“Nice flowers,” he murmured and she realized they were right under his chin.
“You’re not allergic are you? Victor picked them for me.”
Sean shook his head. “Victor,” he murmured and smiled. “So you really didn’t know who Jake was?” he asked bemusedly.
She frowned at his amused tone. “He’s a nice man.”
“Nice?” Sean repeated, a grin spreading across his handsome features.
“Yes. He’s very nice and gentlemanly.”
“Gentleman—”
“—ly. Yes,” she repeated and her voice contained a note of warning.
It did no good. Sean burst into laughter.
They reached the top of the stairs, and he allowed her body to slide down his body—nice and slow and very forward. “Gentlemanly, is it?” he asked and she was aghast at how easily he turned on the charm.
Good heavens, it oozed from every pore of his body and all of it was aimed at her. His gaze could have started a forest fire with the spark of heat it contained. His hands slid up her waist to her back as if he were steadying her. And more…his body language…
She stepped on his toe with her cast.
He gasped and immediately released her.
That turned off the charm all right.
“Oh, I’m sorry,” she said, feigning surprise. She clutched the flowers to her chest. “I didn’t see your foot there.”
He glared at her.
She gratefully accepted the crutches from the gaping Helga. She handed the flowers to her. “Please put these in water in my room.”
Helga nodded.
Annie quickly positioned the crutches and said, “Shall we wait in the parlor? Maybe I should send Helga for some ice for that injury?”
“That act could earn you an Academy Award, sweetheart,” Sean muttered darkly. “I think I’ll pass on the ice.” He straightened.
She turned and started swinging herself into the parlor.
Once inside the parlor, Annie found a chair to sit in, just to make sure she had plenty of room away from Mr. Charming, though she didn’t think he was a prince, but a frog for his attempt to charm her right in his own friend’s house.
He obviously recognized her tactic because he sent her another one of those amused grins and walked across the room to look out the window.
“You have wants of anything?” Helena asked in severely accented English as she came into the room to check on them.
A fireplace poker, Annie thought but said instead, “Some water please.” She wondered if the woman even understood her. By the look on her face, she doubted she did. She started to shake her head no, but Sean spoke to her in Dutch.
Helena replied and left the room.
Annie really wished she spoke Dutch. What had he said to Helena?
“It’s lovely this time of year here in Holland,” Sean said, casually.
“I’ll take your word for it,” Annie replied.
“Where are you from?” he continued, not turning from his place by the window.
Annie relaxed. “Louisiana.”
“American,” Sean said.
“Born and raised there. This is my first time out of the state.”
He turned, both eyebrows raised. “You don’t say? In today’s world I find that quite unusual.”
She smiled politely. “My family lived there. I had no reason to leave.”
“No husband to drag you off on vacations? No kids?”
She knew he was teasing, so she shocked him by replying, “My husband has been dead four years. My son is over thirty and my daughter just a year younger.”
Oh yeah, she’d shocked him. She could see him adding it up. “So, that makes you older than Jake.”
She grinned and shook her head. “Not at all.”
“I see.”
“I’m sure you do. With my husband dead, I’m looking for a fortune to help raise my kids.”
He actually gaped.
Her smile widened.
And then he laughed. “Definitely Academy Award material, Annie. You’re too young to have children that old and you told me yourself you didn’t know who Jake was.”
“As you wish,” she said simply.
The housekeeper, Helena, returned with a tray. On it she had two glasses of clear liquid. She guessed it was either wine or something she didn’t recognize, as she doubted Mr. Hampton was drinking water too. Then again—after meeting Victor she was learning not to make assumptions.
“Dank u,” she said politely to the maid.
“You speak Dutch?” Sean said, surprised.
She smiled. “Yes,” she replied and added silently, a few words, thanks to Victor aka Jake.
“Sorry I took so long,” Victor said, coming into the room.
Annie’s expression brightened; she felt much easier now that Victor was there.
Victor came over and stopped by her chair. Reaching out he took her hand and squeezed it. “Problems getting inside?” he asked.
She lifted an eyebrow. He knew somehow, she thought. “Not at all,” she replied.
He frowned slightly, then turned. Walking over to his friend he held out his hand and shook hands. “I told you next week, bud,” Victor said lightly.
“I could not contain my curiosity,” Sean replied easily.
“I figured as much. I should kick you out right on your—”
“But you won’t,” Sean interrupted. “You know I’d win.”
“Oh yeah?” Victor replied.
Male bonding, Annie thought wearily. Men!
“If you’ll excuse me,” Annie said, and pushed herself up to stand.
Both men turned.
She smiled. “I’m going into lunch before you two start throwing punches to prove your masculinity.”
“Oh, mine isn’t in question, sweetheart,” Sean replied immediately.
“Neither is his,” Annie muttered under her breath.
“What was that?” Sean asked.
“She said she had grave doubts,” Victor filled in. He was already by her side and had slipped an arm around her waist. With his other hand he scooped up the crutches. “Come on,” he called back to Sean.
Embarrassed, Annie refused to look at Sean. She could use the crutches and didn’t need Victor to lean on. But then, this felt good as well. She slipped her arm around him.
