One Hot Secret by Sarah J. Brooks

Chapter 39

Kyle

“How did you find out that Kyle Bryce is your son?” the reporter asks Adrian.

He’d asked for my go-ahead to do this interview telling everyone about our relationship. It’s a good idea, and I’m glad that he’s doing it. It’s Friday afternoon, and we’ve just shot our last scene until Monday. I’m in my trailer watching the live interview, after which I’ll probably go home.

“I can’t explain the details of how we found each other. All that I can say is that we did, and that’s all that matters right now.” Smooth. Adrian is a good man, and I’m glad I came from such stock.

“Mr. Martin, you never married or had children. How does it feel to have a son?”

Adrian throws his head back and laughs, joy evident on his face. “It’s a feeling that is indescribable. I’m trying to be cool about it and not overwhelm him with my emotions. I love being a dad. I get to have an adult son, and although I’d have loved to have known him from the moment he was born, this is better than nothing. I feel blessed and so damn lucky!”

I have tears in my eyes. Hearing him speak of me that way makes me want to visit my mother. I’ve called her twice, and she hasn’t returned my calls.

“Who would have thought?” a voice says behind me.

Startled, I swing around to find Skyler standing at the door, her gaze on the screen. I was so lost in thought I never heard the door move.

“Hey.”

She shuts the door and joins me on the couch. Things have been cold between us since she stopped trying to hit on me. “Must have come as a shock to you,” she says.

“Yeah, but as he said, it was a good surprise,” I tell her, my guard going up.

“Hey, I’m free this evening. Do you want to go out for dinner?” she asks, a vulnerable expression coming over her features.

I could easily say yes, seeing as there’s no one waiting for me at home. A pang of pain goes through me when Grace’s face pops into my mind. God, I miss her. I would do almost anything to get rid of the emptiness I feel inside. But going out with another woman as a distraction is not the answer.

I shake my head gently. “Maybe if we’d met another time.”

She smiles too and then stands up. “She’s a lucky girl.”

I watch her as she walks out of my trailer. No use brooding over what’s already happened, I tell myself and jump to my feet. Keeping busy helps, I’ve discovered. I turn off the TV and grab my phone. I call Ethan and then leave for the weekend. I wave at several people as I leave the set and head to the parking lot outside. Ethan is waiting for me, and I hop into the car, and we’re off.

Grace is everywhere, including the car. I’ve been with her so many times in the SUV that I can see her seated next to me, smiling. I miss her gentle smiles. I miss how peaceful it feels to be next to her. I wonder what she’s doing now. Probably busy preparing for her show tomorrow. I’ve tried all I can not to think about the show tomorrow, but now I give in to it.

I’d waited for it for so long, and now I won’t even be there. A lot of my art collecting friends have called or written to me telling me they’ll be there. Despite everything, I’m excited for Grace. I know she doesn’t believe in her work, but I hope that tomorrow will show her how good her work is and that she doesn’t have to sell stories to make money.

The moment that thought goes through my mind, I stop it there and turn it around. Even now, I find it difficult to believe that Grace did it. But if not, why didn’t she deny it or say anything? Her reaction had not been that of an innocent person.

With a sigh, I see that we’ve reached my mother’s house. I see a new red SUV parked outside. She got a new car. Good for her. If it makes her happy, why not?

I get out of the car and head to the front door. I knock, and just as I’m about to try the door, it swings open, and a strange man who looks to be in his mid-forties stands there.

His face breaks into a grin. “Kyle Bryce. When Lilly first told me you were her son, I say no way! I still didn’t believe her until we got the SUV.”

“Keith,” a voice says from behind the man. Mom appears by his side and frowns at me.

It’s not exactly the welcome I was hoping to receive from her. “Mom, what’s going on? Who is this?”

“Come in, and I’ll introduce you,” she says. She giggles suddenly and looks up at Keith adoringly. I don’t even want to imagine what he might have done to make her giggle, but what is clear is that they are lovers. It’s written all over their faces and body language.

I’m surprised, to be honest. It’s not even been a month since her husband and the man I knew as my father passed on. I’m no prude, but that’s fast. She was so heartbroken when Dad died I wasn’t even sure she would recover from that loss. Not only has she recovered in less than a month, but she has a new lover. I’ve never truly understood my mother, and I understand her even less now. We all sit down in the living room.

“This is Keith. He’s the new man in my life,” my mother says and then giggles like a teenage girl.

