Riding the Line (24 page)
‘There’s just one problem . . .’
He raised his eyebrows at her. ‘Can I speak now?’
‘OK.’
‘What’s the problem?’
She sighed. ‘Money of course.’ Joe approached from the side and Robyn briefly closed her eyes. ‘Do you think you could do without me for a few hours? I feel real bad.’
He caught her chin in his hand and looked intently into her pale worn face. ‘You’re not going to do anything stupid, are you?’
‘
Really
stupid? No.’
Really
stupid? No.’
‘OK, I’ll see you back at the hotel then.’ He forced himself to step away from her. To his surprise she kissed his cheek and gave him a quick hug.
‘Thanks, Dakota. Thanks for everything.’
She waved at him and disappeared into the crowd milling around the set. He stared after her, a bad feeling in his gut. That had sounded like goodbye. Would he ever see her again?
‘Robyn . . .’ He started after her, but Joe’s voice interrupted his thoughts.
‘OK, guys, let’s get this scene done right.’
Reluctantly Dakota returned to his mark. He had to trust that she’d come back to him. He wasn’t going to become a possessive overbearing lover like his real father had been. That was, until he tired of a woman, and then dropped her as quickly as a hot potato.
Dammit, Robyn was turning him into a man he didn’t know, a man who’d risk anything to keep the woman he loved. What had happened to his calm easygoing nature? Why couldn’t he simply smile and walk away? Because she’d gotten under his skin made him crave her like water in a desert.
‘Dakota? Are you ready?’
He turned to Joe and nodded. The quicker he got this damned scene done, the more time to give his brothers a heads-up about Robyn and decide what they were going to do about Damien.
Robyn ignored her headache and headed for the bank. It didn’t take her long to deposit her documents for safe keeping and change the passwords on her cards, just in case Damien had somehow used them. She also drew out a large chunk of cash for Dakota. She knew he’d probably refuse a check, but if she stuffed the cash into his bags, he’d find it later and she’d be too far away for him to do anything about it.
She stepped into the balmy fresh air and stared up at the perfect blue sky. Why did it hurt so much to think of leaving him? She’d never felt like that about a man before. It would be so easy to stay and ask him to sort out her life. He certainly had the power and the connections to make stuffhappen for her.
The sidewalk was busy so she walked close to the shop windows and tried to avoid seeing her reflection. It had taken her years to realize that the only person who could save her was herself. She
had
to find a solution to her money issues, take care of Leda and get back to school. A cab appeared around the corner and she flagged it down. Time to face up to reality and visit the only person in her life who ever seemed to listen to her.
had
to find a solution to her money issues, take care of Leda and get back to school. A cab appeared around the corner and she flagged it down. Time to face up to reality and visit the only person in her life who ever seemed to listen to her.
Dakota wiped his face on the towel someone handed him and half listened to Joe who was congratulating him on his performance. Jeez, it was only a commercial. He couldn’t understand all the excitement. Jay and Lauren seemed to be enjoying it a lot more than he was, but then they didn’t have to stand in front of the camera. He looked around for Robyn, knowing she probably wouldn’t have returned, but hoping all the same.
Stephanie waved at him, her face alight with excitement. ‘Mr Scott! Mr Scott!’
He shrugged into his shirt and reluctantly walked over to her. ‘Hey, Stephanie, what’s up?’
She grabbed his hand. ‘The commercial is just awesome. Everyone thinks you could be a big star if you wanted to!’
Dakota withdrew his hand from her grasp and tried to smile. ‘Thanks, but I’ve already got too much going on in my life to chase that particular dream.’
‘Are you sure about that?’
Dakota paused to stare at the guy standing next to Stephanie who’d just spoken. His head was bald, his eyes shaded by black glasses and his suit shouted lawyer.
‘Yeah, I’m sure.’
The guy stuck out his hand and Stephanie giggled.
‘Oops I should introduce you! Mr Scott, this is Mr Pardini. He’s one of the best agents in Hollywood.’
