THANE ALLEN STOOD in the middle of his spacious hotel suite in London and stared at his iPad. Today marked the first day of the promotional blitz for his new movie releasing in three weeks. He typically hated these things, but this time around, he had his costar, Charlotte MacMillan, with him for the duration. This meant his closest friend Niall was there since he was married to Charlotte and they were rarely out of each other’s presence.
The movie had been a hard sell to Niall. Thane had to do quite a bit of convincing, because it was an epic historical romance, and that meant some serious kissing scenes. Charlotte had beat out forty other women who auditioned for the part, partly because she was American, but mostly because she was an incredible actress and an “unknown,” which is what the director wanted.
Niall’s other concern had been his and Charlotte’s daughter, Moira Faith. He was worried about leaving her with an on-site caregiver while they were on location, but Charlotte reminded him that parents went to work every day, and she assured him Moira wouldn’t be neglected if both of them were close.
In the end, Niall had been hired to score the film and his band, Fallen Crown, had performed the theme song, which Niall had written and he and Charlotte had sung as a duet. This kept him involved throughout the filming and editing process and close enough to keep an eye on his beautiful wife.
So far, the preliminary reviews of the movie were positive, which didn’t really matter much to Thane. It was all about box office sales and then DVD rentals and sales later. If the people didn’t like it, the preliminary reviews didn’t mean much.
Thane heard the beep of his lock and then his assistant pushed through the door, followed by a waiter with room service. “Good morning,” Pamela said brightly.
“Morning, Pam,” Thane said. “You’re chipper this fine day.”
She grinned. “Am I? I should work on that. I ordered breakfast for you. Niall and Charlotte will join you in ten minutes.”
“You’re a godsend, Pam.”
“Perhaps I’m underpaid, then,” she retorted.
Thane laughed. “We can discuss that at your review.”
“I look forward to it.” She tipped the waiter then scanned her iPad. “Do you want to go through the schedule now or eat first?”
“Schedule, I think.”
“Right.” She skimmed a finger over her screen as she sat in the chair by the window. “You and Charlotte will have fifteen-minute interviews with twenty-one media outlets. Niall will join you for the last five minutes of each one. In between those, you’ll have an hour break for lunch.”
“Aye,” Thane said, and studied his screen.
“Most of the interviewers you know, though there are a couple of new ones from America. Wallace says they’re okay, and he’s fully vetted them.”
“Good work.” Thane smiled. “What cold and exotic paradise am I sending you to when this circus is over? Did you get your fill of Siberia last time?”
Pam giggled. “Honestly, I just want to hang out at home in my pajamas for a couple of weeks.”
“Fair enough.”
A knock at the door had Pam rising to her feet. “I bet this is the MacMillans.”
She opened the door and Charlotte and Niall walked inside, Niall carrying one-year-old Moira. Thane stood and greeted his friends while Pam went off to take care of a few things.
“Oh my gosh, I’m so nervous,” Charlotte said, and flopped on the sofa next to Niall.
“Why?” Thane asked.
“Oh, I don’t know. Maybe because this is my first film and I’m not a particularly interesting person. Why the heck would they want to interview me?”
Niall chuckled. “Because you’re stunningly beautiful, exceedingly talented, and more fascinating than anyone else I know.”
She snorted. “You have to say that. You’re my mate.”
Thane chuckled. “Well, I’m not your mate, and I wholeheartedly agree with Nye.”
Charlotte blushed. “Thank you.”
Niall pulled her close and kissed her temple, smiling at something she probably said to him telepathically. Thane focused on his coffee for a few seconds. He wondered if his mate was close. He was young compared to the majority of his friends. Less than three hundred years old, but it was a long time to wait for a mate and, he had to admit, he was getting restless.
The Cauld Ane had been rocked with surprises over the past few years. Their king had bound a human woman, as had one of the princes. Even Niall had bound a human, and Thane wondered if this was why he was waiting so long. Was his mate human as well?
“Thane?”
“Hmm?” He glanced at Niall.
“You all right, brother?”
Thane chuckled with a nod. “Aye. Sorry. My mind’s elsewhere. What were we talking about?”
“Well, I’d like to know if there are any topics I should avoid,” Charlotte said.
