Chapter 16

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It was a week later, the Christmas decorations had been taken down, and Paloma had arrived.

Ophelia had been on set reviewing her to-do list with Sullivan when Paloma had walked in and stopped everyone in their tracks. She was one of those rare people who commanded everyone's attention without even trying.

Her golden hair, vivid green eyes, and legs that went on forever made every woman want to be her, and every man want to have her. Ophelia took a fortifying breath as Paloma crossed the room and wrapped her arms around Sullivan in greeting. Then she had turned to Ophelia and did the same with her.

It was a warm hug, and Ophelia kind of hated herself when she returned it, but she had always liked Paloma and couldn't help herself.

"Paloma!" Sawyer had called across the set when he saw her, opening his arms in welcome.

Paloma had smiled and gone to hug him as they laughed and whispered about what was obviously a private joke.

Ophelia had moved away to a small table in the corner to write down notes on what she and Sullivan had been talking about when she felt a presence behind her. She turned to find Kaylee looking over her shoulder at Paloma.

"Is that Paloma Clark?" she had asked in awe.

"Yes," Ophelia confirmed, turning back to her work.

"Didn't she and Sullivan used to be an item?" Kaylee turned all her attention back onto Ophelia. "I guess this leaves you out in the cold." The smile on her face was pure malice.

Ophelia ignored Kaylee, and after a minute, Kaylee turned and wandered off.

There was a New Year's Eve party at the hotel that evening, and Paloma had arrived just in time to be the one to kiss Sullivan at the new year. Ophelia wondered if he had planned it that way. It was one way to squash a woman's hopes of gaining his interest.

"Ophelia," Paloma said with her slight accent as she joined her at her small table. "Sully said you would show me where I will be staying." She threw her arm around Ophelia's waist and looked at what she was writing. "Lord, Sullivan has you doing all of the dirty work, doesn't he?"

"Yes, but I have time. His parents are away, which gives me plenty of free time to help." Ophelia packed up her things and walked with Paloma to the door, watching Paloma wave as they left.

"Who was that young girl you were talking to earlier. She looked like she was attempting to upset you?" Paloma was a very observant person.

"She's my half-sister, and she likes Sullivan. She wanted to know if you were who she thought you were." Ophelia and Paloma climbed into the golf cart that held all her luggage.

"But that's not all she said, is it?" Paloma smiled knowingly. "I'm guessing that you and Sullivan haven't figured it out yet."

"Figured what out yet?" Ophelia asked, looking over at Paloma quickly before looking away.

"That you're both madly in love with each other." Paloma winced as Ophelia took a speed bump a little too hard.

"Excuse me?'" Ophelia asked but had to clear her throat to say it a second time because it came out as a squeak.

"It's the way you two look at each other. I used to watch you two argue about every little thing, and I always thought that if you could redirect that passion into the bedroom, it would be..." she sighed romantically.

"We don't fight as much as we used to," Ophelia denied in an attempt to make the situation better.

"So, you and he did redirect?" Paloma asked, causing Ophelia to hit the breaks a little too hard as they rolled to a stop in front of the house where they were staying.

"No!" Ophelia denied, looking at Paloma with wide eyes.

"That's a shame. What's changed then," Paloma asked, grabbing her bags.

"Nothing, there has never been anything between us!" Ophelia denied hotly.

"I'm not surprised. I asked Sullivan what was between the two of you once, and he denied it just as vehemently as you do now. Then he said something absolutely ridiculous about the family and needing to keep it platonic. He never denied his attraction to you, though." Paloma smiled at Ophelia, completely unaware that what she was saying was making Ophelia wish the ground would open up and swallow her.

"Why would you two, who were dating, ever have such a conversation?" Ophelia asked as she led the way up onto the porch and into the house.

"We only dated for show. There was never anything serious between us. Neither one of us wanted a relationship at the time, but we did need a partner for events and such, so we teamed up." Paloma followed Ophelia up the stairs.

"Then I suppose it was pointless to put you in the room next to his?" Ophelia asked hopefully as she opened the door.

"Look at you, being so brave. It killed you to have to do that, didn't it?" Paloma threw her bags on the bed, then walked toward the window to check out the view. "I like you, Ophelia. Sully has always trusted you, and I do too, so I will tell you now that I prefer the company of women to men, and Sully knows this. He is one of the few that does."

Ophelia stood in the door to Paloma's room, gobsmacked at her revelation.

"It's a shame that you're as into Sully as he is you. Otherwise, you'd be just my type." Paloma let her eyes linger over Ophelia, causing her to blush.

"We're not into each other at all," Ophelia denied once more after clearing her throat. Then she blushed some more when she realized it sounded like an invitation.

"Give it time, Ophelia. He is a stubborn man, but he is a good one." Paloma looked at her once more. "Even your name, Ophelia, is beautiful," she insisted.

"Ummm, thank you,' Ophelia said, unsure of what she should do now that Paloma had hit on her.

