'And you aren't happy about the improvisation he has lined up for tomorrow?'
Merlyn swallowed hard, moistening her lips, praying he wouldn't ask what those changes had been—and knowing she couldn't be that lucky. 'No.'
'What is it?'
'I—' Saved by the knock on the door; it had to be the food this time!
She rushed to open the door, gratefully pulling the slightly dazed waiter inside, giving him a dazzling smile as she signed the bill.
'You're right,' she told Rand once the waiter had left, clutching his more-than-generous tip. 'The sandwiches do look delicious. And I will have just one glass of wine.' She sat cross-legged on the bed with the tray in front of her, looking up at him expectantly as he made no effort to join her. 'Rand?' she prompted with a quick smile, hardly daring to breathe as she waited to see if he would join her or continue to probe into tomorrow's filming. She felt some of the tension leave her body as he slipped off the uncomfortably stained trousers before joining her on the bed.
Merlyn hadn't had a late-night feast like this since she was at boarding-school and one of the other girls had received a food hamper, not protesting as Rand repeatedly topped up her wine glass, feeling quite heady by the time they removed the tray and empty wine bottle from the bed.
They made love slowly, lingering over every new delight, Merlyn responding with a lack of inhibition she had no control over, snuggling down against his chest as they lay replete in each other's arms.
'Never feel you have to deliberately keep something from me, Merlyn.' He smoothed her hair as he softly spoke. 'You don't owe me any explanations, about anything.'
She wanted to explain to him, to try to make him understand why she was so upset, she just didn't want to hurt him by revealing what Christopher intended doing with the gazebo scene. But it had been a long day, a tiring one, and she was exhausted by their avid need of each other that didn't seem to lessen but intensify.
Instead of explaining she fell asleep.
'A whole morning,' Christopher ranted as he paced the room. 'I've lost a whole morning's filming!'
'Well, I'm sorry,' Merlyn said impatiently. 'If I'd known that I would have waited until tomorrow before falling through the deck!' She glared at him.
'Very funny,' he argued back. 'You could have let someone know of the damage you had done.'
'Again, I'm sorry, but at the time I was more concerned with saving my life—'
'You saw me late last night— When you were obviously concerned with Brandon Carmichael,' he realised disgustedly. 'And just how long has that been going on?' he accused.
Her face was flushed. 'None of your—'
'If you had only told me about the deck then I could have got it repaired.' He ignored her indignation as he returned to what was really bothering him. 'And—'
'In the middle of the night?' She gave him a sceptical look.
'—then we wouldn't have wasted the whole morning,' he finished exasperatedly, glaring at her.
'I repeat,' she said through gritted teeth. 'In the middle of the night?'
'Of course,' Christopher dismissed. 'And then we wouldn't have wasted the whole—'
'Morning,' Merlyn finished wearily. 'Speak for yourself,' she muttered. 'I've enjoyed my morning.' She had woken up with a headache and an unwillingness to do any work today. Her day had brightened considerably when she found she didn't have to. 'Would you care for a game?' She lent on her cue as she stood next to the snooker-table in the hotel games-room.
'No,' he replied in irritation.
'Perhaps not,' she grimaced, deftly pocketing a red ball, quickly followed by the black.
Christopher's eyes widened. 'Where did you learn to do that?'
She gave him a vague smile while replacing the black ball on its spot before pocketing another red. 'One of the advantages of having such an older brother. One of the few,' she added with feeling. 'As we were both at boarding-school he never had a partner for snooker during the school holidays!'
'You could be a professional,' Christopher said dazedly as she pocketed one ball after another with complete accuracy.
'No, I couldn't,' she taunted. 'I'm an actress, remember.'
His scowl returned. 'I couldn't believe it when we went to set up this morning and found that gaping great hole where you were supposed to step up off the boat!'
'A gaping great hole big enough for a body to fall through—mine!'
'All right, all right,' he sighed. 'You weren't hurt, were you?' he asked grudgingly.
'At last,' she said with feeling. 'No, I wasn't hurt. But if it hadn't been for Rand—'
'Carmichael was out there with you?' Christopher queried with a frown. 'What were you doing, practising the gazebo scene?' he taunted knowingly.
