Red Lines (24 page)

Evan made sure the ring was secure on its velvet cushion and returned it to his pocket. It wouldn’t be long before he’d be presenting it to her in front of everyone. If she could pull off the same kind of reaction, the scene would be flawless—just like that diamond.

“I’m going to check in with wardrobe. I think I’m supposed to be in a gray suit for this scene.”

Emmy’s forehead furrowed. “Since when do you care about the wardrobe?”

“Since I know how important it is to get this stuff right.”

“I’m surprised you didn’t suggest Dexter propose in a flannel shirt and boots,” she teased.

“Em, I have more class than that. I’ll be right back.”

She giggled. “I’ll be here, babe.” Emmy waved.

He noticed she pulled out her phone and began typing furiously. No telling what had her distracted.

The wardrobe department had its own section inside the studio. On one side were racks of men’s suits, and on the other were dresses and rows of high heel shoes. Janet, the lead costume designer, was flipping through hangers on Emmy’s side of the room.

“Hey, Janet.” Evan strolled up next to her.

“What’s up?” She pulled out a black dress and matched it with a set of earrings she was holding.

“We’re getting ready to shoot the proposal, and I don’t think I’m supposed to be in a sport coat.” Evan pulled on the sleeves of his jacket. “I thought I read that I needed a charcoal suit.”

She shoved her glasses on her head and turned to face him. “Shit, yeah. That looks terrible.”

“Well, I don’t know if I’d say terrible.” He smiled.

Janet crammed Emmy’s dress on the rack and moved to the other side of the room. She pulled a clipboard off the front rack and folded over the first few pages.

“Right, it’s right here. Plain as day. Who in the hell laid that jacket out for you?” She walked along the rack until she matched up the suit number with what was on her clipboard.

“I’m not worried about that. They probably just confused the numbers or something. I only want to make sure I’m wearing the right thing.”

He didn’t know why, but he thought Dexter was the kind of man who would make sure his proposal was completely polished all the way to the duds he was wearing. The man was nothing if not meticulous. He had certain tastes that set him apart from other roles Evan had played.

“It’s a problem if someone on my team is giving you the wrong wardrobe. Proposal in a sport coat? What were they thinking?” She handed him the suit. “Here you go. Let me know if you need any other alterations. I don’t think we did a second fitting on this one. It seemed like you might have been too busy or something.” She returned her glasses to the bridge of her nose.

Evan accepted the garment. All the suits were tailored to fit him perfectly. He had spent hours at the beginning of the shoot being measured. There was a chance they even had the length of his big toe, but it was finally coming together.

“You know how it gets. I was slammed at the beginning and I let things get away from me.” He wasn’t about to tell her he had no interest in wardrobe, and that it didn’t make one bit of difference to him. This woman lived and breathed fabrics and accessories. He couldn’t insult her like that.

“I understand. But if it doesn’t fit right, tell me right away.”

“Thanks, Janet. I’ll let you know.”

“And be careful with that suit. We don’t have a replacement for it on set.” She brushed past him and started flipping through Emmy’s options again.

“Yes, ma’am. Got it. I’ll return it in perfect condition.”

He jogged out of the wardrobe room and past Emmy holding up the suit. “Give me five and I’ll be back.”

“All right. Don’t forget my ring!”

He tapped his front pants’ pocket. It was still there. “Don’t worry, darlin’.”

His trailer was humming from the air conditioner. He turned on the overhead lights and started shedding the current wardrobe to change into the charcoal suit. He had to give it to Dexter; the man had taste.

He looked at his reflection in the mirror. He looked different. The suit coated him in an aura of sophistication. He tugged on the starched white shirt and adjusted the cufflinks monogrammed with
DR
for Dexter Red.

“Not bad.” He chuckled to himself. He tucked the ring into the front pocket. His hand was on the door handle when his phone vibrated on the counter. He saw Jeff’s name pop up on the screen.

“Hey, man, what’s up? I’ve got about ten seconds.” He took another glance at his reflection in the mirror.

“Ok. I know it looks bad, and I know you’re probably thinking of a hundred ways to pummel the guy, but I’ll figure something out.” Jeff sounded out of breath. “We can’t exactly go on the offensive with someone that likable.”

“Slow down, Jeff. What are you talking about?”

“Wait, you don’t know?”

“Know what?” He was starting to regret picking up his phone. He didn’t want to lose his Dexter Red momentum.

“I guess you haven’t talked to Haven today?”

“Haven? Jeff, you better tell me what’s going on. I talked to her last night and she was fine. Is something wrong?” He felt a tightening in his chest.

“She’s fine. Don’t worry about that. But—”

“Spit it out, Jeff. What is it?”

“She was caught with Drew Easton having coffee. At least, I think it was coffee. I couldn’t tell exactly. The pictures are bad. The headlines are worse.”

“The singer Drew Easton?”

“Yeah, that one.”

Evan rushed to the back of the trailer where his laptop sat on a makeshift desk, and sat behind the chair. He only heard half of what Jeff was saying. There she was on Celeb Watch’s front page.

Brokenhearted again?

Carlson left for new heartthrob singer

Red Lines
blurred

He felt the shards of glass slice through his lungs as he forced them to work. Drew’s hand covered hers. She was running her fingers over his lips and laughing. What was this? He slammed the screen down.