Moira wiggled her way out of Niall’s arms and toddled to Thane. He picked her up and settled her on his lap.
“Just answer what you feel comfortable with,” Thane said. “They’re going to pry, but you’re not obligated to talk about anything you don’t want to. I think the biggest question will be how Nye felt about the kissing scenes.”
“And the other parts,” Charlotte grumbled, her face bright red.
Thane tried not to laugh at Niall’s expression. “Aye. But you can tell them there was a body double.”
“I don’t know how I feel about that,” she said.
“Why, love?” Niall challenged.
“I don’t know.” She shrugged. “It’s not like there was nudity in the film, I guess, but I felt a little uncomfortable even alluding to it.”
“You’d be surprised how often it happens,” Thane said. “Don’t worry about it. They probably won’t even ask.”
“Do you think it’ll do well?”
Niall laughed. “Baby, it’s a period piece with Thane Allen. It’ll do very well.”
She giggled. “I suppose that was a silly question.”
“Let’s finish our breakfast,” Thane said. “We’ll need our energy to deal with the jackals.”
“Unca Thane, book, please?” Moira asked, and gave him a slightly toothless grin.
“I’d love to read you a book, lassie. Did Mummy bring one?”
“No, Mommy did not,” Charlotte confessed.
“Never fear,” Thane said, and grabbed his cell phone, sending a quick text to Pam. “Uncle Thane is on the job.”
Niall grinned and sipped his coffee. Charlotte motioned Moira over and the little girl reluctantly left Uncle Thane’s lap with the promise of food.
Pam arrived a few minutes later with one of Moira’s favorite books and Moira climbed back onto Thane’s lap for a quick story time.
Twenty minutes later, it was time to face the media, so Moira was handed off to her sitter, and Thane followed Pam into the suite set up for the interviews and took his seat. Charlotte sat beside him and gave him a nervous smile.
“You’re going to do great, lass,” he promised.
“Thanks.”
Niall kissed her quickly and then stood off to the side.
A young blonde woman walked in and shook their hands. “Hi, I’m Christine Beach. Thanks so much for speaking with me.”
“You’re from Portland,” Charlotte said. “You’re on the KRTV news channel, right?”
“I am.” Christine smiled. “I understand you’re from Portland too, is that correct?”
“Yes,” Charlotte said.
“Nice to meet you,” Thane said.
“You too,” Christine said. “Are you ready?”
Thane nodded. “Always.”
“In this movie, you play an American. You did a great American accent, by the way.”
Thane grinned. “Thank you.”
“How hard was it to get into character, and did you ever find yourself slipping back into your Scottish accent?” Christine continued.
“I found the accent relatively easy; however, it was the pacing that was a little harder. Charlotte helped a great deal, and if I slipped, she’d correct me.”
“You didn’t slip very often,” Charlotte said.
Thane chuckled. “Because of you.”
She rolled her eyes. “Whatever.”
“This story is about Sophie, a woman who is catapulted in time back to the American Civil War and you play Jamie, the husband who follows her. The chemistry between the two of you was hot, hot, hot. Were the love scenes difficult or is there a spark between you two also?”
“Considering the fact that my costar happens to be married to my closest friend,” Thane said, “I can’t say it was easy. But Charlotte’s an incredible actress, so I can’t say it was hard either.”
Charlotte giggled. “I personally found it almost impossible to kiss Thane. I mean, look at him, he’s so ugly.”
Christine chuckled.
The interviews continued, the questions all relatively the same from interviewer to interviewer.
* * *
Sydney rushed into the hotel lobby to escape the rain and groaned. She was lost. Hopelessly lost. She was supposed to be meeting Lucy at a local coffee shop, but she’d made a wrong turn somewhere along the way, and then buckets of water had begun to fall from the sky, and she had no idea where she was now. Damn it! She was going to have to concede that she was directionally challenged and call her cousin.
Pulling out her cell phone, she shot off a text and rolled her eyes when Lucy called right back. “Don’t say it,” Sydney begged.
Lucy giggled. “I’m trying to figure out if it’s an American thing, or just a Sydney thing.”
“It’s most definitely a Sydney thing,” she admitted. “I was doing so well, but I stopped to get some money out of the ATM and I think that’s where I went wrong. But you have to cut me some slack. I’ve only been here for a few weeks and London’s a zoo. Who can expect anyone to find their way around?”
