The Roles We Play Read online

  “No, it’s, it’s—” He walked slowly to the bed, touched the black metal frame and glanced over at her. “It’s a very sexy bed.”

  Kelly swallowed. The way he drew out those words flooded her mind with erotic images of tangled sheets and sweaty bodies. How was she supposed to respond? Here was her favorite celebrity crush, in her bedroom, touching her sheets and telling her how sexy her bed was.

  She had to be dreaming.

  A painful bite of her tongue didn’t cause her to wake up.

  Nope, this was really happening. And it needed to stop.

  “It’s also very comfortable, which is why I’d like to get back to it. Please,” she added for politeness.

  Trevor smirked. He knew what he was doing to her and that only sparked her defiant side.

  “Good night then.” Trevor nodded and went back to the hidden door. Just before he closed the panel on the wall he took one last sweep of the space until his eyes landed on her. “Sweet dreams.”

  “They can’t be any sweeter than this reality,” she whispered to the empty room. “Mark’s going to be hell to live with now.”

  * * * *

  A couple of hours later and Trevor was still unable to sleep. What was he doing here? Why the hell did he run out on everyone? More importantly, why did he have Kelly’s brown eyes stuck in his mind?

  The things he’d yelled at his publicist and agent were going to require apologies when he got home. He made a note on his phone to buy them gifts. They never stayed mad when he bought them things and he kind of resented them for that.

  It got old being around people he could simply buy off. They weren’t his real friends. They said things like, “We only want what’s best for you,” and “We care about your happiness.” He didn’t doubt that. The things that made him happy made his entourage rich. The things that were best for him in their eyes were the jobs that lined their pockets.

  His old acting coach had called it a necessary evil. Boy, had he been right. Even as Trevor lay there despising them, the notifications on his phone kept popping up. Texts, emails, tweets, messages on Facebook. Where did he go? What was wrong? Was he on drugs? Did he need the name of a rehab facility? Was he coming back for some party next week? Did he have a secret lover they needed to pay off?

  He finally turned the damn thing off. The script he was supposed to review was in his duffle, and it was going to stay there. When his agent had first proposed it, she’d promised it would benefit his career to take on an “edgier, sexier role.” Like he needed a boost. His net worth was skyrocketing with bigger and better offers that came in daily; every brand of high dollar merchandise from socks to cologne to food wanted him as their spokesperson.

  It was impossible to do something as simple as buy groceries. Standing in line for milk was becoming a test of local law enforcement. How fast could they pull a crazy woman off him?

  He rolled to his side and sighed. Was this it? Was this really what he wanted out of his acting career? Out of his life? Things hadn’t started out down this path and now he was losing control all together. Wasn’t he?

  What about Kelly and her grandfather? If he had a heart at all, he would leave them in peace. Once word got out that he was here, their private lives were gone too. The idea of somehow bringing discomfort to his hostess triggered a pain in his chest.

  It said something that Kelly had jumped out of bed in the early morning hours, waited in the cold for a complete stranger, and given him such sweet digs to stay in. Sure, she’d done it for this Mark fellow. It still showed her loyalty. What did a man have to do to find loyalty so deep? Were Kelly and Mark lovers? Family?

  He smiled thinking about how her eyes had been wide as dinner plates when she recognized him at the airport, and again when he called her bed sexy. It was sexy. The mental image of her in it was sexy, too.

  That was something he’d pay to see. Kelly’s naked body reclined on the bed, her golden hair spread over those white pillows, her back arching upwards while her legs wrapped around his waist.

  Jeez, now he was hard. He forced himself to calm down. The sun was almost up and he couldn’t have Kelly see him like this. Forget sleep. Instead of staring at the ceiling, he rolled out of bed and went into his kickboxing warm ups. He tried not to think about feminine brown eyes and her husky voice.

  It didn’t work.

  Chapter Three

  Kelly woke just before nine. It took her a moment to remember what she’d done last night and who was upstairs.

  “Oh my God.” She kicked off her covers and went to shower faster than a late bride. Her hair went into a haphazard bun with tendrils falling out everywhere but she didn’t care.

