His Larkville Cinderella

chapter TWELVE



BY THE time production moved out of Los Angeles and on location outside of Albuquerque, New Mexico, Adam couldn’t have been happier with Megan giving him a second chance. Her sweet personality and sense of humor kept a big smile on his face. He wanted to keep things uncomplicated, but occasionally and only in the privacy of his trailer where they had no chance of being seen, they shared sizzling hot kisses.

Once the shoot finished, they would move on to other projects in different locales. But Adam wondered if they might keep seeing each other still. Perhaps spend a few days together back in L.A. or have Megan visit him on the set of his next film.

He walked to his trailer parked outside an old school being used as a prison. Each step brought a puff of dirt flying into the air. No wonder Megan had been up half the night doing laundry; keeping costumes clean was a full-time job.

“Adam,” Lane called after him.

He groaned inwardly, but stopped and waited for her to catch up to him. “Hey.”

She smiled up at him. “You killed it today.”

He ignored the flirtation in her voice. The woman never gave up. “Thanks.”

“I was wondering if you wanted to have dinner tonight?” Lane asked. “I heard there’s a steak house about twenty minutes from here.”

Funny, but he thought he’d heard her say she didn’t eat red meat. Guess she hated being stuck out in the middle of nowhere so maybe she was willing to expand what she ate. But no matter what the reason for her invitation, he wasn’t going anywhere with her. “Thanks, but I can’t.”

Adam was having dinner with Megan. He couldn’t wait to see her when she returned to the set from the motel. No doubt tired from having to wash so many clothes. Maybe she’d want a back rub. He bit back a grin. He didn’t want Lane thinking his smile was meant for her.

She scrunched her nose unattractively. “What’s your excuse this time? You have a date?”

Adam was tired of dealing with her. He rocked back on his heels. “Yeah, I do.”

Her mouth gaped. “With who?”

When he didn’t answer, Lane named several costars and female crew members.

“Nope,” he said.

“That only leaves...Texas.” Lane made a face. “Please tell me you aren’t dating that lowly intern.”

Intern, yes. Lowly, no way. Megan had more class in her little finger than Lane had in her entire body. “Okay, I won’t tell you.”

With that, Adam walked away. Lane yelled his name, but he didn’t turn around. The shoot had only a couple more weeks to go. But he’d put up with enough from Lane Gregory. Maybe this would get her off his back once and for all. He hoped so because the only woman he wanted to think and worry about was...Megan.

* * *

Megan tested the iron on a white motel pillowcase. She’d spent the morning washing clothes. Scorching a piece of wardrobe would not be good and being forced to make a mad dash to replace something didn’t appeal to her in the slightest, not when she could be spending time with Adam.

Ever since the party after the Viewers’ Choice Awards things had been going well. She was getting to know him and understand him. She felt comfortable with him. She’d been thinking this could turn into something...more.

The iron seemed fine. No marks were on the pillowcase. She grabbed one of the prison jumpsuits. She’d iron out the wrinkles. Then put the ones from the last scene back in.

The joys of continuity and out of sequence shots.

Four hours later, she turned off and unplugged the iron. Mission accomplished. The prison garb was finished. She could return to the set. And Adam.

Anticipation shot through her. She’d missed him today.

As she cleaned up and put things away, she heard footsteps outside the motel. A knock sounded.

That was odd. Everyone from the shoot should be on the set. Must be the motel manager.

Megan opened the door. “Eva.”

The designer’s face looked pale and drawn. She wouldn’t meet Megan’s eyes.

“Is everything okay?” Megan asked.

Eva entered the room and closed the door behind her. “No, it’s not.”

Megan’s first thought was something bad happened on the set. To Adam. She dug her fingernails into her palms. “What’s wrong?”

“You’ve been fired.”

Fired? Megan stared at Eva in disbelief. No one had voiced any complaints or suggested Megan wasn’t doing a good job. She hadn’t been late to one of her calls or taken any sick days. “Why?”

Compassion filled Eva’s eyes. “One of the lead actors demanded it.”

The air rushed from Megan’s lungs. Her stomach knotted. Her knees threatened to give out. She plopped onto one of the double-size beds in the motel room. “Not...”

She couldn’t say his name. A weight pressed down on the center of her chest, making it hard to breathe.

“Not Adam,” Eva said.

Relief nearly knocked her to her knees. Megan shouldn’t have doubted him for a minute. But if not him... “Lane Gregory.”

Eva nodded once.

Megan’s shoulders sagged. “I don’t understand. I haven’t worked with her much, but when I did she was always nice to me. Why would she have me fired?”

“Jealousy.”

She drew back. “Lane has no reason to be jealous of me.”

“You’re young, talented, thin and pretty. Sometimes that’s all it takes. But in this case, you’ve also caught Adam’s eye. Lane doesn’t like that because she wants him all to herself.”

“She’s engaged.”

“Hollywood is a world unto itself. Things happen here that wouldn’t happen anywhere else,” Eva explained. “If it’s any consolation, Adam went to bat for you. I was impressed with how he took on Hugh Wilstead. But Hugh sided with Lane.”

