by M. S. Parker
“You seem to be holding four,” he grinned and stepped forward, reaching for one.
I held one out and he took it, not bothering to cover himself as he dried his hair with the towel. His eyes never left me, even as I ogled him. His broad chest narrowed to a tight stomach, and I couldn’t help but follow the tawny trail of hair down from his belly button. He’d barely made two passes with the towel when he stopped and tossed it aside.
“Chelsea…” He stepped closer and lifted my chin with his fingers as I felt a blush heat my face. Damp locks of hair fell into his face and he said, “Just the feel of your eyes on me is enough.”
His voice was rough and filled with desire and it made my pulse rush. I closed my eyes and gave in to the delicious taste of his kiss, the feel of his lips moving against mine. When he broke the kiss he pulled back slightly and I could feel the warmth of his breath when he spoke.
“No, not enough.”
I’d completely forgotten about the meeting ,or that the others were waiting for us downstairs. I’d even forgotten about the towels, which were smashed to my chest with my arm still around them. I was so mesmerized, so engulfed in the whirl of heat building in my veins that I’d forgotten about...everything.
Alex scooped me up in his powerful arms and the extra towels dropped to the floor. He carried me into the next room and over to the bed. He smelled of fresh soap, and tasted of cool water. I welcomed the weight of him on top of me as he stretched out on me. Our lips found each other and the kiss continued from what we started outside as if there’d been no interruption at all. The heat was just as intense, the fire inside roaring to a flame in a heartbeat.
Being in his strong arms and feeling the passion in his kisses, I no longer worried about April. all my worries about the other women in Alex’s life dissolved with each searing kiss. I highly doubted Alex had ever slept with April or anything like that, despite all her attempts and insinuations. Maybe I’d been wrong about him after all.
I thought of Carrie, and her lovely daughter. I still didn’t understand who they were to Alex, but I knew the embraces he gave her were nothing like this. This was the pull of something stronger, something undeniable, a force that didn’t acknowledge ultimatums or obstacles of any sort. I'd have to know at some point, but for now, I was okay with letting it go.
Alex tore his lips from mine and said, “I’m sorry, this isn’t what you wanted. You wanted to keep it professional but…” He shook his head and his eyes searched mine as he stumbled over his words. “I can’t stay away from you. It’s torture for me to know you’re right here and I can’t touch you.” He stroked a finger down my cheek, then across my bottom lip. “You’re so beautiful. Simply delicious. I want you all the time. You don’t know how many times I thought about sneaking up the stairs to your room…”
My hands locked on his back, keeping him pressed to me as I looked up into his eyes. I needed to explain my choice, clear the way for more of this, but with his arousal pressing into me, and thinking of what he just said about wanting to sneak up to my room at night, I couldn’t think straight. Despite my hands holding him in a vice grip, he must've seen hesitation in my eyes because he pulled back. I sat up just as there was a polite throat clearing from the doorway.
“Ms. Temple would like an apple instead of grapefruit,” Jamison said. I stood up and smoothed down my damp shirt as Alex headed back into the bathroom. “She claims you never delivered the ones she ordered yesterday.”
“Of course, I’ll come right down,” I said a little flustered that Jamison had walked in on...well what he'd walked in on.
“I bet they’re in the trash,” Alex said, coming back out of the bathroom with a towel around his waist.
“More likely some hiding spot in a cabinet we won’t find until the smell helps us,” Jamison said darkly as he left the doorway.
I brushed my hair out of my face and blew out a breath. “Oh god. That was embarrassing.”
Alex smiled and said, “Don’t worry about Jamison.”
I turned to head for the stairs. “Still…I’d better run down to the main house and get some apples before…”
Alex grabbed my arm, his eyes piercing me with sincerity. “Please, tell me you know I’ve never been with April.”
I nodded, unable to tell him how glad I was to hear him say it so plainly.
“I’m so sorry she treats you like this,” he said. “She's such a...”
“Bitch?” I offered with a laugh.