  Trevor Jacobs would be expecting breakfast and—wait. There was something else she had to do today. What was it?

  Laughter down the hall snapped her back to attention. In her dining room, happily having breakfast, she found Mark, Trevor, and Pops.

  “Morning, babe.” Mark grinned. He stood to press a kiss to her cheek, something he usually did when she’d saved his ass.

  “Hey.” Kelly gave him a glare that no one else seemed to catch.

  “Kelly, dear, you sure did sleep late.”

  “Sorry, Pops.” She bent to kiss his bald head. “Guess I didn’t sleep well.”

  “Mark brought breakfast. I was going to wake you, but he suggested letting you sleep. Come sit and eat.” Pops stood to pull out a chair for her. His movements betrayed his usual morning stiffness. Each day she noticed it more. Each day she wished he would go see a specialist. Arthritis was his cover for something bigger. Stubbornness was a family trait.

  Kelly felt Trevor’s eyes on her, studying the family dynamic. Their eyes met and he returned her quick smile. “Good morning, Kelly.”

  “Sleep well?”

  Politeness usually required coffee, but she forced the words. Mark handed her a huge cup with a Starbucks logo as if he’d read her mind. Kelly tasted the chocolate flavored delight and moaned in appreciation. “Oh, thank you, God.”

  “You can just call me Mark.” He grinned and Trevor chuckled.

  “Mark was telling me you’re in films, Trevor,” Pops said. “Any I might have seen?”

  Mark leaned over and spoke loudly, “He’s in moving pictures, Pops. Talkies.”

  “Shut your flapper, punk. I’m not deaf or dumb.” Pops sneered. The banter between the two most important men in her life was comforting. If Trevor didn’t catch the playful grins, he might have thought they hated each other.

  “What movies?” her grandfather asked.

  Trevor listed off three of his titles and Pop’s white eyebrows rose high on his head. “My goodness, son. I know who you are.” He extended his hand. “It’s a pleasure to have you in our home. How did you end up meeting the bonehead over there?” He gestured to Mark.

  Trevor smiled at Kelly when she rolled her eyes. “We have a mutual friend and she suggested this would be a good place for me to…rest a while.”

  “Good, good. Well, Kelly is a huge fan, did she tell you? She dragged me to that last movie of yours at least twice, saw it once with Mark, once with her girlfriends, again by her—”

  “Pops,” Kelly gasped. “He gets it.” A fiery blush rushed up her neck, scorching her cheeks. She sipped her coffee and avoided Trevor’s eyes.

  “She didn’t mention that, Pops. Thanks for filling me in.” Trevor tilted his head at her. The smug bastard had the nerve to wiggle his brows suggestively.

  “Oh yeah, she’s even got a poster.”

  “Wow. It is time for a change of topic.” Kelly rose to grab a croissant. “So, Mark, how’s life at the airport?”

  He laughed and talked around his food. “Not nearly as interesting as this conversation. Keep going, Pops.”

  As Pops launched into a story about the poster, Kelly heard the doorbell. “Thank you, Jesus. I’ll get it.” She all but ran from the room.

  The couple standing at the door both wore stern expressions. Shit! That’s wh
at she was supposed to do today. Between Trevor Jacobs and a lack of sleep, her brain was fried.

  “Ann. Gabe. Good morning.” She was supposed to be doing their engagement photos at nine. It was nine-thirty. Damn it. Thank goodness she kept her equipment ready.

  “Sorry we’re late. But someone had to change clothes fifty times.” Gabe extended a hand.

  “These are our engagement pictures, Gabriel. Did you want to send three hundred of our not-so-closest friends pictures of us in our pajamas?” Ann stepped around him and into the foyer.

  Kelly wished for a noose and a tall tree. It’s going to be one of those days.

  “What’s that supposed to mean? Those people are business associates and friends.” Gabe followed her in. “You’re the one who wanted a big wedding.”

  As they grumbled about the guest list, Kelly asked them to take a seat in the parlor while she gathered her things—and dealt with the A-list celebrity who did not need to be seen by the town’s two biggest gossips.

