Hatten, Catherine - Trailer Trash [Deep Ellum] (BookStrand Publishing Romance)

by Catherine Hatten

  “We haven’t seen it yet,” Judson said and set a large Styrofoam cup on the bedside table. Shasta set the box holding Deannie’s gourmet sandwich next to it.

  “Hey, y’all,” Sherry said.

  Thomas held his hand up in his signature static wave.

  “So the verdict on the scenes is a good one?” Judson asked, trying not to look at Nina. He couldn’t help just one quick peek. She stood in the corner of the room, looking as beautiful as she had when he’d kissed her good-bye at his door this morning.

  “Yes! And I love all my flowers.” Deannie’s eyes looked glassy as she gazed toward the box holding her sandwich. Nina stepped forward and removed the laptop from the little table, where Shasta placed the sandwich and tea.

  Judson inspected the flowers. Two-dozen yellow roses from the studio, a dozen pink from Shasta, a dozen white from him, and an enormous exotic bouquet from LAR.

  “Yeah, looks like you racked up on the flowers pretty good,” Judson said as he read the card from DEP. Romance makes the world go round. We hope you’ll be back in step with it soon…Nina, Thomas, Sherry.

  He turned and winked at the three of them, smiling.

  “Well, we’d better get back to it so we can wrap Monday and start trailer two Tuesday for Mayan Consequences,” Nina said as she put the laptop in its carrying case.

  “Deannie, when are you gonna get sprung from this place?” Sherry asked.

  “Monday, and I have to catch a plane that night. I have meetings in New York on Tuesday,” Deannie explained, her eyes becoming more glazed.

  “Do you want us to change the shoot schedule Monday? We’re ahead on this first trailer if you need some more time,” Thomas offered.

  Deannie put her hand on Thomas’s arm then beamed up at him, Sherry, and Nina. “I have everything I need with what you have done already. I couldn’t be more pleased, and I can see there’s no need for me to stay any longer. I’m going to get up to the office and make some more of these happen.”

  She must be on drugs.

  “Thanks, Deannie. I appreciate your confidence,” Judson said, trying hard to keep the shock out of his voice. He didn’t dare look Nina’s way.

  “You’re welcome, Judson. You and Shasta have more than proven yourselves. You don’t need me to babysit. And the production team”—she lifted her arm and sent an imaginary brush across the three of them—“is incredible.”

  “Deannie, I can’t tell you how much that means to us,” Nina said and shared a pointed look with Judson across the room.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Nina’s bell rang promptly at six o’clock. She was wearing her hair up and took one last look in the mirror. Her fingers trembled as she turned the knob and swung the door open.

  Judson leaned against the deep door frame dressed in a tailored, formfitting white shirt, jeans, and gray snakeskin cowboy boots. He held a denim jacket in his right hand. The expression on his face made her want to kiss him immediately. Instead she stepped back into her apartment so he could enter, which he did without hesitation.

  “Ms. Graham,” he greeted in his most professional voice.

  “Mr. Lane,” she returned in hers. The moment the door closed, they embraced then enjoyed a deep kiss.

  “Come, sit down with me.” She took his hand and led him to her living area. They sat on the sofa in front of a bottle of sparkling white grape juice chilling in a bucket of ice. Two champagne flutes stood ready for use.

  “What’s this?” he asked, glancing at the set up.

  “It’s a celebration.”

  “What are we celebrating?”

  “Us. Our work. Today with Deannie!”

  “Man, I couldn’t believe my ears. I wonder if it’s the good drugs they’re giving her for her foot. I’ve never seen her more…placated.” He took the glass Nina had filled for him.

  “I know, right? What has come over her? She didn’t even seem like the same person today. It must be the drugs.” Nina held her glass up to him for a toast.

  “How did she take it when y’all told her about the arboretum shoot yesterday? Was she mad at all?”

  “No! As a matter of fact, we don’t think she even remembers insisting that it be cancelled.”

  “How did you pull it off?”

