Stand-in: Take 3 of the Kanyon and Daylen Series

by K. B. Draper

  “Okay, but aren’t vampire slayers supposed to hunt at night?” Blue asked, finally peeling her eyes from the screen to smirk at Kanyon’s outfit.

  Kanyon gave her a roll of the eyes before turning to leave.

  “No, seriously. Wait. I have a question,” Blue quickly yelled.

  Kanyon stopped, looking back warily.

  “Have you recently begun to over identify with cats? Any sudden cravings for tuna? Got a weird love-hate thing for Batman?”

  “Cute. Super cute,” Kanyon said then headed upstairs, distancing herself from Blue and what she swore was a chuckling Ralph. Halfway up the stairs, she realized she was fighting a smile. She’d never seen Blue so openly affectionate … Correction, any kind of affectionate, to anything or anyone. Her grin widened and a little part, a very little part, a completely irrational part, hoped that no one was looking for or missing Ralph. For Blue’s sake, of course. God, I must be more tired than I think, she mused, laughing at the idea of the two of them as dog owners. She stepped into her bedroom and froze. “What the holy fu–” She spun on her heels, stomped back to the staircase, and leaned over the railing. “Very flipping funny, Blue!”

  “You didn’t specify WHERE I had to post them!” Blue yelled back.

  Twenty minutes later, Kanyon had showered, donned her favorite baggy sweats and T-shirt, and was attempting to actively avoid the forty-eight sets of pathetic mismatched eyes that looked at her from each direction, including the ceiling. She’d deal with it tomorrow, she thought as she flipped the switch for the lights and crawled into bed where she was quickly reminded she had no pillow. She sighed in defeat as she grabbed the passenger side pillow and thought pleasantly of adding Blue’s picture to the lost and found posters. She was just about to punch her ride ticket for La La Land when her bed dipped, rocked, and a heavy weight dropped onto her legs. Her first thought was there’d been an earthquake and the ceiling fell on her, but then the ceiling stood, made three circles, and resettled itself back on her legs.

  “Oh, no I don’t think so.” Kanyon flipped on the bedside lamp. “Off,” Kanyon ordered with two finger snaps and a point to the floor. Ralph didn’t move. Kanyon snapped again. “Down,” she instructed, pointing to the floor again. Ralph moved this time but it was only to stretch out, his butt now way too close to her face. “No. Bad dog,” she tried, twisting and wiggling to get out from underneath the 160 pounds of dead dog weight. “Ralph, you are not sleeping with me.” A fact proven accurate as a few seconds later, she fell, solo, off the edge of the bed in a final tug of freedom.

  Kanyon went to her closet and pulled out another comforter, spare pillow, and a blanket. She made a pallet on the floor. “Here ya go, boy. Look-see, your own bed.” She knelt and patted the makeshift pallet. “It’s nice and soft. Come here. Come on. Be a good boy.”

  Ralph was unimpressed and not persuaded in the least, as the only movement he made was to snuggle deeper into Kanyon’s cushy bed.

  “Okay, Ralph. Let’s go!” Kanyon ordered, trying the “I’m serious” approach. “Off the bed.” She snapped her fingers again and added a foot stomp. Nothing. “Fine. I didn’t want to have to resort to this, but you leave me no choice.” Kanyon walked over to Ralph and physically tried to remove him. She tried his legs, neck, shoulders, and head but couldn’t so much as budge him. She stepped back, hands on her hips. “Fine,” she sighed. “You win. Tonight, and only tonight, because I’m exhausted.”

  Ralph scoffed.

  Kanyon walked around to the other side of the bed and tried to crawl back under the covers, but she couldn’t pull them out from underneath the oversized, furry paperweight. She adjusted, covering a leg and part of a butt cheek with the scrap of comforter that wasn’t underneath him. She then tried curling up into a ball to cover more real estate. She groaned in frustration as she got back out of bed. “I’ll give you lasagna for breakfast if you please move over to this side of the bed.” Ralph opened one lazy eyelid. “I’ll add a loaf of garlic bread?”

  Ralph stood and moved to the other side of the bed. Kanyon leapt for her side, pulling the sheets and comforter up and over her shoulders while Ralph was in his second of three rotations.