“Yeah, she is one alright, and you don’t deserve the crap she dishes out, but she’ll be gone soon. I promise,” he said.
“It’s okay. I understand,” I said, taking his hand. “I don’t want you to lose your funding because of me.” My fingers tightened around his. “I’m trying to be more self-confident, and I’m not going to let her push my buttons anymore. You know, when you meet someone like her, well, you just have to wonder what made them that way.”
He looked at me with admiration on his face. “Has anyone ever told you that you’re the most amazing woman?”
I poked a finger in his solid chest. “Just think about those rewrites I suggested earlier.”
“I have.” He grinned and grabbed my jabbing finger. He pulled my hand to his lips and kissed the back of it with a wink. “And I know just the screenwriter to help me.”
I tried to ignore the soaring feeling in my chest, but knowing that Alex had never been with April, and that he admired my screenwriting, made me feel so light I almost floated down the stairs.
April was already sneering when she marched inside. “Honestly, how long does it take to get a decent breakfast? We’re trying to have a meeting here.”
Alex followed me down the stairs, and I watched the sour look wipe clean off April’s face. She smiled and sidled over to slip her arm through his despite his attempt to sidestep her. She clung to him so she couldn’t see when he rolled his eyes. But I did.
“You like apples, don’t you, darling?” April asked him. “I seem to remember you like them sliced with a little honey drizzled over the top. I especially remember your ideas about other uses for the honey.”
“I’m sure I can find some honey,” I chirped.
April’s bright pink lips formed a pout when her sexual innuendo failed to get a rise out of me. Knowing that Alex hadn't been able to keep his hands off me gave me the confidence to brush off her catty remarks. I’d already decided I wasn’t going to waste another breath letting her snide remarks and snarky attitude bother me.
I skipped down the front steps of the guest cottage on my way to the main house. April’s behavior was atrocious, but what she didn't realize was that she was just embarrassing herself the way she acted around Alex. It was actually sad to think that she equated self-worth with powerful men desiring her body. I was sure no man had ever turned down the chance to claim her as a lover, so she probably assumed that Alex’s polite reserve was only temporary and he’d give in soon.
April’s motivations were easy enough to figure out; however, what drove Alex was more difficult to discern. Yes, he wanted to get out from under his father’s shadow, and make his own choices, yet he hesitated. I assumed it was because of his older brother David. Jamison had told me about David’s drug problems, but it certainly was low of Henry to hold that over Alex’s head every time he wanted to control him.
What I didn't understand was why had Alex kept me on in the very beginning. I knew getting hired was meant as a joke, or at least as a way to irritate his father, but once that had been accomplished Alex could’ve sent me home. Henry had disapproved of me from the first hint of my arrival, still, Alex had decided, on his own, that I should stay.
I walked into the main house, and before I had time to give it another thought, the phone rang. An office line had been connected to the kitchen so Alex could be available to take business calls no matter where he was.
I answered, “Hello, Alex Silverhaus residence.”
“Well, hello, who is this?” a boomin
g male voice asked.
“Chelsea, er, the maid. Mr. Silverhaus is in a meeting. May I take a message?” I asked.
“Chelsea the maid? I didn’t know Alex had a maid.”
“I’m new. I’m here for the summer.” I winced as soon as I said it. Jamison was always crisp and professional on the phone and he never chatted. “May I take a message?”
“So Alex got himself a little extra help for the summer. Sounds like he finally took our friend’s advice. Makes me think I’m missing out,” the man said. “You do sound delicious. Please tell me you’re wearing one of those French maid uniforms with the white ruffles.”
I scowled at the receiver. “Sorry to disappoint. If there’s no message, I’ll be going now,” I said.
“Oh, I like that. Don’t tell me. Just let me imagine it.”
I swallowed and pursed my lips hard to keep from saying the wrong thing. “Well…have a nice day.”
“Wait…no, sorry. There is a message. Just let Alex know I found him a new love interest,” the man said.
