Her Fictional Fling: Scandals in Scotland Contemporary Romance Series Book 1 (16 page)

Charles looked a little green all of a sudden.

“Charles? Are you hearing me?”

“Yes, yes. Ah, there’s just one thing I should mention.”

Colin raised his eyebrows.

“Nicole is here…with Erik.”

Colin’s stomach dropped, but he drew himself up. What difference did that make? He had tunnel vision now—all he cared about was making Andi believe that he wanted a real future with her. He didn’t give half a damn about Nicole or Erik.

“Are you certain this is a good idea?” Charles asked, placing a hand on Colin’s shoulder.

Colin was unable to contain himself. “I’ve never been more certain of anything in my life,” he said, grasping his agent in a bear hug, just barely resisting the urge to pick the man up off his feet and swing him about. He’d never felt like this—alive, childlike, but also very adult in his confidence in the decision he’d made. How incredible it was to know with his whole being that he needed Andi to be happy. No one else would do.

“Well then,” Charles said, releasing himself from Colin’s hold, “I’m behind you one hundred percent. Whatever you need.”

Colin nodded, grinning like an idiot before he smoothed his lapels. He ran his fingers over the ring in his pocket. Even though the proposal was a ruse, he still hoped the piece of jewelry he’d chosen would make her happy.

The ballroom was lovely, as long as Andi kept her eyes away from the stage where a few days shy of a week ago she’d made her astoundingly graceful first impression to an entire film cast and crew.

She shivered a little at the memory, pushing it out of her mind as she searched for Colin. Only a day had passed since they’d spoken, but it seemed more like months; the hours since she’d last seen him had slithered by like molasses. She wanted to tell him about what had happened at the newsstand, to hear his soothing voice tell her it was okay—it meant nothing—she was still beautiful to him and that was all that mattered. She wanted to show him her new dress. He was more than a lover, he’d become a great friend and more—something Jared had never been.

She strolled through the room on her heels, feeling tall, powerful, and sexy, as though she belonged among the group of actors and artists who were gradually filling the room. The glass chandeliers overhead shimmered, shreds of their light draping over the tables, dancing with the flames from candles floating in little glass bowls of water. Bouquets of native Scottish bluebells filled the room and the adjoining terrace, making the place feel more like a castle garden than part of a five-star hotel.

It was incredibly romantic—the perfect place for a proposal, in fact. Andi sighed, grabbing a flute of champagne off a passing waiter’s tray. Too bad the one she’d get was a big fat lie choreographed for everyone but her. It didn’t matter, though. Now was her chance to rewrite her own fairytale.

She took an unladylike swig, draining the contents of the glass just in time to reach for another. Her hand bumped into someone else’s as she attempted to wrap her fingers around a fresh drink. “Colin,” she sputtered, setting the glass back down before she had a chance to upset the tray. “You look…amazing.”

She’d started the evening so confident, prepared for what was coming, but as each second passed, her nerves became increasingly raw as though exposed to air. He was so perfectly formed that he didn’t even look real—his dark, wavy hair grazing the collar of his expertly tailored tuxedo, the outlines of his shoulders and biceps unhidden by the expensive material, hazelnut eyes glowing in the candlelight. She gripped the clutch at her side with the strength of an iron vice, meeting his steady gaze.

“Andi…”

He seemed to want to say something, but nothing came out. He just stared back, his carved features full of all of the emotion rushing through her at whirlwind speed, nothing close enough to catch and hold. Everything around her blurred as he reached out and grasped her hand, leading her away from the thickening crowd.

Finding as quiet a spot as possible in the bustling room, Colin gathered both of her hands in his, and the next thing he did knocked the breath out of her; Andi’s heart plummeted to the depths of her chest. The stunning blue gem glinted underneath the chandelier, piercing her with its flawless beauty. If she’d spent months searching, she wouldn’t have found a more uniquely perfect ring. Bold and elegant, it suited her alone.

“Colin, I—” A hand flew to her heart and the room spun around them so that she could see only him, kneeling in front of her.

He reached up and kissed her softly on the mouth, his head just below hers even with him on his knees. He lifted a hand, running fingers through her short hair, starting fires in her body that caused all thought to flee. With all she’d begun to feel for him, seeing Colin propose—false though it might have been—threw her off balance. Everything she’d felt that first night in the ballroom as a panic attack had threatened, flooded into her as she stood frozen in front of him.