  Kanyon’s internal alarm clock beeped lightly in her head. She groaned. “Ugh, I don’t want to get up yet.” She nestled into her bed, relishing the fact she’d slept deeply, soundly for the first time in several months. She let out a moan of satisfaction as she burrowed deeper into the warmth of the soft, furry … Her eyes shot open to see Ralph’s butt in her face. She scrambled back, hit the edge of the bed, and went crashing to the floor, her sheet still tethering her ankle to the bed.

  Ralph simply rolled over, smacking his chops, and nestled back into sleep.

  “Un-freaking believable!” Kanyon stood and stared at the mammoth dog taking up over three-fourths of her bed. “This … You’re completely ridiculous. Get down!” When he didn’t move, she sat back on the bed, curled her legs up, and tried to use her feet and legs to push him off the other side. She gave up as he remained unmoved and she heard the soft sounds of snoring. “Christ,” Kanyon mumbled as she stormed off to take another shower to get the dog butt funk off her.

  Kanyon’s thoughts quickly slipped from the dog in her bed to the events of the day before. She watched absently as soap bubbles slid through her fingers. The same fingers that yesterday had tingled and lit with heat and flame, the reaction she’d come to associate with Daylen being near. Had Daylen been … No, surely not. She leaned against the shower wall, letting the water, fear, doubt, and pain wash over her. She’d used the hectic shooting schedule to make it through the first few months, but ultimately the movie wasn’t enough of a distraction to keep the hurt and emptiness away.

  Kanyon pushed off the shower wall to immerse her head under the spray as she thought about what all was included in the Guardian life package … Daylen. That was as far down the list as she got. Her immediate draw to Daylen had taken her by surprise. She’d never developed more than a passing interest for anyone, man or woman. And though in her darkest moments she thought otherwise, Kanyon knew the attraction was mutual. She’d felt the undeniable heat and electricity that shot through them and felt Daylen’s desire flood her when they’d kissed. Which made it all the more painful when Daylen pushed her away.

  She turned one last time under the water, rinsing off and wishing the water would take the emotional residue as well. She snagged a towel off the hook and dried off, finger-combing her hair. In the steam-covered mirror, she saw Daylen sitting on the counter in front of her, bandaging the wounds she’d received on their first case together. She ran a fingertip over the nearly invisible scar that lay above her brow. Guardian, Kanyon thought as she traced the line. She was a Guardian. She wanted to be a Guardian. And damn it, she wanted to be with Daylen. She’d given Daylen enough time to cool her mental jets. Daylen was just going to have to deal with her one way or another. The kissy face way being the preferred method. She wiped at the steam and gave her reflection a glare. “Okay, so, we’re going to get our job and our girl back.” She glanced at the small clock next to the sink and sighed. “After stupid work.”

  Ralph was not in her bed when Kanyon emerged from the bathroom, dressed and ready for the early morning call. She made her way down to the kitchen to find his butt sticking out of the open refrigerator. “Are you freaking kidding me? Bad dog. I’ll get your lasagna.” Ralph woofed. “Fine! And bread.” She put a leg in front of him in an attempt to wedge him out with the rest of her body. “Get your head out of there.”

  Ralph finally relented. Kanyon glared at him, reaching in blindly to find the pan of homemade lasagna that her celebrity chef neighbor randomly left for her. Kanyon scooped out a serving into a plastic bowl, dropped a loaf of garlic bread on top and sat it down in front of Ralph. He looked down at the serving, looked back up at Kanyon, and scoffed. “Seriously?” Kanyon rolled her eyes and dropped the entire pan in front of him. “Fine. I have to go. I guess, make yourself at h
ome. Again.” She headed toward the front door, yelling over her shoulder. “Tell Blue to behave herself, please.”

  Kanyon clicked her car remote and mindlessly opened her door, tossing yesterday’s leather outfit in the back before dropping into her seat. She was immediately met with panting lasagna breath. “What the … You were just– How the …” She looked back at her house then back at Ralph’s mismatched eyes. “You were just in there. How’d you get in here?”

  Ralph continued to pant happily in the seat next to her.

  “Oh, no. I don’t know how you just did that but you are not going with me. I have to go to work. Out,” Kanyon ordered, pointing to the house. “Back inside.” Ralph didn’t move. “Ralph, you need to get out of the car this instant and go back inside.” Ralph quirked his head. “Don’t act like you don’t know what I’m saying.”

