“What do you know about that?” the colonel asked sharply.
“Not much. Blake will only admit that there are some people trying to find him and harm him.”
“I know you’ve got him made up to look like someone else when he goes out in public, but what about when he’s not wearing his disguise? Problem is, if this McDaniels kid makes a stink and gets a lot of press for the incident, the ruse could be discovered and Blake could be exposed.”
“That’s why you have to call Adrian right away. He can get Jeremy to keep his mouth shut.”
“You make a compelling argument. I’ll call Adrian right now.” Faint amusement had infused the man’s voice, banishing the anger.
“Umm, this is his phone I’m talking on. Why don’t I just pass it to him?”
“Okay.”
“One moment, sir.” She pressed her hand over the receiver and held out the device to Jackson. “He wants to talk to Adrian.”
The stuntman nodded and ran back to Turnow’s trailer with the phone.
She desperately hoped the conversation had been enough to avert disaster. If not, she’d never forgive herself.
Chapter Thirteen
Blake braced himself for the worst while waiting for his boss to return to the phone. He knew what he’d do in a similar situation if one of his men were accused of rape. He’d arrest the guy, toss him in jail, and once the situation was contained, he’d get around to figuring out whether or not the soldier was guilty.
His career was over. And if he got exposed publicly for this fiasco, his life might very well be in real danger. Not to mention he wouldn’t be with Olivia. That was, by far, the worst part of this whole mess.
Could he really spend the rest of his career holed up in the basement of the Pentagon? Never get out and about, never have any excitement? It was as if night had fallen and he suddenly couldn’t see anything ahead of him. His path, which had been so clear just a few weeks ago, was completely obscured. He’d totally lost his way.
One thing he could do was come clean with his boss about everything. At least then he’d have a clear conscience.
Colonel Santerros came back on the line. “You there, Blake?”
“Yes, sir.”
“That was Olivia Harper on my other line. She seems to think you’re some kind of conquering hero. What the hell’s going on out there?”
Thank God.
At least Santerros had wound down enough about him blowing his cover to get a word in edgewise. “It’s not my style to talk about other people, sir, but the star of this movie, a kid named Jeremy McDaniels, is quite a piece of work. He’s been hassling the female co-star for a while. Today he showed up on the set drunk and attacked her in the middle of filming a love scene. The director didn’t realize what was going on. As soon as I figured out how bad it was getting, I jumped in.”
“How likely is McDaniels to go public with this and get you way too much press attention? McDaniels said you’re shacking up with the female star of the movie and prancing around in front of the paparazzi with her.”
He cleared his throat. “About that, sir. I have a confession to make. Miss Harper and I have become romantically involved
A long,
long
, silence greeted that announcement.
“Did you have to tell me that?” Santerros finally asked in a pained voice.
“Yes, sir. I did. I have to live with myself every day, and dishonesty doesn’t sit well with me. I realize I’ve pretty much torpedoed my career and maybe my safety. But, I love her.”
“She’s a movie star. And you’re a jarhead Marine. Are you nuts?”
“Absolutely, sir. I can offer no other explanation for my behavior.”
His boss grunted. “I’m not going to be able to help you after this.”
“I understand, sir. Is there any chance my long record of honorable service to my country might buy me a chance to resign my commission quietly?”
“I can pull some strings and probably make that happen. If you’ll get me the letter fast before you show up on the front page of any more tabloids, I’ll accept your resignation and get the paperwork moving. The Russians will leave you alone if you can’t help them get Carmen back…I hope. In the mean time, you need to lay low. Watch your back. You sure you want to be a civilian for that?”
“I’m sure, sir.”
“I hope you know what you’re doing, son. Not many women are worth blowing up a long and distinguished career over.” And with that, Santerros disconnected the call.
Jesus. What in the
hell
had he just done? Blake flopped into an armchair and stared at the carpet in Olivia’s trailer. He’d just thrown away his life for a woman whose career meant everything to her and who, in no way, had time or space for him. It was small comfort to know that he wasn’t going to jail today. But his future was nothing but uncertainty. Liv deserved more.
He headed for Jackson Motta’s trailer to pick up the spare clothes and toiletries he’d kept there. Blake ducked inside when the stuntman let him in.
“How’s it going?” Jackson asked sympathetically.
“I just resigned my commission.”
“That sucks.” The stuntman dug in the refrigerator and held out a beer.
Blake shook his head. “Thanks, but no. I need my head clear.” He took a deep breath and dived into the reason he’d really come. “Jack, I need you to do me a favor.”
