As familiar as she was with the kind of odors that were part and parcel of mucking out stalls, Julia discovered that the pungent stench she now connected with human disdain offended her far worse.
“Hi,” she said to the DJ. “Do you have that Rihanna and Calvin Harris song, ‘This Is What You Came For’?”
“Sure do,” he replied. “A little dance music coming up next.”
Julia turned to see Rina speaking with Susie and Pinna. Susie, the more animated of the two, expressed herself with grand gestures, enough to fill in any missing syllables that Julia missed on her return approach.
“It’s going to take a lot to keep this quiet, Rina,” said Susie. “Julia seems nice, but she’s—”
“Well, I think you’ve never looked more radiant, Rina,” Pinna interjected.
Julia waited a beat before speaking when she arrived. “You were saying, Susie? Julia is…” said Julia.
Susie stared at her blankly but remained silent. Julia stared back with her best poker face. “Pardon us, ladies, but Rina owes me a dance. It’s a special request.” She turned to Rina. “Just for you, babe.”
Susie hid her quiet huff with a smile while her eyes darted elsewhere.
“This one that’s just starting?” asked Rina.
“Mm-hmm.”
“I like it,” said Rina.
Julia took her hand and led her onto the dance floor out of eavesdropping range.
“Julia, that was a little rude confronting Susie that way.”
“Aren’t you curious to know what she thinks I am? ‘Julia is…’?”
“I don’t care what she thinks. And neither should you. Her job is to plan my strategy to maintain my brand. It’s what she’s paid to do.”
“But you said to push back. This is me pushing back.”
“You’re very cute.” Rina chuckled. “You’re right. Susie can be a bit of an ass.”
“Gee, ya think?”
They began to dance in the middle of the room. When Rina fell a little out of step, Julia pulled her close and pressed against her. She gazed into Rina’s magnetic green eyes and leaned toward her ear. “Honey, just pretend I’m on top of you.”
Rina regained her rhythm. “You’re right, that makes it much easier. You may not like to dance, but you’re very good at it. If it helps to know, I’m a little nervous too.”
“About what? You’re so totally in your element—and I’m so totally not.”
“I’m nervous that you won’t have as good a time as I want you to have or that you won’t like me as much after this.”
“Truthfully, I’d like to hear more about rehab. I mean, no offense, but should you be drinking?” Julia whispered.
“Chocolate rehab,” Rina whispered back.
“What?”
Rina nodded. “I went to rehab for a chocolate addiction.”
“No wonder you wouldn’t do that thing…with the chocolate.”
“In bed?” said Rina.
“Yes.”
“I’m sorry. I should have told you about rehab then, instead of making you feel bad about it.”
Julia pulled her closer. “How could anything ever feel bad with you? I love you, Rina. I love you,” she smiled.
“Look into my eyes.”
Julia leaned back and looked at Rina.
“Ms. Dearling, mess up my lipstick.”
“Here? Now?”
“Right here. Right now.”
“But…”
“I don’t care.”
Julia kissed her gently, longingly. In that moment she couldn’t have cared less about the furtive stares or the snide suppositions about her. She had everything she needed—from the core of her existence right out to the far reaches of the universe. Suddenly, her fears of galactic inferiority vanished, and all that remained was Rina up against her.
“What is this music?” asked Rina.
“Rihanna is singing about how everyone in the room is watching you, but you’re watching me.”
Rina laced her fingers around Julia’s neck. “Subtle. I’m seeing an interesting new side of you tonight. You’re a little fierce when left to your own devices, Julia.”
Julia drew Rina in. “I grew up on a ranch wrangling animals that weigh up to a ton and I cook with high flames. Need I say more, Ms. Verralta?”
“Any one of them could move in for the kill at any moment,” Rina teased.
“They already have. How do you do it, Rina? We’ve just started and already I’m exhausted.”
Rina smiled the sweet smile, the one Julia had become used to seeing when she was being polite. “They’re very accomplished and talented people. And they’re my famous friends.”
