by Casey Dawes
Was frequent happiness possible?
Mandy and Sally completed lunch prep and set up right before the first of the actors filtered into the tent.
Mandy smiled and chatted with the costumed people who’d become familiar to her.
“This salad is divine,” her most finicky customer told her. “I wish I could eat more.” She gestured at her waist.
All of a sudden Mandy realized the work it took to maintain a good body for film. The camera added ten pounds to anyone, and aspiring stars needed to keep the girth from showing.
“I’m glad you enjoyed it. I picked up some fresh veggies when I was in Santa Cruz yesterday. I’ll try to get some fish the next time I’m there.”
“That would be wonderful. Thank you for your thoughtfulness.” The woman touched her arm. “Don’t forget to give me your card before this is over. I’d love to help you get started in Hollywood.”
“Oh. I’m not moving to LA. My home’s on the Central Coast.”
The woman frowned. “That’s too bad. I thought James had indicated you were buying Sally’s business.”
“He must have misunderstood.”
The frown morphed into a grin. “Or he was indulging in wishful thinking.”
“What do you mean?”
“Are you blind, girl? I’ve seen the way he looks at you. In fact, he’s doing it right now.”
Mandy darted a glance in the same direction the woman was facing. Sure enough, James might have been talking with the male lead, but his gaze was glued to Mandy. A slight slack-jawed look made him look like a lovesick puppy.
She turned back to the woman. “I see what you mean.”
The woman gave the tinkled laugh she was famous for and returned to her lunch.
Mandy took stock of how she was feeling. What do I call this mood?
“How was your little jaunt to the coast?” Doug, the assistant locations manager, asked her as he passed her. “You look great.”
“Too short, I’m afraid. I miss seeing my friend’s new baby girl.” Mandy smiled. She liked Doug, although she bet he could charm a girl out of her clothes in under an hour.
“We’ll be done soon. Thanks for your hard work. Food is really delicious.” He rubbed his stomach. “And filling. I’m going to have to do miles on the treadmill when I get home.” He gave her a quick hug and walked off toward a table full of crew members.
What was that about?
She glanced back at James. He was no longer looking at her. Instead he stared with a frown at Doug as he sat down with the crew.
Interesting. Maybe the actor was right.
But there was no future with James unless he made a change to his life plan.
Chapter 14
James was constantly aware of Mandy, as if she were a splinter he couldn’t pry out of his finger. No matter how hard he tried to avoid her, she was always somewhere nearby.
Something had changed about her. She was more confident, and laughed a lot more.
She was becoming more attractive by the minute.
On his way to his car to fetch more sunscreen, he paused across from the kitchen trailer for a second. Should he grab a cup of coffee and risk a chance encounter?
The door opened, and Mandy came out and stood on the top stair. Her purple hair streak glinted as she raised her face to the sun, her glistening lips stretched in a smile. Then she looked over at him.
“Need something?” she called out.
He covered the ground between them in seconds. What he really wanted to do right then is take her by the hand, find a secluded spot, and explore her mouth.
Don’t toy with her. His mother’s voice echoed in her head.
“I was thinking about a cup of coffee.”
She raised her eyebrows. “Coffee.”
“Yeah.”
“Okay.” She retrieved coffee from the trailer and handed it to him.
“Only a few more weeks to go.” He needed to get out of there. “Want to take another hike?” Damn it. What was he thinking?
“I thought we’d agreed we shouldn’t see each other.”
“It’s not a date. It’s a hike.”
“Like the last one?”
“No. Not like that at all. I thought you might want to see more of the park.”
She sat down on the step, forcing him to move back not to tower over her.
“Tempting,” she said. “My time’s pretty tight. I need to get back to Santa Cruz next week.”
“Nothing serious, I hope. Are Sarah and the baby okay?”
“No, nothing’s wrong. I’m seeing someone, that’s all.”
His stomach clenched. “Oh.”
