Its no different from putting a wig on a double.
The stylist, a young man with a roosterlike haircut and a diamond stud in one ear, sounded waspish. His shrunken black T-shirt rode up to show his navel, which brandished a ring set with a matching diamond. But he was good. He had to be good to afford diamonds that big. He had to be good for Cabot to hire him. Look what hed done for Tippy already, the way hed groomed her for those television interviews. Made her look like an angel. But Cabot wasnt backing down on this one.
Were talking about her eyes, Joey, he said firmly. I dont want you messing with her eyes.
A pair of blue contacts isnt messing with her eyes, Joey said, rolling his own, which were a suspiciously unnatural shade of turquoise. Blue contacts and shell be a perfect double for Tippy.
She doesnt need to be that perfect.
What? What? This is Mr. Has-to-be-Perfect Im hearing? If you want a good take on the lighting she needs blue eyes. Period.
Shes not getting them. Period. Cabot figured he weighed twice what Joey did. When it came to a showdown, the guy didnt have a chance. Hed sulk for a day or two, and the whole time in Reno hed be saying, Well, if her eyes were the right color But Cabot had gotten to be an expert at handling sulky people.
He didnt want Faith to lose those pearly-gray eyes. That was where he was coming from. When the truth was, it might be a good idea for her to lose them. He was pretty sure he needed to know her better, but that was an indulgence hed have to postpone until after the dry run, after the wedding, after the honeymoon, after the divorce.
After the confession.
Well, Joey said, putting a fist on his hip. I refuse to back down on the hair. You promised youd send her to Tippys hairdresser.
I promised and Ill send her. If shes agreeable. Faiths hair was already enough like Tippys thatThere I go again.
Joey tossed his head, but the crisis was over. Cabot went back to scripting the video, plotting potential shots, glancing from time to time at his one-year calendar. October, November. It might be that long before he could even ask Faith to go to a movie with him. The time loomed ahead of him, tedious and lonely.
A FEW THINGS WERE MISSING from the picture. Her mother and sisters should be with her, fluttering around her, making sure shed remembered everything. While her body zinged with anticipation, what she was anticipating was a weekend of top-level frustration. Her groom had ignored her from the moment she agreed to go on the honeymoon. But she looked uncontrovertibly bridal, even if she didnt feel that way.
She was dressed in her blue going-away suit; the rest of her clothes were packed in the three-piece set of tapestry luggage with golden leather trim that Cabot had had delivered the day before. The limo shed hired to take them to the airport would be along soon. Everything was fine, at least as fine as it could be under the circumstances. So why did she have this niggling feeling shed forgotten something?
Of course shed forgotten something. She always forgot something. Usually it was something replaceabletoothpaste, panty hose, a nail file. Then again, shed once left for Europe without a passport, and shed made that wretched trip to the Gulf Coast without her credit card, had gone to a baby shower without the present and on one memorable occasion, had started out for the travel agency without her skirt.
Fortunately, her landlord had been leaving for the office at about the same time and had mentioned the omission to her in the most tactful way someone could mention a thing like that. Hed said, I see the micro-mini is back in style.
So the question was what had she forgotten and could she remember what it was before it was too late to do anything about it.
She stepped swiftly into the kitchen to be sure shed turned off the coffeepotshe hadntand the ironthat was still on, too. Even then the niggle didnt go away. If anything, it gained intensity.
She ought to take a coat. Reno could be warm even in February, but one of the restaurants was in the Sierra Nevadas that surrounded the town. She had a yummy new coat, too, a Christmas present. She got it out, tossed it on her pile of luggage and waited for a feeling of comfort to settle in now that shed checked that item off her mental list. It didnt.
She lived in this tiny dream cottage behind the Mathiases large, elegant house in return for keeping an eye on the house during their frequent absences and watering their dozens of houseplants, since their staff traveled with them. Shed watered the plants thoroughly yesterday afternoon and explained to them exactly how long shed be gone, since the ficus tree, in particular, was prone to anxiety attacks. Shed set the alarm system and notified the neighborhood security watch that shed be away for the weekend. It was probably just a bad habit to feel nervous before a trip because of the sure and certain knowledge shed forgotten something important.
