Tempted By The Movie Star. Anna DePalo

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      “Maybe you don’t trust me,” Lexi said.

      “I’d trust both of you with my life. Trust isn’t the issue.”

      Rosie leaned forward. “Then what is the issue? I want to help you get out of this mess but I feel handicapped because I don’t know the whole story. I assume Geena doesn’t know it, either.”

      “No, she doesn’t.”

      “She probably should. It might be extremely important.”

      “I can’t tell you what happened unless you promise that you won’t take any action against Briana.”

      “Action?” Rosie blinked. “What kind of action would I take?”

      “I don’t know, but you both have to promise not to try and harm her by word or deed.”

      “Wow,” Lexi said. “This is getting intense. Want us to sign something in blood?”

      Matt sighed. “Your word is good enough.”

      “All right,” Rosie said. “Lexi and I promise not to harm that horrible woman.” She paused. “Or hire someone to do it for us.”

      Cade choked on his beer.

      Rosie waited until he’d settled down before turning back to Matt. “What happened?”

      As Matt described Briana’s behavior, his mom grew very still, but her fists clenched and her eyes glittered with an unholy fire.

      He finished the story and took a deep breath. “It’s safe to say she’s after revenge.”

      Rosie looked at him and her voice sounded deceptively calm. “I could strangle her with my bare hands.” The even tone coupled with the ring of certainty was a chilling combination. She didn’t get angry often, but when she did everyone knew to take a step back.

      He cleared his throat. “Mom, you promised not to—”

      “And I won’t. She’s not worth going to jail for. I wouldn’t dirty my hands on that piece of trash. But poor Cliff.”

      “He’s the one I’m protecting, not her.”

      “Just realize you won’t be able to protect him forever. I doubt you’re the first and you won’t be the last. He’ll find out sooner or later. Probably sooner now that everyone and his dog is online.”

      “But Matt doesn’t want to be the bearer of bad news,” Lexi said. “I get that. Cliff Wallace seems like a great guy.”

      “From what I’ve read about him, he is.” Rosie leaned back in her chair. “But I think he has a weakness for bad women. I should have known this one would be no different. She won’t last, but in the meantime, she’s caused problems for one of my own.” She glanced at Matt. “There must be some way to put a hitch in her giddyup.”

      “Don’t I wish,” he said, “but I’m fresh out of ideas.”

      “We’re all too tired to think about this now.” His mom stood. “We’ll tackle it tomorrow. But thanks for trusting me with the info.”

      “It wasn’t about trust.” He got up to give her a good-night hug. “Cade and I were worried the mama grizzly might fly to LA and do a number on Briana.”

      “And wouldn’t I love to! But I won’t.” She hugged him back. Then she said good-night to Cade and Lexi before walking back down the hallway.

      “I think that went okay,” Cade said after she left. “Sorry I slipped up, though.”

      “No worries.” Matt continued to gaze at the darkened hallway as he debated whether his mom’s room-juggling trick changed anything. “Once we got into the conversation about Briana, I knew she’d find a way to dig it out of me.”

      “Like Lexi said, it’s her gift.” Cade stood and came over to sling an arm around Matt’s shoulders. “I notice how you’re focused on that hallway and who’s sleeping at the end of it.”

      “Just thinking.”

      “I know how that goes. I don’t want to get all up in your business, but—”

      “Yeah, you do.” Matt turned to smile at him.

      “Let’s just say that Mom’s maneuver with the room switcheroo is well meant, but I doubt it’ll lower your stress level. I suggest an alternate plan. Lexi and I have a comfy sofa you can use tonight. That should keep you out of trouble for the time being.”

      “And we’d be glad to have you as our guest,” Lexi added.

      “Thanks, but I think I’ll just head down to the barn and make up a bedroll in an empty stall.”

      Cade nodded. “That works, too. I remember you used to like doing that, getting into your John Wayne persona.”

      Matt lowered his voice and moved closer to Cade. “Buddy, this is awkward as hell, but I have a problem if things heat up in the next day or two. I don’t have—”

      “Say no more,” Cade murmured.

      His color high, Matt glanced over at Lexi. “Don’t listen.”

      “Can’t hear a thing.”

      “Got you covered,” Cade said quietly.

      “Thanks.”

      “All righty, then.” Cade clapped him on the back. “We’ll shove off. See you in the—well, hello, sunshine.”

      Matt glanced toward the hallway.

      Geena stood there rubbing her eyes. Her glossy brown hair tumbled in waves over her shoulders and she wore a bright blue sleep shirt with a Captain America shield on the front. She put on her glasses and peered at them. “Why is everybody still up? I thought we had to be awake at dawn.”

      “We’re in the process of leaving,” Cade said. “Why are you up?”

      Matt was grateful for Cade’s response because he was incapable of making one. His tongue was stuck to the roof of his mouth as he noticed the drape of her sleep shirt and concluded she wasn’t wearing a bra. That could mean she didn’t have on panties, either. The ends of her hair were still damp from the shower.

      “I was thirsty and needed a glass for water.”

      Lexi started for the kitchen. “I’ll get you one. There’s a pitcher of cold water in the fridge. You’d probably rather have that.”

      “Thanks, I would. I’ll come with you. I need to know where things are.” Her bare feet whispered over the hardwood floor as she followed Lexi.

      Matt gazed after her, still at a loss for words. She was supposed to be tucked in her room with the door closed, not out here roaming around in a Captain America sleep shirt with nothing underneath but warm, sensuous, freshly showered woman.

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