His Leading Lady Read online

  He would follow her anywhere.

  Chapter 4

  Nicholas woke to the sound of a dresser door slamming shut. He blinked in the dim light of the bedroom as his brain raced to make sense of where he was.

  Alice’s bed, in her apartment. A grin spread across his face at the memory of the night before.

  Alice came out of a walk-in closet, fully dressed with her hair up and makeup done. Nicholas forgot how to breathe. Stunning. “Morning, beautiful.”

  She didn’t look in his direction as she headed toward a vanity and began sorting through a jewelry case. When she spoke, her voice was cold as ice. “You need to get going.”

  Nicholas stared at her back, certain he’d heard wrong. “Excuse me?”

  He heard her sigh before she spun around to face him, her face set in a mask of indifference, her eyes hard and unreadable—the exact opposite of the vision he’d seen in bed hours before after their third round of lovemaking, each more incredible than the last.

  “I said, ‘You need to leave.’” She drew the words out like he was a dimwitted moron. “I have to get to work, and I can’t leave with a stranger in my apartment.”

  “A stranger,” he echoed. He found himself staring at her, his eyes scrunched up in confusion—as if, if he stared at her hard enough he could make sense of what she was saying. “You want me to leave?”

  Even to his own ears, he sounded…pathetic. Still, her eye roll was straight up rude.

  “Did I do something?” he started. Irrational fear was rapidly replacing his confusion. They’d had fun the night before—hadn’t they? But maybe he’d moved too quickly. She’d seemed into it, but maybe he should have given her more time. He’d rushed thing like an idiot and now—

  “You didn’t do anything,” she said, turning back to the mirror to put on her earrings. Her voice was flat, expressionless. “We had a good time. Now it’s over.”

  He saw her shrug. “Time to move on.”

  “So you—uh—” He couldn’t think of anything to say. His mind was a blank. Granted he hadn’t thought this far ahead last night, but he hadn’t expected this. He’d assumed they would talk this morning. He’d been looking forward to waking up with her in his arms. Before falling asleep he’d envisioned a morning of getting to know each other—talking and sharing. Maybe making plans for a proper date. “You don’t want to…do this again?”

  He cringed as soon as the words left his mouth. Shit. She probably thought he was just using her for sex. “I didn’t mean—”

  Her laugh cut him off. It was short and harsh and completely lacking in humor. “Nice try, stud, but I think three times was enough for me. Besides, I don’t have time for a quickie.”

  Right. No time. She reached down and tossed his pants onto the bed, and he automatically reached for them even as his sluggish brain tried to process what was going on. “I didn’t mean did you want to do this again,” he said eloquently as he waved his hand toward the bed. “I meant—”

  She turned back to face him, impatience written all over her as she crossed her arms and waited for him to continue. He had to get this right. He had to fix whatever he’d done to mess this up.

  “I meant,” he started again. “I’d like to see you again.” He finished putting his pants on as he stood beside the bed, and took a step closer to her. She didn’t back away but he saw her stiffen.

  “I’d like to take you out, if I may.” He took another step, slowly, carefully. A part of him worried she might bolt if he spooked her.

  She raised one brow, the cold cynicism in her gaze rooting him to the spot. “What, like a date?” It was the sneer that accompanied the word that flooded his blood with ice water.

  “Yeah, something like that,” he said. “Not exactly unheard of, especially not after…” Yet again, he filled the space with a gesture toward the bed.

  She laughed again. “Sex. The word you’re looking for is sex.” Now it was her turn to take a step toward him, her eyes fixed on his. “We had sex. It happens. Now it’s over.”

  “But I thought…” The words were out before he could stop them. Everything about this was wrong. His stomach churned as his heart picked up its pace.

  Her lips curled up in a smirk as she tilted her head to the side. “You thought…what? What did you think?”

  He paused for a second, knowing how poorly this would go, but he couldn’t stop himself. “I thought we had a connection.”

