Here All Along Read online

  Oh, if he only knew…

  Thankfully, Gideon answered before she was forced to reveal her tragic back story. “Sarah actually has aspirations in fashion and costume design. She made this, for example.”

  Gabe studied the blazer and nodded. “Very nice. And very refreshing. So many people in LA think they can sleep their way to the top.”

  Unfortunately, he said the last sentence as she was sipping her water, and her reaction was similar to Gideon’s. Gabe had impeccable timing when it came to certain subjects.

  “Sarah’s my assistant, Gabe, nothing more.” Gideon spoke with such solid firmness, one would’ve never guessed he’d ever wanted more from her than just his latte and instructions on where he had to go next.

  “Of course. But I wasn’t talking about her.” He gestured toward the loud, anorexic-appearing woman with unnaturally large cleavage making her way toward them.

  Mackinzie Donavan.

  Sarah silently cursed and bunched up her napkin. Now her appetite was definitely ruined.

  “Talk about my lucky day.” The actress wobbled in her six-inch heels and fell into the chair next to Gideon. “Both of my co-stars together for dinner, and I get to join them.”

  Gideon sent a silent plea for help as Mackinzie wrapped her arms around his neck.

  “That looks delicious, Gideon. Care to share a bite?”

  Why? She’d probably go to the bathroom and purge it all later. Several more vicious thoughts swirled through Sarah’s mind, but none of them surfaced on her tongue.

  Ever the gentleman, Gideon tried to hide his grimace as he offered a piece of steak to the woman who looked like she hadn’t had a real meal in months.

  Mackinzie closed her eyes and made a series of moans that were more appropriate for the bedroom than a restaurant. “That is so yummy.”

  I’m going to be sick. Sarah wanted to blame her disgust on the woman who’d interrupted their dinner, but every time Mackinzie touched Gideon, a new wave of loathing rolled through her.

  The actress stopped pawing Gideon long enough to wave to Gabe. “Hi, cutie. I was so bummed to learn I wouldn’t have any steamy scenes with you, but the ones I have with Gideon will make up for it.”

  Gideon cringed and sent another help me plea.

  Sarah set her napkin on the table and slid out of the booth. “As much as we hate to leave, Gideon and I have a few more things to go over.”

  Mackinzie narrowed her eyes, going from airheaded bimbo to vicious vixen in a matter of seconds. “And who are you?”

  “I’m his assistant.”

  “Well, you’re interrupting our dinner, so go do what you’re paid to do and leave us alone.”

  “Sarah was the one invited to dine with us, not you,” Gideon replied with clenched teeth.

  “But you don’t really need her any more, do you?” She shooed Sarah away and turned her attention back to Gideon. “I’d love to get to know you better before we have to start filming our scenes. Maybe clear away some of the awkwardness beforehand.”

  Sarah had read the script and knew exactly what those scenes entailed. Gideon was playing an undercover agent, and part of the sting operation involved him seducing the drug lord’s mistress played by Mackinzie to gain information.

  She made a note not to be on the set during those scenes.

  “That sounds like a wonderful idea, Mackinzie.” Gabe came around after tossing some bills on the table and placed his hand on the small of Sarah’s back. “Why don’t we leave these two serious method actors alone for the evening?”

  Before Sarah could protest, he was pushing her toward the front of the restaurant.

  “Maybe we should go back and rescue Gideon?”

  “He’s a big boy. He can take care of himself. Besides, you’re way too sophisticated to act on those thoughts going through your mind.”

  She stopped short of the hostess stand and turned around. “What is that supposed to mean?”

  “Look me in the eye and tell me you were not seconds away from ripping her hands off of him.”

  The back of her neck blazed with embarrassment, and she looked away.

  “I thought as much. Let me walk you back to your room, and then I’ll come back and rescue Gideon.” Gabe gestured toward the door. “Ladies first.”

  The crowd from earlier had dispersed, but extra members of the casino’s security team lingered nearby. Sarah sent a text message to Raul to come down and assist as needed while she waited for Gabe to fall into step beside her.

