Exposure

by Morgan

  From the explosion that catapulted the recently decapitated crewman’s head toward the well-dressed audience (who had all obediently donned their 3D glasses) to the reveal of Kyle as a murderous saboteur, the movie held on to its viewers like a determined dog with a heavy bone.

  In many ways, the film was shot like a music video, with fast-paced edits and artistic lighting. But it also included long moments of tension-filled interactions between the actors.

  Michelle had absolutely no idea that the movie was going to feature her so prominently, but it became clear early on that the narrative was centered on her character’s experiences and reactions.

  It was a fierce display of acting on her part, and David was extremely effective as the ambushed and sacrificed good guy.

  Nathan thought it funny that he’d once worried the audience would resist seeing Kyle as a scumbag, but recent real-world events made his role match his public persona perfectly. His performance was also cleverly edited to keep him from ruining the picture.

  When the film credits began to roll, an enthusiastic and genuine cheer arose from the crowd, and everyone involved felt very proud of their accomplishments.

  There was no title card at the beginning of the film and no credits of any kind, so Michelle didn’t find out until the end that her name was listed above Kyle’s.

  “Oh shit,” Nathan said, as if he were just seeing it for the first time. “That’s gonna piss him off.”

  Shaunna turned in her chair and addressed Nathan in a whisper. “Kyle has a rider in his contracts for top billing.”

  “Apparently not this one.” Nathan shrugged. “He waived a bunch of his usual bullshit for a bigger paycheck. I verified it with the studio guys.”

  “I’m almost sorry he’s not here to see it,” Shaunna murmured.

  Nathan met Michelle’s eyes. “You were breathtaking, and I always believed you would be,” he told her. “I’m completely in awe every time I see you in this film, and I’ve seen it a lot.”

  “It wasn’t what I was expecting to see at all,” Sly commented to Nathan. Their introduction had been brief, and this was the first time the two had really spoken. “Your decision to keep us focused on her character’s point of view offered a valued human core and feminine reasoning to an otherwise horrific story.” Then Sly added with a softening tone, “Plus, you captured her eyes brilliantly.”

  “Thank you.” Nathan beamed. “You don’t know how many times those eyes saved our ass in editing this summer.”

  David found that remark particularly funny and laughed so hard that he had to clutch his stomach while Shaunna hugged Michelle. “You turned this movie into a film,” she told her friend earnestly.

  Nathan looked for and found Lauren, who dropped by to tell the actors how great they were. Michelle, who now understood that her performance was pieced together like a quilting circle’s spring project, took the editor’s hands in hers and thanked her with a kiss on the cheek.

  Before the group split up, Nathan joked that the studio was already hinting that there would be sequel money to spend.

  Michelle laughed it off.

  Shaunna eyed Nathan hard. “Not even you are that crazy,” she said solemnly.

  “One thing’s for sure, though,” Nathan observed. “Kyle would probably say yes. He needs the work.”

  Chapter Forty-One

  DAVID PROPOSED TO SHAUNNA AT DISNEYLAND. The two of them had logged hundreds of hours at the park, but she had not gotten him back on the Tower of Terror ride after their infamous first trip together. He imagined, but never truly considered, setting something up with the park wherein he could pop the question thirteen stories high in the creepy attraction and threaten not to let her down until she accepted. It was clever, sure, but decidedly unromantic and, in a word, tacky.

  Instead, he did something simple and sincere. He resolutely got down on one knee and held out an open ring box with a shaky hand and asked her to marry him while they were at the Blue Bayou restaurant in the French Quarter. David loved how the sweet clean smell of the water from the Pirates of the Caribbean ride and the peaceful stillness of an animated twilight bayou complemented the Cajun cuisine.

  They’d only been to the restaurant as a couple once before; they usually preferred to scarf down corn dogs on their way from Splash Mountain to the Matterhorn. David booked a waterside table, waited until dinner was ordered, and then stood briefly before genuflecting before her. She responded by inhaling deeply and covering her mouth in surprise.

  “Shaunna?” David’s voice was steady, but his eyes fluttered. “You know that feeling you get when you first sit down for a trip through Pirates?” He titled his head toward the boats of wonder-filled passengers drifting nearby in the bayou.

  “You’re excited because you know that not only is it going to be a good ride, but it’s going to be a nice long ride. You start thinking about the exciting parts coming up. All the while you’re floating through this stunning world, and no matter how many times you see it, it always fills you with awe.” He looked around and then settled his eyes back on hers.

  “What you don’t know is that when you showed me this place, I already knew what that feeling was. You gave it to me a year ago.” He blinked a few times and mustered his courage for a moment. “Since I met you, my heart has been filled with that sensation you get right at the beginning of a phenomenal adventure. Something you just know is going to take you places you never dreamed of and make your every wish come true. Well, I only have one wish, and I came to the Magic Kingdom to make it come true.” His next words were gravelly with emotion. “Shaunna Noble…will you marry me?”

  Her tears revealed her answer, and David slid the ring on her finger while nearby diners offered congratulatory applause. The excitement was also noticed by the boats of people in the bayou, who also hooted their approval for the newly engaged.

