Hollywood Heir (Westerly Billionaire #4)(76)

Sage appeared, and she was smiling. Eric started to breathe more easily. “What’s this about?” he asked.

She handed him a script. “Mr. Kirby’s friend owns this theater and supports new playwrights. I told him you might be interested in auditioning for a role in their next production.”

Eric scanned the first page. It was a drama, not slapstick action. “I just agreed to produce another Water Bear Man movie.”

“They’ll work around your schedule.”

Eric read the second page of the play. His heart started beating wildly in his chest. Could he do this? Could he return to the stage as a serious actor? “The theater really wants me? Not Water Bear Man?”

“He’s willing to take a chance on you.” She winked.

Hating himself for not instantly jumping at the chance, Eric scanned another page of the script. “I’ve tried to take serious roles before. The audience wasn’t receptive.”

“Then show them what they’re missing,” Sage said emphatically.

Eric devoured the next page of the play. The dialogue was contemporary and moving. He flipped another page. “I’ll do it.”

“Easy, tiger,” Sage said. “First you must audition.”

“You’re serious,” Eric said, pointing toward the stage. He caught a look in her eyes that told him he was missing something. “Why am I auditioning?”

The smile she’d been holding back spread across her face, easily making her the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen. “Because Nicolette is out there waiting to see her brother take his first step toward following his dream.”

Eric peered around the curtains and saw that his sister was indeed out there. As were the rest of his brothers and sisters, his parents, his grandmother, and her royal boyfriend. With the script still in one hand, he picked Sage up and spun her around. “How did you get them all here?”

In unison, they both said, “Delinda.”

“Marry me while they’re all there. This weekend,” Eric said. Never had anything felt more right.

Still laughing and clinging to him, she asked, “Can we do it that fast?”

“We can,” he said, “because we play by our own rules.”

They kissed deeply, then Sage gave him a push and said, “Now get out there and break a leg.”

As Eric read the page of dialogue the director handed him, he found the character’s voice. For a moment, he was more than Eric Westerly—more than Water Bear Man—he was who he was meant to be. Acting, this kind of acting, filled him with a joy he’d thought couldn’t return. When he finished, there was a pause, then everyone rose to their feet to give him a standing ovation.

He motioned for Sage to join him on the stage. Holding her hand, he took a bow. She chuckled and bowed as well. The Westerlys kept clapping.

In a voice just loud enough for him to hear, she said, “I feel silly up here. I didn’t actually do anything.”

He turned and framed her face with his hands. “They’re clapping because, like me, they know that a successful performance is just as much about what happens backstage as onstage. You gave me back a piece of myself I thought I’d lost.”

She placed one of her hands on his. “I didn’t give you anything, Eric. It was always there, you just didn’t see it.”

He turned and looked at his family, who were all now quietly watching them. They might be an unconventional family, but they were his and they loved him—he no longer doubted that. “I am going to spend the rest of my life finding ways to make you as happy as you’ve made me.”

Her face lit up with a smile. “That’s funny. That’s exactly what I intend to do for you.”

They shared a laugh and took one final deep bow before leaving the stage to meet with his family and a very pleased-looking theater director.





Epilogue

Still glowing after their honeymoon, Eric and Sage returned to their English estate. Excited, Reggie immediately led them to Eric’s lair and unveiled a new section . . . one just for Sage. As grand as Eric’s, it had three labeled wardrobes. One for Sage, one for Lorna, and one for Water Bear Woman. Water Bear Woman?

Sage’s mouth dropped open when she saw a gray spandex superhero costume similar to Eric’s, but smaller. Oh no.

“I took the liberty of working with your writers to create a new character.” Reggie dramatically lowered his voice. “There’s been another accident. This time in the waters off Antarctica. A chemical spill that only one woman knew how to clean up. Sadly, she slipped into the sludge—sludge filled with water bears—and was bitten by thousands of tardigrades . . . becoming . . .”

“Water Bear Woman?” Sage asked with a nervous laugh. He had to be joking. He didn’t look like he was. She turned to Eric.

“Come here, Mrs. Water Bear Man,” Eric joked, puffing his chest out with mock pride.

Sage shook her head and stood her ground. “I am not wearing that thing.” Spandex was unflattering on the best of bodies. Even as she refused, though, she had to admit there was something endearing about being invited into this corner of Eric’s life. They would be truly partners—in the real world as well as on the big screen.

“Not even for the children?” Eric asked with puppy-dog eyes. “Come on, imagine the team we’d make visiting children’s hospitals together. Try it on.”