Unforgettable Read online

  He nodded at Roger and the two left the room.

  “So your people have been following me? And you’ve known? Why did you make me tell you?”

  “You had to trust me. You had to come to terms with this yourself. And the fact that you need help. I wanted to tell you that we were following you—I almost did last night--but I didn’t want to scare you more than you were. You have a place here, Sam.”

  He sat next to me on the bed and held my hand.

  “We have seven bedrooms upstairs, a full security staff, the police and the FBI involved. Please stay. At least until he’s caught.”

  All of the glue that had been holding me together dissolved. I gave up and let the pain and fear finally have their way. I curled up on the bed and cried.

  “He’s here.”

  “You’re not alone.” He lay down next to me and I loved the feel of his breath on my neck.

  “He’s here.”

  “You’re not alone. I’ll do anything to keep you safe, I swear. I’ll post a guard outside your room every night. I’ll even sacrifice myself and sleep with you. Every night. Whatever it takes.” He kissed my hair and neck and shoulders.

  “Alright, dammit, I’ll stay. I’ll stay. But, Jack?”

  “Yes?”

  “This is hard to ask…but, tell me the truth.”

  “Always.” He handed me tissues.

  “If you were interested in me…you know, romantically…sexually..”

  “Yes, if…” he laughed.

  “What you saw…the scars…would they…?”

  He reached over to my blouse and slowly unbuttoned it, stroking my belly and breasts. Then he bent and kissed them, moving up and down, slipping his hand in my pants.

  “If I were interested in you, I would kiss and lick and love every beautiful inch of you. Now, kiss me and tell me what you want,” he whispered.

  I kissed him, pulling him into me, taking him deeper.

  He smiled.

  “Sammy, I have never met anyone like you. I am so glad you agreed to stay here. If anything…if he… I’m starving,” he said. “Let’s find food…food, food, food.”

  I laughed. He always seemed to make me laugh.

  He took his phone out. I wasn't sure who he called. He just said, "reschedule it" and hung up.

  He showed me the phones and told me how to call security and Fritz. He talked me into watching a movie with him.

  Frank stood outside his parents' house just listening. His dad was yelling. His dad always yelled. It was his normal tone.

  Chester came running out and of course found him. His mom stood at the door.

  "Chester? Come back here...is someone there?"

  He stepped into the light. She walked to him and wrapped him into her arms.

  He was home. Finally home.

  At seven someone knocked on the front door.

  Roger answered before Jack had time to stand up.

  It was Silverman. He introduced himself.

  “Princess, you didn’t call me. But I see you’re making a late call. Emergency therapy? Tucking Mr. Nolan into bed I see. And you lost your job. News I thought, as best friends, we would share. I’m hurt.”

  “Sam is staying with us. ‘Thought it would be safer this way,” Jack was giving him his panther-in-the-bushes look.

  “All right. Now, Mr. Nolan, you are aware that you are taking on security and the risks of having Jack the Ripper after all of you and your staff, is that understood?”

  Roger nodded. “Got it covered, sir.”

  Silverman rubbed his head.

  “Testosterone just flowin’ in this room—which is a very beautiful thing, I must say. ‘Love the Indian. Wow. And the chrome tree in the entry. I almost bought one of those at a yard sale. Okay. Hopefully the next time I talk to you it will be with good news. Ciao.”

  He whistled as he walked to the door.

  Saturday

  My room, known as the black and white room, did not feel like home. Home, and the feeling of home, had been elusive for so very long.

  The smell of bacon drew me to the kitchen but I did not find Sarah. Instead I found a smiling Fritz. He poured me a cup of coffee.

  “Cream, right?”

  “Right.”

  He handed me a plate with bacon and toast.

  “Where’s Sarah?”

  “She just comes in on the mornings on Saturdays. She handles this place…and all of us. I handle the money, I handle Jack’s contracts, I handle the arrangements. I handle all of our properties we own. You could say I’m a handler, like in a circus.” He grinned watching me.

  “I’m very glad you decided to stay.”

  He leaned on the counter.

  “You were gone last night. Don’t you ever get any time off?”

  “I had a meeting. But, I have lots of free time. If I’m traveling with Jack I’m working all the time. But if it’s like now I can do whatever I want—all the time--like take beautiful women named Sam out on dates.”

  He kissed me. “You taste like bacon,” he whispered, coiling tighter around me.

  “You are very extraordinary at that,” I whispered.

  “Thank you. I practice on my own.”

  I laughed and buried my head in his chest.

  “Where’s Jack?”

  “Working on his lines. He hates working on his lines. You should avoid him…all day and night and spend the whole time with me.”

  I laughed. We went outside and walked through a vegetable and flower garden.

  “I want you,” he pressed against me. “I have never wanted a woman like I want you. Come back to my place. I’ve fixed it up a bit…has a lovely, large bed with your name on it.”

  “I saw a psychic you know.”

  “I don’t want to sleep with her--she’d know all my cheap moves before I made them.” He nuzzled my neck. “I just want to sleep with you.”

  “She told me that two men loved me.”

  “She was bang on the money there.”