“I’m sorry?” I squeaked.
“I'm Thomas Quinn, his casting director. I found him a new love interest for the movie. Tell him she’s exactly how he described her.”
I knew I shouldn’t ask, but the words just popped out. “Oh? How did he describe her?”
Suddenly his voice became low and seductive. “I’ll tell you if you describe what you’re wearing,” he said.
Geez, were all the men in the movie industry like this? For a minute, I wondered what he was doing with the hand that wasn’t holding the phone. I quickly shook my head to clear that disturbing visual, and decided, if I seriously ever wanted to work in this business I’d better become more thick skinned, or I’d be getting my feelings hurt all the time. Not unlike what’d already been happening with the people in the movie industry I’d met so far, but at least I had April to thank for toughening me up.
With my new attitude, I nearly laughed as I played along. “Yeah…um…you were right about the French maid’s uniform except my ruffles are black.”
He groaned, “Thank you. I needed something to get me through this next casting call.”
“So…his new love interest? You were about to tell me how Alex described her.”
“Oh, yes. He said she needed to be slender, not too many curves, with long black hair,” Thomas said, “Oh, and dark blue eyes. He was really into the eyes.”
I could hardly keep the smile out of my voice as I said, “I’ll give him the message. Have a nice casting call, Mr. Quinn.”
Chapter Twenty-Four
Chelsea
Jamison met me on the lane as I headed back to the guest cottage and said, “I’ve been sent to get Henry’s cigars from his car.”
I held up my basket of apples and asked, “Anything else we should bring, just in case?”
“I’d say an exorcist, but I think our blonde demon might be staying a while longer,” Jamison said.
“She’s not so bad,” I told him, “as long as you don’t believe a word that comes out of her mouth.”
“I suppose she’s forcing me to get more exercise,” the butler said.
I shot him a sidelong glance and said, “Oh really? Is that why you use a golf cart to buzz around the property?”
He gave me a scowl, and I headed off to the garden stifling a laugh.
“About time,” April snapped, “and it looks like you forgot the honey.”
I placed the basket of apples on the garden table and said, “There’s some in the cupboard above the stove. I’ll get it right away.”
But before I left, I took a moment to prepare the table with plates for the apples. I was purposely stalling so I could hear what Henry was about to say. From the look on his face, April’s outburst about my mistake must’ve interrupted him. Judging by their body language, it looked like he and Alex were in the middle of a heated conversation.
Henry turned to Alex and pitched his torso forward in the chair. “You know you’re not going to be able to get another big-name actress. Not without losing nearly a month’s work. Just think of how much money that is for an already stretched budget.”
“Excuse me, Mr. Alex?” I interrupted. “When I was down at the house, you had a call from Thomas Quinn, your casting director. He said to tell you that he found who you were looking for.”
Alex smiled at me and said, “Thank you, Chelsea. That’s great news.”
I saved my smile for after I turned my back to them to go find the honey. Both Henry and April pounced on the mysterious news, pitching questions like dirt clods at Alex.
“You think you can replace me that easily?” April squawked.
“He’s not replacing you, are you, Alex? Quinn’s just finished hiring extras, right?”
Henry’s last remark floated in to me through the open window as I reached for the honey jar from the kitchen cupboard. It sounded more like a threat to Alex than a question, and I wondered if this was going to get ugly. I took a breath and scooped up a knife to cut the apples and returned to the garden patio just as the conversation began to heat up again.
Alex winked at me as I stepped onto the flagstones. Henry was in a full on lecture session and Alex was taking it all in stride. I couldn't deny the relief I felt at seeing him at ease.
“You have to realize the full scope of making a movie,” Henry said. “It’s not all on camera. Most of the work is done in marketing, and that’s where all the hard work starts. April’s name is gold for marketing. She’s the driving force behind your sales.” He turned to her with a smile, and brushed a hand down her bare arm. “And just imagine how great she’s going to look on a poster.”
