by Lynn Forth
How strange, she couldn’t remember leaving the TV on.
Then gradually, she became conscious of cool sheets holding her cocooned against starchy pillows on a narrow bed. And bright lights. And a white room glimpsed through half-opened eyes.
For a moment, she was going to utter the famous line, ‘Where am I?’ But with a sudden blinding realisation, of course, she knew. That blow to her head, the losing of consciousness, strong arms lifting her up, cradling her, then blackness.
Those lights and that distinctive, if faint, antiseptic smell. Oh no, she hated hospitals. Alarmed, she turned her head, and there by her bed was…Scott. Yes, Scott Flynn. By her bed!
Her eyes flew open in astonishment and she struggled to sit up.
‘Now, don’t go moving in a rush,’ he grinned cheekily, ‘that’s what caused all the bother in the first place.’ Leaning forward, he clasped her fluttering hand in his.
She gasped. He was even more gorgeous close up…and he was holding her hand, and gazing at her with those wonderful sapphire blue eyes.
‘Scott,’ she stammered weakly, hardly able to breathe.
‘Yup, that’s me. How are you feeling?’
Transfixed by those cobalt eyes, Jane swallowed and tried to speak. A strange, strangulated squeak escaped from her lips.
He grinned. A flash of white teeth in his gorgeous bronzed face.
‘What’s that, honey?’
Mortified, she tried again.
‘Well, my head’s a bit sore, and I still feel a bit woozy,’ she whispered hoarsely. And squealed inside, thinking the wooziness could easily be caused by Scott Flynn sitting there…and actually holding her hand!
Totally overcome, she couldn’t think of anything else to say. But then she had to know exactly how this surreal situation had come about, and to double-check it wasn’t all a strange dream.
‘What exactly happened?’ She tried to make her voice sound normal whilst looking adoringly into his famous face.
‘You backed right into a camera which was moving into place. It was an almighty thump you gave yourself, little lady.’
‘Oh yes, is that what it was? I’m so sorry. Oh, how awful, making such a fuss. I really am so terribly sorry…’
‘Couldn’t you just sit here and listen to that accent all day?’ Scott said to someone.
Breaking her gaze, she turned to the other side of the bed, where she saw the concerned face of Jack. Her heart did a spontaneous quick flip at the sight of his intense brown eyes and the worried furrow in his brow.
How embarrassing to be under such scrutiny from two men. And two such amazingly good-looking men.
Again, Jane began to struggle to sit up, feeling foolish and certain she must look a mess.
She felt Jack’s strong hand on her shoulder, gently guiding her back on to the pillows.
‘Seriously, Scott’s right. You should be careful about moving until you’ve fully come to.’
The concern in his deep warm voice made Jane feel strangely tearful. She mustn’t cry. Wasn’t it humiliating enough to know she had been so overwhelmed by Scott’s presence that she had staggered back and knocked herself out?
‘Oh dear, this is all my fault. Especially as you told me to be careful moving about on a film set.’
‘No, little lady, I’m the one to blame,’ Scott said gallantly, pulling her attention back to him. ‘I shouldn’t have crept up behind you like that.’
He had been secretly delighted at Jane’s reaction. Fame was still a relatively new experience for him. And he revelled in knowing just how strong his impact was on women, especially on such a little beauty as this, who blushed so prettily and had such innocent blue eyes.
Yes, he had thoroughly enjoyed the whole incident. Although he wished it had been him, not Jack, who had caught her and held her in his arms till the ambulance arrived.
Scott was even more pleased that the resulting hassle had got him out of that darned sex scene with Savannah.
After their blazing row last night, the last thing he wanted was to have to be ‘up close and personal’ with his girlfriend. He knew Savannah had witnessed what had happened on the set, and his solicitous behaviour towards Jane would really annoy her. It was another reason why he had insisted on accompanying the English girl to the hospital.
He hadn’t expected Jack to come, too, but the stubborn jut of Jack’s jaw as he sat by the side of Jane’s stretcher told him that he had no intention of moving.
