At Odds With the Heiress (12 page)

“Logan Wolfe isn’t afraid of anything,” Scarlett declared. “Least of all losing me.”

“Everyone’s afraid of something,” Harper said in an unusual display of insight. “You’ll just have to figure out if he’s more afraid of keeping you around or letting you go.”

Nine

L
ogan paced his living room, aware that he resembled a grumpy, caged bear. He squinted against the sunlight streaming in his large picture window, but Scarlett’s flashy red convertible was not streaking up his driveway. For the tenth time in half an hour he glanced at his watch. Not surprisingly, the hands hadn’t crept forward more than a couple minutes. It was 12:23 p.m. and Madison should have been home from her birthday party almost two hours ago.

If something happened to her...

A car was moving through the vegetation that lined the driveway, but it wasn’t Scarlett’s. As the vehicle drew closer, Logan spied his niece in the passenger seat and recognized Scarlett’s assistant as the driver. Annoyed by the change in plans, Logan strode through the front door and went to meet the car.

“Hey, Uncle Logan.” Madison exited the car, her overnight bag slung over her shoulder, and waved at the driver. She stretched and yawned with dramatic flair as she neared him. “What a birthday party. That was the most fun I’ve ever had.” Lifting up on tiptoe, she kissed his cheek. “Thanks again for letting Scarlett plan the party.”

“Where is she? She was supposed to drive you home.”

His sharp tone caused Madison’s eyes to widen. “She had a meeting with Bobby and Chase, so she had Sandy bring me home. You can’t disapprove of Sandy, Uncle Logan. She’s thirty-five, never had a ticket. She drove the speed limit the whole way here.”

Ignoring Madison’s sass, Logan focused on what was really bothering him.

“So it’s Bobby and Chase, now, is it?” he demanded, his temper getting the better of him. “When did you get so cozy with them?”

He knew better than to take his frustration out on his niece. It was Scarlett who’d stirred up his ire. Scarlett who was hell-bent on returning to L.A. and her acting career.

Or maybe he was mad at himself for encouraging her to do so.

“I’m not cozy with them,” Madison retorted. “They were just being nice. Bobby gave me his card and Chase told me to look him up when I get to L.A.”

Logan’s focus sharpened. “What do you mean, when you get to L.A.? You’re heading to college this fall.”

Madison tossed her hair in a perfect imitation of Scarlett at her most exasperating. In fact, now that he thought about it, Madison had adopted several mannerisms from the actress. How had he not noticed the metamorphosis before this? His niece admired everything about Scarlett, why wouldn’t she think it was a good idea to behave like her?

“I know my parents sent me here so you could work on me about college, and heaven knows that’s a drum Scarlett has beaten to death, but I really think my path lies in Hollywood.” She rested her hand on her hip and tilted her chin. “And I’m eighteen now. I can do whatever I want.”

Logan ground his teeth and regarded Madison in silence. This wasn’t the tune she’d been singing yesterday morning. She’d been debating two of the schools she’d gotten into, trying to decide which way to go.

“You might be eighteen, but you’ve never been on your own without your parents’ money before.”

“I’ll get a job waiting tables or something and support myself until I get an acting job.”

Logan was beset by visions of his niece all alone and at the mercy of a string of people with bad intentions who would use Madison up and spit her out. “Do you really think it will be that easy?” How had weeks of good advice been erased in one short night? “And where are you going to live?”

“I can stay with Scarlett.”

Icy fingers danced up Logan’s spine. So Scarlett had decided to return to L.A., after all. And why not? Hadn’t he told her to go?

“She’s definitely moving back to L.A.?” he asked, trying to keep his voice neutral.

Madison looked surprised that he even had to ask. “Of course. Why would she turn down a part that will kick-start her career once more?”

The thought of losing her swung a wrecking ball at his gut. He’d been a fool to let her think he would be unaffected by her departure. Had he really thought this was a good time to test her? To see if she meant all her passionate kisses and romantic gestures? Sheer stubbornness had made him complacent that she’d choose Las Vegas and him over her acting career and stardom.

“Did she invite you to stay with her?”

“Not in so many words, but I know she will do whatever she can to help me get started.”

Hadn’t she already done enough? Logan fished his car keys out of his pocket. He and Scarlett needed to have a face-to-face chat.

“We’ll talk more about this when I get back.”

