Her stomach fluttered. Funny that it hadnt occurred to her to be embarrassed that he should see her almost naked. She simply wanted him beside her.
When the professionals finished checking her body and stooped to examine her ankle, she cried out in pain.
Zach was at her side, pressing her hand to his lips. Hang in there. Well be home before you know it.
Home. How sweetly the word buzzed in her heart. She squeezed his fingers and held on tight, feeling illogically reassured.
He was right. In less than an hour she was back at Zachs house, propped up on his couch by plump pillows, surrounded by his remotes, her script and her favorite snacks.
Strangely, after the hospital, there was a new easiness between them. Gram and Tuck had stopped by to check on her, and after they departed, Zach remained attentive, never leaving her side for long. He said he wanted to be nearby in case she needed anything. She found his hovering oddly sweet and realized it would be much too easy to become dependent on such attentions.
When the sun went down, he cooked two small steaks and roasted two potatoes for their dinner while she watched from her chair at the kitchen table. They had their meal with wine and thick buttered slices of French bread out on the back veranda.
Again she marveled that a man who must be used to servants knew his way around in a kitchen. She didnt mind in the least that he hadnt thought to prepare more sides. The simple meal was perfect even before the three deer re-appeared to delight them.
Later, when she was back on the couch again and hed finished the dinner dishes, he pulled up a chair beside her. Pleased that he hadnt gone up to his room, she declared the steak delicious and thanked him for his trouble.
Im not much of a cook, he said. Eggs, steak and toast. Thats about it.
Dont forget potatoes. Yours were very nice. Crispy.
Right. Sometimes I can stick a potato or two in the oven and sprinkle them with olive oil and salt. I have a cook in Houston, but I dont like eating at home alone. So, mostly I eat out.
Me, too. Or I do take-out. Because I dont have time to cook.
I imagined you in ritzy New York restaurants, dining on meals cooked by the worlds best chefs, eating with famous movie stars.
When his expression darkened, she suspected he was thinking of Hugh.
Not all that often. Fancy meals take time to eatas well as to cook and serve, she said, avoiding the topic of Hugh. And fans pester you for autographs. Besides, theres nothing quite like a homemade meal, is there?
You used to want to be an actress so badly. Whats it like now that youve succeeded?
Its nice, but I work almost all the time. Even when I have a job, Im always auditioning for the next part. When I sign on with a show that isnt in New York, I travel and live out of a suitcase. One minute its a crazy life, full of parties and friends, then it gets pretty lonely. You cant hold on to anything because its all so ephemeral. The friends I make within a cast feel closer than family for a while. Then they vanish after each show closes, she admitted.
But when you sign with a new show or film you have a new set of friends.
Yes, but as I get older, I see that, despite the bright lights, a life without stability isnt nearly so glamorous as people think.
Its what you wanted.
She sighed. Be careful what you wish for. I guess I took my real life for granted. Lately, Ive realized how much I miss familyand roots.
What does that mean?
My job is so all-consuming that II havent been good at relationships. Im Southern, like Gram. She sees my single state as a failure, and lets me know it every chance she gets. Her dream for me was marriage to a handsome husband. I was supposed to have two children, a boy and a girl, and live happily ever after in a cute house surrounded by a white picket fence.
He smiled. But you, being a modern woman, arent into such an outdated, traditional formula for happiness. Strange, that it can still exert such a hold over a female as wise as your grandmother.
Youre right, of course. I just wish I could make her understand that I have everything I set my heart on. Im grateful for what I have, for what Ive achieved. So many people would give anything to be me.
She was saying the same truths shed lived by for years, but, for some reason, the words felt hollow tonight.
Zach didnt say anything.
Shed never imagined having such an ordinary, simple, companionable evening with him, and she found herself enjoying it more than shed enjoyed anything in a very long time. When theyd been kids, theyd been friends before theyd been lovers. They hadnt fallen in love until after hed graduated and shed been entering her senior year.
Now, as an adult, she spent so much time working on her image and her brand, so much time learning various roles, and never very much time being herself. What would it be like to have a lifetime of such evenings with a man like him? To take them for granted?
She sighed. That wasnt who she was now. She had her career, a bright future-and it was on the stage and screen.
What about you? she whispered. Youre successful. Are you happy?