Numbness set in. At least Adam had tried. Fought for her. That counted for something. Okay, a lot. “So what happens now?”

“You need to gather your things, pack and fly back to L.A.”

“My internship?”

Eva shook her head. “I’m sorry. The work I need done is here.”

Emotion clogged Megan’s throat. She’d worked so hard only to have the internship end because of a jealous actress. Her throat burned, but she wasn’t going to cry. She needed to be professional about this. She raised her chin. “I understand.”

And she did.

Megan had been warned about getting involved with the talent. She’d been told a lead actor could have anyone fired at any time for any reason. But she hadn’t realized it could turn out this way. That a woman engaged to another man would be jealous of Megan’s relationship with Adam. She’d naively thought things would work out okay.

What was she going to do?

The thought of leaving Adam and returning to Larkville made her nauseous. She wrapped her arms around her stomach. “I was hoping my internship could lead to something more permanent. I don’t want to go back to Texas.”

“Then don’t.”

Her gaze met Eva’s. The fierceness in the designer’s blue eyes made Megan’s heart pound.

“Don’t let a jealous harpy like Lane Gregory stop you from going after what you want,” Eva said. “You have the talent. You have a little experience now. You also have connections. Make the most of them.”

Megan did have those things. Most important she had Adam. Not that she’d ask him to find her a job, but maybe he could introduce her to some costume designers. “Thanks, Eva. I’ve learned a lot.”

“You’ve done a lot.” Eva’s eyes gleamed. “Leave the costumes in here. I’ll have Kenna take care of them. As soon as you finish packing, a car will take you to the airport.”

“Seriously?”

“Lane demands it. She claims you are too big a distraction on the set.”

This was unbelievable. “Can I say goodbye to everyone?”

“You’re not allowed back on the set.”

Everybody was there. Including Adam. Her hands trembled. “Will you tell people goodbye for me?”

“Yes.”

That was something. “What happens when I get back to L.A.?”

“Relax for a couple of days. Rewrite your résumé. Contact everyone you’ve met in the business and let them know you’re looking for any kind of costume or wardrobe position. Feel free to use me as a reference.”

“Thanks.” Megan appreciated the advice, but she realized she was as much on her own here as she had been in Larkville. Forcing herself to breathe, she went to the closet and pulled out her suitcase.

Ever since arriving in Los Angeles her life had revolved around the shoot. She knew no one who wasn’t working on the film except her neighbor, Mrs. Hamilton. Megan never had looked for a job. She didn’t know how to begin.

But she would have to figure it out. Maybe Adam would know what she should do. Megan hoped so because she hadn’t a clue. Worse, she wouldn’t be able to see him for a couple of weeks. Those were going to be the longest weeks of her life.

* * *

Damn. Lane hadn’t wasted any time. Adam charged through the entrance of the small airport in this middle-of-nowhere town.

He’d fought for Megan, even stood up to Hugh Wilstead during a heated conference call with Lane, Eva and Chas. Damon was too busy with the shoot to deal with something like this.

So much for being owed a favor. Hugh hadn’t listened to a word Adam said. The cuckolded producer had bent over backward to appease his jealous fiancée. Adam’s efforts had only meant he hadn’t been able to comfort Megan and drive her to the airport. But he was here now to see her off and say...

Goodbye.

He had to say it. Do it.

Twice now, Megan had gotten hurt being with him. First the awards show and now being fired. He kept putting his own selfish desires ahead of what Megan needed. He needed to protect her. That meant letting her go.

His shoes echoed on the tile floor. The place was nearly empty except for uniformed workers and a lone, dejected-looking woman sitting in a chair with luggage at her feet.

“Megan.”

She jumped out of the chair and into his open arms. “I’m so happy you’re here.”

He hugged her, wanting to hold her one last time. “I’m so sorry.”

Megan wrapped her arms around him. “Eva told me you fought for me to stay. Thank you.”

“Lane is psychotic. It’ll be better if you’re away from her.”

Megan looked up at him with red-rimmed eyes. “But that means I’ll be away from you.”

Her vulnerability sliced into him like a knife’s blade. He wanted to pick her up and cradle her on his lap so he could kiss her until the hurt disappeared from her face and a smile returned. But if he did that, she’d experience more hurt. He couldn’t allow that to happen. “The shoot’s almost finished.”

Megan rose on her tiptoes and brushed her lips across his.

So tender. So sweet. Nothing would keep them apart back in L.A. Not Eva and her rule. Not Lane. They could be together finally and take things to the next level.

No, they couldn’t. He couldn’t.

Adam stepped back. “Megan...”

She stared up at him. “I’ll be counting the days until you’re back in L.A.”

Adam took another step back. “I’m only going to be there for a day or two, then I’m going on location for a new project.”

“Oh.”

The one word spoke volumes. He hated letting her down the way other men had let down his mother. “The shoot will last three, maybe four months.”

Confusion added to the hurt in her eyes. “But...”

