The Sweetest Mistake Read online

  The Sweetest Mistake

  Layla Valentine

  Holly Rayner

  Contents

  The Sweetest Mistake

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Epilogue

  A Baby For Christmas

  Introduction

  1. Shayla

  Also by Layla Valentine

  Also by Layla Valentine

  The Sweetest Mistake

  Copyright 2018 by Layla Valentine and Holly Rayner

  All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part by any means, now known or hereafter invented, including xerography, photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, is forbidden without the explicit written permission of the author.

  All characters depicted in this fictional work are consenting adults, of at least eighteen years of age. Any resemblance to persons living or deceased, particular businesses, events, or exact locations are entirely coincidental.

  Chapter 1

  “Oh my God, I’m so nervous,” Tami said as Juliette pulled the truck up in front of the OB-GYN office. “I’m not sure I can do this. I mean, what are they going to think of me? Going in there without a guy in sight.”

  Juliette looked over at her roommate. Tami’s normally sunny expression was drawn, and her eyes held no joy. Juliette reached out and touched her arm.

  “Hey,” she said. “It’ll be okay. They probably see women in your situation every day and don’t think a thing about it. You get to see your baby for the first time. Focus on that part.”

  Tami looked over at her, and a slightly shaky smile appeared. “You know what?” she asked as she unbuckled her seatbelt.

  “What?”

  “Advice sounds more comforting in your accent. For the first time today, I feel like I might actually be able to do this.”

  Juliette laughed. “Well, we Carolina girls do try to do our part,” she said, exaggerating the slight twang she hadn’t shed during her year in California.

  “You do,” Tami said. “I really don’t know what I’d have done without you over these past few weeks.”

  “You would have been okay,” Juliette said firmly. “I haven’t done anything much. Just helped you get your stuff out of that jerk’s house.”

  “And listened to me freak out,” Tami said with a sad smile. “I’m not sure I’m done with that part, by the way.”

  “I will listen to any number of freak-outs and write them off as pregnancy hormones,” Juliette promised. “Now come on, we’re going to be late and then sitting through all of that traffic on the freeway will have been pointless.”

  Tami took a deep breath and opened the door of Juliette’s truck. “Okay,” she said, lifting her chin. “Let’s do this.”

  Juliette followed her friend inside the office. They had only been sitting for a few minutes when Tami’s name was called. Juliette’s eyebrows went up in surprise. That clinched it: if she ever had a baby, she was coming here to get her checkups.

  She half-smiled as she reached out and picked up a copy of an interior design magazine, settling in to wait for Tami’s appointment to be over. If was definitely the operative word in that sentence. She hadn’t even had a steady relationship in several years. It was a hazard of the industry, she supposed.

  Back in North Carolina, she’d done nothing but work, trying as hard as possible to build a resumé. The last thing she wanted was to be laughed out of Hollywood.

  As it was now, even with an agent and some experience under her belt, she’d be laughed out of Pomona instead. It was all that she could afford. And she wouldn’t have been able to afford that if it hadn’t been for Tami’s ad looking for a roommate.

  Juliette remembered how nervous she’d been about having a roommate. She’d never had one before; North Carolina was infinitely cheaper than California, and even with a low-paying job, she’d been able to her own apartment there once she’d graduated.

  Fortunately, Tami had been kind and gracious. She’d told Juliette her own story of moving closer to Hollywood. An ambitious young photographer, she’d started out in Palo Alto and slowly made her way south, taking project after project that she didn’t truly care about until she finally had enough experience and capital to start her own business. A year ago, she’d opened her own photography studio, where she could at last do things her own way.

  They’d hit it off immediately. So well, in fact, that Tami had canceled the rest of her interviews.

  Juliette had moved in the very next day, which was a huge relief because she had been quickly running out of funds for the hotel where she’d been staying. The room hadn’t even been nice but it had still been costing her more than a hundred dollars a night.

  Being roommates could have been a complete disaster since they barely knew each other, but it hadn’t been. Everything had been perfect. They shared the bills and chores equally. Neither of them was the party type. They even liked the same television shows.

  In fact, the only flaw Juliette could see in Tami was her terrible taste in men. If a man was a walking red flag, he seemed to draw Tami right in. It never got to the point that Juliette felt unsafe, and she was grateful for that. Not just for herself either.

  It wasn’t that the men were dangerous. They were the classic fear-of-commitment, unavailable types. She couldn’t count how many times her wonderful friend had been ghosted. Every time, Tami swore that she was going to take a break from relationships for a while. Then she either met someone new or the ghost returned for a sequel. Juliette refused to judge, but she wished that Tami had a better sense of her own worth.

  When she’d come to her with a pale face and a pregnancy test in hand, Juliette had been more than a little worried. Tami had dropped to the couch and buried her face in her hands. Juliette could still remember the pain in Tami’s voice as she’d asked her what on earth she should do.