April batted her lashes at Henry, then turned to Alex and said, “I don’t even think you’ve seen my reel. I can act. Maybe you’re just worried about having me too close.”
Henry frowned as April tried to rub her hand up Alex’s thigh, and said, “She’s doing you a favor, Alex, considering the tight budget and the measly amount of pay you're offering her. The last film she made with me broke box office records.”
April turned back to Henry at that reminder and gave him a dazzling smile. “You’ve never steered me wrong before.”
“And I haven’t this time either, my dear,” Henry said. “Alex is going to realize this benefits all of us. He’ll watch your reel and see what a magnificent actor you are.” He turned to his son. “She just needs the right vehicle.”
“That’s exactly it,” Alex said easily.
I purposely took my time cutting apple slices and drizzling them with honey. I didn't want to miss any of this. I kept my eyes down and focused on my work, wondering who would explode first, April or Henry?
“I’m not sure this is the right vehicle for April’s talent at all.”
“You’re wrong,” Henry said. “I’m sure it is.”
“Ah, I don’t know. It just doesn’t feel right,” Alex said. He gave me another brief glance, and I could see he was enjoying needling his father. “I’m sure you’ve got something better for her. Something up to her box office expectations?”
I turned and caught Henry frowning, clenching his mouth tight. I could tell he didn’t like the position Alex put him in one bit, and it was obvious he wasn’t used to it. He took a long, careful sip of his coffee, and that was when April finally exploded.
“How dare you two talk about me as if I wasn’t even here. What’s next? Treating me like some invisible maid?”
April sneered at me as I handed her a small dessert plate with honey covered apple slices. She waved it away, so I set it on the table in front of her. She leaned forward, narrowing her eyes and jabbing a manicured finger in the air as she spoke. “Look, you two, here’s the deal. This is the movie I want to be in. End of story. Now you make it happen.”
“Well…” Alex scratched his chin, his eyes glinting. “Maybe we could figure out how to make it work. There might have to be a few script changes.”
April tossed her hair and le
aned back triumphantly in her chair. “Didn’t I say that in the first place?” She dipped a finger into the pool of honey on the plate in front of her and licked it off, doing her best to make it look seductive. “Really, Alex, you should trust my instincts more. I’ve been acting since I was a little girl.”
After all the fuss about the apples, she didn’t even eat them. Not a surprise there. I continued my duties and served plates of eggs Benedict that Jamison brought out from the kitchen.
Alex smiled and said, “You’re right. If you’re okay with a few script changes, then I see no reason why we can’t work together.”
Henry seemed pleased with the arrangement, and beamed as if he’d made the deal himself. He ignored the plate I presented to him and held out a hand as Jamison arrived just in time to give him a celebratory cigar.
“That settles it,” he boasted, waving his cigar. “A few changes to the script and everyone’s happy.”
Jamison leaned in to light the cigar, and I thought everything was settled. Then April caught the smile Alex gave me and narrowed her eyes. “Not so fast. I have a few demands of my own.”
“Such as?” Henry asked, puffing away contentedly.
“I need a trailer, not just a little RV, but a real star trailer. I want my own hair and make-up artist. He’s been with me through everything,” April said.
Alex ate his breakfast, apparently lost in thought over something else and Henry nodded absently as he puffed his cigar.
Annoyed with the lack of attention, April continued, “And I want to redecorate the guest cottage. Honestly, it’s so out of date. If I’m going to stay here during shooting then I need to be comfortable.”
“Redecorating is fine. In fact you can knock down walls if you want,” Alex said, and popped a bite of food in his mouth. “Though I doubt you’ll want to stay here during construction. Perhaps you’d be more comfortable at Henry’s while we update the guest cottage?”
April bit her lower lip and pouted. “No, here is fine. Though I’ll need a driver at my disposal and my personal chef flown in from LA.” She waved a hand around the table. “I can’t believe you eat this…this crap. It’s not weight conscious food. I have to maintain my figure. Hollandaise sauce is too rich, goes right to the hips...”
