Black,” she called, hoping to rouse him. He didn’t move, so she said his name again, louder. Then she shook his arm. “Garrett!”
His pale eyes opened, appearing silver in the glare of the spotlight aimed at the SUV. The light triggered when she pulled up to the security display situated just short of the ten-foot-high brick wall. Garrett blinked at her and then the house.
“We’re here.” His voice was thick with sleep.
“Yes. I need the code.”
He rattled off a number, the gate began to open and she inched forward. A groan sounded next to her as Garrett shifted in his seat. Out of the corner of her eyes she saw him scrub his hands over his face.
Once she cleared the gate, streetlights came on showing the way to the house in the distance. She drove a quarter mile curving around to the front of the house, where the drive circled a large fountain. Six steps led up to an extensive porch. That presented a problem.
“Is there a better spot to drop you?” she asked. “An entrance without steps?”
“Yeah, pull around to the back. There are only two steps up to the back porch.”
She followed his directions and stopped so her lights shined on the steps. A gray cat sprang up and darted away.
“No cat, huh?”
“I’ve never seen it before.”
“Of course not.” As if she believed that.
“And it hasn’t been in my car.” He opened his door and slid out. “Thanks for the ride.”
“Wait.” She hurried around the front of the SUV to reach his side.
“I don’t need your help.” He advised her, the short nap unfortunately not improving his disposition.
“Probably not.” She agreed and took his arm. “You’re getting it anyway. It’s dark and the ground is uneven. I prefer not to take any chances.”
A put-upon sigh filled the chill November evening. Once they reached the porch, he made a point of climbing them unassisted. Irritating man!
But good. She didn’t need to worry about leaving him. At the bottom of the stairs she waited until he opened the door and turned on the light.
“Good night, Ms. Randall.”
“Good night, Mr. Black.” Good riddance, more like.
“Oh, wait.” She ran to the SUV and came back with the white bag of food. Climbing to the porch she crossed to him and pushed the package into his arms. “Bon appétit. You probably shouldn’t feed the cat.”
LAUREN WALKED AROUND Tori’s Mustang and slid into the passenger seat as her sister made her way to the back door of The Old Manor House. She heard Tori’s knock just before she closed the door.
Lauren wasn’t sure she bought Tori’s explanation that Black had been driving by and decided to stop by their showroom to introduce himself. But there had to be some truth to the part where he hurt his leg and couldn’t drive or he never would have left his Maserati.
The light over the back door came on and Garrett Black opened the door. He stepped outside wearing only a pair of low hanging gray sweatpants and nothing more. Oh, my. She found his muscular physique impressive even as far away as the vehicle where she sat. The two exchanged words and for a moment she envied Tori her closer view.
But then she felt the warmth growing in her chest. Her eyes went wide as the feeling grew. It dimmed as Tori moved away from Black, stomped down the steps and got back in Garret’s car. Across the way a garage door opened. Tori drove the Maserati inside.
She reappeared, returned to the back porch and dropped the keys into Black’s outstretched hand with more force than necessary. The closer Tori drew to Black, the stronger the warmth bloomed in Lauren’s chest. Distracted by the discovery, she jumped when Tori suddenly opened the driver’s door and slid inside.
“Ungrateful beast.” Tori slammed the Mustang in Reverse.
“He wasn’t happy to have his car returned?”
“Not in the least.” Gravel sprayed as she headed for the gate. “Nobody drives his car but him.”
“You drove it the other night.” Lauren pointed out.
“That’s what I said. It appears valets are an exception.”
She laughed at Tori’s outrage and decided to test her. “You like him.”
“Are you insane?” Tori exclaimed, sending Lauren a sideways glare. “The man has the manners of a mule.”
“And the body of a stud.”
Her twin remained silent until they cleared the gate and turned toward the freeway.
“Come on, Tori. You’re not blind.”
She rolled her eyes, but Lauren saw the corner of her sister’s mouth twitch.
“OMG, he’s hot.” Tori fanned herself. “He had to repeat himself because I was staring. It was mortifying.”
Oh, yeah. There was no doubt in Lauren’s mind. Tori had met her match.
* * *
“I’m ready to take out a contract on Garrett Black,” Jenna Vick announced and took a sip of her margarita. “Mark has been banned from the set. Work has become such a drudge.”
Thinking of her encounters with Black, of his unsmiling facade and his penchant for being a bit of a jerk, Tori wasn’t totally shocked by the redhead’s reaction to the man. What a shame such a gorgeous car belonged to such a dysfunctional individual.
“Count me in.” Cindy Tate tucked a wisp of blond hair behind her ear before tapping her glass to Jenna’s. “My mother came to town to see me work. She’d really been looking forward to being on the set. But the guards refused to let her join me. I asked for a few days off to spend with her and was told no because the film is behind schedule.”
“I’ll pitch in,” Olivia Fox chimed, not moving an inch as she basked, tanned and toned, in the sunshine, her jet-black hair flowing over her bright yellow bikini.
“Did you have someone banned, too?” Jenna asked. The three actresses were rising stars working together on a futuristic action film, kind of a Charlie’s Angels in space.
“No.” Olivia adjusted her sunglasses, then resumed her boneless position. “But the set has become a morgue. Everyone is so serious and intent on their job, no one laughs anymore.”
Remembering the threat of a cleaning bill for nonexistent toe prints, Tori controlled the urge to offer her own funds. Obviously the man was making friends wherever he went.
“Why do you blame Black?” Tori asked as she met Lauren’s gaze across the