'Oh yes, the gazebo scene,' repeated Merlyn, dangerously soft. 'I'm glad you brought that up.'
Christopher raised his brows in innocent enquiry. 'I gather there's something about it that isn't to your liking?' he said mildly.
'Something about it?' she echoed with suppressed anger. 'Liza told me that you intend for us to play that scene nude now!'
'Knowing what a little gossip she is, I thought she might,' he drawled with satisfaction.
'I realise that,' she declared in anger. 'And you have to know that I won't do it.'
'Won't, Merlyn?' he repeated, as if he had never heard the word before.
And maybe he hadn't. He was the star around here, for all that he remained behind the camera. 'It isn't supposed to be played like that, Christopher,' she tried reasoning with him. 'They're supposed to sink on to the sofa together, kissing passionately, while the scene fades away to leave the rest to the audience's imagination. That was the way we discussed it—'
'Don't tell me how to direct my film, Merlyn,' he responded icily. 'I know how we discussed it, I just happen to have decided it should be more explicit. The audience doesn't like having things left to their imagination any more. This isn't some damned love-story,' he added scornfully.
'But it is,' protested Merlyn. 'It was because Suzie loved life, because she loved Rand, that she fought her illness and won.'
'It was because she didn't want to die,' he jeered. 'It had nothing to do with love, for Carmichael or anything else. The human body has a wonderful resilience to survive, against all odds.'
Merlyn shook her head. 'Faced with the same prospect, I don't know if I'd have had the same strength.'
'Why not?' Christopher drawled. 'You love life. And Brandon Carmichael,' he added softly.
Her breath caught in her throat as a blush flamed in her cheeks. 'Christopher—'
'Hey, I'm not criticising,' he chided. 'I'm for anything that keeps him happy—and out of my way.'
Her eyes darkened. 'That isn't the reason—'
'Look, Merlyn, your reasons are your own,' he assured her briskly. 'I just hope you're sure of his.'
Merlyn became suddenly still. 'What do you mean?'
He shrugged his broad shoulders. 'I just hope, for your sake, that he isn't looking at you and seeing his wife.'
He didn't, of course he didn't! And yet Christopher was only putting into words what she feared herself. She was playing the part of Suzie, had been made to look like her; Rand couldn't be blamed if it was Suzie he saw.
'Forget I said that,' Christopher said self-disgustedly as he saw her stricken expression. 'It's probably just sour grapes on my part; I did want you myself, remember,' he confessed.
She gave him a rueful smile, the warmth not reaching the bleakness of her eyes. 'Only because you knew I wasn't interested.'
'Well, if there was no challenge in the conquest it wouldn't be worth bothering about, would it?' Did all men think that way about attracting women? Did Rand? Because if he did she was very much afraid she had been no challenge to him whatsoever, had been his from the beginning.
'Not there, Merlyn,' Liza complained as she squirmed. 'Lower!'
She massaged her friend's aching back lower than the point between
her shoulder blades which was the exact spot Liza had been complaining about seconds earlier. 'What on earth have you been doing?' she mocked as the girl groaned as the ache was eased farther down.
Liza sat forward in the chair while Merlyn stood behind her, her head back as she flexed her aching muscles. 'We didn't all spend the day thrashing all comers to the snooker-table,' she moaned. 'Christopher decided the weather had cleared enough this afternoon to do my scene on horse-back. I haven't ridden a horse since I was ten years old and didn't know any better! I was so tense today my back became locked.'
'Poor you,' Merlyn consoled.
'The horse wasn't too happy about it, either,' her friend said with feeling. 'I'm too much of a lady to tell you where else I hurt, but it is painful!'
Merlyn chuckled softly as Liza's awkward way of sitting told her exactly 'where else' she hurt. 'Never mind,' she encouraged. 'It's done now.'
'No, it isn't,' Liza groaned. 'Christopher said I looked like a puppet whose strings had got all tangled up; he's going to reshoot it tomorrow before the gazebo scene. Talking of the gazebo scene,' she half turned to Merlyn, the stiffness in her back preventing her from turning all the way around, 'you must have taken quite a fall last night.'