  Ralph stood, made three tight circles, his tail hitting Kanyon in the face with every twirl, then dropped down into the seat in a tight ball. “Ralph, I didn’t say lie down. Out is the opposite of lie down.” He ignored her. “Arghhh.” Kanyon got out of the car, went around to the passenger side, and flung the door open. “Ralph, out!” Ralph didn’t move. Kanyon tried to grab Ralph’s haunches and pull him out. He didn’t budge. So, she went to the next best thing. “Blue has Hamburger Helper at her house.” She got an eyebrow raise. “That’s right. I think it’s the cheeseburger kind.”

  Thirty-five minutes later, Kanyon pulled into the movie studio. “Hey, Reynolds.”

  “Hello, Miss McKane.” Reynolds leaned down to look into her car. “Whoa. That’s a … ah … big fella.”

  “Yeah. I’m dog-sitting for a couple of days,” Kanyon replied with a sideways look at Ralph.

  “Okay. Well, you have a good day. Bye, big guy.” Ralph barked a reply and Reynolds stepped back and waved them through the gate.

  “I can’t believe you wouldn’t get out of my car,” Kanyon muttered. “You’re going to have to stay in my trailer while I’m on set, so you’re going to be totally bored.”

  Ralph scoffed.

  Kanyon parked, then went around to let Ralph out the passenger side, realizing quickly that she didn’t have a leash. “Crap.” She looked around the lot as if a PetSmart might have been built there overnight. “Ugh,” she put frustrated hands on her hips then glanced down at her belt. Two seconds later, she’d slipped her belt around Ralph’s neck, which effectively left the shortest leash in the history of leashes, ever. She gave it a test yank. “Alright. Now, come on.” She took one step before she came to a jerking halt. “Ralph, come on. I’m going to be late.” She pulled at the belt a couple of times. Ralph shook his head. Kanyon leaned down, pointing a finger at his nose. “Listen, dog, you’ll come with me right now or I’ll sell you to a restaurant in some dirty back alley of Chinatown.” She jerked at the belt again. Ralph yawned. Kanyon tried another approach. “Fine. I’ll buy you a pot roast.” Ralph laid down. “What’s your freaking problem?”

  Ralph used his back paw to swipe at the belt, pulling it from Kanyon’s grip and over his head in one swift motion. They both glanced at the belt on the ground between them then eyed each other. Never taking his gaze off Kanyon, Ralph calmly stood, stepped forward, and proceeded to pee on Kanyon’s belt.

  Kanyon pointed at the belt. “Seriously?”

  Ralph scoffed then started to walk away. Kanyon jogged to keep up. “That was a $200.00 belt. And FYI, that scoffing thing is really freakin’ annoying.” He scoffed again.

  “Miss McKane.” One of the set guys waved, as he came jogging up to her. “Whoa!” The kid backtracked. “I was supposed to let you know that–” He took another step in Reverse as Ralph sniffed the air then leveled his gaze on the kid. “Is he going to eat me?”

  “No.” Kanyon laid a hand on Ralph’s head.

  “Um, okkkay,” he replied, his eyes never leaving Ralph. “Steven wanted me to tell you he needs to see you in twenty minutes to go over some scene changes.”

  “Got it. Thanks.”

  “No problem,” the kid replied, already turning to go.

  “Cody, right?” Kanyon asked quickly as she reached in to pull her wallet from her bag.

  “Yeah!” Cody answered with a wide ‘OMG, you know my name’ grin.

  “Could I get you to do me a favor?” She handed him a hundred-dollar bill. “Think you could come up with a collar, a couple dog bowls, and some food?”

  “Sure. You want me to get a leash too?”

  Ralph growled.

  “No.” Kanyon patted Ralph’s head. “He has leash aggression issues.”

  “Noted,” Cody replied before taking off.

  Kanyon looked down at Ralph. “Really? You had to growl at the poor kid?” Ralph scoffed. “Again, getting old.”

  Kanyon barely spared a glance at the gaggle of women standing and giggle-sighing with that special hybrid of “awe, you’re so cute and funny” that women reserve for flirting with boys and watching cutesy cat videos. Kanyon assumed it was her co-star, Ryan, causing this particular morning’s giggle-fest. Probably standing around eating bagels with his shirt off again. But then she caught a glimpse of a shirt and a mop of red hair. Calvin, Cody’s twin brother who was in charge of lighting, was actually in the center of the ring of women. You go, Calvin. When Kanyon turned back to her trailer, Ralph was already disappearing inside.