Maybe the champagne was stronger than it tasted.

“Andi McKenna, my beautiful, sweet, sexy girl. I adore you. I love you with all my heart. Will you marry me?”

She struggled to remind herself that his words weren’t true.

“Andi?” Colin said, sounding nervous for the first time since they’d met.

She looked into his eyes and told him the truth.

“No, Colin. No, I can’t marry you.”

Chapter Fourteen

Colin had to get away before he exploded and did something he’d regret.

The second Andi had answered him, something had broken inside him, split him in two, and he’d dropped her hands, rushing out of the ballroom as fast as he could move.

The scene played over and over in his mind as he shoved through the crowds on his way out, waving a hand when people tried to speak to him to ask where he was going before the party even started.

The valet brought his motorcycle around and Colin fired it up, not bothering with the helmet. He sped through the streets the few miles back to his condo. He thought he saw the blur of Andi’s blue dress behind him when he’d fled through the front doors, but nothing could stop him from leaving at that point.

Why hadn’t she agreed to the fake proposal as they’d discussed? And, more importantly, why had she robbed him of the chance to tell her how he really felt? Hearing her say
no
had blindsided him completely.

The worst bit of it was, he would still do anything for her. He would convince her that they were right for each other. He would show her that he no longer gave a shit about Nicole, that he wasn’t afraid of taking the risk of being with Andi. He would show her that he’d never again be the partying playboy he’d been when he first started out. He was ready to be with her, and only her. And he’d well and truly believed that she was ready to be with him. So what had changed her mind about their plan?

Never mind that now. Now he had to figure out his next move. He had to get to a quiet place and sort his thoughts, and plan a way to get her to listen to him—to what he really wanted to say. The day before without her had been torture. He was used to being on his own, traveling alone, and spending time by himself, but everything was so much better with Andi. Her optimism and humor made him feel like a different man—a better man.

In fact, he couldn’t do without a chance to have something real with her. Andi was leaving in two days, so he had to work fast. He would give her tonight and tomorrow to deal with whatever she was feeling, and then he would do his damnedest to convince her that even if he wasn’t worthy of her affection, he would earn it given half a chance.

He pulled his bike into the condo parking garage and raced up the stairs to his rooms. He needed a hot shower, a beer, and time to think.

“So, he just left?” Lily asked, rubbing Andi’s back as she lay on the hotel bed.

“Mmm-hmm,” she answered, unable to speak through her tears. The previously white pillow was now a mess, soggy with tears and covered in red lipstick and mascara. Andi hadn’t cried this much since she’d left Jared, and then, she’d had the consolation of knowing that she was making the right decision, that there would be light on the other side of the tunnel. She’d foiled the plan she and Colin had discussed, yes, and she should have expected him to be irritated. But she hadn’t thought he would disappear without hearing what she had to say beyond refusing his proposal.

“Well, honey. You rejected him in front of loads of people,” Lily said, stroking Andi’s disastrous hair. “I’m sure he was a bit wounded, don’t you think? Men have egos bigger than their junk, and he’s an actor accustomed to being fawned over.”

Andi lifted her head to shoot her best friend with a death-ray glare.

Lily ignored Andi and clicked her tongue. “Now, Andi, you know I’m always going to tell you the truth. And this is what you need to hear. If you want a liar you’ll have to look elsewhere.”

Lily patted Andi’s back and got up from the bed, heading toward the mini-bar that Andi hadn’t dared open, lest the generous producer take a close look at the bill. But that was before. Now, she didn’t care. Lily could gorge herself on ten-dollar peanuts if she wanted. Andi’s heart was crushed, and outside of that, she was completely numb. She’d been through this before, but that time it had made sense. That time, it was because of Jared, and no one was surprised that he’d been capable of harm. But Colin…Colin was different. This pain had blindsided her. She’d gone into that ballroom full of confidence, ready to deny the proposal yes, but she hadn’t expected him to take it so hard.

He’d rushed out of there without giving her a chance to explain, without letting her tell him how she truly felt.

