Eternal Page 6

  I put my hand over the phone, “Hang on, babe.” I went back to listening to Gail. “No, do not give him my number. There is no reason for him to have it.”

  Cayden and Chandler stared at each other.

  “What?” I screeched. “You have got to me kidding me, Gail.” Cayden grabbed my hand in what I guessed was an attempt to calm me. “All right, thanks for calling me.”

  “What?” Cayden asked again.

  “I know, Gail. It’s not your fault. I’ll handle things from here,” I said.

  “What?” Cayden mouthed. I held one finger up, a gesture to wait.

  “All right, I will Gail. I’ll talk to you soon.”

  “What is going on?” Cayden asked me, his features concerned.

  “For some reason Logan Devereaux has been calling my publisher, trying to gain my phone number.”

  “What the fuck!” he growled, turning to glower at Chandler.

  “Yeah, strange I know but the kicker is Miranda has been out on maternity leave so they hired a temp, and the temp gave him my cell phone number after he said he was my boyfriend’s attorney and had lost all his personal contacts when his computer crashed,” I confessed.

  “Handle this, Chandler,” Cayden said, pissed off beyond belief.

  Chandler’s face looked grim. “I intend to,” he said to Cayden before he looked back to me.

  “I’m going to change my cell phone number, so don’t worry about it, but I can’t imagine why Logan would even want it.” Chandler and Cayden stared at each other then back toward me. I had the feeling something was going on. “What? What do you two know that I don’t?”

  “Nothing but the fact he obviously wants to tangle with me,” Chandler said.

  “Chandler, how do you really know Logan anyway? I heard him ask you about a stockholders’ meeting that day we had lunch,” I inquired.

  “Our father’s firm hired his firm to do some legal work, acquisitions. Cayden has never met him,” Chandler replied.

  “Oh….”

  “Trust me.” Cayden held my hand as if he was going to lose me. “Logan doesn’t want to meet me, because I will kick his ass for bothering you, baby.”

  “Cayden, I will handle this,” Chandler assured.

  I tucked my purse away and leaned over to place my head on Cayden’s shoulder.

  I felt warm lips pressed to my cheek then Cayden’s voice, which was just a whisper, saying, “Wake up, beautiful. We have landed my sleeping beauty.”

  “At least you finally got some rest,” Chandler teased. Chandler was looking at me when I opened my eyes. Cayden shot him a fiery glare. “What?” He shrugged, glancing back toward Cayden with mock innocence.

  “The press is here,” Zander announced from somewhere behind our seats.

  “Well, it looks like I will be exiting with Winter,” Chandler stated. I gathered my thoughts. “Come on.” He motioned to me. Chandler extended his hand out, reaching for mine. “Cayden, you need to chill in here. You exit last with Langdon. Winter will be fine. I have her.”

  I turned to see Cayden. His expression was pained, but he nodded in agreement. I extended out my hand, taking a hold of Chandler’s hand. He intertwined our fingers together and smiled. “Just pretend I’m Cayden.”

  “Wait!” Cayden pulled me into his arms and pressed me tightly against him. He whispered in my ear, “I love you.” Then he kissed me until my head spun. “Okay.” Cayden gave me back to his brother. I felt weak in the knees. I wavered slightly. Cayden reached out. He wrapped his arm around me to steady me. “Baby, you okay?”

  “Yeah,” I said, feeling almost lightheaded.

  Chandler teased taking a hold of my hand again. “Come on, we aren’t getting any younger here. Not to mention you will give my brother a God complex if he thinks his kisses make you faint.”

  I took one last look over my shoulder. I studied Cayden’s face and mouthed, “I love you, Cayden.” He smiled and touched his hand to his heart. I walked out of the plane to meet the press head on, hand-in-hand with Chandler Cain and Jayden leading the way.

  The cameras popped up from every direction, some with flashing bulbs and others clicking wildly. People tried to swarm in around us as we made our way through the terminal at LAX. Finally, the airport security interceded so we were able to leave. Cayden was somewhere behind us. I heard the commotion as he made his way through the airport.

