Chapter Six
Sabrina showed up at Claire and Jake’s new home two hours early for her special Claire coaching session for the LA interviews and was glad she had because she got to see their new place in the lingering sunlight. Gorgeous! She pulled into the circular driveway of the main house, a stone and stucco mansion with arts-and-crafts-style post and beams on the upper levels and the large porch. This place was so much more than a horse farm. It was a freaking estate. She’d passed another smaller house after she’d driven through the main gate, and Claire had told her there was another historic home, dating from the eighteen hundreds, on the property. Acres of rolling hills surrounded the home with woodlands just beyond. The landscape was stark in January with patches of melting snow and the trees without leaves, but she could imagine how amazing it would look in the bloom of spring, the vibrant life of summer, and the gorgeous color of a Connecticut fall.
She got out of her car, spotting brown horses with thick gray blankets over their backs grazing in a large grassy paddock near a pond. There was a riding ring in the distance, two barns, stables, and who knew what else! Claire and Jake could well afford it. She was an A-list movie star, and Jake was a billionaire on his own through his tech company.
It was so incredibly luxurious she suddenly felt underdressed in her black and white striped sweater, black pants, and black flats. She should’ve worn a dress, definitely heels, and spent more time on her makeup. She blew out a breath. She was being silly. This was down-to-earth Claire.
She headed to the front door and rang the bell, the sound echoing inside the place. The door opened a few minutes later to Claire, back to her natural blond shoulder-length hair, dressed casually in a white blouse, oversized beige cardigan, faded jeans with holes in the knees, and beige moccasins on her feet. Her hazel eyes lit up at the sight of Sabrina, and she threw her arms wide. “You made it! Come in, come in!”
Sabrina stepped inside, immediately put at ease by Claire’s warmth. She hugged her friend. Claire had joined the Happy Endings Book Club more than two years ago when she first started filming the Fierce trilogy in Connecticut. The author of the Fierce trilogy, Julia Marino, had been a member at the time. Claire had connected with their little group and hadn’t let go since. Sabrina knew Claire appreciated having friends who weren’t in the movie industry; she often said she felt used by the people she met. Then, of course, once Claire got together with Jake Campbell, she was hooked for good since Jake’s sister, Mad, was part of the book club. The web of relationships between the Happy Endings Book Club and the Campbell family with their honorary brothers had become sticky, engagements and marriages popping up on a regular basis. For some of them, anyway. Not that Sabrina was bitter or anything. It really hadn’t bothered her before everyone started calling her a relationship expert. Ugh. At some point she had to stop feeling like a fraud, right?
Claire pulled away, smiling her perfect white-toothed smile. “You want the tour first or clothes?”
Sabrina took off her black wool jacket and looked around the large formal foyer. The walls were done in shades of gold like an Italian fresco painting, and two large framed paintings that resembled sunlight with a weird pattern of jagged black hung on opposite walls. In the center of the foyer was a large round wood pedestal table with a carved wooden bowl on top of it. A crystal chandelier hung above. The floor was a warm dark hardwood with a crosshatch pattern. The whole thing screamed luxury, and that was just the foyer! “Tour.”
“You got it.” Claire hung up Sabrina’s coat in a nearby hall closet.
“Where’s Frank?” That was Claire’s bodyguard.
“He’s in the private apartment over the detached garage. Don’t worry. He’s got the guest list and monitors out the wazoo. He’s the one that buzzed you through the gate. Come on.” She gestured for Sabrina to follow and led her out of the foyer to a huge room with a soaring ceiling leading all the way up to the post and beams of the roof. “Living room.”
“Wow,” Sabrina breathed. The fireplace was massive with a two-story white and light gray limestone front. The center of the room featured a seating area with several white sofas and beige floral-patterned chairs with wood trim. The opposite wall from the fireplace held a large white entertainment center flanked by bookcases and glass cabinets.
“You know I had to have my books!” Claire gestured to them. She was a big reader like all of them.
Sabrina’s eye caught on the black wrought-iron rail of a loft overlooking the living room.