Dakota shook the guy’s hand, just to be polite. Lawyers and agents were pretty much on the same level in his book. ‘Nice to meet you.’
‘I could make you a star, you know.’
Dakota smiled. ‘Isn’t that what they all say?’
‘Nope, I really can. I’ve already talked to your brothers and I’ve invited them to a little party I’m holding at your hotel on Saturday night. Perhaps we can talk then.’
‘I’m really not that interested . . .’ Dakota started to turn away but the guy blocked his exit.
‘Just come for five minutes and have a drink. You can bring your girlfriend and your friends.’
‘Where is Robyn anyway?’ Stephanie pouted. ‘I really wanted her to meet Mr Pardini.’
‘She’s off doing some errands this morning. I’m not sure she’ll be back today.’
Mr Pardini shrugged. ‘No problem. I’ll get to meet her at the party. Have a great day, Mr Scott, and see you on Saturday.’
‘Not if I can help it,’ Dakota muttered as he turned away and walked back to the relative privacy of his dressing room. Something about Stephanie and Pardini’s eagerness to flatter him into thinking they were his best buddies riled him. He’d noticed it a lot in LA, a falseness and lack of sincerity, a sense of people wanting something from you that didn’t sit well with him. He supposed that in a town where everyone wanted to be a star, reality was in short supply. God knows how Robyn had survived for so many years.
‘You OK, Dakota?’
Jay’s blond head appeared around the door followed by Grayson’s.
‘Yeah, come in. I’m just taking a breather.’
His brothers came in and pulled up a couple of chairs. Jay sat directly in front of him, his expression intent. Dakota shifted uncomfortably in his chair.
‘What?’
Jay grinned. ‘The commercial looks fantastic.’
‘I’m pleased for you.’
Jay punched him on the knee. ‘
You
look fantastic.’
You
look fantastic.’
‘Thanks, so do you.’
‘Is that all you’ve got to say?’
‘What do you want – tears and a hug?’
Jay laughed. ‘What I meant was that you look fucking amazing on the big screen. I’ve heard all this buzz about you being the next great cowboy hero. Joe says he’s been offered about a dozen scripts for you to read already.’
Dakota sat up straight. ‘Jay, I’m glad the commercial looks good but I don’t want to be a movie star.’
‘Why not?’
‘Because I want to have a real life, not all this artificial crap.’
‘You don’t like it here?’
‘What’s to like?’ Dakota shrugged. ‘Most of the people are phony, acting is a lot harder than it looks and I hate standing around without a shirt being told what to do.’
Grayson slapped his hand down on the table. ‘See, I told you he wouldn’t go for it. You owe me ten bucks.’
‘But Robyn lives here, right?’
Dakota frowned. ‘So?’
‘So if you stay here, you could see Robyn and do some acting on the side while you completed that masters program you’re so hot about.’
‘And what about the rodeo?’
‘I’m sure you could fit that in too.’
‘Jay, you’re fucking nuts.’
‘I’m just saying.’ Jay folded his arms across his chest and looked way too smug for Dakota’s liking.
‘I don’t want to be an actor, period, got it?’
‘I hear you, little bro, but don’t be so quick to throw the opportunity away. They’d pay you a shitload of money.’
‘Yeah and take away my private life, my dreams and suck me dry. I’m done, Jay. I’ll do the boot ads if you still want me to, but no more commercials.’ He held his breath as he held his brother’s gaze. Would Jay get mad or for once treat him like an adult and accept his decision?
‘Well, if you put it like that. I can’t say I’m not dis appointed but it’s your life.’
Dakota stared at him. Was it really that easy to stand up for yourself? He fought a smile, maybe he was tougher than he thought, maybe Robyn had shown him that it was possible to disagree with the people you loved without losing them.
Jay shrugged. ‘I did say we’d all go to a cocktail party on Saturday night with this big-shot agent because I thought you might be interested in pursuing this, but I suppose we don’t have to go.’
Grayson groaned. ‘I’ve got to go with Lauren anyway. She needs to keep up her business contacts, she tells me. I’d appreciate it if you both came along to keep me company.’
