by Judith Keim
“Do you have to go back there?”
“A few more scenes there, then I’m off to Hollywood.”
“Thank you for coming home, even if it’s for only a short time.”
He gave me the kind of smile that made my heart pause and then spring forward.
He pulled me to him.
I laid my head against his bare chest, inhaling the spicy after-shave lotion he wore and listening to the pounding of his heart.
“Any idea how much I wanted to be here while the filming was taking place?” he murmured, rubbing my back.
I looked up at him. “I wanted you here more than you did, believe me.”
He grinned. “Playing that game, are we?”
I laughed. “Let me get changed and I’ll join you in the pool.”
He shook his head. “No need to bother with a bathing suit. You still have the security guards here on duty, don’t you?”
“Yes, but ...”
“But nothing. Come on. We don’t need suits. We’ve got all the privacy we want,” he said impatiently.
Recalling my humiliation at being caught topless in the pool with him and having it posted everywhere in the press, I hesitated.
He waited.
I pushed thoughts of my proper grandmother away. “Okay, you’re on.”
As I removed my clothes, I studied his tempting body, free of clothes, and worried about my own. Having a baby changed a woman’s body.
As if he knew my hesitancy, Vaughn came over to me. Lifting my chin, he forced me to look into his eyes. “You’re beautiful, Ann. Remember, I’m a father, and I know what a mother’s body looks like. Besides, I’m sick of looking at twig-thin bodies. I like a woman with curves, and you’ve got them in all the right places.”
I sighed. If I didn’t already love him, I would’ve fallen madly in love with him right then.
We took bottles of water with us out to the pool and then jumped in. The cool water sluiced my body in silky caresses as I swam the length of the pool and back to get warm. Vaughn swam with sure, strong strokes. I sat on the pool steps, content to watch him move easily through the water. I was glad I’d had a pool put in, though it was a bit of extravagance for me.
When Vaughn finished swimming, he sat beside me on the steps, chest-high in water. “That felt great. I think I’m ready to go inside. How about you?”
He was looking at me with an intention I could not miss.
“I thought you’d never ask.”
That evening, before going over to the hotel for dinner, Vaughn and I sat on the patio sipping cocktails. When we’d first begun our relationship, we’d stayed away from the hotel. But, in time, we decided guests would have to honor our privacy as much as that of our other guests. After all, the hotel was in many ways my home.
“How’s Tina doing here?” Vaughn asked, taking another sip of his vodka and tonic.
“She can be totally obnoxious, but there’s something very vulnerable about her that I find disturbing. She reaches out to me, then pushes me away as if she’s afraid to reveal too much. What do you know about her background?”
“Her mother is one of those stage-mother types. I met her once. That was one time too many.” His lip curled. “She actually tried to proposition me.”
I let that thought settle. “I don’t keep up with Hollywood gossip. How long has Tina been a star?”
“She started out as a young kid on a television show, then moved on to another show where she played a willful teenager. I guess she broke into the movies when she was about fifteen. If I remember, Love on the Rocks was her first movie. It wasn’t well received, but her role of a sexy Lolita-type character got her a lot of notice.”
“I imagine Hollywood and all that goes with it can be a pretty ugly scene,” I said.
“To do well in that environment, you have to have people with a lot of common sense around you. That’s why I was so grateful to Ellen for keeping me grounded.” His expression softened. “And now I’ve got you. Ellen would’ve liked you, you know.”
“And I would’ve liked her,” I said, meaning it. His first wife had died far too young, but she’d helped Vaughn become the sensitive man and expert lover that he was. I’d always be grateful to her for that.
“So what’s new at the hotel?” Vaughn said, grabbing a handful of almonds. “You told me about the new masseur. Last year, I could’ve used a good massage after helping Manny with the landscaping.”
It amazed me that Vaughn loved being involved in the landscaping around the hotel grounds. He contended by doing so he was able to produce something beautiful that had nothing to do with his acting job. But I knew it was something to keep him busy during down times between jobs. Nothing more.