“Anything, bro.”
“I need you tell Adrian I’ve left and that he needs to find himself another technical advisor.”
“What the hell?”
“McDumbass won’t work with me. If I stick around, the tension on the set will mess up the movie. Adrian’s got no choice but to fire me. Thought I’d save him the trouble and me the embarrassment and just leave quietly.”
“What about Olivia?”
“What about her?”
“She’s crazy about you.”
“She’s caught up in the drama of shooting a movie.” Blake paced a lap around the tiny living room. “I mean, come on. I’m a washed-up ex-Marine with no job. She’s a movie star on the rise. She’s got no time for a schmuck like me hanging onto her coattails.”
Jackson replied slowly, “Were you planning to tell me about the Russkies on your tail, or am I going to have to pry the rest of the details out of Olivia?”
Blake stared, stunned.
“Me and the boys, we’ve got a little experience with those fellas. If you stick around here, we’ve got your back. No Russians will get through our security perimeter to mess with you.”
That declaration shocked Blake. “That’s incredibly generous of you to offer. But I can’t put you and your men at risk like that.”
“Sure you can. You’ve been doing all the dangerous explosives work on this movie already. I figure it makes us even.”
It was tempting. Damned tempting. And if it were just Jackson and his crew, Blake might take the guy up on his offer. But he cared for Olivia way too much to put her in danger—
“I was going to wait until this movie wrapped to bring it up again, but now seems like a good time.”
“To bring up what?”
“Remember how I told you I was thinking about starting up my own stunt and technical services company? I’ve decided to do it. I’ve got some money saved up, and a wealthy investor willing to finance the rest. Plus, I’ve got a ton of contacts in the industry. Problem is, I’m not the best at explosives and it’s been a few years since I was in the Army. Man, you’re a magician with explosives and you’re current on everything that’s going on in the military.
“I figure you could recruit some of your Special Forces buddies to come work for us, too. Their training is perfect for stunt work—lots of ninja physical stuff, offensive driving, hand-to-hand combat, shooting weapons, blowing shit up—it’s all the same. I want you to be my partner.”
“Are you serious, dude?” Blake burst out.
“As a heart attack.”
Getting to stay in Hollywood, at least close to Olivia? Lord, it was tempting. But he wouldn’t endanger her life. Regretfully, he shook his head. “Sorry, buddy. I’d love to take you up on it. But I’m not laying my problems at anyone else’s doorstep.”
“Do me one favor, Blake.”
“Anything.”
“Talk to Olivia. Tell her how you feel about her.”
“How the hell do you know how I feel about her?”
“It’s all over your face every time you get within about a hundred feet of her.”
Blake shook his head. “I’m not her type. If I care about her at all, I’ll stay the hell out of her way.”
“Maybe you should let
her
make that decision.”
He wasn’t going to argue with Motta about a woman. “Look. I’ve got some stuff to take care of. I’ve got a letter of resignation to write and a pile of exit paperwork to do for Uncle Sam. Then, I’ve got to pack up my stuff and find a place to lay low for a while—”
“Crash with me until you get settled in.”
“That’s great of you to offer. But I’ve got to disappear for a while. Look after Olivia for me, will you? Make sure the bastards don’t come after her and keep an eye on McDaniels. Make sure he doesn’t mess with my girl.”
“Talk to her, Blake, or I’m going to start calling
you
McDumbass.”
…
Olivia searched everywhere for Blake but couldn’t find him anywhere on set. Finally, she broke down and asked people if they’d seen him. No one had. Not until she tracked down Jackson Motta.
“Hey, Liv.” He held down a measuring tape while one of his guys marked off the spot with gaffer’s tape.
“Have you seen Blake recently?”
“Yeah. Talked with him a while ago.”
“How’s he doing?”
“His boss isn’t going to have him arrested if that’s what you’re worried about.”
“I need to talk with him.”
“That’s gonna be tough,” Jackson replied.
“Why’s that?”
“He left. Quit working on the movie. He’s gone into hiding.”
Olivia felt the blood drain from her face. He was gone? “B-but he didn’t say good-bye.” Had all of it been a game to him? He’d said he wanted her to have his baby.
Was he angry that the antics on the set had cost him a career in the military? She wouldn’t blame him.
Her heart rejected the notion. He had to have
some
feelings for her. Right? He’d at least say good-bye.
Wouldn’t he?
“It’s none of my business, Olivia, but you two really need to talk.”
“Why?”
“Just talk to him.”