Like you, Im not unhappy, he muttered thickly. I, too, have everything I always thought I wantedexcept maybe for He shot her a look that was so intense it burned away her breath.
For what?
It doesnt matter, he growled. Not even billionaires can have it all. Not that we dont pretend that we can, with our fancy cars and homes and yachts. Frowning, he sprang to his feet and then glanced at his watch. But youre injured, and its late. You must be tired. Besides, Sands prescribed that painkiller. Im afraid Ive been very selfish to keep you up so long.
She didnt want him to go. No. Im barely injured, and youve waited on me hand and foot And I just sat there and let you.
Well, I wont keep you any longer.
But I really do want to knowabout you, she whispered.
Lets save that boring tale for later, he said, cutting her off. Who knows-maybe youll get lucky and never have to hear it. He picked up her crutches. Why dont I help you to your room?
Feeling stunned and a little hurt by how abruptly hed ended their pleasant evening, she got to her feet. As she stood, her uncertain eyes met his. But he wouldnt hold her gaze.
Suddenly, she again felt awkward at the thought of their sharing the house for another night. Stiffening, he handed her the crutches and then backed away.
I hate these things, she said as she placed the crutches under her arms.
Its a minor sprain. The doctor said you might even be off them as soon as Tuesday.
I hope so. Thanks again for tonight. When you convinced me to come here for the weekend, I never thoughtwe would have this kind of evening or that I could enjoy simply being with you so much.
Neither the hell did I, he admitted in a stilted tone, still not looking at her. Believe me-I had a very different kind of weekend in mind.
Well, youve been very nice.
Good night, then, he muttered, his voice sounding so furious she realized hed had more than enough of her company.
Hed blackmailed her because hed wanted revenge. Hed wanted sex. Had this evening, with its simple pleasures, bored him?
She felt hurt and rejected, just as she had last night.
Six
Zach knew he wouldnt be able to sleep for a while, so instead of undressing for bed, he poured himself a glass of scotch. Then he strode out onto the balcony where the humid air smelled of honeysuckle, jasmine and pine.
Damn those bewitching blue eyes of hers and her pretty, sweet smile that made him want her so badly he hurt.
Why hadnt he taken Summer as hed intended? Why hadnt he punished her? Usually he came on strong with women. What the hell was wrong with him this weekend?
Next week she would be with Hugh, making love to him-at least on film. And probably offscreen, too. Not that her relationship with Jones should be any concern of Zachs. Still, he burned every time he thought about her with that egotistical phony.
Their first night here shed seemed so vulnerable and uneasy. Then today, when shed fallen, she had taken his hand and begged him to stay with her. Her fingers and wrist had felt so slim and fragile in his much larger hand. What kind of man forced his presence on a woman who seemed so defenseless and in need of his protection?
Their first night here shed seemed so vulnerable and uneasy. Then today, when shed fallen, she had taken his hand and begged him to stay with her. Her fingers and wrist had felt so slim and fragile in his much larger hand. What kind of man forced his presence on a woman who seemed so defenseless and in need of his protection?
Still, Zach wasnt so noble that he could forget the glimpses hed seen of her breasts and her creamy thighs. He wanted to kiss those breasts, tongue all the warm, succulent places between her thighs. He knew what shed done in the past, how close shed come to nearly destroying him-but for reasons he didnt understand, he continued to balk at using her sexually.
No longer did he want to expose their relationship to the press for public consumption.
This weekend had backfired. Damn it.
The sensitive male was a new role for him.
Shed beaten him.
To save his own ass, tomorrow hed tell her their deal was off and send her packing.
Then hed do the smart thing: return to Houston and forget her.
The next morning, when Summer awoke, her ankle was so much better she could almost walk without limping if she used one crutch. When she went into the kitchen she discovered that Zach had already cooked and eaten breakfast. She looked down at his dishes in the sink and realized he was avoiding her.
Rolling the scrambled egg and bacon hed left for her into a tortilla, she walked outside and saw him swimming laps in his pool. When she waved, he got out.
As he dried off, it was all she could do not to stare, even though he wore swimming trunks.
His eyes were guarded as he strode up to her. Hows the ankle?
Much better, she whispered, lowering her lashes.
Good. Bob is standing by to fly you to L.A. So, whenever youre ready, just call him. I know youve got work, and so do I, so I wont keep you.