Page 95 of Blood Stone

Chapter Twenty

Kate’s buoyant mood lasted until they reached the shooting site the next evening. Not even the burnt bacon for breakfast managed to dislodge her upbeat attitude. She justknewthey were going to nail the filming that night.

Until they reached the site and she found her chair, just behind the main camera.

There was something wrong with the set-up she had got used to. She looked around at the names stencilled on the back of the canvas fold-up chairs. Hers, with “Kate” rather than the impossible-to-fit “Lindenstream.” The DP’s chair, which he never used. The AD’s chair, which was also rarely used.

Then it clicked into place. Those two chairs were always in a line up with a third.

Garrett’s. Garrett’s chair was missing.

Kate waved her P.A. over. “Where’s Garrett?”

Brittany curled her lip over her big front teeth and clutched the clipboard to her chest. “Um…”

“He’s here? On site?”

Brittany nodded. “That’s okay, isn’t it? You only banned him for the one night?”

Kate realized she was scowling and lightened up. “It’s fine. I just wanted to know where he was so I didn’t trip over him accidentally. His chair has gone.”

“Yeah, he moved it back with the other sponsors. He said you’d prefer it that way.” Brittany smiled, relieved that her news would be received as good news, not bad.

“Thanks, Brittany,” Kate told her. “See if you can scrounge me up a really cold iced tea, would you?” Kate knew there was no such species to be found anywhere on the set, but it would keep Brittany occupied for twenty minutes, at least.

As soon as Brittany has moved beyond earshot, Kate walked around the second and third cameras, to where the sponsors got to sit for their ringside view if they chose to venture out on set to see how their money was being spent.

Garrett was sitting on the edge of his chair, leaning forward, his arms on his knees, talking to the guy in the chair next to him, some California business entrepreneur. They were laughing and joking.

But Garrett spotted Kate heading in their direction and got to his feet and walked toward her, putting distance between him and the businessman.

“I know what you’re going to say—”

“Do you?” she said. “Then you know how to read the future because I’m not sure even I know what to say.”

“I won’t fuck up your movie, Kate.” His voice was low and deep with determination. His gaze was steady on her face, as if he was watching her to ensure she got the point. “I won’t be the one to ruin it for you.”

Anger touched her. “How dare you be…decent about this.”

“You want me to be a bastard about it?” He tilted his head. One brow lifted. Just a little.

“Yes! I wanted you to be a complete jerk! Then I could have tossed you from the set, the camp and got you the fuck out of my life!Christ, Garrett.” She gripped her elbows with her hands, fighting for calm. “I thought I had this under control until I saw you walking toward me just now.” She bit her lip and stopped herself from saying anything else. Before the truth gushed out.

She wanted him just as badly as she had last night when he’d been bent over her, his lips an inch from hers.

More.

Despite the night of outrageous sex and tenderness in Adrian’s arms, she was right back to wanting Garrett with a queer sort of ache in her belly and between her legs, as soon as she saw him. Her chest felt heavy and her limbs weak. It was a text-book case of overwhelming lust.

Garrett was studying her face as she spoke, but then he flicked his gaze away, checking around them with a guilty look, as if he had been staring for too long. His blue eyes settled back on her. How long ago had they become the familiar eyes of a friend to her? When had she stopped thinking of him as an enemy? This was DoveAngel in front of her, not the prick of a sponsor who had held her movie hostage.

“Would it help if I told you I got no sleep?” he asked. “That I spent my time imagining what might have been if Annette hadn’t arrived when she did?”

Her gut tightened and her heart seemed to squeeze all by itself. “No…Calum, why say that?” she demanded.

“It’s true.” His voice was flat. “And you look like you need the moral support of a partner in crime.”

“You mean a partner in guilt.” She grimaced, not liking the taste in her mouth. She turned to leave. “Thanks for nothing, Garrett.”