  The drive back to their house was a quick one by LA standards, and it was a good thing, because the mix of fear and fun made them both surge with need for one another.

  They made love slowly, and David took great care in brushing his lips over Shaunna’s breasts and belly before he coaxed his way between her legs, delivering passionate and sometimes probing explorations.

  His tender lovemaking and his occasional whispers of enchantment only added to her dreamlike state. There were two candles burning in the room—one on a tall dresser, and one near the bed on a small table that held mostly books competing for Shaunna’s attention.

  The two flames gave her two different silhouettes of David’s back against the wall and ceiling. It was enough to keep her eyes open, as was the rising tide of pleasure in her body.

  David was slow, seductive, but the animal need to just take her consumed him. He rose up on his knees and pulled her legs up to rest her calves on his chest. She was more or less in a sitting position, but her feet were pointed upward, and she wondered if this was how astronauts felt when they were blasting off into space.

  This position sent David even deeper into her than before, and Shaunna tipped over the edge with ease, sighing at first and then quickly gasping for breath. He liked the feel of her smooth calves against his hard chest and pressed his cheek into the curve of her foot as he moved himself in and out of her.

  He watched their coupling for a while, taking advantage of a perspective Shaunna often envied. Soon, he closed his eyes and sighed deeply as he slid his hands to her hips and urgently pulled her frame toward his increasing thrusts.

  “Yes,” Shaunna encouraged.

  David leaned his head back and moaned toward the briskly turning ceiling fan. The cool air brushed the damp hair from his head as he remained one with his lover.

  She could feel his release even as the rest of his body stilled, and when he allowed her legs to fall back to the bed, she curled around him and fell fast asleep.

  David traced his fingers along her spine as he let the whirling of the fan carry him off to breeze-swept memories. Within a few moments, his
limp hand fell to the bed and his breathing settled into a rhythm with hers that was almost musical.

  Chapter Forty-Two

  MICHELLE’S GOLDEN GLOBES INVITATION from the Hollywood Foreign Press included a handwritten note that smelled like the lavender ink it was written in. It informed her that she and Nathan would share a table reserved by the studio. Although neither the picture’s writing nor its direction was being considered for an award, Sling Shot had received no less than five nominations, including Best Achievement in Editing and Best Actress.

  The studio was thrilled to receive a trio of technical nominations and felt confident that it would snag a few trophies. The suits were ecstatic over the surprise announcement of its leading actress, and Michelle’s nomination for a Golden Globe generated the single biggest buzz of the whole affair.

  By the time the big night arrived weeks later, it almost seemed anticlimactic compared to the events that had taken place since the day of the nominations.

  Sly had finally driven Michelle to his immaculate home in Riverside County. He lived in the wine country, just outside Temecula, and his home looked more like a castle, with its heavy stone structure and tall windows. There, he asked her to cast off the last trappings of her old life with Kyle and move in. Michelle accepted so readily that she sent movers for all her things and never set foot in the Malibu estate again. As a bonus, since it was a now-famous love nest, she put the house on the market for twice its estimated value in the divorce settlement, and her realtor quickly scheduled more viewings than a Jersey peep show.

  Sly also fully revealed to Michelle the nature of his sensitive and secretive work. She wasn’t surprised to learn that it sounded like he was some sort of crisis manager. Given the legalities of many of his dealings, he wasn’t encouraged to discuss his work, which was fine since each job was usually an open-and-shut case, whether he succeeded or not.

  Sly had no law degree, but his work had always been about getting two parties to see their similarities, rather than their differences. It was a skill that required a unique discipline and a broad education. His abilities ranged from psychological diagnosis, to speaking and reading fluent Mandarin. Sly was an ambassador and an advocate for his clients and sought only solutions that would help everyone. Simply put, he was one starship short of being the real Capt. Jean-Luc Picard.

  Sly escorted Michelle up the red carpet with a suave confidence, but internally, his very bones were dancing with the excitement of seeing so many celebrities in one place. He may have led a life of intrigue, cutting logistic channels for Thomas Harper and the firm’s other partners, but he had only occasional brushes with Hollywood types before he met Michelle and David.

  Arm-in-arm with Michelle Cooper, he pondered the literal translation of “swinging from a star” as flash bulbs made his eyeballs smart.

  Still, he was steady on his feet and stood aside whenever fuzzy microphones were waggled at Michelle. While she energetically explained who she was wearing and complimented the other actresses nominated in her category a dozen times over, Sly soaked in the warmth of her good heart while marveling at things like how the red carpet was actually violet in reality and how absolutely stunning Michelle looked in her dress.

  Every picture of the duo captured the same polished calm. This, of course, only added to Sly’s mystique. He was quite handsome, and his old-fashioned but flattering suit made him the talk of the morning shows the following day.

  Shaunna and David didn’t try to be inconspicuous. She wore a modestly cut, but brightly colored royal blue gown, while he wore a tailored pin-striped Italian suit with a silk pocket square that matched his date. They both felt like they were going to the prom.

  They were several celebrities behind Michelle and Sly and were losing ground because every single entertainment reporter shoved interviewees aside for a chance to land a few words with David Quinn.

