Her silence is unnerving. I keep studying her face, trying to find a clue in her expression. My chest feels tight, my throat thick, while I wait.
“Lover?” Her lips tip, her smile widening until her eyes crinkle. She gives me a nod, and I watch her eyes water. “That’s the second time you’ve hinted that word.”
“It is.”
“You said ‘my love’ earlier.” Her already full smile gets a little bigger. “Kane?”
I let my face show her what I’m feeling right now; I open myself and make sure she not only sees, but also hears. “I fucking love you, Willow Tate. Come to California. Be mine for the world to see.”
The satisfaction in her enchanting smile is so powerful that I swallow thickly at the emotion clawing its way up my throat. “I love you, too, Kane. God, do I.”
Fuck, she’s beautiful and all mine. Everything else will just have to fall into place because I’m not ever letting this woman go.
IT TOOK US ANOTHER WEEK to finish filming in Georgia. The weather had turned cold and dreary. Unfortunately for Kane’s filming schedule and all that time I had managed to save him, the bad weather put us way beyond saving the budget. We had to film all of the outdoor scenes during that unlucky time, and because of the scenes calling for bright and sunny weather, we had to improvise. Which put us five days over schedule.
Kirby had flown home six times in the time we were in Georgia. Forty plus days away from her family was too much for her, and I’m shocked that she only went home six times. Kane’s been so understanding and even helpful in making sure she was able to get away—hence the reason he brought in the extra help for her a week into filming. The second we wrapped last night; she hightailed it off the set and caught the redeye home. She has a four-day break to spend with her family before she’s needed in California, so I know she was eager not to waste a second of that time.
There are another three weeks to a month left of filming Impenetrable and I’ve been busy studying each and every call sheet I drew up for that timeframe, but also looking for ways we can turn a few filming locations into longer takes to cover more ground. I’m attempting to find a way to consolidate some of that time to make up for the budget slips in Georgia. So far, I’ve only been able to take a few days off here and there, but I haven’t been able to find a way to make up for all of the overages.
The last few days of filming before I flew back to New York were a whirlwind. I took over Sam’s position officially two days ago. After I agreed to the position, it only took a few days to get the contract signed. Even though it’s a little intimidating, I’m confident I know what I’m doing. I initially worried about the working relationship with Kane bleeding into our personal one, making up excuses that my fears had planted in my mind to pull back, but I know now it’s because of our relationship that I’m positive he meant every word about me being the only person he trusts.
Placing the last of my clothes into the box I had been working on for the last hour, I turn my head and look for the packaging tape I swear was just right here. I’ve been trying to get as much packing done as possible before Kane arrives. He had to handle some interview promos for Impenetrable and provide a tour of the set for the companion book that will release side-by-side with the film. Now that’s finished, he’s finally on his way back to me and we can officially cross Georgia off our to-do list.
My phone rings, and I abandon the search for tape, rushing to the kitchen where I placed my phone earlier.
“Hey,” I rush, trying to catch my breath after almost tripping over the stack of boxes in my path.
“You okay, baby?”
The rush of arousal from the deep rasp of Kane’s voice hits me instantly, and I smile. “Yeah, just almost took my head off on the way to grab the phone. Are you on the way?” God, please let him almost be here. I feel like I’m about to come out of my skin in anticipation.
“Just left the airport. It was a mad house. No fucking clue how they knew I would be here. Cam fought through the endless amount of paparazzi, but we’re mostly in one piece.”
“Mostly?”
A rumble of laughter follows my question. “Yeah. There was just a small incident.”
“Incident?”
“Not as bad as it sounds. However, I might not feel that way when TMZ repeats the clusterfuck that followed.” He laughs again.
“I’m going to go out on a limb and guess that since you’re laughing about it, there isn’t a need for me to worry about your well-being. You didn’t punch one of those paparazzi guys, right? I mean, I’ve seen it before when they don’t back off and it never ends pretty.”
He starts to laugh harder, and it’s hard not to follow suit, even not knowing the situation.
“Kane, you’re freaking me out with all the scenarios I’m imagining being painted all over the world right now.”
He manages to get himself under control, but I still hear the smile in his voice. “It was nothing like that. A chick was a little too exuberant in her quest to get to me. I’m not even really sure what happened, but one second, I was trying to weave through blinding flashes and screaming fans, and the next, I had a bra on my face and Cam had a bloody lip. Apparently, in her rush, she bumped into Cam, who then stumbled into the reporter from TMZ. It was a mess of elbows, grunts, and one dirty undergarment.”
By the time he finishes going over his airport insanity, I’m laughing just as hard as he was. “Should I be worried about flying bras?” I chuckle again just envisioning the scene described to me.
“Besides the fact that the only bras I want flying in my face are yours, no. It was just a normal day in the life of Kane Masters.”
I move and sit down on my couch; the only piece of furniture not covered in things I still have to pack. “Normal day, huh?”
“Exaggerating. Well, slightly,” he jokes.
“All right, all right. I’ll ignore the female masses and their lingerie heaving. As long as you only enjoy it when they’re mine.”
“Are you ready for me?” he asks, changing the subject.
“God, yes,” I breathe.
“Fuck, it’s only been a day, and I miss you like crazy.”
I smile, moving the phone to my other ear. “You have no idea, Kane. But if I get the kind of texts from you like I did last night, we might have to spend a little more time apart.”