Rock Her (Crimson Romance) (16 page)

• • •

Kate watched him walk away. Moments later, Asher winked and gestured her over. He signed an autograph for the security guard. As he had predicted, the troupe were thrilled to meet Asher and she was thrilled to meet them. She met a few performers then stood back, shyly, watching him. He was polite, charming and at ease, signing autographs and posing for pictures. He joked with men and women alike. She should get a picture. Emma would love this. She rifled through her bag for her phone, twice. Three times. She stood there, stumped, frowning. Had she left it at the restaurant?

“What’s up?” Asher came over, correctly interpreting stress on her face.

“My phone … ”

“I may have had it last, remember? I put it back on the kitchen island.”

She stared at him. “I
forgot
it?” Being available for her sister and occasionally for work was paramount. She had quite literally never left the thing behind.

“What time is it?” she asked, unaccountably panicked.

“After four.”

After four
?
Her heart raced. “Oh, my gosh! I need to get back.” She wasn’t sure what she was more stressed about, the idea that her sister couldn’t reach her in an emergency or the fact that she’d been incommunicado from Alec most of the day.

Asher tried Alec’s phone. No answer.

“C’mon. I’ll take you home.”

They were stuck in LA rush hour for over an hour, so she used Asher’s phone to call her voicemail. Four messages. All from Alec. Each message progressively more irritated, anxious and impatient until the last, when his mood devolved into angry. He’d cursed, barked, “Call me back,” and hung up.

She disconnected the phone, eyes wide and handed it back to Asher.

Asher glanced over and grimaced. “He pissed?”

She nodded and stared at him, baffled. “He left four messages. The last message was … ” her voice trailed off. “He was mad,” she breathed.
So mad
.

She glanced at Asher. He didn’t look surprised.

“What is his deal?” She half turned in her seat and finally the sheepish expression on Asher’s face registered. Guilt.

“Oh, Asher. What did you do?”

He downshifted on the hill, the motor revved.

She rubbed her temples, biting her lip. He glanced over at her, and cursed under his breath. “Don’t worry about it. I’ll fix it.”

She was silent for the rest of the ride.

• • •

Alec sat fuming on the living room couch. He’d told Asher to leave Kate the fuck alone. Did he? Of course not. Instead, he’d taken her out and texted
Girlfriend is fucking hot
and sent him a picture of her, looking radiant. Kate had left her phone. Left her damn phone. She
always
kept it on her. She was probably enthralled by the great Asher Lowe. Alec threw a cushion across the room. He’d been a jackass the last few days, prioritizing work, but he hadn’t expected
this.

The growl of the Bugatti pulled him from his thoughts. He sat, hands clenched and made an effort to reign in his temper. He heard them enter, quietly, cautiously. He watched Asher’s charming smile die a quick death at his expression. Kate was white with anxiety and something else. Guilt? He interpreted it as guilt immediately and his gut clenched.

“I’m sorry, Alec. I left my phone,” she said quietly, from across the room.

Alec barely spared her a glance. She looked between the two men, staring at each other.

“Alec?”

He finally looked at her and she halted on her way across the room to greet him. He forced an even tone he didn’t feel. “Why don’t you get changed? We should leave in an hour.”

He turned his attention back to Asher.

Kate mumbled something and left the room. He watched her grab her cell phone from the kitchen on her way to the master bedroom.

Asher rubbed his hands together, and put them up. “Nothing happened, man.”

“I know that.” Alec threw himself down onto the couch, scowling. Was this jealousy? The thought made him bolt upright.

“I shouldn’t have fucked with you, but I was curious.” Asher answered the glare with a lazy smile. “And boy, did my curiosity get satisfied.”

Alec half rose out of his chair at the innuendo.

Asher laughed, clearly torn between amusement and astonishment. “Do you think that I would do that to you? Who is it you don’t trust? If I wasn’t so amused, I’d be damned insulted. My friend, you have something here, try not to screw it up.”

Alec grunted.

“I’m in town all week,” Asher said and rose from the couch. “You promised we’d get together.”

Alec walked him to the door. “I’m taking her back to Cielito tomorrow, but I’ll be in LA most of the week.”