'I thought I was going to drown,' confirmed Merlyn with a shudder of remembrance.
'I saw Mr Carmichael over there this morning before the men started work,' Liza nodded. 'He looked grim. Hey, do you think I could call him Rand like you do, it seems a little strange calling one of my best friend's lovers Mr!'
'Call him what you want,' Merlyn said absently. 'Rand was at the gazebo this morning?'
'Mm.' Her friend nodded again, once more enjoying her massage. 'He was probably imagining what could have happened if he hadn't been there to save you.'
Rand had left her this morning shortly after six o'clock with the intention of going home to change before flying down to London for the day; so what had he been doing at the gazebo?
'Ouch!' Liza complained indignantly as Merlyn's nails dug into her back. 'I don't have to call him Rand if you would rather I didn't,' she teased. 'You don't have to get violent about it!'
Merlyn stepped away from her friend, her smile weak. 'It was an accident,' she excused. 'I think you should have a nice soak in a hot bath now. It might help ease your other point of pain,' she added dryly.
Liza stood up with difficulty. 'I'll never be able to get back on that horse tomorrow.' She moved stiffly. 'Maybe I shouldn't have lied when Christopher asked if I'd ridden a horse lately!'
Merlyn chuckled. 'Our director is certainly demanding.'
'No luck with him about the gazebo scene?' her friend asked directly.
'No,' said Merlyn with feeling. 'Christopher is adamant he wants it played that way.'
'Mark seems to be looking forward to it,' Liza told her sympathetically.
Merlyn hadn't spoken to Mark all day, but she hadn't needed to, his knowing looks enough; he really was looking forward to tomorrow afternoon. And Merlyn didn't need anyone tell her why. The two of them had been engaged to be married six years ago but their most intimate caresses had been when Mark touched her breasts; tomorrow afternoon he was going to take great pleasure in touching more than that!
'He has nothing to worry about,' she said crossly. 'He'll be wearing as much as if he were going for a swim.'
'Are you seeing Rand tonight?' Liza wisely changed the subject.
Merlyn wasn't sure. He had said he would call her when he got home, and he hadn't called yet. In view of his housekeeper's reaction yesterday when she telephoned him, she was loath to call him again.
'I don't know yet,' she revealed truthfully. 'He'll call me if he gets back in time to come over.'
'If he hasn't called within the next hour come and rescue me from the bath and we'll go and have dinner together. We haven't had time to catch up on all that gossip yet.'
'See how you feel once you've been soaking for a while,' Merlyn advised with humour.
With her usual exuberance, Liza bounced back to full mobility after her bath and, as Rand still hadn't called, Merlyn joined the other woman for dinner in one of the hotel restaurants.
'Good evening, ladies.' James came to stand by their table. 'Is everything satisfactory?'
Merlyn returned his smile. 'Well, the steak was a little more delicious than I'm used to, but I think I could learn to live with that. Why don't you join us?' she invited as the waiter brought their coffee.
'Miss Benedict?' He looked questioningly at Liza before making any move to sit down.
'Please,' she smiled. 'I never refuse the company of a handsome man.'
'Unless they're married, of course,' Merlyn put in dryly as the couple continued to smile at each other as James sat down.
Liza gave James a rueful smile. 'It's terrible when you have your conscience sitting next to you!'
His eyes glowed darkly brown. 'But we're married. In a way,' he drawled.
'So we are.' Liza's expression brightened. 'In that case—Don't look so worried, Merlyn,' she laughed her enjoyment of the exchange. 'James and I are only having fun.'
Merlyn was well aware of that. 'But if I don't play the Jiminy Cricket, who will?' she teased.
'I will,' Anne announced lightly. 'You're wanted on the telephone, Merlyn,' she told her softly once she had her attention. 'Over by the desk,' Anne explained. 'It's Brandon.'
She breathlessly thanked the other woman before hurrying over to take the call, hardly aware of excusing herself before she did so. She hadn't consciously allowed herself to think of Rand all evening, and yet she knew that at the back of her mind she was thinking of nothing else, just waiting to hear from him.
'Merlyn?'