  “Calling for reinforcements?”

  “I’d be a bad assistant if I didn’t.” She tucked her phone back into her small handbag. “By the way, thank you.”

  “Of course. Up until Mackinzie arrived, it was a very pleasant dinner.”

  “I’m still trying to figure out why they cast her.”

  Gabe laughed. “That makes two of us. And judging by the expression on Gideon’s face, he feels the same way.”

  “The Kid’s a professional. He’ll act his way through those scenes.”

  “The Kid?”

  An embarrassed laugh slipped out. “Yeah.”

  “There’s a story there, I assume.”

  “Of course.” She nodded to the security guards by the elevator and used her room key to call for the elevator.

  “I look forward to hearing it.” Gabe waited until the elevator doors were almost closed before adding, “Sage.”

  Her heart skipped several beats. She pressed the open button a dozen times, but the elevator was already in motion. By the time she reached her floor, she was ready to lose her dinner.

  Gabe Harrison knew who she was.

  And she had the sneaking suspicion he was going to use that information to his advantage.

  ***

  Gideon pried Mackinzie’s arms off of him long enough to see Gabe leading Sarah out of the restaurant with a possessive hand on her back.

  So that’s how he wants to play, huh?

  What made it all the more painful was the fact Sarah seemed to enjoy Gabe’s company. He’d felt like a third wheel intruding on their “date” all evening.

  “I was heading over to the nightclub,” Mackinzie murmured in his ear, “and I’d love to have you join me.”

  He cast one more glance toward the entrance of the restaurant, hoping to see Red coming to the rescue, but only saw Gabe’s head lowered as he said something to her. She’d abandoned him, but that didn’t mean he had to let it ruin the evening.

  After all, she was the one who said he needed to get laid, and if Mackinzie’s reputation held true, he’d have an easy time convincing her to hook up with him.

  But as soon as the thought entered his mind, a flood of guilt followed. No, he couldn’t stomach the idea of revenge sex, especially with the half-drunk woman practically sitting in his lap.

  Especially when he was already in love with Sarah.

  But that didn’t mean he couldn’t use tonight’s turn of events in his favor. “I’d love to check out Omnia, but let me finish dinner.”

  He scarfed down the rest of the steak while his co-star drummed her fingers on the table and sent him seductive glances from under the fringe of her fake eyelashes. He could see why so many men lost their heads around her. Mackinzie Donavan was very attractive, and she knew how to use her body to her advantage. But there was no substance to her.

  He paid for dinner and checked his phone to see if Red had left him a message.

  Nothing.

  The image of her in Gabe Harrison’s arms hijacked his thoughts, and he curled his hands into fists.

  “Come on, sexy.” Mackinzie tugged on his arm and offered him a generous view of her impressive cleavage. “I want to dance.”

  He looked at his phone one more time before shoving it into his pocket.

  As he left the restaurant, he noticed a muscular man trailing behind them.

  Raul.

  Maybe Red hadn’t forgotten all about him.

  But right now, he needed a bi
t of fun.

  Chapter Five

  Gideon stumbled into the villa with the taste of tequila and cinnamon-flavored lip gloss still on his tongue. He’d had fun with Mackinzie. Probably more fun than he should’ve had, based on the number of shots he’d downed. But when the actress straddled his lap and stuck her tongue down his throat, he sobered up in a heartbeat.

  He’d kissed plenty of women, both on screen and off, and kissing Mackinzie Donavan was like kissing a three-day-old dead fish.

  He wiped his hand over his face and dreaded the love scenes he’d have to film with her.

  At least he confirmed one thing. He had absolutely no desire to sleep with her.

  Raul came in behind him and locked the door. “You okay, boss?”

  “I will be in the morning.” Even though his stomach was already threatening to empty its contents.

  The bodyguard ducked into the kitchen and returned with a box of coconut water. “Drink some of this before crashing.”

