Page 7 of Taking Chances in Cedarwood

“Right, Cain. Hi. How are you?” Liam asked. “I was told we’d be touching base. Where are you? Do I need to pick you up at the airport? Or are you still coming in?”

“I’m here in Cedarwood, flying under the radar,” Cain said. “I’d like to talk to you and get more of a chance to see how we fit together for the movie.”

“Sure. You’re at this number?” Liam asked. “I need to check my schedule, but I’m positive we can make something happen in the next couple days. Do you have the script?”

“I do, but it’s not the one with revisions.”

“Why?”

He sighed. “I sort of ran away from my life. I don’t have a computer, printer, my bank cards…my stuff.”

“Why would you do that? To get to know Cedarwood?”

“Because I wanted to get the hell out from under my handlers’ thumbs,” Cain said. “I wanted to be my own man and maybe see what made Cedarwood tick. I don’t know.”

“Okay.”

He froze.Okay?“You’re going to out me, aren’t you?”Fuck.“I’m at the Cook Court apartments. It’s not the best place, but it works. If you’re going to tell everyone and sell my story, just get it over with.”

“Nope. I’m going to call you back when I have a time we can meet and we’ll sort through this,” Liam said. “I’ve been in your shoes and I know what it’s like to want to disappear for a while. I won’t say dick. The one thing I will say is this, Cedarwood isn’t a regular town. It’s a community. People around here are like a family, but they have their moments when they’re conniving and nasty. With the right people, you can blend in for years. With the wrong ones or if you act like a drama queen, you’ll be outed and gone in seconds.”

“Understood.”

“I’m not trying to sound rotten. I get it. You want to be your own person and you should be,” Liam said. “But the more you make waves and act like the celebrity, the faster you’ll attract the attention you don’t want. Get your feet under you—you deserve it.”

“Thanks.” He wasn’t sure what he deserved any longer.

“I’ll call you later.”

“I’m looking forward to it.” He relaxed and hung up.

The phone call with Liam had gone better than he’d expected. He resumed studying the ceiling. Should he order food? Did anyone around here make certified organic pizzas? He should look it up, but didn’t feel like fiddling with his phone again.

His thoughts turned to Andrew. What was it about the farmer that drew him in? The proximity? Because he was the first man Cain had met in town? Or that he’d been nice to Cain? He hadn’t fawned over him because of his celebrity status. That couldn’t be it, but every time Cain had looked at Andrew, his body had tingled all over. Electricity had crackled around him. He wanted to capture that force and bottle it. Hell, he wanted it to never end. Andrew exuded the kind of confidence Cain wished he had when he wasn’t in front of the cameras.

Had Andrew felt the pull, too? He hoped so, but had no idea.

Christ. Worrying is a bitch.

Chapter Four

Andrew arrived at the apartment complex a little later than he’d planned. The theater group had wanted him to place the straw rather than just drop it off. They didn’t seem to care that he’d cleaned up to see Cain or that he wanted tostayclean, rather than get all sweaty. Still, he’d been the upstanding citizen and helped out.

He sat in his truck and debated his next move. Cain lived in apartment twenty-three. For all the times he’d driven past the complex—a line of connected houses, really—he’d never actually looked at them. The brick façade was crumbling in a few places and water had stained the spots by the downspouts. The sidewalks weren’t even and weeds grew in front of two units. He’d gotten the air of wealth and prosperity from Cain. This place didn’t exude either.

Does a place of residence define a man?Andrew shook his head. He’d been told his farm wasn’t plush or wonderful, yet he couldn’t imagine living anywhere else. He left the truck and made his way to number twenty-three. After one knock, Cain answered.

“Andrew.” Cain threw his arms around Andrew. “I’m glad to see you.”

“I’m happy to see you, too.” Cain’s jubilation confused him. “Everything okay?”

“It is.” Cain let go and gestured to the living room. “Come in. It’s a little messy. The housekeeper hasn’t arrived yet, and I’m on my own.” He laughed. “Who am I kidding? I’m the housekeeper.”

“Do you need some help?” The place wasn’t in that bad a shape. The blankets were all over the couch and a newspaper lay strewn on the coffee table. Cups and silverware had been left out. An hour of determination, plus some elbow work, would have the apartment in shape again.

“I’m good.” Cain tugged Andrew to the sofa and tossed the blankets on to the armchair. “Make yourself at home.”

He perched on the couch and laced his fingers together. “Settling in?” He wasn’t sure what else to say.

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