She looked at him, and opened her mouth as if to say something, and then shut it again.
“What?” he asked.
“Nothing.” She stood and looked at him for a long moment, her eyes moving back and forth as if she was searching his soul for a hidden truth. “See you later,” she finally said and went back in the trailer.
He stared at the closed door, an unnamed emotion digging a hole in his chest. He took a sip of the hot brew and turned back toward the set, focusing his mind on his problems. Somehow, he needed to figure out who had sabotaged them or all hope of keeping his career on track was lost.
Right. I need to keep my mind on business, not some girl who’s bewitching me.
• • •
For the next week James kept his attention focused on the movie.
Mandy hated it.
Right after she’d returned to the lodge parking lot late one afternoon, a hot red BMW pulled in after her.
Who could that be? All the actors were already on the set, and they all had practical vehicles for the mountains. There was only one person who went for flare like that.
Mandy’s stomach roiled.
The door opened. A petite woman in wrap-around sunglasses, low cut salmon tee, a trim skirt several inches above her knees, and three-inch black heels stepped out. Sunlight glinted off the gold around her wrist.
Lola Parker in the flesh.
“Darling,” her mother called out as she held out her arms. “How fortuitous to find you so quickly.”
Only Lola said words like “fortuitous.”
Mandy took the death march to her parent. “What are you doing here?”
“Oh, darling! Aren’t you glad to see me? Give me a hug and show me!”
Mandy allowed herself to be enveloped in her mother’s arms. Sweet perfume wafted over her and clung to her skin. She disentangled herself and asked again. “Why are you here?”
Lola linked her arm in Mandy’s and led her to the back of her car. “I came to protect you from the denizens of Hollywood, of course. A single girl like you…” Lola stopped walking. She gave Mandy a once-over. “You’d look better without that stripe in your hair. Whatever possessed you?”
“I’m glad to see you, but I don’t need your fashion help.” Mandy looked pointedly at the cleavage peaking above Lola’s blouse.
Lola returned the look, and Mandy became excruciatingly aware of her food-splattered shirt and jeans. “Of course you do, darling.”
James’s Explorer pulled into the lot. He got out of the car. “Hello. Can I help you?” He looked at Lola.
Her mother’s laugh grated, reminding her of late night parties and alcohol-strewn mornings.
“James, this is Lola Parker. Lola this is the location manager, James Lubbock.”
Her mother took off her glasses and gave James the million-dollar smile. “How nice to meet you.” She extended her red-tipped hand to him.
James took Lola’s hand, looking as if she’d hypnotized him. “You too.”
“Would you be a doll, James, and help me take my luggage to Mandy’s room?” She dangled the car keys in front of him.
He took them.
“Lola, I don’t have a room. I have a tent.”
“A tent? You mean on the ground with bugs, and everything?” Lola’s voice rose several notes in pitch.
Mandy glared at him.
“But what about showers? And a bathroom? Surely you don’t expect me to go in the woods? I’m a well-known actress.”
James smiled, but there was a new wariness in his eyes. “There are several well-known actors here. I’m afraid there’s only a communal bathroom and shower.” He dangled the keys back in front of her. “Perhaps you’ll be more comfortable in the village. I’m sure Sally would give Mandy the day off tomorrow so she could spend time with you after your long trip.”
Behind her mother, Mandy was wildly shaking her head. Spending the day alone with Lola was not the scenario she had in mind at all.
“Other well-known actors here? Anyone I might know?” Lola didn’t reach for the keys.
James rattled off a list of a few of the well-known actors on the set. Lola stopped him when he came to George Stubbins’s name.
“Lovely!” She turned to Mandy. “I know I told you I couldn’t remember George, but seeing how handsome James is, it simply jogged my memory. George was so good looking. I can’t wait to get reacquainted.”
I bet.
“Does that mean you want to stay in a tent with communal bathrooms? No privacy.” Mandy tried to put as much negativity in her voice as possible.