  “Bad dog!” Kanyon lunged for Ralph, grabbing his hips in an attempt to pull his head out of her mini-fridge. “Christ! How’d you even get your head in there?” She knew the effort was hopeless, but she pulled anyway. She thought she’d read somewhere that new dog owners were supposed to establish themselves as the pack leader. “I’m the alpha here!”

  Ralph scoffed. It echoed slightly in the small space before he stepped back, causing Kanyon, who was still pulling on him, to lose her footing and go crashing back into the couch.

  “Damn it, Ra– What are you doing?”

  Ralph’s nose was in the air, sniffing.

  “Whatever you’re thinking … No! Just no.”

  A low growl emitted from his throat as he took a step toward the door. Kanyon scrambled over the end of the couch to place herself between him and whatever he was going to destroy. “NO!” Ralph took another sniff of the air, then let out a less ominous sound. “You can’t go out there.” Ralph lifted a shaggy eyebrow. “Ralph, I’m serious.” Ralph sniffed the air again, scoffed, then jumped onto the small couch, made three circles, and flopped down.

  Kanyon glanced out the window to see what had Ralph’s hackles up. She didn’t see anything odd except the same group of women were now oohing and ahhing over a growing number of the male members of the lighting crew.

  “I’ve got to go.” Kanyon picked up the remote and tossed it to him. “I’ll check on you at lunch time.” She heard the television go on as she shut the door behind her. “I don’t even want to know how he does that.”

  Kanyon couldn’t help but take a quick survey of the women swarming the lighting guys. They were attractive, all want-to-be actress types, who took any job they could to get closer to someone who could put them on screen. On the flip side, the lighting crew was, well … average. She knew most of them. All nice, but not the type of guys Hollywood wannabe women typically gravitated toward. If the guys had a hit TV show, a movie, or directed something, maybe. But lighting and rigging guys? Yeah, no. So, if it wasn’t stardom they were pedaling, the next likely scenario was drugs, an unfortunate reality in this business. Kanyon didn’t know Calvin or any of the lighting guys well, but she wouldn’t have pegged them as the type. A joint here and there maybe, but selling or pushing? She didn’t see it. But another side effect of this business, it could push a person to do things they’d never otherwise consider. She’d have to have a little chat with Calvin later.

  “Kanyon! Excellent work yesterday. The shots we got were perfection. Some cut-ins, clean-ups and such, but we’re golden,” Steven said, coming up beside her.

  “Thanks.”

&n
bsp; “You keep up with takes like that and we might just actually pull this freaking movie off on time.”

  “I’ll do what I can.” Kanyon smiled, hoping that would be exactly the case.

  “Great.” He held the door to his office open for her. “Ryan should be joining us shortly. I just had a few ideas that I want to run by you for today’s street scene.”

  Chapter 6

  Daylen was sitting at her desk when her aunt walked by. Catching a glance at her niece’s pained face, Ruby assumed yesterday’s plan of going to talk to Kanyon hadn’t been successful. “Daylen?”

  Daylen slammed the top of her laptop down, where she may or may not have been staring at photos of Kanyon that she’d accidently, on purpose, run across. “Hey. I was just,” she looked down at her computer to help prompt an answer, “looking at some background reports.”

  “Right,” Ruby said, stepping into the room. “And background reports always cause that deep blue aura of sadness around you.”

  “The guy had a lot of parking tickets,” Daylen scrambled. “And he was homeless,” she added quickly. “The tickets were for his shopping cart and–”

  Ruby held up a hand. “Just stop.” She moved to the edge of Daylen’s desk. “You talked to Kanyon and I take it things didn’t go well?”

  “No. Well, I don’t know exactly.” Daylen moaned. “I really didn’t get a chance. She was busy.”

  “So, you’ll try again today. No big deal.” Daylen didn’t respond. “Daylen? You know there’s an article at the movie studio, so you’re going to have to face her sooner or later.”

  “I know. I just–” Daylen’s heart dropped and she didn’t have the energy to conceal her feelings. “I saw Lexi going into her trailer last night.”

  “Ahhh.”

  “So, apparently, I not only screwed up by pushing her away, I pushed her right back into Lexi’s skanky-ass arms.”