“I don’t believe it.” He felt the vein in his neck throbbing. It was Emmy and Hawaii all over again.

“Listen, listen. I’m headed to Dallas this morning. I’ll make a detour to Austin and check in with her. I’ll get back to you tonight.” Jeff sighed. “I’m sorry, man, but I’ll handle it. In the meantime, I think you should just lie low today until we figure out how to tackle it.”

“You’re going to go see her today?” All he could think about was hopping on the jet and heading toward Texas. He would trade places with Jeff in an instant.

“Yes, I will get some answers today, but tell Emmy not to make any statements. I know how she likes to throw her two cents in every chance she gets. This is one time we don’t need her help. We’ve got to squash the idea that you’ve been cheated on. It doesn’t bode well for trying to make you the catch of the century.”

“I don’t care about that crap.”

“Right, but it’s my job to care. Turns out our strategy to lead the hounds in the opposite direction didn’t pan out like we thought. Haven has never really left their radar. I thought they had forgotten all about her. I’ll check in with you later.”

“I did too.” Evan thought the last round of pictures with Emmy had squelched the interest in Haven. He and Jeff had both been wrong.

Evan threw the phone on the couch. What in the hell was going on?

A loud fist banged on the door. “Mr. Carlson! Mr. Carlson, they’re waiting for you on set.”

Dammit. He glared at the door. “On my way.”

He stormed out of the trailer and toward the set.

“Hey, there.” Emmy smiled.

“Let’s just get this over with.” He groaned.

“What happened? You were just in the best mood, ready to propose, dancing on rainbows or something.” She studied his face. “Oh, you just saw the headlines, didn’t you?”

His gaze jerked toward her. “You knew?”

“Everyone knows. It was all over the news this morning. How did you
not
know?”

“I was reading my lines. I don’t follow that trash.” He didn’t know right now if that was to his advantage or not.

“I’m sure they’re Photoshop-ed or taken out of context. Take it from someone who’s been a victim of the press.”

“But you did cheat on me, Emmy.”

“Well, that part is true, but it wasn’t as bad as it looked in public. That should mean something.”

He shook his head. “It really doesn’t.”

She brushed the tops of his shoulders, pretending there was something there that needed her attention. “This suit does look amazing on you.” She batted her eyelashes at him lightly. “Are you going to be able to handle this today?”

“Yes, I’m fine.” He flattened the lapels while Emmy straightened the knot on his tie.

“I’m here if you need someone to talk to. I mean it, babe. Anything you need, I’m here.”

“Thanks, I can handle it. I know it’s just a big misunderstanding.”

There was no part of him that didn’t believe there was something to the pictures he had scrolled through. They were taken through a window, but they were crisp and clear. He knew that look on Haven’s face. He knew her smile. Those pictures weren’t fakes.

“Today, let’s forgot all that stuff.” She tilted toward him. “Let’s just be Karina and Dex and enjoy our moment, ok? This is supposed to be
our
day. I’ve been waiting to shoot this scene with you from the beginning.”

He nodded. If he ever needed an escape, this was it. He leaned toward her and brushed his mouth against her full pouty lips. He was going completely off-script.

“What was that for?” Emmy looked dazed, her chin still tilted upward.

“I just needed a reminder.” He turned from her and looked out of the sun-drenched windows.

Emmy pressed her fingertips to her lips. “And what did it remind you of?”

“That there’s only one girl I’m supposed to be kissing.” He didn’t turn to see the look on Emmy’s face, but he regretted the words as soon as he spoke them. Jealousy had twisted a knife through his chest, and made him act like an impulsive asshole.

“Em, I’m sorry. That wasn’t fair.” When he turned, she was gone.

He hung his head and shoved his hands in Dexter’s designer pockets, his fingers brushing the ring box. He had botched all the energy running between them for the proposal scene. But how could he propose when he was haunted by pictures of his past that looked identical to his present?

T
HE HEADLINES
were worse than Haven thought. She stared at the people walking on the sidewalk below her. Their lives were uncomplicated and simple. She bet none of them were plastered on websites, bare and exposed where other people could judge. Where they could leave hateful comments and taunt. Yeah, those people on the sidewalk were living normal lives.

Carly whistled as she walked through the door. “So, you sure know how to make an entrance in the music biz. Drew Easton?”

“Not funny. It was just coffee.”

“Coffee shmoffee. Looks like you were totally smitten with him.” She laughed and plopped down on the writing couch.

“Oh, God, it’s terrible, isn’t it?” Haven buried her hands in her face. “But I’m not smitten. Maybe a little bit of a crush, but only because I love his music and…I shouldn’t be saying any of this. I completely screwed up.”

“What did Evan say? I’m sure he was fine after you talked. He knows the deal with the press.”

The panic flooded her face. “I didn’t tell him about last night when we talked. Drew told me it would just blow things out of proportion, so I didn’t mention it. He said it was better that way.”

Carly started at her. “Drew told you to say that?”

Haven nodded.

“Girl, I think he totally played you.”

“What do you mean? He was trying to help.” Haven worried she might get sick right there. Her stomach was churning.

“Ok, so clearly your experience with guys is limited.” Carly pulled her guitar from its case. “Coffee? Come on. He’s into you.”

Carly’s words were true, but that’s not why she went with him. Although, it didn’t make any sense why she accepted his offer. Nothing good could come of hanging out with another mega celebrity. And not one who looked like Drew did.