His voice sounded different on the telephone, more brusque, not at all like the man who had whispered eroticisms in her ear this morning as they made love. 'Yes,' she confirmed huskily. 'Rand?'
'I'm still in London,' he announced flatly.
She bit back her gasp of disappointment. 'When do you expect to be back?' She deliberately made her voice light, casually enquiring, vividly remembering what Christopher had said earlier about 'no challenge in the conquest making it not worth bothering about'.
'I'm not sure,' Rand answered abruptly. 'Some time tomorrow, perhaps.'
'I'll miss you.' The admission was an involuntary one, and she bit her lip painfully after she had made it.
'Will you?' He sounded sceptical.
'Yes,' she confirmed almost resentfully as she sensed that scepticism.
'How did that scene go today that you weren't too happy about?' His voice was brisk again.
'We didn't do it,' Merlyn sighed.
'Why not?' he demanded sharply.
'I—er—The conditions weren't right,' she evaded. It was ridiculous to keep the nudity scene from him, she knew, when he was sure to see the completed film. And yet she didn't want him to know about it just yet.
'I see,' Rand said slowly. 'I'll possibly see you tomorrow, then.'
'Yes. But—Rand!' she cried before he could ring off, giving a self-conscious smile at the maitre d' as he stood a short distance away, having turned to look at her curiously as she raised her voice. 'I will miss you,' she repeated inadequately to Rand, her voice softer now, the maitre d's attention returning back to the diners.
'I told you I'll see you tomorrow,' he said tersely. 'I don't want to keep you from your meal any longer.'
'Oh, I've finished my meal, we were just sitting around talking.'
'Really?' he said disinterestedly. 'Then I won't keep you from that.'
'We were only gossiping— Rand, what's wrong?' She frowned her confusion with his coldness towards her. Had he tired of her already and this was his way of ending things?
'Wrong?' he echoed icily. 'What could possibly be wrong? I've been delayed in London on business,' he told her, his voice edged with impatience. 'One of those dislikes of mine that we didn't get around to discussing last night is that I can't stand possessively jealous w
omen!'
Merlyn felt the colour drain from her face. Jealous? Did she have anything—anyone—to be jealous of? God, he was right, she was jealous! Since Mark she hadn't allowed herself to care for any man, least of all to become possessive about one, and it was that Summers pride and emotional independence that helped her now through this awkwardness with Rand.
'I think you're talking about the wrong woman, Rand,' she said with cool dismissal. 'Now, if you'll excuse me, I do think my coffee is getting cold.'
'Only the coffee?' he scorned.
Merlyn frowned. 'I'm not even going to pretend to understand you, Rand,' she sighed. 'I have a feeling you were right last night, you don't understand yourself either. You certainly don't seem to know what you want, especially from me. I have to go,' she said impatiently. 'I have another early call tomorrow.'
She took a few minutes to compose herself before rejoining the others at the table, finding James had gone now, Anne and Liza chatting companionably together.
'Sorted out yet which one of you belongs to James?' prompted Merlyn lightly as she sat down.
'I do—by default,' Anne drawled, her eyes glowing with humour. 'Liza dropped out when she heard that James likes to eat biscuits in bed.'
'I can't stand crumbs on the sheets,' Liza acknowledged wryly.
'I take it poor James left in disgust?' Merlyn quirked her brows.
'Come to think of it he did leave soon after that,' Anne nodded. 'How's Brandon?' Merlyn sobered.
'Busy in London,' she supplied abruptly, not quite able to meet the other woman's gaze.
His sister-in-law nodded. 'It's good to see him so interested in his work again.' She stood up. 'Ah well, back to the grindstone,' she said without rancour, obviously enjoying her thriving hotel.
'It may be good for Brandon,' Liza said slowly, watching Merlyn intently once they were alone again. 'But is it good for you?'
Merlyn looked at her with feigned surprise. 'What does it have to do with me?'
'You look as if you've lost five pounds and found a penny!' her friend observed.
Merlyn sighed. 'I don't understand Rand, and I'm not even going to pretend to. My only consolation is that he doesn't understand himself either! Come on.' She stood up decisively. 'Let's get out of here,' and she strode from the room without waiting to see if Liza was following her.
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