by Hale, Beth
Their eyes met, and Norah nodded in satisfaction as a look of understanding passed between them. Jack helped himself to pasta and wine and they began working on their lines.
Chapter 5
Alison eyed Emma speculatively as they made their way towards another small trailer. “Are you in a relationship?” she asked. “Is that why you try to avoid Jack?”
Emma’s steps faltered. “No,” she replied, “I’m not seeing anyone.”
Alison sighed with relief. “That’s good, then. Jack was afraid the Chris fellow you spoke of was a man you’re involved with.”
Emma’s laugh was quick. “Not like that. He’s my best friend,” she explained. “I love him but I could never date him; it’d be like dating my brother. Besides, he’s not interested in women.”
“Oh.” Alison nodded in understanding. “Then why do you shy away from Jack? I know you know he’s interested. He wants to ask you out; why don’t you agree?”
“I’m not sure that’s a good idea.”
“Jack’s a great guy,” Alison told her. “If I were you, I’d agree to a date. He’s sweet and funny and fairly gorgeous.”
“He is that,” Emma admitted. “But I’m not sure if I’m ready. The divorce…” She trailed off.
“It’s only one date, Emma.” Alison rubbed her arm as they stopped in front of a trailer. “It doesn’t have to go beyond that.”
Emma considered her words as Alison opened the door and stuck her head inside. “Are you up for two more?” They went inside and Emma was quickly introduced. “This is Phillip South, Richard’s assistant.”
Emma shook hands with a thin, hazel eyed
man, and then turned as Alison continued. “And this
one belongs to Roger. Marcus Reynolds.”
Emma took his hand as she looked at him. He was tall, with dark blond hair and deep brown eyes. He was handsome, she thought, but in a cold way. He held her hand a moment longer than necessary and his eyes raked up and down her body with a predatory gleam. It made her uneasy, and she resisted the urge to wipe her hand on her shorts.
“Emma,” he all but drawled. “It’s refreshing to see a new face, especially since the face is a work of art.”
“Thank you.” Emma smiled faintly as she accepted the beer Phillip handed her.
“I’ll be glad when we move from here,” Phillip commented as he passed Alison a bottle of water.
“Norah, too,” Emma told him with a grin. “I think being out in the open like this is beginning to get to her. She’s a city girl through and through.”
“I’ll wager she’s a right bitch to work for,” Marcus said. Alison gasped in surprise and Emma frowned at him. She decided she didn’t like him.
“Not at all. I enjoy my job very much.”
Marcus rolled his eyes. “I’m just assisting until I land a role of my own,” he told her.
“Good luck with that,” she returned and smiled at Phillip as he quickly changed the subject.
“Have you seen the town house where we’ll be filming? It’s spectacular. It was built in eighteen sixty four but it’s been fully restored and furnished,” Phillip told them.
“We drove past it,” Emma told him. “It’s beautiful on the outside.”
“Inside as well,” he replied. “The owners rent it
out to movie studios for period pieces such as this. It has modern conveniences of course, and offices and dressing rooms scattered throughout. But the essence of it, the history of it, is what stands out.”
“I can’t wait to see it.” She spent close to three hours with them before she stood to leave. Marcus stood with her and offered to walk her back.
“I don’t want to trouble you,” she protested.
“Nonsense. It’ll give us a chance to speak privately. Besides, it’s late and I don’t want you walking alone.”
Emma gave Alison a look of exasperation. She grinned in sympathy and returned to her conversation with Phillip. Reluctantly, Emma began walking beside Marcus towards her trailer.
“Would you like to have lunch one day?” he asked her.
“I’m afraid I can’t,” Emma responded quickly, “but thank you for asking.”
“Why not? I’m sure Norah would be fine without you for a while, and we’d have a pleasurable time.” Marcus lifted his hand and suggestively trailed it down Emma’s back. “I know of a little place close enough we can be there and back in an afternoon.”