  The three men hadn’t left the dining room and were laughing, probably at her expense. But Trevor was telling a story.

  “Then I went to stand up after falling on my ass and the towel got caught in the car door.”

  Trevor’s captive audience of two roared. Mark threw back his head and Pop’s bent over until she feared his dentures would fall out.

  “So there I am in the middle of Manhattan, in nothing but a Speedo. Needless to say, my pictures were on every stalker website from here to Hong Kong in about three minutes. It was so damn cold I thought my balls were going to freeze off.”

  For a moment, she stood there and dissected the scene in front of her. It was nice to see Pops laughing and Mark wiping tears from his eyes. Trevor was grinning from ear to ear and her heart sputtered when he looked up at her and winked.

  “Who was at the door, dear?” Pops asked in between deep breaths.

  “My nine o’clock photo shoot. I completely forgot. I’m taking them to the water garden, so I’ll be working for about an hour. Maybe longer cause they’re bitching at each other. Not too conducive for engagement photos.”

  “No worries. I can keep the boy busy and out of sight.” Pops waved her off.

  Mark stood up and cleaned the dishes off the table. “I have to get some sleep. Mind if I grab a room upstairs?”

  The men began to talk as if they forgot she was even there. “Okay then.” She dashed back to her studio and grabbed her camera, laptop, and a light jacket.

  Ann and Gabe sat on opposite sides of the room, her typing on the cell phone, him looking at a magazine. Kelly nearly laughed when she saw Trevor’s picture on the front with the headline “Heartbroken or heartbreaker?”

  “Why don’t we head outside now?” She guided them through the back of the house and out into the gardens.

  “It’s so cold,” Ann whined.

  “If you had on warm clothes, you wouldn’t be cold,” Gabe snipped.

  Kelly sighed. Screw me sideways, I don’t want to do this today.

  Ann narrowed her eyes at him. “We are having a spring wedding. We should be dressed appropriately.”

  “It’s November, and there’s snow on the ground. You think people won’t notice that in the pictures?” Gabe pointed to all the white spots.

  Before Ann could snap her retort, Kelly tried to defuse the situation. “Actually, the water gardens are a great place because we keep it cleared off and it’s partially covered.”

  “See, Gabriel. I know what I’m doing. Megan and Richard had their pictures taken here and they were perfect.”

  “Well God knows we have to be as perfect as Megan and Richard.” He rolled his eyes and crossed his arms over his chest.

  Kelly took a deep breath as they bickered about keeping up with their socialite friends. She hadn’t had near enough sleep or coffee to put up with this crap.

  Twenty minutes into the shoot, they had a problem. Ann’s smiles were fake and Gabe’s eyes looked like he was half asleep. It didn’t help that they didn’t want to stand too close or hug or connect as couples in love should.

  Under the guise of changing lenses, Kelly had everyone sit down under the pergola and take a break. “Gabe, tell me about the first time you met.”

  “Oh my God, please don’t.” Ann put a hand on her face.

  For the first time since their arrival, a sincere smile creased Gabe’s face. “We were at a club. Ann was drunk—”

  “Tipsy.”

  “Drunk off her ass. She stepped out onto the dance floor during a slow song and danced all alone.”

  Ann blushed and hid a grin.

  “She swayed and was running her hands down her body.” Gabe demonstrated and Kelly hid a smirk when Ann once again slapped a hand over her face.

  “Okay, I might have been under the influence,” Ann admitted, face the color of beets.

  “Plastered,” Gabe said and laughed. Ann batted at his arm affectionately, giggling along with him.

  There. Now they were getting somewhere.

  “How was she dancing, Gabe?” Kelly asked.

  He stood and imitated his fiancée.

  Ann laughed and swatted at him to sit down. It was rather comical. “It wasn’t like that.”

  “It was close.” Gabe sat back down and put his hand on her back. “Anyway, she’s dancing all alone like a lunatic, and my friend dared me to go dance with her. I did, because she’s totally hot.” He gave a wistful sigh and looked into Ann’s eyes. “I’ve been attached ever since. Given that she hurled on me, that’s saying something.”

