Course of Action

by Gun Brooke

  “I’m delighted for you, honey,” she said. “Now you be careful and take good care of yourself. I promise to be better at keeping my cell-phone battery charged in case you need me, all right?”

  “All right. Thank you, Lyn.”

  “Don’t be silly. You’d do the same for me, and more.”

  “In case you became pregnant, you mean?” Beth teased with a glimpse of her normally wicked sense of humor.

  “Smart-ass.”

  They continued some of their usual sisterly bantering, easing the mood.

  After hanging up, Carolyn curled onto her side. Her neck and her temples hurt a bit, so she was relieved to be swimming tomorrow. It usually kept her headaches at bay. Yet again she wondered why Annelie had invited her. She had no trouble picturing the statuesque blonde. Annelie had looked down at her, masking whatever was going on behind those pale blue eyes. Carolyn sensed something was on Annelie’s mind, a special reason the publisher was making her welcome this way. It had to be the movie.

  This was her chance, her shot at proving they didn’t need to consider anyone else for the role. Surely it was obvious to Peterson—and if not, could it be all that hard to make her see reason? The readers already knew Maddox’s voice through the audiobooks; they already identified her as Maddox. She wondered about her competition. Could Supernova seriously be considering anyone else? Whoever it was, she had to convince Annelie no one else could do Diana Maddox justice. She was the one. And she would not be going home without the role.

  Chapter Two

  Carolyn lowered the backseat window as the cab stopped at the gate and the security guard stepped out of the booth.

  “Carolyn Black. Annelie Peterson is expecting me.”

  The guard ducked back into the booth, then motioned the cabdriver through the gate.

  Looking around the exclusive residential area, Carolyn saw several different types of architecture. Most of the houses were either white or pastel and screened by large palm trees. The torpid Miami heat was already gathering, and she could hardly wait to get into the pool.

  The cab stopped at the end of a cul-de-sac at a large white house set back from the road in a lush tropical garden. With its tall windows creating an exciting façade, the house seemed to wrap around its semicircular driveway. A brand-new-looking, red vintage sixties Ford Mustang sat in front of the house. She glanced to the right, spotting a vast garage with a garage apartment.

  The grounds were enclosed by a high concrete wall punctuated with ornate black wrought iron. Carolyn raised an eyebrow, thinking about Jared’s comments. Annelie was obviously a very private person. Was her rumored lesbianism the main reason, or was she one of those wealthy people who preferred to keep the world at arm’s length? Either way, it was amazing that she’d invited Carolyn here, and little wonder Jared was speculating on her motives.

  Carolyn paid the cabbie and stepped out into the Florida humidity, tossing her bag over her shoulder. Dressed in white city shorts and a light yellow tank top, she walked up to the gate and rang the bell.

  “Carolyn,” Annelie’s voice sounded from a nearby speaker. “The gate’s open.”

  Annelie appeared at the front door before Carolyn reached it. She looked relaxed and casual, sporting a modest ponytail, an azure blue T-shirt, and black shorts.

  “Welcome. Come on in and have something to drink before you change. It’s even hotter today, isn’t it?”

  “It sure is. What a difference from New York this time of year!”

  Carolyn followed Annelie inside, looking curiously around the hallway. A blue, white, and black Persian rug adorned the oak parquet in front of the large living room’s entryway, which was flanked by four-feet-tall Chinese urns full of decorative reeds.

  Annelie led Carolyn into her French country-style kitchen. Opening the refrigerator, she glanced back over her shoulder. “What can I get you, Carolyn?”

  “Any mineral water is fine, thanks.”

  Annelie pulled out two bottles of Perrier, opened them, and poured them over tall glasses full of ice. “Here you go. This’ll cool you off.”

  Carolyn sipped the water while peering at Annelie over the rim of the glass. The younger woman looked impeccable even dressed like this, in the privacy of her own home. Her pale skin suggested she didn’t sunbathe, and her lean muscles showed she was in good shape.