“Good.” Before he closed the door, he heard Asher whistling as he climbed into his sports car.

Kate’s guilt over forgetting her phone was rapidly giving way to anger as she changed clothes. Alec was too busy to take her to lunch, pawned her off on his friend, and was furious when she returned because she forgot her phone? It didn’t make sense. Her heart had been walled off for so long, she didn’t know what to do with all the emotions rioting through her. Anger, fear, disappointment. Like it or not, he had crashed through the barriers she’d erected around her heart. Perhaps it was time to cut her losses and protect herself before this got altogether too painful.

Twenty minutes later, Alec helped her into the car. He started the vehicle and turned toward her.

“Sorry, Kate.”

She grunted, refusing to meet his eyes, playing with the hem of her dress. He reached out a finger and tilted her chin until she met his gaze. She raised her eyebrows. Waiting.

There was real remorse there and he looked pained. “I’m sorry. I was worried, then I got mad.”

“Okay.”

He grinned and she returned his smile.

“So what kind of party is this?” she asked.

“Eh, television and movie people mainly. There’s a guy I need to talk to. We don’t have to stay long.”

“Good.”

Once they arrived at the party in the Hollywood hills, Alec greeted a few people. Only a modicum of his usual charm was evident, and she noticed the smile he directed at her didn’t reach his eyes. Tension strung her taut. She didn’t know a soul.

“You can go mingle if you want,” she offered.

“I’ll see if I can catch the guy I’m supposed to meet.” He kissed her cheek, absently, and left.

Well. This was awkward. She recognized a few actors but would never in a million years go chat with them.

She smiled to herself. If only Emma were here. She’d be dragging Kate to meet celebrities right and left.

She turned as an older man approached her. He was short, oddly muscular and wearing clothes that would be more appropriate on a much younger person.

“How you doing?” he asked, his words inflected with a thick, New York accent.

“Good.” She gave him an absentminded smile.

“Whatcha here for?” he asked bluntly as his gaze drifted from the top of her head where her hair was piled up, to the tips of her slingback clad feet, where cherry red toes peeked out.

“I’m here with a friend,” she responded, amused by the once-over from a man nearly old enough to be her grandfather.

“Bullshit,” he replied, smiling.

She gave him her full attention with a frown. “I’m sorry?”

“What project are you looking at?”

“I don’t understand.”

“You’re an actress?”

She smiled at the misunderstanding. “No.”

“Well, you’re too short to be a model.”

“True,” she agreed, still smiling. What a strange, blunt man.

“With an overbite.”

Her smile vanished. How rude.

“What are you looking for?” he asked, impatiently.

She looked him straight in the eye. “Mr … ?”

“Butler.”

“Look Mr. Butler. I don’t know what you’re driving at. I’m here with a friend. I don’t have a project. I’m not an actress. I’m not in the movie business.” She wanted to finish with “now go away!” but wasn’t sure his attitude warranted that level of rudeness.

He gave a short bark of laughter “Movie business. I like that. Do you know who I am?”

“I have no idea.” She smiled, showing all her teeth. “Care to enlighten me?”

“Aren’t you here with Alec Sawyer?”

She nodded.

“And you’re not in the business?” His eyes were shrewd.

“Nope.”

“So what do you do?”

“I’m a nurse.”

“Ah.” He brightened and snapped his fingers. “Yes. Alec’s nurse.”

She rolled her eyes but felt heat creep up her neck. Good Lord.
That’s
what she was?

“You and Alec saved someone.” He tapped his chin. “From a car wreck?”

Kate started to interrupt, but he shushed her, “I’ll get it, give me a minute. Right! The surfer. Yes.”

She nodded, eyes darting around the party, her smile forced. Where was Alec?

“Good for you, but especially good for Alec, that kind of press. He’s done a remarkable job remaking his image. Did he bring you here to introduce you to some people, for your story? Maybe a television movie or something?”

Her eyes widened as she realized what he was getting at. She laughed. “No, no. Not interested.”

He froze, drink midway to his lips. “You are stunning when you laugh.”

“Thanks,” she said, drily.

“I could use you in something. Give me a minute.” He steepled his hands over his mouth and frowned at her.

