Can't Stand the Heat - Louisa Edwards [124]
“Well, look who’s here. Damn, darlin’, used to be I considered everyone who made it through my door a friend, but you make me want to revise my policy on refusing service.”
Miranda stiffened at the open hostility in his voice. “I suppose you’ve heard about the Market book.”
“Darlin’, everyone’s heard. You’re famous. Or is that infamous? Smart little writer lady like yourself ought to be able to tell me which.”
“You really do all stick together, don’t you?” It was very appealing, that loyalty. When it wasn’t aimed at keeping her out.
“Adam’s a good man. I’ve worked with him, and I know all about how he runs his kitchen. No way is Market like you said. No way did Adam Temple sleep with that woman like some kind of gigolo. And no way did any of his crew deserve to have their private lives dragged through the muck.”
Miranda wasn’t about to explain everything to this guy, but the obstinate twist to his mouth made her think he wasn’t upset in the abstract—there was someone special at Market whose secret she’d revealed. She sighed, remembering how ready he’d been to jump in with that baseball bat when she’d thought Jess was being attacked.
“I promise, you don’t have to tell me what a bitch I am, I already know,” she said. “I’m trying to do something about that. Is Devon Sparks here tonight? I need to talk to him.”
Christian’s hands stilled their furious slicing as he stared at her. “For the record,” he said slowly, “I’d never use such ugly language to refer to a lady. And Devon’s not here.”
Shoulders slumping, Miranda turned to go, already trying to devise some other way to get in touch with him. It wasn’t very likely he’d take her call, and she didn’t have his home address—
“Yet,” Christian called, stopping her at the door. “Shit, I can’t believe I’m doing this.”
“Yet.” Miranda pounced. “You mean he’ll be here later?”
“Almost definitely,” he said, as if the words were being pulled from him. “Probably soon. He’s here most every night when the show’s filming a new season.”
Miranda felt a strange mixture of relief and dismay. “Do you mind if I wait here for him?”
The bartender sighed. “Always was a sucker for big blue eyes. Sure, come on and sit down, I’ll fix you something.”
“Do I need to look at a cocktail menu or anything?”
Shaking his head, Christian started mixing and pouring. The drink, when he set it down in front of her, was clear and fizzy, with a lovely garnish of fresh mint.
“Club soda with mint-lime syrup,” he told her as she took a sip.
“It’s good,” she said. “Very refreshing.”
Christian winked. “No alcohol. I figure you’re gonna need to keep your mind as sharp as possible for the conversation with Dev.”
“You taking my name in vain, Chris?” The smooth, sexy voice slid down Miranda’s back like an ice cube.
Devon was here.
“Hey, man,” Christian was saying, reaching across the bar to slap Devon’s palm. “How was shooting today?”
“It was—Wait, you wouldn’t be trying to trap me, would you? Anything I say in front of Miranda Wake is liable to show up online later tonight.”
Pulling her best poised, calm demeanor around herself like a cloak, Miranda gave Devon a serene smile. “Devon Sparks. Nice to see you. Won’t you have a seat? I’ll buy you a drink.”
Devon snorted, but he was obviously intrigued enough to slide onto the barstool next to hers. “It’s cute that you think I pay for drinks. Ever. Dirty martini, tonight, Chris, none of your little experiments.”
“One day I’m going to send your bar tab to your accountant and give the guy a heart attack,” Christian threatened over his shoulder as he picked through the gin.
“Don’t skimp on the olives,” Devon demanded before settling back and looking Miranda up and down. “To what do we owe the pleasure of your return to this shithole? Looking for fresh material? Or were you hoping to replace Temple in another way”? His sneer was blatantly sexual, but his eyes were cold and flat, like a shark’s.
She’d taken a lot of abuse in the last few days, most of it deserved, but this was too much. Her temper flared. “Don’t be more disgusting than you have to be, Sparks.