“Fine. I’m still not speaking to Lauren.”
“Okay. Great. We’ll see you soon.”
Meta stormed out of his office.
“Nice save, Collins.” Sergio leaned back in his chair and flipped Meta’s contract closed. On closer examination, Annie saw that he’d actually been looking at a copy of the crew list. She’d wondered. The contracts were in her office.
“You threatened her. I didn’t save anything,” she replied honestly.
“I hate that bitch. Call Lauren and have them meet Meta back at the studio.”
“No problem.” Annie whipped out her phone and started texting Lauren.
“You’re looking better today,” Sergio said. Sometimes he was sincere.
“Thanks. I stopped with the blow.”
“Oh.” Sergio frowned for a moment before his expression brightened. “You have a guy?”
Annie rolled her eyes and walked out the door. “I’ll be in my office.”
Her phone buzzed with a reply from Lauren before she made it halfway down the hall, except when Annie looked at her phone, the text she read wasn’t from her field producer. It was a text from Oksana.
I miss you already. What did you do to me?
I didn’t tell you. I’m a witch, versed in the magic of seduction, Annie texted back.
You’re ridiculous is what you are.
Miss you too, she replied one more time, then skipped back to her desk.
*
Oksana flipped through her copy of The Angels of Prairie Run. Typically, she didn’t care about the material’s details when she was training someone for a project, but she didn’t want to miss some change in the narrative that might change the actor’s appearance drastically mid-film. Paulo was almost done with his last session and then they’d talk about the next step for these particular clients.
She stretched and rubbed her head. It was time for another shave. Maybe something she and Annie could do together.
She sighed lightly and flopped sideways against Paulo’s couch. She couldn’t believe she told Annie she missed her. Desperate much.
You like her, stupid. And she likes you. It’s okay to say it, she reminded herself. It was true. She was allowed to like someone new and she was allowed to express it. Annie was being patient without making Oksana feel like she was waiting for something. Annie was awesome.
Annie, she sighed to herself. She was acting more pathetic than Kat was over Erica.
Annie.
Oksana could not stop smiling. All day, her clients and her students had noticed how happy she seemed. And she was usually pretty fucking upbeat at the gym. Kat had called attention to her perkiness too. Kat liked Annie a lot and she made it perfectly clear during their family meeting of two over breakfast, she and
Baba Inna agreed that Annie was welcomed into the Gorinkov Organization.
Paulo’s door opened and Oksana sprang upright.
“Give me two seconds, chica, and we’ll talk,” Paulo said as he walked into his private bathroom. They could have talked the next day, but the truth was Oksana was killing time before Annie came over. She knew if she went home she’d be pacing in the driveway waiting for Annie to show up just so they could make out for a few minutes before dinner.
A moment after the toilet flushed, Paulo popped out of the bathroom and flopped down at his desk. “So. You’re dating again.” His fake accent was firmly in place.
“I’m not sure we’re dating exactly. More like hanging out.”
“But you’re happy?”
Oksana grinned like a fool. “Yes.”
“She was really nice on the phone. Still good in bed?”
Oksana nodded gravely.
“Well,” Paulo said. “That’s good because now you won’t be tempted to screw your new addition.”
“Oh, we have a name?” Oksana thought the script was a courtesy from the studio. The leads were still up in the air, she thought.
“We do. Are you ready for this? Are you ready? Are you?”
“Paulo, shut up and tell me.” She chuckled.
Paul leaned forward in his chair and smiled. “Are you ready?”
“I’m going to kill you. Who is it?”
“Willow Cruz.”
Oksana blinked in shock.
“I know, right. Willow Cruz.”
Okay, Oksana had not expected that name to come from Paulo’s mouth. Willow Cruz wasn’t A-list. Willow Cruz was beyond the A-list. The out-lesbian in her early forties had won her first Oscar at age nine. Two more followed. She was a notorious character actor Oksana had drooled over in countless films. She was beautiful, the definition of. She had dark features and light eyes and an amazing body. She’d actually gained thirty or so pounds for her most recent role in The Gatekeeper where she starred as a British madam in post-war London, but the weight gain just made her look more voluptuous. She was also part Russian.
