Unforgettable Read online

  An awkward silence had snuck in and we all avoided each other’s eyes.

  “Long time ago. Anyone want ice cream?”

  “Lord, yes,” Jack said. “It was so damn hot in that robe I thought I’d just melt.”

  I plastered Jack’s knee with ice bags.

  “Your foot looks terrible.” I was regretting my outburst, wishing somehow I could take it back.

  “Hurts like hell.” He took some ibuprofen and leaned back, closing his eyes. He held out his hand to me. I didn’t take it.

  “Sorry I blew up like that,” I said.

  “Don’t be. I’m sorry about last night.”

  “Nothing to be sorry about. You should be able to do what you want. And, you are my boss. You were correct.”

  “Sam. I was mad. You are not just staff. You know that.”

  I sat back and looked at him.

  “You can’t play me like a puppet. I have to have some freedom. I have to see David.”

  “Do you love him?”

  “Of course.”

  He sighed.

  “But, he’s not the only one. You know Natasha, the psychic, told me that my mother has put a spell on me. And that this spell…”

  Gabrielle stepped into the room shaking her finger at Sam.

  “Shhh. Don’t tell him. He’s not supposed to know. You’re not supposed to know.”

  “… makes people love me and want to protect me. She also said it works both ways, making me love people.”

  “He’s going to think you’re crazy. Your father is going to be so mad… “ Gabrielle turned and flew back to heaven.

  “I’m not sure I believe her but…you and Fritz and now David…extraordinary things happening. I’ve never had anything like this happen to me. To be honest I’m overwhelmed. My feelings are…deep, conflicted.”

  Jack smiled, his eyebrow raised. He put a cigar in his mouth, looked at me and put it down.

  “I’ve never been one to argue with mothers. Especially dead ones. I figure out one mystery with you and I’ll be damned if you don’t come up with more. You’re not going to tell me about David and why you had been crying, are you?”

  “No. I hear the love scene's coming up...”

  “Did you two fight?” he interrupted.

  “No.”

  “Did he hurt you?”

  “Never,” I promised.

  I repositioned the ice, rolling the whole thing over in my mind.

  “You’re like trying to take a nap with a Tasmanian Devil. I never know when I’m going to get kicked in the gut.” I confessed.

  “Must feel something to ask about this scene.”

  “You’re my boss, Jack. You just bought me a whole bunch of clothes.”

  “I did?”

  “Yes. And I’ll be getting a paycheck from you. Not a good combination…boss and romance.”

  “Boss and lover,” he whispered, leaning forward.

  He nibbled on my knuckles, his teeth sharp against my bones. “We could change the circumstances.”

  “Yes, I could go back to St Louis and…”

  “No.” He turned my hands over and kissed the palms. Heat traveled like wildfire up to my throat and lips.

  “We could get engaged.”

  I stood up, pulled my hand away, just as Fritz arrived with the ice cream.

  I took mine and walked out.

  I was nervous the rest of the afternoon watching as Jack and the woman, Shandi Bartell, rehearsed.

  I decided to walk. I hiked around the entire circumference of the lot. When I made it back to Studio 7 Jack, in his normal clothes, was standing by the doors waiting.

  “Nice walk?”

  “Nice fuck?”

  I walked past him.

  John saw me and waved me over, thanking me for my help.

  “Friday we have a party. Crew and actors. Everybody. And there is a select after party. I would love it if you came. You can begin to know me. Find that you can trust me. I would like to enjoy...your company very much."

  He stared, holding my gaze, and I couldn't look away.

  "That's very nice of you."

  "It would be a beginning. Of choices. There will be things...you will undoubtedly enjoy as you allow."

  I didn't think he was talking about the appetizers.

  “I kind of don’t get out on my own much.”

  He didn't break his gaze.

  “I see Jack has all the security out. I heard about Roger getting stabbed. What if I have my people pick you up, or, if I ask Roger to arrange it? I have people well trained. Very well trained.”

  “Does Jack usually attend?”

  “Sometimes. But, I wasn’t interested in Jack being there… just you.” He leaned closer. I felt small next to him.

  “I’ll talk to Roger,” I said.

  He wrote his phone number on my palm.

  “When you are ready, call me, little one.”

  There was something wonderfully, disgustingly, erotic about him. He was ...I couldn't put my finger on it.

  That night a package arrived for me. One of the security opened it and then handed it to me. I went into the dining room and opened it. It was from David.

  It was a gorgeous silver cuff bracelet.

  I felt something on the inside.

  It was engraved.

  My reality is better than my dreams because of Sam.

  A couple of tears made it out. I could still feel him around me, touching me.

  I called him.

  “Thank you. It’s really wonderful.”

  “I’m glad you like it. I have to go to Japan but I’m thinking we should get together when I get back.”

  “Fritz figured it out.”

  “I suspected he would. He’s sharp.”