  “You can change in my spare bedroom. Let me show you where it is. While you’re in the pool, I’ll go through my e-mails and then we can have lunch. How does that sound?”

  “Excellent.” Carolyn followed Annelie through the kitchen and out into another, smaller, hallway.

  “You can reach the patio and the pool through that door. There’s a guest bathroom with extra towels if you need some. I’ll be out there with my laptop.”

  The room was a dream in blue, white, and gold. A soft carpet covered the floor, thick enough to almost hide her toes when she took off her sneakers. Carolyn changed quickly into her black swimsuit, checked her makeup, and grabbed a towel from her bag. Twisting her shoulder-length hair up with a large hair clip, she slid the glass door open and walked outside.

  The large, multileveled stone patio held several tables surrounded by chairs. Closer to the pool stood six deck chairs with thick cushions. Annelie occupied one of them, a laptop sitting on a low tray table on wheels pulled across her legs. Off-white parasols provided shade.

  The pool was large and rectangular, with an octagonal Jacuzzi close to the deck chairs.

  “What a beautiful patio. Your home is really lovely.”

  “Thanks.” Annelie nodded. “I enjoy decorating.”

  “It shows. I wish I had more time for that, but I seem to always be on location or working odd hours.” Carolyn glanced at the pool. “And this looks truly divine.”

  Annelie made a gesture of invitation. “Enjoy!”

  Carolyn flashed her a broad smile, fully aware of how it changed her face. Feeling Annelie’s eyes on her, she removed her towel and tossed it on a chair, then strolled toward the deep end of pool. As she posed on the edge, she took her time before she dived in, giving her host a chance to see just how good her physique was. Women half her age had trouble keeping in the kind of shape Carolyn was in. Effortlessly, she swam half a length under water before surfacing and starting to crawl with long, powerful strokes.

  *

  Annelie returned her attention to her laptop, the image of Carolyn’s perfect dive and fluid swimming still in her mind’s eye. She knew the actress was forty-five, but her long legs and narrow hips were firm and well exercised. Though not very curvaceous, she was incredibly feminine, and she looked amazing in the black swimsuit.

  Browsing through her private e-mails, Annelie smiled to herself as she saw Kitty’s name in the inbox. Her Australian friend usually wrote the most outrageous e-mails, which always made her laugh out loud.

  From: Kitty McNeil

  Subject: One week and counting!

  Hi gorgeous!

  Just wanted to let you know I finally made flight reservations. I swear the online booking system will be my downfall. I do e-mails, I use word processors, but let me loose on the Internet and I’m bound to cause havoc. For some reason I don’t seem to be compatible with these Web sites that claim to be so idiot-proof. I thought booking a flight to Miami would be a piece of cake. How I first ended up with a ticket to Madrid, I’ll never know! Don’t worry, babe, I straightened it out.

  Sam is coming with me since we thought we’d mix business with pleasure. We’ll be staying in Orlando cause my babe has a soft spot for Disney World. *groan* I’m sure I’ll live, as long as I don’t have to shake hands with Pluto or Goofy. So, bella, see you in a little less than two weeks!

  Kitty

  PS. Saw the TV commercial about the Diana Maddox audiobooks. God, the voice of that woman!

  Annelie smiled and shook her head. Kitty McNeil, one of her authors, was also one of her best friends. She wrote feminist fantasy and science fiction that had a large fo
llowing, both gay and straight. Like many Australians, she was refreshingly candid, and it didn’t take Annelie long to feel as if she’d known her all her life. Kitty’s partner, Sam, an artist who specialized in metal sculptures, had already sold Annelie two of her mobiles.

  Annelie looked up from her computer and watched Carolyn turn elegantly at the far end of the pool and swim back. Wondering how many laps her guest usually did, she admired her graceful style and fitness. Annelie enjoyed swimming but generally stuck to the breaststroke.

  After a while, Carolyn swam over to the ladder and climbed out of the pool. Clinging to her frame, the wet swimsuit showed every muscle, every curve of her body. She was boyishly built in some ways, yet so incredibly feminine. Water streamed down her slender thighs, and Annelie found it impossible to avert her eyes.