  He was very natural when he spoke, and his answers were always witty as well as succinct. Shaunna thought, not for the first time, that he would have made a great lawyer or stand-up comedian.

  She was largely ignored, which thrilled her to pieces and told her that everyone was well on their way to moving on to bigger and newer scandals. Plenty of photographs of her surfaced the next morning because she made all of the best dressed lists, but like Sly, she was content with being the silent chaperone.

  Michelle and Sly finally escaped into the Beverly Hilton Hotel’s International Ballroom, where Sly was introduced to directors, producers, actors, and agents for another ten minutes before they found their way to their table. It was located close to the stage—really close to the stage. Nathan and Lauren were already seated when Sly and Michelle walked up.

  “Good evening, Michelle,” Nathan greeted her after rising from his chair. Sly inwardly approved of the young man’s adherence to good manners. “Boy, I couldn’t help but notice how close they put you to the stairs.” He gestured to the sweeping staircase immediately behind Lauren, who was rolling her eyes.

  “It’s almost as if they wanted to make it easier for someone to walk up there at some point.”

  Michelle gave Lauren a sympathetic look because clearly, she had been listening to this for some time. “Don’t start. I’m nervous enough as it is.” She directed her comment to Nathan, who had beaten Sly to the honor of pulling out her chair.

  “Well,” Nathan concluded with a wink to Sly, “I would’ve voted for both of you. Except I’m not foreign…or with the press.”

  When Shaunna and David arrived, the room was almost full and the collective murmur was like road noise on a highway. Every few minutes, another famous person would wander by and gush at either Michelle or David, or both, and move on. They were all served dessert and strong drinks while another half-hour demonstrated just how packed the room could get.

  Of course, Gus Noble was there. He was to the Golden Globes what Jack Nicholson was to the Oscars—royalty. Even when he had no productions up for consideration, Gus was always welcome and often a presenter. His on-stage persona was engaging and popular.

  He strolled through the room like the pope at a picnic until he reached Michelle’s table. Gus sat down next to Shaunna. He was eager to catch up with his daughter.

  “How have you two been?”

  “We’re good,” Shaunna answered. “How about you?”

  “I’ve been busy,” Gus replied with a satisfied sigh. He pointed to David. “This one is going to keep me that way too. All four networks are fighting over my next series idea.” He turned to Michelle and Sly. “It’s nice to see you two again.” Gus then leaned into Michelle. “I hope you wore sensible shoes. I have it on good authority that you are taking a walk up that very large staircase this evening.”

  Michelle waved his comment away as the two men nodded agreeably at each other.

  Gus turned his attention back to Shaunna and David. “Have you picked a wedding date?”

  “We were thinking about sometime in May,” Shaunna answered. “But we don’t know for sure yet.”

  Gus had known about David’s proposal before Shaunna, of course. David wouldn’t have had it any other way.

  “Do you know what this guy did?” Gus asked, talking to Sly, but pointing at David. “He stopped by the house a few weeks ago to ask me, all formal-like, if he could come inside to discuss something important. I offered him a drink, which he accepted, and then he proceeded to tell me all these wonderful things about my daughter. All of them are true, of course, so I know he’s in love…”

  Gus looked over at David, whose slight nod simultaneously approved of his summation and encouraged him to continue.

  “He promised me that he would only say and do things that would make her feel loved and treasured and said that he would never stop being her best friend in the world. Then he asked for my blessing to propose to her.”

  Michelle and Lauren looked at David adoringly. Sly was very impressed with the respectful and time-honored approach the young actor had taken by seeking the b
lessing of the father of the bride. Shaunna was also moved by the secret gesture David made to ask her father for her hand.

  When the camera operators moved into position, all the industry veterans scurried back to their assigned tables before the lights dimmed. Gus made his hasty goodbyes, and as soon as the room was blanketed in a shroud of shadows, David leaned in toward Shaunna to kiss her cheek. His warm breath on her ear startled her.

  The show was peppy and upbeat, with a host that chose not to insult every person in the industry. There were some excellent scripted performances as well, but Michelle just wanted to get the waiting over with.

  As more awards were given to actors who were much farther away from the stage than she was, Michelle caught herself hoping that she wouldn’t win at all. Lately, she realized how truly selfish she’d been with David for nearly a year. She’d put all their careers at risk for childish and spontaneous reasons, and if it came time to thank him publicly for his support, Michelle didn’t know what she could say.

  She hadn’t written anything by way of an acceptance speech, and that became the reason she was suddenly overcome with the feeling she was going to have to give one.

  Fortunately, she didn’t have to go first. Several names from her table were called before hers. The sound guy shuffled up and collected his award, as did the director of photography. Then Lauren won, and Nathan banged on the table like a cartoon wolf. She spoke quickly and far more eloquently than Michelle felt capable of herself. Nathan was thanked for being a kind and creative friend and director, and then Lauren turned to Michelle and thanked the actress for being the single biggest inspiration she had while editing the film.

  “Your performance made us re-think the whole picture,” Lauren told her in front of the world. “Your performance is what got me up here tonight, so thank you. It was an honor editing your work.”