by G S Binkley
“Glad to see I mean so much to you, Ron.” Lacy returned the hug then moved back close to her partner. “But, it seems I’ve been toppled by someone else in that department.”
Ron raised both bushy eyebrows in question.
Nodding, Lacy continued. “Your new favorite.”
Everyone turned to look as Koda Kannon approached them. Whispering Ron confirmed her deduction. “Yes, though, that’s because you’ve semi-retired. Or am I being presumptuous on that point?”
“No, you’re exactly right.”
Ron continued referring to his new male star. “He doesn’t have as big a draw as you. Never will.”
“Then why is he making more than I am on this picture?”
“Ah, ah, ah…” Holding a finger up. “Before you say another word, if you were a man you’d make twice as much as he does easily. But, you’re a woman.” Letting approving brown eyes scan the length of her body, Ron continued. “And, I wouldn’t change a thing.”
What Ron initiated to be a private conversation between himself and his star soon turned loud enough for all ears to hear including Koda’s who picked up on the last comment by the head of Griffen Studios. “I couldn’t agree with you more boss.” Koda allowed his hazel eyes to drape over the beautiful woman standing directing in front of him. “Lacy, there’s someone I want you to meet.” Grasping her hand, Lacy hesitated. “Please.”
Glancing at Gage quickly, she received a reassuring smile. She spoke to the group, but her eyes were definitely glued on her partner. “I’ll be right back.”
As Koda walked off with her woman on his arm, Gage turned deaf to the conversation between her friend and Ron Griffen. She picked up a few key words such as ‘distribution’, ‘rights’, ‘options’ and ‘tons of money’. None of it interested her. What piqued her interest was the way Koda practically wrapped himself around… MY WOMAN…. as he casually introduced Lacy to another man.
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“Tony, over here.” Koda eagerly greeted the up and coming entertainment media reporter. “Lacy, meet Tony Kussler.”
Tony Kussler reframed from extending his hand to the well-known female star. Instead, posted a smirk on his face squinting his dark eyes slightly. “We’ve…..” Inserting a dramatic pause then emphasized the next word. “….almost… met once.”
Clearly, Lacy didn’t remember. “I know who you are and I’ve seen you around before…..”
A sickly evil grin spread across the reporter’s face. “When I was starting my career five years ago….” Lacy arched an inquisitive eye since the young man barely looked twenty-one. “Just eighteen then… your publicist set up an interview for me with you, alas…. it fell through.” No use playing all my cards. No, not yet. Time for that later.
“I’m sorry. I really am. I don’t remember it.” The star was sincere knowing how hard it was getting your foot in the door on any career you desired especially in Hollywood.
Tony flipped a dismissive wave. “Forget it. I’ve done pretty well for myself.”
“That you have, partner.” Koda spread a smooth swipe of buttery praise across his sometimes-drinking buddy’s ego. “Tony hosts that new show, SHOWTOWN.”
“Yeah, well, there is another host…. a woman.” It was clear to the female star that Tony exhibited a degrading attitude toward women. Turning toward his actor friend to say his farewell. “Koda.” Appraising the room full of gorgeous women, Tony excused himself. “So many women, so little time.”
Koda nudged Lacy as his eyes traveled to Tony’s next stop on his excursion around the room…..working it for all he was worth. “You should keep on his good side.” Winking at Lacy. “Problem is…. he doesn’t have one. Somebody burned him years ago…. cost him his first real job.”
“Doesn’t matter…. I’m stepping out of the limelight.” Lacy commented off-handedly.
Grabbing both her arms, Koda twirled the woman around to face him. “I intend to change that. Lacy, we are made for each other…. cinematically speaking….” He eased her concerned look. “Together on screen we’re fantastic….” And, off screen we’d be even greater together. He waggled his eyebrows seductively. Words such as ‘hot’ and ‘sweaty’ popped in both star’s minds, but for entirely different reasons. “Just like Rock Hudson and Doris Day only you’ve got the dark hair and mine’s light.”