Paloma laughed and walked towards Ophelia once more, pulling her close in a friendly way. "I need to go back to the set. Sully wants me to start right away, but on the way, tell me more about this half-sister of yours. Is she out to get you? She looked like she was."

Ophelia smiled, willing to share since Paloma had shared with her. She should be uncomfortable with her revelation, but she was honestly flattered that a woman like Paloma could be interested in her. It did wonders for her tattered ego.

"Yes, she and my mother don't much care for me."

"That is so sad! Why?" Paloma sounded truly upset.

"Because I remind them of my mother's first marriage." Ophelia locked the front door behind them as they left, and Paloma patiently waited for her to continue.

"My brother and father are the same. I remind them of my mother and her betrayal, so they don't want much to do with me either." Ophelia shrugged, brushing the hurt off as she usually did.

"It is because you are so beautiful. Trust me, people either love or hate beautiful women. There is no in between. I speak from experience, but it is extra sad that it is your family." Paloma patted Ophelia's thigh as she drove.

When they pulled up in front of the set, Sawyer and Sullivan were out front, deep in conversation, and Paloma leaned over and dropped a quick kiss on Ophelia's lips. Both Sullivan and Sawyer stopped talking, and Ophelia was speechless.

"There, I got a kiss, and it gives them something to think about!" Paloma giggled, then jumped out of the cart and raced up the steps toward the two men. She linked her arm through Sawyer's and led him back into the house, talking a mile a minute.

Ophelia sat in the golf cart with her hands on the wheel and her foot on the break, staring at nothing in particular.

"Are you alright?" Sullivan asked her as he approached the cart.

When Ophelia remained silent, he reached in and pushed the parking brake, then tugged her arm to help her out of the cart.

"What happened?" Sullivan asked with a frown.

"Paloma Clark just hit on me and called me beautiful." She turned to Sullivan with wide eyes.

"Did she really," he frowned, taking her arm and leading her toward the house. "Would you like me to press sexual harassment charges?"

"No, I don't mind. In fact, I'm flattered." Ophelia smiled. It was something special to be called beautiful and be admired by another woman. "I guess I wasted my time putting her in the room next to yours, though."

"Yes, but you had to put her somewhere." Sullivan smiled. "So, you two bonded, she told you her sexual preference, and then you made out, is there anything else I should know about?"

Ophelia blushed but remained silent at his teasing.

"There is something else. What is it?" he insisted.

"It's not important." Ophelia shook her head and tried to go ahead of Sullivan, but he wouldn't let her pass.

"Please, tell me," he softly insisted.

Ophelia swallowed hard, looking into his eyes. "Umm...she said that it was obvious that you and I have always been attracted to each other and that if we ever redirected our disagreements into the bedroom, it would be..."

"It would be what," he asked, his voice rough and his hand still on her elbow. Ophelia noticed that his eyes had darkened.

"I don't know, she sighed and looked all romantic and didn't finish the comment," Ophelia said weakly.

Sullivan watched her closely, and Ophelia felt trapped in his gaze.

"She also mentioned that you told her that there could never be anything between us because of the family." It was as if Ophelia threw cold water in his face, and he flinched.

"We need to get started," he said after a minute. "Are you going to stay and watch or go back to the house?" Sullivan walked past her and into the set.

"I would like to watch if you don't mind?" Ophelia said.

"Why would I mind?" he asked.

Ophelia felt he minded very much, but she couldn't figure out why.

An hour later, Paloma joined them fresh out of the hair and make-up trailer, and she looked stunning. She joined Sullivan, Marc, and Sawyer off to the side. Ophelia watched Marc drool a little while Sawyer looked a little bored.

Ophelia couldn't help but notice that Sullivan and Paloma looked good together. They were both tall and beautiful, the perfect couple. It wasn't hard to imagine them as a couple, even knowing what she now knew.

Sawyer joined Ophelia as Marc and Paloma took their places. Paloma looked at Ophelia and winked, and Ophelia couldn't hide her blush. Then Ophelia looked at Sullivan, who appeared to have missed the wink, but she heard Sawyer chuckle next to her.

"Trouble comes in all shapes and sizes, doesn't it?"

"But why is she making trouble?' Ophelia asked, confused as to why Paloma would even bother.

"She's always had a little crush on you. She considers Sully a good friend and wants him to be happy, and because you and Sully said I couldn't." Sawyer shrugged.

"You called in reinforcements even though you were asked to leave it alone?" Ophelia looked at him in disbelief.

"I am a man of my word." He held his hand to his heart.

"It's still interfering if you ask someone else to interfere!" Ophelia hissed.

"Is it? Oops." Then Sawyer walked away, whistling softly under his breath while Ophelia ground her teeth in frustration.

As Sullivan called action, he looked at Ophelia, letting his gaze wander over her face and body in a way that made Ophelia shiver. One thing was for sure, Ophelia couldn't get Paloma's words and the images they conjured out of her mind. Was he also thinking about the comment Paloma had made?

Ophelia forced herself to turn and follow Sawyer. Thank goodness they were almost done filming, and they could all go home soon.

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