Willing to compromise now he’d said his piece to Jay, Dakota smiled at Grayson. ‘Sure, as long as Robyn wants to come, we’ll be there.’
‘So how’s Robyn feeling today? I noticed she left early.’ Jay said.
‘She said she was doing fine, but I reckon she was still a bit shaken up.’
Jay nodded. ‘So did she give you any more details about what happened? Do we know the name of the guy we’re going to have a little talk with?’ He nodded at Grayson. ‘I told Gray about this and he’s more than willing to help out.’
Dakota sighed. ‘It’s complicated. Beating the crap out of the guy might not work.’ He glanced across at Grayson who was listening intently. ‘If I square it with Robyn, I might need some legal advice to help her get this dickhead out of her life.’
‘It’s yours. I’ll set my best guys on to it.’
‘Thanks, Gray.’
‘You’re welcome. It’s no big deal.’
Jay snorted. ‘Not when you’re as rich as Grayson is.’ He hesitated and turned back to Dakota. ‘Are you sure you know what you’re doing with Robyn?’
‘What do you mean?’
‘Well, you hardly know her. Do you think she’s the kind of woman who’ll stick around?’
‘If I hog-tie her to my bed every night, yeah.’
‘I’m serious. There’s something about her, something I haven’t yet figured out.’
Dakota got to his feet. He hated keeping secrets but in this instance his loyalty to Robyn outweighed even his deep affection for his brothers. ‘There’s a lot you don’t know about her. I need to . . .’
‘Square it with her first,’ Grayson and Jay chorused.
‘Good luck with that, bro.’ Jay chuckled. ‘Robyn sure knows how to stand up for herself. Looks like she’s been teaching you a thing or two as well.’
Dakota smiled at the thought. ‘That’s one of the reasons why I love her.’
Jay held out his hand to Grayson. ‘Those ten bucks you just won from me? I’m taking them back. I told you he was totally pussy whipped.’
‘Well, you’d know all about that, wouldn’t you, Jay?’ Grayson backed toward the door as Jay advanced on him. ‘Helen’s no stroll in the pasture either, is she?’
Dakota shoved Jay through the door after Grayson and shut the door before the shouting elevated into a real fight. He’d said it out loud and in front of his brothers so it must be true. He loved Robyn. He closed his eyes and leant back up against the door. How the hell had that happened? She drove him nuts, made him behave like a caveman in heat. She made him laugh.
He opened his eyes and stared at the make-up clustered on the vanity. So much for waiting for love. Sometimes it crept up behind you and bit you in the ass when you weren’t expecting it. He’d always tried to avoid the messiness and potential pain of love by keeping everything superficial. He started to smile. Robyn let him be himself, warts and all. Now all he had to do was convince her that she loved him too.
‘So you see, I’ve been on an adventure. I hope you didn’t miss me too much. I was thinking about you all the time I was away.’
Robyn squeezed Leda’s thin fingers and kissed her gently on the cheek. She hardly noticed the hum of the machines around them anymore, machines that monitored every aspect of Leda’s life, each labored breath and spike in her temperature, each uncoordinated movement that no longer inspired moments of hope.
Leda’s eyes were open but there was no sign of her inside the quiet blue depths. She was the perfect listener, and she never interrupted. Robyn swallowed hard. Sometimes she longed to shake her sister, to slap her and scream in her face. No one who looked like they were just waking from a heavy sleep could really be in a deep coma, could they?
Over the years Robyn’s optimism had died as each new treatment failed, each sudden surprise was followed by bitter disappointment. Robyn knew that Leda would never get better. She’d always remain trapped in the cobwebs of her mind, for ever entangled in a half-life Robyn could only imagine.
She smoothed her sister’s cheek, noticed she’d lost weight again and began to talk.
‘So I met this guy. He’s one of the good ones; really, there are still a few around. He’s a cowboy and he goes to college. Can you believe that? You’d like him, Leda. He’s almost thirty so just around your age but you can’t have him, he’s all mine.’
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