Emma fought back a shudder and almost sighed in relief as they reached her door.
“Thank you for walking me back,” she said politely. “But I’m not interested in a pleasurable time with anyone at the moment.” Jack’s face flashed in her mind and she knew she lied.
Marcus gave her a long look then smiled. “You’ll change your mind,” he told her.
“Goodnight, Marcus,” she returned and went inside.
Marcus walked away, confident Emma was only
playing hard to get. Women never told him no. He smiled again as he thought about the shorts and tank top she’d worn and imagined the body underneath.
She’s a beauty all right, he thought. I’ll have her in bed before long.
***
The next afternoon proved to be as hot and sweaty as the one before. Emma tried to leave her hair down but after just an hour of lifting if off her neck trying to catch a breeze, she sighed and threw it up into a pony tail.
She kept her cell handy, and confirmed some of Norah’s appointments. She was scheduled for a magazine interview to promote She-Wolf, and a television appearance for Running Far, her last film. Emma made notes to choose outfits for each.
She looked towards the field where a battle was raging and smiled. Norah was on her white horse, watching the fight from a distance. She held the reins in a death grip. Norah wasn’t afraid of horses, Emma knew, but she wasn’t exactly comfortable with them either.
Emma glanced at the shooting schedule. She was relieved to see that they would be remaining in London for close to two weeks before having to venture out on location again.
Then she heard it. The rumble of thunder in the distance. She stood and looked to the west. Sure enough, the sky was darkening. She cursed and grabbed her phone to check the weather.
“Damn,” she swore. Rain was moving in, and would be there by nightfall. Shooting would be suspended if it was more than a light shower. And the weather app promised a hell of a stormy night.
The first fat raindrops fell two scenes later. The crew ran for the tent, and Jack came to stand beside Emma. “The pasta was delicious,” he said by way of greeting.
“Thank you; it’s my mama’s recipe. Where’s Alison? I haven’t seen her today.”
“She wasn’t feeling well this morning.” Worry clouded his eyes. “I think the heat is getting to her, now that she’s so far along.”
Emma felt herself soften at his obvious concern. “She’ll be fine. I’ll check on her tonight.”
“She’ll like that. She enjoys your company.”
“This really sucks.” Norah joined them as the rain began to fall more heavily. “We’ve only got three more scenes to go before we can leave here. Stupid rain.”
They began to walk back to the trailers. “Maybe it won’t last long,” Jack commented.
“I looked; it says heavy rain most of the night, but it should clear out by midmorning.”
“What’ll we do till then?” Norah pouted. “I’m ready to get this over with.”
“Ummm…We’ve got Scrabble; we could play that while we wait,” Emma suggested.
“That sounds fun,” Jack agreed. “Shall I see if Alison is up for joining us?”
When Emma nodded, he pulled out his phone and texted her. She texted back that she’d meet them there and bring the cookies she’d made the day before.
“At least we get treats,” Norah muttered as they ducked inside the trailer just as the storm hit with a vengeance.
Chapter 6
After waiting a day for the
ground to dry a bit, Emma watched as Norah and Jack filmed a touching mother-son battle camp scene. He truly was a talented actor, Emma thought as they wrapped it up and started towards the tent. Norah paused to speak with Richard. Jack kept his eyes on Emma as he neared her.
“Emma.” Jack stood in front of her and waited until she looked at him. “Will you come to dinner with me when we return to London?”
“Jack…”
“No buts, Emma. I would enjoy it tremendously.”
“Why?” The question slipped out.
“Because I find you beautiful and smart, and I want to know you better.” Jack smiled. “Because we have to eat and I dislike dining in restaurants alone. Say yes, Emma, before I begin begging.”
Emma smiled back as she tucked a stray hair behind her ear. She’d lain awake the night before thinking about Norah and Alison’s advice. They were right, she had decided. It was time and it was only dinner.
