She was jolted out of her reverie by Lucas Moore, the star of the movie, greeting them as he walked into the trailer. “Hey, kiddo.” He squeezed Alicia’s shoulder as he passed, and she grinned. For such a huge movie star, Lucas was down-to-earth, funny, and kind, never ‘the star’ just ‘Lucas.’ He and Alicia had struck up a friendship on an earlier movie set and she had been delighted to see her buddy again.
“How’s it going, loser?” she asked him now, and he grinned.
“Same old, same old. Nice juicy stunts today?”
“Tower fall,” she grimaced. “Way too easy. Not even four floors.”
Lucas winced. “Rather you than me … I got a thing for heights. And spiders. And clowns, to be honest.”
“Wuss.”
He chuckled. “Yup. That’s why I act and you do the heroic stuff. How’s Bella this week? Wicked Witch or Glinda?”
“The latter, thankfully.” Alicia rolled her eyes at the thought of the female star of the movie. Bella Angers (“So aptly named,” Alicia always said) was in her early thirties now and worried about all the younger actresses coming up behind her. It made her ego fragile and her temper brittle. When she was calm, she was pleasant to work for, but those days were becoming few and far between. Only yesterday, she had screamed at the director of photography when he’d asked her to move a little to her left for the next shot.
The director, Cosimo DeLuca, had reprimanded her in his gentle way. “Bella, Matt is doing his job. Know yours.”
She had stomped off to her trailer, leaving the rest of them to sigh in relief. Now Alicia told Lucas about it as she watched him scarf down leftover pizza. “Hungry?”
“Starving, and the craft service truck is overwhelmed.”
Alicia’s stomach grumbled and Lucas laughed. “Listen,” he started nonchalantly, “when are you going to let me take you out for—”
“Ali, Cosimo says five minutes and we’ll be ready for you.” The runner stuck his head in the trailer and disappeared just as quickly.
“Cool.” Alicia breathed a sigh of relief at the interruption. Lately, Lucas had been hinting that he’d like to see her socially and although he was drop-dead gorgeous, and she liked him immensely, she couldn’t do it. Yet she didn’t want to hurt his feelings or lose him as a friend. She got out of her seat and threw him a grin. “Better go check the setup.”
Lucas laughed. “One day, I’ll get an answer, Ali. One day.”
She was still thinking about what she had said as she readied herself for her stunt. Should she bite the bullet and go out on a date with him? The idea filled her with fear and she wasn’t concentrating when she heard Cosimo call for them to begin.
Her character was supposed to be fighting against a hit man and Alicia went through the usual moves, practiced over and over beforehand. At the end of the fight, the character got pushed from the top of the building and Alicia didn’t even think as she fell backwards towards the huge inflated safety cushion.
It was less than a second between her realizing there was something wrong and the sheer impact of hitting the ground after the safety cushion collapsed beneath her.
Ezra Hemsley checked his pager and pushed his chair away from the bed. He stood and smiled down at the elderly woman he had been talking to. “Agnes, I’m sorry, they’re calling for me.”
Agnes patted his hand. “You are a sweet boy. Now go fix whoever needs to be fixed. I’ll still be here later.”
He winked at her and then went to find Agnes’ nurse. “Hey, Stevie, keep an eye on her BP, would you please? If it gets much lower, I’m concerned.”
“Of course, doc.” As they walked out of the nurse’s station together, they heard the announcement.
Dr Hemsley to the Emergency Room, please. Dr Hemsley.
“On my way,” he muttered to himself. Walking quickly, he still had a smile and a kind word for those he met on his way, but as he pushed his way into the ER, he switched into professional mode. “What have we got, guys?”
“Ambulance arriving here in one minute. A young woman, a victim of a four-story fall from a building—apparently a stuntwoman working downtown. Safety cushion deflated. She’s in a pretty bad way.”
“Okay, well, have O-neg ready and saline, clear CT if there’s a head injury.” He was already snapping on fresh surgical gloves, knowing a fall could mean myriad injuries. “Woman, you say?”
“Yup.”
