The Roles We Play Read online

  “I don’t think I did.”

  The awe in her voice made him smile. He was getting to her after all.

  When they reached a fantastic lookout point, Trevor sat down on a log that had been placed there for just that reason. “Incredible.”

  “This was my favorite place to come when I was a kid.” Kelly sat down beside him and crossed her arms over her knees.

  “You said your parents were gone. What does that mean?” He straddled the log so he could see her better.

  “They died in a freak accident when I was a baby. I never really knew them. Pops and Grandma Nell raised me.”

  “I’m sorry.”

  She brushed off his sympathy. “A person can’t really be angry at a bridge collapsing. It’s not as if they were murdered or anything. People die; it’s a fact of life. It’s hard to mourn something you never had. I had a great childhood, though. Grandma Nell and Pops were the best parents a kid could ask for. They were good about keeping my parent’s memories alive. We have picture albums and home movies. My grandparents helped me have peace about it.”

  “My mom died when I was thirteen.”

  “I didn’t know that. I’m sorry. That’s totally different. You had thirteen years to love her.”

  “Yeah, I definitely know what I lost. Especially when my dad remarried. You know those evil step-monsters in the movies? That’s not based on pure fiction.”

  “Oh boy. Tell me about her.” Kelly listened as he spoke first of his mother and then of his father’s evil bride. The woman had made his childhood hell and didn’t want to have anything to do with him until he’d landed his first major role.

  “Suddenly she was the adoring mother. I wanted to punch her.” He laughed.

  “My uncle married one of those. Pops calls her the money-grubbing harlot—to her face.”

  “To her face?” Trevor could see the old man doing it too.

  “They don’t come around much.”

  He threw his head back, laughing. God, he loved that man. What he would give to have someone like that in his life.

  As if conjured by the mention of his name, they heard Pops yelling from further down the hillside. “Kelly? You out there?”

  She hopped to her feet and went to the edge of the overlook. He wanted to tell her to be careful, but didn’t figure it would settle well. They were close to the estate, looking down into the back gardens. Kelly waved her arms and called to Pops.

  He covered his eyes and looked upward. “Lunch!”

  “Oh my God.” Kelly checked her watch. “We’ve been gone for three hours. I have a shoot at one. We’re going to have to take the shortcut back.”

  Before he could question her, she was securing her camera strap around her back and stepping off the overlook.

  “Kelly!”

  “Come on stunt man, don’t be a chicken. Grab a rope.”

  That was when he saw her holding on to her own rope and using it to guide her down the side of the steep hill. “You scared the crap out of me.”

  “Wimp,” she called from much lower.

  So help him, he was never going to be the same after spending time with her.

  Chapter Nine

  They inhaled lunch. Kelly had to clean and set up for this afternoon’s shoot. An older woman wanted a portrait done with her Pomeranian, Princess. She shivered at the thought of that five-pound ball of terror.

  A quick shower was necessary after her morning hike. Trevor said he could hang with Pops again, which was fine with her. She still had about thirty minutes until one, so she could afford to slow down and take a breather.

  She came out of her bathroom wearing nothing but the towel she was drying her hair with as cover. The iPod blared her favorite music and she danced along to the music. Her feet were in the middle of a fancy jig, her hips circling with the rhythm.

  “Wow.”

  “SHIT,” Kelly screamed.

  Trevor sat on her bed with a bag of popcorn in his hands.

  “What the hell are you doing in here?” She scrambled to cover her most vital parts with her towel. Those parts and everything in between went hot with a blush.

  “I was going to hide in here and watch you do your photo shoot, but this is a much better show.” He popped a kernel in his mouth and smiled like the Cheshire cat, one brow raised in obvious male appreciation. “You have some moves, gorgeous.”

  “You can’t stay in here. I’m naked for Christ’s sake.”

  “Oh, I can see that. Perfect ten by the way.” He started laughing. The punk was enjoying himself way too much. She, on the other hand, wanted to crawl in a hole.