After talking for a while longer, we decided to walk over to the hotel for a quick bite of dinner before taking a stroll along the beach.
As we entered the hotel, one of the guests walking by stopped and stared at Vaughn.
“Wow! You look exactly like Vaughn Sanders on that television show The Sins of the Children.”
His smile was a little forced. “Well, that’s a nice compliment,” he said smoothly.
Taking Vaughn’s arm, I led him away. “Sorry about that.”
He shrugged. “I don’t care as long as I’m with you. That’s what counts with me. You know the real Vaughn Sanders, not the movie star.”
“Indeed, I do.” We exchanged smiles.
When we walked into the kitchen, Rhonda rushed over to Vaughn and gave him a big hug. “Glad to see you here. Annie’s really missed you. We all have.” She turned to me, her eyes glowing. “Did you tell him?”
I shook my head. “I promised you I wouldn’t.”
“Will’s out on the patio. Come with me, Vaughn.” She tugged on his hand like an eager child.
He gave me a quizzical look.
“Go. It’s important.”
I followed as Rhonda led him outside to a corner of the patio free of other guests.
Seeing us, Will rose to his feet and held out a hand to Vaughn.
“Hi, how are you?” Vaughn said, shaking hands with him like the friends they’d become.
Rhonda nudged Will. “Go ahead and tell him, Will.”
Color crept to Will’s cheeks. He grinned and wrapped an arm around Rhonda. “Great news, Vaughn. Rhonda and I are going to have a baby. Can you imagine that?” A note of awe filled his voice.
Wide-eyed, Vaughn turned to me.
“It’s true,” I replied, smiling.
Vaughn clapped Will on the back. “Well, old guy, congratulations! I can’t think of happier news for you.” He hugged Rhonda. “You’re a great mom already. I know you’ll be good with this one too.”
Tears spilled down Rhonda’s cheeks. “Can you believe it? Will and me and a new baby?”
I handed her a tissue. “It’s wonderful, sweetie.”
“I can’t believe I’m going to be a father,” said Will, looking dazed.
As Vaughn and I left them, I turned back. Rhonda had taken her tissue and was dabbing at Will’s eyes.
Their sweetness touched my heart.
CHAPTER NINE
After Vaughn and I had dinner, we left the hotel for our walk.
As we stepped onto the beach, silver beams from the moonlit skies sparkled on the grains of sand. Stars filled the sky, twinkling secret messages to us, making me believe I was in a fairyland. Or maybe I felt that way because happiness had spun a web around me, wrapping me in a cocoon of wonder.
A jarring voice shattered the peaceful moment. “Well, look who’s here. Vaughn Sanders.”
Vaughn drew me to his side and turned around. “Hello, Valentina. What a nice surprise.”
She gave him a devious smile. “The last time we met, you didn’t think it was such a nice surprise. Does Ann know about that time? Or any others with all those women?”
My heart stuttered to a stop. I’d had to endure a couple of instances where I was led to believe Vaughn was cheating on me. I’
d learned he wasn’t the type, but after being rejected by Robert, I was still insecure about such things. And wherever we went, women surrounded Vaughn.
Vaughn’s lips thinned in anger. “What are you suggesting, Valentina? If you want to talk about it, I’m more than willing to let Ann know how you and your mother came to me on the set one night, offering so-called ‘services’ in exchange for a recommendation that you star in the next movie.”
Tina gasped. “Liar! I already had been named the star.”
Vaughn shook his head. “Not until you visited another trailer. I know how you and that mother of yours operate.”
I stared at Vaughn, unable to remember when I’d seen him so angry. Turning to Tina, I said, “I don’t know what you’re doing, but if you’re trying to ruin the relationship between Vaughn and me, it won’t work.” I noticed she was alone. “Where’s Jerry?”
“With his friends, what else?”
“I’ll see you in the morning, Tina.”
She turned and ran down the beach.
