Page 75 of A Little Bit Engaged
The ring was a shackle, keeping her from becoming the person she needed to be. She pulled the band from her finger. “Never been more sure about anything in my life.”
He gave a nod. “I know just the place.”
“Thanks.”
“Do you want to talk about what happened?” Lex asked from the driver’s seat.
“Thanks, but not yet.” Talking might bring tears. She couldn’t afford to cry right now. “I’m sure I’ll want to later.”
Rizzo studied her. His obvious concern touched her aching heart. “Is there someone you want us to call?”
Unfortunately, Loki didn’t talk. And then she remembered Troy and Brett’s generous offer. She needed a place to go. Not to hide per se, but to regroup. Portland was as good as any city. “I need to talk to my boss.”
After that, Cara would figure out what to do next. Taking one step was better than standing still. She’d been stuck in one place for too long. Time to start moving—not walking, but running—even if she wasn’t sure what direction to go.
♥ ♥ ♥
Heart pounding in his ears, Brody stood in front of the Bay View House. He’d been held up by Caitlin and her entourage. Now, there was no sign of Cara.
“Where could she be?”
“Who?” Caitlin asked, following him as if she were his shadow.
“Cara.” Brody scanned the street, both ways, for the third time, squinting in case he’d missed something. He hadn’t. He brushed his hand through his hair and then rubbed his neck. “Why would she leave without saying goodbye?”
“Who cares?” Caitlin’s bottom lip thrust out. The pout looked haughty, not adorable like it did on Cara. “She had her fifteen minutes, but now it’s our time. Let’s finish the wedding rehearsal.”
He flinched. “Excuse me?”
“You’ve planned and paid for a wedding. No reason to let the work and money go to waste,” Caitlin said in a matter-of-fact tone. “We’ll get married instead. My assistant is making us a reservation at City Hall so we can get our marriage license.”
Caitlin couldn’t be serious, except her expression hadn’t changed. Nor had the tone of her voice. No sign of anxiety or panic. She had the same expression in her eyes—success at any cost—that she’d had for over a decade.
Brody had been like that himself. That was why they’d skipped attending college and moved to Los Angeles instead. Their gamble had paid off eventually, but stardom wasn’t everything. There had to be balance—something that had been missing in his life before. Cara had shown him that. He loved acting and working in the film industry. He wanted to continue but not at the breakneck speed of the past three years. He wanted more in his life than just hit movies. He wanted love and a family.
Cara.
After the rehearsal, he’d wanted to tell her that. Caitlin, however, had ruined his plan.
“Come on.” With gloved hands, Caitlin tugged on his arm. “Let’s go back to the rehearsal.”
What she was suggesting went far beyond ambition. “No.”
She kept pulling on him, but he wouldn’t move. The only place he wanted to be was with Cara, and Caitlin was in the way.
He shrugged off her hand. “Stop.”
“You stop being stubborn and come on.”
He stared at Caitlin as if seeing her for the first time. Okay, she’d shown glimpses of being a stranger the past two weeks, but the mask she’d worn for so long had completely disintegrated. She was no longer the talented, gorgeous girl he’d grown up with. The one who’d been so vulnerable at one point but then bounced back stronger than before. The one who’d given him confidence their dreams weren’t out of reach.
The woman standing next to him wasn’t that same person. She was willing to sell out her sister to get what she wanted.
“My parents arrive tonight. Our friends, too. There’s a dinner at eight.” Caitlin spoke like the wedding was a done deal. “My stylist found me the most amazing dress. Not couture, but we can take a second set of wedding pictures with a custom gown when we get home from our honeymoon and sell those to the highest bidder.”
Had this been Caitlin’s plan from the beginning or had she regrouped along the way until she’d decided marrying him was the best solution? The best for her career? He wouldn’t put anything past her.
His muscles tightened. “No.”