Lola waved her hand. “I’m sure if you can stand it, I can as well.” Then she pointed a finger at James. “Lead on, Macduff.”
Mandy stifled her groan. Her mother liked to drop lines from Shakespeare as often as she could.
James retrieved the suitcase from the trunk of the car and rolled it down the parking lot in the direction of the tent cabins.
Lola readjusted her sunglasses and pranced after him.
Shaking her head, Mandy snagged her purse from her car and followed the conga line.
James deposited the suitcase on the spare bed. “I’ll see you ladies later at dinner. Let me know if you need anything.”
“And where is your … um … tent cabin, my dear boy?”
Lola could make anything sound suggestive.
Red flamed James’s neck. “Down that way.” He pointed toward his tent. “But Sally is right next door. I’m sure she could help you with anything you need. Have a nice stay, Ms. Parker.” James hopped down the steps.
Mandy turned to her mother. “How long will you be here?”
“Now darling, don’t be like that. I wanted to see you. You never come east anymore, darling, and you know how much I miss you.”
“But I’m working. What are you going to do all day?”
“I’m an actor. I’m used to sitting around all day. I’ve got my magazines. I’ll sit out by the set and watch them shoot.”
“I don’t think the director is going to like that.”
Again the hand wave.
“I’m sure I have enough friends here to convince … who’s the director?”
“Beth Ann Colbert.”
Her mother brightened. “Oh, that’s easy, then. Beth Ann and I go way back.”
That’s what I’m afraid of.
“Now where are those communal bathrooms you said were nearby?”
Mandy gave her directions. As soon as Lola left, Mandy sat on her bed, thankful the only noise was a nearby stellar jay squawking its outrage.
How dare her mother show up unannounced? How long was she planning on staying? And what amount of damage would she do before she left?
Maybe Beth Ann would tell her to get lost.
Fat chance. Mandy’s luck didn’t run that way.
She looked around the small tent cabin, a structure far too small to hold Lola’s stage-hewn personality. It wouldn’t be long. Lola Parker wasn’t one for roughing it. If she didn’t take off in a few days, Mandy would enlist James’s help to speed her mother on her way.
Someone rapped on the pole outside the tent.
She stood and opened the flap.
James waited outside. “Is it safe?” he asked.
Mandy took the two steps from the tent platform. “I’m sorry. I had no idea she was going to show up.”
He touched her arm. “It’s not your fault. Based on what you’ve told me I’m quite sure you didn’t invite her.” He chuckled, and then his expression grew serious. “I know I promised I wouldn’t do this, but I can’t seem to help myself.”
He cupped his hand under her chin and he kissed her.
The brief imprint of his mouth on hers sweetly stoked her fire in ways she didn’t want to admit.
He lifted his head and stared into her eyes. “I’ve wanted to do that for days.” He rubbed his thumb along her cheek. “Ever since you told me you were seeing someone. I wanted to see if you were serious about him.”
He kissed her again, his lips lingering a little longer this time before releasing her. “No, not serious. You better dump him. And forget anyone else who’s flirting with you.”
Mandy shook her head, but let a smile turn the corner of her mouth up. “Like Doug?
James’s voice was a growl. “Exactly.”
“You’re nuts.” His smile broadened.
“Maybe. I keep trying to put you out of my mind. You don’t fit into my life plan.” He smiled ruefully. “But my mother thinks life is going to laugh at my plan anyway.”
“Going to make a change?”
“It’s a thought.”
The click of high heels on the walkway made Mandy take a step back from James.
“Halloo! Mandy, which tent is yours? They all look alike!” Lola’s voice wafted before her like a cloud of cheap perfume. “Oh, there you are! And the young man is back again!” Her mother’s arched eyebrow was out of a late-night Groucho Marx movie.
Sheesh.
“James stopped by to tell me about a request from one of the actors.”