Instead of responding to her overzealous suitor, Lacy spotted David and Hayston Rawlings arrive. Hayston immediately stopped a waiter, grazed the offered food plate then found a comfortable chair unlike her boyfriend, rocketing directly toward her and Koda.
“Koda….” Garnishing his full attention on Lacy, David quizzed. “Lacy, how are you? Really?”
Lacy thought she actually heard of tinge of sincerity in his voice. “I’m fine.”
Still focused completely on Lacy, David directed his next question to Koda. “Would you mind? I have some personal business to conduct with my…. wife.”
Not for long. Koda smiled. “Of course. I have plenty of time to wine and dine this beauty as we’ll be working together…. closely on the set.” The suave star interjected himself between David and Lacy. Pulling her closer, Koda planted a sweet gentle kiss on her totally surprised lips. Whispering, he said. “Later.” Koda started to pull back then changed his mind abruptly moving even closer than before. “I will have you.” He left the dark haired woman with a stunned look plastered on her face. Koda was the kind of playboy that liked to let his prey know he was in hot pursuit.
Shaking her head, Lacy regained her senses. “I don’t know why that surprised me. I’ve heard all the stories…. never experienced it though.” It was true. Lacy had scores of men and women fans vying for her attention throughout her career, flaunting themselves at her while on publicity tours though David and the entourage he arranged for her held them at bay. But, no one showed even the remotest signs of relentless pursing her. With Koda, the tide had changed. Tapping her chin with an index finger, Lacy’s blue eyes found their way to trusting green. There’s only one person I want relentlessly pursuing me. She smiled. Tonight.
“Lacy, Lacy…. Are you with me here?” David finally pulled her out of her sexual musings.
“What?” Returning her attention to the dark haired executive that she still happened to be married to until February the next year when the divorce was final.
“We need to talk.”
“Maybe we should have done more of that over the last couple of years, David, instead of now.”
Twisting his lips in frustration. “We still have a few business ties to take care of.”
“I know. You never did tell me why you renegotiated my contract.”
“You want to know? You really want to know?” She nodded. “Fine. For your own sake.” His raised hand froze the words on her lips. “Yes, for your sake. And, mine too.” He reluctantly admitted. “MegaCom wanted some assurances that I’d provide them a hit. What better way than to show a little…”
She cut him off, correcting him. “A lot.”
“….of skin.” He finished. “But, that deal fell through. Thanks to you and….never mind.”
His deal with MegaCom to start a new series starring his pregnant girlfriend after the end of the cop show, CRACKDOWN, was to be sweetened when he delivered the movie Lacy was presently shooting to them. MegaCom executives were very interested in Lacy Levine so David used her as leverage to keep his career in high gear. When Lacy, Ron Griffen and his friend, Ryan White, discovered his plan, they united bringing his scheme to a screeching halt.
“By the way, I’m not going to do any more publicity except for this film when it’s released next year. No more openings, shows or public events.”
“You can’t do that! You fade out of the public minds for even a second and they suddenly get Alzheimer’s disease.” David vehemently countered.
Giving him a stern look, Lacy continued. “David, do you even know what comes out of your mouth? Never mind. That’s the way it’s going to b
e. Period.”
“Fine! Although, Miss ‘slip off the face of the earth and never to be seen again’ Lacy, you do have a couple of things scheduled. It was before you left for the cabin. You’ve already made a commitment to them.” David smirked under the proffered smile.
“That’s it then. Nothing more.” Lacy effectively ended the discussion. There were several reasons for her decision. Her pregnancy, her desire to be with her children and, of course, Gage. Ever present on Lacy’s mind was how hard it seemed that her partner was concerned, afraid even, to enter the star’s very public world for fear that Gage would shame her. That could never happen in Lacy’s mind, but it was real for her partner and that’s what mattered the most to her. “David?” Lacy signaled toward her ex-co-star and David’s present girlfriend. “She doesn’t look well. Maybe you should check on her.”
Seeing Ryan approach, David agreed. “Fine.” Reluctant to face the director since their heated exchange over the devious errant plan he’d hatched, David slipped off quietly.