“Ooh!” Claire exclaimed. “You’ll love the loft. It’s so cozy.”
Sabrina followed her up a spiral staircase to the loft with more white sofas and beige chairs. The view from up here through the huge windows of the living room to the rest of the estate was spectacular.
“You want something to drink?” Claire asked, gesturing to a wet bar housed in a rich dark cherrywood cabinet.
“Sure.”
“White wine okay?”
“Absolutely.”
“Claire!” Jake boomed. “Where are you? I can’t find my sneakers.”
Claire leaned over the railing overlooking the living room. “Sabrina’s here. Try to sound civilized.”
A few moments later, Jake was in the loft with them. He looked exactly like his twin, Josh, tall with an athletic grace, dark brown hair and eyes, except his hair was always neatly trimmed. Josh let his hair grow long enough that it curled a bit at the nape of his neck. Jake had some dark stubble on his square jaw; his smile flashed white. A handsome man by any measure. Not as handsome as his brother Logan…Oh, no, we are not going there.
Sabrina gave him a little wave. “Hi, Jake. Happy birthday!”
“Hey, Sabrina, thanks. Great to see you again.” He crossed to her and gave her a hug. “I’m hearing amazing things are in the works for you.”
“Yeah, I’m a little nervous.”
“Claire will get you all set. And if you get rattled, just picture them in their underwear.” He winked.
Claire grinned. “That never worked for me because I just start laughing.”
Jake turned to Claire. “Any guesses on the sneakers?” He was barefoot in jeans and a long-sleeved light blue button-down shirt.
Claire turned to Sabrina. “Our personal stuff arrived yesterday, and half of it’s still in boxes.” She turned back to Jake. “Try the man cave.”
Jake narrowed his eyes. “Why is your entire wardrobe all nicely hung up and laid out in our closet and my stuff is in boxes in the basement?”
Claire slung an arm over Sabrina’s shoulders. “Because I knew we were doing a wardrobe fitting today.”
Jake grumbled something, turned, and left. A pair of gray socks stuck out of his back jeans pocket.
“Love you!” Claire cooed after him.
“Love you too!” he hollered from somewhere downstairs.
Claire smiled dreamily before getting a couple of wineglasses and pouring them some wine. She gestured for Sabrina to take a seat on the white sofa. “Okay if I show you more of the tour later? I’d like to catch up.”
“Of course.”
Claire handed Sabrina her wine and took a seat next to her. “It’s all pretty much like this. Limestone and fieldstone fireplaces in the living areas, lots of neutral white and beige furniture. The upstairs is mostly empty except for the master bedroom. We’ll probably spend most of the party in the man cave—” she waved a hand in the air “—big screen TV, bar, pool table, Ping-Pong, some arcade games and pinball. His stuff is lined up along the back wall, out of the way. It’s Jake’s dream room basically, but on the other side of that is my favorite feature—a wine cellar with a tasting room.”
“Wow!”
Claire crossed one leg over the other, looking sophisticated despite her casual attire. “That was already here; the previous owners were huge wine aficionados. Anyway, most of what you see was either left from the previous owners or from the designer we hired to make everything comfortable but neutral. We’ll go ahead and add some personal touches after we live here for a while. Some art and framed pictures, stuff like that.” She took a sip of wine. “I kept my place in California. Jake sold his. Actually, Logan’s going to be staying at my place when he goes out for his meetings this week.”
Sabrina’s shoulders drooped at the mention of Logan. She had to let go of him, she knew that, but every cell in her being protested. Throat suddenly tight, she took a sip of wine to ease it.
Claire looked at her expectantly. Clearly she wanted to hear more about the Logan situation. Claire knew Logan had showed up at Sunshine America to support Sabrina, and she knew about the news story that made it sound like they were having a lovers’ quarrel on the sidewalk. Not to mention Claire had a real soft spot for her brothers-in-law and sister-in-law, always trying to help them out and make sure they were happy. She did the same for her friends, but that tie by marriage to the Campbells brought out her protective side.
