Illusions of Love

chapter 10



Dominic couldn’t help noticing how quiet India was on set that afternoon. Whenever she wasn’t needed she’d sit on her own, away from everybody else, watching the goings-on from a distance, but he could tell she wasn’t really concentrating.

‘Everything okay?’ he asked, sitting down beside her, taking his chance to make that all-important in-road. Now was the time, and it seemed the perfect opportunity to start playing the game properly. No more waiting, no more hanging about.

She looked up at him, taking a few seconds to register his presence but when she did, she smiled a small smile and he was surprised to find his heart skipping a little beat. It wasn’t a sensation he was overly familiar with and it knocked him sideways for a few seconds, which didn’t escape India’s notice.

‘Maybe it should be me asking you that. You alright?’

He breathed out, smiling that killer smile and she couldn’t help laughing. ‘You have so got this movie star thing down pat, haven’t you?’

The killer smile showed no signs of disappearing. ‘Haven’t you? I mean, you’ve been doing it for twenty years now.’

‘Another twenty years and I still wouldn’t be as confident as you.’

‘At least you didn’t call me arrogant.’

‘Is that something you get called a lot?’

‘By some, yeah.’

She looked over towards the set, briefly making eye contact with Michael before turning her attention back to Dominic.

‘So,’ he continued, sensing her mood had changed the second she’d looked at her ex-husband, and he needed to get her back. ‘Is everything okay?’

She sat back in her chair and threw her head back for a second, closing her eyes as she pushed her hands through her long blond hair. She had the most incredible neck, Dominic couldn’t help noticing. Sexy, long and smooth. The kind of neck he just wanted to reach out and touch.

She sat up straight and sighed, fixing Dominic with a look that caused his heart to skip that little beat again. ‘You’re not needed here for a while, are you?’

He shook his head and she stood up, still looking at him.

‘Well? Do you want to come for a coffee or something? Because I sure as hell could do with getting away from here for a while.’



***



Michael watched as Dominic stood up, smiling at India as they walked away from the set and he tried to control the growing jealousy, tried to stop all those irrational feelings rising back to the surface, but it was hard.

‘Do you have a problem with those two?’

Michael swung round to see Reece standing there. ‘No. No, I don’t have a problem. Why would I have a problem? There’s nothing going on, is there?’

‘And if there was? Would you have a problem then?’

Reece folded his arms as he studied Michael’s expression, because he knew for certain that whatever Michael told him, and what he was really feeling, they’d be two completely different things. Michael would never admit to him – to India’s father – that he had a problem with anyone seeing his ex-wife. Even though it was blatantly obvious to everyone that he did.

‘No. I still wouldn’t have a problem. But what I do have a problem with is the fact we’re standing around here talking when we should be getting back to work.’

He fixed Reece with a look that told him this conversation was over, and Reece was quite happy to end it. He had all the information he needed anyway. Michael would never be over India. India would probably never really be over Michael. But only one of them seemed willing to try and move on.



***



‘So, things seem to be happening between you and your ex-husband then,’ Dominic said as they sat by one of the catering trucks drinking strong coffee and sharing a plate of fries.

India looked up sharply, narrowing her eyes. ‘What makes you say that?’

‘Come on, India, it’s obvious. The way he looks at you, the way he touches you…’

She looked back down into her coffee. ‘We’ve known each other twenty years, Dominic. We were together for a long time, so we’re bound to be easily intimate with each other.’

‘For six years you never even spoke to him.’

She looked up again, staring right at him. ‘None of that is anyone’s business but ours. And it’s over. All of that, it’s over. There’s nothing going on between Michael and me. Not anymore… although, he wanted there to be…’

‘Really?’ Dominic asked, raising an eyebrow.

India stared at him again, looking right into those incredible, almost aqua-blue eyes of his, trying hard to ignore the somersaults her stomach was turning as she did so. Dominic seemed like a great guy, and nobody could deny he was one hell of a looker, but the last thing she needed was another relationship. She just wasn’t in the mood. ‘Yes, really. But I just don’t want… I don’t want to go back there. Not anymore. And I just wish he’d get the message, because I really don’t want him to get hurt. I never wanted that.’

Dominic sat back, pushing a hand through his dark brown hair, a tiny feeling of guilt shooting through him that he quickly pushed aside. He couldn’t detract from his plan. It was going to happen, no matter what. ‘Look, I’m sorry. That was insensitive and intrusive. I had no right.’

‘No. You didn’t.’ She was still staring at him. ‘What’s happening here, Dominic?’ Because she sure as hell didn’t know.

He leant forward, his eyes locking onto hers. ‘I just want to get to know you. That’s all.’

‘You have one hell of a reputation following you around, you know that, don’t you?’

‘Yeah, I know that. And you shouldn’t believe everything you read.’

‘So, you haven’t dated almost every leading lady you’ve worked alongside then?’

He never took his eyes off her, resting his arms on the table in front of him, clasping his hands together. ‘I’m not gonna lie so, yes, I have. I’ve dated most of them. But that doesn’t make me who I am.’

‘Doesn’t it?’

‘No. It doesn’t.’

She broke the stare first, finishing her coffee before standing up. ‘I’d better get back. They’re probably looking for me.’

‘Mustn’t keep the ex-husband waiting, huh?’

She turned round and looked at him again. ‘He’s our director, Dominic. And while we’re at it, being Michael Walsh’s ex-wife doesn’t make me who I am either. Got that?’

He stood up too, kicking his chair under the table before walking over to her. ‘That dinner we never quite got round to… Tonight. 8 0’clock. The Terrace Grill.’

‘You’re very sure of yourself, aren’t you?’

He folded his arms and gave her that killer smile once more. He was winning this one. No doubt about it. ‘Like I said, India, I just want to get to know you.’

She couldn’t help smiling slightly. He had a lot of front, she’d give him that much. ‘Okay. What harm can dinner do?’

No harm at all.