“They do turn tail and run rather quickly, don’t they, Lacy?” Ryan slipped his arm around his friend then offered her a brief kiss on the cheek.
Lost momentarily in thought, Lacy spoke. “He’s got his priorities mixed up for sure.” Coming back fully to the present, Lacy inquired. “Ryan, I forgot to ask David, but do you know a Tony Kussler?”
“Yeah. Gang buster kinda journalist…. gotta new show. Why?” Ryan didn’t particularly like the guy who Ron Griffen invited along with several other entertainment media to the party so he could drum up any and all free publicity available.
“Something about him…. I don’t know. He gives me the creeps.” Lacy confirmed her earlier perceptions.
“Look at her.” Ryan nodded toward Hayston. “She’s dead tired. David has her booked on every show he can get her on….. attending every premiere. It’s ridiculous.”
Carefully studying the twenty-three year old, Lacy recognized the tale tale signs. “She’s further along than I was when I lost…” Her words faltered upon remembering when she’d lost her first child during her third month of pregnancy.
Lacy’s pregnancy was unexpected and her schedule was already taxing her physically. At first, Lacy ignored signs that she might have been pregnant being her first experience with it. When she lost the baby, Lacy shouldered all of the responsibility carrying the guilt for years. It was only after having Dani and loving words from her mother about what can happened during pregnancy that was no one’s fault that she forgave herself.
“Maybe I should talk to her?” Lacy offered thoughtfully.
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Meanwhile back at the party feeling rather uncomfortable until Mark offered his friend some wine, Gage perused the crowd trying to guess what made each of them tick. It was something the writer in her did on occasion. During her observations, she’d noticed a good-looking guy with a very nice smile staring at her several different times. The last time she noticed it, she observed Griff approach him. Some friendly words were exchanged when their verbal bantering raised its ugly head. It didn’t concern her too much until both sharply turned on their heels heading directly for her like twin heat sinking missiles zeroed in on their target.
“Gage. This is Michael Jessop. You met him briefly on the set today.” Griff explained.
“That’s right. You looked familiar.”
Michael clasped Gage’s hand, holding on to it tenderly until Griff tore it away from the writer. “Knock it off, will ya?”
“So, go ahead… ask.” Michael encouraged his co-worker then blushed at the writer much to his dismay.
Shooting him an evil look dripping with poisonous venom. “What this jerk is wanting to know….”
“We both do.” Michael corrected her.
Drawing in a breath, sure she would be the victor, Griff asked. “Gage, we… want to know your….. your…… are you gay?”
“I say straight.” Michael quickly added.
The two would be suitors waited with baited breath for her answer. Stunned, Gage savored a few long moments to respond. It wasn’t because she had any doubts about the way she felt about her sexuality. What shocked her was their interest in her that way. “You want to know my sexuality?” Dual heads nodded furiously.
With absolute assuredness, she proudly proclaimed. “I’m not heterosexual…..” Michael’s world flipped upside down while Griff buoyed a huge smile then licked her lips. “I’m not bi-sexual….” The last hopeful avenue for the young man was cut off now. Griff’s green eyes flared devouring the writer. “I’m not homosexual…..” The look on both stunned faces asked. What else is there? “I’m just….” Gage’s green eyes flared, dropping her sultry voice to its lowest register. “Sexual.”
Michael and Griff both shared a sexual shiver zigzagging through their overheated bodies as Gage lilt out the last word. While the young man came to attention just below the beltline, the redhead creamed her pants.
Thankful that Lacy arrived to save her from dealing with the aftermath of her proclamation, Gage offered to get the group some drinks. “What are you having?”
Still off-balance from the exchange, Griff covertly watched Gage rush off to retrieve some refreshments with Michael who offered to help. She surmised he couldn’t wait to douse the fire burning inside him. Coward. Can’t stand the heat.
“Griff? You okay?” Lacy shook the shorter woman’s shoulder.