“Brave girl.”
They waited at the ambulance bay for the injured woman to arrive and when it arrived, they immediately took her inside to start to treat her. She was covered in blood, her hair matted and sticking to her face. An oxygen mask was covering her mouth and nose and they heard her breathing, ragged and labored.
Checking her vitals though, Ezra was surprised. “Good pulse, BP is stable … right, let’s find where she’s bleeding from, then get her to x-ray.” He leaned over the woman. “Miss? Can you hear me?”
“She was unconscious on the way.”
“What’s her name?”
The paramedic checked his notes. “Monterey. Alicia Monterey.”
Ezra’s heart dropped like a stone and he stared at the paramedic in horror. “What?”
“Alicia Monterey, 28 …” The paramedic began reading the information he had been given but Ezra had stopped listening. Alicia. His Ali. The woman he’d fallen in love with so completely and abandoned because he knew he would never be good enough for her. His Ali.
As he grabbed some swabs and began to clear the blood from her face, she opened her big brown eyes and gazed up at him and he knew, once again, he was lost.
Alicia felt the whoosh of morphine through her veins and her body relaxed. She breathed in through her nose slowly, filling her lungs, her eyes closed. She didn’t need the doctors to tell her she had been incredibly lucky. No broken bones, no head injury, just lacerations and a concussion.
They’d kept her in to treat her for shock and the soreness from hitting the ground so hard but she was glad to hear she should be out of hospital by the end of the week.
Ezra. Waking up to see his gorgeous face, his eyes so worried, so scared, she had thought she was dreaming. Or dead. It was only when she’d heard him speak her name that she’d realized she wasn’t.
“Ali? Can you hear me?”
Yes. The sound of his voice made her smile. “Am I dead?”
His soft chuckle. “No, sweetheart, you’re going to be fine. I’ll make sure of it.”
Wait, Ezra was a doctor? Thinking about it now, it made sense. Ever seeking the adrenaline rush. But, as she’d recovered more of her faculties, she’d realized this wasn’t the same Ezra she had known. This Ezra was calmer, kinder … there was none of that ego she had known from him, that arrogance. He and his team and cared for her, and after his shifts, he came to sit with her as she slept, holding her hand. When her father and brother turned up to the hospital, they had been glad to see him, but as yet, Alicia hadn’t been coherent enough to really talk to him.
Now, as evening fell on her third day, she was wide awake when he came to see her. He held up an armful of vending machine snacks and she smiled. Ezra shrugged. “Hey, I’ll take what I can get to gas up the engine.”
“A well-rounded diet.”
“Always. I can’t remember when I last saw a vegetable. Want some Reese’s Pieces?”
Alicia shook her head but smiled, feeling shy. Ten years and he looked even handsomer than she remembered. Gone was his long blond surfer-dude hair, now replaced with a shorter look, his blond now a dark blond. Crows’ feet crinkled at the edge of his eyes when he smiled, but his eyes, his beautiful eyes, were still the same as she remembered.
He perched on the side of the bed and grinned at her. “You look better, more color.” He reached out and stroked her cheek. “But still just as beautiful.”
“Flirt.”
He laughed. “You know it.” His smile faded. “You scared the crap out of me, Ali. I thought I’d lost you.”
She gazed at him steadily. “Ezra …”
“I know, I know. I have no right to say that after what I did … Ali, believe me when I say, there is nothing in my life I regret more. I should have been more mature.”
Alicia felt her heart twist. “We were kids, Ez. And look at you … why tie yourself down to one woman? You could have anyone, Ez. Especially now that you’re a kick-ass doctor.”
She grinned but her smile faded when she saw the hurt in his eyes. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to imply you did this for the sex.”
“It’s okay, I deserved that. I …” He faltered now and took her hand. “I screwed up. I thought we had to part so we could both reach our full potential … no, that’s bull crap. I fell in love with you, Alicia, and it scared the crap out of me. I was 22 and dumb as hell when it came to matters of the heart. I knew the second I left that it was a mistake.”
“Then why didn’t you come back?” Her voice broke. “Years, Ez. It took me year to get over you.”
