Dreaming With My Eyes Wide Open (Hollywood Legends #2) (2 page)

They sat for three hours before finally giving up. Either
Brett had second thoughts or someone got to him first.

“Where has the weasel been hiding?”

“In plain sight.” Nate set his fork on the now empty plate.
“He’s been getting a tan in a high-end Mexican resort.”

“You’re kidding?” Wyatt exchanged amazed looks with Garrett
and Caleb. “All this time? How did you find out?”

“A few days ago, I called Jack.”

“Damn,” Wyatt said. “H&W Security is getting a lot of
our money lately.”

As far as the Landis family was concerned, H&W could do
no wrong. The bodyguard their old friend Jack Winston sent to protect Jade had
been worth every penny. She was safe and the danger that had plagued her for
years was behind her. After that, Garrett wouldn’t begrudge Jack anything.

“Turns out I should have called him right away. He turned it
over to Alex Fleming, who tracked Walcott down in a matter of hours. The fool
was spreading cash around like there was no tomorrow. That kind of behavior
gets people talking.”

“I assume you’ve booked a flight,” Wyatt said. “I’m going
with you.”

“I appreciate it, but there’s no need.” Nate laughed,
shaking his head. “Our buddies at H&W provide an all-inclusive service. As
we speak, Brett Walcott is on his way back to the States.”

“How did they manage that?”

“I didn’t ask, Dad. I was so happy with the results, I
figured Jack and Alex could keep their trade secrets to themselves. I do know
it involved Jack piloting a plane in and out of Mexico.” Nate sat back. He was
full. With family. And he would soon have the answers he needed. “I will be
heading to Spokane in the morning. Jack flew straight to Harper Falls. He
didn’t want to take a chance on having a run-in with LAX security.”

“Want some company?”

All eyes turned to Jade.

“Excuse me?” Garrett asked.

“What? I thought it would be a good chance to visit Sable.”

“Ah,” Colt smiled thoughtfully. “The lovely bodyguard.
Maybe—”

“No.” Nate shook his head, frowning at his younger brother.
“You and your libido are staying put.” When he turned to Jade, his tone was
softer. “I plan on being in and out, honey. No time for social niceties.”

“I trust Jack and his crew to have your back.” Wyatt
frowned. “I wonder if this is the best way to handle it.”

“If you mean the police? They haven’t been interested,
Wyatt. As far as they’re concerned, this was an accident.”

“But now you have a witness.” Callie was for anything that
kept her family out of danger. “What will you do with him?”

“There’s plenty of undeveloped ground on the mountain behind
H&W headquarters,” Garrett said helpfully.

“You could bury the body with little chance of detection.”

“Ha, ha. You boys missed your calling as stand-up
comedians.”

Even knowing it would garner him a dirty look, Caleb
couldn’t help joining in.

“As long as you’re at it, I have an investor I wouldn’t mind
chucking down a deep hole.”

“That’s where they get it,” Callie told Jade, ignoring her
husband. “Come and help me with dessert.”

“What are we having?” Nate called out.

“
Jade and I
are sharing some strawberry cheesecake.
If you’re lucky, we’ll leave you some crumbs.”

Cheesecake was Nate’s favorite.

“Don’t worry, son. I know for a fact that your mother had
Lorena make an extra for you to take home.”

The family’s long-time cook made the best desserts in the
world. Nate wouldn’t argue if one ended up in his refrigerator.

“Hey!” Colton protested.

Nate swung his cast from side to side, a
poor me
expression on his face.

“I don’t remember special desserts when I broke my leg
skiing.”

“That’s because you moved back here. Mom and Lorena waited
on your pathetic ass night and day.”

Colt grinned at Nate. “Mmm. One of the best months of my
life. All the food I could eat served by two beautiful, loving women. In my
mind, that’s what heaven will be like.”

“You live in heaven twenty-four-seven, little brother. Women
are lined up for miles for the honor of doing your dirty laundry.” Garrett
grimaced. “I lived with your slovenly ways for sixteen years. No one, no matter
how smitten, should have to deal with your foul socks. I swear those things
stood up by themselves.”