Adam wanted to look away, but he couldn’t. She was always so honest and open. He wanted to be, too. “This has been fun, but we said we’d make the most of our time together.”

“And now that’s over.”

Over. That sounded so final. Better this way, he reminded himself. Better for Megan. “We agreed.”

“I know, but I thought...”

The slight quaver in her voice knotted his gut. He wanted to know what she’d been thinking. “What?”

“Nothing,” she said. “I was wrong to expect more. I see now you never intended this to be more than one of your flings.”

“It wasn’t a fling. We didn’t have sex.” But they had hung out and kissed. Really hot kisses. And grown closer, closer than he’d been to any other woman. He swallowed. “I like you a lot. I was thinking we could keep hanging out whenever I’m in L.A. We’re young, there’s nothing wrong with just having fun.”

“But there could be so much more than that between us.”

However tempting that sounded, he wouldn’t allow himself to be swayed. “My life is... I’m no good for you.”

Her eyes darkened. “What you really mean is continuing what we have would be too complicated.”

“I’m not looking to settle down.”

“The easier, the better.”

“Nothing wrong with easy,” he agreed.

“Except the best things in life aren’t easy. They take effort and a lot of work.” Her jaw tensed. “It’s interesting how you work so hard to perfect your roles, but you couldn’t care less about putting that same kind of effort into your relationships.”

He had to be strong for both their sakes. He put his hands up, as if to hold her at bay. “We’re friends. We aren’t having a relationship.”

She pursed her lips. “That’s only because you’re too afraid. You like to end things before they go bad.”

He hated how her words hit the bull’s-eye. “I end them when it’s time.”

“The shorter the relationship, I mean, fling, the better.” Her sharp tone surprised him. “That’s why you’re backing off, because you can finally see something that could be long-term.”

“I don’t do long-term.” He saw she expected a lot from him, more than he was willing or capable of giving. She deserved to have what she wanted. “You’re better off without me.”

“So who would I be better with? Zach?”

Thinking of Megan with another man ripped out Adam’s guts. “No way.”

“Rob?”

“He’s the wrong guy for you.”

“Who’s the right one, then?” she pressed. “I thought it was you.”

Her words stabbed his heart, but Adam couldn’t let her see how much she’d come to mean to him, as a friend and more. He’d allowed Megan to see more of him than he had with any other person. What if he pursued something with her? Then she decided to leave him rather than him being the one to leave? It wasn’t a risk worth taking because people always left. No one had ever stuck around him and his mom. Not his dad. Not any of the other men who claimed they wanted to be his father, but really didn’t.

“Look at me,” Adam said for his benefit as much as hers. “My life is crazy. Being followed by the paparazzi, traveling all over the world for months at a time, doing whatever extreme sports I can. You have an amazing talent. You don’t want to tangle up your life with someone like me. Face it. I’m not a picket-fence kind of guy. You’d only end up unhappy with me.”

“Wow, all this so I’ll be happier.”

“I want what’s best for you.”

She narrowed her gaze. “What if I don’t want a picket-fence life? What if I want a costume design career that takes me on location for months at a time while shooting a film and gives me the opportunity to do exciting things, also?”

He couldn’t afford to believe what she said. “If that kind of life is what you really want, then you need someone more solid to be your anchor when it’s time for you to come home.”

“Is that what you need?”

He needed her. If only... “I’m doing fine on my own.”

“You’d do better with me.” Her gaze didn’t waver from his. “I want you to be my anchor. I can be yours.”

“I’ve hurt you twice,” Adam said. “You even lost your internship because of me. It’s best if you move on from all the trouble I’ve brought you.”

“Have you forgotten you’re the one who said he wanted a second chance with me?”

“I haven’t forgotten. I had my second chance, now it’s time to move on.” He tried to sound flippant. He wasn’t sure if he succeeded. “You need to learn that not every fun time with a guy leads to more than friendship.”

“Unbelievable.” She laughed. “So far, you’ve been the best friend, the bad boy and now the protector. Which character are you going to play next?”

His muscles tightened. “What are you talking about?”

“You’re searching for excuses,” she said. “You act all brave when it comes to your extreme sports. Riding the gnarliest wave or whatever else you’re risking your neck doing. But you’re a coward when it comes to life. To love. You’re using these characters, these roles you’ve played, to hide behind and keep people from getting close to you.”

The temptation to flee was strong, but he stood his ground and squared his shoulders instead. “That’s not true.”

“It’s very true,” she countered.

“You don’t know what you’re talking about.” His voice sounded harsh. He didn’t care. “I’m not a coward.”

“Just calling it like I see it.”

“So am I.” Adam liked Megan. She knew him well, too well. He wasn’t willing to take a leap of faith and trust things with her would work out because he knew they wouldn’t. He would not put himself through that kind of hurt. “I like challenges, but not ones where I have no chance of succeeding.”

“That’s too bad. Sad, really.” She blinked. Her eyes gleamed, but no tears fell. “If you aren’t willing to risk yourself, your heart, you’ll never succeed at what matters most in life. And you’ll wind up...alone.”