by Carlyn Cade
“What are you talking about?”
“They were given $25,000 tickets also, and so was Farrell Fontaine. Some mysterious financial backer is the one who sent all of you the tickets. He, or she, wanted to get you all together first in order to see if the two men could work with you, and you with them.”
“You’re the one who’s sounding mysterious to me, Hal. What do I have to do with their project?”
“Oh…just that they want you to star in it. In case you don’t know, these two are inexperienced, but the word is their stars are definitely rising. And the best part is it turns out they want your star to raise alongside theirs by being in their movie.”
“Wow!” She closed her eyes and gave her head a little shake. Was she still dreaming?
“Is doing this film something you’re seriously interested in?”
“Can you tell me any actor who wouldn’t be? Just imagine doing a one-woman movie. Almost like Gravity with Sandra Bullock, except I’d have the added opportunity to act with actors who were the best in their day in a top movie of its time. How could I turn down a chance like that? As Nathan said, it would be similar to a time travel experience and infinitely better than filming the usual remake. I think he’s correct. Yes, the more I think about it, the more excited I am to do it.”
“Okay, I’ll set up the meeting in my office in a day or two, so they don’t think we’re too eager, and also to make sure we have the home-court advantage.”
Their goodbyes said, Stacia slipped back into bed, feeling like a run-away train was chasing her. Not about the movie, that would take care of itself, but about Clay. In her wildest imagination she could not believe she could be so attracted to a prince, of all people. Impossible!
She played a video in her mind about him. “Tomorrow is all we have,” he’d said. How could she refuse him when he’d sounded so sad…and hopeful? Stacia had all she could do to walk away from him and go home last night. She’d left alone in her limo, but before they’d separated, she’d given him her cell number. He’d wanted it despite her admissions that they had nothing in common. But would he call? She’d know before long as he’d be leaving very soon.
Since she couldn’t sleep, she decided to get up and figure out her plans for the day if Clay didn’t call. Her calendar was empty. Not a problem, she thought, and just as she was ready to sneak into bed again and relax, her phone rang. She checked the ID. Unlisted number? Hmm. Maybe she shouldn’t answer. Some of her phone calls from unlisted numbers she never wanted…ever. Still…it could be Clay. She hesitated a moment longer before answering.
“Hello?” she said.
“Good morning, Stacia. This is Clay. I was wondering if you had any plans for today.”
She’d break them if she did. “Not really.” Did she sound too eager… too easy?
“I’d like to see you again. How about lunch, an afternoon of your choice, or dinner, dancing and whatever you’d like to do in the evening? I have a couple appointments today, but I still have some free time.”
Stacia laughed. He sounded a little too eager and easy himself. She was suddenly glad she had no other plans for the entire day. “Lunch sounds good.”
“You know this area better than I do, so this is your chance to be a tour guide. I’ll pick you up about ten-thirty, if that’s all right.”
“A ten-thirty lunch?”
“Too early?”
“No, it’s fine. Security will call me when you get here. You can come up and see my humble abode if you’d like.”
“I’d like,” he answered. “We can finalize our plans when I get to your place. How’s that sound?”
“Good. We’ll figure it out together.” She loved that “we” word. Stacia hadn’t had much chance to use it before, and she decided to enjoy it while she could.
After giving Clay her address, she flew through the house. Partly because she was happy she was going to see him again, and the other part was she had to hurry. She didn’t have much time before he’d be standing next to her in her living room.
♥♥
“There’s a gentleman named Clay here to see you. Do you want me to check his ID?” the security guard asked when he’d buzzed her about the prince’s arrival.
“No, I was expecting him.” She clicked off her phone, laid it down, did a little dance, and then sat down on the sofa and waited for Clay to make his way to her front door.
It didn’t take long before she heard his knock. Stacia made it there in two big leaps, checked the peek hole, and opened the door.
“Hi,” she said and smiled, hoping she wasn’t breathing too hard. She couldn’t tell because her heartbeat was pounding in her ears.
“Hello,” he answered and returned her smile. “Beautiful place you have here,” he remarked as he entered her living room and looked around. “And it sure isn’t a humble abode.”
“Thanks. It’s worked out perfectly for my needs.” She started to walk toward the patio doors. “Let’s go out here first and check out the city in the daylight, since we saw it last night in the dark.”
“Ah, last night. I had a great time, and I didn’t want it to end. However, there were too many people crowding around us all the time. I would have preferred spending the evening on the terrace alone with you.”
She kept walking and didn’t answer, but she agreed she would have rather stayed alone with him on the terrace. And now they were just that…alone together.
They stepped out onto the patio. The delicate leaves of the palm trees swayed in the slight breeze as if they were doing a Hawaiian hula dance. The rosy pinks of bougainvillea growing wild spread their beauty throughout the view and blended in with the bursts of a palette of colors from other wildflowers. Soft blue clouds provided a background for nature’s canvas.
“There’s beauty wherever I look,” he remarked. He turned toward her. “Especially when I look at you. You actually rival Mother Nature’s best efforts with your red hair and the green of your eyes…” He gently picked up one strand of her long hair and held it close to him, examined it, and let it slip through his fingers and drop back into place. “Lovely.”