  I glanced up. “Chandler, Langdon is with Cayden, right?”

  “Yes, don’t worry, Winter. He will be fine.”

  It seemed to get louder. Reminiscent of the building of a wave before crashing in against my ears as we continued on our way. We were heading for the exit that seemed to me the search for the Holy Grail. It took forever to get through LAX. The commotion turned into screams, screeches and high-pitched squeals yelling, “I love you Cayden!” And then I heard chanting. The crowds were calling out the name of his first character, “Jonathan….” It all became a loud mixture of sounds and voices with the periodic flurry of other things being distinguished. “I want to marry you!” and “Can I touch you?”

  Chandler and I exited through large electric doors to find a long black limo waiting. The windows on the limousine were completely dark so no one would be able to see in. I never thought I would see the day I was happy to ride in a limo, but the day had come. It was a welcome rescue. Once Chandler and I were safely inside the vehicle, Jayden stood on the outside of the door, on the lookout for the rest of our entourage to arrive. Zander was taking a separate car with Melissa so Chandler and I were waiting for Langdon and Cayden.

  I peered out the side window, filled with nervous tension. People swarmed Cayden before he reached the car. He stopped to take a few pictures and sign a few autographs. That seemed to appease the crowds for a moment until three women lunged forward. They were screeching, laughing, and placed their arms around Cayden’s neck. They surrounded him, clinging to him, jumping wildly, touching his face, his hair. One lady tried to kiss him. Cayden ducked his head. Langdon moved in and pulled their arms away. Their arms seemed like tentacles, not wanting to let Cayden go, but with Langdon’s help, Cayden turned and maneuvered toward Jayden who blocked any further advances. Cayden tucked his head and plunged himself quickly into the open door of the limo. Langdon and Jayden followed, securing the doors behind them.

  “Are you okay?” I asked with panic in my voice.

  Cayden smiled tenderly and touched my cheek. “I am fine, don’t worry about me.”

  “But they were all over you. What if they would hurt you?”

  “Winter, I am fine, trust me.”

  I looked at Langdon then over to Jayden. “What do we do to keep people from getting close enough to touch him?”

  “Winter, I am fine,” he interjected, not allowing Langdon or Jayden to answer. He tugged me onto his lap and held me close. The limo pulled away from the curb.

  “Mr. Cain, please put on your seat belt,” Jayden reminded.

  Cayden slid me off his lap. He secured the seat belt around me before securing his own.

  “Where are we going?” I asked.

  “I am going to the studio, then to do a couple of interviews. You and Chandler are heading home.”

  “Home?”

  “To our home,” he said with a bright smile. “It is secure, and Chandler lives there, too, so no one will find it suspicious you are there.”

  I stared up at Cayden with an intensity that seemed to burn through me. I was trying hard to maintain the fear, not panic. “I love you, Cayden.”

  He placed his forehead to mine. Cayden’s thumb brushed over my lips. “I love you, Winter.”

  Cayden held my hand securely in his until we stopped at the studio. He looked at me for a long moment, and smiled his most breathtaking smile.

  “Don’t worry, baby. I will see you tonight.” He kissed my lips softly before exiting the limo with Langdon at his side.

  When Cayden left I fell apart, complete with tears flowing down my face joined
by my hands shaking uncontrollably. I balled my hands up into fist, holding them tightly to my sides.

  “Winter, what is wrong?” Chandler said with a bit of panic in his usual calm overconfident façade.

  “Winter, are you feeling ill?” Jayden asked.

  I shook my head to indicate no and tried to calm myself. “I will be fine. It was just hard to see Cayden overtaken by the crowd. It was scary,” I admitted.

  “Winter, he is okay,” Chandler said.

  “What if someone hurts him?” I heard my voice break, almost raspy.

  Chandler continued, “No one is going to hurt Cayden. Please calm down.”