There had been rumors that she was an intelligent, consummate professional and perfectionist. A flirt and a little bit of a womanizer. Just a little bit. Any woman who could tie her down had truly been gifted a golden ticket.
Thank fucking God she was “hanging out” with Annie. Willow was just the kind of woman to seduce Oksana and leave her looking like a puppy-loving fool. She was far from a star fucker. Most actors drove her crazy, but Willow was on her Celebrity Three list. She was in the number one slot.
Thank God for Annie.
Oksana sat back and tossed the script aside. “Gee. No pressure there. Who’s playing Clem?”
“Did you read the script already?” Paulo looked surprised. He’d given it to her a whole two hours ago.
“No. I told you I read the book.”
“Oh. Ryan Perry.”
“Okay, he is hot. You’re going to have fun with him.”
“It’ll be hard not to let him blow me, but I’ll manage.” They both laughed.
“When do we start?”
A light knock on the door frame interrupted their conversation. “Excuse me.”
Oksana and Paulo looked toward the pleasant female voice coming from the door. There standing right inside Elite Fitness was Willow Cruz. Oksana was actually nervous. She’d never been starstruck before, but this was Willow Cruz. Come on, she was on the list.
Paulo hopped up and rushed to kiss her cheeks.
Oksana followed and shook Willow’s hand as Paulo went through introductions. Willow had a firm handshake, a trait Oksana loved.
Too bad Annie’s hugs are better. She smiled to herself. Luckily, Willow thought the smile was for her and not for a woman a few miles down Santa Monica Boulevard.
“Sorry. I know I’m about four days early, but I wanted to drop this off for Oksana?” Willow glanced between Oksana and Paulo then handed a folder to Oksana. She quickly flipped it open and got a glimpse at Willow’s medical history. Perfectionist, right.
Willow caught on to her amazement. “I had to go through a nutritionist to put this all on. I wanted you to be in the loop before we took it all off. And then some,” she added, smiling just short of winking at Oksana. Paulo noticed too.
“I’ll let you two get to know each other,” he said with feeling before he closed the door behind him.
“Sorry he’s—”
“He’s not Italian, is he?”
“No.” Oksana laughed. There was no point in lying. “He’s not.”
After making themselves comfortable on the couch, they talked for a while. Willow had been very helpful in bringing her information by. Some clients, especially famous, arrogant ones, loved lying about their health, usually to cover up some drug habit or some eating disorder. Oksana could tell from the get-go that Willow didn’t have either. They would have to get her below her normal weight from the look of things, but that wouldn’t be a problem.
Oksana was able to get a lot of information out of Willow to help in their workouts without coming across as being all business. Willow seemed to appreciate her approach. Oksana tried to ignore the fact
that her new client was indeed flirting. The flirting was having the opposite of its intended effect. Willow was attractive, there was no doubt about that, but as the clock on Paulo’s desk continued to tick off the minutes, all she wanted was to get back to the big house. And Annie. Willow represented what drew people to Los Angeles, the glamour and the fame, but Annie was real.
Finally, after an hour, Willow seemed pleased with the initial ideas Oksana had to shed her excess pounds. Oksana humored her with a few more minutes of small talk, and as soon as Willow was out the door, Oksana booked it home.
Annie’s Prius was parked on the street.
She found Annie in the living room, sitting on the couch. Kat sat on the coffee table in front of her, her makeup kits spread out on all the available surfaces.
“Hey.” Annie beamed the moment she caught Oksana out of the corner of her eye. “Kat’s practicing for the play.”
“I’m almost done.” Kat added one more stroke. “Perfect.”