“Where are you going?” She sounded less like a confident woman and more like a teenager who was worried she’d pushed her luck too far.

“To talk with Scarlett.”

“What are you going to say?”

“That you are not going to L.A., so she can forget about having you as a roommate.”

“It won’t do any good. She was thrilled that Bobby was willing to help me.”

Two weeks ago Logan might have believed Madison’s claim. Since then, Scarlett had stuck to his wishes and encouraged the teenager to finish college before she made any career choices. He also knew just how headstrong Madison could be. She’d proven that when she’d run off to L.A. on her own last spring.

“Why don’t you give your parents a call and tell them how the party went yesterday. I’m sure they’re eager to hear how you spent your birthday.”

He was heading his Escalade down the driveway when his phone rang. He cued the car’s Bluetooth. “Wolfe.”

“Boss, it’s Evan. You wanted me to let you know when the Schaefer assessment was done. Jeb and I finished half an hour ago. The report is on your desk.”

“Thanks.”

Preoccupied with the troublesome women in his life, he’d forgotten all about the multimillion-dollar proposal they were working on to overhaul Schaefer Industries’s security system. The deadline for the bid was four this afternoon. He needed to look over the final numbers and make sure there were no holes in the strategy they’d created. Scarlett would have to wait.

* * *

The big closet full of costumes wasn’t having its usual soothing effect on Scarlett. She grazed her fingertips along sequined sleeves and plucked at organza skirts but couldn’t summon up the charisma to wear Marilyn Monroe’s white dress from
The Seven Year Itch
or the slinky green number Cyd Charisse wore to dance with Gene Kelly in
Singin’ in the Rain
. Her heart was too heavy to play her namesake, Scarlett O’Hara, and she’d never be able to pull off Cleopatra’s sexy strength.

Her confidence had been dipping lower and lower ever since she’d told Bobby her decision about the television series. Logic told her she’d chosen correctly, but she couldn’t shake the worry that she’d irrevocably closed the door because she was afraid of putting herself out there and being rejected.

She came across Holly Golightly’s long black dress from the opening scene of
Breakfast at Tiffany’s,
pulled it off the rack and held it against herself. Perfect. Holly’s mixture of innocence and street savvy had always struck a chord in Scarlett. Many days she felt that way. Tough on the outside because acting was a rough business to be in. Fragile as dandelion fluff on the inside. Some weeks she’d go for a dozen auditions and not have a single callback. It had been hard on her, a change from the days when she’d basked in the studio’s love and appreciation.

Running Fontaine Richesse had brought her defenses and her longing into balance. She’d gained confidence in her abilities and no longer faced daily rejection. Dropping her guard had taken a while, but eventually she’d stopped expecting to hear what she was doing wrong. She’d begun to thrive.

Scarlett put on the iconic black dress, zipped it up and fastened on a collar of pearls. She regarded her reflection in the mirror. This costume was a head turner. With the sixties-style wig, black gloves and long cigarette holder, she bore an uncanny resemblance to Audrey Hepburn. And becoming Holly Golightly gave her a much-needed break from her current worries.

It’s what she loved about acting. Becoming another person was like taking a vacation without going anywhere. For twelve or fourteen hours at a time she was transported to a simple house in the suburbs where her parents laughed at misunderstandings about fixing dinner and her siblings got into trouble at school. Simple complications that resolved themselves in twenty-two minutes. Where lessons were learned and everyone hugged and smiled in the end.

The pleasure such memories gave Scarlett reaffirmed that she was an actress at heart. It was something that would always come between her and Logan. He preferred everything straightforward and realistic. She was pretty sure he wasn’t the sort of man who wanted his woman to dress up like a naughty schoolgirl, a cheerleader or even Princess Leia. Which was too bad because she had a copy of Leia’s slave girl costume tucked away in her closet.

As she tugged on the elbow-high black gloves, she heard a knock on her door. Her heart jumped into her throat as she raced across the living room. More cautious after her attack, she checked the peephole and saw Logan standing in the hall. They hadn’t spoken all day. She’d been both hoping and dreading that he’d call. She was terrified to tell him about her decision. Although he’d encouraged her to take the part, it was such an about-face from his earlier stance on her career, she didn’t understand his motives.

Breath uneven, she threw open the door, uncertain about what to expect. His tight mouth and fierce gaze stopped her forward momentum. A muscle jumped in his jaw as he stepped into her suite, compelling her to shift to one side or be trampled.