  Carolyn leaned forward, arching her back as she took the clip from her hair and allowed it to flow in disheveled auburn locks before she toweled it in slow movements. Annelie swallowed hard when Carolyn’s raised arms made her small, pert breasts strain against the swimsuit. The outline of her nipples was obvious as they hardened against the cooling fabric.

  Draping the towel over her shoulders she sauntered toward Annelie as if she had no idea of her own appeal. “Oh, that was fantastic! Thank you again for letting me borrow the pool. I just can’t get enough of this particular kind of exercise.”

  “As I said, you’re welcome to use it while you’re in Florida. Mary’s around most of the time, and on her days off, either I’m home or you can use a key card. Remind me to give you one later.”

  Carolyn’s eyes widened, and Annelie watched them turn bright blue.

  “This is really kind of you, Annelie. I’ll certainly take you up on it. If any time is inconvenient, you’ll have to promise to let me know.”

  “I will. Now, how about lunch? Do you like seafood?”

  Carolyn ran her fingers through her hair. “Sure, and I’m starving. I’ll rinse off first and get dressed.”

  “You can use the bathroom in the spare bedroom. The hairdryer’s in the top drawer.”

  “I won’t be long.”

  Annelie walked into the kitchen and slid a tray of assorted seafood out of the refrigerator, then sliced large baguettes and arranged them on a plate. Small bowls of mayonnaise and crème fraiche completed the meal. After she set one of the tables on the patio with her blue china, she placed the meal in the middle of it.

  Sipping her mineral water, she had to wait only a few minutes before Carolyn joined her. Predictably, the actress’s makeup was impeccable, and the two ivory combs holding back her hair drew attention to her face.

  Annelie regarded the actress with outward calm, but the way Carolyn’s face changed when she smiled, the way her narrow lips became lush and inviting, caused her breath to catch.

  “Mmm, this looks tasty. Crab is my favorite seafood.”

  “Then you’ll love these. There’s nothing like stone crabs.”

  Carolyn sat down and buttered her bread sparingly. “How long have you lived here?”

  “Almost six years. My first year down here, I lived in a condo near Jared’s. I wanted to buy a house, but it took me a while. As soon as the real-estate agent showed me this one, I knew it was my dream come true.”

  “So you make quick decisions once you know they’re right?”

  Not sure they were still talking about the house, Annelie nodded calmly. “Yes, I do. So far my instincts haven’t steered me wrong.”

  “That’s pretty obvious. You must be thrilled with your decisions about the Diana Maddox series.”

  “Yes, it’s all turned out wonderfully. But without the authors and the books, it wouldn’t happen. It’s really all about teamwork.” She hesitated for a second. “I’m curious. Had you read the Maddox books before you agreed to do the audio version?”

  “Only the first one, Dying for Fame, since it was such an instant hit. And also, the setting tied in to my own profession. After that, I intended to read the other two as they came out, but I was in constant rehearsals and never found time.”

  “What did you think when we approached you about the audiobooks?”

  Carolyn carefully wiped her mouth. “As you know, I’ve done regular audiobooks before and enjoyed it, since I really love to read when I can.”

  Annelie leaned back in her chair. “You’ve probably guessed I love books too, since I’m in the publishing business. How was it, doing the audiobooks like radio plays?”

  “Both challenging and fun. I enjoyed working with Helen and Harvey. I’d met them before, of course, but had never had the chance to work with them.”

  Annelie cocked her head. “How did you feel about doing the love scenes with Helen, even if it was only sound-wise?”

  Carolyn seemed to give it some thought. “I’ve never played a lesbian before, so I had no idea how it would seem. But then again, this was also my first role as a criminal investigator. When Helen and I recorded the love scenes, we actually stood very close and used the same microphone. I felt very safe and comfortable with her. We’re both pros.”

  Annelie considered this. It was a straightforward and honest reply. “So you didn’t feel awkward at all?”