Kate flushed, unaccustomed to being scrutinized solely based on her looks. Who the hell was this guy? With her luck, he was probably a porn director. Swallowing a giggle, she glanced around. Where was Alec?

He smiled. “I know just the thing. Give me a headshot before you leave town.”

Kate shook her head. “I don’t know who you are or what your business is, but I’m not interested in a job. I have one I’m happy with. I’m just here with Alec.”

“Then sweetheart, why are you at this party? This party, hell, this town, is all about networking. Alec Sawyer doesn’t bring sweet, young things to these kinds of shin digs. He brings barracudas looking to get a leg up.” He didn’t seem unkind, only puzzled.

“Well, maybe he’s trying to network.”

He raised an eyebrow.

“Okay, well … ” She looked around, eager to extricate herself from this odd conversation.

The expression on her face must have given her away for he gave a shout of laughter. “Honey, I can’t remember the last time someone wanted me to get lost. See those people eyeing you?”

She looked around. There were, in fact, a number of people, casually standing on their periphery, looking at them.

“They’re all waiting to talk to me about some new screenplay or actress or director or whatever.”

“Oh. I’ve taken up too much of your time.” She inched away.

He stepped toward her, smiling broadly.

“Trust me, this is a unique experience. Let’s see if I know how to talk about anything other than the industry. Hmm.” He brightened. “My sister is a nurse, back on Long Island where we grew up.”

“Cool. Where does she work?”

“Hospice. But she’s mostly retired.”

“Oh, hospice is wonderful. Our local hospice took care of my mom at the end of her life.”

“Mine too. Sorry for your loss.”

“Sorry for yours. How did your mom die?”

“Lou Gehrig’s a long time ago.”

“I’m sorry. That’s really sad. Tough way to go.”

“Yeah.” There was a world of pain in that one word. “Yours?”

“Breast cancer. She was sick for about three years. I think she only hung in there to see me turn eighteen so I could take care of my younger sister.”

“I think mine hung in there to see if I would ever leave her basement.”

They shared a laugh.

“You’re a long way from a basement on Long Island. I’m sure she’d be proud.”

“Thanks.” He took a healthy swallow of his drink. “I got my big break right before she died. Bad timing. I’d been writing all my life, finally hit the jackpot with a screenplay, moved to LA, started taking meetings, stars were signing on. My project was moving forward and I didn’t give a damn.”

She reached over and squeezed his hand. They shared a look of understanding.

Alec appeared at her side. His face was a rigid, hostile mask.

She blanched and her stomach turned over.

“Nice to meet you, Mr. Butler.”

“You too.” Butler fished around in his pocket and handed her a business card. “Send me a headshot.” Kate mustered a smile and shook her head, then tossed the card in her bag. Alec hand closed around her upper arm, almost painfully tight.

Butler raised his glass to her.

Alec pulled her none too gently out of the room.

His eyes flashed. “Looking for a new job?”

She stopped and yanked her arm. “Don’t be ridiculous.”

“Sorry. I just don’t like to see the woman I’m with cozying up to the likes of him — ”

“What the hell, Alec? He was kind — ”

He scowled. “He’s a shark and eats women like you for breakfast.”

Kate glared. “Are you jealous?”

He snorted.

Her heart seized up.

“Why are you behaving this way, hot and cold? I’m getting whiplash trying to keep up with your mood swings.”

“How about I give you hot then?” he growled, dragging her with him. Alec strode down the hall, Kate in his wake. He tried several doors before finding an empty office, pushed her into it and locked the door behind him.

He reached for her and she put both her hands on his chest. “Alec.”

“I want you.” His hands behind her back, tugged her toward him.

She leaned back. “Too bad. You are totally freaking me out — ”

“Then we’re even.”

Kate stared at him, open-mouthed. What was that supposed to mean? He took advantage of her distraction, pulling her to him. Kate lost her balance and dropped her purse. Alec put one arm under her hips and the other behind her head. He brought her to his eye level and lowered his mouth to her neck. It was electrifying. Backing her up, until she hit the door, he held her against it with his body. He smelled of sea and citrus and something else that she had come to recognize as pure, masculine Alec. His body was hot and hard against hers. Her stomach clenched and she felt the overwhelming ache of arousal that only he triggered.