“How do I look?” Annie stood and gave Oksana a full view of the blue and green designs that swirled around Annie’s left eye and cheek. Kat had some serious talent, but at the moment all Oksana could think about was getting a kiss.
Annie bit her lip knowingly and stood on her tiptoes. “My butterflies are going crazy. I think they missed you too,” she whispered just as their lips met.
Chapter Eleven
The Final Seal of Approval
After their adult sleepover on Monday night went so well, Oksana and Annie decided it would be a good idea if Annie stayed over on Tuesday night too. The little house was much closer to Annie’s office than her place. With the rising costs in fuel, it only made sense, even if Annie drove a hybrid.
Tuesday night was so much fun, Wednesday morning, they overslept again. This time Oksana was late for her first session and Kat was late for school. She came banging on the little house door fifteen minutes after she was due in homeroom.
“Where’s Baba?” Oksana asked as she scrambled around for her clothes.
“She already went down to the store.”
“Shit.”
“Do you need a ride?” Annie asked as she zipped up her jeans.
“Uh, yeah.”
“I’ll take her,” Annie said.
Oksana paused mid shoe tie. “Are you sure?”
“Yeah, you’re late. Even if I drop her off, I’ll be early for work. I’ll get some paperwork done.”
“Great,” Kat answered. “I’ll go get my bag.”
“I’d love to argue that it’s too soon for me to be pushing off the kid-carting on you, but I’m real fucking late.” Oksana kissed Annie before she grabbed her bag. “Spare key is under the rock by the door. Bye.”
Ten minutes later, Annie was behind the wheel of her Prius, Kat at her side. There was no unease in the air, an impromptu pit stop for McGriddles killed any chance of that, but Annie didn’t want to say anything to make things awkward between them. She took the casual, let’s focus on you without trying to pry, approach.
“You hanging out with Erica after school?” she asked just after Kat directed her to take the next left. Annie knew of one high school on this side of town and Kat didn’t go there.
“Yeah. She’s going to come to play practice with me.” Kat inhaled the last bite of her breakfast sandwich then crumpled her trash into the bag. She was quiet for half of an ABBA classic before Annie felt Kat’s gaze on her.
“I don’t want to be that annoying little sibling. I’m not naïve. I know how these things work, but do you really like my sister?”
“I do.”
“For more than just her body?”
“Yes.”
“A lot of people like her for her body,” Kat said frankly.
Soon Annie saw Kat’s school just ahead. She stopped at the front curb.
“I can imagine. How do you feel about us?” she asked, turning to Kat. Her green bangs were out of her face, but tons and tons of black makeup surrounded her eyes. Annie realized in the three days she’d been hanging around, she’d never seen Kat with her makeup off. She had the same green eyes as her sister. A gorgeous girl, but Annie imagined she gave people the wrong impression of her every day. Annie stopped herself from smiling. She knew with Baba Inna and Oksana at her back, Kat probably never cared what those impressions were. The stud of her tongue ring darted out across her bottom lip before she answered.
“You’re still kinda engaged, right?”
“Yeah.” Annie winced. There were no secrets, but it was a little odd hearing that sort of thing from someone other than Oksana.
“I think you’ll really leave him. It sounds shitty, but I want you to. Did she tell you about her last girlfriend?”
“Some, but no details.”
“She was crazy. You’re much better.”
“I hope so.” Annie laughed.
“No, I mean she was nice in the beginning,” Kat went on. “She tried really hard to butter me up in front of Sana, but she seemed so fake. You seem like you just want to be around, not like you want to control everything. I don’t know. I like you and I like you for my sister.”
An instant smile broke out across Annie’s face. She needed Baba Inna’s approval, but after spending more and more time with the Gorinkov clan, she knew Kat’s approval was just as important. They were a unit, these three special ladies, and Annie knew wolfing down Baba’s cooking and helping with the dishes wasn’t enough. She had to get to know Oksana’s family and they had to get to know her. Annie loved their magic, and apparently, they had seen that Annie had her own something special to bring to the table.