“Oh, love, you’re doing great. Where are you?”
“The Ritz.”
“Okay, why don’t you stay where you are and I’ll come and get you?” Lucy suggested.
Sydney sighed. “Probably a good idea. But wait for the rain to let up a little. I’m warm and dry, so I can hang out here for now.”
“Alright,” Lucy agreed. “I’ll text you when I’m on my way.”
“Miss?” Sydney turned to see a bellboy motioning to her. “You need to come with me, you’re late.”
“Luce, I have to go. See you when you get here.” Sydney hung up.
“You really need to come with me now,” the man insisted.
Sydney frowned. “I think you’ve got me confused—”
“Look, I don’t mean to be rude, but you need to follow me or I could get sacked.”
“I…ah. Okay,” Sydney said. She had no idea what the guy was talking about, but maybe he knew something she didn’t. She followed the man into the elevator and up to the tenth floor. She was ushered into a large hotel suite where a couple dozen other people milled around, some on phones, others on computers, but all looking very professional and important.
A young, attractive woman rushed toward her. “Are you the American?”
“Ah, well, I am American,” Sydney confirmed.
“Oh, good. You’re late.”
“I am?”
“Yes,” she said with an irritated sigh. “We’re running behind now. Please follow me.”
“I’m sorry, really. I think, but I—”
“Well, we can’t cry over spilled milk now, can we,” the woman said. “Come with me.”
Sydney forced herself to stay calm. Damn it! She needed to learn to say no.
“Right this way.” The woman pushed open a door and guided Sydney inside. She was blinded by bright lights. In a matter of seconds, she realized she was staring at only the biggest movie star on the face of the earth and the breath left her body.
Holy shit. I’m less than two feet in front of Thane Allen.
“This is Lana Jones from Ivory Hope Magazine.”
“Miss Jones?” Thane smiled at her.
His sexy smile distracted her and it took a minute for Sydney to find her voice. “Um, no, actually, I’m not.”
* * *
Thane’s heart stopped in his chest. He took in the sight of his mate with her long dark hair and deep brown eyes. She was taller than most human women, probably five-foot-nine, and she was stunning.
“I’m sorry?” Pam asked.
“My name is Sydney Warren.”
“Then why are you here?”
“I have no idea. The bellboy said he’d get fired if I didn’t come with him.”
Pam scowled. “Bloody hell.”
“Pam,” Thane warned, and rose to his feet.
“Look, this is ridiculous,” Pam continued. “We pay a bloody fortune to keep the crazies from getting in and—”
“Excuse me?” Sydney snapped. “Listen here, lady, I am not a crazy! I was dragged here, obviously due to a misunderstanding, but I’m not a crazy anything…well, by medical standards anyway. I suppose there might be people in the world who think I’m nuts, but not in the way that you’re implying.”
Thane forced back a chuckle. His mate was funny and beautiful.
“If you’ll just show me how to get out of here, I’ll go,” Sydney continued. “I’m supposed to be meeting my cousin.”
“Just a moment,” Thane rushed to say, and stepped toward Sydney, but Pam still stood between them. “Pam, I need a minute.”
“But, we’re running behind as it is,” she argued. “You have a queue of reporters waiting to speak with you.”
“And they will continue to wait,” he said quietly. Pam nodded, lowering her head in contrition, and Thane closed the distance between him and the lovely Sydney. “May I borrow you for a moment?”
“I... um...” Sydney’s expression grew a little wary. “I really do need to go.”
“It won’t take long,” he said, and laid his hand on her lower back, the universal Cauld Ane action toward his mate. He closed his eyes, feeling the connection all the way to his soul.
“Okay,” she whispered.
Thane guided her to the private room just out of sight and sound of the cameras and closed the door. He turned off his mic pack and smiled at her. “Don’t worry, I won’t hurt you.”
“I’m not afraid of you.” She raised an eyebrow. “I’m American. I carry mace.”
Thane dropped his head back and laughed. “I thought that was a stereotype.”
“Oh, fine.” She let out an exaggerated sigh. “It’s pepper spray.”
“You really have pepper spray in your purse?”
