“That so?” George asked.
“Didn’t Sara tell you I set the house on fire?” Lucas grinned. “Is that the action of a sane man?”
Lucas was in fine fettle all of a sudden. She should be relieved, but she suddenly felt she understood why David had wanted to punch Lucas out. Why had Lucas put them through so much? Why had he been so contrary?
Leona came inside with a youngish man who carried a doctor’s bag. “Make yourself at home, Dr. Blakely.”
The pilot followed, carrying their suitcases. Leona directed him to leave them in the hall.
The doctor pulled out his stethoscope and a blood pressure cuff, and checked George’s vitals on the spot. “You’ll live, old man,” he said, when he was done.
George snorted. “Don’t think so.”
He turned to Lucas. “Aside from trying to kill my best girl here, and the top box office star in Hollywood—incidentally, where is he?—what else have you been up to?”
Lucas grinned. “Nothing much. Being obstructive. Throwing tantrums. The usual.”
George guffawed, then coughed. The coughing went on and on, but he waved away any concern from them.
The pilot brought in a riding cart. He and the doctor helped George into it.
He regained his voice. “Where to, pal?”
Visibly amused, Lucas led the way into the living room. Sara didn’t know whether to follow them or not.
“Sara. Where are you?” George called in a hoarse voice. Lucas was busy moving a club chair so George could draw up closer to the center of the room.
“I’m here,” she said, standing in the doorway. “I’ll make myself scarce and let you two have a chat.”
“Oh, don’t bother, girl. Lucas and I don’t have any secrets, do we?”
“Nope.”
Lucas's cheery mood was amazing. The difference was night and day. Why couldn’t he have acted this way previously?
George wasn’t one for lots of preliminaries. He plunged right in. “Sara tells me she had to rescue the footage from Desert Wind, that you tried to destroy it in the fire.”
“She was too smart for me. She must have found the files and copied them. ’Course, what I had here wasn’t my only copy. I’ve got another in my bank vault.”
“You do?” she asked, incredulous. “You put us through all that and you knew you had another copy all the time?”
“You put me through hell, reopening the wound of Jennifer’s death, my grief, a lot of pain,” he replied. “Why shouldn’t I pay you back in kind?”
David strolled in. “What’s the commotion? Hi, George. I get it. You’re the big noise.”
“You can say that,” the older man acknowledged with an inclination of his head.
Sara turned to David. “Lucas says he has another copy of the Desert Wind footage in a safe deposit box.”
“That’s good,” David said.
Lucas suddenly had a cagey expression on his face. “You can’t finish the film without it. You’ll have to agree to my terms. Otherwise…”
“Don’t make threats, Lucas,” George intervened. “The kids aren’t trying to get at your life savings.”
Kids? She and David were kids? She said, “I’ve found a lot of the film, but there should be more.”
“George,” David asked, deliberately provoking, “How would you change the film if we have to re-shoot?”
Lucas's eyes started to glaze over with fury. “There will be no changes.”
George waved away David’s idea. “First, let’s see if we can’t coax my good friend Lucas to part with his remaining files.”
“Only if you cut me in on running the show,” Lucas said firmly.
“That’s your bargaining chip, eh?” George appeared amused by Lucas. “We’ll see how it goes.”
“Are you planning to stay here?” Sara asked.
“Or is this just a flying visit?” David chimed in. He pointed in the direction of the helipad. “Flying, get it?”
George’s rusty laugh echoed in the hall. “Good one.” He glanced at Lucas. “Well?”
“You’re welcome to stay,” Lucas said to his old friend. He put a hand on George’s shoulder. “It’s good to see you.”
“Of course I’m staying. Why do you think I brought a doctor with me? We’ll get Desert Wind finished,” George said.
Seeing the condition George was in, she had her doubts that he would last long enough. But if all he did was unstop the logjam that was Lucas's refusal to cooperate and produce the missing film, he’d have done a lot.
A few minutes later, Sara and David talked quietly in the hall. She asked, “What should we do? Should we leave as planned?”
He shook his head. “I called Logan. There’s nowhere nearby to stay. That was the problem the first time around. The crew had to live in trailers. The cast bunked here.”
“Your trailers arrive in—what?—three days?”
“Five.”
“We could go to a larger town and wait for them. Unless you think we’re safe now that George is here?”
They looked toward the living room, from which amicable noises emanated.
“George is a good diversion.” He raked one hand through his blond hair. “I’m going for a swim, and then some down time. Who knows how quick I’ll have to dodge at dinner.”
“I’ll join you. I know where Leona keeps the suits.”
They went to the pool deck, and separated to change into swim gear. David was already doing laps when she slid into the pool. She did a few, then lazily paddled around the middle of the pool.
“Where’s your drive?” he asked, stopping to chat.
She waved her arms in the water to keep afloat. “Give me a break. I was up all night. I want a change of pace, not serious exercise.”
“Got to use it or you lose it.” He grinned. His blond hair hung in wet strands across his forehead.
“Ha,” she laughed, splashing at him lightly. “I’m not an actress. I can get a double chin and still work in the biz.”