I took hold of Vaughn’s hand. “Walk with me?”
He nodded, though he still clenched his jaw .
We walked in silence. What had seemed a magical scene a few moments ago had turned ugly. The thought of a mother using her daughter that way kept bile rising in my throat.
Down the beach, in a public area, a couple of benches had been placed on the edge of the sand. I dropped down onto one of them, too disillusioned to go on.
Vaughn sat beside me. “Are you okay, Ann?”
Shaking my head, I turned to him. “It’s all true, isn’t it? Tina and her mother?”
“Hollywood can be pretty damn twisted. Especially for those wanting to break into movies. You’ve heard stories like theirs before, haven’t you?”
I swallowed hard. “Yes, but this hits me hard. I’m pretty sure this is a big reason for Tina’s behavior. What kind of monster is her mother?”
“A greedy, pushy stage mother of the worst kind.” He exhaled a long breath. “I should’ve reported her or done something.”
“Tina was over eighteen when this happened. Right?”
At his nod, my hands knotted into fists. “Then I’m not sure you or anyone could do much about it. But know what? I’m going to try.”
Vaughn turned to me. “Be careful, Ann. This girl isn’t like Liz. She can hurt you.”
“I know,” I said softly, afraid of what Tina could do to the reputation of the hotel if she chose to be that cruel.
Lying in bed with Vaughn, I leaned my head against his chest, listening to the strong beat of his heart. The clean, spicy smell of him filled my nostrils. It seemed so right to have him next to me.
“Thanks, Ann,” he murmured.
I gazed up at him. “For what?”
“For not quizzing me on the things Tina said. It means a lot to me. Especially after all the business with Lily Dorio and the way she set me up to make everyone believe something was going on between us.”
I squeezed him. “I trust you, Vaughn. In your line of business, temptations are great, but I know the kind of man you are. You’ve proved it to me.”
He pulled me even closer to him. “I love you more than you’ll ever know,” he murmured, lowering his lips to mine.
At their softness, the taste of him, pleasure soared through me. This man, this wonderful man, was mine. And he was about to make me his.
After a restless night of tossing and turning, I awoke to a bright morning. The sun was already up and showing itself. I left Vaughn sleeping in bed and quietly put on a pair of shorts and a T-shirt and slipped sandals onto my feet. After quickly brushing my teeth and washing my face, I ran a brush through my hair. In the mirror, my eyes lit with determination. I’d worried about Tina all night. Now I had a plan.
I left a note for Vaughn on the kitchen counter and slipped unnoticed out of the house.
As I jogged across the front lawn of the hotel, I silently enumerated the steps I was about to take to try and make things better for everyone.
I tapped on Tina’s door and waited impatiently for someone to answer.
Jerry opened the door sleepily. The reek of alcohol and cigarette smoke surrounded him like a gray cloud of neglect.
“Hi. May I come in?” I said, more determined than ever to follow through on my plan.
“Sure,” said Jerry. “You here for Tina? She’s still sleeping.”
“I’m here to tell you that you’re fired, Jerry. We’re going to do things differently. I’m sorry hiring you didn’t work out the way we thought it would.”
“Fired? Really?” His surprise was genuine, which told me he hadn’t taken our last conversation seriously.
Tina came out of the room wearing an oversized T-shirt. “I heard you. He’s fired?”
“Yes,” I said calmly. “Better get dressed. You’re coming with me. We’re going into town.”
The pout that had formed on her lips disappeared.
A moment later, she poked her head out of her room and gave me a quizzical look. “Town?”
“Hurry,” I said.
“Am I being fired because of being with my friends?” Jerry asked.
“You’re being fired because you didn’t do your job. I’m sorry, but it’s not working out.”
Jerry and I exchanged steady looks.
Then Jerry said, “Guess I’d better go pack.”
Tina appeared, her manner subdued. “Are you sending me back to California?”
“No, we’re not. After Vaughn leaves, you’re going to move in with me.”