“Look who’s talking.” Colt turned to Wyatt. “Remember the
summer Garrett decided to
get back to nature
? In other words, he didn’t
shower for a month. Dad finally held him down while Nate sprayed him with a
hose.”

Nate listened with half an ear while his brothers
entertained each other with stories of their youth. His mind was already on his
trip north. Now that he was so close to finding out the truth, he wished he had
booked an earlier flight.

“Nathaniel.”

“Hmm?” The use of his full name got Nate’s attention. “Did
you need something, Dad?”

“Funny you should ask.” Caleb stood, gesturing for Nate to
follow. “Come to my office. I have something I want you to see. By the time
we’re done, your mother should have calmed down enough to share some of that
cheesecake.”

Nate followed his father down the hall. The door at the end
had always been Caleb’s domain. Callie fiddled and decorated the rest of the
house to her liking, but this one room was off limits. She was welcome to
visit, but every inch was sacrosanct. Hands off. No exceptions. Caleb allowed
the housekeeper cleaning access once a week. That was as far as his concessions
went.

When they were little, Caleb would let his boys crawl around
on the floor to their hearts’ content. He liked having the toddlers nearby.
Nate remembered using his father as a jungle gym, Caleb’s patience infinite.
One of the many ways the big, boisterous man showed his love. He taught by
example the proper way to show affection.

One day, Nate thought, if he were blessed enough to have
children, he already knew how to be a man they could look up to. His father
showed him — every day of his life.

“Have a look at this.”

Caleb took a letter from the top drawer of his desk.
Sitting, he waited while Nate read the two pages. When he had finished, he
looked up with a puzzled frown.

“Have I ever met Chuck Chamberlin?”

“No. He was a roustabout on a few of my early films. By the
time you and your brothers came along, Chuck was married and living in
Montana.”

“But you’ve kept in touch?” Nate handed back the letter.

“Off and on.”

Caleb sat back. Absently, he tapped one long finger against
his chin. Nate recognized it as a gesture his father made when he was thinking.

“It sounds like your old friend is in a bind. I admire the
nerve of his daughter. Her father is in over his head and she contacts one of
the biggest movie producers in Hollywood to bail him out?”

“
One
of the most successful?”

Amused, Nate glanced at the rows of awards on the shelves
behind his father. “I’m not giving your ego an unneeded boost, Pops.”

“Ah, children.” Caleb’s over-exaggerated sigh made it clear
he had chosen the right side of the camera. He was wise to leave the acting to
Callie and Colt.

“Paige is worried about her father. I can’t blame her for
reaching out to the only person she thought might help. Wouldn’t you do the
same?”

Nate had to concede the point. If his parents were in a
bind, Nate would track down God if he thought it would help.

“Like I said, I admire her nerve.” Nate tapped his chin,
unconsciously echoing his father’s gesture. “This movie her father is making.
She says he’s wanted to do it for years. Did he ever mention wanting to
direct?”

“This is Hollywood, Nate. Everybody wants to direct.”

“I don’t. Neither do Wyatt or Colt.”

Caleb chuckled. “The exceptions that prove the rule. Add
your mother and me to that list and you have most of the Landis clan. Wonderful
anomalies.”

“But this Chamberlin guy. Where was his ambition when he
worked here?”

“There are different kinds of ambition, Nate. Chuck found
Hollywood exciting. But his dream was to make enough money to go back to his
hometown and take over the family ranch. And that’s what he did.”

“What do you think changed? The daughter’s letter isn’t
exactly packed full of details.”

“Which is why I called her last week. She seems genuine,
Nate.”

“You mean she isn’t using an obscure connection to get a
little free advice?”

“The thought crossed my mind.” One didn’t survive in
Hollywood as long as he had without developing a thick skin and a nose for
bullshit. It was possible that Paige Chamberlin wasn’t what she seemed, but
Caleb didn’t think so. She came across as a daughter at her wits’ end. She was
worried about her father. She waited as long as she could before contacting
him. He was the last resort that she hated to use. The fact that she had, spoke
louder than words.

