Silver Screen Romance

by Altonya Washington

  The moment heated in the space of a millisecond. Kale wasted no time cupping Davia’s neck in his hands as he took advantage of the moment to have his way with her mouth. His free hand had its way with the rest of her. It trailed beneath the hem of her blouse, one finger sliding along the inside waistband of her jeans. Then he was cupping her bottom, drawing her snugly against him. The kiss steadily intensified until Kale wrenched away from Davia, cursing as he did so.

  “What?” She frowned.

  Kale at first replied with a rather sheepish grin. “There’re some things I don’t keep on hand here at the office,” he said.

  She got his meaning. “That’s a good thing to know.”

  “Not always.”

  “Well, that just lets me know that I should always be prepared with you.”

  Kale drew her against him then. “Nothing prepared me for you.”

  Davia smoothed her lips across his jaw. “Well, I think that’s a very good thing to know.”

  “You’re right.” Somehow he gathered her even tighter. “That one’s definitely good to know. Always.” The word silenced on his lips as they claimed hers.

  Chapter 19

  Over the next several months Kale and Davia tried to make the distance work for them. It wasn’t easy given the often rigorous demands of the responsibilities associated with their respective jobs. There weren’t an abundance of complaints on that score, however. Being so busy left the couple with little time to fixate on the distance and grow scornful of its existence. Such was the case as far as Davia was concerned. It helped being back on familiar turf in San Francisco following the drama of Mullins and then Miami with Kale.

  Kale kept himself just as busy. The Xyler Chronicles’s premiere earlier in the year had provided his company with an unforeseen side benefit. While his multiplexes had been selected for many movie premieres over the years, they’d been smaller budget releases, though many of them had boasted rumors of major award nominations. There had been none of the big-budget blockbuster caliber, until Xyler. With that one came more offerings for premieres of such films.

  The opportunities had been bittersweet. Sweet because they’d been additional jewels in the crown of his accomplishments. Sweet, too, because all the work had kept him busy and not in the position of having time to miss her too much.

  The bitterness crept in when not missing her too much gave way to anger. Anger he directed toward himself—because of his decision not to assuage his impatience and go after what he wanted most. It was a decision he’d toyed with throwing over numerous times, especially in the last two months. Two months since he’d seen her! He was sure she was just as busy as he was. Aside from their own personal businesses was the formidable joint undertaking in connection with the Iowa theater.

  Kale knew there would be plenty of time for them to devote to following up on the words they’d spoken to one another. So long as the decision he’d made didn’t backfire. The decision he’d made to give her space and to leave the ball in her court. The possibility of that backfiring sparked a show of temper and he shoved a stack of papers from his desk.

  “Go see her, why don’t you?” Lyle Neese grumbled from where he stood hunched over a worktable on the other side of the office.

  Kale didn’t try denying that his loss of temper was about Davia. Lyle had been his sole sounding board for months. Ever since he’d started to regret the decision he thought he’d had to make, he’d been sharing his second thoughts with Lyle.

  Kale bent to retrieve the papers. “I can’t do that,” he grumbled and pretended not to hear Lyle chuckling across the room in response.

  “Would you care to explain how you reasoned that out?” Lyle asked amid his laughter. “She loves you, you love her. You’ve both said the words, right?”

  Kale, still stooping near his desk, shook his head. “It’s about more than that. I know she loves me, but she’s dealing with more than that. This whole thing hit her out of nowhere,” he continued. “For me, it was about meeting a woman who knocked me on my ass and showed me what I really wanted. For her, it’s about not trusting herself.” He smirked, renewed tension swelling inside him. “Since I’ve known her... I thought it was just me she didn’t trust because of all the misunderstandings between us...but it’s herself she doesn’t trust.”

  “How so, man?” Kale had never shared that particular aspect, so his friend and employee needed clarification.