  Kelly’s phone rang and she was mortified that she had to go to her nightstand to answer it. For a moment, she considered letting it to go voicemail just so she could stay across the room. Trevor watched every move and he had much more than a peep show on his mind. The ringing stopped and started back up again. She nearly stomped her foot before walking over to the nightstand and picking it up.

  “Hello?” Kelly answered as she dove under her sheets and yanked them to her chin.

  Trevor tried to pull the sheet until she slapped him on the head.

  “Kelly, this is Mrs. Ragland. I hate to do this on such short notice, but I need to cancel. Something is wrong with my little Princess and we’re taking her to the vet. Perhaps we can reschedule when she’s better?”

  “Absolutely, Mrs. Ragland, and I hope your dog is all right. I’ll talk to you soon.”

  She didn’t mean to hang up so abruptly, but Trevor had stretched out on the bed.

  “Canceled?”

  “Yes, my photo shoot and your peepshow,” she bit out. “Now if you don’t mind, I would like to get dressed please.”

  He shook his head and crinkled his nose. His grin never faltered.

  “Fine.” Kelly threw her legs over the side of the bed to stand up, but Trevor grabbed the towel and she was left completely exposed.

  “That worked out better than I planned.” He chuckled as her face burned. When she reached for the sheet, he slapped her hand. “Nope.”

  Damn it to hell.

  Wet hair dripped down her back and made her cold, but Trevor wouldn’t let her near the bed to cover up. Add his laughter and sexy mischievous smile to the mix and realized what a picture they made. The way his eyes traveled up and down the length of her body caused her breasts to tighten. She squeezed her thighs together and hoped he didn’t notice.

  Being the defiant woman she was, Kelly took a deep breath and squared her shoulders, put her hands on her hitched hip, and stared him down. “All right, Hollywood. You win. You’ve got me naked, now what they hell do you plan on doing?”

  Trevor threw the popcorn bag over his head and reached for her. He was quick and Kelly didn’t have time to fight. Instead, she giggled and kicked as he hauled her onto the bed and blanketed her with his body. Popcorn was all over her bed and floor. Not that it mattered. She tried to fight him, but was laughing too hard.

  “Kiss me,” he commanded, his lips centimeters from hers.

  “Bite me.”

  “Even better.” Trevor buried his face in the curve of her neck and bit down lightly, just enough to have her squirming. He kissed the stinging flesh and the area around it. Kelly couldn’t control the moan that escaped. Her neck was ultra-sensitive.

  “You like that?” he whispered.

  “You went straight for my weakness. That’s not fair.”

  “Who said anything about playing fair?”

  Kelly chuckled and maneuvered her hips so she rubbed against the strained zipper of his jeans. Trevor sucked in a breath and reached down to cup her bottom with one hand.

  “What’s your game then, Trevor? What are you trying to start?”

  “I would think that was obvious. Maybe I should try another tactic.” He dipped his head to her breast and Kelly saw stars. She arched against him and scrambled to take his shirt off. Once that was done, she gloried in the skin-to-skin contact. She ran her hands o
ver his ripped chest and received a reward.

  Trevor groaned and lifted his head. “Now who’s not playing fair?”

  Kelly lifted her head and slid her tongue over his skin. His curses painted the room blue.

  “Now you’ve done it.” He spanked her rear and sat up to remove his jeans. Kelly watched with rapt interest.

  The practical person inside rose to the surface. They barely knew each other. “Trevor, I don’t know if we should—”

  “Don’t. Don’t try to say this isn’t right.” He came back to lie beside her and pushed the hair off her shoulder. “Out of everything and everyone in my life right now, you’re the only thing that seems real to me.”

  “You still seem unreal to me. I keep getting deeper and deeper into this fantasy and I’m worried about what happens to me when it ends.”

  Trevor sighed and kissed her shoulder. “I can’t make too many promises, but I can say this. Just because I get on a plane doesn’t mean this ends. I want to give us a try.”