Claire leaned close. “What’s the deal with Logan? You two—”
“Just friends,” Sabrina said firmly.
“Why?” She lowered her voice. “I never said this, but he’s seriously hot. And take it from someone on the inside with the Campbell family, he’s probably the most easygoing guy there. Unlike some hardheaded men.”
Sabrina laughed. “Jake is not hardheaded. He’s sweet.”
Claire shook her head, smiling. “Oh, we’ve gone a round or two. We’re both hardheaded.”
“But you talk it through.”
Claire bit back a smile. “Sometimes.” Her voice dropped, husky and suggestive. “Sometimes it works out in other interesting ways.”
A pang of jealousy made Sabrina clench her teeth. She wished she were above it, but there it was. Claire and Jake’s love was palpable. They were married with a beautiful home, and Claire had told her before they were trying to get pregnant. Meanwhile, Sabrina was stuck in the friend zone.
“Here’s the problem with Logan,” Sabrina declared much too loudly. She was getting worked up all over again.
Claire’s eyes widened. “Do tell.”
She stared at her wine and said in a small voice, “I screwed everything up.”
“Come on, it can’t be that bad.”
She lifted her head. “I’ve been friends with him for six months, secretly lusting after him—”
“I knew it!” Claire crowed. “I told Jake there was no way it was platonic.”
“Do not breathe a word of this to Jake.”
Claire quickly mimed zipping her lips.
Sabrina sighed. “I never let him know because I thought he was a commitment-phobe. He never got serious with anyone; he never even mentioned a date. I have a real thing against commitment-phobes, you know?”
Claire nodded vigorously, her lips still zipped shut.
“And I thought he was a little impulsive, a risk taker. I mean because he left a good job with Jake to start his own company. A safe stable job for a start-up. They almost always fail. He had to sleep on Ben’s sofa for a whole year.” Ben had kept his full-time job that first year, only working nights and weekends with Logan, whose work was the basis of their entire company. “But now I’m thinking I got it all wrong. He’s got this amazing stable family and all those honorary brothers, so that would’ve mitigated the risk of starting his own business, you know? He had support.” She smacked her forehead. “Jake probably would’ve given Logan his old job back if Checkin failed.”
Claire nodded, her gaze sympathetic.
It suddenly occurred to her that Logan remaining loyal to his college girlfriend also showed signs of risk aversion. He hadn’t chanced another serious relationship, staying with what he knew had worked. And his immense commitment to Checkin made him seem much more stable than she’d first thought. How could she have gotten it so wrong?
Sabrina sucked in air, gesturing wildly. “My diagnosis was completely off base, and now it’s too late!”
Claire raised a hand. “I gotta say—”
Sabrina was on a roll. “I built up this idea in my mind of why Logan was definitely not relationship material. Maybe because I feared he wasn’t into me like I was into him lust-wise and now so much more, you know?” She glanced at Claire, who was smiling with her lips still sealed. “I don’t know why I was so far off. I’m usually much more insightful. Maybe lust interfered with my thinking. But then he does this amazing thing showing up for me on Sunshine America, the only one to show up for me—”
“I wanted to—”
“I know. It was a tough time and location for anyone to show up for, but he did, and I just opened up inside, you know?” She placed her palm over her heart. “Like all warm and gooey. And then and then…” Her voice choked.
“What?”
She guzzled some wine. “He’s involved in a long-distance relationship with his college girlfriend. That he never mentioned! He kept it all to himself, even though we talk every freaking week! And I don’t mean a passing hello, I mean we sit down, have lunch, and really talk. He’s planning on moving to San Francisco permanently to be with her if the investor meetings go well, which I’m sure they will. He’s leaving and he never said shit!”
“Omigod, he’s moving for a woman!” Claire set her glass down on a nearby end table. “Jake didn’t know any of this or I would’ve known. I can’t believe Logan kept his relationship from everyone. When did they get back together?”
“Six weeks ago, well, I guess it’s seven weeks now.” Sabrina swallowed hard. “I thought we were so close. Now he’s leaving, and I missed my chance.”
