“Jackson!”
“Okay.” The smile slipped from his face. “Yes, I’m serious. You are a talented writer and I would like to interview you—”
“No.” She didn’t know how he could take such a nice compliment and ruin it in the next breath, but that was exactly what he’d done.
“You didn’t even let me finish.”
“You don’t need to. I thought you were different. I thought you were my friend. But you’re just like the others, you want something from me.”
He frowned at her. “I don’t know who you spend your time with, but I’m not like that. If you had let me finish, I was going to say that I could do the interview and it would be about your writing. We could start spinning the story of your screenplay and then you’d have producers and directors pounding down your door to get their hands on it.”
“Oh.” She wanted to believe him. She wanted to think that he wasn’t after her to help further his career, but she’d trusted people in the past and they’d turned against her. “I don’t think so. I want this screenplay to sell on its own merits and not the fact that I’m famous. I need to know that I can do it on my own.”
His eyebrows rose. “You do know what you’re turning down, don’t you? I can do the interview according to your rules. I don’t have to touch upon your personal life...unless you want me to.”
“I... I don’t know.”
“Will you at least consider it?”
She sighed. “I guess. But don’t get your hopes up.”
“I won’t. But don’t dismiss the fact that you can present yourself to the world as something more than an accomplished actress.”
She nodded. “I hear you. I’ll consider it.”
“And while you do that, I have a surprise for you. Now, go put on your warmest clothes.”
“You were serious about that?” When he nodded, she asked, “What do you have in mind?”
“You’ll find out as soon as you change. Hurry.”
* * *
Sled riding.
Serena felt like a kid again. There was a hill beside the cabin that ended in a small field. They’d been outside for an hour. She hadn’t laughed this much in a very long time, if ever. Even Gizmo was having fun riding down the hill. He took turns riding on her lap and then on Jackson’s.
At first, she wasn’t sure about taking Gizmo on a sled. But the hill wasn’t too steep. And her pup seemed perfectly fine with it. Jackson didn’t go down the hill as much as her because walking up the incline with the boot on his ankle was a hard and slow process for him. At least he’d thought ahead and had wrapped a bag around his leg to keep it dry.
Serena felt bad that he couldn’t enjoy sledding as much as her, but he insisted she keep going and Gizmo had barked his agreement. Jackson had even brought along a thermos of his amazing hot chocolate. And as the sun set, she couldn’t think of anyplace she’d rather be.
After they took a seat on an old log, she turned to him. “Thank you for this. Would you believe I’ve never been sledding before?”
“Never?”
She shook her head.
“I thought you said you went to Tahoe.”
“Later. As an adult. By then I spent most of my time in the lodge.” She took a sip of hot cocoa. “When I was a kid, I didn’t know what snow was. My father hated it. And my mother, well, she had her own life.”
“I’m sorry. I grew up in New York, so we had snow often.”
“Did your parents take you sledding?”
He shook his head. “My father left when I was seven. And my mother was always working. When she wasn’t working, she was blaming me for my father leaving.”
“That’s awful. It must have been so hard on you. I’m so sorry.”
He stared off into the distance. He didn’t say anything for the longest time. She didn’t push him. Maybe it was time that she opened up more about herself.
She drew in a deep breath to settle her nerves. “I know what it’s like to have a rough childhood. Though most people wouldn’t guess it because my family had money and fame. A lot of people think that money equates to happiness. I can testify that it doesn’t. Sometimes I think the more money you have, the unhappier you are.”
She chanced a glance as Jackson to see if he was listening.
Jackson cleared his throat. “My father was a doctor. But when he split, he was terrible at paying my mother what he owed her. She had to fight and beg for every check. And when they did arrive, they were always months late.”
“Do you still speak to your parents?”
He shook his head. “I haven’t seen my father since I was nine or ten. He remarried and that was that. As for my mother, she never did stop blaming me for her marriage breaking up. I send her a check once a month to make sure she’s taken care of.”
“You send her money, but you don’t visit?”
“It’s better that way.”
“Where does your mother live now?”
“In New York.”
“So you live close to each other, but you never see each other?”
Jackson turned to her. “Why are you making it out like it’s all my fault? My mother could just as easily track me down. My address is on every check I send—checks that she promptly cashes.”
Serena knew she probably should mind her own business and keep her thoughts to herself, but she knew what it was like to lose a parent—a parent that she had unresolved issues with.
“I understand that it’s tough for you, but talking as someone who recently lost a parent, I have regrets. There are so many things that I wish I had told my father. He may have annoyed me and he may not have been the perfect parent, but he was the one that was always there for me. While my mother was off moving from one younger man to the next, my father was home every night. He cared about what I did. I didn’t always agree with him—okay, I rarely agreed with him—but I believe that everything he did, he did because he loved me. He just didn’t know how to tell me. As a result, I never got to thank him or tell him...” Her voice cracked with emotion. She cleared her throat. “Tell him that through it all... I loved him, too. That chance was stolen away when he had a massive heart attack. Now, all I’m left with are memories and regrets.”