His eyes met hers. “Are you? Are you over me?”
They gazed at each other, but as Alicia opened her mouth to speak, they both heard a “Knock, knock.”
Lucas Moore stood at the door, a huge bunch of flowers in his arms, and smiled at them. “Sorry, doc, is this a bad time? Someone told me it was visiting hours.”
Ezra nodded and stood up. Alicia wanted to scream at him to stay, for Lucas to go, not to interrupt the moment they had been sharing. But she said nothing.
“I’ll come by later and check in on you, Ali.” Ezra nodded, not giving anything away as Lucas came into the room and kissed Alicia’s cheek.
Alicia watched Ezra’s back as he walked away, then turned her attention to Lucas. He grinned at her, holding the flowers up.
“These aren’t for you. I just saw a sweet-ass old lady down the hall and I’m going to try my luck.”
Alicia giggled, despite the tension in her body. “Well, she is age appropriate, so …”
“Aww, man, that hit hard.” He pretended to clutch his chest and laughed. “So, how are you? I can tell you we’re all pretty damn relieved it wasn’t worse.”
“Me too, Lucas. Cosimo and Bella have been to see me too, as have … wait for it … the studio’s legal team. They’re scared I’ll sue.”
“Of course they are, and they should be. Damn, Ali, they didn’t even check that safety cushion. Cosimo is furious.”
“I know. He told me he’d back me up if I wanted to sue, even offered to compensate him himself. It’s not his fault.”
“And the docs say no broken bones?” He genuinely seemed to care and Alicia was touched.
“Not one. Just mild concussion and bruising. Outta here by the weekend.”
Lucas smiled and took her hand. “That’s good news.” He nodded in the direction Ezra had walked off. “You know the doc?”
Alicia swallowed hard. Yes. Yes, I know him. “We were college buddies.”
“That’s cool.”
Alicia withdrew her hand, pretending to reach for some water so his feelings wouldn’t be hurt. “Yeah, it is.” If only you knew …
Lucas stayed an hour then kissed her cheek. As he leaned in, she thought he was going for her mouth and turned her head slightly, smiling to lessen the slight. When she was alone, she lay back against her pillows and tried to sleep, but her mind was whirling.
After falling asleep, she woke in the middle of the night to find Ezra slumped in the chair beside her, snoring gently. Alicia smiled and watched him for a while before her own eyes closed.
When she woke again, his fingers were tangled with hers and she lay still, not wanting to break the spell. She remembered when they used to do this when they were studying for exams or writing term papers together in their dorm room or in the shared apartment. Working into the early morning, one or both would nap, the other would hold their hand, waking them after a certain time to finish their work.
His fingers were warm, slightly rough skin, linked with hers in that old familiar way. Alicia could almost believe no time had passed between them and now. Her eyes searched his face, testing her heart, and she knew without a shadow of a doubt that she loved him as much now as she had then, even if this Ezra seemed so absolutely different from the one she had known.
She squeezed his fingers gently and his eyes opened. Ezra sat up and smiled at her as his eyes blinked, trying to clear his vision. “Hey, gorgeous.” He smoothed her hair away from her forehead. “Are you in pain?”
“None at all,” she said, and it was true. Apart from some stiffness, she felt fine. “I feel bad for taking up a bed.”
Ezra smiled at her. “That’s not something you have to worry about. The studio’s paying for everything, so live it up. Sure you don’t want some of the good drugs?”
Alicia laughed. “I knew it. You’re a dealer.”
“That’s me. Ali?”
“Yes?”
He leaned in closer, hesitating, then pressed his lips to hers. “Is this okay?”
So many sweet sensations were flooding her body that she just nodded, not wanting him to stop. The kiss grew deeper, his tongue caressing hers, her fingers tangling in his short hair. Her whole body felt that kiss—a furious pulse began to beat between her legs.
Eventually Ezra broke away as they both gasped for air. “I’ve been dreaming about that for ten years,” he said softly. “But I never thought it would happen.” He smiled a crooked smile. “And I broke just about every rule of this hospital. You’re my patient.”
