“I will admit I was foolish enough to let a nice piece of ass distract me but I don’t love Randi. I found out pretty quickly I don’t even like her. She’s the most self-centered woman in Hollywood. Believe me, she’ll milk all the publicity out of this break-up that she can get. Why should I drag her through the holidays and expose my family to her selfishness when I have no intentions of staying in a relationship with her?
“I would’ve done this before but Randi zipped out of town pretty fast,” Rhett continued. “And I mean it. I need to speak to her in person. I owe her that much.”
“You sound pretty sure that’s what you want to do.”
Determination showed in his eyes. “I am. I’ve reached an age where I hope I’m mature enough to live my life doing what I want to do. What’s the right thing to do. I’ve learned I can’t please everyone but I can please myself.”
Rhett’s words got Cassie thinking.
Suddenly, she knew what she really wanted to do, too.
◆◆◆
Cassie showered after their run and puttered into the kitchen to make coffee.
Breck beat her to it. He must have overnighted with Jo.
He sat at the table, a frown on his face, a pencil tapping a piece of paper, as she entered the room.
“Morning, Breck. Thanks for making coffee.”
He jumped like a bee had stung him. “Oh, hey, Cass.” He quickly folded the paper and went to the refrigerator. “Want me to get you some juice? There’s apple and orange.”
“No.” She poured a cup of coffee and added sugar and creamer before taking a seat.
“What’re you working on?”
Breck sat, his hands covering the page in front of him.
“Nothing much,” he said, a little too nonchalantly. “Making a list of errands. Things that need to get done before Jo and I head to see her folks.”
“Hmm.” Cassie sipped her coffee, studying him over the rim. “Whose name did you draw in the Corrigan gift exchange?”
Breck opened the page and scribbled something. “One more present I need to shop for before we leave.”
“That’s okay. Rhett didn’t think you’d bought anything yet. I’m going to be taking your place Christmas Day. Tell me whose name you drew and what they might like.”
Breck made a point of opening the page again and scratching through what he’d written. “That’s great. One less thing to buy. Uh, you’ll need to get Nadine something. Scarlett sort of drew her name but she thinks her mom hates everything she gets for her, so I traded with her. With me shopping for her, Nadine’ll have low expectations anyway.”
“How would she know you have her name? I thought things like this were supposed to be kept secret.”
“Because Suellen drew her mom’s name first and blabbed by accident. So, she traded with Scarlett, who then traded with me. But Suellen told Nadine that, too. I swear Suellen would’ve made a lousy spy. She spills everything she knows.”
He brightened. “Nadine will really be surprised when she gets something from you. It’s about time.” He thought a moment. “She doesn’t like heavy scents, like musk. She does like pastels. Don’t get her anything for the house. She’s way too picky and will take back what you do get her. Her ears are pierced so anything silver’s a safe bet.”
Cassie nodded. “Good advice. I think earrings would be nice.” She pushed her coffee mug aside. “I think I will have some orange juice after all.”
“I’ll get it.” Breck stood and walked toward the refrigerator. The minute his back was turned, Cassie snagged the paper lying on the table. She knew she was invading Breck’s privacy but she couldn’t help herself. She scanned it quickly as he got a glass from the cabinet and poured her orange juice into it.
When he turned to face her, Breck caught her sliding the page back across the table. Cassie gave him a guilty smile.
“Damn you, General.” Breck took two steps and snatched the page from her hands. “You are one nosy Texan.”
“How long have you been writing, Breck?”
He sat and shrugged. “A while. I mean, I’m not really writing. Just playing around with a few ideas. Nothing’ll come of it. I get bored sometimes. Especially when we’re filming. There are hours between set-ups. Some people crochet. Others read or listen to music. Me? I scribble a little here and there.”
“I used to write short stories.”
“Really? Are you any good?”
“I had a few published in the school literary magazine. I let writing drop after I came to California. Funny we should be talking about this because I decided this morning while I was running that I wanted to write again.” Cassie smiled. “I’m going to write a screenplay.”
Breck sat up, interest written all over his face. “A screenplay? I would love to sink my teeth into something like that.”
“You and I are a pretty good team, Breck. We get along well. We’re brutally honest with each other. Why don’t we play the Coen brothers and write a script together?”
He gave her a sly smile. “General, I love it when you talk dirty.”
“I mean it, Breck.” She paused. “I already have in mind the actor we’ll write it for.”
Breck leaned closer. “You’ve got my attention.”
“It’ll be for Rhett.” Cassie propped her elbows on the table and rested her chin on folded hands. “We’re going to break Rhett out of his action mold and show America—no, the world—that he’s got real acting chops.”
CHAPTER 16
Cassie drummed her fingers nervously on the steering wheel as she waited for the light to change. Why did Rhett have to mention her accompanying him to Ken’s movie premiere during their poker game last night?
Ken jumped on it, telling Cassie that his wife, Melanie, happened to be shopping first thing in the morning for her own outfit. He volunteered Melanie’s services to help Cassie find something to wear. Ken called Melanie and passed his phone to Cassie in the middle of a hand, calling a halt to play until the women decided on a time and place.
And while Cassie tried to wrap up the conversation quickly, Zak Mercury glared at her the entire time. Once off the phone, Darin Hart was full of advice on how to do her makeup since the red carpet lights played havoc with everyone. He told her he’d been washed out so badly the first time he’d walked the carpet that the tabloids nicknamed him Caspar.
Rhett’s trainer, Leo, suggested Cassie go with something short to show off her toned legs. Leo thanked Cassie again for getting Rhett to run regularly and warned her to lay off anything fatty or salty at least four days before the premiere.
Cassie hated the intense attention focused on her and did everything she could to steer talk back to the game. She found it too hard to concentrate after that and begged off to go home early. Once there, she googled Melanie Cameron so she would recognize her tomorrow morning.
Melanie put the hot in hottie.
On top of that, Carreen called before poker night, wanting to discuss Rhett’s imminent break-up with Randi. Rhett had shared with his sister what he intended to do once Randi arrived in town and Carreen called Cassie with advice on how things would play out with the press. Carreen stressed how Cassie needed to be prepared for the absolute worst since Rhett would be in a cranky mood. With Rhett being Hollywood’s reigning bachelor, the media would ignite with the news.