“Things don’t always turn out the exact way we plan, darling,” Lily said, as if reading Andi’s thoughts. Andi groaned and rolled over, propping herself against the row of pillows. She peered across the room at her best friend, who’d pulled two mini bottles of whiskey out of the little fridge.

“Really?” Andi asked, sarcasm lacing her words. “You think I don’t know that?”

Lily didn’t bat an eye. “Well, for someone who claims to know that, you seem awfully phased by such a silly situation.

Andi sat up straight. “Silly? This is my life Lily, my whole future. How can you minimize it like that?”

Lily pulled a chocolate bar from the fridge and tossed it at Andi, pelting her in the shoulder.

“Great catch,” she said, grinning. “Eat some of that and then we’ll talk.”

Why the hell not?

Andi sighed and opened the paper and foil, busting off a large chunk of the dark deliciousness and stuffing it in her mouth. She passed the package to Lily in exchange for one of the bottles of whiskey.

Lily joined Andi on the bed, crossing her legs. “Look, sweetheart. You know I love you, and you’re the only author I can stand. All the others are batshit crazy—the lot of them.”

Andi laughed, snorting whiskey out of her nose, which burned like hell, causing her eyes to tear up for a different reason.

“All I’m saying is…for someone who’s taken a few knocks in life, you’re letting this situation get the best of you.” Lily’s voice was soft. “You’re stronger than that.”

“Am I, though?” Andi asked. The past week with Colin had made her feel like a new woman, full of verve and sass. She’d been ready to take on the world, until he’d pulled the rug out from underneath her and sent her crashing to the ground.

“I’m not even going to entertain that question. It’s stupid. I know, I know, they say there are no stupid questions, but that, my dear, is a stupid question and I’m not going to grace it with a response.”

“I’m serious,” Andi argued.

“I’m serious too.” Lily paused, toying with the candy wrapper. “For someone who writes romance novels, that always have a dark spot before the light, you’re giving up too easily.” She met Andi’s eyes, not a hint of humor in her tone.

“Do you want to be with this guy?”

“Yeah, I do, Lily. I really do.”

“Then go after him for shit’s sake. Tell him how you feel, or better yet, show him.” Lily wiggled her eyebrows up and down. Ridiculous.

“Oh my god, Lily, stop that right now. Don’t ever do that again.” Andi pinched her best friend on the arm and then grabbed a pillow to defend herself. They fought like teenagers until they were both crying with laughter.

Lily finally sat up, grabbing one of the whiskey bottles and polishing it off. “So, what’s your plan?”

“Well,” Andi said. “I have this crazy idea…”

Chapter Fifteen

Colin hadn’t even wanted to get out of bed that morning, much less go back to the set and don the Viking getup again.

He’d had a little too much scotch last night, and, feeling bloody sorry for himself after hours of brooding and an unanswered phone call to Andi, had fallen into bed just as the sun came up. Making him look like a ruddy fresh-faced warrior had required the makeup woman to cover him in gunk, and now he stood in the middle of a moor on the sunniest damn day he’d ever met in Scotland, the cheery light burning his bloodshot eyes.

“Cut! Take five.”

Colin let his shoulders fall, relieved for a moment’s rest. It wasn’t like him to fatigue during work, even on the longest days. But then, it wasn’t like him to propose marriage, albeit fake, to the perfect woman and then have her refuse, now was it? So it was no surprise he wasn’t himself. He knew he’d promised himself that he would give Andi a little time, let her have a day to think, to come to terms with why she’d backed out of their agreement, but he was starting to regret that decision. He felt her absence hard when he woke that morning, wishing desperately that she’d heard him out and had been in his bed, tousled and stunning from a night of sex. Instead, he’d woken up alone, looking like hell, and had been late to work.

Geoffrey, the director’s, voice cut through his thoughts. “Bjorn. We’re going to need a little more energy from you. Shake the lead out and come back with some pep in your step, bud.”

Colin nodded and waved an arm at Geoffrey as he walked toward the craft services table to grab some water.

He really needed to get it together. It was the last day of work and if he wanted to get out of there at a decent time, he’d have to do a lot better. Instead of waiting until tomorrow, he would head straight to Andi’s after this, and explain everything to her. He would do anything to get her back. Plus, he had some news he hoped would make her happy. He longed to see that smile again. If he could make her laugh, just once, the world might return to its axis and start spinning right again.