CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
Making a movie was truly a marvel of technology. Currently Sam was acting in front of a giant green screen that would later be changed into a computer-generated backdrop and the only reason Riley would know it wasn’t real was because she’d been on set today. He had listed several of her favorite movies and she’d been shocked to find out that some of the amazing action sequences were partially created by a machine.
“Impressive,” Riley remarked as they toured the set. There were so many people milling about, carrying heavy equipment or shouting at one another. That was something else she’d learned today. It took a heck of a lot of people to make a movie. “The lighting alone is amazing, and the kitchen set is so real and detailed all the way down to the coffeemaker on the counter.”
“It’s just for show. It doesn’t work. None of the appliances do, but they did wire the refrigerator so that the light comes on when we open the door.”
“I’m one of those movie watchers that would notice if it didn’t turn on.”
“Let’s head to my trailer,” Sam said, pointing off to the left. “It will be quieter there.”
Anyplace would be quieter than where they were standing. Sam had explained to her that they were doing construction on the sets and props in preparation for filming that day.
“Sam,” a woman’s voice called from behind them. “I’ve been looking for you. Did you get my texts?”
Riley turned and saw that the voice belonged to Ivy Parker, an up and coming actress in Hollywood. Riley had seen her in a romantic comedy where Ivy had played the lead’s best friend who was constantly trying to give advice, most of it bad. It had been a cute film and she’d enjoyed watching it, although Ivy certainly looked different today. In the rom-com, her looks had been played down, and she’d worn clothes that didn’t quite fit. Today, however, she looked like she’d stepped out of a fashion magazine. Every hair in place and her outfit – a little black dress – hugged every line of her slim figure.
“I had an appointment this morning, Ivy. What did you need?”
Ivy rushed forward but stopped short in front of them. Riley had a feeling if she hadn’t been standing there, Ivy might have given Sam a hug.
“I was hoping you could help me with the discovery scene this morning. I wasn’t sure how to play it. Sad or angry.” Ivy stuck out her lower lip and pouted. “You didn’t answer any of my texts. That’s not nice.”
“The appointment was important. I turned off my phone.”
Sam didn’t sound perturbed, more like he was talking to an indulged child. Riley was the one who was annoyed and she didn’t know why. Sam talked and texted lots of people and until this moment she hadn’t cared who. But something about the entitlement of this one woman bugged her. Like Sam was just waiting around to get Ivy Parker’s texts.
“I had to do the scene this morning all on my own.”
“I’m sure you did great.” Sam put his arm around Riley. “Riley, I’d like you to meet my co-star Ivy Parker. Ivy, this is Riley Bridges, my girlfriend.”
Ivy’s brows shot up but to her credit she didn’t verbalize her shock that the mousy kindergarten teacher had caught one of the biggest stars in Hollywood. Riley couldn’t help the rush of satisfaction as the actress pressed her lips together as if to keep from saying something nasty or mean.
I’m becoming a terrible person. Just awful.
It wasn’t right to be happy that someone else was mad and Riley wasn’t proud of herself in the least. She needed to keep her head on straight and not become someone she didn’t like or respect.
“It’s nice to meet you,” Riley replied, extending her hand. She was going to be the bigger person here. “I’ve seen some of you work and enjoyed it very much.”
There was a moment that she thought Ivy was going to snub her but then the other woman shook her hand and murmured thank you.
A shout from across the room had Sam sighing. “The director needs to talk to me for a minute. Just wait here and I’ll be right back, okay?”
Riley nodded, still watching Ivy from the corner of her eye. She didn’t trust this woman at all. “Sure, take your time. It’s fine.”
Sam strolled away, leaving her with Ivy. Oh joy.
“Are you an actress?”
Gone was the simpering sweet tone that Ivy had used with Sam. This one was petulant and demanding. This might get ugly.
“No, I’m a kindergarten teacher.”
Keep your answers short and to the point. Don’t let her get under your skin. And if she does, don’t let it show.
“A teacher?” Ivy’s mouth hung open in amazement. “How did a little teacher meet Sam Collins?”
A little teacher? Screw you.
“I work with his mother.”
Riley hadn’t thought her answer was all that funny but Ivy seemed to think it was hilarious, throwing back her head and laughing.
“So you were handpicked by Mommy. That explains a lot.”
There was so much Riley could say but she kept her mouth shut. It wasn’t easy. She was becoming rather fond of speaking her mind, but she just had a feeling that today was not the day to do it. Chad and Ivy were in far different leagues and didn’t play by the same set of rules.
“I hope you’re fine with sitting at home by yourself and waiting.” Ivy was smiling now, confident and happy. “Sam and I will be…working late every night. You know, co-stars so often fall in love with each other because there is a certain intimacy between the characters. There’s an undeniable chemistry that can become an overwhelming passion.”
Was this supposed to be a warning? Riley should let it go but she wasn’t that good of a person. Blame it on the pregnancy hormones but she’d had it with this young woman.
“I’ve seen that but sadly those relationships never seem to last,” Riley replied, her gaze swinging to Sam who was approaching them. “White hot and then fizzled out to nothing. I think at this point in his career, Sam knows better.”
But this did remind Riley as to why she’d hesitated saying yes to Sam’s marriage proposal. It would always be like this. Women – young and beautiful – would want him and it would take a strong man to say no every time.
Rubbing his hands together, Sam gave her a smile. “Ready to see more? I have a few minutes before I have to report to makeup.”
