Tempted By The Movie Star. Anna DePalo
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I was finally in demand, which was great but kept me really busy. Then this bonanza hit, but a role like that takes a hell of a lot of prep work.”
“I’ll bet.” Compassion shone in her eyes. “You looked strung out when you arrived, but you’re a lot perkier after stealing a kiss from your PR rep.”
“As well you should be,” Cade said. “Geena’s great. I regret the nasty things I said about her before.”
“But you don’t think Mom’s up to her usual tricks?”
“I don’t think so.” Cade turned toward Lexi. “Do you?”
“Why do I get the feeling you three are talking about me?” Rosie walked into the living room looking more amused than upset.
“Guilty.” Lexi spoke up immediately. “We were wondering if you were matchmaking between Geena and Matt.”
“I’m not.” Rosie claimed her favorite chair before gazing at him. “I came out to tell you that I moved her to the room down by us. That way she can have her own bathroom.” She paused. “And you won’t be neighbors.”
He was very likely blushing. “Okay.” He calculated whether the added distance would help him sleep any better. Probably not.
“Should’ve done that in the first place, but I was feeling a little put out with you, so I thought it would serve you right to have her next door. I figured sharing a bathroom might force you to be more civil.”
Cade snorted. “I don’t think that’ll be a problem anymore.”
“I can see that.” She smiled at Matt. “I don’t want to torture you, son. Or her, either. She confessed the strong attraction between you two but said she would never take advantage of my hospitality.”
“She said that, straight out?” He gaped at her.
“You sound surprised,” Lexi said. “Don’t you know people tell Rosie everything? I’ve never met anyone who inspires people to spill their guts the way Rosie does. It’s a gift.”
“They don’t tell me everything.” Rosie surveyed the group. “For example, nobody has bothered to mention why Briana Danvers orchestrated that photo op. It was clearly planned and executed for a reason. Appears to be the work of an angry woman, if you ask me.” She speared Matt with a look. “I’m sure you have noble intentions, but she doesn’t deserve considerate treatment after the way she’s behaved.”
“That’s what I said when he—” Cade groaned. “Sorry, Matt.”
Rosie nodded as she studied the two of them. “As I suspected, it all came out on the drive from the airport.” She turned her attention to Matt. “Well?”
He shook his head. “Sorry, Mom.”
“You don’t trust me to keep it to myself?”
“Of course I do.” He sent a pleading glance in Cade’s direction, but Cade only spread his hands in bewilderment.
“Maybe you don’t trust me,” Lexi said.
“I’d trust both of you with my life. Trust isn’t the issue.”
Rosie leaned forward. “Then what is the issue? I want to help you get out of this mess but I feel handicapped because I don’t know the whole story. I assume Geena doesn’t know it, either.”
“No, she doesn’t.”
“She probably should. It might be extremely important.”
“I can’t tell you what happened unless you promise that you won’t take any action against Briana.”
“Action?” Rosie blinked. “What kind of action would I take?”
“I don’t know, but you both have to promise not to try and harm her by word or deed.”
“Wow,” Lexi said. “This is getting intense. Want us to sign something in blood?”
Matt sighed. “Your word is good enough.”
“All right,” Rosie said. “Lexi and I promise not to harm that horrible woman.” She paused. “Or hire someone to do it for us.”
Cade choked on his beer.
Rosie waited until he’d settled down before turning back to Matt. “What happened?”
As Matt described Briana’s behavior, his mom grew very still, but her fists clenched and her eyes glittered with an unholy fire.
He finished the story and took a deep breath. “It’s safe to say she’s after revenge.”
Rosie looked at him and her voice sounded deceptively calm. “I could strangle her with my bare hands.” The even tone coupled with the ring of certainty was a chilling combination. She didn’t get angry often, but when she did everyone knew to take a step back.
He cleared his throat. “Mom, you promised not to—”
“And I won’t. She’s not worth going to jail for. I wouldn’t dirty my hands on that piece of trash. But poor Cliff.”
“He’s the one I’m protecting, not her.”
“Just realize you won’t be able to protect him forever. I doubt you’re the first and you won’t be the last. He’ll find out sooner or later. Probably sooner now that everyone and his dog is online.”
“But Matt doesn’t want to be the bearer of bad news,” Lexi said. “I get that. Cliff Wallace seems like a great guy.”
“From what I’ve read about him, he is.” Rosie leaned back in her chair. “But I think he has a weakness for bad women. I should have known this one would be no different. She won’t last, but in the meantime, she’s caused problems for one of my own.” She glanced at Matt. “There must be some way to put a hitch in her giddyup.”
“Don’t I wish,” he said, “but I’m fresh out of ideas.”
“We’re all too tired to think about this now.” His mom stood. “We’ll tackle it tomorrow. But thanks for trusting me with the info.”
“It wasn’t about trust.” He got up to give her a good-night hug. “Cade and I were worried the mama grizzly might fly to LA and do a number on Briana.”
“And wouldn’t I love to! But I won’t.” She hugged him back. Then she said good-night to Cade and Lexi before walking back down the hallway.
“I think that went okay,” Cade said after she left. “Sorry I slipped up, though.”
“No worries.” Matt continued to gaze at the darkened hallway as he debated whether his mom’s room-juggling trick changed anything. “Once we got into the conversation about Briana, I knew she’d find a way to dig it out of me.”
“Like Lexi said, it’s her gift.” Cade stood and came over to sling an arm around Matt’s shoulders. “I notice how you’re focused on that hallway and who’s sleeping at the end of it.”
“Just thinking.”
“I know how that goes. I don’t want to get all up in your business, but—”
“Yeah, you do.” Matt turned to smile at him.
“Let’s just say that Mom’s maneuver with the room switcheroo is well meant, but I doubt it’ll lower your stress level. I suggest an alternate plan. Lexi and I have a comfy sofa you can use tonight. That should keep you out of trouble for the time being.”
“And we’d be glad to have you as our guest,” Lexi added.
“Thanks, but I think I’ll just head down to the barn and make up a bedroll in an empty stall.”
Cade nodded. “That works, too. I remember you used to like doing that, getting into your John Wayne persona.”