“Hello, Logan.”

He strode past her without responding and began pacing in the middle of the room.

“Don’t go.”

His brusque tone matched the tension vibrating off him. She was used to his demanding ways, actually enjoyed surrendering to his desires. Not that she would ever admit it. Ninety-nine percent of the time she preferred being in complete control. It was a throwback to her days in Hollywood when she’d had very little power. But she had learned she could trust Logan and it was nice to hand over the reins once in a while.

“Sure. It won’t matter if I don’t make an appearance in the casino tonight.” Her body tightened with hunger as she moved toward him. “What did you have in mind?”

He spun to face her. “I don’t mean tonight. I mean at all.”

Scarlett stretched out her arm and set her palm against his shoulder, treating him like a skittish dog, trying to gentle his mood with her touch. “Logan, I’m in charge of this hotel. I don’t see how I can stay away from my own casino.”

His arm snaked around her waist and brought her tight against his body. “Not the casino, you simple-minded darling. Don’t go to Los Angeles.”

“But you said—” She broke off when he stroked his hand up the side of her neck and wrapped his fingers around the back of her head.

“I know what I said.” He leaned down and seized her mouth with his, short-circuiting her brain.

The kiss was so like him. Commanding, skillful, hungry. He claimed her breath, stole her willpower and insisted on her complete surrender. Whether he’d admit it or not, he found her strength attractive. What if her weakness disgusted him? One way or another, she needed him to see the real her. Only by letting him glimpse her fear of rejection could she be free.

Terror and joy washed over her as she unraveled in his arms. Immediately, the kiss softened. Passion became play as his tongue and teeth toyed with and tantalized her.

How had she ever dreamed she could leave him? Only with Logan did she feel this alive and complete. She broke off the kiss and arched her back as his lips trailed fire down her neck. Gasping as his teeth nipped at her throat, she struggled to clear her thoughts from the drugging fog of desire.

“I’m not going to take the part,” she murmured, kissing his temple and the bold stroke of his dark eyebrow. “I’m not going to L.A.”

He straightened and peered into her eyes. “Madison said you were going to accept the role.”

“I never told her that.” If the teenager’s misunderstanding had caused Logan to admit how he truly felt, Scarlett would make certain she would do something extra nice for the girl. Maybe a day at the spa. “I don’t know where she got such an idea.”

“She said you were having breakfast with that producer fellow.”

“I did. I told Bobby once and for all that I wasn’t going to take the part.”

“But you wanted to.” Logan took her left hand and began peeling the black glove down her arm.

The drag of the fabric against her sensitized skin made Scarlett shiver. “For seventeen years my identity was caught up in being an actress.”

He hooked his finger beneath her pearl necklace and stroked her feverish skin. “I don’t see where anything has changed in that respect.”

She smiled as Logan set to work on the other glove. Being undressed by him was always such a treat. Occasionally their hunger for each other grew too feverish for preliminaries, but most of the time he took such pleasure in every aspect of making love, from removing her clothes to cuddling with her in the aftermath of passion.

“I think I’ll always be an actress in my heart,” she assured him. “But that’s no longer all I am. Managing this hotel has shown me that I’m also a darned good businesswoman.” She tunneled her now-naked fingers into his hair and pulled his head toward her. “I’m glad you didn’t want me to go, because I didn’t want to leave you.”

This time when they kissed, he let her lead. She understood why as her dress’s zipper yielded beneath his strong fingers. He stroked the material off her shoulders and left her standing before him in her pearls, a strapless black bra and panties and black pumps. His gaze burned across her skin as he took in the picture she made.

Divesting herself of the necklace and casting aside her wig, Scarlett stripped away the final trappings of Holly Golightly. The character was a woman with many lovers, but no burning love. She was a wild thing who craved freedom even as, deep in her heart, she longed for a place to belong.

Scarlett had no such conflicts. She knew exactly what she wanted, just as she knew where she belonged. In Logan’s arms. Pretending to be someone else, even for a while, couldn’t compare to the reality of being herself, in love with him. Her throat contracted as she realized why she’d turned down the part. It wasn’t just because she loved her new life as the manager of Fontaine Richesse. It was because she loved Logan Wolfe and all the heartache and joys that went along with being the woman in his life.