  Kelly’s heart lurched. “You do? I’m not exactly the Hollywood red carpet type.”

  “I think that’s what I love the most. I need that. I need you, Kelly.”

  “For how long?” Kelly sighed and put her head back on the pillows. In her mind, there was no way she walked away from this whole. That was more sobering than a cold shower.

  “Okay.” Trevor covered her body with the sheet and settled in beside her, his head propped up on his elbow. “Let’s get all this out there. What’s on your mind, baby?”

  She looked into his brown eyes. It was much different than looking at the poster she hid behind her bed. These eyes were warm and intense and focused solely on her. These eyes had the potential to rip her heart out.

  “I’m crazy about you. But I don’t know if it’s the you I’ve seen on television or the man in the bed with me.”

  Trevor blew out a ragged breath and rolled over on his back.

  “I want to believe it’s the man in the bed with me. After lusting over you for years, there’s no guarantee. I’m sorry, I can’t imagine how insulting that must be for you.”

  “I’m not insulted.” He rubbed his eyes and then looked at her. “I’m glad you’re honest. Most women want to go to bed with the man on the screen. They don’t give a damn about the real person.”

  “But I do.” Kelly had to touch him, had to connect with him. As she rolled over and threw her leg over his waist, he turned to her and smiled. “That’s why I put on the brakes. You should know that I understand the difference.”

  “I know you do. That’s what makes you so irresistible.”

  “I don’t want you to ever doubt me. I would rather you walk out that door and never see you again than to make love as you wonder what I’m really after. Yeah, I like the guy in the movies. He’s been my favorite actor for a few years now. I’ve come to respect and care for the guy I picked up at the airport though.”

  Trevor smiled up at her and her heart melted. “I’m pretty crazy about you too.” Wrapping Kelly in his arms, he buried his head in her neck and drew in a deep breath. “I’m not stupid enough to let you go. Think you can learn to live with that?”

  “Yeah. Yeah, I can.” Kelly gave in. She didn’t want to hold back anymore. If there was one man worth risking her heart for, it was Trevor. Sure, up until yesterday he was a fantasy, someone untouchable. But as their bodies joined in a passionate dance, she was thankful for the reality.

  Trevor mastered her body like a musician masters their instrument, slowly tuning her up then taking her to highs she’d never experienced. Their rhythm ranged from a smooth and gentle rocking ballad to a grand crescendo of bodies melting together with desperate need. It had been so long, too long, since she’d felt the intimate touch of a man. This particular man was trying to make her lose her mind. Not an inch of his toned flesh went unexplored. If this was to be the memory she kept of Trevor, it was going to last her the rest of her life. After being with him, she couldn’t imagine it got any better. No one else could ever measure up.

  * * * *

  Trevor groaned in release. He reveled in the climax as he made love to Kelly. God, she was incredible. Her body had been so receptive and she gave as much as she received. Even now, she placed sweet kisses on his chest. He could still feel the spasms of her body around him.

  “Amazing,” he panted. “Absolutely…amazing.” There was a vast difference in the sex he’d had before and the connection he’d just made with Kelly. This was what making love was really about. Pops was one hundred percent correct; all a man needs is to truly connect with the woman he’s with.

  “I second that.” Kelly rolled off his body and cuddled up next to him. “This is probably a bad time to bring this up, but you should know I can’t get pregnant.”

  Pregnant. Oh hell.

  He’d never even stopped to consider using a condom with her. Odd, since it was usually his first priority with other women. He kissed her head. “Are you sure about that, baby?” He didn’t want to call her a liar, but it wasn’t the first time he’d heard that line. “No offense, but I’ve had a girl use that line on me before.”

  It was a huge scandal. One of his ex-girlfriends popped up pregnant, claiming it was his kid. DNA testing had to be done even though Trevor claimed she was lying all along. It made a guy double check.

  “I remember.” She snuggled deeper into his side. “When I had my miscarriage, the doctors said I had too much internal damage to carry a child.”