Alicia grinned. “If you don’t kiss me again, I’ll be your very im-patient.”
“You did not just make that joke.”
“I just did. Now kiss me, doc. By the way, you’re fired.”
Ezra smiled and her insides melted. “Glad to hear it, because Friday, when you’re released, I’m taking you to dinner.”
“Oh, you are, are you?” This was more like the old Ezra, confident, ballsy. Alicia relaxed. He was still him … and he wanted to see her again.
“How about it? You up for some adventure?”
She grinned. “Always.”
It was only when her family came to visit that Alicia’s bubble burst. Her brother James asked her about seeing Ezra again. “Like we never parted,” she said with a grin. She was shoving her clothes into her bag, ready to go home and have a much-needed shower, but then she caught the loaded glance between her father and her brother. “What?”
“Kiddo … are you sure you want to go through that again?”
“Go through what?” She knew exactly what they were talking about, but she was damned if they’d spoil her happiness.
Her father made her stop and look at him. “We were there, sweetheart. We know what Ezra leaving you did.”
“We’re different people now.” Her voice carried a warning in it. “We’re both adults, professional … and we can make our own decisions.”
“Who’s an adult?” Ezra came in, grinning, and shook her father and brother’s hands. He stroked a finger along Alicia’s cheekbone. “You look good. Happy to be leaving this place?”
“Yes and no.” She grinned at him. Their eyes met and held.
Ezra smiled and looked at the others. “Guys, can we have a moment, please?”
Her father and brother left the room and shut the door behind them. Ezra drew Alicia into his arms. “It’s been a whirlwind.”
“It has. Listen … this week, seeing you again … I just want to make sure we both know what we’re doing. If this is just a reminiscence for you, a hook-up to celebrate the past … I’m not up for that.”
Ezra nodded, his eyes serious. “I understand. I’m not that person, anymore, Ali. I’ve spent ten years thinking what if? I’ve tried to have relationships with other women, but at the core of all of them was: what if Ali was my soulmate? I threw myself into work, got to the top of my profession … but you were always there.”
He stroked her hand down her face. “I’m not saying anything but this. I’d like to try
again, see if we can build something. If you say no, and God knows, you have every reason not to trust me, then peace be with you, no recriminations.”
Alicia studied him. Maybe her family was right to be cautious … but Ezra appeared to be genuine. Hell, when she thought about it, he’d always been honest, if nothing else, and she had no reason to doubt him now. But, yeah, they were adults—and there was no rush.
“I’ve been given three weeks to recover properly,” she said to him. “Yes, let’s try … but this time, if either of us aren’t feeling it, we talk about it.”
“Agreed.” He seemed relieved, and she wondered what had happened to him to take his arrogance. Weren’t surgeons supposed to think of themselves as gods? “I have a feeling,” he said, suddenly grinning and looking like her old Ezra, “that we’re going to enjoy this.”
Alicia narrowed her eyes at him. “And don’t think you’re getting laid tonight. I need to be wooed, Hemsley.”
“Oh, you will be.”
At home, she soaked in the tub, grimacing over the black bruises on her body. She shaved her legs gingerly, despite being determined she wouldn’t sleep with him tonight, but couldn’t help testing her sore body to see if it was even a possibility.
“Nope, Monterey, don’t even consider it.” But, God, she wanted him. Even holding his hand on the nights he sat with her made her want to pull him into the bed with her.
To distract herself, she listened to all the voicemails she had been left. Her apartment was filled with flowers and gifts—to her shock, Bella had sent a huge care package, and a long letter telling her she hoped Alicia was okay and that when she was better, maybe she’d like to go out for drinks. Alicia had doubled for Bella for so many years but they had never been what she would call close. But the letter was sweet, and the care package had all sorts of gifts—candy, cookies, a Fitbit (“for when you’re back to your normal self and putting us all to shame”) and a brand-new iPhone, with a thousand-dollar iTunes gift card.
The Virgin’s Dance_Older Man Younger Woman Romance Page 24
