Part 21 (1/2)
”Did you remember to pack your copy of the script?”
”Yes.”
”What about your daily planner?”
”Yes.”
”What about-”
He stopped walking and turned to her. He squeezed her hand gently. ”I've packed everything.”
She gave him a shaky smile. ”I don't know why I'm asking you all these questions. You're used to all of this, going away, leaving the country to make movies.”
Sterling stepped closer and looked deeply into her eyes. ”No, I'm not used to this at all,” he whispered huskily, fiercely. A strong hand reached out to gently touch the nape of her neck. ”This is the first time I've ever gone away and left behind the woman I love.”
He leaned down and touched her mouth with his, placing his arms around her waist and bringing her closer to his body. The kiss deepened as he used his tongue to fill his senses with the taste of her, and to fill her senses with the taste of him. He slid his hands from around her waist to her rounded bottom, running his hand obsessively and possessively over her smooth curves, and at the same time absorbing her whimpered moans of pleasure in his mouth.
Sterling broke the kiss and pressed his lips against the hollow of her throat, breathing deeply, erratically. ”I love you,” he whispered as his lips, moist and warm, inched their way to her earlobe.
”And I love you, too, so very much,” she said in a trembling, choked voice.
Sterling lifted his head. He leaned back and gazed into Colby's eyes. They were glistening with tears that began running down her cheeks. She quickly swiped at them.
”Now see what you've done, Sterling Hamilton. I had promised myself I wouldn't do this. But see what you made me do.”
He pulled her into his arms understanding completely. He didn't want to leave her, either. ”It isn't too late, Colby. You can change your mind and come with me if you want.”
She smiled through her tears. ”And let you accuse me of being a distraction? Never.”
He grinned. ”But you'll be a distraction I'd like. You know how much I enjoy spending time with you, baby.”
Colby grinned. ”Yes, well, at least while you're gone I'll be off my back for a while.”
Sterling's laughter could be heard through the mountains and trees. ”I thought you liked being on your back beneath me.”
”I do.” She took a deep breath and placed her hands on her stomach. ”If I didn't get pregnant before from our time in Barbados, I'm probably pretty pregnant by now.”
Sterling's hand covered hers. ”How soon will you know?”
Colby shrugged. She would have a pretty good idea within the next couple of weeks. ”How soon do you want to know?” she asked him.
He smiled smugly. ”I already know. It's you who's the doubtful one.”
The smile Colby gave back to Sterling was tender, loving. He was convinced he had gotten her pregnant in Barbados. She reached up and wrapped her arms around his neck. ”Time will tell, Mr. Hamilton. Time will tell,” she whispered before pulling his mouth down to hers. And she realized as she curled into him, arching her hips closer toward him, just how much she wanted his prediction to be true.
Chapter 22.
Colby sat on the blanket she had spread out on the ground and watched a squirrel dart from one tree to the other. She loved the beauty of this particular area on Sterling's land, a small clearing nested beneath a cl.u.s.ter of pecan trees. While he'd been home, Sterling had brought her here every day just to sit and talk. Sometimes, more often than not, they would also end up doing other things. She couldn't help but smile when she thought of those other things.
She placed aside the book she had brought with her to read. Her mind just wasn't on it right now. Sterling had been gone for ten days and she was missing him something fierce. At first he had called her every morning before he left for the movie set, and then again at night before he retired to bed. But for the past few days, he had only called in the mornings and then his conversations had been brief and rushed. And so far today, she hadn't heard from him at all. She wondered how things were going with the filming of his movie. Some critics had predicted it would be Spielberg's greatest achievement and with Sterling in the lead role, it would gross more than the amount being spent to make it. Sterling was one of the few actors who consistently delivered twenty-five-million-plus movie openings.
Colby didn't know very much about the woman who would be his leading lady in this movie, Rachel Hill. He had told her he'd never worked with her before, and that she had starred in a British film a year ago that had been quite a success. However, this would be her first American film. Colby had seen a picture of the woman in a magazine and thought she was simply beautiful.
She managed a wry smile. Lucky for her this movie didn't call for any love scenes. At least she hadn't seen any when she had taken a peek at the script Sterling had left on the kitchen table one day.
Colby twisted around when she heard Mac call her name. She stood when she saw him and noticed the worried expression his face.
”Your brother just called, Colby. He's at the hospital. Cynthia may be losing the baby.”
”Oh, no.” Colby began racing toward the house. ”I have to get to Richmond, Mac,” she said, knowing James was probably going out of his mind about now.
”I can't believe James called and made the situation seem worse than it was,” Cynthia said, smiling at Colby and frowning at James.
”That's okay. I just didn't know what to think when Mac said James had told him you'd been taken to the hospital and could be losing the baby.”
Cynthia waited until after the nurse had left from taking her temperature before responding. ”I complained about having a little stomach pain, and James literally freaked out.”
”I was worried,” James said in his defense, kissing his wife on the lips.
”Well, no harm's been done,” Colby said. ”Mac drove my Jaguar here in record time.” She chuckled. ”It's a wonder he didn't get a ticket.”
”How long will you be staying?” Cynthia asked.
”I'm staying in town tonight but I'm leaving to go back home first thing in the morning. If Sterling calls he'll be wondering where I've taken off to.”
The doctor then entered the room and told James that Cynthia would be released in the morning. The pains had been from an overactive baby making Cynthia's abdomen slightly uncomfortable.
”Colby, do me a favor and take your brother home and put him to bed for a nap. I think this little excitement has worn him out,” Cynthia said, laughing.
”Sure thing.”
When Colby walked out of the hospital with James on one side of her and Mac on the other, she was unexpectedly surrounded by reporters. They were everywhere and were flas.h.i.+ng their mikes and cameras in her face. Mac reacted quickly and placed himself between Colby and a number of the reporters.
”Have you seen this morning's paper, Mrs. Hamilton?”
”What comment would you like to make?”
”Did you have any idea about the affair going on between your husband and Diamond Swain?”
”Why did he order that she replace Rachel Hill in his latest movie?”