  She froze, her eyes trained on him. And then her head fell back and she laughed. “A connection?” she said, cold laughter filling her voice and hardening her eyes once more. “That’s cute.”

  For the first time that morning, the confusion fell to the side to be replaced with anger. She was laughing at him. After he’d told her he thought there was something between them. After they’d slept together. “So you won’t even consider going on a date with me.”

  She stopped laughing then, but the look in her eyes was dangerously close to pity. “No offense, Doc, but I don’t date.” She looked him up and down. “Especially not men like you.”

  They were standing several feet apart, but he could have sworn she’d slapped him across the face. His head jerked back at the harsh words. “What is that supposed to mean?”

  She sighed again as if he was a tiresome child. “Look, you’re not my type, that’s all. So…can you see yourself out, or shall I show you the way?”

  * * * *

  Two days had passed, but he couldn’t stop thinking about Alice—about that night and then that morning. It had been night and day—literally and figuratively. And no matter how much he thought about it—how many times he replayed it all in his head—he couldn’t make sense of it.

  Maybe that was why he was standing in Ena’s doorway, shuffling uncomfortably as he debated whether to enter or walk away. He hadn’t even talked to Claudia about the other night—mainly because he wasn’t sure what to say. But he needed to talk to someone. And who better than someone she knew and trusted.

  “Are you going to stand out there in the hallway, or are you coming in?” Ena’s voice carried through the door, and he found himself laughing at the old woman’s no-bullshit ways. Letting himself into the room, he found her propped up in bed, a game of solitaire spread across her lap.

  “So,” she asked, looking up with a knowing glint in her eyes. “Are you here to play cards with me some more, or were you hoping to run into my gorgeous young friend?”

  He fell into the seat beside her. “Maybe a little of both?”

  He was rewarded with a grin as she swiped up the cards and began to shuffle. “You play rummy?”

  Glancing at the clock, he said, “I’ve got time for one game before my next meeting.”

  She started to deal the cards. “So what happened between you two? Are you the reason she’s only calling these days, making excuses to stay away from the hospital?”

  He didn’t try to hide his surprise. “She’s avoiding the hospital?”

  Ena gave a short nod. “Oh, she’s been sending me treats and gifts—she’s a sweetheart deep down, you know.”

  His mind flashed on a memory of her cold, hard glare as she kicked him out of her apartment. No, he didn’t know.

  “But,” Ena continued, “she’s been awfully squirrely about why she can’t come visit in person. And we were supposed to watch Singin’ in the Rain last night, one of her favorites.”

  Nicholas wasn’t sure how he was supposed to respond to that, so he muttered something about being sorry, although he wasn’t sure why.

  She was waiting for him to speak, clearly hoping he’d have the answer. “I, uh, I think perhaps there was a misunderstanding between us,” he said.

  Her eyes narrowed on him. “A misunderstanding, huh?”

  Before he could reply she let out a loud sigh. “Don’t tell me, she’s pushing you away.”

  Nicholas wasn’t sure he’d heard her right. “What do you mean?”

&nb
sp; Ena shook her head. “Never mind. So what is it you want from me?”

  He could appreciate that she was a straight shooter and he tried to match her in her honesty. “I was hoping you could explain why she acted the way she did—”

  She was shaking her head before he could even finish. “No can do. Sorry, kid, but Alice is one riddle you’ll have to figure out on your own.” Her watery brown eyes met his. “But I can promise you, she’s worth the effort.”

  His shoulders slumped, his traitorous brain flashing on her brilliant smile, the wicked, mischievous glint in her eyes that spoke of intelligence and a sharp wit, the husky seductive voice. Are you going to stand there all night, or are you going to undress me? “Yeah, I have a feeling you might be right.”

  After they’d played in silence for a little while, each apparently lost in thought and not speaking much, Ena finally piped up. “I’ll tell you what. I can’t get in the middle, but I can give you her phone number.”

  His chin shot up and his gaze locked on hers as a burst of something dangerously close to hope had his blood pumping. “I’ll take it.”

