Page 7 of A Little Christmas: Star
“No.” He leaned back on the couch, tipping his head from side to side. “I do have to be on set in the morning.”
“So, to start with, I’m a daddy. I didn’t know it, in so many words, back when we were together. I just knew I liked taking care of people, making sure they were happy and felt safe.”
“Exactly. That was why you were the perfect person for me at all those events.” He paused. “You really are a daddy? I was picking up the energy, but…”
“We were so young.” And I ached even more for both of us, perfect for one another but not ready to be that person yet. So much growing to do. “But if you were only comfortable in all those social situations because I was there, what did you do after you left? And before we were together?”
He grimaced. “Before, I did nothing. I worked, went to school between productions, and basically didn’t have friends. No dances or concerts or football games or anything. Even though I didn’t have any starring roles, I kept busy with all those little ones.”
“And after?”
“After, I put on my facade and did what I had to. I filmed, did promotional interviews, went to premiers or whatever was required. No more. No less. When it got too hard, there was a very private club where I could scene for an evening. It took a lot of doing, but it kept the pressure from building to where I couldn’t handle it.” His smile held more pain than joy. “And here you were, a daddy.”
“We may not have been able to express what we were back then, or at least I couldn’t…could you?”
“No, I knew what I liked, what made me happy, but I didn’t know there was anyone else who felt the same.”
“I don’t suppose a leading man who liked a tubbie with duckies would get some of the roles you’d had.”
He chuckled. “Probably not. I have to keep those things locked away in my ‘private desk drawer’ so the cleaning lady doesn’t see them.”
“I’m not sure how the Insurance Brokers’ Association would feel about a daddy, but in fact it’s kind of a perfect fit. I try to make sure everyone has what they need in case of a crisis of any kind.”
“Makes sense.” He sounded tired. “But sometimes it’s hard being someone else all the time, even if it’s for work. And I love what I do, don’t get me wrong. But you saw what happened before. I was going to check out Chained. Have you heard of it?”
“Heard of it? I’m a charter member.”
Chapter Six
Star
I was entirely too at home here in Caelum’s house. And now, knowing he was a daddy, it was like Fate had brought us together again. While I still felt the twinge of guilt over losing touch with him in all my busyness, there might have been a reason for it. Maybe we both needed to come into our own, finding out who we were, so that we could get back together in a transparent and new way.
I’d dated some daddies before, but Caelum was in his own league.
“Is there anyone you need to call?” he asked. Our thighs were pressed up against one another on the couch. His arm was slung over the back of the couch behind me. He’d moved the sofa to the side so that we faced the fire. I starred in a fair number of TV shows and movies, but sitting here, watching the dancing flames, was better than anything I’d ever made or seen. If I had my wish, I’d forget my career altogether, and stay with him.
Too bad that wasn’t the way life went.
I let out a long sigh and nodded. “I probably need to call my assistant.”
“How about I go make us some hot cocoa while you call them. I might be able to find you a treat, since you ate all your food.”
“I’d like that. Thank you.”
Caelum placed a kiss on the top of my head and got up, leaving me to my task. I hit the speed dial on my phone and only had to wait for one ring before Davis answered.
“Are you okay?” he asked.
There were assistants who were stern and ran a tight ship and Davis was one of those, but he also cared about me as aperson, not just a commodity. He was more than my assistant. He was my best friend.
“I’m fine. I’m at a friend’s house for the night. I got caught by the enemy and I ducked into a business trying to hide.”
Davis scoffed. He could smell my lies from a mile off. Or, in this case, the half-truths. “A friend? I looked at the blogs, Star. You ran into some insurance office. Did you pick that spot for any particular reason? Know somebody there maybe?”
Davis always knew when I was up to something. But I hadn’t even known it was Caelum’s office. “Maybe.” That dangling carrot would keep him content for a hot minute.
“All right. Keep some secrets. But you’re safe. That’s all that matters. I’ve been walking around town in your trench coat and that getup you use for going out in public, trying to keep them guessing but I think they’re onto me.”