Jackson wrapped his arm over her shoulders and pulled her close. He leaned over and pressed a kiss to the top of her head. “Neither of us have had an easy time when it comes to family. But I’m sure your father knew that you loved him.”
“Just as your mother knows that each check is your way of saying that you love her?”
“Something like that.”
Serena felt as though she was finally getting through to him. She shifted so that she could look into his eyes. “Tell her. Tell your mother how you feel before it’s too late.”
He shook his head. “It is too late. Anything that was between us ended a long time ago.”
“A parent and child’s love is forever.”
“Maybe in some cases. But not in ours. I’m just a reminder of how her life went wrong.”
“Will you at least think about it?” She knew she had no right to ask it of him, but she didn’t want him to end up with nothing but remorse. And when he did realize the error of his ways, she didn’t want him to talk to a cold tombstone that couldn’t talk back.
“I will, if you’ll agree to that interview.”
Her lips pressed together into a firm line. One thing had nothing to do with the other. Nothing at all.
“Listen,” Jackson said, “I know you don’t like hiding who you are. I think the real you is pretty special. Don’t let people steal that away from you. Stand up for who you are and what you’ve created.”
He made a good point. It had felt so good washing out that temporary red dye from her hair, even if it all didn’t come ou
t. But was what he was asking of her the right move? Could she trust him to do the right thing? She’d heard him talking on his phone when he didn’t think she was around, and he was hungry for a big story to propel his career even higher.
The only way to know was to ask. She worried her lip. If he was on the up-and-up, he would take her question as a sign of doubt in him. And if he was stringing her along for a big story, he’d never admit it. So where did that leave her?
Her heart said to trust him. He’d never hurt her. But her mind said to be cautious. She’d been burned before by people that she thought she could trust. She wished there was an easy way to figure out whom she could trust and whom she couldn’t. If her past was any indication, she wasn’t a good judge of character.
Jackson’s gaze met hers. “I can see that you’re struggling with the decision. What if we do the interview and I give you the decision of whether to air it or not?”
In his gaze, she found honesty and so much more. Her heart pounded out its decision, overruling her mind. Sometimes she overthought things.
She pulled off her glove and held out her hand. “You have a deal.”
He removed his glove and wrapped his warm hand around hers. “It’s a date. Tomorrow evening after my last day of filming, I’ll have the crew stop by and film it for us.”
“And they won’t mind? You know, staying late and doing this?”
He smiled. “When they find out who I’ll be interviewing, they’ll be falling all over themselves to help out.”
“But they won’t tell anyone?”
“Not if you don’t want them to. I’ve worked with this crew for a long time. They are a good bunch.”
Serena thought about it for a moment. “If they could just keep it quiet until after the New Year that would be good.”
He lifted her hand to his lips. “It’s a deal.”
He kissed the back of her hand. And then he leaned over, pressing his lips to hers. She approved of the way he sealed deals. They might have to do a lot more negotiating in the future.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
IN A STRANGE twist of fate, that car accident had been a blessing.
As the thought crossed his mind, Jackson wondered if he should have had the doctor examine his head as well as his ankle. But if not for the accident, he most likely never would have met Serena. Instead of looking forward to Christmas, he would be looking for ways to avoid the holiday.
Just as promised, the next evening, Jackson’s crew showed up at the cabin to film the interview. Jackson wasn’t sure what to expect of Serena. He knew that she was professional, but he also knew how nervous she was about her new venture into script writing.
Instead of dressing in the latest fashion and wearing her signature eye makeup, she’d dressed modestly in a cream-colored sweater and matching pants. Her blond hair was twisted in back and pinned up. Wisps of hair surrounded her face, softening the style. And though she did wear makeup, it was light and just enough to accentuate her beauty. She looked perfect.
They’d previously agreed on a list of questions and Jackson followed the script, even though it was in his nature to venture into unknown territory. But out of respect to Serena, he stuck by their agreement. That was until the very end...
“Why have you decided to make this move from in front of the cameras to a place behind the scenes?”
Serena’s green eyes momentarily widened as she realized it wasn’t one of the preapproved questions. But he hadn’t been able to help himself. He found this question to be paramount.
Like a professional, she had taken the question in stride. “I wouldn’t say this is a permanent move. I’ve already signed on for an upcoming movie.”
“That’s great. I’m sure your fans will be relieved to hear the news. I know I am.” It was the truth. He loved her movies. They’d helped get him through some of the toughest days of his life after his wife died. “But what drove you to try something new?”