  “She was wrong about what happened with Martella and me—and she wound up making a mess of things because of it. Then she figures the way she approached Martella’s troubles was a wrong one and that misjudgment was worse given what happened to Martella. All that,” he sighed, “plus the fact that she can never make it right. Not that she ever could have, but she can’t see it that way.”

  Kale stood and dropped the papers onto his desk. “I pushed her enough, pushed her to listen—to accept the truth of what happened with me and Martella.” He leaned against the desk.

  “I pushed her to give me a chance when she was still trying to come to grips with that truth. Now, she loves me and I need to stop pushing until she’s ready to accept more.”

  Lyle left his place at the worktable and walked over to clap his friend’s shoulder. “Just don’t forget that she’s in California and you’re in Florida.”

  “I got it.” Kale’s expression was a grim one. “But whatever happens now...it has to be her choice. It’s the only way I can be sure she’s faced that fear—the fear she has that her judgment’s off and that any decision she makes is on shaky ground.

  “She’s got all she needs to move forward and believe her perceptions are on point, but she’s got to be the one to take hold of what she’s being offered, Lyle. Otherwise, she’ll never be free of it and I’ll never be sure she’s really mine.”

  “She’s the woman you love,” Lyle said, “the one you want.” He clapped Kale’s shoulder again. “Just be sure you don’t give her so much space that she loses sight of what she’s being offered.”

  Lyle headed out of the office, leaving Kale with his thoughts.

  San Francisco, California

  Business concerns for Davia weren’t an over-the-top matter when she returned to her San Francisco office. She had the utmost confidence in her staff and they hadn’t disappointed her. There were a few jobs needing to be closed out, and she took care of them quickly.

  The same couldn’t be said for her brewery endeavors, however. Davia had never felt luckier to have her college friends and business partners on hand than she had over the months following her Iowa adventure. Success hadn’t come without strings and as San Francisco Brews gained respect and name recognition, Davia and her partners found themselves in the midst of contract negotiations with local and franchised restaurants, supermarkets and pubs.

  She was up to her eyeballs in brewery meetings that day, discussing with her partners their immediate and upcoming ventures.

  “The Ayerses’ pub tasting is a go but we’ve all yet to agree on a specific date.” Jilly Tymes chewed on her pen cap while studying the big calendar that lay flat on the wide conference table. “And whether any of us should go along,” Jilly tacked on as though it were an afterthought.

  Davia smiled, not bothering to look up from the notes she’d been scribbling at the table. “Don’t start, Jill,” she sighed.

  “What’s the problem, Day?” Her other partner Audrey Graham wore an innocent expression that illuminated her round, lovely face. “I’m sure Jill only meant that it might be nice for one of us to attend seeing as how you already established the deal with your newfound friends.”

  “Oh, I see...” Davia finally looked up from her notes to fix Audrey with a smirk. “So this is all about business and nothing personal, huh?”

  “Well, yeah.” Audrey held on to her innocence and allowed playful curiosity to ease
in alongside. “I mean, what could be personal about—Oh, right...you probably wouldn’t get much work done with Kale there.”

  “You’re right.” Davia refused to take more of the bait. “We’re in the middle of making final crew selections on the construction teams for the theater.”

  “Oh, yeah, the theater. I almost forgot about that part of the affair.”

  Davia rolled her eyes from Jill’s smug smile and looked over at the only other partner at the table who had yet to speak. “Don’t you have something to say—like ‘shut up and get back to work’?”

  Wilhelmina Owens offered an exaggerated shrug. “You know how I love to keep you guys in line, but it’s kinda hard to do that when the truth is being spoken.”

  Davia held her head in her hands. “Not you, too,” she groaned.

  Jilly stood, still chewing her pen cap. “I know! Maybe we should all go. It’s probably the only time we’ll get to meet Mr. Kale Asante with Davia keeping him all to herself like she’s been doing.”

  Davia pulled her head out of her hands. “I’m sorry, guys, I... I didn’t realize.”