“I can’t.”
She cocked her head. “Now that you’re an Oscar winner, you can write you own ticket.”
He shook his head, splattering her with wet droplets. “My body’s not my own. The business has a vested interest in whether my abs are cut or not.”
Sara laughed. “It’s a tough life when you’re a movie star.”
“Since you won’t give me any sympathy, I’ll stop complaining.” He grinned at her. “But I’d better do a few more laps.”
She waved him off. She did a slow circumference of the pool and then made her way to the shortest ladder. When she pulled herself up, David was waiting for her with a large towel. Unlike Lucas the other night, David did not ogle her nearly nude body. He looked at her intently, as if he wanted to memorize her.
David wrapped the towel around her, fastening it at her breast.
“Thanks, I can do that,” she said, trying to take the ends of the towel from his hands.
He ignored her and tightened the towel. Then he used both hands to slightly tilt up her face.
“You have a killer body, but you lead with your killer brain. I love that.” His fingers strayed to her mouth, outlining the corners of her lips. His eyes registered an emotion. Or possibly an intention. He leaned in and kissed her softly.
His lips teased hers. They applied almost no pressure. Hers rose to meet his, to hold more of the kiss closer. The kiss deepened, but still remained soft. Their tongues played gently. She felt a pang deep inside her body.
Finally, he lifted his head, a question in his eyes. She leaned against him, her head on his chest. A kiss fell on her wet hair. He pulled back a little, looking for her answer.
“Yes,” she said.
He led her into the changing room and locked the door.
Chapter 24
A long hour later, they slowly found their clothes and dressed. He helped her put her bra on, and kissed her breasts before covering them. She stayed his hands from her pan
ties, knowing that one touch would start them up again.
“Let’s find a bed of our own,” he said. “Will you run away with me, drive to the nearest big city or even around the next hill?”
“Yes,” she said. Something important had changed. Being with David was more urgent than any feeling she’d ever had. David was first now. This was a pivotal moment, and she had just said yes to her life in every way she could. To her real life, instead of to a daydream.
They sneaked out of the pool area and went to their rooms without being seen. She was already packed, so a minute later, she came out with her rolling suitcase and found David in the hallway with his. He picked up both their bags, and they quietly walked down the corridor and out the front door.
Outside, they quickly went around the side of the house to where his Jeep was parked. He threw their bags into the vehicle and they jumped in.
“We’re like a couple of kids running away from home,” she said, as he maneuvered the Jeep down the driveway away from the house.
“Feels more like an elopement. I’ll call ahead to the next real town and find us a decent hotel.”
An elopement. Did he mean that word?
The miles sped by. He drove with one hand on the wheel, the other holding hers. She was dazed, shocked at her daring, and wildly excited. Two hours later, they checked into a hotel. Prior to walking inside, he pulled a pair of cheap sunglasses from the glove compartment. Somehow, by wearing them and ruffling his hair, plus slouching, he managed not to be made at the front desk. No one looked at them at all.
In their room, Sara called Leona, explaining they were staying in, “What was the name of it?” she asked David, “Oh, a place called Moriarty. We’re fine. Tell George, will you please?”
She shut her phone.
***
They spent the night and the whole next day in their room, never venturing out. Between bouts of intense lovemaking, they had meals delivered and fed each other like baby birds. She felt newly hatched, unable to fathom how completely her life had changed. This was it. The big one at last. She had no words.
David said very little, himself. He seemed as absolutely bowled over as she was. How could this be? Hadn’t he been deeply in love with Jen?
Finally, when both were lying relaxed in their huge bed, she asked him, “Is there any chance this as new for you as it is for me?”
He propped his head on his hand, his elbow bent. “I knew we liked each other, once we got over the initial distrust. This,” he kissed her breast, “this is like a meteor crashing to earth and obliterating everything in its path.”
She suppressed a gasp at the sensation. “I—I only had that stupid crush before. A few short relationships. Nothing that was big and real, like this,” she confessed.
“Big and real…yeah, that’s as good a way of describing it as any.” He kissed her shoulder, then put an arm around her. “You know I was in love with Jen. That was five years ago and it was entirely different.”
“I’m sorry you lost her.”
“Me, too.” He sighed. “She would have broken my heart when she moved on to the next guy.”
“That doesn’t negate what you had.” Finally, she had found some generosity toward the dead actress.
“You really mean that.”
She nodded. “I was jealous and spiteful about her for years. I had no right to be. I was an envious outsider looking in.”
“Steel dragged you into it.” His tone of voice showed his disgust.
“I was a fool.”
“Don’t say that. You were naïve, and that’s not a crime. He deliberately worked on your innocence to make you fall for him.”
“But it never was real,” she sighed. “All those years wasted.”
“Not wasted. You saved yourself for me.”
She smiled at him. “That’s a sweet thing to say.”
His gaze was intense. “I’m not an idiot. I know we could just be carried away by sex. But I think it’s much more.”
As the hours passed, they talked and laughed and loved. He told her more about his rebellious youth, which led him to the bright lights of Hollywood. She told him about being the good little girl who always followed the rules, studied hard, and never got out of line. Which somehow also led her to Hollywood after film school.