“Actually, writing isn’t new for me. The part that is new is sharing my words with the world. I think that writing is as close to magic as you can get—bringing life to a page. And I’ve found that I love putting words on the page.”
And now that the interview was over, it was time Jackson worked a little magic of his own. He sent the interview over to his agent. He wanted Fred to have the interview edited and polished just the way it would be done if it were to air on Hello America.
His agent immediately phoned. As they talked, Fred got him to admit that if Serena did go through with releasing the interview to the public that it would help not just her but him as well. His agent begged him to release it or let him do it. Fred swore that this was what they needed to rocket Jackson past the other applicants for the national evening news spot.
Jackson told his agent to calm down. This interview wasn’t for him—no matter how much his career could use the boost. He’d truly done the interview with altruistic intentions. And he’d made his agent promise to have the raw footage cut and cleaned up. Then he was to forward it back to Jackson so he could play it for Serena, who still hadn’t made her mind up about airing it.
“Phone me as soon as it’s finished,” Jackson said to his agent.
“Are you sure we can’t just use some of it? I mean, come on, she’s been missing for almost two weeks now. It’s all the media is talking about.”
“No. And don’t you dare leak her location or you’ll be fired.”
His agent laughed. “You’d never do that. We’ve been together since the beginning—”
“Fred, I’m serious. Don’t do anything that we’ll both regret.”
“Don’t worry. I’ve got your back.”
“And you’ll get the footage back to me by tomorrow night?” Jackson really wanted to present it to Serena for Christmas. He was certain she would be so impressed by the results that she’d gladly release it.
“I’ll do my best,” Fred said. “But you have to realize that most people are already on Christmas holiday.”
“Surely you know someone you can trust to turn this around quickly.”
“Well...there is someone, but he’s not cheap, especially with this being the holiday.”
“Money isn’t an issue.”
“I’ll give him a call.”
“Thank you,” Jackson said. “I’ll owe you.”
“And I’ll collect.” His agent laughed.
As Jackson disconnected the call, he knew that Fred would in fact collect on that favor. Usually it was to get Jackson to make an appearance at some stuffy dinner that he wouldn’t want to attend. But Jackson would deal with the ramifications later.
Right now, he was feeling optimistic about the final cut of the interview. Serena was a natural in front of the camera. Her face had lit up when she was talking about her script. And he’d never had so much fun interviewing anyone.
“What has you smiling?” Serena stepped through the doorway after taking Gizmo for a short walk.
“I’m just happy, is all.” He stood next to the window, staring out at the snowy evening. “Do you think it always snows this much?”
“I have no idea, but I like it. It puts me in the holiday spirit.” The smile slipped from her face. “I suppose now that your work is done here you’ll have to head back to the States.”
He reached out and wrapped his arms around her waist. “Are you saying you’re already tired of me?”
“I could never get tired of you. I was just wishing you could stay for Christmas. After all, it’s just in two days.”
“That soon?” When she nodded, he said, “Well, if you were to twist my arm, I might consider staying. After all, my flight isn’t until the day after Christmas.”
Instead of smiling, she frowned.
“What’s the matter?” he asked. “I thought you w
anted me to stay.”
“I do. That’s not it. I just realized that I don’t have anything for you—you know, Christmas presents.” Her eyes reflected her concern. “Do you think it’s too late to head into the village to shop?”
“Yes, I do. They close early in the evenings.” He could see his answer only compounded her distress. “Hey, look at me.” When she glanced at him, he said, “I don’t need any presents. I promise. I have everything I want right here.”
He drew her close and placed a quick kiss on her lips.
Serena pulled back. Her eyes opened wide and then a big grin filled her face.
“Oh, no,” he said.
“What?”
“You have a look on your face that worries me. I have a feeling I’m not going to like what you say next.”
“You can stop worrying. I just got an idea for a new screenplay.”
“That’s what you were thinking about when I kissed you?”
She shrugged and looked a little sheepish. “I can’t help when inspiration strikes.”
“Uh-huh. And what is this idea?”
She shook her head. “I’m not telling you. You’ll have to wait and read it.”
“Really? That’s all I get for being your inspiration?”
“Well, maybe if you kissed me some more, you might get something you do like.”
Now she was talking his language. “How about we take this to the bedroom?”
“I think that would be a good idea.”
* * *
The next morning, Serena woke up early.
Jackson was still sound asleep, but that wasn’t surprising as he’d had a late night—a very late night. Serena smiled as she recalled the night she’d spent in his arms.
She knew their time together was quickly running out. But she was wondering about relocating to New York, once filming for her next movie wrapped up, of course. After all, she could stand to take a break from movies, and she hadn’t yet signed up for anything after this next film. If writing screenplays didn’t pan out for her, she could try Broadway. Actually, that was another item on her bucket list. Why put off until tomorrow what she could do today?
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