Claire gave her a sympathetic look. “Honey, I’m so sorry. I had no idea he had that stuff going on.”
Sabrina nodded. “I screwed things up for him too. I feel terrible about it.”
“What’d you do?” Claire asked eagerly.
“I didn’t know about his girlfriend, so after I implied he was my boyfriend on TV, she got really mad. He says she’s the jealous type, even though he explained we were just friends. And there was that article that looked like we were fighting, which made it sound like we were having a lovers’ spat.”
“Ha! You? The most calm, composed, kickass communicator on the planet had a breakdown in communication with the most easygoing guy on the planet? Ridiculous! I’m sure if you actually were a couple, you’d talk everything through without even raising your voices.”
Sabrina pressed her lips together. It sure hadn’t gone down that way. “Yeah, well, he was pretty mad I implied he was my boyfriend.” She huffed. “And I was legit mad he’d hidden this important part of his life from me.”
Claire slashed a hand through the air. “That is it. She’s out; you’re in.”
Her head jerked back. “Claire, you can’t break them up.”
Claire’s eyes flashed. “I don’t like her.”
“You’ve never met her.”
Claire ticked off Olivia’s sins on her fingers. “She’s jealous, mistrustful, unforgiving. Nope. Not for my little brother.”
Sabrina laughed. “Little brother? He’s only a year younger than you.”
“Don’t care.” She eyed Sabrina’s outfit. “Come on, let’s go to my closet. I’ve got something in mind for you for tonight plus some summery clothes for your interviews in LA.” Claire was a little shorter than Sabrina, but her clothes still fit. Although some of the dresses ended a little high on Sabrina’s legs.
Sabrina stared at Claire in her super-casual outfit. “Why do I have to change for tonight? Do I look underdressed for the party? You’re dressed casual.”
“I’ll change too.” She smiled mischievously. “Besides, you’re not underdressed enough for what I have in mind. We’re going to unbutton you a bit, make you more approachable.”
“For what?” Realization dawned. “Don’t you dare say anything to Logan.”
“I won’t have to. Your smoking hot bod will do all the talking for me.”
She glanced down at herself with her modest curves. “Err…”
Claire leaned in. “Did you ever stop to think why Logan didn’t make a move on you first? You’ve been friends with him for six months, and he only connected with Olivia a little over a month ago. Believe me, the Campbell men won’t hesitate to move in on a woman, but they need a clear signal.”
A smile played over her lips, and she leaned back. “When I first got together with Jake, Hailey had told me he needed an affirmation of desire and consent before he’d make a move.” She laughed. “Later, he said that was what Josh had told Hailey to tell me, just messing with her, and then the twins switched places, so I said it to Jake. Omigod! I laughed so hard when I found out, because it was so awkward. I’m all like, ‘Here’s my affirmation of desire and consent. Let’s have sex.’ And Jake’s all like, ‘Huh? Okay.’” She waved that away. “Anyway, the Campbell men have been raised to be gentlemen, to treat women like they’d want their little sister to be treated, with care and respect. So if Logan didn’t make a move on you, it’s either because he wasn’t interested or he didn’t get a clear signal from you.”
Her stomach did a jittery dance, her pulse quickening. A small ray of hope brightened her gloom over losing him. Then she came to her senses. “What about Olivia?”
Claire lifted a palm. “We’re not going to do anything but put out a clear signal. Just a subtle test of potential interest.”
Sabrina shook her head, her role as a relationship counselor bringing her back to reality. “No. Claire, this goes against everything I stand for. I would never get between a couple.”
Claire smiled brightly. “That’s great. Make sure you tell him how much you want him to work things out with Olivia. If he’s interested in you, that will be a problem for him.”
Sabrina rubbed her temple. “I don’t know. This feels tricky somehow.”
“You want to wave goodbye to him, never knowing?”
She didn’t want to say goodbye to him at all. She downed her wine in one swallow and nodded at Claire, who beamed. She followed her downstairs on shaky legs, hoping she wasn’t about to make a complete fool of herself.