  Carolyn gave a smile. “Perhaps I felt a little self-conscious the first time I indicated kissing her. Harvey took care of that.”

  Annelie raised an eyebrow. “What did he do?”

  “He snuck up behind me, and when I was supposed to have ended the first, long kiss, he grabbed my waist. On tape, my gasp of surprise sounds very passionate!”

  Annelie couldn’t hold back a laugh. Carolyn’s low purr was done tongue in cheek and utterly irresistible.

  “It certainly worked for the audience. I suppose you’ve seen all the fan Web sites and message boards devoted to Maddox. There must be thousands.”

  “I confess, I’m not into computers, and I don’t use the Internet. New technology just isn’t my thing. It’s hard to fathom how much information the fans can get hold of this way.”

  “We have a pretty good overview of it all. There are Diana Maddox lists, Carolyn Black lists, and several lists about the other characters.”

  “Honestly, I had no idea.”

  Annelie paused for a moment. “The Internet is a big part of our overall marketing strategy. We’ve also established a new company that will be organizing Diana Maddox conventions. All in all, she’s quite a franchise.”

  Carolyn looked cautious, as if she couldn’t quite see where Annelie was headed, sharing all this business information. “I’m impressed,” she said. “You’ll have every angle covered once you release the movies as well.”

  “Precisely.” The perfect opening, Annelie thought, carefully composing her next sentence. “Which brings me to something I need to discuss with you.” She detected an immediate flicker of excitement in Carolyn’s eyes and felt bad. What she was about to say was not what the actress was expecting to hear. “We’re going to have to take the current audiobooks off the market.”

  “What?” Carolyn blurted out in an incredulous tone of voice.

  “Whoever plays Maddox in the movie will also have to feature in the audiobooks, so we’ll be dubbing her voice in.” She met Carolyn’s stunned gaze without blinking. “We have no choice. We have to maintain homogeneity to bring readers and audience along. It would confuse them if the voice in the audiobooks is not the same as the actress’s they watch on the screen. I’m sure you understand that.”

  A ringing sound came from the house and Annelie rose quickly. “Sorry. I left my cordless in the kitchen. Be right back.”

  She ran into the house, anticipating that once Carolyn was over her shock, she would rise to the bait and make her play for the role. But by the time the discussion ended, she would accept the inevitable and take the deal Annelie planned to offer her.

  *

  Carolyn leaned back in her chair, stunned. Annelie had all but told her she was out of the running. Her eyes prickled and she turned her head, loo
king over the pool area to the well-kept gardens beyond. Tall palm trees were scattered at the perimeter, and tropical flowers bloomed abundantly in the flower beds. Annelie obviously employed a competent gardener.

  Her thoughts whirled as a realization struck her. If Annelie intended to cease audiobook sales and allow the contracts to run out, where did that leave her? Thanks to a profit percentage deal, she received a steady income flow from them. She needed that money for Beth.

  Rising from her chair, still holding a glass of mineral water, she walked to the edge of the lawn, her stomach churning. Annelie could do exactly as she pleased and there wasn’t a damned thing Carolyn could do about it.

  Except get the starring role in Dying for Fame.

  “A penny for them?” Annelie’s voice coming from behind her made Carolyn jump. “Oh, sorry, I didn’t mean to startle you.”

  Carolyn took a long, steadying sip of the mineral water. “Let me understand this. You’ve chosen someone for the role already?”

  “No. But my casting agent has worked it down to a short list.” She had the grace to look embarrassed.

  “Am I on that list?”

  “Of course you are.” The assurance sounded slightly hollow.

  Carolyn couldn’t imagine Annelie lying outright—she seemed too classy for that. Concluding that her name was right at the bottom, she said, “I get the feeling I’m not your first choice.”

  Annelie made a small, helpless gesture.

  Carolyn lowered her gaze from the publisher’s exquisite, calm face and refrained from yelling, What’s wrong with you? I’m perfect! “Is it my age?” she asked flatly.