Read Online Malibu Betrayals by M.K. Meredith - Free Book Online Page A

nose, his eyes bright, he said, “I am so not laughing at you.”
    “I could use a little fun. Writing and working on the movie during the day, and then you and I could blow off a little steam during down time.”
    He stared at her a moment, holding her gaze in that way he did where she couldn’t look away. She bit her lower lip. Had she said something wrong? It had been a long time since she’d done anything like this.
    “You’re writing? I mean, besides script work.”
    It took her a second to catch up, but relief and his question warmed her, and she smiled. “Yes. I took some time off after, well, you know. And there was so much press and drama, no one wanted to be bothered with me on set. No one but Martin. Anyway, I’ve been wanting to sharpen my skills. If I’m back in Hollywood, I want to be the best, not just take advantage of an opportunity. I want to take back what was mine.” She heard the wavering in her voice end on a smile.
    Pressing one more kiss to her mouth, he pushed up from the bed. “Then that is exactly what you’ll do.” He swung his legs over the side. “Come on, as much as I want to do all of that all over again, we have an early morning.”
    A contented sigh escaped her while she watched him dress. She could watch that rerun all day long. He had such strength, not just in the way he moved, or the bulk of his body, but in his very being. Surviving in Hollywood demanded it, no doubt, and he was a survivor where sometimes she worried she was only trying to be.
    She narrowed her eyes and pushed up from the pillows. That might have been her yesterday, but today she was moving forward.
    …
    Gage leaned back in his chair and sipped his espresso as he and his sister waited for their dad. He gave his practiced façade of calm and detached, but in reality he was giving himself a high five and a Buddy Christ wink. He’d known he and Sam would be amazing together, but the reality of it was something else altogether. It left him feeling like he could go bench press with Schwarzenegger or keep pace with Olympian gold medalist, Bolt. He’d gotten her to open up for now, and he wanted to celebrate, but the work was just beginning.
    Staring off over the sea of unfamiliar faces, he watched his dad, otherwise known as DC or Dean Cutler on Pepperdine Campus, make his way to the table. Heads were on a swivel along the way, and Gage only hoped to have that much charisma in twenty years. He leaned back with a self-satisfied grin, lacing his fingers on top of his stomach. To Sam, apparently he did.
    The tight squeeze in his gut brought back memories of sinking into her body and the addicting flavor of her lips. He hoped she felt something for him, too, something strong, because now that he’d had a taste of her there was no going back. Having her open up to him only strengthened his desire. And he was a man used to fighting for what he wanted—and getting it.
    Cutler Senior took his seat and a sip of his mimosa, turning to Gage. “So, what’s been going on?”
    The owner of the place had played football with his dad back in the day. He always saved a back corner table partially shielded with a half wall and hanging ferns, giving the family regular solitude in a world that thrived on intruding.
    A sense of well-being filled him as it always did when he was with these two. They’d been a tight-knit trio ever since Cecilia Lombardi decided Hollywood was more important than her two children and devoted husband.
    He’d been eight years old and his sister younger still. Gage never could get the idea out of his head that they’d just not been good enough, and his mother’s continued denial on the red carpet of any familial relation to him drove the notion home.
    “I’ve been thinking long and hard about this, and spending time with Martin, studying.”
    His dad nodded. “And.”
    “I want to take a dive into directing.”
    Bel laughed. “Well, it isn’t like you to tip-toe.”
    He grinned.
    “This is