Scott stroked Jane’s hand and saw she was gazing at him, her face a mixture of disbelief and wonder. He felt he ought to say something, but couldn’t think of anything. It was so much easier on set; he was good with lines. He instinctively knew how to deliver them.
Thinking of which, he should really be getting back to the set. He knew it wasn’t good to lose a whole day’s filming, and the director would not be pleased.
He glanced surreptitiously at his watch, but then his new-found, leading-man bravado kicked in. Hey, what the heck. What was the point of being a big-shot movie star if you couldn’t flex your fame muscles now and again?
To his annoyance, he knew Jack had seen him glance at the watch. And he now fixed Scott with a look that said, ‘She’s OK now. You have no excuse to be here. Get back to the set.’
In spite of himself, Scott flinched at this look. He knew Jack was right, and he really shouldn’t delay any longer.
But who was Jack to tell him what to do? He was only five years older, but Scott suspected his mother had asked Jack to keep a protective eye on him. And that really rankled.
He hated Jack sharing his limelight. After all, without Jack there, he would have played a more major part in this delightful fan’s rescue, and he could have really basked in the warm glow of her wide-eyed gratitude. But with Jack’s keen eyes on him, he felt vaguely inhibited and unable to play the full film star role he so loved.
He also knew if he dallied at Jane’s bed for much longer, Jack would actually say something about returning to the set, and the last thing he wanted was to lose face in front of such an adoring fan. A fan who had dramatically swooned at his feet. Or so he would tell everyone.
Leaning forwards to gaze intently into Jane’s admiring eyes, he gently raised her fingertips to his lips. Then, with well-acted reluctance, he tenderly let go of her hand. He was rewarded by seeing Jane blush to the roots of her hair.
‘Well, if you are sure you are OK, little lady, I’d better be getting back to the set. They can’t do anything there without me, as I’m sure you appreciate.’
‘Oh, yes, of course. I’m fine now,’ Jane stammered. ‘Please don’t stay on my account. I must be going as well…I can’t thank you enough for coming to the hospital with me; you really shouldn’t have, you know.’ She began to clamber out of bed, then stopped as she realised she was just in a hospital gown and wasn’t sure what state of undress would be revealed. Would the fastenings be done up at the back? How short was it? Was she wearing any knickers?
Blushing even more fiercely, she drew the covers up to her chin.
Standing at the head of the bed, Jack once again put a hand on her shoulder to prevent her getting out of bed. She felt the warm strength of his hand on her shoulder through her flimsy cotton gown.
Normally she would fight anyone, especially a virtual stranger, who tried to restrain her from doing what she wanted, but in this unexpected situation she was strangely reassured by his presence.
‘You are going nowhere, Jane,’ Jack said firmly. ‘The Doc says you must stay in at least tonight for observation. They have to check for concussion, and you’ve got a couple of stitches in that wound that—’
Startled, Jane met his stern gaze. ‘But I’ve got to catch my flight home in the morning…and there’s all my packing to be done.’
‘As I say, you are going nowhere till they are sure you are well enough.’
‘But I’ll be fine. Honestly. I really do have to leave and sort things out. My hotel reservation is only till tomo
rrow, and then I mustn’t miss my plane.’ To her annoyance, she could feel tears well up.
Jack’s hand was still there on her shoulder, and he began to stroke her back to calm her down
‘Don’t worry. I’ll deal with all that.’
‘But…but…’
Scott, observing all this with suppressed annoyance, suddenly had an idea. One that would turn the spotlight back to him. A plan he could exploit to the press and which would really infuriate Jack. And, more importantly, Savannah.
‘Now, you really mustn’t upset yourself, little lady,’ he said in a tender voice, seizing both her hands in his and giving them a reassuring squeeze. He caught Jack’s barely suppressed grimace at this cheesy remark, but Scott didn’t care as he was once again rewarded by Jane’s undivided, blue-eyed attention.
He turned the full wattage of his famous film star smile on her.
‘Look, all this was my fault. No, it was.’ He waved what he hoped was a magnanimous hand to stem Jane’s protests. ‘So, to make up for this accident, you must come and stay with me…as my guest for a while, until you have fully recovered.’