  “Back up, what?” Kelly kept them so engrossed in the story they didn’t realize that she’d stood and led them back to the water gardens.

  “I said I was sorry. I even sent him a fruit basket.” Ann smiled genuinely for the first time.

  “Chocolate covered fruit.” Gabe rolled his eyes. “Perfect for the guy allergic to chocolate. Naturally I had to call and give her hell.”

  “He invited me to dinner and that was our first date.”

  Kelly snapped a picture of them smiling at one another and again when Gabe reached up and touched her cheek.

  “You were the prettiest girl I’d ever seen. Even drunk, you took my breath away.”

  “Aw, Gabe.” Ann pressed a kiss to his lips. Kelly snapped away until Ann realized she was taking pictures. “Sorry, Kelly. Should we be posing?”

  “Nope, keep talking. This is great stuff. What was the first thing that attracted you to Gabe?”

  Ann tilted her head and the sun hit her curls just right.

  Click.

  “I loved his shoulders. He pulled me against him while we danced and I remember thinking how strong and solid he felt.”

  “Show me,” Kelly murmured, not wanting to break up the moment.

  Ann stepped in to Gabe, and he held her close as she put her head against his shoulder.

  Click.

  They swayed and Kelly moved to get a shot from a higher position. Gabe’s eyes were closed, lips pulled back, lost in the sweet memory.

  Click.

  Over the next half hour Kelly kept asking questions about what they loved about each other and snapping photos. She moved them about the fountains and flowing creek that wove around the estate.

  The shots were great; Ann and Gabe were finally connecting.

  By the end of the session, Kelly was confident she had good material to work with. She told them she’d take about a week to edit and put together a portfolio so they could choose their prints.

  Before they left, she went to her studio and printed off one picture she thought was the best. The couple held each other, kissing. Ann clung to Gabe’s shirt and his hands were crushed in her hair. The shot conveyed the passion and the desire that led them to get married.

  “Here. I want you to have this.”

  Ann and Gabe both gasped at the shot.

  “The next time you get caught up on who took longer to dress or who fills the seats at the wedding, remember this mo
ment. Remember the love that brought you together. That’s what’s important.”

  The couple kissed before Gabe hugged Ann close.

  “Thanks, Kelly. This has been a lot more fun than I expected.”

  Ann confirmed she would be the photographer at the wedding next spring, and Kelly showed them out.

  Chapter Four

  Trevor had laughed until his sides hurt. Pops was a nonstop comedy routine. No wonder Kelly was so protective of him. The old man was a riot. The ribbing between him and Mark, well, it couldn’t be scripted. It would never be as funny on paper as it was watching the two go back and forth live.

  The old man was inquisitive as hell. He wanted to know everything about Trevor, his family, his upbringing, what got him into “pictures.” Trevor asked him a question that turned the tables.

  “Pops, is, uh, is Kelly seeing anyone? I mean, she and Mark seem really close. Are they just friends?”

  The question elicited an immediate change in the old man’s face. He leaned back in his chair and his eyes were more alert. “Why do you ask?”

  “Curiosity.”

  It took Pops a long time to answer, and Trevor knew he’d made a mistake.

  “Listen closely, son. My granddaughter has a barrier that could rival the Great Wall of China around her. The only person she lets in is Mark. Even I’m standing on the outside. If you have plans of a conquest during this sabbatical of yours, find someone else. You’re a nice fellow, but that battle will get bloody.”

  Pops patted Trevor’s knee and stood up, grumbling about not being a young gun anymore. He left Trevor with directions to the solarium where he could watch the photo shoot.

  That’s where he ended up spying as Kelly worked with the arguing couple. As the shoot went on, he saw the transformation from anger to affection.

  When she came back from showing them out, Kelly took a seat on a bench and watched the water. The look on her face reminded him of what Pops had said. He wanted to know how to breech that wall. Maybe it was the conquest. He always enjoyed a new challenge.