Cara ran inside the Bay View House. Each step pummeled her aching heart, but she couldn’t stop or stay. Hot tears burned. She blinked them away.
For now.
Grabbing her purse from the bride’s dressing room, she continued toward the front door. She’d made the right choice, but what was she going to do now? Where would she go?
“Need a ride?” Lex asked.
He and Rizzo stood in the entryway.
She glanced over her shoulder. Part of her wished Brody was coming after her, but he wasn’t.
And wouldn’t.
But at least she could get out of here without too much trouble. She forced herself to breathe. “I’d love one.”
Lex jiggled his keys. “Let’s go.”
She followed the two men outside. “You have perfect timing.”
Lex grinned. “That’s why they pay us the big bucks.”
“Yeah, right.” Rizzo opened the passenger door and climbed in after her. “Though we were on our way over. A local friend who is a PI called to say something big was happening at the Bay View House. He wanted to give a heads-up since he knew we’d been there with a client.”
A PI? That sounded like something out of a book or movie. “I don’t understand why it matters.”
“A wedding between two A-list movie stars is happening that will bring out the crowds and paparazzi.”
Two movie stars. The PI hadn’t meant her and Brody, but…
Caitlin and Brody.
Goose bumps covered Cara’s skin. She rubbed her arms even though she wasn’t cold.
That had to be it.
Caitlin had known about the wedding they’d planned and the breakup that would happen before the ceremony occurred, but she hadn’t known Brody had moved up the date. Yet, Caitlin was here. How would she know about the change of plans?
Unless she’d hired someone to keep track of Cara and Brody. That was the only thing that made sense since they hadn’t told her everything they were doing. Yet, somehow, she’d known.
No way had marrying Brody been part of Caitlin’s initial plan, but somewhere along the way, she’d decided that was what she wanted. Cara had blindly played along when she…
She should have known better.
With her sister and with Brody.
He wasn’t just out of Cara’s league—he belonged in another galaxy. Yet, she’d fallen head over heels in love with him.
Again.
A vise gripped her heart. She’d even planned his and Caitlin’s wedding. She didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.
The diamond on her left hand sparkled in the sunshine. She twisted the band. Brody had told her to sell the ring when they were finished and keep the money.
Well, she was finished.
Cara stared at the gorgeous ring. Brody hadn’t selected the style out of love and a desire to please her. More likely desperation fueled by panic. The ring was nothing more than a placard to tell the world she was engaged to him. A way to make their relationship appear “legit.” Holding onto the piece of jewelry for sentimental reasons made no sense.
Not now.
She held up her left hand. “I need to get rid of my engagement ring. Do either of you know a good pawn shop?”
Rizzo’s brows drew together. “Sure you want to do that?”
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.”
“This venue isn’t what I had in mind, and I’m sure there won’t be an orchid in sight.” Caitlin continued speaking as if he hadn’t said anything. “I hope my sister didn’t go all English garden wildflowers for the floral arrangements.”
“We’re not getting married, Caitlin.”
“Of course we are.” She acted nonplussed because Cait Neal always got her way, especially with him. “This is what has to happen.”
“Because your fiancé dumped you?”
“Alek was a mistake. I was never in love with him. Not really.” The words rushed out. “Can you imagine me as a stepmother?”
No, Brody couldn’t.
“But you and me.” She ran her fingers down his arm. “We’re good together.”
“We haven’t been together in over two years. Even when we were dating, it was one drama after another and not that much fun.”
More bad times than good. Which was why they’d broken up.
She touched his face and snuggled close, wiggling her chest and pressing her hips against him.
He felt…nothing.
“We can try harder this time,” she whispered in a seductive voice.
Brody stepped away. He’d been too blind to see that everything Cara had said about her twin sister was true. He hadn’t wanted to believe Caitlin was capable of lying and manipulating those closest to her, but she had. Caitlin didn’t care who she used or hurt as long as she got what she wanted. Not seeing the truth had made him feel stupid, rendered him speechless at the worst possible time. That wasn’t going to happen now.
“No.” His tone was harsh. Exactly as he intended.
She drew back. “You can’t say no to me. I’m mentally fragile. With my anxiety issues, I might—”
“No.”
Her lips parted as if she was about to speak.
“Nothing you say will change my mind.” Brody didn’t want to listen to her any longer. She was toxic. He wanted her out of his life. For good. “I appreciate all you did for our careers, but I’ve spent the past three years feeling like I owe you. You’ve taken advantage of my gratitude, making me cater to your every whim and demand. Holding your anxiety over my head like a guillotine. Are you even in therapy and taking medication?”
Guilt flashed across her face before vanishing. “I’m doing better.”
She hadn’t answered his question. There was a big difference between doing better and not needing to see a doctor, meet with a therapist, and take medication. And that was when it hit him. “You’ve been using your anxiety issues to get what you want.”
From Cara.
From him.
From her parents.
They’d all gone along with it. Especially him.
His jaw tensed. “This entire time, you’ve been the one pretending. Claiming to be mentally fragile. Suggesting you might hurt yourself if things got too bad.”
“I…”
Brody held up his hand. “I’m not finished. To save yourself and continue to appear above reproach, you destroyed your sister’s life and reputation. Turned your parents against her, took away job opportunities, and left her homeless.”
Caitlin gave one of her trademarked pouts. “You make it sound so…premeditated. I still suffer from anxiety, but perhaps I slightly exaggerated how bad it was after I was put on the right meds, got in therapy, and learned coping techniques.”
Unbelievable. All this time…
Anger burned. “Cara and I have done whatever you asked for years. We bailed you out of trouble because we love you and never wanted to see you spiral again. You, however, have done nothing but use us. That ends now. You’re on your own.”
Caitlin’s mouth gaped. “But—”
“I have to find Cara.”
Brody took a step toward the front door.
Caitlin grabbed hold of his arm. “Why do you care where Cara is?”
He jerked out of Caitlin’s grasp as if her hand were poison. “Because I love her.”
The reason was as simple as that. He just hadn’t realized it because he hadn’t known what love was until Cara. What he and Caitlin shared hadn’t ever been romantic love. Friendship, infatuation, strong like, but never love. But he and Cara…
He had to find her. Maybe Jackson knew where she was.
Caitlin laughed. “You don’t love my sister.”
“Yes, I do.”
Her gaze narrowed, and he saw a glimpse of the girl he used to know. “Really?”
“Cara means everything to me.” Brody loved her with his whole heart. A part of him always had growing up, but he’d been too young to understand how he felt or to see how wonderful Cara was. He’d been too blinded by ambition, stardom, and…Caitlin. “Your sister is the smartest, kindest, most beautiful woman in the world. I’ve never known anyone like her. If I let her get away, I don’t know how I’ll live with myself.”
He only hoped it wasn’t too late.