More Than Anything

She glowered at me then stalked toward her husband, whose red face showed he had been overindulging in the bourbon. I sighed and turned away. Celine was now seated on the edge of the sofa, smiling weakly as people came to offer condolences. Braden was standing beside her, glaring daggers at me.

I turned away from the force of his stare. It was clear he didn’t want me there. I’d known he wouldn’t be happy about my presence, but I’d expected some civility at least.

My phone buzzed, and I reached for it, quickly reading the short text from Meredith.

Plane will be on the tarmac at 8.

I sent a quick reply and met Braden’s glare again then turned away and walked toward the windows. He wanted me gone, and soon, I’d be out of his hair. Maybe now I’d finally have the motivation to get my lawyer started on drawing up divorce papers. It would be messy and heartbreaking, but what was the point of acting like our separation would somehow go away if we ignored it for long enough?

I faced the window. It was snowing, and I watched the flurries chase each other on a blanket of white.

Someone came over to stand beside me, and I looked up at one of the more familiar of the famous people who had known Braden’s father.

“Miserable weather, huh.” He smiled at me. Cole Rainer was an award-winning producer, the type who could make or break a career in Hollywood. I wondered if he knew who I was.

“Yes, it is.”

“Big loss,” he continued. “Great guy.”

I’d heard he always spoke like that,

in short, clipped phrases. Famously, he had once given an Oscar acceptance speech in four, two-word sentences.

“He was that,” I said softly.

“How d’you know him?”

I paused. “He was my father-in-law.”

A look of recognition came over his face. “Ah, the actress.”

I gave him a small smile. I didn’t mind that he hadn’t recognized me at first, seeing as I wasn’t there to make contacts.

“Would you excuse me?” I said softly before going over to the sofa where Celine was seated. Braden was no longer standing beside her, so I didn’t have to deal with his glares.

“You’re leaving,” she guessed.

I nodded. “Soon. I have to go back to the hotel and pack.”

She covered my hand with hers. “Thanks for coming. I don’t know what I would have done these past few days without you and Braden.”

I smiled tightly at the sound of his name. “I’m glad I could come.”

After I left her, I went to look for Clayton and found him in the kitchen talking with the caterer.

“Already on your way out?” he asked.

“I have to leave.”

He gave me a sage nod. “I’ll arrange a car for you, and don’t worry about Celine. She’ll be fine with time. Go back to work, but don’t work yourself too hard.”

“I’ll try not to.”

“I’m serious,” he insisted.

“Okay.” I gave him a kiss on the cheek and made my way out to the hall. Thankfully, there wasn’t enough information out in the press about my presence to warrant more than a few photographers lurking across the street.

Braden was standing close to the front door, looking at something in the hall closet. As I approached, he shut the closet door and faced me, his eyes running over my body with a directness I should have resented but found shamefully arousing.