Tingles crackled, like static electricity, throughout her body as his fingertips touched and released her hair. For an instant she wanted to throw her arms around his neck and kiss him as passionately as possible. She looked up into his eyes. They seemed to express exactly how she felt, but it was too soon. Too easy. “Guess we’d better make our plans.” She led the way back into the living room.
“Good thing I’m a gentleman,” he murmured as he followed her.
His comment was so low she almost didn’t hear it. She smiled to herself and headed for the sofa and sat down primly and properly, except she felt anything but prim and proper. “What would you like for lunch, privacy or people?”
“I don’t understand.” He chose a chair across from the sofa and sat down too.
“Well, remember last night, when we were surrounded by people the entire evening? That could happen today if we try to mingle out in public. Privacy means we’d be alone, except for what we’d see through the black, tinted windows of your limo.”
“Privacy sounds great to me.”
“Well, then it’s the limo…and I know you have appointments, so we could have lunch here if you’d like to save time.”
“Can I help?”
Stacia laughed. “That was a fast decision. Sure you can help, but it won’t be anything fancy.” She stood up and beckoned with her fingers. “Right this way, Chef.”
He followed her through the doorway into the kitchen. “Nice,” he said as he walked behind her.
She ignored his remark, not knowing exactly what he was referring to, but she had a pretty good idea. She opened the refrigerator door. “What looks good to you?”
“I have an answer for that, but I won’t say it.”
She cocked her head and looked up at him. “You’re pretty fast with your answers, aren’t you? Did your father teach you how to flirt too? Do
you have a lot of experience, or does it just come naturally to a prince?”
It was Clay’s turn to laugh. “Flirting, huh? Is it working?”
“Definitely.” She averted her eyes, embarrassed by her truthful response.
“Great,” he said.
Focus, girl. Concentrate on the job at hand – lunch – and not the temptation of flirting back with a prince who, at the moment, appealed to her much more than food.
“That is one well-stocked refrigerator,” Clay remarked as he peeked inside.
“That’s what happens when you grow up on a farm. Grocery stores aren’t on every corner, so you load up to last a long time. Anyway, I’d like to repeat, do you see anything you’d like, but I’m afraid you might answer this time.”
“I’ll try to control my thoughts better,” he said. “That ham looks delicious. There. Was that better?” An irresistible, sexy smile crossed his face.
Stacia wasn’t sure what to say as she did enjoy his flirting and didn’t want it to end. She remained silent as she handed him the plate of ham, took out cheese and condiments, and a very appetizing bowl of fruit salad she’d made the day before. They set everything on the counter, then she opened the cupboard doors for the rest of the luncheon items.
Clay sliced the ham while she made the sandwiches. “I don’t get to do this often,” he remarked.
“You should be an expert at it, because you certainly are with your ice sculpturing.”
“I meant…with someone like you.”
“Is that good or bad?”
“Distracting…and very good.”
Stacia wanted to tell him she felt the same way, only she’d have to admit she had nothing to compare it with as she hadn’t been in her kitchen before with a man making lunch or any other meal. What a sorry life she’d led. From high school to Hollywood without romance and love in between. She’d always concentrated on her career. No wonder she was nervous. She didn’t even know how to act or what to talk about. An actress needed a script.
“Did I say something to make you sad?” Clay asked.
She shook her head. “I was just thinking of something else for a moment. Sorry.”
“Care to share?”
She shook her head again. “Thanks, but no.” Stacia wiped her hands on the kitchen towel. “I think we’re done in here. Let’s eat out on the patio where we can get some sunshine and air.” She needed air especially. She wanted to fan herself, but resisted the impulse action.
“I’m sorry I can’t spend the rest of the afternoon with you,” Clay said when they were finished eating their lunch and had moved onto her patio chairs. “I tried to get out of those appointments, but they’re about my father’s bank business, so I couldn’t. I hope I can make it up to you this evening at dinner.”
“I understand about appointments. I have the same problem trying to get out of them sometimes. Dinner will be fine, and if you can’t make it –”
“I don’t think you understand how much I want to spend time with you.”
He gazed into her eyes, and Stacia felt spellbound. The saying that eyes mirror your soul was certainly true, she realized. His did, and she thought probably hers reflected the same thing to him. It seemed forever, or an instant, when they broke eye contact. She wasn’t sure which, but she felt as if she could look into his eyes forever.
He spoke first. “Do you have a favorite restaurant for dinner?”
“No.”
“Then I’m sure the limo driver can recommend one. He must have been to every restaurant here, before and after his passengers ate. He could pick one for us.”
“Sorta like pot-luck, right? That sounds fun. I like that.”
“And I like you,” he said, “but I have to leave now.”
“I know.” Disappointment rushed through her. They had just begun, and now it was ended already.
Clay stood up, and Stacia showed him to the door. When he started to go through the doorway, he suddenly put his arm around her waist and pulled her to him. He brushed his lips across hers very lightly. “See you tonight,” he said and left.