“Who are your not-famous friends?”
“You. Except that we’re more than friends.”
“Do you hold your friends to the same standard you hold me?”
“Meaning what, Julia?”
Monty and Pinna joined them on the dance floor. “Good song, Julia,” said Monty. Then he leaned between them. “Nicely played with Susie.” He winked at her before dancing Pinna across the floor.
Julia cocked her head to the side. “See? Monty gets it.”
Rina laughed. “Point taken. Give them a chance?”
“I’ll give them the same chance they give me. I already like Monty. Who knows, with any luck maybe he’ll forgive my cancelled series remark.”
“He’s over it. He’s already producing a new show.”
As she and Rina danced, Julia saw from the corner of her eye expressions of scrutiny. She’d been whispered about before, and she understood what those looks meant. It was just a matter of time before all those martinis the guests were emptying from the pitchers kicked in and Julia could see who she was really dealing with.
It hardly took any time before everyone had their turn on the dance floor, laughing and chatting until an air of levity permeated the room. Even Susie smiled at her once—although it could have been something amusing that Gil had said. Monty asked her to dance, which she did. Reese Collingworth shared his love of the desert with her and even told her that in the years he’d known Rina, he’d never seen her look so happy.
“Excuse me, Reese,” said Rina. “Julia, will you ask the DJ to lower the music?”
“Sure.”
Rina waited until she had everyone’s attention.
“You’re all in for a treat tonight. My chef has outdone herself. Dinner is served.”
Chapter Twenty-Four
Rina slipped her arm around Julia’s waist, and together they led the way toward the formal dining room.
“It’s odd not being the one doing the cooking,” said Julia.
“You’re my favorite chef, but tonight you’re my guest,” Rina whispered.
They entered the wide, square room with the ocean view. Now that the sun had set, the modern bridge chandelier illuminated the room. Below it, a trail of candlelight glowed along the gray marble dining table. Rina sat at the head with Julia to her left and Clay to her immediate right. Monty held Pinna’s chair and took the seat next to her. Reese and his wife Layla, Susie the publicist, Gil Garrish, and Gigi, trickled in.
Relieved to finally have Rina by her side for longer than a nanosecond, Julia took a breath and watched as the rest of the group took their seats. She still didn’t know if any of the eight guests were worthy of the trust that Rina seemed to place in them. Except perhaps for Clay. Maybe Reese. On the other hand something about Gigi was still giving her voodoo vibes. Clay had made her feel welcome during dinner the night before, but Rina’s personal assistant had practically interrogated her. “It’s a little unusual with the age difference, don’t you think, Julia?” And then, even more snidely, “Whatever will you do with yourself while Rina is off shooting in exotic locations? You don’t expect to come along, do you?”
Julia wondered how long it would take for Rina to get bored with her. I’m so out of my league. They must be wondering what she sees in me. I know Gigi is.
&nbs
p; “I still think the Academy got it wrong,” said Clay. “I’m happy you won Best Director for Allies of Night, Reese, but Rina was every bit as deserving of the Oscar for Best Actress for it.”
“You’re preaching to the choir, Clay,” Reese replied.
“What was the Academy thinking, giving it to Britney Cavell?” Susie said, shaking her head.
“I agree,” said Julia.
Everyone stopped and looked at her.
“I’m sorry,” said Julia, “but I saw that movie before I even met Rina.”
Gil Garrish placed his wineglass on the table. “Julia, earning an Oscar depends on politics, popularity, and how much money is spent on the campaign to win.”
“Thanks for educating us, Gil,” Rina said.
“I’m not telling you anything new,” he replied.
Reese put down his utensils and took a sip of wine. “Let’s get the opinion of a moviegoer. A plain not-old, not-in-the-biz moviegoer. Julia, would you share your thoughts about Allies of Night?”
Julia’s eyes widened. “Me? You want my opinion?”
“Yes, Julia,” said Reese.