  “And that I would have to choose between the two. A very difficult choice, she said.”

  “You can’t choose Jack. He’s your boss. Can’t sleep with your boss. Those things never work. Don’t you watch the soaps? Besides…what’s wrong?”

  “I hadn’t thought about Jack being my boss.”

  Fritz stopped. “Don’t take on too much at once, love. Just give yourself time. Did I tell you the joke about the pig in the road?”

  I laughed as we held hands, strolling back to the house.

  “I’ve got to go make some calls…see you in a bit.” He winked and left.

  I heard Jack bellowing my name.

  “What, what? What’s wrong?” I found him in the den.

  “I didn’t know where you were.” He smiled.

  “For heaven’s sakes. I thought you were hurt.”

  “We start shooting next week.”

  “Shooting. Next week.”

  “Right. Shooting. Next week. I think I need help with my shower. There’s a spot I can’t reach.”

  “Oh? You’ve been showering all this time without me.”

  “Yes, but I need help now.”

  “You are full of it, Jack Nolan. Get up and get moving.”

  He laughed a roaring laugh. I sat down on the bed next to him and took his hand.

  “Seriously. Letting me stay here…I never thought…when I would lay awake in that apartment, hearing every sound, knowing I could die any minute…I never thought it would change. I always felt so hollow so consumed by the fear.”

  He played with the curls of hair escaping onto my neck.

  “Did you sleep well?”

  “Yup. Not even a nightmare.”

  He rubbed my thigh.

  “Excellent.”

  “That’s sexual harassment you know.”

  “What?”

  “You’re my boss now.”

  “Not fair! And what if I did this?” He kissed me, a long, hot kiss that made me want to climb him
like Kilimanjaro.

  “Yeah, that would definitely be sexual harassment. I think I’m going to go do my yoga. Find some inner peace.”

  At four a woman singer with her back-up band arrived and Fritz set them up by the pool. I sat back and watched feeling that I should be up and working. I did notice more security people and they all had pictures of Welsh on their clipboards.

  By seven the house was full of people. I felt lost and stood by the back of the house, staring at the pool.

  “Samantha Rose,” a voice said behind me.

  I turned to find David.

  He opened my palm.

  “You washed your hand. My phone number is gone. No wonder you didn’t call me. Let me have your phone and I’ll program it in.”

  He snatched it from my waistband and looked at my numbers. “An LAPD detective? Top on your call list?”

  I nodded.

  “A bit of trouble.”

  “My dear, an unpaid speeding ticket is a bit of trouble. "

  I was leaning against the wall. He moved closer putting his hand behind me head.

  “Sam. Let me help. Whatever it is we can handle it. I have lawyers.”

  I suddenly realized that David was the third.

  “I don’t need lawyers, David. I need…I need machine guns and detectives and…wizards.”

  “Let me help you.” He kissed me, a slow deep kiss, and I found myself wrapping my arms around him, pulling him closer, feeling him growing hard. I kissed him back and he moaned. What was wrong with me? I hadn’t kissed this many men in an entire year at home.

  Ted laid in the grass, peering down at Earth, through the crevice he’d created in the rose garden. He smiled.

  “Yup, I like David. A mover and a shaker. Gets things done. But don’t tell Mom.”

  He threw a pinch more of the dust.

  “Be careful, sweetheart,” he whispered to his daughter.” The bastard’s close. He’s so close…”

  “I just let you examine my tonsils and I don’t know a thing about you.”

  He smiled.

  He walked me into the living room and handed me a glass of wine. We sat on a soft deep blue couch.

  “My name is David Abernathy. I am, primarily, a producer. What I really do is connect the dots. I put investors in touch with the creative people, I watch the money, I make deals happen and I make sure what I start gets completed.

  “It’s kind of like taking preschoolers on a field trip. You tie them together, give them buddies to hold hands with, clean up messes, and make sure we all end up in the right places at the end of the day.”

  I laughed. “Great analogy. My life, right now, is like an abstract painting…”

  “Tell me…” He touched my shoulder, running his fingers slowly up and down.

  “Kind of like a Picasso. Lots of pieces missing and yet so many wonderful pieces…in odd alignments. Like, I have no money, no home, no significant other, no real job, and yet I’m living in a gorgeous mansion and meeting the most fascinating people…like you…and it’s just kind of surreal. All because a horse got spooked by something and broke Jack’s ankle. It’s like chaos theory. “

  “Chaos theory.”

  “Remember in Jurassic Park Jeff Goldblum has the drops of water running down his hand…the drops run the same way until boom! one goes down the other?”

  I took his hand and drew on it with my finger. He scooted closer to me.

  “I’m talking to you because a snake crawled this way instead of that and scared Jack’s horse causing Jack to suffer this terrible injury.”

  David smiled and kissed my hand.

  “To hell with Jack I’m rooting for the snake. Hear that? Music. I must dance with you.”

  He moved tables and chairs and held me close.

  David was my third, and I loved the feel of him, the sound of him, the taste…

  I played with the tuft of chest hair popping out of his Brooks Brother’s shirt.

