Before the Sunset (Cottonwood Cove, #4)
Laura Pavlov
one
Finn
It felt damn good to be back in Cottonwood Cove. Fall was in full swing, and I had a break before we started filming season two of Big Sky Ranch. Our first season had far exceeded everyone’s expectations, mine included. I’d bought a house in my hometown with the money I’d made when I signed on for season two.
But now I had a whole new set of issues I was dealing with. Along with the success of the show had come a lot of attention, both positive and negative. My costar, Jessica Carson, had gone on a crusade to take me down. She’d been a guest on every talk show that would have her, bashing me for breaking her heart.
Never happened.
Well, unless you count the fictional world of Big Sky Ranch, where my character had ended things with her character. But she’d decided to have life imitate art, I guess.
My agent, Angelique, and I were putting out fires right and left, and the producer of the show was not happy with the shitstorm that she’d started.
She could have had her five minutes of fame if she’d just let her work, and our work as a cast, do the talking. But now she’d created so much drama around it that no one on set was happy with her.
Most of all, me.
And I was a happy dude 99 percent of the time, so it took a lot for me to get pissed off.
I opened my computer as it was time for my Zoom call with Angelique.
“Hey, Finn. How’s the house coming along?”
“It’s great. They just finished the kitchen renovation, so we should be good for a while,” I said, glancing over at the sleek, modern kitchen that I’d renovated with the help of my best friend and interior designer, Reese, who was currently living abroad but due home this week.
It couldn’t happen soon enough.
This last year had been one of the most challenging of my life, and I was fairly certain it was because she hadn’t been here. We’d grown up together. We’d gone to college together. We’d always lived in the same city, often even as roommates.
This had been the first time we’d been apart, and it had been way too long.
“I saw the photos. Reese has a good eye. The black cupboards give it a modern look, but it’s still very homey.”
“Who are you and what have you done with my agent?” I teased. Angelique was normally all business, but she’d become a close friend over the last year since my career had taken off.
“Yeah, yeah, yeah. It’s all about balance,” she said with a chuckle. “Reese is coming home in a few days, right? I’m sure you’re happy about that.”
So maybe Angelique was a part-time agent, part-time therapist.
Yes, my mother was also a therapist. I was surrounded by women who wanted to analyze my every thought. I had two younger sisters, Brinkley and Georgia, and they were both nosy as fuck.
And I wouldn’t have it any other way.
My brothers, Cage and Hugh, stayed out of my business unless I asked them for advice, which didn’t happen often. But with this Jessica Carson bullshit, everyone was getting involved.
Go public.
Fight back.
Stay silent.
Let it blow over.
Watch your back.
Ask the producers to fire her.
Press legal charges against her for defamation.
I’d heard it all. But I’d always sort of been a believer that if you don’t add fuel to the fire, the flames will eventually burn out.
It just hadn’t happened yet, because Jessica fucking Carson continued to pour gasoline on said flames every chance she got.
“Yep. I could use some normalcy in my life. But I’m guessing you didn’t ask me to talk today to discuss how happy I am about my best friend coming home. I’m assuming this has something to do with Jessica’s recent accusation.”
“Ah… yes. The one where she told Len Steckman that you weren’t capable of having a real relationship. That you didn’t have any depth. That you’d lied to her and promised her forever before leaving her high and dry, just like your character had done to her character on Big Sky Ranch. Is that the one you’re referring to?” Angelique groaned and shook her head. Len Steckman was the host of the Midnight After Show, and her comments had gone viral since she’d made the ridiculous statement.
“Yeah, that’s the one.” I scrubbed a hand down my face.
“Here’s the good news. Len countered back. Asked her why they’d yet to hear from anyone from your past that suggested her accusations were true. And that’s important, Finn. Trust me. She’s digging for it. Not one woman from your past has come forward to say anything negative about you. People are noticing that she is the only one making these claims. And Jessica has a pretty bad track record. Did you see her last costar, Dominick Nichols, came out and defended you? Said she had a similar crusade against him and nearly ruined his career.”
“Yeah, I saw that. He reached out to me. Told me to just keep my head down and stay out of trouble for now.”
“Well, let me tell you. Charles and Sadie are not happy with her. I can’t even imagine how it’s going to be for her when you go back to filming soon. Everyone is furious with her.” Charles and Sadie were the directors of Big Sky Ranch, and they’d had a couple of successful series before this, but nothing as big as what our show had become after just one season.
“Yeah, but my name is tied to this bullshit drama. No one wants to work with a train wreck, and she’s pulled me into her mess.” I let out a long breath. I didn’t let shit get to me most of the time, but Jessica was threatening to take me down with her. “And she keeps calling me. She wants to get together.”
“Do not reply. Stay away and keep your distance. Nothing good could come out of seeing her right now. She’ll post a picture and make up some twisted story.”
“Agreed. And we have some time before we start filming season two. But I’m hoping we won’t have many scenes together, seeing as the two characters broke up.”
“If she keeps pulling these stunts, I think they’ll write her off the show. She’s blowing up her own career. Hell, she would have gotten plenty of attention if she’d just promoted the show. I don’t think she expected it to be the most-watched show on Netflix, not only here but in several other countries. She started this campaign against you back when the show first premiered, so she’s probably kicking herself for it now.”
“It’s hard to stop a freight train once it’s already moving down the tracks, right?”
“Correct. But sometimes, that freight train is moving so fast, it’s going to crash and burn. She’s not making any friends or presenting herself as someone to hire in the future. You’ve remained silent. Taken the high road. You’re going to be fine.”
“I’ve got a few interviews coming up, and I know they’re going to ask about it. Do you want me to just continue to say no comment every time someone asks if there is any truth to her accusations?”
“Well, you know what I think, but I’ll keep saying it. If you could share that you’re in a committed relationship, it would go a long way right about now.”
“It’s a little tough to date at the moment.” I laughed. “Some of these fans are pretty aggressive. That’s why I’m happy to be back in Cottonwood Cove. But I’m keeping to myself for the time being. I don’t know who else might pull a stunt like Jessica and try to get their own five minutes of fame. Or sell a bullshit story.”
I’d never had any trouble with women in the past. Hell, I was a big fan of women in general. I hadn’t had a serious relationship, but not for any particular reason. I’d never met anyone who made me want to dive into anything that lasted longer than a few casual dates. But I loved women. I was a serial dater and a fabulous fucking lover.