  “Time flies when you’re having fun.” Audrey snorted. “You know it is customary to introduce the fiancé to the family.”

  “Who said anything about a fiancé?” Davia hoped her expression wasn’t as panic-stricken as the sound of her voice.

  Wilhelmina laughed. “Hell, Day, you guys have been together for about ten months now. You love the man, don’t you?”

  “Yes,” Davia responded without hesitation and with no trace of panic.

  “But...?” Wilhelmina prodded.

  Davia hesitated then. “It’s just...all been going so well, so...easy, and I...”

  “Don’t want that to change?” Jilly guessed.

  Davia winced. “Am I selfish?”

  “Maybe a little.” Audrey reached out to pat her hand. “But don’t be so hard on yourself. You’re just trying to hold on to the new magic for as long as you can.”

  “New magic?” Davia pondered the phrase.

  “At the beginning, you know?” Wilhelmina shrugged. “The time in the relationship when everything’s still new and perfect. Neither can do wrong in the other’s eyes.”

  “Right.” Davia’s sigh held a weary edge. “I think that part’s over. I’m sure I’ve already crossed that line.” She slumped back onto her chair. “We haven’t seen each other in two months. The last few times we were together I got the feeling he wasn’t too happy with me.”

  “Aw, girl.” Audrey waved her hand again. “He probably said that because he thinks you’re content with things the way they are and he wants more.”

  “And what if that’s not it? What if he doesn’t want more?”

  “Davia, why would you think that?” Jilly asked.

  “For one thing, he’s in Miami.” Again Davia moved forward to hold her head in her hands. “He’s in Miami and he’s...” She looked up to send a lazy smile toward her friends and business associates. “Kale Asante is only single because he wants to be.”

  “Well, from what you’ve told us and given all the time you guys have had together, I’d say Mr. Sexy and Single doesn’t want to be alone anymore.”

  “You’re right.” Davia gave a mock salute to Wilhelmina. “He doesn’t want that. I mean, he’s waiting on me, isn’t he? Waiting on me to make that move. Literally.”

  “One challenge at a time, girl,” Audrey advised. “First, you need to make it clear that you’re willing to do whatever it takes to be with him the way people in love are meant to be with each other.”

  Davia was still nodding her agreement when the conference phone line buzzed. “Yeah, Maggie?”

  “Davia, Mr. Asante’s here.”

  Momentarily speechless, Davia looked at her friends’ faces. It was obvious she hadn’t been expecting Kale, but before she could reply to her assistant’s announcement, Wilhelmina was speaking.

  “Maggie, this is Wil. We didn’t even realize it was time for our meeting.”

  “What meeting?” Davia whispered.

  “I thought we told you, Day,” Jilly whispered back.

  “Thanks. Maggie, could you send Mr. Asante in?” Audrey called.

  Davia looked at them through narrowed eyes. “What are you guys up to?”

  Jill shook her head. “I don’t really think it’s the time for explanations now, Day. Do you?” She was on her way to the conference room door, pulling it open before more could be said.

  Kale moved into the room, his gaze immediately seeking out and locating Davia. His expression was guarded even as his eyes raked their way up and down her body. Then he was looking at Jill, whom he graced with a charming smile.

  “Mr. Asante, please forgive us for using business to get you here.” Jill took his hand in a warm shake. “If we’d waited on Day much longer for an introduction we’d have all keeled over from impatience. I’m Jillian Tymes, but everyone calls me Jilly.”

  “Nice to meet you, Jilly, and it’s Kale, and there’s no need for apologies. Your business idea was a good one. Wish I’d thought to reach out with it, but I’ve been a little distracted lately.” Again Kale looked at Davia.

  The other women in the room moved forward to introduce themselves while Davia hung back.

  “Kale, would you excuse us for a minute?” Wilhelmina shared a quick smile with her partners. “We’ve been meeting all morning and I know I could use a break before we get started on this next part of the business.”