“Yes,” she told him before she could change her mind again. “I’d love to.”
Jack’s eyes warmed as he grinned. “Splendid! Let’s see…we’ll be through here by tomorrow. Would Tuesday night work for you?”
“It should.”
“Perfect; I’ll pick you up at eight and we’ll enjoy ourselves.”
Emma laughed. “You seem so sure of that.
What if I turn out to be a terrible dining companion?”
she teased. “What if I chew with my mouth open, or
slurp my water?”
He laughed with her as he tugged at her pony tail. “Then I shall endeavor to teach you proper manners before our second go at it.”
“I’ll try to remember what Mama taught me,” she replied with a smile.
Jack glanced back as Richard called his name. “I’d better see what he wants. I look forward to Tuesday,” he told her and walked away.
Emma watched him leave and placed a hand on her dancing stomach.
***
As eight o’clock drew nearer, Emma paced the living room and rubbed her neck.
“For God’s sake, Emma, you’re making me nervous.” Norah took Emma’s chilled hands in hers and rubbed them. “If you’re really too afraid to do this I’ll call and cancel for you,” she said.
Emma smiled weakly. “No, I need to do this. Anyway, it’s too late to cancel. He’ll be here any minute. How do I look?”
Norah stepped back and studied her. She wore light gray slacks and a royal blue blouse. Her thick brown hair was in a French twist and her jade green eyes sparkled with a mix of nerves and excitement.
“You look fine,” she reassured her. “But undo one more button on that blouse. You’re not a nun.”
Emma gave a small laugh but slipped the button free as a knock sounded at the door. “Oh, boy,” she whispered.
Norah sent Emma an encouraging smile as she opened the door. Jack stepped inside and his blue eyes went straight to Emma.
“You look beautiful,” he told her with a smile. He held out a bouquet of white roses. “For you.”
“They’re lovely, thank you.” She took the roses and sniffed them. “I love flowers.” She handed them to Norah, who offered to put them in a vase and left the room.
“I’ve made reservations at Vivendo’s, a few blocks from here. They have wonderful Italian food.” Jack held the door open for her.
“I’m fond of Italian,” Emma said as she stepped outside. She stopped and stared. “An Aston-Martin?” she asked.
He shrugged. “It beats walking.”
“That it does.” Emma thanked him as he held open the door and walked around to slide into the driver’s seat. “I think you’re trying to impress me.”
“Is it working?” He smiled, and she shook her head.
“A bit,” she admitted. “What’s James up to?”
“Oh, he’s off after one woman or another. The man is a complete cad.”
“He’s a flirt,” she agreed. “I like him, though.”
“He’ll do,” Jack said blandly and made Emma laugh. “He calls you ‘Lovely Emma’ and demands to know when he gets a date with you.”
“He’s next in line,” Emma said lightly as they pulled away. She settled into the soft black leather of the seat. “You have a beautiful car.”
He flashed a grin. “It’s a Vanquish. Zero to
sixty in four seconds and can reach a top speed
of one hundred eighty. And it’s such a pretty
red, too.” Emma laughed as they reached
Vivendo’s.
Before they could make it inside the door, two couples stopped Jack and asked for autographs. He smiled warmly at them as he signed napkins. He posed for photographs and laughingly kissed the women’s cheeks. Emma hung back and let him work his magic on the fans. When they had complimented his acting one more time, and he’d thanked them, they went on their way and he took Emma’s arm and led her inside.
The host greeted them warmly and led them to a back table. The light from numerous candles gave the room an intimate glow, and soft music strained through the air. Emma’s chair was pulled out for her, and a wine list was brought out for inspection.
“I think a Pinot Noir would be nice, don’t you?” Jack asked. Emma consented and watched the ritual wine taste and pour. After hearing the specials, Emma decided on apricot chicken and Jack settled for the braised pork loin.
“I’m sorry for that,” he told her. “Sometimes fans pop up when I least expect it.”