“Did you know she has a son that is over thirty,” Sean continued, grinning. “And that she is after your fortune?”
Victor came to her rescue. “She does have a son over thirty and a daughter too. And if she is here after my fortune,” he turned a warm gaze down on her and said gently, “I’m sure she’ll confess that to me soon.”
Sean paused behind his seat in the dining room. “You do not have a son who is over thirty. Tell me this man is not dating an older woman?”
She broke off her gaze from Victor and smiled at Sean. “I do have a son that is over thirty. And Victor is not dating an older woman.”
“But…”
Victor grinned. “He is her stepson.”
“Spoilsport,” Annie said low, her gaze fully on Victor.
Victor eased Annie into her chair and then propped her crutches next to her. “Young one,” he said grinning.
“I certainly feel it at the moment,” she replied blushing at his blatant flirtation.
Sean cleared his throat. “So, sandwiches is all you can afford?” he asked, looking at what was brought in. “Should I be worried that you’re not getting good contracts like me?”
“I told her sandwiches were fine since Annie didn’t mind and I wasn’t expecting company.”
“Touchè, old boy,” Sean replied.
Annie bowed her head for a quick prayer. When she lifted her gaze, Sean was staring at her with the strangest look on his face.
“So, how are your injuries from the last movie you just finished up?” Sean asked and then drew his gaze away from Annie. He wasn’t grinning anymore but studying his friend thoughtfully.
&n
bsp; Annie had lifted her sandwich to eat, intending simply to listen and not participate in the conversation. She wasn’t quite ready to be in the company of two of the biggest stars in show business. But when she heard him mention Victor was injured she blurted out, “You were hurt?”
He nodded. “I was on set when a board fell. It caught me in the side and bruised it up pretty good.” He glanced back to his friend. “It’s fine, barely yellow now.”
“Did you rehurt it in the wreck?” Annie asked worriedly.
Victor shot his friend a glare. “No, Annie. I’m fine.”
“No residual damage from the wreck?” Sean asked, taking a bite of his sandwich roll. He chewed it with gusto as he awaited his friend’s answer.
“Nope. Not even sore today, though Annie can’t say the same thing.” He glanced over at her. “At the appointment later today we’ll see about a walking cast. Those crutches have you moving slowly and stiffly.”
“I can’t believe how much pain crutches can cause,” she agreed. “They’re supposed to help a person, not hinder them.”
“Is the pain medication helping?”
She glanced at Sean, saw him watching her and then glanced back. “Yes. Thank you, again, Victor, for all of your help.”
“Annie,” Victor said and she heard the warning in his voice. He hated her to keep thanking him when he felt it was his fault. She shrugged.
“Dank u?” she said cheekily.
He broke into laughter and shook his head.
“You know very well what I meant.” He turned to Sean and smiled. “Sean is here because our new movie will be premiering in two weeks.”
“Really? Oh!” Annie’s eyes widened. “Shadow…no Shelter, right?
“I remember hearing about it, but I didn’t remember you being…er…” She saw Sean grin at the fact that she would have recognized him in it but not Victor. She glared at him. “That’s right, you play the hero, don’t you?” she asked Victor, pointedly turning her attention to him.
Sean’s smile disappeared. “We’re both heroes.”
“Oh?”
Victor looked from one to the other and chuckled. “Sheath the claws, Annie. Stop baiting Annie, Sean. I play a knight in a fantasy. He is looking for an ancient shelter that contains the protection the world needs to survive. Sean is my sidekick who is there to keep me on the straight and narrow.”
“I wasn’t sure from the trailer exactly what it was about,” she replied.
“Yeah, the trailer wasn’t that well put together,” Sean muttered, turning his attention to Victor. “I wonder how that is going to affect box-office stats.”
“You know with you in it we’ll have every woman under thirty knocking down the doors at the theater,” Victor replied simply.
“Funny, old man,” Sean said.
Evidently this was an ongoing thing between the two, Annie thought, as she watched the banter between them. “I like mine older, thank you very much. You’re the one who likes them young,” Sean said.
Victor cast a glance at Annie and cleared his throat.
“And how old are you?” Sean asked, smiling at Annie.
“Forty,” she replied simply.
“Poaching on my territory, I say,” Sean said to Victor.
He shot a look at his friend. “So, who are you taking to the premiere?” he asked, changing the subject.
Sean shrugged and took another bite of his sandwich. “I thought about Helena, but she wouldn’t have me,” he said referring to the housekeeper and being totally outrageous. “So, I’ll settle with Reanna. She’s been wanting to go to a premiere for a while and I think she’ll enjoy this one.”
“And you?” Sean asked and then winced as if he’d said something wrong. He glanced guiltily at Annie.
Annie wasn’t sure what was meant by that until Victor said, “I was planning on taking no one, just calling Meredith who played one of the lead parts,” he said in an aside to Annie, “and seeing if she’d go. But,” and his gaze turned fully to Annie. “If Annie will do me the honor, I’ll take her to the premiere.”
Annie nearly choked on the mouthful of sandwich she was chewing.
Chapter Eight
“Are you all right?” Victor started to stand.