And how was she supposed to do that? He was
gone
. She knew full well he’d go to ground to avoid the Russians. He probably had some misguided notion that he had to disappear to keep her safe..
She’d never find him if he didn’t want to be found. She wandered with no destination in mind until Jeremy strolled up looking smug in spite of his swollen and purpling nose.
“I got the fucker fired,” he announced.
“You’re an asshole,” she replied dully, “and he quit. You didn’t have anything to do with it.”
That honor belonged to her. She’d been the one to wreck his career and endanger his life.
At least Jeremy had the good sense to move away from her quickly before she slugged him again.
Then it hit her.
The hotel.
She needed to get back to the hotel before Blake left. Her car wasn’t due to pick her up for hours, though. And no cab would drive this far out into the desert to pick her up. She searched for someone, anyone, who could help her and spotted Tyrone. She dashed over to the make-up artist.
“I need to borrow your car. Blake’s leaving and I have to talk to him.”
“For true love, you may borrow my baby. But if you harm a speck of her paint, I’ll have to hurt you.” Tyrone dangled his key fob.
“I’ll buy you a new car if I hurt this one,” she promised as she gave him a quick hug. It wasn’t hard to spot the yellow Mini Cooper with six-inch-long eyelashes secured over each of its front headlights. The car was as flamboyant as its owner.
She drove back to Palm Springs as fast as the little car would go, flooring it on the straight, open highway through the desert and made three phone calls along the way. The first to her accountant. The next to her parents. The last to her agent.
The car screeched into the resort, laying down rubber as it turned the corner. She so owed Tyrone a new set of tires. She jumped out of the car and raced into the hotel. She flew up the stairwell when the elevator was stuck on the eleventh floor, and barreled down the hall to Blake’s room. She banged on the door.
Please be there. Please be there.
Nothing. Swearing, she pounded her fists on the door. A maid stepped out of a room a few doors down to stare at her.
“Have you seen Major Ramsey today?” she asked the maid desperately.
“The man in that room, he left about an hour ago. Took his bags. He checked out, ma’am.”
Too late
. She’d missed him. Tears sprang to her eyes and she nodded blindly.
“Thanks,” she managed to mumble. She turned and trudged to the elevator. On the way up, she sobbed.
How was she going to find him? He’d resigned from the Marines. He could be headed anywhere. Maybe he had family somewhere. Or friends he could hide out with. But they’d been too busy jumping each other’s bones to trade family histories.
What if he took a job in some far-flung country working private security? If he decided to disappear, she had no doubt he’d erase every trace of himself so she couldn’t find him, even with the help of a private investigator.
Panic ripped through her. There had to be something she could do! Her tears spilled over, and as the elevator door opened, they rolled down her face in rivers of agony and loss. She had no idea how she was supposed to go on without him. Her brain couldn’t wrap around the idea of a world without Blake in it.
She staggered to her door and inside her suite. But that was as far as she got. She slid down the wall beside the door, hugged her knees, buried her face in her arms, and sobbed her heart out.
“What’s all this?” a deep voice said, scaring the living hell out of her. Her head jerked up and she stared through the wash of tears. A big, male silhouette stepped inside from the patio. He was just putting away a cell phone in his back pocket.
“Blake?” she asked in disbelief.
In seconds, she was vertical and being held at arm’s length from him. “What’s wrong? Did that asshole hurt you?”
“No. It’s you,” she gulped between sobbing breaths.
Was it really him?
Was he really here?
His face went a ghastly shade of gray. “I’m so sorry, Liv. I screwed up everything. I swear, I never meant to hurt you. I’ll go. You’ll never have to worry about me again—”
“No! Don’t leave me!”
He stopped. Stared at her. “What?”
She babbled in a rush, “I’m so sorry for everything I’ve put you through. You’ve tried to do the right thing and help me out, and I wrecked your career, and I’m so, so, sorry. Can you ever forgive me?”
“There’s nothing to forgive, baby.” His fingers traced the wetness on her cheeks. “Everything I did was of my own free will. You didn’t coerce me into doing anything I didn’t want to.”
Noble to the end, he was. Her heart broke a little more to see him still trying to protect her and look out for her, even now.
“Blake, I love how you take care of me and make me feel safe and cherished and important. It’s just like you to tell me none of this was my fault, but we both know you’d be a Marine in good standing if not for me. The Russians would have no idea where to find you and you’d be safe. I don’t expect you to return my feelings after what I’ve cost you. But you really are an amazing, wonderful man. I love you.”