“Chuck’s wife died two years ago. According to Paige, he’s
been a little depressed. Understandable. I think he’s afraid of losing his
daughter, too. The movie isn’t just his vanity project. It’s a way of keeping
Paige close.”

“Jesus, Dad.”

“I know… it sounds messed up.”

“No.” Nate tried to think of a way of putting it that
wouldn’t come across as judgmental, but came up empty. “Okay, yes. It sounds a
little twisted. Hell, for all we know, it’s a lot twisted.”

“I don’t think so.” Caleb shook his head. “I honestly
believe he’s a lonely man who’s worried his daughter will move away, get
married, have children, and he won’t be around to watch them grow up.”

“Is that what she said?”

“Paige painted a picture of a man who has gotten in over his
head. She didn’t say it, but I think she’s afraid he’ll crash and burn.
Personally and financially.”

“All to keep his daughter down on the ranch? That’s some job
of reading between the lines, Dad.”

“I put myself in his shoes.”

“Come on.” Nate wasn’t buying it. “You wouldn’t have stopped
us from leaving Los Angeles if it was what we wanted.”

“I was lucky enough that it was never an issue. And, there
are four of you. Chuck only has Paige.”

“Speaking of.” Nate absently scratched at the edge of his
cast. Three more weeks and the damn thing came off. It couldn’t happen soon
enough. “What’s her part in all this? She would have to be dense not to see
through her father’s motives. She’s what?”

“Twenty-five. She was little late finishing college. When
her mother got sick, she took time off to nurse her at home.”

“Admirable.”

“From what Chuck has said over the years, the girl is a
pistol. Smart as a whip and doesn’t take shit from anyone.”

“Except her father, apparently.” Nate settled back in his
chair. “What’s the deal, Dad? Why are you telling me all of this?”

“Your mother and I had planned on taking some time to go up
and help out.”

“On a rag-tag film with no budget?” Nate laughed at the
thought. “Callie Flynn and Caleb Landis? In the middle of nowhere? Doing what?”

“Whatever needs doing. You think your mother and I are above
that? Drop the attitude, Nate. Snobbery doesn’t suit you.”

“It’s not snobbery,” Nate protested. When his father leveled
him with a long look, Nate sighed. “Okay. Maybe it is. A little. You have to
admit, it is a bit… unexpected.”

“Yes.” Caleb nodded. “Callie and I were looking forward to
getting away from the city. And the idea of leaving the big budgets and special
effects behind held some appeal.”

“If you say so.”

Nate couldn’t picture his parents in the wilds of Montana.
Yes, they came from poor backgrounds. They had worked damn hard to get where
they were. The pampered lifestyle they now lived was well deserved. It had been
a long time since either had to go for more than a day without hot running
water and someone to cook their meals.

Could they do it? Nate had no doubt. Why would they want to?
Even for an old friend.

“Wait,” Nate suddenly realized what his father was saying.
“You say it
held
some appeal. You aren’t going?”

“Your mother was offered a movie with Meryl Streep and Helen
Mirren.”

“Wow.”

“Exactly. She couldn’t turn down an opportunity that is
unlikely to come along again. And since I’ll be producing, we can’t get away.”

“That’s too bad for your friend, but maybe this will bring
him to his senses.”

“Too late.” Caleb shrugged. “He’s already sunk most of his
money into the project. No backing out.”

“Then send him a few bucks. I’m sure he’d appreciate it.”
Nate grinned. “Who knows, it could become a box office sleeper and you’ll be
glad you were in on the ground floor.”

“Oh, I’m sending money. And you.”

Nate sat up straight, his chin practically on the floor.

“Say again?”

NATE WATCHED AS the Bitterroot Mountains spread out below in a
glorious vista of colors.

Greens, blues, browns. September was waning, bringing a hint
of the coming change of seasons. It was a sight to see.

