Page 15 of Hollywood Humbug (The Naughty List)

Tears welled up in her eyes right before an emotionless mask descended and she shuttered her eyes.Fuck. This wouldn’t go any farther tonight, so when she pushed against my chest, I took several steps back.

“It doesn’t matter anymore,” she intoned as she walked over to the trailer door and opened it, a clear message that she wanted me to leave.

My instincts were telling me to stay, but my brain knew better. She needed some breathing room so that she didn’t lock the door on “us” before I had a chance to show her we were meant to be.

I padded to the door, but before I stepped out, I leaned in and placed a soft kiss on her forehead. “This isn’t over, Scarlett.”

She swallowed hard, but didn’t respond, so I forced myself to walk down the steps and head toward my trailer.

After a few minutes, I glanced back and was relieved to see her standing in the doorway watching me. Somehow, I knew it meant the figurative door was still open, too.

* * *

Scarlett avoided talking to me—otherthan on set—for a few days. I let her get away with it because I had a some things I wanted to do before we had another conversation. First, I’d gone to Ryder and asked him to put me in touch with someone who could hunt down the truth behind the fake news fiasco. I already knew it hadn’t been Scarlett and was metaphorically kicking my ass up and down Hollywood Boulevard for being so stupid. But, I hoped by finding out who had really been behind the incident, it would help us move past it.

The other thing I’d used the time for was to show Scarlett that I wanted her, and I wouldn’t give up. I popped up in random places to give her chocolate—her biggest weakness—or flowers or just another chaste kiss on her forehead. Those practically killed me, but I reminded myself that she was worth it. I never stuck around long enough to share more than a few words, and after a while, she stopped looking like a deer in headlights whenever I appeared. In fact, when I caught up with her on her jog this morning, she’d smiled at me, the corners of her eyes crinkling, telling me she was pleased to see me. We’d run in companionable silence, enjoying each other’s company without the need to fill the quiet.

When we arrived back at the studio, I walked her to her trailer and leaned in, kissing her cheek this time.

“Kane…”

I’d turned to walk away, so I pivoted around when she said my name. “Yeah, baby?”

She pursed her lips, which shouldn’t be sexy, but anything she did with that perfect mouth inspired dirty thoughts. After a few seconds, she shook her head and whispered, “Nothing.” Then she jogged up the stairs and entered her trailer.

I wanted to follow her, but I had a plan and I was going to stick to it. Today, I wouldn’t take no for an answer. She would hear me out whether she wanted to or not. So, I made my way back to my trailer to shower and change before my call time. A few hours later, I’d left hair and makeup and was on my way to wardrobe when my phone rang. A glance at the screen stopped me in my tracks, and I rushed to answer. “Did you find anything?”

The woman on the other end of the line relayed the information I’d been seeking, and my free hand balled into a fist. “Thanks,” I gritted out after she finished.

When I hung up, I barely stopped myself from throwing my phone at the wall.

I didn’t care what it took. I wouldn’t rest until she was ruined.

Eight

SCARLET

The last few days had been heaven and hell.

I wouldn’t have thought it possible to look forward to and dread someone’s presence at the same time.

And with tonight being Christmas Eve…I wasn’t sure what to feel this year.

My family and I were very close, and my parents and sisters had moved to California shortly after I made my second film. We’d always spent Christmas together, but I’d been so angry the last two Christmases that I’d come to hate the holiday. They would be absolutely shocked if I showed up on Christmas Day without being coerced, threatened, or bribed.

With Kane was worming his way back into my heart with his sweet, respectful gestures, I found my “bah humbug” attitude fading. I kept expecting Kane to push me, but when it didn’t happen, I began to believe he’d changed. That perhaps he’d found more patience and wouldn’t jump to conclusions in the future. However, I was terrified of being wrong.

“Good morning, Vienna,” I greeted my PA with a big smile when she entered the dressing room. “Merry Christmas Eve.”

“Hey! Merry Christmas! So, I…” she chattered on about things I knew I should pay attention to, but I hadn’t been able to shake off the dreamy fog I’d found myself in after my run this morning. I’d never been a big fan of running. I did it to burn off all the chocolate I couldn’t resist eating. This morning was the first time I’d ever relaxed and enjoyed myself. When Kane walked me back to my trailer, I’d almost invited him to come in and shower with me but thought better of it at the last moment. Sex would not solve the issues between us. I wasn’t sure anything could. I didn’t want to spend my life on pins and needles, afraid that Kane would never truly trust me and waiting for the day when it all blew up in my face.

“On set in five, Scarlett,” Cam called out to me, her head poking through the partially opened door.

“Thanks,” I replied with a nod, and she smiled before disappearing.

I answered a few more questions for Vienna, then visited the makeshift hair and makeup table in the back near the catering. They touched up everything, straightened my costume, then gave me a thumbs up and sent me on my way. They were wrapping up a scene, so I sat in a chair behind the film crew and watched the magic unfold. We really had lucked out with the cast for this movie. Somehow, Julianna had signed some of the best people I’d ever worked with. And those I hadn’t met, I knew by reputation.

As the scene before me unfolded, it pulled me into the fictional world that we’d created. I ran over lines in my head, immersing myself in the scene and getting in touch with the emotions. I left Hollywood and Scarlett Cassidy behind, stepping into the shoes of Bianca and walking into her world.

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