Silence stretched the inches between Brody and Cara into miles. He wanted to bridge the gap, but he didn’t know how. She’d once been his best friend, closer to him than Caitlin had ever been, before life and distance separated them.
He hadn’t seen Cara since last year’s Oscars, knew little about what she’d been doing other than searching for a new job the past ten months. When he’d been struggling financially, trying to make it in show business, she’d sent him money to buy food and pay bills. He hadn’t been around to support her when she’d been laid off, hadn’t given her any money when she probably needed some, yet here he was, asking for a favor.
A big one.
Loki jumped off his lap and lumbered across the hardwood floor. The heater kicked on, blowing hot air out of a register. A siren sounded outside.
Still no answer from Cara.
“I’m sorry for showing up and dropping this on you. You’ll never know how sorry.” He owed her more than an apology, but this was a start. “Caitlin and I should have told you the truth about us breaking up when it happened.”
Brody wanted to reach out to Cara, but her erect posture with her hands clasped in her lap told him not to. He didn’t want to screw up more, so he dug his fingers into the couch cushion.
“We were selfish, caught up in something we hadn’t thought through. We didn’t think we were hurting anyone, just staying private, but now Caitlin needs us.”
Cara stared at the bay window, though the blinds were closed. Her stillness and tilted head reminded him of when they were younger. He used to find her in the tree house resting her elbows on the ledge, gazing at the Sacramento foothills in the distance.
He wished he could read her mind, but Cara, unlike Caitlin, kept her emotions hidden.
“Why was my sister at a bridal salon?” Cara asked in a matter-of-fact tone.
“Looking at wedding dresses.”
She tilted her head. “As a publicity stunt?”
“No.”
Cara blew out a breath. “My sister is engaged.”
It wasn’t a question. Then again, she was usually a step ahead of everyone else.
“Caitlin fell in love with her costar on a film that’s in postproduction. She explained about pretending to date me. He said he understood, but that didn’t stop him from proposing two weeks ago. Thumbing through magazines wasn’t enough for Caitlin. She couldn’t contain her excitement and wanted to see dresses in person. That’s why she was at the bridal salon.”
“Have they set a wedding date?”
“No. Alek’s divorce isn’t finalized yet. There’s a nasty custody battle going on for his two kids. He wants Caitlin to keep quiet about their relationship until everything is settled.”
“Alek?” Cara’s jaw tensed. “That actor who’s married to the supermodel?”
Brody nodded.
“That explains why Caitlin’s so worried about reputation.” Cara shook her head. “My sister is not only a liar, but she’s also a home-wrecker.”
Brody flinched. He wasn’t used to hearing Cara’s hard tone, but he understood why she felt that way. “Alek told Caitlin he was separated when he asked her out.”
“Was he?”
“I don’t know.”
Concern clouded Cara’s gaze. “What Caitlin said during the interview was bad enough, but her engagement to Alek worries me, too. It’s so unlike her.”
“What do you mean?”
“Alek has kids. Caitlin’s never wanted children. She hated babysitting. Ignored our younger cousins when we were in high school.”
Had Caitlin said that? Brody didn’t remember, but then again, marriage seemed so far off he’d never thought about it. Same for having kids. “She must have had a change of heart given the lengths she’s going to keep her relationship with Alek a secret.”
“Maybe, but this doesn’t seem like anxiety getting the best of Caitlin. We need to find out what’s going on before diving into her mess.”
“I told you before. She panicked.” Caitlin could cry on demand. Scenes full of angst were her favorite to film. She could be a drama queen to the nth degree in private, but she wasn’t a complete narcissist. “Your sister shot from the hip, and her aim was off. She did her best to recover.”
“Caitlin hit the target dead-on.” Cara tapped her finger against her chin. “She gave an award-winning performance with her tearstained face and sad, sorrowful eyes during the interview. No matter what we do, we’re going to be a diversion to what’s going on in her private life. Thanks to our so-called cheating and engagement, she’ll be comforted and indulged, all while gaining public support, even with a bad movie about to premiere and a soon-to-be-divorced fiancé with kids. Talk about a win-win. Whether this was off the cuff or premeditated, playing the victim is a brilliant PR strategy to keep her reputation sparkling clean.” Cara spoke as if she were giving a talk at one of those rare book symposiums she attended. “Though not for us. Well, more so you than me. No one knows who I am.”
He’d been in damage-control mode once he recovered from the shock of what Caitlin had said. He’d never considered she’d been doing anything other than panicking. They’d been lifelong friends, in a relationship for several months, and partners in crime since then. Even though she’d taken advantage of his friendship in the past, he trusted her. “Caitlin didn’t set us up.”
“I hope not. Caitlin’s been through some rough times, but she’s always done what’s best for herself,” Cara said in a pragmatic tone. “And you always jump to her rescue. She knew you would again.”