Annie held up her hand and wheezed, attempting to swallow what was in her mouth.
Even Sean looked concerned. “Jake?” he said.
Annie shook her head and swallowed. She grabbed her water glass and drained it, and then promptly spewed water as she coughed and gasped again.
“Jake,” Sean said really alarmed.
“Annie?” Victor stood and started toward her.
“You—you can’t be—serious.”
Seeing she was talking, albeit a bit raspily, Victor reluctantly took his seat.
She picked up her napkin and dabbed at her mouth and then the table.
Sean picked up his own napkin and began to dab at himself.
“I am quite serious,” Victor replied, the only one not dabbing.
“Oh dear,” she whispered.
“Annie?” Victor asked gently.
When she didn’t look up, Victor reached over and took her hand into his. “Is there a problem?”
She glanced up quickly at him and then back down.
Sean cleared his throat, uncomfortable.
“I’m not…well…I’m just plain Annie, Victor. I’ve seen the premieres on TV. You’re not supposed to appear with someone like me.”
Victor squeezed her hand. “I thought we were friends,” he said again and Annie sighed.
“Well, yes.”
“Look at me, Annie.”
She glanced nervously at Sean, who was sipping his water and then her gaze lifted to Victor’s. “I want to take you. I had planned on waiting a day or two more to ask, but then Sean showed up.”
Reminded of Sean’s presence, Annie’s gaze darted that way and then back. She wasn’t used to having an audience.
Victor felt her hands, slick with perspiration, and realized how nervous she was. Gently, he began drawing circles on the back of her hand with his thumb, totally ignoring his friend. “It’d be an experience you could take back and tell your friends,” he said, tenderly, smiling, turning on the charm.
She weakened some. He saw it in her eyes and the way her shoulders relaxed a bit. If Sean would not say anything, he could probably convince her.
“But I don’t have clothes like that to wear. You’ve seen all the dresses I have with me,” she admitted desperately.
Victor blinked. “Is that all?” His smile invited her to smile with him. “We’ll find something. Clothes are the least of our worries. My biggest worry is being there without a date and having to face the leading lady, Meredith.”
She was wavering. She chewed her lip and wrinkled her nose up in indecision.
“Please, Annie. It’ll be fun, and it would be an honor for me to have someone who can actually carry on a conversation, especially someone that makes me laugh like you do.”
“I wouldn’t know what to do.”
“You would have to do nothing except grace my arm with your presence.”
He paused and saw her wilting. “It’s a once-in-a-lifetime thing. You’ll love it. It’s even better than windmills and wildflowers.”
She was defeated. Her shoulders slumped and she laughed. “Even better than that?” she asked. “Well how can I resist?”
“I promise it won’t interfere with our tour of Holland.” He squeezed her hand.
She glanced over and was reminded of Sean’s presence. A dull flush climbed up her cheeks. Glancing down at her dress, she winced. “I need to change before the doctor’s appointment.”
Victor stood and moved behind Annie. He slipped a hand under her arm and assisted her to a standing position. She wasn’t far from him and he took the moment to inhale her sweet scent again. “Thank you again,” he said softly.
She glanced up and their gazes connected. He saw something there, he wasn’t sure w
hat, and then it was gone. “I’ll be back down in time for the appointment.”
He reluctantly released her arm and allowed her to go her own way.
When she was gone, he continued to stare after her.
“Just friends?” Sean asked, disbelief rife in his voice.
Victor turned to Sean. “Yes. We’re friends.”
Sean blew out air, pursing his lips as he did. “Please, dear boy. How long have I known you?”
Victor waved him off and took his seat.
Sean changed tactics. “She’s not your size-three starlet or the model you usually date.”
“I’ll agree to that,” Victor said. He took the last bite of his sandwich.
“A bit clumsy if you ask me,” Sean added.
Victor stared at his friend. “She just found out who I am and met you. I think a lesser person would have really made a scene. Personally, I think she took the news well—especially since I had no time to prepare her for the invitation.”
“Ah, the invitation.” Sean nodded. “Are you sure about that? You know the media is going to eat her alive. Just what do you know about her? I mean, her reputation and all. It wouldn’t do to be seen with a former…uh…nah, never mind,” Sean said.
“Yeah. She’s not a former anything. She’s a very nice widow from Louisiana.”
“What are you going to do about her clothes?” he asked.
Victor shrugged. “Call a designer and have her send a couple of dresses here.”
Sean nodded. “I’ll do my best to help deflect questions and such, but you know how the media is.”
“Yeah,” Victor said and sighed.
“Are you sure you know what you’re doing here, Jake? I do say, if you’re just friends, you could break it off now and possibly avoid any disasters.”
“I want her to go with me,” Victor replied.
Sean paused, studying his friend intently as he sipped his water. Finally he said, “You made her say, ‘I’m his,’ when I arrived today.”
“It was a joke,” Victor replied. It hadn’t been at the time. He’d actually been jealous of his friend. But he wasn’t going to admit that to him. He’d never been jealous of Sean—not like this. Maybe because of the look on Annie’s face when she’d recognized Sean. All he knew for certain was that he hadn’t liked the feeling in him when she had looked at Sean.
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