  “Perhaps we should go upstairs, take our clothes off,” he kissed my fingers, “and explore the existential concept of reality… Some of my anatomy appears quite real at the moment.”

  Jack was suddenly behind him.

  “Down you beast. She’s leaving her clothes on.”

  “Jack, they’re my clothes.” I winked at David and left.

  He walked toward Jack. I heard him as I walked away…

  “’Need to talk to you…that is if I can stand upright, and walk. Lord what a woman…That apartment building on the west side…”

  I sat by the pool. Roger sat next to me. “You’re staring at the pool.”

  I smiled. He was incredibly cute.

  “Go in.”

  “I don’t have a bathing suit.”

  “That doesn’t seem to be an issue for most people here.”

  “They don’t have pentagrams on their bellies.”

  He took his tee shirt off and slipped it over my head.

  “Take your top and your jeans off, little girl, and wear my shirt. I’ll go in with you.”

  He helped me untie my top and slip my clothes off under the tent of his shirt.

  “Come on.”

  I was afraid to move. He picked me up, threw me on his shoulder, and carried me in.

  I splashed him and a pool-wide water fight ensued.

  I noticed Jack had his arms around a tall woman with long, dramatic red hair. I felt a twinge, a little jealous stab. I tried to let it go.

  After swimming I went upstairs and got a shower.

  Someone knocked.

  “Come in.”

  It was David looking very mellow. He played with my towel. He sat on the bed and watched me.

  “You had fun tonight.”

  “Yes. For the first time in a very long time.”

  “I’m glad.”

  “I’ll just be a minute.

  I closed the bathroom door and put a tee shirt and shorts on.

  “There. Much better.”

  I sat on the bed next to him.

  “What’s up?”

  “Lord, you smell edible. I want to take you out tomorrow night.”

  “Can’t.”

  “Oh?”

  “I can’t leave the compound.”

  “Says…

  “The police and Jack.”

  “House arrest?”

  “No, more like house protection.”

  He nodded.

  “Jack told me about the Terminator. Why don’t you let me take care of the protection part.” He held my hand. “Where would you like to go?”

  “I have no idea. Maybe the ocean. The beach.”

  “Done.”

  “David. How…”

  “Don’t worry about how. I’ll talk to Jack and I’ll work it out with Roger.”

  I smiled.

  “What should I wear?”

  “Whatever you like.”

  I lay down on the bed and he followed facing me.

  “David, there’s something you should know before this goes too far. And you can’t tell Jack.”

  “Tell me.”

  I told him about Welsh. I raised my shirt and showed him the pentagram.

  He ran his finger over it, his eyes sad.

  “Sammy…I’m so sorry.”

  I nodded.

  “What no one knows is that I can’t have sex.”

  “I don’t understand. A physical problem…”

  “No. Mental. I panic. I can’t do it. I tried. With this guy named Pete. I couldn’t do it and he was really pissed. I never heard from him again. And because it was so awful it’s just heightened the problem.”

  “I see. And how old was this caring gentleman?”

  “Young.”

  “You see, Sammy, most young men are like wind-up toys. They get charged up and can’t stop. They haven’t learned what us more mature men have mastered.”

  “Which is…”

  “Enjoying the moment. Knowing that one hard-on that doesn’t end in an orgasm is not the last hard-
on you’ll ever have. Knowing that the richness of intimacy is much more than slam/bam. It’s a touch, a word.” He touched my face with such tenderness I thought I would melt.

  Questions were darting through my mind. I wanted to trust him. I wanted his help, but, the thought was so scary.

  “I had therapy for a long time to deal with all of this and my therapist suggested a surrogate lover. I’ve thought about asking Jack or Fritz but…it’s so tangled up with everything else right now I just didn’t think it would work.”

  “So…” He moved closer.

  “This is very difficult.”

  “I know,” he rested his hand on my inner thigh. It wasn’t too scary.

  “But I do know a bit about panic attacks. I lived with a woman who had them. Crowds were a real problem. I took her to a Lakers’ game and we ended up calling an ambulance for her. So we worked on smaller crowds, working our way up to big, pushy crowds. Took a while, but she made it.”

  I stared into his crystalline green eyes for a long time, thinking, wondering.

  “So, if you would be this sort of ‘healing’ lover for me we would start…”

  “Maybe just spending time together, time in bed, time in various states of clothing. But agreeing no sex until you feel you want to start some foreplay…See, you and this unfortunate fellow were like throwing a kid in the deep end who’s terrified of the water. You were breathing in water and he simply pushed you further down. You and I, dear lady, will start together with just a touch of the water while on the safety of land.”

  “No one could know. And, no promises about any long term relationship. No promises.”

  “You’re getting scared now. No need to think that far ahead. But…no promises. Just our very special secret.”

  “Why would you do this for me? We just met.”

  He laughed and lay on his back. “Oh, my naive young woman…Number one, I can’t stop thinking of you. Number two, I can’t stand the thought that you’ve been through hell and you’re still going through hell. And number three, men are fixers. I want to fix this. And, to be honest, once you make it through this I’m going to enjoy the hell out of celebrating with you.”