Everyone waited while Julia glanced at Rina, who nodded at her.
“But I don’t know anything about making movies. I just go to the theater and buy a ticket and popcorn.”
“How quaint,” said Susie.
Reese continued. “Rina tells me you’re quite the movie buff. So, let’s have it. We’re all friends here. Give it to us right between the eyes.”
What next? Spielberg wants to know if I liked E.T.? Julia dabbed her lips with her napkin. “Honestly, the film reminded me of the Hollywood classics.” She took a sip of wine and said nothing else.
“Come on, Julia, don’t hold back. Tell us,” said Gil.
“I thought Miles Blaydin was dashing in that role—debonair, like Cary Grant in An Affair to Remember.”
“And?” said Reese.
“You want more?” asked Julia, reaching for Rina’s hand under the table. She glanced at her lover. “Rina played the character flawlessly. When I saw the movie…”
“Where did you see it?” Gil interrupted.
“At the only theater near me, which is about a twenty-five-minute ride down a dark desert road from where I live. It’s actually in the next town over.”
“So you drive all that way just to see a movie?” Layla asked.
“Either that or wait for the DVD. But I see all Katarina Verralta movies on the big screen.”
“Aww,” said Monty. “That’s freaking adorable.”
Rina nodded. “You have no idea just how adorable, Monty.”
“Please, Julia, continue,” Reese said, motioning with his hand.
She took a breath and another sip of wine. “Allies of Night is a modern classic in every sense. It had all the elements of old Hollywood put together in a new way. The opening scene is breathtaking. I was hooked from that instant. Of course the score had a little something to do with that. No offense, Reese.”
“See, Rina?” said Reese. “I told you that window shot would set the tone. And no offense taken, Julia.”
I want to be in that bed in Paris with her right now! In the rain! Julia gulped more wine. “You had me from the instant the camera panned the rainy Paris rooftops at dawn, then homed in through the bedroom window to where Rina’s character lay sleeping.”
“What did you like or not like about the story?” asked Gil before he shoved another forkful of sea bass into his mouth.
Julia continued thoughtfully. “I think what grabbed me most was how the hero and heroine fall in love under the worst possible circumstances of war behind enemy lines. I mean, right there you know there’s gonna be trouble, especially with that score—that music had me on the edge of my seat. And the cinematography—those looming European skies confusing day with night, light with darkness. Like, I’ve never been to Paris, but in the opening scene I swore I could smell that rain.”
Rina chuckled and took a sip of the martini that she’d switched to after the Sancerre was gone. “I’m sorry, darling, continue.”
Julia hesitated. “Um, so they fall madly in love, right? And she has no idea he’s a double agent. But he has no idea that the information he gave to the other side is going to put her in danger. Thankfully, he figures it out, then puts his life on the line to save her! She of course has it all figured out by the time he does that, but she would die to save him. When she sees him get shot trying to help her, she risks her life and comes back for him, and she gets shot. Now that’s a story. Passion. Loyalty after betrayal. I really didn’t know what was going to happen to them! I knew he wasn’t a good guy from the start, but her love redeems him. It’s one of those stories that sticks with you when you leave the theater.” Julia emptied her glass.
“Great synopsis,” said Monty.
Julia continued. “I couldn’t stop thinking about them—I mean, like, for days afterward.” Then Julia added as an afterthought: “The next morning on my horse I was still thinking about the movie—wondering what that Paris rain smelled like, loving the metaphor of it washing away their sins before the movie even started.”
Rina stroked Julia’s cheek and then touched her earring. “The morning after—were you with Thunder or Lightning?”
“Lightning,” Julia answered.
“You know, I think he’s a much better listener.”
“Who?” asked Reese.
“One of Julia’s horses,” Rina replied. “I’m partial to Thunder, though, ever since we bonded in the barn.”
Julia’s cheeks flushed at the memory of their hours of lovemaking in the hay.
“You? In a barn,” Monty teased. “Since when does Versace make barn-wear?”
