What it Takes (6 page)

With a muffled groan, Kelsey rolled her eyes. “We’re in a college town in the South,” she explained as if talking to a child, “and it’s the night before a home football game.”

“All the more reason to go out.” Grayson looked at Patrick. “Am I right?”

Patrick shook his head, sure he wouldn’t like where this conversation was heading.

“Aw, c’mon. I thought you liked those Southern co-eds.”

Patrick was right, he didn’t like where the conversation was heading. His eyes narrowed and his lips tightened. “I didn’t say that.”

“Yes, you did. Remember? We met those sorority chicks at that club in Vegas. You said something about that song, “California Girls.” You said you couldn’t wait to experience the Southern girls.” Grayson’s hearty laughter died abruptly when he looked at Kelsey.

Patrick saw her horrified expression then briefly glanced over his shoulder and met Veronica’s half-amused, half-embarrassed grimace. He looked out of the window directly across from him as he plotted Grayson’s slow, painful demise.

Kelsey visualized daggers at the top of Grayson’s head. At least he’d had enough sense to be abashed by what he’d said, and was now focusing on the table, refusing to meet her glare. “Okay, Grayson, first of all, you’re too old to be going after co-eds. That’s just asking for trouble,” she said and cast a quick glance at Patrick, who was focused on the window, an angry frown on his face. She hoped he was thinking of the women he’d been dancing with last night and was suitably ashamed of his behavior, as well. Kelsey looked back at Grayson. “Second, unfortunately, the co-eds will still be here next week, but the alumni and the rest of the game traffic won’t be. I’m just suggesting we wait until some other time, when it’ll be less crowded.”

She crossed her arms and tried to ignore Patrick, who was now staring intently at the floor as he leaned against the counter with his arms and ankles crossed. She could feel the irritation rolling off of him.

“Sounds good to me,” Veronica said, both eyes closed again. “Besides, we went out last night and we’ve all got scripts to study and lines to rehearse this weekend.”

“Great,” Grayson said with only a hint of sarcasm.

“And if we get bored, we can stay in and watch movies,” Veronica added.

Kelsey nodded and looked at Grayson. His lip curled slightly. “Well, then I guess it’s decided,” Grayson murmured. “Are we going to finish our game?” He pointed to the cards, still stacked neatly on the table. Kelsey ignored him and laid her head against the small window at her back as, understanding her clearly, he slowly put the cards away. “It’s a bit too exciting in here for me. I’ll talk to you all later,” Grayson said as he walked to the door. He left and they all remained silent.

“I’m going to my trailer too,” Veronica mumbled. “Maybe I can get a little nap, or at least enough coffee to keep me going.”

Kelsey gave her a small smile as she left, then her eyes drifted to Patrick, who hadn’t moved. She turned her attention to the window again and started to think about what Grayson had said earlier.

It really shouldn’t matter to her how many women Patrick had slept with; it really wasn’t her business. But could she ignore the rumors, exaggerated or not, and at least establish a friendship with him? She knew she wasn’t as open with him as she could be, but she didn’t open up to many people. She hadn’t in a long time. Despite their closeness, even Grayson didn’t know everything about her past.

Patrick sat down on the opposite end of the couch and watched the light play off of Kelsey’s face. She was lost in her own thoughts and he wasn’t ready to disturb them. He admired her clear, green eyes and how pure and innocent they looked. He studied the rest of her face again and saw a few small things he hadn’t noticed before, like the random freckles on her cheek and the slight arch in her brow. He shifted in his seat to adjust his view and she glanced at him for a moment.

“What was really going on between you two?” he asked.

Her brow puckered. “I told you already, we were just talking.”

The corner of his lips twitched to lift. He didn’t believe her. “He was just giving you career advice?” When she nodded, he added, “I could probably offer you something better.”

Kelsey looked at her lap and shook her head. “I bet you say that to all the girls.” She immediately looked at him and covered her mouth. “I’m sorry,” she whispered through her fingers.

“Really?” he murmured and suddenly had the sneaking suspicion she and Grayson had been talking about him. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“I think you know exactly what it means.” She dropped her hand and looked out the window again.

He wasn’t going to let her off that easily. “No, I’m afraid I don’t,” he taunted, “Would you care to explain?” He was rewarded with a squirm from Kelsey, but she still wouldn’t look at him.

“Like you don’t read the tabloids,” she scoffed.

He tried, unsuccessfully, to laugh that off. “You’re kidding, right?” He walked to the counter. “Those rags that have a picture of me with my latest co-star, right next to the picture of the woman who just gave birth to a giant pumpkin? That’s ridiculous. You don’t believe that stuff, do you?” The horrified look on her face made him immediately regret his question.

“I do believe there’s more fact than fiction when it comes to stories about you.” She pinned him with her eyes. “As a matter of fact, I’ve heard quite a few tales of your exploits from the crew.”

“I try not to listen to the stories they tell. They get bored and try to one up each other when they’re not working. One of the boom operators claimed he jumped off the roof of a ten-story building and walked away. Not everything they say is true.”

She turned back to the window and Patrick gritted his teeth. He wondered if this was the reason she avoided spending time with him. It was almost funny that she had let his reputation bother her so much.

Almost.

Her attitude regarding his behavior got under his skin, but he had no idea why. In his career, he’d never had an actress balk at filming with him because of his reputation. The ones who hadn’t liked it simply didn’t work with him. Kelsey’s reaction wasn’t exactly new to him, but it bothered him more than most.