“I feel as though I shouldn’t answer that,” she grumbled, holding her purse closer to her chest.
Thane grinned. “So, Sydney. Tell me about yourself.”
“Um...” He could see she was fighting back nerves. “I wish I could, but I really do need to go. My cousin’s meeting me here and if I’m not downstairs, she’ll worry.”
“Could I take you to dinner?”
“Dinner?” she asked, somewhat shocked. “Me?”
“Aye, lass. If you’ll let me.”
“Well, let’s see.” She crossed her arms. “You are Thane Allen, correct? The Thane Allen?”
“Last time I checked, aye.”
“You’re the biggest movie star on the planet, demanding the highest paycheck in the business right now, and haven’t had a bomb since you hit the scene.”
Thane smiled. She’d apparently read the latest People magazine. “So I’m told.”
“And you want to take me to dinner?”
“Aye, love.”
She narrowed her eyes. “Why?”
“Why not?”
“Because we’ve never met, you’re a movie star, I’m an American here visiting my family... and you’re a movie star.”
He laughed. “Aye, lass, but that’s what I do. It’s not who I am. I happen to think you’re beautiful and I never pass up the opportunity to get to know someone beautiful.”
“You never pass up the opportunity, huh? Your dinner schedule must be pretty booked, then. So, I’ll just go ahead and—” She took a step toward the door.
“Wait. That’s not what I meant.” He dragged his hands down his face. “I’m sorry. That made me sound like an arse.”
Sydney bit her lip. “A bit of a player, maybe, but not an ass.”
He smiled. “I promise I’m not a player.”
“Which is exactly what a player would say.”
“Go to dinner with me,” he pled.
“What if I’m an axe murderer?” she countered. “I could be a really beautiful axe murderer and if you take me to dinner, the world will lose an international treasure.”
“You think I’m a treasure?”
“You are on the big screen, but I don’t know what you’re like in real life. I don’t believe everything I read, so I tend to reserve judgment on people who have publicists.”
Thane watched her in fascination as she grew more animated by the second.
A beautiful pink covered her cheeks. “Sorry, I’m rambling. I think it’s really nice that you would like to take me out to dinner, but—”
“Before you say no,” he interrupted.
“No.”
“Before you say no,” he repeated, “will you think about it? I’ll give you my number and you can ring me.”
She let out a quiet snort. “I’m not going to call the Thane Allen.”
“Why not?”
“Because you’re... well, you’re... you. This is just insane.”
“Is it?” Thane was beginning to feel a little insecure. Why was it so difficult to convince his mate, the woman he was destined to be with until death, to go to dinner with him?
“Wait…” Sydney cocked her head to the side. Her expression grew guarded. “Did Lucy put you up to this?”
Lucy? “I’m sorry, lass, but I don’t know who Lucy is.”
“Is this like that one time when you took those orphans to that Fallen Crown concert? And now, you’re being sweet because of my situation…” Her voice caught and tears formed in her eyes. She blinked them away.
What bloody situation?
“You don’t have to do this. It’s very sweet, but not necessary. I’ll tell Lucy you tried.” She pulled out her phone and shook her head. The pain in her eyes made him want to go to her, to hold her and make everything better.
Not wanting to confuse her more, he held his ground. “Nobody put me up to anything. I just want to take you to dinner.”
Sydney gave him a dismissive wave of her hand. Her smile looked forced. “You know what? You’re as good an actor off-screen as on. Has anyone ever told you that?”
Something was wrong with his mate, and he couldn’t fix it if she wouldn’t even let him take her to dinner. He’d never worked this hard for a date. He’d never worked for a date, period. Hoping he didn’t sound as desperate as he felt, he said, “How about you give me your number and I’ll give you a ring?”
The door opened, and Pam said, “Thane, we really need to get a move on.”
He turned to her. “Just give me a minute.”
“We don’t have a minute.”
“I’ll just get—” He turned back to Sydney, but she was gone. “Goddammit.” He rushed into the hallway, but he couldn’t see her in the throng of people.
“Thane! Can we get a photo?”
“Thane, over here!”
Shite! He’d lost her. He smiled as best he could at the reporters, covering a river of bubbling frustration, and then slipped back into the private suite.