“It’s no problem,” she assured him. “It happens to Norah, too; it’s part of the package. The people love you, and you love them back.” She grinned.
“Yes,” he admitted. “It is nice to be told how much someone enjoyed your performance in this play or that. I love theater. When I was offered the part of Edward III, I thought long and hard before accepting.”
“Why?”
“I’d honestly never thought of doing film. But
after reading the script, I realized it would be a fabulous
rendition of history and I wanted to be a part of it. James, of course, told me I just wanted to see my pretty face plastered on the big screen.”
Emma laughed. “You and James seem genuinely fond of one another.” She sipped her wine.
“We are. My parents were away on business most of the time so I basically lived at James’s home. His mother often says she raised two boys.”
“It must have been hard for you, not seeing your parents much.”
Jack shrugged. “I was used to it. They love me, I know, but are just absorbed in their own lives. James and I grew close and stayed that way. He’s like my brother.”
Emma nodded. “That’s how I feel about Chris. We were nearly inseparable growing up.”
“Alison told me he’s your closest friend,” Jack said as their food was placed on the table. “I’ll admit I was jealous before I knew. I thought I’d have to compete for your attention.”
Emma laughed. “Not hardly. After high school Chris went to New York armed with the plays he’d written. I stayed, went to college, and got an accounting degree.”
“That sounds…well, rather dull actually. Math is so boring.”
“That’s what Chris says, too.” Emma tasted her chicken. “Good,” she decided. “After that, I went to visit him. That’s when I met Norah and the whirlwind began.” She smiled at the memory. “I loved it.”
Jack waited a beat, the said casually, “Norah mentioned an ex-husband.”
“She would have.” Emma forked another bite
of chicken. “I met Ryan almost immediately after
getting to New York. We dated for two months before
we were married. I let him talk me into trusting him, that he knew what was best for me. Stupid of me, I guess”
Jack could see the pain and embarrassment flash in her eyes. He reached across the table and laid his hand over hers. “He’s the stupid one, Emma, for letting you go.”
Emma looked into his eyes and smiled a little. “Thank
you,” she said simply.
They lingered over coffee as Jack kept Emma amused with tales of his and James’s childhood exploits. “He climbed into the oak tree so he could jump down and frighten me,” he remembered, “but the branch gave away and he fell and broke his arm. He spent the next six weeks charming our classmates into doing his schoolwork.”
Emma giggled. “It sounds like his mama had her hands full with you two.”
“And did you ever misbehave?”
“This one time,” she told him as they got ready to leave, “Mama had picked tons of cherries to make pies with, and she absolutely forbade me and Chris to eat any while she went to check on something at the café.”
Jack signed the check and placed his hand on the small of Emma’s back as they exited the restaurant. “And,” he prompted as they settled into the car. He kept her fingers linked with his.
“We gobbled them, of course. We ate cherries until I thought we’d bust. Later that night we got so sick. Mama was scared to death, thinking it was blood. I haven’t eaten a cherry since.”
Jack chuckled. “Naughty children.” When they reached the house, Jack walked with Emma to the door.
“I had a really good time,” she said quietly. “Thank you.”
“Would you like to go to the park tomorrow? It’s going to be lovely weather.” Jack tightened his grip on her fingers and pulled her a little closer. “Please, say yes.”
She couldn’t look away. “Yes,” she whispered.
Jack nodded, pleased. “At eleven,” he told her. He brushed a kiss over her cheek and pressed one into the palm of her hand. “Good night," he said huskily and stepped back.
“Good night,” she replied faintly. Her palm burned where his lips had touched. She watched him walk back to the car. He looked back and waved before driving away.
“Oh, boy,” Emma said again.
Chapter 7
Emma followed the scent of coffee to the kitchen and found Norah at the stove. Norah glanced around and smiled.
“I’m making scrambled eggs. Do you want some?”