  The moment she gave him her number, he dialed and cursed under his breath as he was sent straight to voicemail. With a glance up at Ena, he typed out a text. Nothing complicated, just a reminder that he was there and he wasn’t going away.

  Any chance you’ve changed your mind about that date?

  He set the phone down by the edge of Ena’s bed as they continued the game, but he noticed that Ena’s eyes flickered to the phone to see if there was a response almost as often as his did. By the time the game was over, the atmosphere in the room had grown mellow, sad almost.

  His phone was deathly silent.

  * * * *

  Alice couldn’t take her eyes off the screen. Any chance you’ve changed your mind about that date?

  Nope. She hadn’t. She definitely had not changed her mind. But hearing from Nicholas had not been part of the plan and his phone call, followed by his text, set her on edge. He should have gotten the hint and disappeared by now. But no, for some reason the sexy doctor was still in her life—unseen, perhaps, but he hadn’t gone away. The worst part was, she didn’t know what kind of game he was playing. She’d slept with him and then treated him like dirt. Either he was a glutton for punishment or he had an ulterior motive—no sane man would still be trying to woo her, for God’s sake.

  “Waiting for an important phone call?” Meg asked.

  Alice jumped on her barstool. Her sister had been waiting on some stragglers from the late lunch crowd and now was standing right next to her, watching her watch her phone.

  Meg laughed at her start of surprise. “What has you so jittery?”

  Alice shook her head. “Nothing. My boss just asked to see me in his office this afternoon, but I have no clue what it’s about.”

  That wasn’t entirely untrue—Dixon did ask to see her—but that wasn’t why she’d been staring at her phone.

  Meg nodded slowly. “Mmm-hmm.” Her tone was filled with disbelief. “That doesn’t explain why you’ve been acting so weird these past couple of days.”

  Alice’s stared at her sister. “What do you mean?” Her confusion was genuine. Sure, she’d been feeling a bit off since her night with the doctor, but she’d thought she’d been doing a damn fine job of covering it up. She’d met with Tamara and the others just the night before to finalize some plans for the theater’s fundraiser and she’d been totally on her game.

  Meg was eyeing her with suspicion, but she let it drop.

  Alice let out the breath she’d been holding. Thank God. The last thing she needed was to have to lie to her sister, who always seemed to see right through her bullshit no matter how cleverly she hid the truth.

  And the truth was that she was miserable. No, not miserable. She was…dead inside. That was it. She stirred the ice in her club soda as Meg waddled behind the bar to cash out one of the remaining customers. Dead inside. Maybe that was a tad melodramatic. But it was the only way she could describe the sensation, even to herself.

  She’d done the right thing when she’d kicked Nicholas out of her apartment. She knew that. Yes, there had been some guilt at the sight of the hurt look in his eyes. She’d been cruel—but she’d had to be, she reminded herself. Clean breaks were the only real breaks.

  Still, that knowledge hadn’t made the hollow, empty pit in her chest any easier to bear. It was entirely illogical. She didn’t know the guy well enough to be attached. Still, this frozen feeling wouldn’t ebb. Normally if she was this down she’d go watch a Fred and Ginger movie with Ena, but her friend was still in the hospital and that place was currently off-limits.

  There was no way she would risk running into the sexy doctor again—not when she was feeling so…off, like her world had slipped off its axis. She didn’t trust herself to be around him.

  But this would pass. It was just hormones or a vitamin deficiency or something. Soon enough she’d get back on the horse, so to speak, and that one-night aberration would be a thing of the past.

  The only problem was—she glanced down at her phone again, aware that Meg was still watching her like a hawk. He was supposed to hate her after the way she’d treated him. She’d been horrible. Mean and cold. Why the hell was he reaching out to her?

  Why was he being nice?

  It didn’t make sense. That feeling of the world being off kilter kicked in again, leaving her dizzy.

  “You don’t look so good. Are you sure you’re all right?” Meg leaned over the bar, her big belly bumping up against the row of liquor bottles beneath it with a loud clinking sound.