Nate was fortunate to have traveled all over the world. Seen
every continent. Since he was a small child, his parents took him and his
brothers on their movie sets.

Morocco. India. Bangladesh. Brazil. Australia. Japan.

The list went on and on.

As an adult, his job gave him the chance to see those same
places and more through different eyes. What he appreciated as a boy was
different now that he was a man. Nate still felt a rush every time he
encountered a new culture.

His need to explore and drink in the differences from his
everyday life in Los Angeles was as strong as when he and his brothers ran up
and down the streets of Nairobi, chased by their harried bodyguards. It wasn’t
an easy task to keep track of four active, inquisitive boys.

It seemed impossible to believe, but with all the traveling
he had done, this was his first trip to Montana. If what he saw from the seat
in Jack Winston’s private plane were any indication, it wouldn’t be his last.

“How you doing?”

Jack didn’t have to raise his voice. Nate sat next to him in
the cockpit of the plane. If given a choice, Nate always rode in that spot. The
view was better up here. And as a pilot himself, he liked to be near the
controls. Just in case.

“Good.”

Jack laughed. He was a big man. Almost as tall as Nate. He
had earned a full-ride football scholarship and most people assumed he would ride
that to a career in the NFL. He was that good. However, what most people didn’t
know was that Jack’s real passion was computers. More accurately, creating
cutting-edge software with his best friend, Drew Harper.

“I’m sorry Brett Walcott turned out to be a bust.”

“There was no way for you to know that the weasel lied
through his teeth the entire time.” Nate tried to relax his shoulders. They had
been in a perpetual knot since he met with Walcott. He went in expecting
answers, but ended up coming out with more questions.

“It’s embarrassing. And frustrating.” Nate took his eyes off
the scenery. “Walcott is hardly the sharpest tool in the box. Yet he managed to
convince me he saw who sabotaged my jump.”

“Don’t beat yourself up.” Jack banked the plane to the left.
“He managed to bilk the guilty party out of a sizable chunk of cash. Walcott
isn’t smart, but he is wily.”

“Wily. Good word.”

The situation played out with so many convenient twists and
turns, Nate would have sworn they were in the middle of a Lifetime TV movie.

First the fire on the set that drew everyone away from the
airbag. Then a puncture that created a leak not meant to be detected until it
was too late. Luckily for Nate, it was a
very
slow leak.

A non-witness who took advantage of the situation to fill
his pockets. Somehow, the perpetrator found out Walcott was going to talk. To
keep his identity hidden, the mystery person paid out double what Nate agreed
upon. In the end, neither needed to bother. Walcott hadn’t seen anything.

“If he hadn’t been drunk off his ass when we found him, we
would have questioned him in Mexico and saved us all a lot of wasted time.
Being in a foreign country, we thought it best to pour him into the plane and
head for the border.”

“You did the right thing, Jack. Walcott was a bust. No one
could have anticipated that.”

“The police—” Jack nodded when he heard Nate snort. “I know.
They aren’t going to bother. Now if you had died, it would be another story.”

“Sorry to disappoint so many people, but I prefer the way it
turned out.”

“Me too, buddy. We’ll keep looking. Though to be honest, I’m
not sure what to look for. You can’t think of anyone who wants you dead? A
disgruntled husband?”

“I stay away from married women.”

Like men, women lied about those things. Nate found that out
the hard way when he was still wet behind the ears. Since then, he never let
his dick get in the way of common sense. He liked women. He
loved
sex.
Being straight, he couldn’t have one without the other.

However, he never let himself get carried away. Losing
himself for a few hours in the arms of a soft, sweet-smelling woman was one of
his all-time favorite things. Losing his mind over that woman? When that day
came, he would know he was a goner. Like his father. Like Garrett. Only one
thing made the Landis men’s brains turn to mush. Love.

Nate happily played the field. However, he knew when the
right woman came along he wouldn’t hesitate. He was fortunate to have seen what
a loving relationship looked like. He grew up watching two people who
liked
each other. Openly affectionate and over thirty years together, they couldn’t
keep their hands off one another.