  “Thanks.”

  Clutching the coconut water, he held on to the wall as he made his way down the hallway, taking a detour to one of the sitting rooms when everything started spinning around him. He fell back on the couch and waited for it to stop.

  A half-eaten bag of peanut M&Ms caught his attention. He poured out the contents and confirmed his suspicion.

  All the yellow ones were gone.

  Something must’ve upset Red.

  A feeling of satisfaction formed in the center of his chest. Maybe his night out with Mackinzie had worked to his advantage.

  He crawled into bed, feeling much better than he had when he’d first come home.

  ***

  The alarm clock read 5:25 a.m. when the buzzing started. Gideon slapped the snooze button, but it did little to ease the pounding in his head.

  Sarah must’ve snuck into his room last night and set the alarm, because there was no way he would’ve done it. He was beginning to doze off when he remembered why she was waking him up more than half an hour early.

  He’d agreed to join her for yoga.

  He fell out of bed, still dressed in his clothes from the night before. The stench of smoke and booze clung to the jacket she’d made for him, and he prayed the dry cleaners would be able to get it out.

  Once he turned on the bedside lamp, he found a set of workout clothes had already been laid out on the dresser for him. A quick peek in the closet revealed that Sarah had unpacked his suitcase and hung up his clothes.

  Damn, I need to pay her more.

  But first, he needed to clear his head. He grabbed the half-empty box of coconut water from the night before and made his way to the main part of the villa.

  Jason pointed outside. “She’s by the pool,” he offered without even looking up from his computer screen.

  Sarah was sitting on her mat with her legs crossed and her hands palm-side up on her thighs. Her eyes were closed, and she drew in slow, easy breaths through her nose. She always started her morning session in the meditative state, and he took care not to disturb her as he sat down on the mat next to her and followed her lead.

  With every breath, the tension flowed out of his muscles, out of his mind, out of his soul. When he reached the calm and relaxed state, he heard her instruct him to move his arms up and down in time with his breaths. After a minute, she added in some twists at the waist before rising to her feet.

  He’d done sun salutations to greet the day enough times with her to know her routine. He started with his hands pressed together at the center of his chest and exhaled. With the next breath, he moved his arms above his head and let his shoulders fall. The movements flowed together with ease and grace, each one testing his strength and stamina while stretching out his sore muscles. The forward fold flowed into the lunge, then the plank, then the cobra, before coming back up into the downward dog, the lunge and back up to the original salutation pose.

  The next sequence added in a few warrior poses, triangle poses, and crescent lunges. By the time they finished, his muscles twitched, and sweat rolled down his body. Anyone who said yoga was for sissies had never been through one of Sarah’s workouts.

  Yet despite the fatigue that laced his body, she appeared calm and serene. As she led him through the final shavasana, the last traces of his hangover fell away, and he sat up with a clear head.

  Sarah wasted no time rolling up her mat.

  “What’s wrong, Red?”

  “What makes you think anything’s wrong?” she asked without looking at him.

  “You only eat yellow M&Ms when you’re upset.”

  She snapped her head up and stared at him. “You were out late last night.”

  “I was dancing.” He rose from the mat and rolled it up. “I’m allowed to have fun, aren’t I? Or is that not on my schedule?”

  The slight flare of her nostrils let him know he’d pushed her buttons, but she didn’t say anything.

  “Don’t worry, Red, I’m still a mass of sexual frustration.”

  That earned him the stink-eye. She tucked her mat under her arm and went back into the villa.

  And he was stupid to follow her, even after she’d made it clear she was pissed at him. “Red?”

  She spun around so quickly, he collided with her. His arms reflexively reached to steady her, and before he could stop himself, he’d pulled her against him.

  The next few seconds pulsated with a mix of fear, attraction, and frustration. Her eyes widened, and her hands pressed against his chest. But she didn’t push him away. At least, not at first. Her bottom lip trembled, and her gaze wavered between his eyes and his mouth. Then, as though she’d managed to put her shields back into place, she closed her eyes and wiggled free from him.