  All I could see was people getting close enough to touch Cayden. If they could get that close, what if they had a weapon? This scene played out over and over, the bright glint of a silver knife edge as the sun hit it. The blunt dark black barrel of a gun pointed at his perfect body. I shook, crying, unable to control myself. Chandler moved across the seat until we were thigh to thigh. He wrapped his arm around my shoulders. Jayden looked odd as though he wanted to comfort me as well, but he kept his shoulders stiff, took off his sunglasses, and gazed at me strangely.

  “If they can get that close, they can hurt him. What if someone had a weapon?” I said through my sobs. “Jayden, maybe you should stay with Cayden instead of me. When you left to guard me it makes it easier to get to Cayden now.”

  “Winter.” Chandler bounced me up against his chest twice as if that would be a comfort. “Please, no one is going to hurt Cayden. No one had a weapon.” He spoke softly still holding onto my shoulders. “It will be fine.”

  I continued to bawl. Chandler patted my back.

  “Please, you need to calm down. You are going to make yourself sick. Jayden is doing his job. He must stay with you. Langdon is doing his job. Cayden will be fine,” he assured.

  “Please do not tell Cayden about this. Don’t tell him how I fell apart.”

  “I won’t,” Chandler replied.

  “Jayden?” I asked, glancing up at him with tear-filled eyes.

  “You have my word,” Jayden assured. He smoothed the top of my arm, sat back in the seat, and went back to his stiff upright position with his shoulders.

  “Thank you,” I said sniffling, trying hard to stop crying. It was going to be a losing battle. The tears flowed even after we stopped at the secluded home in Hollywood Hills.

  The entire property was gated and walled off, with lush foliage and tall palm trees surrounding the property line. The home seemed like it was tucked high up in the hill. Chandler took me by the hand.

  “Come on,” he said. “I want to show you something.”

  Chandler gave me a tour of the grounds, making sure to explain it was virtually impossible for anyone to get up to their home. He said they never had a security breach, and pointed out their home possessed security checkpoints in several different locations that led up to the house, as well the security of the hills that surrounded it. I imagine my expression was still unsure, since Chandler showed me the cameras that were positioned along the walls, besides other hidden cameras dispersed throughout the property.

  We walked around to the back where a large sapphire blue pool jetted out into infinity over the edge of the hill. The perspective left you gazing down at the city off in the distance. The landscape was tall around the continuing wall, which made its way winding around the back of the property line. The view, amazing. It was like being in your own private world and staring off into another separate world. A huge waterfall flowed into the pool; along with more landscaping that looked as though it had been designed by an artist. It encased an outside cooking kitchen and bar.

  I glanced around to see the entire backside of the two and a half story house was constructed of glass. Several private balconies jetted off the south wall of the structure. The house itself was astounding. The architecture, modern and angled. Off to the north side of the property was a separate house that Jayden lived in. Chandler proceeded to tell me Langdon came and went, having a wife and family of his own, but at times Langdon would stay with Jayden on the property.

  Chandler took me by the hand and led me up to the back door of the house where he entered a security code into a pad, all the while explaining the entire house was secure as well. We walked through a spacious dining room then an adjoining family room filled with several flat screen TV’s and major audio/video equipment. It reminded me of a screening room more than a family room. He hit a button on a remote control. I watched shutters come down over the windows, blacking out the space.

  “See, more security,” he said. “I promise you are safe, and my brother is safe here.”

  Chandler escorted me through a large formal living room filled with fine antique furniture, dark mahogany hardwood floors covered by expensive Persian rugs colored in red, gold, and cream colors. A winding staircase led up to five private rooms. All included en suite baths. We continued walking down the hall then stopped at the last door. He opened up the door to an oversized room that held one of the balconies. There was another en suite bath accompanied by the largest shower I had ever seen. Propped in the corner of the bathroom was a whirlpool tub, and a fireplace mounted in the wall. Over-top the tub was an art deco chandelier, which shimmered and was positioned within a coved ceiling.

  “This will be your room,” Chandler announced. He let go of my hand. “Winter, please know you are safe here.”

  “It is Cayden I am worried about Chandler, not me.”

  “Winter, Cayden is safe. Everything is going to be fine.” Chandler’s voice was calm as he spoke. “If you would like I can stay with you until my brother comes home.”