It was inspiring and a little daunting. Nate knew what he
wanted. Finding it wasn’t as easy.

“What about that director you punched?” Jack interrupted his
thoughts, pulling him back to the discussion. “From what I hear, he tried to
get you blackballed.”

“Tried and failed.”

“Right.” Jack shot Nate a look. “I know murder is extreme,
but Hollywood is an extreme place.”

“Hardy Thomas isn’t capable of killing anything but a good
script.” Nate couldn’t stand the man and the feeling was mutual. “It’s been
five years, Jack. Revenge might be best served cold, but…”

“This would be an icicle. I get it.” Jack adjusted his
sunglasses before hitting a switch on the control panel. “Like I said, we’ll
keep looking. Now buckle up. We’ll be landing soon.”

PAIGE CHAMBERLIN watched the plane circle the small airport.
She tapped her foot with impatience.

“Easy. I know you want everything done yesterday, Paige.
That plane will get here when it gets here. Not even you can make it descend
faster by the sheer force of your will.”

Paige didn’t answer. She and Lottie Craig had known each
other all their lives. In a small town like Basic, Montana you had few options
when it came to friends your own age. Luckily, the two of them hit it off when
they were in diapers and had been thick as thieves ever since.

She was nervous. Paige was not a shrinking violet. Her
method of getting something done was to plow forward with blinders on. If she
took the time to worry about what was going on around her, the chances were the
distractions would slow her down. Or worse — knock her out of the game
altogether.

From the time Paige learned to walk without assistance, she
had continued on that way. Asking for help didn’t come easily. Her father would
shake his head when she insisted that if she found a solution to a problem on
her own, the victory would be that much sweeter.

That need to be self-sufficient had her stomach in a knot.
The hardest thing she had ever done was write that letter to Caleb Landis
asking for his advice.

Paige rarely found herself at her wits’ end, but dealing
with her father had become impossible. He looked like the same man she loved
and respected above all others. Tall, wiry, with the same blond hair and brown
eyes he had passed on to her.

This man she had breakfast with and worked beside every day
looked like Chuck Chamberlin. It was when he opened his mouth that Paige could
have sworn someone else had replaced him.

Her responsible, salt of the earth father… God, she hated to
even think it. He had mortgaged the ranch to the hilt so he could make a movie.

If it weren’t so alarming, Paige would have found the idea
hysterical.

She knew their friends and neighbors thought Chuck
Chamberlin had gone off the deep end. Basic, Montana was having a good laugh at
her father’s expense and Paige knew it was up to her to stop the insanity
before it went any further.

“Here it comes.”

Paige stood, arms crossed, feet firmly planted as the sleek
plane touched down. When she wrote to Caleb Landis, the best she had hoped for
was a letter in return. If she were lucky, it would contain something that
would snap her father out of the fantasy world he had entered.

When Caleb called her, Paige couldn’t believe it wasn’t a
joke.
The
Caleb Landis? Every time her father mentioned his Hollywood
days, Paige took it with a grain of salt. After speaking with Caleb, she
realized her father hadn’t exaggerated. He had friends in the movie industry.
Big, powerful, influential friends.

That fact was driven home even harder when Caleb offered to
show up in person. With his glamorous wife. Paige was still letting the idea
sink in when there was a change in plans. Caleb was sending one of his sons.

Paige didn’t know what she thought about that, but she
wasn’t in the position to decline the offer.

The Landis brothers. If their parents were Hollywood
royalty, each of them was a crown prince. Even in Basic, Montana, they had the
internet. The money, the beautiful women. The brothers lived life in the fast
lane.

Paige shook her head. Good luck finding that in Basic. Her
only consoling thought was,
at least Caleb didn’t send the movie star
.

It was wait and see time as to whether Nate Landis turned out
to be any help.