She waved to him even though he hadn’t turned to see it. Thoughts of how many times she’d been kissed by guys scattered through her mind. None, not one of them, had the power of the prince’s electrifying kiss and its promise there would be more…and more, she hoped.
♥♥
“We’ve come full circle now,” Stacia said that evening when the lights of Hollywood lit up the skies. “We started out looking at the moon and here it’s time for it to shine for us again.”
“It’s been a wonderful day, both for lunch and dinner,” Clay said. “Thank you for sharing them with me. I now know all about Stacia the actress, Stacia the farmer’s daughter, and Stacia the woman.”
“And I think I know a little what it’s like to be a prince.”
“Suppose you were a prince. What would you do right now?”
She shrugged.
“Maybe this?” He gently took Stacia into his arms and kissed her as if there could be no tomorrow. It didn’t exist. He wasn’t leaving, because there was no place else to go. There was only now harnessed to forever in an unbreakable chain.
She put both her hands on his face, trying to get as close to him as possible. He answered by putting his on hers. Deeper and deeper went the kiss. It held the promise that this was only the beginning for them. Suddenly, it was over. They stood apart, and she instantly missed his warmth and his tenderness, combined with a passion she’d never experienced before.
“There just wasn’t enough time,” he said regretfully. “I have to do something about that.”
“I…don’t think there’s anything you or I can do.”
“I’ll have to think about it though.” His arms surrounded her again. “Right now, all I can think about is you.” He kissed her again, his tongue mating with hers.
His kiss rocked her world the same as it did before. She felt as if the whole planet had been detached from its axis and was soaring through space, never to return again. And she could live with that. Nothing else mattered but Clay at this moment, this time and place. But it had to stop…a small voice deep inside her demanded it. So she did. She stopped the kiss and an icy, cold shock of reality replaced it. “I’m sorry. I just don’t want us to end up doing something we’ll be sorry for later.”
“I know.” He pulled out his cell to check the time. “I see it’s your bewitching hour. I want you to know that you’ve bewitched me ever since I bumped into you by the caviar last night. You can cast quite a spell, Stacia, but now I guess it’s time for me to get back to my hotel. I leave early tomorrow for home.”
Her fingers touched her tingling lips that had not returned to normal from his kisses. “How can you get so…formal…so fast…after those kisses? I guess most women you’ve met wouldn’t have stopped you.”
“Trust me, Stacia. You are not like most women. You are unique and special. Maybe my way of controlling what we just experienced doesn’t match yours, but it’s the only way I know how to get control of myself.” He bent down and planted a gentle kiss on her cheek.
“Goodbye, princess,” he said as he walked out the door. “See you soon.”
♥♥
Prince Clayton was mesmerized, and he couldn’t get the gorgeous red-haired woman off his mind since he’d left her condo that evening. He’d had to get out of there fast after those amazing kisses. His mind had started fantasizing about more than just kissing her, probably due to the combination of spending time with her and his fiery attraction to this incredible woman, Stacia Saunders, the movie actress. Hollywood star or not, she was by far the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen in his life. Not that he was typically a fan of red-haired women. Actually, he hadn’t been particularly interested in any woman with that color hair…until he’d met her.
And her eyes. Sea-green, he’d say if he were asked to describe them. Right when he first saw her, even though it was only for moments, he’d instantly decide
d she was the only woman he’d ever seen who had everything. Her immediate offer to help him was caring and indicated the beauty she had inside. Her loveliness spoke of her beauty outside. And her sexiness exploded before him, tantalizing his imagination to heights he hadn’t realized existed. But he could only leave her standing there because Sam had been about to introduce him. Then, later that evening and today, after spending more time with her, the experiences had only cemented his first impression of her. She was the complete package, the real thing. Everything in the world any man could desire.
It was long after midnight, and unable to sleep, he sat in his hotel suite with drawing pencils and a sketch pad, trying to think up a design for his upcoming show. The only thing he could dream up was a very vivid picture of one ravishing Miss Saunders.
Well, he’d better come up with some workable plans and fast. His deadline was getting hair-splitting close...only a few days were left. He stood up and stretched. He walked over to his balcony and leaned on the railing while he surveyed the lights of the city below. It was much more impressive when Stacia was next to him.
He had to concentrate on letting his creative juices flow. Moments later he laughed out loud. Suddenly his ice sculpture came to life, and he had his idea…and a way to see Stacia Saunders again.
♥♥
The next morning, Stacia arrived at Hal’s office fifteen minutes early. She was shown into his elegant suite in Beverly Hills, which she loved to tease him that she’d helped pay for. He always came back with, “Why do you think I get you such high salaries? Have to pay my rent, you know.”
In his thirties, everyone wondered how someone as young as Hal could be such an important agent. The truth was he kept his clients’ best interests first above his. He didn’t go after the fast bucks for himself, just what would keep “his stars shining brightly over Hollywood,” as he liked to say. He had a law degree from Harvard as well as a business degree. His mother, Helen Ashley Shores, was a retired actress. At the time he’d graduated summa cum laude, his mother had needed his services to straighten out a messy lawsuit she was involved in with her then current agent. Once he settled her problems, she asked him to be her agent. He decided he liked the job, and his clientele list had grown ever since.