  “I’m fine,” Alice said with a sigh. “You’re the one who’s nine months pregnant. I should be asking you that. Do you need to sit?”

  Meg rolled her eyes. “You barely let me lift a glass during the lunch rush. I think I can handle closing out a few tabs.”

  At that reminder, Alice tore off the waitress apron she’d wrapped around her slacks to keep her office clothes clean. “I like helping out on my lunch break.”

  Meg raised a brow in disbelief, but she didn’t argue. “Between you covering my lunch shifts and Jake hovering over me every time I attempt to clean up around here—I’m starting to feel useless.”

  “Then maybe you should do as we keep telling you and go home and get some rest.”

  Meg scowled, but whatever argument she was about to give was cut off by Tamara’s arrival. The petite blonde had clearly run over from the theater next door because she was winded, her cheeks flushed. “You will never guess what just happened.”

  Before they could even try to guess, Tamara hurried on. “The developer who’s been talking to the owner about buying the place? He took the deal off the table. He found another location.”

  Alice couldn’t stop the squeal of excitement. It was girly and high-pitched, but it was also well-deserved. The whole crew had been terrified ever since they’d found out that Ben’s company had approached the owner to buy.

  “Did Ben call off the deal?” Meg asked. Her voice was breathless, and Alice knew why. Tamara did too, judging by her answering grimace. “I have no idea. I hope so….”

  They were all rooting for Ben to finally stop being a spineless ass and realize that he was in love with their friend. Finding out that his company had been the one to potentially destroy their theater had been a crushing blow for Caitlyn, who was entirely too sweet and trusting for her own good. But if Ben had finally come to his senses… Maybe he’d called off the deal for her.

  The ice inside her chest almost thawed at the thought. Alice liked Ben, she had from the first time Caitlyn had brought him by to hang out with the crew at Cagney’s, Jake and Maggie’s bar. He was funny, charming… And she saw something in him that she could relate to. Maybe it was his cynicism or his tendency to keep the people he loved at arm’s length—either way, she thought the two of them could be friends one day. If he would ever get his head out of his
ass and realize that Caitlyn was the best thing that ever happened to him.

  “I hope Ben did this for Caitlyn,” Tamara said as she plopped down onto the stool, her eyes practically glowing with excitement.

  “Me, too,” Meg said with a sigh. “But even if he didn’t. This is amazing news. The Ellen still has a chance to find a buyer who actually appreciates its history.”

  The alarm on Alice’s phone interrupted their celebration. “Sorry, kids, I’ve got to get back to work. Can’t be late for the boss-man meeting.”

  Tamara gave her a hug good-bye but when Meg leaned in to peck her cheek, she whispered, “Whenever you want to talk about what’s really bothering you, you know where to find me.”

  Alice backed away with a quick wave, ignoring the flicker of pain. She didn’t want to talk. Not now, not ever. She was more than happy to be the sounding board for her friends’ man troubles and life dramas, but that was so not her. She’d made that decision ages ago.

  She did not do drama. Nor did she do relationships, or pining, or crushes, or any other stupid romance nonsense. That was all meant for the movies, thank you very much.

  With that thought, she hopped in a cab back to her office in Midtown. When she arrived, she paused in the lobby to take a look in the floor-to-ceiling mirror. Smoothing back the hair that had fallen out of its chignon during the lunch rush, she applied one coat of lipstick for good measure before getting on the elevator.

  She hadn’t been lying about being a little nervous about this meeting. The hope that this might be the day that she finally got her promotion had her stomach flip-flopping with excitement. Placing a hand over her stomach, she ordered it to remain calm. Do not get ahead of yourself.

  The only thing worse than disappointment was getting one’s hopes up and having them crash down around you. That much she knew to be true. How often had she watched her mother fall madly in love, over-the-moon ecstatic about whatever loser had come along this time? And every single time it ended the same way—heartbreak and despair. Their mother a broken, crying wreck, losing herself in a bottle of vodka rather than playing with her kids.