Idolized (Hollywood Stardust Book 3) (57 page)

“Miss Caine, I’m sorry if I startled you.” The guard bowed his head, but he wasn’t blond, he was grey.

“Are you sure there was no one else?” She glanced at Rodger.

“Not that I saw. Why?” Rodger buttoned his suit jacket.

She shrugged. Maybe she was wrong. “I’m sorry I overreacted.”

Once more, her phone rang and without looking, she hit the button and lifted the device to her ear. “Ryder.” She needed to call him and tell him what she saw. He needed to tell her it would be easy to mistake grey and blond hair, especially in such a quick flash.

“Congratulations!” Her mother’s voice stabbed her right through her ear.

No, no, no, no. “I take it you saw the story on the Internet.” Cora said and put her hand over her eyes.

“He’s quite the catch. Reel him in good, wrap him up in twine, and make sure you take very good care of him.” Her mother made a purring sound.

This whole thing was starting to make Cora’s head throb.

“Since it seems as if my costume did the trick to make the superstar put a ring on it, I’m having some little toys delivered as an engagement present. Use the blindfold and handcuffs wisely, my daughter, and you will have a happy man.” The woman cackled.

Dare she tell the woman the outfit nearly had the opposite effect? No, that would only make this conversation longer. “Mother, I need to go.”

“I want to be involved in the wedding, so let’s talk when the whirlwind dies down.” Her mother made a kiss noise into the phone and hung up.

“Blindfolds?” Mouth half open, she faced Rodger once more. “My mother is sending me a blindfolds as an engagement gift. Does anyone really like that or is it just a fad?”

Rodger smoothed down the lapels of his suit jacket. “People do like it.”

As she considered his words she bit her lip. “Don’t people want to see what’s going on?”

“Well, I do.” Rodger’s voice came out low and powerful.

Really? Intrigued, she tilted her head and opened her mouth.

He held his hand up, stopping her. “Don’t we have to get to the office?”

“You know, you brought me condoms. In part, this whole thing is your fault.” No sooner had she said the words, than her phone rang once more. Maybe Ryder finally saw the news.

Not one to make the same mistake twice, this time she glanced at the number, cursed the fact it wasn’t her sort of betrothed, and answered. “Logan?” Along with her head pounding, now her chest tightened.

“Are congratulations in order?” he asked.

Of anyone besides Ryder who would understand, it would be Logan. “I think the tabloids may have gotten ahead of themselves.” Damn she wanted to say yes, let the congratulations start. No she didn’t, she didn’t even want to marry him, she might love him, but he made her crazy. Who was she kidding? She wanted to marry him, but could she?

“I understand,” he said. “I was only wondering because he hasn’t shown up on the set yet and we sort of need him.”

Though she wasn’t looking at herself in a mirror, she felt the color drain out of her face. “What?” Was that why he didn’t call Logan? Was he on the way to the set and something happened? “What do you mean he’s not there?”

Before Logan had the chance to answer her nonsensical question, her phone beeped indicating another call. “Hold on!” Instantly she clicked over.

“Cora.” Viktor said her name in the way that let her know something was serious.

“Oh my god, what is it?” She sank to her knees.

“I take it you’ve already seen the tabloids,” Viktor said.

“Viktor, what’s wrong?” Hated tears stung her eyes. Only minutes before, she swore she saw someone stalking her. What if they got to Ryder? What if there was more than one?

“You got an email from Stargazer saying congratulations and to focus on reaching for the stars.” His tone came out flat.

The shaking that took over her body caused her to drop her phone.

“Cora?” Rodger rushed to her side.

“I swear I’m being followed and there’s another email from that stargazer.” She turned to Rodger and grabbed the lapel of his jacket. “Now Ryder’s missing, he didn’t show up on set!”

Rodger didn’t move. No, he didn’t do anything, only stared at her. The situation was dire enough that even Mr. Magic himself couldn’t fix this with his incredible briefcase and gadgets.

“Where’s Ryder?” she asked. There was no algorithm to deal with this one.

“Right here!”

At Ryder’s voice echoing through the building lobby, she stood with just enough time to watch him dash through the space, and in a move only he could pull off, slid down on his knees and skidded to a stop in front of her. “Cora.” He took her hand and slipped something metal into her palm. “I really love you. That crazy love that makes me forget my name, forget my lines, forget everything I ever was before you.”

With everything else that happened that morning, she could only conjure the strength to stare at him and try to listen to his words. What was going on?

“I wanted to get you a ring, but then I thought that we should do that together. I had to give you a token only I could give you.” He turned her hand over revealing a key then reached into his jacket pocket and handed her an envelope. “I would have asked you sooner, but it took me a couple of days to figure out how to complete the paperwork. Just like my grandfather gave my grandmother the cabin, I want to stay with tradition and give it to you. I want us to have our history there, our kids, our life, I want to give you our sanctuary.”

“The cabin?” Her gaze darted between the key and his glorious face.

“Will you marry me?” He put his hand over hers.

Here it was, here was the moment. The perfect moment on every count. Not only had he told her he had been working on this for several days, which meant he wanted to ask before the story in tabloids, but when she thought for those brief few seconds he was missing, her thoughts hadn’t gone to another woman or to something bad, but to his wellbeing. The fact he gave her his most prized possession said everything he felt about her. Above all else, the second he showed, she felt safe. She loved him, she trusted him, she wanted him, and he protected her. “You are my person, of course I’ll marry you.” Yes, she wanted to marry him.

A smile graced that face, the face of her future husband, and he stood and took her into his arms. “I love you, baby.”

“I love you.” No sooner had she said the words before he connected their mouths. She just signed up to be the wife of a superstar. In many ways she would be stargazing the rest of her life. She only hoped they continued to soar in the heavens and never crashed down to earth.

HOLLYWOOD STARDOM

FADE IN:

INT. LOS ANGELES – COFFEE SHOP - DAY

ROXY sits in the coffee shop staring into a cup of coffee.  WILLIAM enters the shop, looks around and joins her.

WILLIAM

(pulls off his sunglasses and sits down)

What’s going on?

ROXY Holds out her hand and shows him the ring.

WILLIAM

(Nods at the ring)

I heard you got engaged.  Why do I feel like I’m not supposed to say congratulations?

ROXY

Is this right?

WILLIAM

Don’t you ask these types of questions to Charles and not me?

ROXY

Exactly.  What happens if I lose my best friend?

WILLIAM

The day you fall in love you don’t lose a best friend, you gain a partner.

ROXY

That sounds like one of your songs.

(Shakes her head)

CAMERA PANS DOWN TO THE RING ON HIS FINGER.

ROXY

Was it like that for you?

WILLIAM

When you know, you know.

ROXY looks at him.

WILLIAM

Have you talked to STEVEN about it?