  Damn it! One day, she’d give into temptation. One day, she’d give him permission to prove how good they’d be together. One day, he’d be free to tell her the contents of his heart.

  But until then, he had to be patient and wait for the sign that she’d be open to it all.

  “Did you tell Gabe who I was?”

  “What do you mean?”

  She rubbed her arm and kicked at the stairs leading back into the villa. “He called me Sage last night.”

  That motherfucking—

  Gideon dug his hands into his palms to keep from blurting out the vicious words streaming through his mind. Practical jokes, he could handle. One-upmanship was part of the acting game. But he refused to stand back while Gabe harassed Sarah. “I’ll have a talk with him when I arrive on the set.”

  “No, please, don’t make a big deal about it.”

  “But it obviously upset you.” He tilted her chin up until she was looking at him. “Or was there another reason why all the yellow M&Ms were missing?”

  “Just be discreet. I like my life the way it is now.”

  “So I’m not in danger of losing my favorite assistant?”

  She covered his hand with her own and pulled it away from her chin. “Not unless I discover Mackinzie Donavan in your bed.”

  The acid in her voice told him she knew about his escapades last night. “We just went dancing. Scout’s honor.”

  “Then you don’t want to see what ended up on the Internet last night.” She turned and strolled back into the villa with a gentle reminder. “You’re the one who doesn’t want to give Donna Carlson anything to use against you.”

  Shit!

  He raked his fingers through his hair and gathered up his yoga mat. By the time he went inside, she’d already disappeared into her room, so he sidetracked to the computer station Jason and Raul had set up. “What’s this about pictures of me from last night being on the web?”

  Jason typed in a few words and flipped the screen around to show him.

  He stared at the picture of Mackinzie straddling his lap and kissing him. The drunken nausea from last night made an encore appearance.

  Jesus, I’m in hot water.

  “I’m trying to see if I can shut it down before it gets too far, boss.” Jaso
n placed a pencil between his teeth and typed at a speed that would put most transcriptionists to shame. The bodyguard looked like a corn-fed farm boy from Nebraska, but underneath all the muscles lurked the mind of a master hacker. “I’ve thrown a net up to limit the spread, but you know what they say about the web.”

  “Yeah—nothing ever dies there.” He glanced once more at the picture, disgusted with himself. He wouldn’t have put it past Mackinzie to have planted a photographer there in the club to capture him in his moment of weakness just so she could get her name in the tabloids once again. “Any chance you can make it look like someone Photoshopped my head in?”

  Jason paused and chewed on the pencil before pulling it out of his mouth to speak. “Maybe, but I’d have to change your clothing a bit, too, since you wore that coat for the magazine article.”

  Shit, shit, shit, shit!

  “Do what you can.”

  “Ten-four, boss.” The pencil went back in Jason’s mouth, and he pulled the photo into some editing software.

  Gideon made his way back to his room and cast a longing glance at the bathtub one more time before opting for a quick shower. He had to be on the set in less than an hour, and he’d already stirred up enough trouble for one day.

  ***

  Sarah arrived at the set at noon with Gideon’s lunch and afternoon smoothie. He insisted on eating almost the same thing for breakfast, lunch, and snack every day, and splurged at dinner. The consistent balance of protein, fats, and carbs helped keep his body lean and muscular. And after being his assistant for three years, she had his system down to an art.

  A warm rush of nostalgia enveloped her as she made her way through the tangled forest of lights, cords, boom mics, and crew. From the age of seven, she had spent more time on a set than at home. It didn’t matter if it was for a movie or a TV show—they all had the same hustle and bustle of a city street at rush hour, and it felt like home for her. The shouts and bumps and groans and creaks all blended together into a wild cacophony that sounded more like home to her than any house she’d ever lived in. And she dreaded the day when she’d have to walk away from it all.

  Stay focused. If you can get into costume design, you’ll still have access to the set.