  “No problem, I’m not in a hurry.” He looked briefly at Davia and then back to Wilhelmina. “Have you guys eaten? We could talk over lunch.”

  “Oh, Kale, that’d be great.” Audrey took the liberty of accepting the invite while sharing the agreeing nods with her partners. All except Davia. She stood there, stunned.

  “If you guys choose the place, we’ll head out as soon as you get back,” Kale suggested.

  “I’m sorry about that,” Davia finally said when her partners left the room talking. “Sorry they put you on the spot that way.”

  “They didn’t do anything wrong.”

  The bite to his words was undeniable to Davia. “Does that mean I have?” she asked.

  “It doesn’t,” he reassured her and then shrugged. “I’ve just never been good with patience.”

  “Could’ve fooled me.”

  The shrug Kale offered barely sent a ripple through the fabric of the walnut-brown suit jacket that emphasized the striking chocolate depths of his stare. “Guess that means I’ve done a good job of hiding that flaw. Maybe I should try a little more honesty now.”

  Unable to formulate a quick comeback to his unexpected admission, Davia could only stand there and let her eyes do the talking. She’d missed him so. Two months and she’d almost gone insane with missing him. But she hadn’t called and he was only there due to a ruse devised by her well-meaning business partners.

  “I’m sorry that it took business to get you here. I should’ve called you.”

  Kale felt his jaw muscles clench and he bowed his head. “Would you stop apologizing to me?” He wanted to bridge the distance between them but resisted. “Did your partners tell you about the deal they want?” he asked instead.

  Davia massaged the tense muscles bunched at her nape. “We never got past my surprise that they called you at all.”

  Kale broke into soft laughter. “A bunch of go-getters, huh?”

  “I used to be one.” Her tone was regretful. “Lately, I don’t seem to know which way is up.” The apprehension squeezing her heart eased when she heard his laughter again.

  “I know exactly what you mean,” Kale said.

  * * *

  “Just give the check to me,” Wilhelmina instructed the waiter once he’d recapped the lunch order.

 
“Very good, ma’am.” The waiter gave a dutiful nod and then headed off.

  “So, Kale, are you as in love with Iowa as Davia is?” Jilly was asking. “It’s all she can talk about.”

  Audrey gave a short, happy laugh. “It’s not all she talks about, Jilly.”

  “And for good reason,” Wilhelmina tacked on.

  Davia gritted her teeth while her friends traded sly looks and smiles. “Are you guys gonna wait till after we eat to get to the point of why you called Kale all the way out here?”

  “Well, gosh, Day, we don’t hear him complaining. Kale, do you have any complaints?” Audrey asked.

  Kale’s gaze was on Davia. “Not one,” he said.

  Davia was about to lose herself in the warm, deep pools. She managed to shake herself free of their spell. “Could we get to the point sometime before midnight?”

  “Kale,” Jilly sighed, shaking her head sorrowfully, “we should apologize for our partner. We’ll see that she makes up for her rudeness later.”

  Davia bristled as Kale’s laughter rang out.

  “Anyway, Kale, we asked you out here to discuss your theater. We didn’t say more before because we wanted to put it to you in person,” Jilly explained. “We, uh...we figured the fact that we’re in San Francisco would be enough to get you to take the meeting.”

  “Well, I could never resist a good mystery.”

  “Well, we won’t keep you in suspense any longer.” Wilhelmina scooted forward in her chair. “We’d like you to offer our brew in your theaters.”

  “You told me that much and I think it’s a good idea. We’ve already got quite a few brews on the menu.”

  “How many have you got on tap?” Wilhelmina asked.

  Interest simmered in Kale’s eyes then. “We haven’t gone that route yet.”

  “Is it a route you think you’d ever take?” Jilly asked.

  Kale rubbed his jaw. “I don’t see why not.”

  “We’d want exclusivity, Kale,” Audrey said, “and placement at all your theaters for two years.”