She placed her hands on her hips and glared at me. “What if I don’t want to live with you?”
“Then you’ll have to go home,” I said. “You get to choose. It’s up to you.”
Tina’s eyes widened. “Up to me? Really?”
“If you want the role in the movie, you’re going to have to work for it. Not me, not our staff, not Jerry. You.”
Her brow creased, and I observed a silent debate going on in her mind. “Is this about last night on the beach with you and Vaughn?”
“Not really,” I said. “It’s about you taking charge of yourself with a little help from us.”
Her frown grew deeper, but she remained quiet.
“Okay, let’s go, Tina. Jerry, we’ll work out a final payment for you. Now, if you’ll let Tim at the front desk know when you’re ready to check out, he can help you.”
I held out my hand. “Thank you, Jerry. I realize it wasn’t an easy job.”
“An understatement,” he all but growled as he shook my hand.
Leaving Tina’s room, I knew I was acting abruptly, but I figured it was the only way to make Tina understand she had no choice but to go along with the new plan.
“Where are we going?” Tina asked, hurrying to catch up with me as I crossed the front lawn with purpose and headed to the gates.
“Downtown. From now on you’ll be hiding out in plain view. I suggest you do something to your hair. And while we’re at it, new clothes might be a consideration. They would provide a better disguise. You’re a good enough actor to take care of the rest.”
A smile spread across Tina’s face. “So I don’t have to be treated like a prisoner anymore?”
I shook my head. “Nope. It’s all up to you.”
“Okay. Where do I get my hair done?”
“Hair Designs is just the place. Malinda does my hair, and she owes me a favor. I’m sure she’ll squeeze you in. That’ll be our first stop.”
Now that I’d come up with my plan, I was excited about it. Rhonda and I and the hotel staff wouldn’t have to worry if Tina didn’t do what she was supposed to do. And if she decided to eat everything in sight, it wouldn’t be our problem. I’d let her agent know about the change in plans and Tina could decide for herself if she wanted to continue.
Hair Designs was a full-service hair salon. Tucked in at the end of Palm Avenue, it was the source of service for many of the residents who disguised their true hai
r color and wanted upscale styling. Malinda was one of the co-owners and my favorite.
I tapped on the glass door, catching Malinda’s attention. Smiling, she headed our way. Though it was before normal hours, she had the habit of coming in early to do the books and other administrative work before the salon opened. A tall, curvy woman, she loved to play with her own hair color. Today her tousled style was in a bright hue that matched the green in her eyes.
“Cool,” said Tina softly, taking in Malinda’s appearance.
“Disguise, remember?”
She frowned at me. “How about blond?”
I shrugged. “Let’s see what Malinda says.”
An hour later, Tina left the salon with me in a new, shorter hairdo in tastefully streaked blond tones. Seeing her like this, with a smile on her face, I was once more reminded of how pretty she was.
“I like it,” I said.
Her eyes sparkled. “Me too.”
“Okay, next stop. Styles.”
“What’s that? A clothing store? It better not be where you shop. I don’t want to dress like an old lady.”
I ignored her remark and kept walking.
Tina hurried to catch up to me. “Sorry. I’m only doing this, you know, so I can keep on staying here.”
I shrugged. “You can do whatever you choose as long as you are kind and considerate to everyone around you.”
“What if I decide to go on a dessert binge? Huh? What then?”
I stopped and faced her. “Then you go home. It’s all very simple,” I said, knowing it wasn’t simple at all. Even though she’d put up a fight at the beginning, she’d made good progress. And though she was technically an adult, emotionally, she was very young, very vulnerable, and very hurt. We’d talk about some of that later. Now we were going shopping.
Styles had barely opened when we walked in. Christine, my favorite clerk, greeted me with a smile. “You here for some of our latest fashions?”
I shook my head. “Tina is here for some basic items. She’s visiting for a while and needs some suitable things to wear around the hotel.”
As Christine took a good, long look at Tina, I held my breath. But there was no flicker of recognition.