  “You don’t need to do that.”

  “I would do it,” he said. “I know all of this is strange for you. I know you are not use to screaming crowds, cameras, and all the crazy things people will do. I really do understand so if you need me to stay—”

  “Please do not feel like you need to babysit me. I will be okay. I am sorry you seen me fall apart like this.”

  Chandler glanced away from me for a moment. He scrubbed the back of his neck with his right hand then placed both hands into the front pockets of his jeans. “I understand how overwhelming all of this can be. I know you worry for my brother, but if you are going to stick around you need to find a way to cope.” He looked back at me. “This is your home, too. Use anything; take a swim, the house and the grounds are yours. Relax, Winter, and don’t worry so much,” Chandler told me. He turned for the door. “Oh, and don’t worry about Logan calling you. He and I had a come to Jesus talk while you slept on the plane.”

  Without further explanation, Chandler exited the room I assumed was Cayden’s bedroom. I studied the space and stared at the huge bed as well as the deep navy blue bedding, edged in white, and covered by numerous pillows. The headboard was upholstered in white leather that extended up the wall. Behind the floating wall where the bed rested against was the balcony and sitting area. The ceiling was high in addition to an alcove adorned with hidden lights that shown from behind the carved moldings of the cove. The light fixtures were silver, sleek, and covered in etched glass and reminded me of pieces of art, not lighting.

  On the west end of Cayden’s room was an entire ten-foot wall of bookshelves, covered in books. My gaze went to them. They ranged from timeless classics to modern masterpieces. Placed among the shelves that followed to the right of the paperbacks were vinyl records and hundreds of CD’s. A cozy sitting area, which reminded me of a plush lounge, was upholstered in rich navy-blue velvet couches and wrapped around a curving wall. This area also held high tech audio equipment.

  I slowly walked forward in wonder, staring at Cayden’s vast book collection. It was a small library. I reached out and ran my fingers over the bindings. He had some original manuscripts that must be priceless as well as several original leather bound books. My fingers stopped on a pristine first edition copy of Wuthering Heights. I pulled it gently from the shelf. I found a silken e
merald green bookmark dangling from the end of the book. I tenderly opened the book to the page marked and found one passage highlighted from Chapter Nine.

  “I’ve dreamt in my life dreams that have stayed with me ever after, and changed my ideas; they’ve gone through and through me like wine through water, and altered the colour of my mind.”

  And then I thought about one of my favorite passages from the book and turned the pages to find it. “…Be with me always—take any form—drive me mad! only DO not leave me in this abyss, where I cannot find you! Oh, God! it is unutterable! I CANNOT live without my life! I CANNOT live without my soul!” Emily Bronte, Wuthering Heights, Chapter Sixteen. It was highlighted, too.

  Beneath the row of timeless classics was a shelf dedicated to my books. Cayden had every book I’d ever written, all eighteen in alphabetical order, with what looked like a hand-sketched picture of my eyes that was propped up against the back of the bookshelves. I placed Wuthering Heights back in place. I picked up the sketch and read my name written at the bottom of the paper in Cayden’s own personal handwriting.

  I stood perfectly still, holding my breath before my hands started to shake. There in my shaking hand was what I can only describe as not only impossible, heart-wrenching, but also beautiful.

  “Impossible,” I said aloud. I studied every intricate detail of my own eyes sketched on the paper in my hand gazing back at me.

  Cayden had captured every detail of my eyes, including the intricacy of my lashes. He must have used a dark-emerald colored pencil to capture the color of my eyes then used another lighter shade of green to highlight them with a sparkle somehow. Facets of light. I remembered how Austin said my eyes were the color of emeralds cut with facets.

  I found a dark black book that looked worn. It was nothing like the pristine condition of Cayden’s other books on the shelves. There was no cover to indicate it was a book to read, but I picked it up and held it in my hands. I flipped through the pages. It was a diary of sorts. I sat it back down, wondering if it was too personal. Maybe I should not read it. I placed the sketch Cayden had drawn back from where I took it then picked up the diary. I took a seat by the window and read.