Gigi and Pinna laughed.
Julia turned to Rina and shook her head. “You deserved that Oscar, Rina,” she said innocently.
Reese applauded. “Buy this girl a drink. Well done, Julia! Maybe you should be a movie critic instead of that hack at Behind the Set.”
“So,” said Susie, “Rina tells me that you have a little food stand in the dust bowl.”
“Stop it, Susie, I said no such thing,” Rina chimed in.
“It’s a diner actually—in the desert. I took it over when my Grandmother Lucia passed.”
“And you live on a ranch?” said Monty with his affected tone.
“Uh-huh. Yes.”
“With Thunder and Lightning,” he reiterated.
“Yes. Then there’s my sculpting studio. I don’t make much time for anything other than that and cooking. And Rina.”
“Rina mentioned you had quite the meet-cute out your way,” said Reese. “I’d like to hear that story sometime. She was on her way to a meeting with me the next day, you know.”
“No, I didn’t know,” Julia replied. She reached for her wineglass, discovered it was empty, and stretched her arm in front of Rina, snaring her lover’s martini instead. Taking a swallow, she remembered their first night together in front of the fire and when Rina had left Julia sleeping and she had believed for three days that the actress had abandoned her.
“I’m looking for some new ornamentals.” Susie smiled. “Do you make vases?”
Rina stepped in front of Susie’s poison dart. “No, Susie, Julia is a sculptress.” Rina held her gaze dead-on.
“Where is your work showing?” asked Monty.
“At the Y2,” Julia replied.
“The Y2…” Pinna’s voice trailed off as she gazed up at the ceiling in thought. “I’m not familiar with that gallery.”
“The Y2 is the name of Julia’s ranch,” said Gigi.
“How do you know that?” Julia asked her.
“I know everything where Rina’s concerned, sweetie. Every little thing.”
Julia mentally shuddered.
Rina turned to Julia. “I keep forgetting to ask you why the ranch was named Y2.”
Julia dabbed her lips with her napkin. “It was renamed for me and Vittoria. Get it? Why Two?” She loo
ked back to the dinner guests. “Enough about my unexciting life. I’m sure what you’re all working on is much more riveting.”
“Yes,” said Susie. “Tell us about this next film, The Big Picture, Reese.”
“Rina is perfect for the part,” Clay interjected. “The role of a lifetime, right, Reese?”
“Without a doubt,” Reese replied. He chuckled, “I can’t wait to see Rina shoot the scenes on horseback.”
“I’ll have you know Julia is teaching me to ride like a pro.”
“Out on the ranch,” Pinna said, two parts sarcastic statement, one part question.
“Yes,” said Rina. “I’ve had a lot of time in the barn. And in the saddle.” She made googly eyes at Julia.
“I’ll bet you have,” said Gil.
Julia stared at her lover, her lips parting, without words to fill the gap. Her face now warm, she wondered how deep the shade of red played to the crowd.
“Interesting that no one out there in the desert has recognized you yet,” said Layla.
“We pretty much keep to ourselves,” said Julia.
“It’s so far from here. I imagine that can’t be easy for either of you,” Layla added.
Rina squeezed Julia’s hand under the table. “We have some logistical challenges to solve.”
“Are you ready to come out in the press, Rina?” asked Pinna.
“Don’t be a dolt, Pinna. However, you’re more than welcome to write a story about an up-and-coming sculptress whose magnificent Arabian horses are currently sparking a bidding war from some notable galleries in Beverly Hills.”
“Really? A bidding war?” asked Susie.
“I’d like to see them sometime,” Clay said in earnest.
Julia looked into Clay’s kind eyes and smiled an unspoken thank-you. “I have some pictures on my phone if you’d like to see them before I leave.”
“Cool, I’ll look forward to it.”
“So, Rina,” Pinna began, “how do you feel about working with Britney Cavell? Especially with your history.”
Rina’s hand tightened on Julia’s in response to the question.
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