  “Well, it didn’t hurt that Thomas is a genius editor, and what he did was just pull everything we have together, and that’s what we showed her. Basically, three-quarters of the finished product instead of just the one scene. She loved the edit we did with the stills and the computer-generated effects. I mean, she was really, really happy.”

  “That much of it’s done? Already? DEP doesn’t play!”

  “No, and we’re getting the formula down to a fine science.”

  They sipped their drinks in comfortable silence.

  He leaned in close and murmured softly, “I missed you today.”

  The words rustled through her heart.

  “You’ve seen me twice today, and now three times. How could you miss me?” she asked coquettishly, but her eyes flashed passion.

  “You better be careful,” he warned.

  “Or what.”

  “I think you know.”

  “I hope I know,” she said, again playing the tease to tone down her need for him. She moved forward, put her glass on the low table, and took his hand. “It’s your turn to be taken on a tour.”

  “Yes, it is,” he agreed and set his slender glass next to hers.

  “Living area here, kitchen over there, pantry, coat closet, bathroom. Not much to it,” she said, dipping her head, looking into his eyes.

  “I think you left a room out, didn’t you?” His eyes shined, tinged with longing.

  “You think? Why Mr. Lane, I don’t know what room you could possibly be referring to.”

  “Again, I think you do.” He took her hand, pulled her up to him, and held her close.

  “I think I do, too.”

  They headed toward the only room she hadn’t mentioned or pointed out.

  The rest of the tour took quite a long time.

  * * * *

  “I love you, Nina.”

  “And I you.”

  “I don’t know where this is going, but I know where I want it to go.”

  “Where’s that?”

  “To forever.”

  “Oh, Judson.” She teared up and touched his lips with hers.

  “I mean it, Nina. I have never believed in this kind of thing. The kind of thing that skews an entire perspective on life. I admit it’s a bit daunting, and I don’t want to run you off, but I want you to know I’m serious.”

  “I feel the same way. I’m scared, thrilled…so happy, and I’m not used to that. Not in something like what we have. It’s surreal.”

  “When I look in the mirror, I see you.” He let his fingers trace her face from her hairline down to the hollow of her throat.

  She couldn’t take her eyes off his strong, loving face.

  “That’s quite a compliment. I’ve never laid eyes on a more stunning face, male or female, than yours. I happen to have quite the eye for what should go in front of a camera, and you were born for it.”

  “You’re more lovely than you can even imagine, Nina, more than any classic painting ever created.”

  She beamed.

  “Speaking of which, that painting in the reception area, the one of the woman gazing out the window, that’s your back, isn’t it?”

  Nina’s eyes shot to her hands crossed in her lap.

  “Isn’t it?”

  “Yes.”

  “Hmmm, so you posed for it, I assume.”

  She nodded yes, adding, “It was a couple years ago,” in an effort to distance herself from the sitting.

  “It’s nothing to be ashamed of. You have a back that should be committed to a canvas. Who is the artist?” he asked.

  “Oh, his name is Jeff. He was an art student at the time and needed a model for this assignment, and I don’t know why, but I accepted when he
asked me to do it.”

  “Lucky guy. I bet he passed with flying colors.”

  Crimson flew across her cheeks. “He did okay.”

  “Okay?”

  “He got the highest grade in the class for it. Not because of me, because he’s a great artist, one that can actually make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear.”

  “Your back can hardly be compared to a sow’s ear, love.” The tenderness of the words pulled her toward him. She laid her cheek on his chest.

  “So, you have the entire day off tomorrow?” Judson asked, a hopeful note in his voice.

  “I’m taking it off. I usually write on Saturdays and Sundays. Sherry and Thomas and me always try to take weekends off from the studio if projects allow. We just worked yesterday because we’re so close to getting done with trailer number one. We could go in today and work on the oil-company thing, but we’ll get it turned around fast without doing that. Are you going to see Deannie tomorrow?”

  “Shasta and I will go by there for a while tomorrow, but that won’t take long. By the way, you were very good at the hospital today.”