After a few minutes of silence, he sat on the couch again. “They’re just friends, you know, it’s no big deal.”

Her eyes darkened slightly. “Friends with benefits,” she mumbled.

“What’s wrong with that?” he teased, hoping to lighten the mood.

Her scowl deepened. “I don’t typically kiss my friends in the middle of a crowded airport. Or make out with them in the back booth of a darkened restaurant.”

His grin deepened. “You should try it sometime,” he purred and leaned closer to her.

She jumped up like she’d been bitten and walked to the counter. “No, thank you,” she barked. “That kind of behavior doesn’t interest me.”

Patrick remained on the couch, pressing his lips together, trying not to laugh at her wide-eyed surprise.

“I’m glad you find this funny.” She narrowed her eyes and crossed her arms.

“Prudish behavior is not very becoming, Kelsey,” he said as she huffed. Patrick walked to the table and leaned against it. “You’re telling me it doesn’t interest you at all?”

Her long, light brown hair swayed as she shook her head.

“Is that a ‘no, it doesn’t interest you,’ or ‘no, that’s not what you’re saying’?” Patrick asked, teasing her while seeking clarification.

“That’s not what I’m saying,” she said quietly.

He took a step toward her and she stiffened. “Then what does interest you?” he asked.

Patrick stopped where he was and stared deeply into her eyes. There was a knock on the door and Grayson climbed a couple of steps. He cleared his throat before Kelsey looked at him.

“They need you on set,” Grayson said. Kelsey nodded and followed him out of the trailer with one last look at Patrick.

Patrick waited until the door closed behind them before he turned around. Through the window, he watched Kelsey and Grayson walk away. Grayson put his arm around her and said something in her ear. Kelsey’s entire body relaxed and she smiled broadly. She turned her head, and Patrick saw a little dimple in her left cheek and something inside him stirred.

She was probably the most unusual woman he’d ever worked with. It was going to be hard for him to keep his distance, regardless of what she wanted.

Three

K
elsey threw the refrigerator door open and nearly climbed into it. The cool air was the only thing she could think of to soothe her queasy stomach. After spending all weekend rehearsing, they’d finally agreed to their movie night on Monday. Grayson, of course, had brought a horror movie and then insisted on watching it first. Thirty minutes of blood and gore had proven to be almost enough to make Kelsey lose her dinner.

“Are you feeling all right?” asked a smooth voice behind her.

She gritted her teeth as she grabbed a bottled margarita, closed the door, and turned to Patrick with a tight lipped smile. “Great,” she lied. “Thanks.”

“Trying to cool the entire room?” he teased her as he stepped up to the counter and picked up a water bottle.

She shook her head and turned away from the living room. The light from the movie playing off of Veronica’s distorted features was too much for her to stomach. She put the cool bottle to her neck and breathed slowly out.

“Too much?” He sat on the floor with his back against the cabinets, the fridge on his left, and motioned for her to follow suit. She sat facing him.

“I guess it’s a good thing I didn’t go in to nursing.” The screams and sound of gore from the other room reached a crescendo and Kelsey shuddered in response. “We should probably let Veronica watch her movie tonight, we owe her that. I certainly have no intention of going back in there,” Kelsey whispered as she twisted the cap off the bottle.

“Well, I can’t let you sit in here all alone.”

Kelsey dragged the bottle along her cheek and Patrick’s eyes were drawn to it. “You don’t have to do that,” she argued, slightly shaking her head. “I don’t mind—”

He held his hand up to stop her. “I know you don’t mind being alone, but what kind of host would I be?” He flashed a roguish grin. “Besides, I don’t get many opportunities to talk to you.”

Kelsey turned away. Great, another reminder. Grayson had said it no fewer than ten times since their conversation in her trailer. Veronica had just mentioned it after Kelsey’s arrival in Patrick’s hotel suite. She was beginning to feel like the recluse she was pretending to be. “That’s true.”

He touched her hand with his finger. “I’m glad you agreed to this movie night.”

Kelsey jerked her hand away and sharpened her gaze on him. He looked innocent enough, but what was he up to? And why was her heart beating so quickly? “Well, it’s better than a bar.”

“You don’t like dancing?”

She shook her head. “I never said that.”

Patrick’s lips curved upward. “That’s right,” he said softly. “You just don’t like dancing with me.”

Kelsey opened her mouth a few times but no words came out. She had no defense for her actions and couldn’t think of anything to say.

“How could I change your mind?” he added in a low, silky voice as he inched closer.

Her pity quickly changed to caution. He was picking up where he’d left off in her trailer three days earlier. Did he really have such a one-track mind? His smirk broadened as the silence grew between them. Kelsey’s ire was hot in her throat.

She frowned at him. “I believe I made it perfectly clear that I’m not interested.”

“Actually, you didn’t.” He looked away. “We were in the middle of clarifying what exactly you aren’t interested in when we were interrupted.”

“Oh, please,” she scoffed. “You’re not that stupid.”

“No?” He cocked his head. “No, it’s not my intelligence you question, is it?” he asked. Then before she could answer, he laughed humorlessly. “No, that’s not what you don’t like about me.” He pinned her with a scowl. “We
have
established that, haven’t we?”

Kelsey’s cheeks grew warm. The last thing she wanted was to sit here and discuss her reasons for not liking him. She scrambled to stand.