“Sounds perfect.”
Ivy wasn’t giving up, however. She pushed herself forward so she was in between Sam and Riley. “I was hoping–”
“Can’t,” Sam cut in, his gaze firmly on Riley. “I only have a little time and I still need to show Riley around. Catch me later between takes.”
Reaching around the starlet, Sam wrapped his arm around Riley and led her away, leaving the seething woman standing there. He hadn’t said it out loud but he’d made it clear – he didn’t have any interest in his co-star.
This time. But there would always be another movie, another woman. It felt like two steps forward and three steps back and the dance was ceasing to be any fun. She needed to make a decision and stick to it, but after her behavior today she was beginning to think she already had.
She was jealous and that was not an emotion she had much experience with. Had she already fallen in love with Sam? It might simply be too late to save herself any heartache.
* * *
Sam could barely concentrate on work, his thoughts busy with the appointment this morning and seeing his baby for the first time. The overwhelming need to protect Riley and the child had him contemplating ideas that a few days ago would have seemed outlandish and completely insane.
He was thinking about retiring.
After he finished his contractual obligations, of course. Breaking a contract wasn’t something he did lightly and if he’d committed to do a role he needed to see it through. But afterward, he would be free to do as he pleased.
Acting, producing, and directing were his passion but he couldn’t allow history to repeat itself. It might be irrational – and he was pretty sure it was – but he felt that the only way he could care for his family was to be with them all the time.
Money wouldn’t be an issue. He had enough to never work a day in his life again. He hadn’t been extravagant and purchased a dozen houses, collected cars and jewels, and partied with drugs and alcohol. He’d seen enough in Tinsel Town to know the pitfalls. He’d watched some good and talented people go down the wrong road and ruin their career. He’d been determined from the beginning not to become one of them.
But he couldn’t imagine not working. It was one thing to have some time off in between projects, hang out around the house and rest, maybe even travel a little. But every single day for the rest of his life sounded like true boredom. He’d need two hundred hobbies just to fill the time so he wouldn’t go stark raving mad. His needs, however, weren’t what was important here. He had to put his family first.
“Sam?” Ivy poked her head in the doorway. He hadn’t bothered to lock his trailer door. “I brought you a coffee.”
Ivy held up two paper cups with lids and then handed him one. He hadn’t slept much the night before so the caffeine was welcome. She plopped down on the sofa next to him and stretched out her legs so that her feet were propped up on a small table.
“Thanks, I could use this. Shouldn’t you be in wardrobe?”
“I have forty-five minutes. They’re moving the lighting again. I thought I’d come see how you are. You’ve been wearing a scowl all day long.” She leaned closer and placed her hand on his thigh. Alarm bells started going off in his head. Danger. “I can tell that you’re unhappy with your girlfriend, Sam. You know, you can talk to me about it.”
It was almost comical. Ivy thought that Sam was unhappy with Riley when it was actually the opposite. He was only unhappy at the thought she might not stay.
“I’m very happy. I’m hoping that Riley and I get married.”
He wanted to make sure that Ivy knew there was no way anything…intimate was going to happen between them. She’d been dropping hints the entire shoot, but meeting Riley seemed to have pushed her into playing all her cards. Not that she had any. Sam wasn’t interested. The only woman that existed for him was Riley.
Christ, I’m in love. When did that happen?
He waited for the panic to set in along with a feeling of suffocation but it didn’t. Instead a warmth filled his chest and spread through his limbs. He was in love and it was good. Riley was the woman he’d been waiting for his whole life and now they were going to have a baby together. This was what he’d wanted but never in a million years thought he’d have. He sure as fuck wasn’t going to toss it aside for a quickie with his co-star in his trailer. If he didn’t screw this all up, he could have a wonderful life with the most wonderful woman on the planet.
But first, he had to get Ivy out of his trailer. Then he could worry about how to make Riley fall in love with him. She’d already said that she wasn’t.
But you said that too. Maybe it’s changed.
Ivy sat straight up, her mouth hanging open wide enough to catch flies. “Married? You’re getting married? Since when?”
The last person he was going to discuss his love life with was his shallow co-star.
“Ivy, don’t you have someplace you need to be?”
Standing and then stomping to the door, Ivy looked like she wanted to be anywhere but with him. Her face was bright red and her lips were pressed together so tightly there was a white ring around her mouth. Yep, he’d pissed her off good.
“Have fun with your little teacher,” she spat, her lip curled in derision. “She can’t do anything for your career.”
He almost…almost…reminded this young woman that she couldn’t do shit for his career either, but he could do a hell of a lot for her, which he assumed was a major part of the attraction. If he’d been a ditch digger or an accountant, he doubted Ivy Parker would have given him a second look. She was like most of the women he met on a daily basis. She wanted what Sam could give her.
Riley, on the other hand, didn’t want anything from him. If he was lucky he might get her to want his love.
“Thank you for the reminder. Close the door on your way out.”
Chuckling, he felt the trailer shake as Ivy slammed the door behind her, still muttering under her breath. He had a nasty feeling that she was going to make the rest of this shoot fucking miserable.
It didn’t matter though. All that mattered to Sam was sitting in a condo on the Upper East Side. Riley, his baby, and their hopefully soon to be family. He’d do whatever it took to make her fall in love with him. Except that he’d never had to work that hard before.
How did a man get a woman to fall for him?