“I see.” Lola’s voice told Mandy she didn’t believe the lie at all. She’d been able to spot Mandy’s fibs from a very early age.
James glanced at his watch. “They should be serving supper soon. May I walk you two ladies over?”
“That would be lovely.” Lola slipped her arm through his, giving a glance of triumph to Mandy.
No matter how old her mother got, she wanted to be the center of male attention. Whatever she did seemed to work, because no matter what their age, men flocked to Lola.
“Are you coming, darling?” Lola said over her shoulder.
I wonder if she knows how much of a caricature of herself she’s becoming.
Defiant, Mandy took her time catching up, but she entered the dinner tent in time to hear hushed whispers circle. Her mother gave little waves as James took her to the cafeteria-style line.
“Hey, Mandy?” Sally’s voice broke Mandy’s chain of irritation.
Mandy turned to her boss. “What’s up?” She tried to remove the tension from her voice.
Sally flicked a glance to the chow line. “Your mother?”
Mandy nodded.
“I thought I recognized her. What’s she doing here?”
“Dunno.” Mandy shrugged.
Sally cleared her throat. “I see. Anyway, the lodge just informed me they’re going to close down the dining tent a week earlier than planned. Seems like too many of their staff need to go back to school.”
“What does that mean?”
“More work, I’m afraid. You’d planned to go to Costanoa on Monday for your appointment, right?”
Mandy nodded.
“Is that still on?” Sally nodded toward Lola.
“She better be gone by then,” Mandy said.
Sally grinned. “Okay, assuming she’s no longer here, can you pick up some extra supplies in Santa Cruz so we can make it through two weeks of dinner as well as lunch? That’s all we need. Beth Ann hopes to wrap up shooting by then.” She frowned. “If nothing else happens.”
“Why? What happened?”
“Little things. No more lights or props have disappeared. The lock
s James got seem to be holding, but someone rearranged the set last night. Cost them extra time this morning. I overheard Beth Ann giving James a tongue-lashing yesterday, telling him he should have hired a guard. She’s pissed, and I’m afraid rightly so. It’s James’s job to make sure this kind of stuff doesn’t happen.”
“Doug said he thought James should hire a guard, too. Do you think he said it to Beth Ann? Do you think she’d fire James and put Doug in his place?”
Sally shook her head. “Probably not, but she won’t give him the recommendation he wants.”
“That would be a problem for him.”
Sally nodded. “Shall we get some food? It’s one of the last meals we don’t have to cook ourselves.”
As Mandy trailed Sally to the food line, her mind raced. Too much going on. Sabotage on the set. The lodge closing early. Lola’s entrance.
Mandy’s fingers went to her lips.
The kiss.
Chapter 15
“Well, that was fun, wasn’t it?” Lola took a lacy nightgown from her suitcase. “It was so nice to see George again.” She frowned at Mandy. “He said you can be standoffish. That’s not the way to make it in this business.”
Was her mother trying to pimp her out? There had been something odd about her mother’s conversation with George, though. Lola had looked almost embarrassed.
Should she say something? Mandy glanced at her mother who was setting into her evening routine of creams and powders.
Mandy smiled. “Better be careful with the perfume, Lola. There are bears, you know.”
Lola dropped the tube she was holding. “Bears?”
“Uh-huh. Didn’t you read the website? No food, no heavy scents.”
“Have you seen one?” Lola was wide-eyed. “How can you work in a food trailer when you know you could be attacked by an animal?”
Mandy laughed. “The only thing I’ve seen is a nasty raccoon and several over-eager squirrels. We’re careful.”
Lola sat down next to Mandy on her bed and grabbed her hand. “I want you to give up this nonsense right now.”
Mandy pulled her hand from her mothers. “It’s not nonsense. It’s what I want to do—what I have to do. Work has been slow. I need a new car. This fell into my lap.” She stood, walked to the front of the tent, and stared at the night sky wondering what James was doing and wishing she could put him out of her mind.