The plane taxied to a stop. Paige didn’t have to look at
Lottie to know what she was doing. A man was about to descend onto the tarmac.
A single man. New blood. Lottie had a pose designed for just such an occasion.
One hand on her nicely curved hip. Sizable breasts pushed forward. A
come-hither smile on her face.

Paige thought it was ridiculous. On the other hand? Lottie
dated. Paige didn’t. There was probably something to Lottie’s methods, but
Paige found the idea of corkscrewing herself into an unnatural position, just
to attract a man, exhausting.

Not that she had a lot to put on display — especially in
comparison to Lottie.

Her friend was blessed with tits and ass. Paige got her
mother’s legs. Given a choice, ninety-nine percent of the men she knew picked
Lottie’s natural charms over her own. Ninety-nine percent of the time, Paige
was just fine with that.

“Oh. My. God.” Lottie breathed the words like a prayer.
“Would you look at them, Paige?”

That was all Paige could do. It wasn’t often she saw men
that looked like the two who stepped out of the plane. Never in person — and
certainly never together.

It was hard to know where to look. Tall and dark, they
dazzled equally. Strong thighs in faded denim and muscled arms encased in soft
cotton t-shirts. And those chests. Wide and well defined. Oh. My. God. That was
putting it mildly.

“Which one is yours ‘cause I’m happy with the leftovers?”

It took Paige a second to answer. She swallowed, trying to
moisten her dry mouth.

“Neither is
mine
, Lottie. If you want to know which
one is Nate Landis, he’s on the right. With the cast.”

And the swagger. The picture on her computer hadn’t done him
justice. As he drew closer, Paige wondered if superheroes really existed,
because this man had the body of one.

“I’ll offer to kiss it and make it better,” Lottie sighed.
“I wonder who his pretty friend is?”

“Down girl, he’s married.”

“How do you know?”

“Wedding ring.”

“Well, crap, crap, and more crap.” Lottie slumped for a second.
Paige always did have eyes like a hawk. “How about the other one?”

“He isn’t married.”

Encouraged, Lottie’s chest puffed out again. “You say you
aren’t interested?”

“No.”

“I wonder what color his eyes are behind those sunglasses. I
hope they’re blue. I do love a dark-haired, blue-eyed man.”

Paige remembered the picture of him and his brothers.
“They’re blue. And by the look of that smile he’s sending you, I’d say he’ll be
easy pickings.”

Paige didn’t know why she felt a wave of disappointment. Men
always noticed Lottie. The long, chestnut hair. The easy smile. The killer
curves. Why should Nate Landis be any different? Why should she care?

Because
, the little voice in her head taunted.
For
the first time in a long time, you wanted a man to notice you first.

“NOW THAT IS what I call a welcoming committee.”

Jack laughed. He was married to the most beautiful,
desirable woman in the world, but that didn’t stop him from taking an
appreciative look around every now and then.

“Who knew what Montana grew on this side of the Bitterroots?
What’s your pleasure? Curvy brunettes or leggy blondes?”

If Jack had asked that question when they were up in the
air, Nate would have unequivocally answered curves all the way. But as they
approached the two women, he couldn’t look away from the honey-haired beauty.
Something about the way she stood with her arms crossed over her chest, her
chin stuck out, practically dared someone to take a swipe at it. Nate guessed
that person would soon regret the impulse.

“Welcome to Basic, Mr. Landis. I’m Paige Chamberlin.”

Nice words
, he thought, shaking her proffered hand.
However, when she said them through gritted teeth, they lost some of their
warmth. Paige Chamberlin may have been the one to reach out to his father, but
it appeared she wasn’t happy to have the son as a substitute.

Nate didn’t know how he felt about that. Being a reluctant
participant in this venture, he expected Paige to be grateful for his
assistance. He promised his father that he would take stock of the situation and
help in any way possible. Caleb didn’t ask very much of his sons. When he did,
they took it seriously.

Nate wasn’t thrilled to be here. Paige wasn’t thrilled to
have him. Since they were doing this for their fathers, they didn’t have a
choice. For the time being, they were stuck with each other.