were helping themselves to a lavish buffet.“Mr.Landry, this is too much,” somebody called out as I approached, but I only shook my head.

“Nothing’s too much for you,” I insisted.“I’m asking you to do the impossible in no time flat.This is the least I can do to thank you for all the hard work you’ve already put in.Please, help yourselves.Have a great time.There’s an open bar and plenty of food.”

Why hadn’t she shown up yet?Why did I fucking care?I might as well have been a caged tiger, pacing uncomfortably.Waiting.Watching.Would she skip out?And why did it matter?If she wanted to be miserable, lock herself away, and sacrifice herself for her so-called artistic vision, I should have let her.She was a grown woman and had earned the right to make her life miserable if that was what she wanted.

And then Claudia walked in, and my heart skipped a beat because I knew what that meant.Yet no one followed her.She walked in alone, waved to some of the crew members still loading up plates at the buffet, andraised a hand to say hi to a few actors sitting at one of the handful of tables set up around a dance floor.

I crossed the floor, my eyebrows lifting in a silent question once she caught sight of me.

“There was a little bit of a problem,” she whispered when I reached her, turning her back to the rest of the room.When she did, her smile fell away.“Something with one of the permits for tomorrow’s shoot.The time was all wrong, and according to it, we’re supposed to be shooting at night, not during the day.So now…”

“She has to scramble around and come up with a backup plan,” I concluded with a sigh.“Why didn’t anybody tell me about this?”

“I’m telling you now.”She shrugged helplessly.“I figured I’d come by and let everybody know she’s sorry she couldn’t make it, but she had to stay home.”

Fuck.Not that I was planning on letting loose tonight, but I looked like a prick if I partied with the cast and crew while my director was pulling her hair out, rearranging the shooting schedule to accommodate a clerical error.“Maybe I’ll head over to the apartment,” I suggested.“I might be able to get on the phone with somebody down at the permit office to get things rearranged.Next time, tell me about it first.I could’ve saved her a lot of trouble if I had reached somebody during working hours.”

“You try telling her that.”Claudia rolled her eyes, scoffing, and I found myself liking her a lot.She saw Summer, really saw her, and wasn’t afraid to be candid.“You might as well tell a fish to breathe air.She needs to solve everything on her own.”

And it would tank this project if she didn’t learn to ask for help.“Thanks for the heads up.I’ll take care of it.”The last thing I saw as I turned to leave was a giggling Danica with her hand on Clay’s arm.At least one of us would have a good time tonight.The lucky bastard.

On the way, I made a call.“Marty, you’re killing me,” I said as soon as my connection at the permit office picked up.Having his personal cell definitely came in handy at times like this.

“What’s this about a mix-up tomorrow?You know we need to be out on the track during daylight hours.We’re not shooting this scene at night.It won’t work.”

“I told your girl these things happen sometimes,” he muttered, which took me from irritation to flat-out anger.“Sometimes a.m.is put in place of p.m.It was an oversight.”

“Is that how they run things down at the permit office?Maybe they need somebody more responsible working in your position.”

“Now, wait a second?—”

“This is going to be fixed by tomorrow morning,” I announced while my driver rounded the corner on Summer’s block of Melrose.“My cast and crew are going to show up at that racetrack, and no one will stop them from filming because the permit situationwillbe settled.I don’t care what you have to do.Just get it done, or I call your superior and get them to do it for me.”I ended the call before he had the chance to give me another bullshit excuse.

By the time my driver pulled up in front of the apartment complex, a text came through.

Marty:It’s taken care of – M.

I knew better than to ask for an apology for his oversight, choosing instead to step out onto the curb wearing a satisfied smile, scanning the area around me.Three towers surrounded a central pool and patio area where a handful of people swam and listened to music as I walked through.For their sake, I hoped the noise didn’t carry too far upstairs, or they might be faced with a screaming Summer.

When I reached her building’s lobby, I rang the bell corresponding to her apartment number.It didn’t take long for her to respond.“Yes?”

“It’s Santa Claus.I have a present for you.”

“Lex?”she asked, groaning.“I do not have time for this.Go party or something.”

Unbelievable.I jammed my thumb against the bell again, leaving it there for a slow count of five, then letting go.“Goddammit,” she growled through the intercom.“Why won’t you take a hint?”

“I’m not fucking around.”I sighed.“I’m bringing you something that’s going to make your night better.But, by all means, leave me down here while?—”

“Jesus!Okay, fine.Whatever.”The door buzzed, and I opened it.When I reached her floor, she was waiting with the door open, tapping her foot impatiently.

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