  Juliette’s first suggestion had been to call the soon-to-be father, and Tami had given a laugh that was more than half a sob. She’d done that. He’d said that he wasn’t interested. Of course, if she wanted him to, he’d pay for half of the abortion. She’d hung up on him.

  Once Tami had managed to calm down, she and Juliette had a long and honest conversation. Tami had been firm on the fact that she would be keeping the baby. Juliette remembered the way that her hand had curved over her stomach. She obviously wasn’t showing yet, but the gesture was protective.

  “I’ve always wanted to have a family,” Tami had said with tears sparkling in her eyes. “And I’d love to know that I’ll have your support.”

  Juliette had clasped her hands and given her a smile. “Of course you will. I’ll even go to your doctor’s appointments with you.”

  Which was why she was sitting here now in an increasingly uncomfortable waiting room chair.

  The door opened, and a nurse looked at her from the doorway.

  “Juliette Dietz?” the woman in floral printed scrubs asked.

  “Yes,” Juliette said. “Is everything okay?”

  The nurse smiled. “Tami would like you to be there for the ultr
asound.”

  Juliette jumped up. “Oh, I’d love to!” she said eagerly. “Is it really okay?”

  “Normally we don’t allow friends back,” the nurse said. “But since we won’t have the father in the room, there’s no problem.”

  Juliette followed the nurse through the corridors excitedly. She was going to be the second person to see Tami’s baby! She vowed not to gush too enthusiastically. She didn’t want to embarrass her friend.

  The nurse opened the door and allowed Juliette to precede her into the room. Tami was lying on the bed with a crisp white sheet over her. She gave Juliette a half-embarrassed smile.

  “I bet you had no idea you’d be doing this when you signed that roommate contract,” she joked nervously.

  Juliette laughed and walked over to take her hand. “If I’d known that babies would be involved, I would have signed even faster,” she said honestly.

  The doctor walked in. “All right, are we ready to have a look at this baby?” he asked, chuckling when he got enthusiastic nods from both women.

  He positioned the wand and gradually the picture showed up on the screen. Juliette and Tami’s eyes were locked on the images. The outline of the incredibly small baby became clear, and Tami’s hand tightened on Juliette’s.

  “That’s my baby,” she whispered.

  Juliette felt tears sting her eyes at the warm amazement in Tami’s voice. “It sure is,” she said, her own voice only marginally louder.

  The doctor smiled. “Everything looks perfectly normal,” he said. “We’ll print you out some pictures to take home. Then we’ll talk some more about what you need at this stage of your pregnancy. I’ll give you some time to get dressed.”

  He went out of the room. Tami stayed where she was, still absolutely beaming. Juliette was about to suggest that they stop for a celebratory dinner on the way back when her ringing phone interrupted them.

  “Oh, I’m sorry,” she said. “I thought I’d turned it off.”

  She pulled it out of her bag to do just that and then saw her agent’s name flash over the screen. He always got so snippy if she wasn’t exactly where he thought that she should be when he thought that she should be there. She hesitated for a second and then answered.

  “Hi, Chris. I’m with—”

  “You got an audition!” Chris nearly screeched.

  Juliette blinked, holding the phone a little further from her ear. “I got what?”

  “Horizon Studios want you for the lead,” he went on, his normally fast-paced speech almost blurring into unintelligibility. “Edward Ainsworth is set to direct! Albert Price is going to produce!”

  “I—how did they even find out about me?” she asked, her heart beginning to hammer at her ribs.

  “I do my job, that’s how. Audition’s at three.”

  Juliette looked at her watch. “Did you say three?”

  “Are you even paying attention?!” Chris demanded.

  “Yes!” she said quickly. “It’s just that I—I think I need to reschedule.”

  “Are you crazy?”

  Both Chris and Tami had asked the question at the same time. Juliette turned her attention to Tami.

  “I can’t just leave you sitting here,” she said. “And I’ll never get you home and be able to be at Horizon by three.” She pressed her phone to her shoulder to muffle Chris’s indignant squawking and gave Tami a quick smile. “It’s okay, I—”

  “Oh my God,” Tami said, jumping up with the sheet wrapped around her and yanking the phone out of Juliette’s hand. “She’ll be there,” she said.

  Chris stopped. “I don’t know who the hell you are, but thank you for talking some sense into her,” he said quickly. “I’ll call and confirm the interview right now.”

  He disconnected the call. Tami handed Juliette’s phone back to her. “I can get a cab,” she said. “I know I’m a little needy, but I’m not a complete mess yet. Go, go! You’ve got to get ready.”

  “I—but…” Juliette simply gaped at her friend. “Did he really say Horizon Studios? Edward Ainsworth?”

  “Yes!” Tami said. “Juliette, this is it. Do you understand that? This is exactly what you’ve been waiting for!”

  Juliette did know. The knowledge that this was pretty much make or break for her career was what was holding her rooted to the spot.