  She put her nose next to his and rubbed back and forth, then wrapped a slender leg over him and pulled him closer.

  “I was very good?”

  “You should be in front of the camera as well as behind it with your acting skills.”

  “Oh…yeah, I was kind of freaked to see you in there with Deannie and Shasta. You were supposed to text me!”

  A crooked grin played on his lips. “I don’t have your cell number.”

  She fell back against the thick pillows of the couch, hitting her forehead with the palm of her hand. “I didn’t even think about that! It feels like you know everything about me. Come to think of it, I don’t have your number either. I hope I didn’t go overboard with the nonchalant thing.”

  “No, it was just like old times.” The corners of his perfect lips lifted, exposing amazing teeth in the soft lamplight painting the room.

  Nina picked up their glasses, handed Judson his, and held hers up.

  “Here’s to new times…”

  Chapter Fourteen

  With Deannie’s departure, Nina and Judson made no effort to hide their feelings. No one said a word but wholeheartedly joined in the love vibe the two of them exuded. As a result they found themselves nearing the end of work on the trilogy in record time.

  Deannie was thrilled from afar!

  Late one afternoon, as Nina and Sherry were putting the final touches on the set for the last scene to be shot, Sherry chirped, “I’m still having to pinch myself, Nina. I never imagined we’d see this kind of success. Even with Kathleen telling me, I had my doubts. Well, not doubts, I just didn’t see how it could happen as quickly as she saw it coming.”

  “I know, huh? Everything’s happening so fast…” she agreed, her face thoughtful.

  “Yes, it is. And I’ve never seen you so happy.”

  Nina looked across the set to Sherry. “I never have been, Sher, never in my life. And, you know, I did go see Kathleen,” she admitted in a whisper.

  Sherry shot straight up from a bent position. “You did? For a massage?”

  “No, not a massage, but I want one of those, too.”

  “A reading? She never mentioned it. Did that have something to do with you finally giving Judson a chance? Shasta and I were wondering what the heck happened.”

  Nina sat on a beat-up little cane chair to be used in the scene. “You both knew? About me and Judson?”

  “Yep, pretty early on. We just worried it wouldn’t happen because of the way y’all were.”

  “The way we were? What do you mean?”

  “Oh…you running, him knowing you were unapproachable and not willing to push himself on you. That kind of thing. But we both saw the energy between you. It was obvious. So, what did Kathleen say?” Sherry’s words rang with curiosity.

  “She said I needed to quit blocking things, to let go of past hurts, stuff like that. And, yeah, that contributed a lot, but what I felt for Judson, what I ran from, really did it. I just got tired of fighting it and decided to give this a chance, kind of like we did with the book trailers and with locating DEP in Deep Ellum. I realized there are no assurances for anything we do in life. We just gotta go for it.”

  Sherry crossed the set and wrapped Nina with a congratulatory hug. “I sure am glad you’ve got ovum, girl. Just think where we’d all be if you didn’t.”

  “Wait a minute, Sher. You and Thomas jumped in on the DEP thing and the trailers. I by no means did any of that on my own.”

  “You were pretty convincing. Remember Thomas didn’t even want to think about romance book trailers!” Sherry said in a low, conspiratorial voice.

  Nina took her tone down to a whisper. “Why would he? My God, after all he’s been through I wouldn’t be surprised if he never looked a woman’s way again!”

  Sherry nodded in agreement. “But I think the thing with his sister is what really threw him.”

  “Definitely, but our Thomas came through all that,” Nina whispered.

  “He did, bless his heart…”

  “Who’s heart? My heart is blessed, if you mean me.” The words rumbled from the doorway where Judson stood admiring Nina.

  “Hi, handsome!” Sherry greeted him.

  “Hey, Sherry,” he returned as Nina reached him and gave him a peck on the cheek.

  “Did you get Shasta to the airport in time?”

  “Just barely, and she’s got a modeling assignment tomorrow. I couldn’t tear her away from y’all’s friend, Kathleen.”

  Sherry looked from Nina to Judson with inquisitive glances.