“Yeah, yeah, fine.” Her equilibrium back, Griff decided to test the waters referencing the attractive blonde she’d set her eye on. “You’re friends right?”
“Yes, very good friends…. best friends.” Lacy added a bit more possessively then she’d intended.
“She interests me to tell the truth.” Griff carefully studied Lacy’s reaction to her words wondering if there was more than friendship blooming between Lacy and the blonde.
“Gage is a wonderful person. I already told you she’s a writer.” Now vague and careful not to reveal too much of her feelings.
“Yes, you did. You read her?”
“Only her screenplays.” Lacy admitted not having found Gage’s stories at the bookstore. Lacy was reluctant to ask her partner about the books she wrote since Gage was more than just a little bit sensitive when it came to the star reading what the writer wrote.
She remembered Gage’s words. I don’t know, Lacy, if you don’t like them then…. you’d feel like you had to say something nice anyway. To which Lacy countered. I loved your screenplays. I love the way you write. She pleaded, but to no avail. It was then Lacy schemed to get her partner’s novels at the bookstore and it was then that she discovered there were no books listed under Gage’s name.
“Not her books?” Griff asked confused at this disclosure.
“No, not her books.” Lacy confirmed.
Acting upon a suspicion, Griff informed the star. “I like the writer Ballantine myself. Great stuff.”
“Oh, me too.” Lacy joined in.
Confirmed and added to her mental list, Griff smiled at the revelation that she would use to her advantage…. later.
When Gage and Michael returned, the uneasiness between the four prevailed casting a shadow over what should have been a delightful evening.
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“All tucked in and sleeping.” Was all Chance offered the couple when they arrived home from the party.
Before Gage shut the door, she called out a thank you to the reticent man. When she turned around, Lacy was nowhere to be seen. Following a hunch, Gage headed to the kid’s bedroom where she found their mother tenderly stroking first Derek’s cheek giving him a kiss then did the same to her daughter. Lacy got up slowly, watching in wonder at her sleeping children.
“Come on.” Gage offered a hand to her partner, leading her down the hallway to their bedroom.
Standing before the woman she loved, Gage ran her fingers up Lacy’s long smooth arm coming to rest near her shoulder. The writer snagged the thin strap
; gently pushing it over Lacy’s shoulder then repeated the same maneuver with the other strap. Twisting her lover around, Gage unveiled the beautiful back as she pulled the zipper down allowing the dress to slip to the floor. Wearing nothing but shoes now, Lacy stood quietly allowing her lover full access.
Gage softly kissed the exposed shoulder, lowering her voice to a melodious gentle caress. “I love you.”
Lacy turned into her lover’s arms. “I love you. Now, take me to bed and make love to me.”
“Your pleasure is my pleasure.” Quick to follow her lover’s command, Gage undressed and pinned her lover to the bed. Feeling her woman under her moving against her released a very satisfied moan. “God, I love it when you do that. I love the feel of your skin.” Inhaling deeply the scent of her woman.
“You know, sweetheart…..” Fighting the sweet welcomed sexual assault only long enough to voice her concern, Lacy offered off-handedly. “Griff likes you.”
Jolting her head up, Gage scrunched her eyebrows. “Really? You think? I thought it was just a bet between the two of them.”
Not fully understanding, Lacy asked. “What bet?”
“Oh, Griff and Michael wanted to know if I was gay or straight.”
“And…. what did you tell them?” Very curious at her partner’s answer.
Gage gave her a lascivious smile highlighted by a sexy wink before she kissed her lover soundly. “I said I was…..” Dropping her sultry voice to the lowest register again to repeat her announcement. “Sexual.” Claiming the sensual lips before her once more, Gage savored the sweet taste as she begged entry with her tongue, gaining permission to enter.
Lacy finally broke the kiss struggling to refill her deflated lungs. “Sweetheart, you take my breath away.”
“God, baby, I love you so much.” Gage husked. Then quite out of the blue a thought occurred to her. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry.”
“What?” Studying the regretful green eyes she intently stared into. “What is it?”