His instinct had been to protect Caitlin. Still was. He’d done that for both O’Neal sisters for as long as he could remember, and he wouldn’t stop now. “That’s what friends do for one another.”
“You’re a good friend.”
He didn’t deserve her praise. “Not lately with you.”
“It’s okay. I understand. You’re living the dream.”
Was he? Brody shouldn’t feel so ambivalent, but he was tired, drained from nonstop filming and promoting movie releases. He wasn’t enjoying himself the way he thought he would. Maybe if he got Caitlin out of yet another mess—and this was a doozy—he would finally feel free of his obligation to her and could relax. Do what he wanted, and not what everyone else expected him to do.
“What do you say about being engaged for a little bit?” he asked. “It’s not like we’ll have to get married for real.”
Cara touched his hand. Her fingernails were jagged and unpainted, but her skin was soft and warm. “Won’t being accused of cheating on Caitlin hurt your career?”
Cara’s concern was sweet but unwarranted. “No.”
He’d never built his reputation on something he wasn’t. Before he and Caitlin became a couple, he’d gone out with a lot of women. Dating Caitlin had helped him clean up his act, and he’d lived up to the role of a loving, loyal boyfriend. Once this charade was over, however, he didn’t want to go back to playing the field. He wanted to be in a committed relationship.
On the flip side, Caitlin’s sweet, wholesome reputation—a paragon of virtue and healthy habits—was nothing more than the result of her management team’s carefully planned packaging. She’d announced she was a vegan only to eat bacon cheeseburgers and drink milkshakes on the sly. She was more naughty than nice, less sugar than spice. Always had been, even when they were kids.
But her killer show business instincts had made them stars. Without Caitlin, he’d still be a bartender with the occasional commercial or guest role. She’d pushed him to audition for a movie being adapted from a bestselling young adult series set in space. They’d been cast as the romantic leads, and that one film became a mega-blockbuster franchise that propelled them into A-list stars.
“By the time my next movie comes out, this will have blown over,” he explained. “Another Hollywood scandal will be in the headlines. Mine will be forgotten.”
Two lines formed over the bridge of Cara’s nose. “Almost sounds too easy.”
“The public believes what they read or hear. All we need to do is prove what Caitlin said is true. We can plan a wedding and stage a few kisses to make our relationship appear legit.”
Something flashed on Cara’s face. More disappointment? Or was that laughter? Maybe he was reading too much into her reactions. It wouldn’t be the first time.
“Legit, right.” She sighed. “A real fiancée is the last thing a guy with a pretend girlfriend needs.”
Before he could reply, his cell phone rang. Caitlin’s name illuminated on the screen.
“It’s your sister.” He answered the call. “Hey.”
“Did Cara agree?” Caitlin sounded winded.
“Still working on that.”
She sighed. “I should have come.”
“That’s what I said.”
“Let me talk to her.” The words rushed out.
He handed the phone to Cara. “Here you go.”
Resignation crossed her features, and she raised the phone to her ear. “Hello.”
Brody understood. Few people could say no to Caitlin, including him.
“Yeah, he told me… I heard about you and Alek… But he’s married with kids… Oh, I didn’t realize he’d been separated for that long… That’s still a big change about wanting children… Yes… Let’s save discussing your wedding plans for another call. Pretending to be engaged to Brody isn’t going to—”
She rubbed her lips together.
Thirty seconds passed. A minute.
“No, I understand your reputation is at stake, but don’t forget about mine and Brody’s too,” Cara said. “Yes, I’m concerned about your mental health. Of course I love you, but I need to know if what happened during the interview was planned or impromptu… Really?… So the similarities to your movie just came to you?… Wow, you were lucky.”
Her voice sounded faintly sarcastic. She rubbed her neck and then straightened.
Brody wished he could hear Caitlin’s side of the conversation.
Cara shook her head. “I told you years ago I was fine with you and Brody dating… No, I’m not seeing anyone, but stop trying to make yourself feel better. Just because you’re getting married doesn’t mean Brody needs to pretend to marry your sister.”
He had to laugh at that.
“Wait… What did you say?” Cara’s forehead wrinkled. “Well, sure, not paying rent for six months would help me financially. That’s a generous offer… But what about Mom and Dad? If I agree, which I haven’t yet, promise you’ll tell them the truth about what’s going on… Fine, give me tonight to think about it. You’ll have an answer tomorrow.”
Cara hung up. Staring at her cat, she twirled a strand of hair with her finger.
His tense muscles relaxed slightly. Whatever Caitlin said to Cara was making her consider helping.
She handed back his phone. “Caitlin claims not to have planned this, and that everything just happens to tie into the movie.”
“Do you believe her?” The question slipped out.