  “Oh?” Nina raised her eyebrows.

  “Yeah.” He looked at Sherry. “She’s gone over there to see her twice a week since somebody introduced them.”

  Nina shot Sherry a look. “Oh, really?”

  “Look, Kathleen’s good, no, great, and I took Shasta down there one day during breaks in the first trailer to introduce them. No harm done, right?” Sherry stood, defiant, her hands resting on her hips.

  Nina looked at Judson for his reaction. What would he think if he knew she’d gone to Kathleen for a psychic reading?

  “No, no harm done. I hear she gives an excellent massage. Shasta boarded the plane without makeup and messy hair from her session with Kathleen. Said the woman has a magic touch.”

  “Oh, well, yes, her massages are fabulous. Very healing,” Sherry quickly agreed.

  Nina wondered if Shasta had made Judson aware that Kathleen was psychic, if not officially professional just yet. He said nothing to indicate she had.

  “Anyway,” Judson kept going, “I know it’s late on a Friday afternoon, but have you two had lunch?”

  “We have not,” Nina announced. Her heart soared just being in the same room with Judson.

  “Then how ’bout it?”

  * * * *

  Enjoying a Sunday snuggle together on Judson’s humongous leather couch, each reading, Judson kissed the top of Nina’s head and cleared his throat. Saturday had been a full day and night of lovemaking and talking.

  Neither could believe the wonderful world that had emerged for them, dreams realized, abundance and love delivered, nothing but blue skies looming for the future.

  “I’m going to Fort Worth this evening to see Mom and Sammy before I leave tomorrow for my modeling gig.”

  “You are? You didn’t say anything!…But, of course you’d want to go see your family before you take off. For two whole weeks,” she couldn’t resist adding as she put a hand on his chest and pushed up to look at him. “No problem, though. I totally get it, and I can think of plenty to do with my evening,” she assured him and sent him a sweet smile. Seeing the dedication he had to his mother and brother, her heart warmed.

  He paused. “I’d like for you to go with me.”

  The question sent a nervous jolt through Nina. Oh, God! She sat straight up, put her feet on the floor, and her book on the low table in
front of them.

  “Go…like…Go meet your mother?” She swallowed hard.

  “Yes. And my brother.”

  “I’m…I mean…”

  “Do you not want to?” Concern flashed through the brilliant blue of his eyes.

  “I want to, it’s just I’m a little nervous about it. Aren’t you?”

  “No.”

  “Because you’ve done this a lot?” Her voice ended in a high squeak.

  He licked his lips and said in a serious tone, “No. This will be the first time I ever bring a woman to meet my mother.”

  “Does she even know about me?”

  “Yes.”

  “She does? And Sammy?” Again the squeaky voice.

  “Yep, Sammy, too. They’ve both been wanting to meet you.”

  Nina pulled at her sweater and fussed with her hair in an unconscious effort to prepare. Judson took her hands in his.

  “Don’t be nervous, Nina. It’s not a big deal. I just want to introduce y’all, that’s all. We’ll just go by for a quick supper, okay? No expectations, no pressure. If this really does a number on you, we can do it another time.” The understanding, reassurance, and support he offered caused her throat to tighten. This man truly got her.

  “No, I want to do it this time.” She kissed each of his eyes tenderly. “You make me feel like I can do anything, Judson, and I know I can with you standing by me. You’re my special miracle…” Tears brimmed, filling her eyes and her heart, revealing her deepest feelings.

  “My Nina,” he said as he laid his cheek upon her breasts.

  * * * *

  “This truck is so comfortable! And red!” Nina said as they headed west toward Fort Worth on Interstate 30.

  “Well, see, like you and your tub, if it was a woman, I’d marry it.” He laughed and reached over for her hand.

  Nina giggled. “I don’t blame you.” She drew a deep breath into her lungs. “I love the smell of a new car.”

  “Me, too.”

  “You look more like a Porsche kind of guy. At least on the outside.”

  “I actually did a Porsche gig once. Still shots, but I did get to drive the one we were promoting.”