He avoided Jack’s sharp look of astonishment.
‘I couldn’t possibly—’ began Jane.
‘Oh, but you could, and I insist. I’ll tell the hospital to get in touch with my people as soon as you are fit to be discharged, and the guest bedroom will be ready and waiting.’
He leant over and placed his finger under Jane’s chin in order to tilt her head up towards him. Gazing deep into her astonished eyes, he bent over and, in true movie style, softly brushed her lips with his.
Then, with a theatrical flourish, he picked up his jacket from a chair and slung it nonchalantly over his shoulder, paused to wink at Jane, turned on his heels and left the room, leaving behind two astounded people.
Jack recovered first.
‘If you’ll excuse me a moment, Jane,’ he said grimly, and bounded out of the door after Scott.
He caught up with him at the nursing station.
‘What was all that about?’
‘What?’ Scott was busy giving instructions about Jane to three starstruck nurses on the desk.
Jack waited impatiently till Scott had finished enjoying himself flirting with all the giggling female staff who had miraculously appeared.
‘OK, Scott,’ he said, drawing the grinning film star reluctantly away from all his admirers. ‘So, what’s the game…inviting Jane to your place? What will Savannah think about that?’
Scott scowled. ‘I don’t really care what Savannah thinks.’
‘Oh, so that’s it, is it?’ Jack said. ‘You’ve had a row with her and want to annoy her, make her jealous. I get it.’
It all fell into place now. Scott’s ostentatious care of Jane, the uncharacteristic solicitude, the ride in the ambulance, all for the sake of provoking his co-star and girlfriend, Savannah Shaw. And now this impetuous invitation to Jane.
Jack felt a stirring of anxiety for the innocent occupant of the hospital bed.
‘Look, Scott, Jane’s a good kid. Leave her out of your games, will you?’
‘Hey, what makes you think they’re games?’ Scott was clearly nettled that his motives had been discovered so easily. ‘Jane’s a little beauty. I quite fancy having a crack at her.’ He winked.
‘What! You don’t mean…?’
‘Look, Jack,’ Scott lowered his voice conspiratorially, ‘I smell essence of virgin.’
Jack’s outrage made him laugh. Scott seemed to be taking a childish glee in shocking him.
‘Did you see the way she blushed in there, and pulled up the sheet to her chin? A virgin if ever I saw one. Be quite nice to—’ He stopped in astonishment as a furious Jack grabbed the front of his shirt.
Scott quailed at the look of disgust in Jack’s eyes.
‘Hey, hey, Jack. What are you playing at?’
Aware of the curious gazes from the assembled nursing staff, Jack immediately loosened his hold. What was he thinking about? This would be all over the gossip mags if he wasn’t careful.
And Jack never gave the mags anything, anything, to write about.
Scott looked ruffled, clearly worried at the prospect of losing face in front of the adoring nurses.
‘Oh, I get it,’ he leered. ‘I’m stepping on your toes. You fancy having a crack at her yourself, don’t you?’
‘No. No, not at all.’ Jack couldn’t account for his sudden surge of protectiveness towards Jane; after all, she had been anything but complimentary about him or his work. ‘Look, it’s just she’s not from Tinseltown, Scott. She doesn’t know what goes on round here. Don’t you go forcing her—’
‘Forcing her!’ Now Scott was really affronted.
He had never had any trouble persuading any woman into bed in all his short, handsome life.
‘Don’t worry. I won’t take what isn’t freely given. What do you take me for? I think she’ll be only too grateful for my attentions. Just imagine the tale she can tell back in Hicksville, England.’ He grinned, very pleased with himself.
The seduction of Jane was going to be a pleasure. Even more of a pleasure now that he knew Jack, no matter what he said, was interested. It was going to be a joy stealing her from under his nose.
So far, he had managed to hide his jealousy of Jack from everyone. Every nerve in his body resented the way people looked up to Jack and gave him the credit for Scott’s movie success.
