One Special Moment - Brenda Jackson [44]
“So you fell in love with him, Sterling Hamilton, the movie star.”
Colby thought about her actual first meeting with Sterling in Edward’s office, and the time she had spent with him since. Although there were a number of things about him she didn’t know, like his relationship with his mother and the full truth behind his relationship with Diamond Swain, a part of her felt that over the past couple of days, she had gotten to know him in a way deeper than she would have by just reading about him in newspapers and magazines. She had gained more insight into Sterling Hamilton, the man, moreso than Sterling Hamilton, the actor.
“No, I didn’t fall in love with Sterling Hamilton, the actor, but I have fallen in love with Sterling Hamilton, the man,” she said simply, regulating her tone when she realized the words she had just told Cynthia were true.
She almost stopped breathing and a tight knot formed in her stomach. How in the world could she have allowed herself to fall in love with Sterling Hamilton! She felt as if a heavy hand was closing around her heart, squeezing it. How could she have let herself fall under his spell like a zillion other women?
Colby clenched the phone in her hand until it hurt and slowly eased up. She took a deep breath and tried not to panic. Somehow and some way she would find a way to deal with this.
A sound behind her caught Colby’s attention. She turned to find Sterling standing in the doorway. She could tell by the way he was looking at her that he had been privy to her conversation with Cynthia; specifically he had heard the part where she had said she loved him.
She quickly turned back around. “Cynthia, I have to go,” she blurted out. “Someone just came in.”
“Who?”
Colby rolled her eyes upward. “Look, we’ll finish this conversation later, I promise.”
Out of the corner of her eyes Colby saw Sterling walking toward her. Before she had a chance to react, he was standing right in front of her.
“May I?” he asked.
Not giving her a chance to respond, he took the phone out of her hand. “Hello, Cynthia. This is Sterling.”
There was complete silence on the other end. Sterling quirked a brow and covered the mouthpiece of the phone with his hand and whispered to Colby, “She won’t say anything.”
“She’s probably fainted,” Colby stated calmly.
Sterling frowned and put the phone back to his mouth. “Cynthia? Are you there?”
Seconds later, Cynthia’s happy and excited voice came back on the line. It was so loud even Colby could hear it. Evidently her sister-in-law had recovered from shock.
“Yes,” Sterling laughed, “I’m really Sterling Hamilton, and yes, I’m marrying Colby.”
He laughed again. “I’m looking forward to meeting you, too.” He nodded. “Yes, I assure you Colby’s in good hands.” Another nod. “And yes, we’ll be arriving in Richmond around noon tomorrow.”
Colby shook her head. Cynthia was as bad as James at times. She wanted to know everything, every little detail.
“You have one more question?” Sterling asked Cynthia. “All right, what is it?”
Whatever Cynthia was asking made Sterling look at Colby. His dark eyes held hers as he studied her intently. “Yes, I fell in love with Colby the moment I saw her.” A few moments went by then he said. “All right, Cynthia. Goodbye.”
He hung up the phone. His expression was mildly humorous. “I take it she’s a romantic,” he said.
“Of the worst kind.”
Dipping his head slightly, he said, “I guess the more people we tell our little story, the more believable it will seem. Just listening to you tell Cynthia how we met almost had me believing it myself. You’re a good storyteller.”
Colby leaned toward him, seething with mounting anger. “Is that a nice way of saying I’m a good liar?”
Sterling raised a brow at the fury he saw lighting her eyes. “No, that’s not what I meant at all. There’s a difference between being a good storyteller and being a good liar. I consider a liar as someone who makes a habit of not telling the truth to serve