  The ache in her voice made him want to shoot that sick bastard between the eyes. “I’m sorry, Kelly.” He rolled over on top of her and looked into her eyes. “I didn’t even think about using protection.”

  “Luckily you didn’t need it,” she joked, but it was a bandage covering a deep loss.

  “What ever happened to him?”

  “He’s locked up, for now. Once the hospital figured out what happened, they had no choice but to get the law involved. He didn’t want to settle out of court because he tried to claim he had no knowledge of the baby and that the beatings were part of our consensual sexual experience. There was a trial. It was awful. I’ve never been more humiliated in my life. For months I couldn’t even go to the grocery store without someone stopping me to talk about it.”

  “Were they rude to you?”

  “Well, I did have a guy tell me that losing my baby was a punishment for my sinful perversions.”

  Trevor’s jaw dropped. “Are you kidding me?”

  “He didn’t last long around here. Turns out his own sinful lifestyle caught up with him—and the school secretary he was screwing. Her husband was a concrete contractor. I swear one day they are going to find that guy’s body in the foundation of one of these houses around here.” She shivered. “Everyone else just wanted to offer support or get the gossip. Craig’s family was pretty well known. It was front page news.”

  “I’m sorry, baby.” Trevor kissed her gently. He wanted nothing more than to take those memories and experiences away from her, but they molded her into the strong woman she was. The woman he was falling for.

  “Can I show you something?”

  Trevor let her up and waited while she retrieved her laptop. She came back to sit up in bed next to him. He liked the domestic intimacy of it. They were simply a normal couple sitting in bed together, talking.

  She brought up the Internet and typed in a website he knew well. “When you took that trip to South Africa a couple years ago, I started following the organization you sponsored.”

  “You did?” He sat up, delighted that the trip had affected someone. It had been on a couple entertainment shows and he had articles in a few magazines, but they’d focused on him, not the children he’d gone to help. “That trip changed my life.”

  Kelly smiled up at him. “I could tell when you went on the Larry Quinton show that it really clicked for you.” She blushed. “For me, it was the best interview you’ve ever done.”

  He could no more resist the urg
e to kiss her than he could resist the urge to breathe. She kissed him back with the same fervor that made his blood run fast.

  “If you keep kissing me, I won’t be able to talk and I’ve never shared this with anyone.”

  Trevor pulled back, a single brow raised. “Not even Mark?”

  Her suppressed grin and sexy blush pushed him further over the abyss. “No, not even Mark.” Kelly typed again on the laptop and brought up the South African organization that brought food and medical supplies to children. “After some digging, I discovered that they have an adoption agency who partners with an agency here in the States. I don’t meet their requirements yet because I’m not married. They’re big on a two-parent household. I’ve been sending donations ever since.” Kelly didn’t look at him for a moment. “I hope one day I can adopt from them.”

  He couldn’t speak. He was floored. Not only was she donating to a charity that was special to him, one day she would adopt a child from that organization. “It’s official,” he said softly.

  “What?”

  “You’re the most amazing woman in the world.” Trevor moved the laptop to the bedside table and cradled Kelly in his arms. Her giving heart humbled him. “Why couldn’t I have met you years ago?”

  “Well you’ve met me now, Hollywood.” Her hands roamed his naked chest and up to his hair. “And I’m damn happy about it.”

  “Me, too. I don’t know how the hell I’m supposed to go back to my daily life without you. I don’t guess you’re interested in coming with me?”

  Kelly gasped and her eyes widened. “Me? In Hollywood?” She shook her head and laughed. “No, Trevor. I would never be able to live like that.”

  “Why not? After a while it becomes normal.”

  “Yes, but,” she said with a sigh and kissed his lips, “you thrive in the spotlight. It would shrivel me up like a raisin.”

  Trevor’s chest ached at the thought of leaving her. The pain spread over his body, making it hard to think about anything else. “I want us to be together.”