They shared about their families. David’s love for the mother he lost was clear in his voice. Sara was able to keep her own tone steady when talking about her long-dead father, but only just.
David talked about how being nominated for an Academy Award had meant he finally was taken seriously as an actor. How winning the Oscar meant he could now forge his own future. Sara shared her slow realization that she could contribute something worthwhile to a film, in her own way. “You’re the one who told me I should think bigger about film editing,” she said. “I intend to from now on.”
They were back in bed again, lounging half-dressed. David repeated her words, “From now on…” and paused.
She cocked her head. “What?”
He took a deep breath. “Don’t laugh. I know this is bad timing and we’re supposed to wait at least three years and all that garbage.” He leaned closer to her, his blue eyes staring intently into her eyes. “I love you. I want to marry you right now.”
Her eyes widened in shock. She moved away from him on the bed. “It’s too soon. We hardly know each other.”
“I love you,” he repeated. “Tell me you feel the same. Tell me.”
“I do. I do love you,” she said, and burst into tears.
He put his arms around her, looking puzzled. “Why are you crying?”
She tried to wipe her eyes. “I didn’t know I loved you. It just happened.”
He stroked her back and with one large hand gently turned her face toward him. “Don’t be afraid. You can trust me. I swear.” His hand caressed her hair as he looked deep into her eyes. “What we have is the real deal.”
“What if it doesn’t work out? If this is only a—an interlude?” Sara’s tears fell harder.
He rained kisses on her wet face. “If it’s a mistake, you can divorce me and get rich. No prenup.”
“Like I’d do that to you.” She sniffed and her tears stopped flowing.
“You might get tired of all the hugs and kisses, all the in and out…” he said suggestively, moving over her. “You,” he kissed her right eye, “might,” he kissed her left eye, “want,” he kissed her nose, “less sex.” He kissed her mouth.
***
A while later, David said, “Las Vegas is only couple hundred miles away. We could be married today.” He opened a phone app to check on the distance. “It’s a two-hour drive east.”
She frowned. “Can’t be. Let me look at that.” She wrestled his phone from him and checked the map.
“Ha. You’re looking at Las Vegas, New Mexico.” She played with the data. “Las Vegas, Nevada, is nine hours in the other direction, including traversing the entire state of Arizona.”
“Bummer.”
Was she seriously considering marrying him like this? Nobody got married in a hurry anymore. No, wait. Actors did. Actors were impulsive. They lived on their emotions and they did crazy stuff like this all the time. Sara had never been impulsive in her life.
Except now. With David. Today. For the first time in her life, she wanted to be spontaneous. She wanted to be his wife from this moment on, to belong to him and have him belong to her. Saying she loved him had burst out of her, a huge surprise. But it was the truth.
David wasn’t shot down for long. “We could drive to Albuquerque and fly to Vegas. Or why not get married in the wrong Las Vegas, anyway?”
They read down the list of requirements for a marriage in New Mexico.
“Do you carry your Social Security card on you?” she asked.
“Uh…” he found his wallet, opened it, and searched around. “Got it. What about you?”
She looked in her purse for her wallet. Sure enough, along with her voter registrat
ion card was her Social Security card.
“We’re good.”
“Let’s go,” he urged, grabbing his pants and starting to put them on.
“Wait. Wait,” she cried, raising a hand to stop him.
“What?”
“Just because we can get married does not mean we should.”
“Why not? You don’t look a thing like Jen Barnes. You’re not even a blonde.”
She smiled appreciatively. “That’s important. But there are other considerations.”
“Such as?”
She cast around in her mind for all the sensible ideas that urged caution. They’d flown away. “I can’t think of any right now.” She took a breath. “Okay. Are we being totally stupid to think it could work?”
He snorted. “No stupider than I’ve been before.”
“Or me, I suppose.” She shook her head. “I’ve been an obsessed idiot for years.”
He kissed her lips. “We’ll get you therapy. As a bonus, I’ll pay the therapist to hypnotize you into loving me madly.”
“No need. I already do.” Was it his passion? His enthusiasm? She’d figure it out eventually.
He kissed her for that and began to press her down into the sheets.
“We’ll never get to Vegas at this rate,” she said. But she raised her arms to wrap around his shoulders.
Chapter 25
They dressed in the best clothes they had, he in a jacket over a shirt with a collar, she in her long blue skirt and a white camisole with lace edging. Then they drove over to the little town with a big city’s name. Before they navigated the city clerk’s office and got directions to a minister who could perform the ceremony, David insisted on stopping at the town’s best jeweler and buying her a ring.
“We’ll get you something bigger later.”
She looked up from the sapphire surrounded by diamonds. “This is perfect.”
He placed the ring on her finger and kissed her hand.
They found wedding rings, too, and David pulled out a wad of cash to pay for them. While the jeweler was ringing up the sale, David quietly explained. “Cash is anonymous.”
She nodded. “We’ll have to give our real names at city hall. Do you think someone there will inform on us?”
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