She picked up her little blue clutch bag and the folder that held all their travel information, took a quick peek in the mirror at the slant of her blue straw hat and started for the front door just as the doorbell rang.
Her driver. She was ready exactly on time. Pretty good, for her.
A vase of daisies sat on the small round table she used for eating and everything else. Maybe the flowers were responsible for the niggle. She should have thrown them away. The water would smell vile by the time she got back, but there wasnt time to do anything about it now. She hesitated, then plucked one daisy blossom out of the bunch, tossed it up in the air as if it were the bridal bouquetand caught it herself.
A good omen, even if the contest had been fixed.
She opened the door to a grinning, freckled driver who hoisted her luggage and steered her down the flagstone walkway and around the Mathias house. In front of the main house, he gestured grandly toward the curb. Enough flowers for you? he said.
Stunned, Faith eyed the long white limousine, relieved that the Mathiases were not at home to see what their impoverished renter was using for transportation these days. The car was awash in flowers, old-fashioned English garden flowers mingled randomly with huge tropical blossoms in the most garish colors imaginable. They were arranged in swags strung through wreaths, with the occasional sheaf to add visual interest. Its a leftover Rose Bowl Parade float, she said at last.
No way! Parade flowers are real. These are made of the purest virgin plastic.
I sensed, somehow, that they were.
Indestructible at the highest speeds, in rain, sleet or snow.
Are we anticipating any of those things today in Southern California?
High speeds, maybe.
Faith gave him a sharp look, but he seemed to be serious and quite proud of his vehicle. Do the doors still open? she asked him, and they were on their festive way.
Twenty minutes later they reached the Little Chapel in the Pines, and Faith caught her first glimpse of Cabot. It seemed like centuries since shed last seen him, and he took her breath away. In his black suit, black shirt and black tie, he stood on the cobblestone pathway that led from the historic chapel to the street. Surrounded like a god among mortals by the camera crew with their equipment, he gave every appearance of a man who was issuing orders.
He shot one arm out in front of him and gestured behind himself with the other. Then he stuck both arms straight out to the sides and swiveled a little. Every movement was filled with a masculine energy that quickened Faiths pulse. She especially liked the swivel. She hoped the driver didnt notice she was drooling.
And then he caught sight of her. She could tell hed seen her, could see his expression change, could sense his awareness of her. He took a step toward her, then another, almost like a man sleepwalking.
If youre having second thoughts, nows the time to run.
What? The voice of the driver had broken the spell and Faith hurriedly gathered herself up to get out of the car.
Just kidding, the driver said as he got out and came around to her door.
Cabot was still behaving like a sleepwalker, taking one slow step and then another, but, Faith observed with disappointment, his focus was not on her but on the limousine. Furthermore, the camera crew had fallen into step behind him, and they all marched toward her like a live version of Night of the Living Dead.
He had reached her side. Dont hurt the drivers feelings, she whispered hurriedly. Ill be sure you have something a bit moreahrestrained for your honeymoon.
This is veryflowery, he said.
I think its too Faith said.
Itll really show up on film, the cameraman said. He seemed transfixed.
Like a zit on your nose, Faith said, but I can
Speaking very frankly, Raff, drawled a crew member, the one with the rooster haircut and an enviable diamond stud in one ear, Ill have to insist that we restrict the flowers to moderate zone species or tropicals. Not both. He gazed at the car another moment, his head tilted to one side. Or to pastels or vivids, but not both.
Pastels would Faith began.
It could handle sheaves or wreaths, said the one female member of the crew.
But not both, they chorused together, and at this point, Faith simply chimed in.
So what I think were saying, Cab, said the cameraman, what I think were all in agreement on heredo I have this right, Chelsea, Joey, Misswhatever?is that the car
Could be toned down some, Cabot said. But not much. Tippy will like it. Okay, you guys, lets get to work.
But for a moment he lingered, staring at the garishly decorated car. He had to stare at the car, because if he let himself look at Faith he would risk embarrassing both of them. He hadnt let himself go back to the agency or participate in the fittings and hair-dresser visits. Three weeks had gone by, and now he was struck all over again by her sheer loveliness. While Joey the stylist had the ability to make Tippy look like an angel, Faith was an angel. In the pale-blue suit, her hair floating out from under the broad-brimmed hat, she was a vision of sweetness and beauty.