It’s uncomfortable as fuck for me, and I wish I hadn’t come. I can’t just leave, unfortunately. I have to grin and bear it for a few minutes. Keith drapes his hand around my mother’s shoulders.

“She’s a fun old bird, your mother,” he says, looking as if he’s won the lottery.

“Keith and I are planning an around the world trip. I always wanted to do that but … you know,” my mother says.

Something puzzles me. “Why did you buy a car then? Shouldn’t you have used that money for air and hotel fare?”

“Your mother has got that all sorted out. We’ll be staying in five-star hotels, and they’re already booked,” Keith says.

My mother lets out a nervous laugh and stares at Keith pointedly.

“What?” he says. “Isn’t he the one who gave you all that dough?”

The suspicion starts like a seed and keeps growing. My mother shifts in her seat like a caged bird. The money that goes into her account is not enough to splurge on a new SUV and go for a tour around the world while flying business class and staying in five-star hotels.

“Can I have a word with you, Mom? Alone?” I say, barely able to contain my anger. I’m trembling as I follow her to the kitchen.

She shuts the door behind us. “I can explain.” She stands at the door and wrings her hands together.

“Are you the one who sold my story to the press?” I ask her.

I cannot believe that I’m having this conversation with her. I’d trusted her. I’d have bet my life that she had no part of it.

She pushes her shoulders back, looks at me defiantly, and a feeling of dread comes over me. “I believe you mean my story. Adrian was my lover, and I’m the one who decided that he would be my child’s father.”

“So it was you?” I’m so angry; I’m shaking. I stare at my mother and realize that she’s a cold, unfeeling human being.

“Yes. It was my story to do with as I wanted, and I wanted to fund a trip around the world for Keith and myself.”

I’m beyond hurt by her confession. I lost the only woman I’ve ever loved on account of this. It had been easy to heap all the blame on my father. I trusted my mother and did not even once contemplate that she was the culprit.

“I trusted you, Mom,” I tell her.

She flinches, but the look of defiance does not leave her eyes.

“If you needed more money, all you had to do was ask.”

“You wouldn’t have agreed to fund me and Keith to travel in style,” she says.

“I would have.” I really would. If she wants to date a guy twenty years younger than she is, that’s her business.

My head hurts, as does every muscle in my body. I stare at my mother. She feels no remorse for what she did. As far as she’s concerned, it’s perfectly okay to sell out your son. She has no sense of right and wrong, and if she hasn’t changed in all this time, she’s not going to change now. I feel as if someone is sitting on my chest, preventing me from breathing properly.

I get to my feet. “Have a good trip.”

“Will I see you before we go?” she asks.

“What for, Mom?” I hold her gaze.

She’s the first to look away.

“I’ll make sure the money that goes into your account is increased, and if you need anything, call Sebastian; he’ll let me know.”

I let myself out of the house.

I’m numb with shock on the drive home. I’ve fucked up so badly with Grace. Why the fuck didn’t she say anything when I made that ridiculous accusation? It sounds stupid now. For fuck’s sake, I know Grace. I should have trusted her and known that of all people, she was the least likely to go to the press with a story.

Because of my paranoia, I had lost the sweetest, most loving woman I’ll ever meet. That last day plays in my head like a bad movie. She had not said a single word in her defense, and I’d taken that to mean she was guilty. I can’t imagine how hurt she must have been by my accusations. It was as if all those months we’d gotten to know each other had meant nothing. With a few words, I had classified her with the likes of my ex.

Ethan drops me off, and I enter the house. I clear my throat, and the noise bounces off the foyer walls and echoes around me. Oh, Grace. I miss bounding up the stairs and hurrying to the sunroom to see her beautiful face and hold her in my arms.

Is this what the rest of my life will be like? Coming home to an empty house? I trudge into the library and pick up the script on the table. My work is the only thing I have left.

I had a chance at real love. A chance to love someone and be loved back. A chance to make a family. Maybe celebrities and normal people just don’t do relationships well. There’s mistrust from both sides.

Grace hated the lack of privacy that being with me entailed while I jumped to accuse her of selling me out for money. I stare at the script, unseeing. I ache with sadness. Does she miss me, or is it good riddance for her?

I wish I could see and talk to her one more time. Cup her face one more time. Press my lips to hers one more time.

I try to read the new script Chris left for me, but none of what I’m reading makes any sense. It is going to be a long time before I get over Grace, if ever.