“You must be rubbing off on me because I want to believe her.” Cara’s gaze traveled to the engagement ring sitting on the coffee table. “But this situation has disaster written all over it. Epic failure.”
“Maybe, but what choice do we have?”
“I get you’re willing to go all in. You’re a portrait in concern with your tone matching your creased brow.” Her mouth slanted. “But I’m not as sure of what we need to do as you are.”
His muscles bunched tighter.
“What’s it going to take to convince you?” He regretted asking the question. Yes, he was annoyed and frustrated, but he shouldn’t take out his feelings on her. She hadn’t asked for any of this. Still, he needed to know her answer.
“I don’t know,” she admitted. “But I have serious doubts about whether we could even pull off acting engaged.”
“We just have to fake it.” He spoke too fast. His filter had completely turned off. That happened when he was losing patience or upset. Tonight, he was both. He would try another tact. “It’ll only be for two weeks, three max. What’s the big deal?”
“You can’t seriously mean that?” Disbelief dripped from her voice. “Everyone who sees that interview will think I’m…not a nice sister.”
“Come on.” He tried to laugh off her concern, but he sounded more anxious than amused. “You’re the best sister and friend. Caitlin and I know that. What others think doesn’t matter. This will be a big adventure.”
“Caitlin’s the adventurous one.” Cara’s face puckered as if he’d asked her to swim to Alcatraz. “I prefer to escape between the pages of a book.”
“Then it’s time to close the cover and live your own story.”
After he removed the ring from the velvet box, he held the diamond so flashes of color shot around the room. She’d never been into jewelry. The way to her heart was with a first-edition book, the older the better, but money had to be tight after being laid off for so long even with her part-time job, which was why Caitlin had offered free rent. If he’d given Cara a book to sway her, she would keep it. The engagement ring wouldn’t mean anything to her.
“When this is over and life is back to normal, sell the ring. Use the money however you want. For yourself or the library programs you want to start.”
As her mouth formed a perfect O, hope filled her eyes.
He’d been right. She needed the money.
That made him feel guilty for not helping her sooner.
Still, Cara didn’t shout yes, but he didn’t expect her to. She never jumped into the deep end of a pool. Instead, she waded in, using the steps, one at a time. She was the type to hesitate, weigh the pros and cons before making any decision.
Loki meowed and rolled over.
Her gaze went from the cat to Brody. “No one will believe we’re engaged. I look nothing like Caitlin or someone you’d fall in love with.”
“You’re beautiful, too.” Cara was, just not in the same way as Caitlin. “Remember how you turned heads at the Academy Awards?”
“That’s only because you hired hair and makeup people to make me pretty after a day of being pampered at a spa.”
Being Caitlin’s twin hadn’t been easy on Cara. Growing up, she’d never attempted to compete with her sister. While Caitlin starred in one of their garage or backyard productions, Cara was the one who’d made up the stories and directed the plays. She hadn’t minded letting Caitlin take the spotlight every single time.
“Stop selling yourself so short.” They’d had this conversation before, though usually Caitlin sided with Cara. “All you have to do is look in the mirror, and you’ll see I’m right.”
“You’re my friend,” Cara countered. “You have to say that.”
Letting this discussion drop was the smart thing to do, but he wanted to say one thing first. “Someday, you’ll see that I’m right. Until then, we’ll just have to convince people we’re in love. That’s no different from what Caitlin and I have been doing.”
“Except you’d been in love before.”
Love? He wasn’t so certain he’d been in love with Caitlin. Oh, he’d cared about her, but something more like mutual survival had brought and kept them together. He and Caitlin had clung to each other during the rocket ride to stardom, a thrilling journey, but one also filled with desperation and uncertainty.
“Forget about that.” Brody tried to sound nonchalant, but wasn’t sure he’d succeeded. He needed Cara to agree without him having to beg. But if that ended up being required, he would. “You can do this.”
“I haven’t agreed,” Cara fired back. “Caitlin said I didn’t have to decide until tomorrow.”
That meant Cara would take each minute, every second, allotted to her before deciding. Unless he could push her along faster. “One night will make that big a difference?”
“Yes. No. Maybe.” Cara had a faraway look in her eyes. “I need time to think.”
She could be stubborn. If Cara needed time to decide, she would take it.
Which sucked. But what could he do?
“Fine, but remember,” he said. “The clock is ticking.”
Tick-tock. Tick-tock.
The imaginary second hand reverberated through his head. He never imagined Cara not saying yes, but now he wasn’t sure she would. “It’s late. Go to bed. I’ll sleep on the couch.”
“Goodnight, Brody.”
“Sweet dreams.”
He needed her to wake up willing to wear his engagement ring and be his fake fiancée…his pretend bride. Otherwise, he had no idea what he would do…or tell Caitlin.