  “What if I blow it?” she asked, her voice panicky.

  “You won’t,” Tami said firmly. “Now go! It won’t matter how good you are if you miss the interview.”

  Juliette yanked the door open and ran back through the labyrinth of hallways. She only had an hour and forty-five before three o’clock, and a full hour of that would be taken up by the drive from the apartment to the studio.

  She ran into the parking lot, threw herself behind the wheel of the truck that she had driven all the way from North Carolina, and drove back to the apartment as fast as she dared. The last thing she needed was a speeding ticket to slow her down.

  Chapter 2

  One hour and forty minutes later, Juliette was pulling up to the security booth at Horizon Studios. She fumbled for her purse and pulled out her ID as a man ducked out of the small guard shack and leaned toward her. He glanced down at a clipboard before he spoke. She sincerely hoped that her name had time to get onto his list.

  “Name?”

  “Juliette Dietz. I have an appointment with Albert Price and Edward Ainsworth,” she added nervously.

  The guard did not look impressed by the information. For a second, she didn’t see how that was possible, but then again, the guy worked for the biggest action and adventure studio in Hollywood. He saw full-blown stars all the time.

  The guard barely glanced at her as he handed her driver’s license back after checking the list. Apparently, Juliette was on it, and she couldn’t help the sigh of relief she gave at knowing that. This wasn’t all some weird hallucination, at least. He gave her directions to the proper lot and then ducked back into his air-conditioned booth.

  She followed the directions carefully and parked amid cars that cost more than her entire year’s rent. Her truck, whom she’d affectionately dubbed Betsy when she’d bought it second hand, looked awfully scruffy there. Juliette raised her chin and marched into the studio anyway. Her talent, or lack thereof if they didn’t like her, didn’t have anything to do with what she drove.

  She stopped outside of the door to the room and took a deep breath, letting it out slowly. This was no different than going on stage. She just had to center herself. Then she’d be fine.

  Once her knees stopped feeling quite so weak, she turned the doorknob and walked into the room. Chris was already there—the two other men she had only seen in the DVD commentary section of some of her favorite films. The director, Edward Ainsworth, was an unassuming man, quiet almost to the point of seeming shy. The other man, producer Albert Price, was quiet as well. She never would have described him as shy though.

  Everything from his dark suit to the expensive watch on his wrist shouted that he was both rich and powerful. He didn’t speak when she stepped in; he simply looked her over in quiet appraisal.

  Edward smiled and gestured to a seat across the table from them. Juliette dropped into it. Her knees were shaking again.

  “I told you,” Edward said as Juliette folded her hands in her lap and waited. “She looks exactly right. She’s perfect.”

  “Thank you,” Juliette said, understanding that the compliment referred to her as a character rather than her as a person.

  “You don’t have much experience, do you?” Albert said bluntly.

  “Not when it comes to major films, no,” she answered. She could sense that Albert Price wasn’t into smoke blowing. “But I’ve acted in plays, and I’ve done several television commercials, as well as been an extra on—”

  “I’ve seen your resume,” Albert cut in with a wave of his hand. “Those things are completely different than a full-length film.”

  Juliette nodded. “Of course.”
r />   Edward checked his phone and suddenly pushed his chair back. “I’ve got to go, Albert. Looks like there’s a bit of trouble with one of the flights.”

  “Have your assistant deal with it,” Albert said.

  “She gets a little overwhelmed with things like this,” Edward murmured. “Fantastic with everything but flight schedules.” When Albert Price only sighed, Edward went on, nearly halfway out the door now. “If it makes you feel better, then why don’t you have her come in for an audition tomorrow? But she’s the one I want, remember that.” He gave her a smile and then hurried out of the room.

  Albert sighed, rubbing his forehead. “I’d like to go over the premise of the film and your role in it,” he said.

  Juliette leaned forward eagerly as he began to speak.

  “It’s an action film with romantic elements and for the most part, you’ll be working with the lead actor. It’s a lot of weight for an inexperienced actress to carry, frankly.”

  “Have you cast that role yet?” Chris asked as he flipped through the pages Albert had slid across the table. Juliette cast him a grateful look at his attempt to turn the conversation away from her lack of experience in big roles like this.

  “We’re auditioning for it tomorrow, too,” Albert said as he leaned back in his chair, still looking at Juliette in appraisal. “But Edward has his mind pretty much made up for the entire cast.”

  Juliette was almost positive that she heard him mutter, “Unfortunately.”

  Feeling a little stung, she leaned over to the papers Chris was holding and looked over the plot. The project was entitled “Sunset Island” and it sounded pretty interesting, with more depth than the average blockbuster. So what if the producer didn’t think that she could do it? All she had to do was prove it to him tomorrow.

  The door swung open, and a tall man walked in, cutting off her train of thought. For a second, it wasn’t only her mind that stopped in its tracks. Her lungs refused to take in air as well. Her heart, on the other hand, began working double time.