“Thanks, Kat. That means a lot.” Annie let out deep breath. “I don’t really have much of a family so it’s nice just being around.”
Kat reached across the seat and hugged her. Annie was shocked at first, but she gave the hug right back and then did her best not to choke up like a baby. She cared about Kat. Not that she wouldn’t, but she never realized that she would. With all the effort she’d put into getting Oksana to give her a chance, she didn’t give much thought to what would happen if things worked out. But things were working out, and Annie was starting to love the whole family.
Kat sat back and reached for her backpack. “You’ll be home for dinner?”
“I think we’re going out to eat, but I’ll be over before we go.”
“Can I do your hair? I’d ask my sister, but…”
“The bald thing. Sure.”
“Cool.” Kat smiled. “See ya.”
She jumped out of the car as Annie said her good-bye. She also realized then that she wouldn’t mind driving Kat to school every day.
*
The night was warm, and as they stepped out of the little house, Annie was starting to see the perks of staying on this side of town. It was minutes from the office, twenty yards from Baba’s butter infused cooking, and just a short city light and moonlit walk to Señor Kim’s. Her hair looked fabulous, but after Kat had finished with the rockabilly do she called victory rolls, a style Annie had drooled over before with no label to attach to it, she wished she’d packed more than the T-shirt and jeans Oksana insisted would be more than enough for a night out with her friends.
Annie wore her glasses, per Oksana’s subtle, yet adorable request, and let Kat try out the eye shadow they’d picked out on Sunday. She thought she looked pretty decent, but Oksana looked better.
Annie had never really noticed, well, she’d never had the opportunity to notice, but where Annie looked like a sad, shriveled troll at the end of her workout even after she showered and hydrated, Oksana looked like some sort of Egyptian queen with her heat-blushed skin and exotic eyes. She wore a skirt like the pleated one she’d worn to The Maypole that night. This one was purple. Her plain T-shirt was white, and Annie couldn’t decide for a moment whether her nipple piercings showing through the fabric bothered her or not. She decided it didn’t. It did make her horny though, and gave her something more to look forward to after dinner.<
br />
“Your friend’s meeting us there?” Oksana asked. Megan had called to confirm that she’d be working a little late, but she was not passing on this chance to meet the one person to shake up Annie’s life.
“Yeah. She’s a little intense, but she means well. I think you’ll like her.”
“I better or we are so over.”
“Not funny,” Annie grumbled playfully.
She was strangely excited to meet Oksana’s friends. She’d been too out of it to get any real impression of Ronnie, but Noelle seemed really cool once Annie realized she wasn’t coming on to Oksana. There hadn’t been much talk about Scooter or his buddy Neil, but Annie imagined if they were important to Oksana, they had to be pretty good guys. Annie had it in mind to tease her about them a little as they walked, but not before she told Oksana about her day.
“I’ve been doing my research,” Annie said as they walked through Oksana’s neighborhood. This part of the city was quiet at the moment. Just the sounds of traffic on the main street a few blocks away.
“On what?” Oksana took her hand when they reached a crosswalk.
“Your tattoos.”
“And what mysteries did you unfold?”
“You were telling the truth about your tribute to Russia. The sunflower is the national flower. The birch is the nation’s official tree,” Annie said. “The pattern across your shoulder is a street map of Moscow, and the birds around your heart tattoo aren’t to show your American patriotism. I’ve learned that the Russians also value the eagle.”
“I’m impressed.”
“You should be. Wikipedia is made for people like me who paid absolutely no attention during world history,” Annie said proudly.
“Well, I’m kind of a closet history nerd. I can share more of my infinite knowledge with you any time you like.”
“Do you have a favorite?” Oksana looked down as Annie stroked her forearm.
“This one.” She pointed to the silhouette just under Annie’s fingertips. “Bears are misunderstood. We’re big, but really, we just like cuddles and honey.”
“I thought you would say the heart.”
The Fling Page 16