Thrill Me

“Business looks good,” Del said. “I like what you’ve done with the building. It’s eye-catching.”

Aidan came to stop on the sidewalk. They were a couple of blocks off the main streets on a weekday and there weren’t many people around. Aidan glared at Del.

“You can’t help it, right? You always have to crack a comment. What is it with you? You’re back for Dad’s birthday. Yay, you. But if you’re looking for something from me, you can forget it. I’m not going to be lining up to watch your ‘hail the conquering hero’ parade.”

Del couldn’t have been more surprised if Sophie, his mother’s beloved beagle, had suddenly turned into a vampire.

“What the hell are you talking about?” he demanded. “I said it looks like you’re doing well. What are you going on about?”

Aidan’s stare darkened as anger and hostility radiated from him. “You don’t get to approve. You have no part of the business, of what I’ve done with it. You gave up that right when you disappeared.”

Del didn’t know whether to punch his brother or walk away. “I’ll say it again, what the hell are you talking about?”

“You. The business. All of it. It’s been ten years, Del. Ten damn years since you left. You were up and away, leaving me with everything. There was no warning. One day you were handling things and the next you were gone. I was a kid and you dumped it on me without a word. I was in my first year of college. I had things I wanted, dreams. But when you bugged out, it all fell on me. I had to take care of Mom and the family. I had to make sure there was food on the table when Dad went on one of his benders.”

Aidan took a menacing step forward. “That first year, you never called, you selfish SOB. You never bothered to find out if we were okay. You were my big brother. I trusted you. And you turned out to be as much of an asshole as Dad.”

Del took the verbal hits without saying anything in return. He didn’t bother to point out he’d only been a year older than Aidan, and running the family business hadn’t been his choice, either. Because that didn’t matter. He’d disappeared without warning—reacting to his breakup with Maya.

“Aidan,” he began, then paused.

His brother turned away. “Don’t bother,” Aidan said. “You go be famous. I have a business to run.”

* * *

MAYA WAS UP at sunrise, anxiously watching the sky. The forecast called for cloudy skies—perfect for filming. The diffused light was much easier to work with. She’d told Del that on their first overcast day, she wanted to shoot the big opener, with him introducing the town. Since then, she’d been monitoring the weather reports.

Now she looked at the thick clouds and absence of sun. Perfection, she thought happily. She texted Del, confirming the time and place of their shoot, then headed for the shower.

Nearly two hours later, she was carting equipment from the parking lot off the edge of the highway to a meadow a couple hundred yards away. She’d scouted out the area the previous week and had hoped to use it for the intro. She had a feeling that handsome Del was going to look good in a field of wildflowers, backed by trees.

She’d told him to wear jeans and a faded light blue shirt. She hoped he was the kind of talent who listened.

She set up two cameras along with her lights. She and Del had already gone over the script, and she’d blocked out the shoot. If all went well, they would be done before the brightest part of the day. If not, they would have to take a break and return later in the afternoon. Unless the sun came out.

But while the complications might have given someone else fits, Maya was perfectly happy with the uncertainty. This was way better than worrying about which star had cheated on his or her significant other. Back in LA her life had been defined by gossip and celebrity sightings. While this wasn’t curing a disease, at least it would bring some good to the town.

Thinking of the town had her mind drifting to Elaine. The cancer news was still a bombshell. She’d checked in with her friend a couple of times, and so far the other woman sounded okay. She had a diagnosis and a plan. According to her doctor, the prognosis was good. Maya would take care of her friend as best she could, although she still strongly disagreed with Elaine’s decision to keep the information a secret from her family.

A problem for another time, she told herself, and returned to setting up equipment.

Right on time, Del walked into the meadow. He headed for her.

“What the hell?” His gaze was sharp. “Why didn’t you tell me to get here earlier? I thought I’d be here to help with the setup. You carted all this yourself? That’s ridiculous. I’m not some actor you’ve hired. Jeez, Maya. Give a guy a break. I could have helped you with unloading.”

He was really pissed, she thought, staring at him. He might even have a point. It was kind of hard to know for sure, because she couldn’t really think.

He’d shaved. Gone was the three-day growth that looked so good on him. Now his skin was smooth, his features clearly defined. The look suited him, even if it might be hell on the video continuity.

Stubble Del was dangerous and maybe a little wicked. Clean-shaven Del was more like the guy she remembered. He seemed a bit younger and more approachable, but just as sexy.

Her gaze settled on his mouth as she wondered how the two Dels would be different in the kissing department. Would the stubble scratch or just be delightfully abrasive? Would the smoothness be more or less appealing? Was it wrong to want to find out?