Hollywood Flirt - Alexa Aston Page 0,64
you did.” She walked to the kitchen sink and put the stopper in and then turned on the water to let it fill. After dropping the cell in the water, Brenda reached into the dishwasher and pulled out a heavy skillet. She rested it atop the phone to keep it submerged.
“Dash provided me a phone already. I’ll start using it. I’m going to grab my suitcase and carry-on for us to search. You check my purse.” Brenda went into the bedroom and returned a moment later with a rolling suitcase and matching carry-on.
Together, they scoured for anything out of the ordinary. Sydney dumped the purse upside down and ran her hand along the inside and outside while Brenda did the same with her suitcase and then carry-on.
“Bingo!”
Brenda held up a tiny black chip between her thumb and index finger and set it on the counter. Sydney took out her phone and snapped a picture of it.
“I’m not sure who we can show this to but I’ll figure it out,” Sydney said. “In the meantime, put it back inside your carry-on and leave it here in the apartment. We don’t want Wake to know that we found it.”
“I hate that he knows where I live and work,” Brenda said, crossing her arms protectively in front of her.
“Wake would never hurt you. You were simply a means to find me. Don’t let this device leave here. He may know I’m seeing Dash but he doesn’t know Dad’s address.”
“You need to tell Dash right away.”
“No!”
“Sydney.”
“Don’t Sydney me.”
“He needs to know,” Brenda pleaded.
“That I have a crazy ex-husband who probably hired a professional to track me three thousand miles and leave flowers on my new lover’s doorstep? Uh, no,” she said firmly.
“You need protection,” her friend insisted.
“I need to protect those around me. Wake doesn’t know my real name or where I’m staying, or else the roses would’ve been sent to Dad’s place. I know him, Brenda.” She took a deep breath. “For now, I’m going to end things with Dash, just to play it safe.”
“No, Sydney, don’t do that. He’s crazy about you.”
She sighed. “I feel the same way but until I know what’s going on, I need to protect him the best way I know how.”
“Dash won’t like it, especially if you don’t give him any kind of excuse. He’s a smart man, Sydney. One deeply in love. He’s not going to let you go without a really good explanation. Even then, I doubt he’ll back off. What will you tell him?”
She hesitated. “I’ll think of something.”
Brenda gave her a badly-needed hug. Sydney had to keep from bursting into tears and collapsing into her friend’s arms.
“Don’t say a word to him about this, Brenda. Promise me.”
Brenda gave her a skeptical look. “Okay, I’ll promise. For now. If the time comes when I believe he needs to know, I’ll spill the beans.”
Sydney left after extracting Brenda’s word, looking around the parking lot as she walked to her car. Nothing aroused her suspicions. She pulled out into traffic and weaved her way through several neighborhoods until she was certain no one had followed her, then she drove home. Thank goodness she hadn’t rented a car with her Sydney Brown driver’s license. She would keep driving the car her dad had provided until her name had been legally changed and she could receive documentation as Sydney Revere. As she went inside the house, she put all thoughts of Wake—and Dash—out of her mind. Work needed to be her priority. She would deal with Dash later.
◆◆◆
Frustration bubbled from Dash. All his texts to Sydney—and two phone calls—had gone unanswered throughout the day. Surely, she couldn’t be that busy. Worried, he drove to Monty Revere’s place.
A friendly Diamond answered the door. “Come in, Mister Dash. Do you need Miss Sydney or Mr. Monty? If it’s Miss Sydney, she’s been out all day scouting locations with Bernie, that skinny, little intern.”
That information caused Dash to relax. He’d forgotten part of her day was taken up checking out locations. Maybe Sydney had no cell service wherever she was. That would explain why she’d been out of touch. From reading the script, the shoot would include a few isolated places.
Diamond searched his face. “Why don’t you come to the kitchen for some fresh lemonade and warm chocolate chip cookies fresh out of the oven?”
He grinned. “I thought Sydney won my heart, Diamond, but you’re giving her a run for the money.”
The housekeeper cackled and ushered him inside. After leading him