Faith was what he wished Tippy could be, or could be turned into.
Shoo-ah, he could hear Tippy saying.
He could sense the tables turning on him in the worst possible way. He didnt have the slightest problem going on a platonic honeymoon with the real Tippy, while the weekend with Tippys double was going to be a struggle with his conscience from this moment on.
Make that retroactive to the day he met her.
Talent, barked the cameraman, get in position outside the chapel door.
Raff, Cabot called across the churchyard, starting in Raffs direction with Faith in his wake, we are not the talent. We are a bride and groom
Real groom, fake bride, Faith interrupted.
who want a professional-looking wedding and honeymoon video. He turned away from Faith in order to give Raff a hard, meaningful look.
Hed had to tell the crew the truth. Theyd worked with him many times before, and unlike Faith, they were way too savvy to buy the idea of a honeymoon video that had to be scripted and rehearsed. They were also professionals, as aware as he was that a slip of the tongue could cost them their careers. No one outside their little circle could know the truth. Jack Langley had even conned that worthless twerp Josh Barnett into believing Tippy had actually fallen for her publicist. But Cabot had a feeling that however innocent Faith was, she was a lot smarter than Josh Barnett. Raff needed to watch his words.
Sorry, boss, Raff said. Old habits, yknow. I keep forgetting this jobs personal. His grin was unrepentant.
Still, feeling sure that Raff wouldnt let him down, he glanced at Faith to find her beautiful eyes infused with ominous suspicion. Cabots stomach tightened up.
Faith had started to worry about the bride she was doubling for. The way Cabot had said, Tippy will like it, it being that Celebration of Plastic that was the going-away car, indicated his complete lack of understanding of Tippy Temples personality, her hopes and dreams. Each example of this insensitivity made Faith more sure that Cabot had not consulted Tippy about the arrangements, but was instead barreling ahead in his forceful fashion toward a glitzy media splash of a honeymoon that would offend the daylights out of his true love.
She didnt intend to let him get away with it, but there was nothing she could do about it now, because Raff had just said, Okay, lets do a take of the leaving-the-church scene, and Joey had echoed, I want to see a little snuggle-up moment, and all the stray thoughts that had been going through her head flew out when Cabot put his arm around her shoulders.
Oh, yummy. So sweet. Okay, thats good, Joey was saying. You got it, Raff? Can you stand a little taller, Misswhatever His diamond stud flashed in the morning sun.
Her name is Faith Sumner, Cabot said a bit irritably, and of course she cant stand any taller. Just get on with it.
Get on with what? She really didnt want to get on with what they were getting on with right this minute, which was Cabots arm holding her closer and closer, snuggling her into the warmth of his shoulder, turning the warmth into raging heat.
Tilt your head, honey. Joey again. Chelsea, get the light right there on herthats it. If she were just a smidge taller, and if her eyes were blue
Faith fanned herself. Joey rushed forward with a powder puff and plunged it onto her nose. Faith sneezed. Chelsea rushed forward with a tissue. A spotlight rocked on its tripod just behind her, and she tossed the tissue to Faith with one hand and rescued the light with the other.
Oh, for Raff said disgustedly. Can we just get a shot or two here?
The sooner the better, Cabot said, and before Faith had a chance to register his grim tone, he tightened his hold around her shoulders, tilted her chin up, which made her grab for her hat, gave her an intimate smile and settled his mouth over hers.
That was when the real trouble began. At the first touch of Cabots lips, Faith made a firm, if unilateral, decision that she would go on kissing him for a year or so, continuously, no breaks, maybe win some kind of kissing contest. Her mouth melted into his, velvet against velvet, as her insides bubbled like a hot spring.
Her body relaxed into his, seeking him as if it had its own script, her breasts brushing his chest. She sensed his tongue searching for hers, then retreating, holding back. Why would he be holding back? Tentatively she met him halfway, jolted by the electrifying surge of first contact.
Hold it! Raff barked.
Of course she would hold it. Hadnt she already promised herself to hold it forever and ever and ever?
Cut! she heard above the pleasant buzzing in her ears, and Cabot dropped her as if she were a hot saucepan.
Im sorry, he muttered into her ear. I dont know what happened there.