Page 50 of Blood Stone

Garrett halted in front of her. Not too close. Not too far away. “This was a good idea, the party. The other sponsors seem to appreciate it.”

“Why wouldn’t they? They’re mixing with movie folk.” Her mouth turned down.

She was wearing well-washed, faded jeans that clung everywhere, flat shoes and a tee-shirt that seemed to be nearly transparent with age. Her hair was pulled back into a simple ponytail and if she was wearing make-up it was bare minimum. She made the set uniform look glamorous and sexy in a low key way. Garrett normally preferred well-tailored women, but theau naturellook worked well for Kate.

Garrett gave her a dry smile. “I thought you should know we may run out of beer in the next hour, if everyone keeps drinking at the rate they’re drinking.”

Roman chuckled. “Only in Hollywood. Give ‘em free booze and they can drink you under the table.”

Kate shrugged. “If it runs out, it runs out.”

Garrett kept his tone pleasant and nuetral. “Are you sure you want to do that? This party is only really starting to get going. People need to let off steam and get to know each other better and they can’t do that on the set when tension is so high. Another barrel of beer would help.”

She almost rolled her eyes. Garrett knew she wanted to brush this off as trivial, but she was too good a manager of people to dismiss it. She put her hand on her hip and looked at him. “So where the fuck would you like me to find another barrel, boy genius? Got one stuffed up your ass?”

Roman grinned, openly enjoying Kate’s scathing attack.

“Normally I’d get one from the same place I got the first one,” Garrett replied placidly. “But that’s five hundred miles away in San Francisco. I checked with the club manager, though. He’s willing to sell me a barrel at not too much above market price, and it’s cold.”

Kate’s hand never moved from her hip. Her expression didn’t change from the tight, angry lines. “If you’ve solved the problem, Garrett, why are you bothering me with it?”

“It’s your set. You should get to say yeah or nay.”

Her expression turned sweet and her eyes opened up big, wide and innocent, so the grey was intensely focused upon him. “Like I got a say in having you here in the first place?”

Garrett held up his hand. “You’re just determined to be pissed at me, no matter what, aren’t you?”

“You’re saying I should be happy about what amounts to extortion by legal brief?”

Garrett just barely prevented his smile from showing. She wouldn’t appreciate his laughter, no matter how funny she was. “I’m here. Why don’t you enjoy the benefits I can bring to the set instead of winding yourself up to spit venom every time I get within ten feet of you? You’re already burning up way too much juice running the show. Hating me as well just drain your batteries.”

“Go away, Garrett. I might have to put up with you on my set, but I don’t have to talk to you. That wasn’t in the contract. I checked.”

He let himself smile. “I’ll get the other barrel. Have a nice evening.” He nodded at Roman. Roman was grinning, his arms crossed, thoroughly enjoying watching Kate shower her anger over him.

Garrett made himself walk away. He wasn’t going to achieve anything while Roman was there, fanning Kate’s anger.

He had to bring Kate down, cool her temper so she could start to see reason. Did that mean he had to separate the pair? Finally, after all these centuries, was he going to have to go up against Roman himself?

He shuddered at the idea.