He acknowledged he owed Jack for the way his writing had expanded that small part in his first movie to a pivotal role. He knew that so many small roles ended up on the cutting room floor, but Jack had somehow crafted out a sensationally sizzling sex scene which had made sure Scott was noticed by the Hollywood movers and shakers.
So, yes, he owed Jack. But not as much as his mother seemed to reckon. She was always banging on about Jack’s part in his big break. Jack’s script had been good, but it was his delivery that gave it life on the big screen. He, Scott, was the one the critics raved over, and the one the women drooled over.
And despite all Jack’s prestige, and his Oscar, in the end he was just a hack writer. It was Scott who was the movie star. It wouldn’t do Jack any harm to realise it.
‘I tell you what, Jack, how about a little wager? A thousand bucks. See who gets there first.’
He smiled tauntingly up at the tall frame of his mentor, but the anger flickering in Jack’s eyes made him turn swiftly towards the exit without waiting for a reply.
Outside, as he put on his sunglasses and strutted towards the waiting car, he felt mightily pleased with himself. Having Jane to stay would antagonise Savannah and Jack at the same time.
Yup, the seduction of that pretty, innocent occupant of a hospital bed had just gone up a level in the game stakes.
He must try to remember her name.
Ignoring the inquisitive glances from the nursing station, Jack strode back to Jane’s room. He was furious with Scott; fame had definitely gone to his head.
But he was mainly angry with himself. How could he have lost his temper like that? He, who prided himself on his self-control and never letting his guard down. He knew he had played the situation all wrong, and in doing so, he had made Jane more of a target for Scott’s attentions, not less.
Should he warn her? Should he tell her she was just a pawn in Scott’s game with Savannah?
As for the bet, there was no way he was going to engage in anything so sleazy. And he would make that quite clear to Scott the minute they were alone together.
He shook himself. Why did he feel so responsible for Jane? La La Land was full of pretty, naïve newcomers who quickly learned what a shark pool it was. Why had this one got under his skin?
His jaw tightened. No, he would keep an eye out for her, but not get involved. She wasn’t a kid, and verbally, she could certainly more than stand up for herself.
When he got back into Jane’s room, he found her sitting up, looking pale and very bemused. She was running her finger
s along her lips in wonderment, as if still tasting that kiss. But, looking embarrassed to be caught by Jack, she immediately dropped her hand and turned to him with startled eyes.
‘He didn’t mean that, did he? About staying at his place?’
‘Yup, he certainly did.’
‘But I can’t just go and stay with a movie star. This is just too unbelievable.’ Jane shook her head in wonderment, and then winced in pain. ‘Anyway, I ought to get back. My flight goes tomorrow.’
‘Have you got to get back to England for a reason? I mean, is anyone expecting you?’ Perhaps he could get her onto the plane, and foil Scott’s nasty little scheme. Jack smiled to himself at the thought of Scott’s thwarted petty rage.
‘Well no, not really. I need to let my family and friends know, obviously, but no-one will bother if I stay here a bit longer.’
Jack had mixed feelings at her reply. Annoyance that he couldn’t get Jane out of harm’s way – out of Scott’s way – and relief that she had no lurking boyfriend. As if it mattered to him.
‘Right, give me all the details of your flight and I’ll sort it.’
Despite the ache arcing across her forehead, Jane hoisted herself firmly into a sitting position against the pillows.
‘That’s so kind,’ she said steadily, endeavouring to take some sort of control over this surreal situation, ‘but I also need to pay my hotel bill or they will throw my stuff out. So, if you could just pass me my phone…er, my handbag…over there.’
If only she could get to her handbag, she could start sorting everything for herself. But while Jack was in the room, she was trapped in bed. The last thing she wanted was for him to see her half-naked in a skimpy hospital gown. She blushed at the thought.
Jane was still feeling weak and wobbly, and she couldn’t, just couldn’t, faint in his arms.
Not again.
She still retained fleeting impressions of his strong arms around her, the crispness of his linen shirt, the cool, lemon tang of his aftershave, the sensual warmth of his body.
She fought to dismiss these memories, no matter how pleasurable. They were clouding her brain. Why couldn’t she think straight with him around?