  “Jack and I…”

  “I know. He called. It’ll be okay, Sam. But you’ve always got a room here. Even if I’m out of town my office can make the arrangements.”

  I slipped the bracelet on. It was heavy. Elegant.

  I made myself tea, smiling.

  “Want anything while I’m in here, Jack?”

  “I’m hurting. Better make it a double.”

  I made him popcorn and milk and brought some pain medicine.

  “Milk.”

  “You can’t take these drugs with scotch. You’ll burn a hole in your stomach.”

  He captured my arm, slipped off the bracelet and read it.

  “Nice. Poetic. Sweet.”

  He put it back on.

  “Need anything else? I’m going to bed.”

  He patted the bed next to him.

  “Sam, sit down. Or lay down. We need to clear the air.”

  “We don’t seem to be very good at that.”

  “This bracelet from David. If you continue to see him this will only increase.”

  “How dreadful. A pox…look, Jack. You and I are not married.”

  “I want to know how you feel about me, Sam. If you’re going to get serious with David I just need to know that.”

  He got up and poured himself a scotch and climbed in bed next to me.

  “I hate to keep saying this but I just don’t know what will happen with David.”

  “You’re avoiding the question. You and me.”

  He lit a cigar.

  He pulled me to him and kissed me so hard our teeth crashed.

  “Look me in the eyes and tell me what you’re feeling right now.”

  I tried to turn away.

  “In the eyes.”

  I crawled up on his lap, putting his cigar out but taking a big drink of his scotch.

  I couldn’t lie.

  “I want you. More than I’ve ever wanted anyone in my life. Or all my previous hundred lives. I seem to be accidentally falling in love with you. I never intended for any of this to happen. You, Fritz, David…”

  I gave him a small kiss that turned deep, starving. I was tumbling into insanity.

  “Then I don’t understand.” He was panting.

&
nbsp; “I need David right now. And I can’t get into a relationship right now.”

  “You need David but you can’t get into a relationship.”

  I nodded.

  “Do you have any idea how totally illogical that is? You sound like the Mad Hatter.”

  “I know. You should hear it from this side.”

  He grinned.

  “Maybe I should just get you drunk.”

  He kissed me and I curled into him like an old tabby.

  “Sam, I want you. You’re driving me wild.” His hands were everywhere.

  “You can make love to Kolina. “

  He laughed. “So could you. She liked you. She does not discriminate.”

  “’Might be interesting.”

  His eyebrow went up.

  “Now that I would pay a whole lot to see.”

  He kissed me again, kissing my face, my neck. I hurt for him, needed him like air.

  “Stay with me tonight,” he whispered, rubbing my back, my ass.

  “I will on one condition.”

  “A condom. You bet.”

  “No. Clothes on, no sex.”

  The mood shifted.

  He stared at me.

  “Why?”

  “No questions and no talk about David. That’s the deal.”

  “Why do you want this deal, why not just sleep alone?”

  I played with his powerful hands, putting his palm on my cheek, and closing my eyes.

  “No matter how many lights I have on there are shadows. There are sounds. I swear he’s in my room at night.

  “And when I wake up I am horribly, painfully alone. I’d like to feel you next to me. I haven’t slept with a man in a very long time.”

  “We shouldn’t be here, Gabby. Privacy, remember?” They were tiny orbs of light, flitting around the light fixture in the hall.

  “He is going to take care of her, see? I told you so. Think I should zap them again?”

  “I like the other two. David’s got my money. He really cares about her, not just his… you know what I mean.”

  “But Jack… the heat between them.”

  “Come on, woman. I hear Shakespeare is doing another reading tonight. Don’t want to miss it.”

  Jack held my face and I thought he might cry.

  His eyes were soft as he tucked me in next to him. I fell asleep my back against his belly feeling him breathe. I fell asleep smiling. I fell asleep loved.

  “I am tired of this shit, Bobbie.”

  Eddie was having a tantrum.

  “You want something staked out you do it! You hear me? You fucking do it!”

  “Okay, Eddie, baby. Didn’t make any boyfriends in jail?”

  Robert got in his face and tried to kiss him.

  He punched Robert, who hit back. Several times.

  “Now you gonna tell me again what you are and aren’t gonna to do?” Robert was spitting in his face.

  He ran in the bathroom crying.

  Robert laughed.

  “Eddie’s always so fuckin’ easy.” Robert laughed and got out the stack of pictures of Sam.

  “How about we take the girl for ransom?”

  “Ransom?” Oscar perked up.

  “Yeah. What would you like?”

  “Money. Three fucking million,” Eddie stepped out of the bathroom.

  “And a really cool car,” Oscar said. “My own car. Like a GTO.”

  “Right. Now it seems more worthwhile to get her, doesn’t it?”

  Gabrielle and Ted listened. Ted shorted out an outlet in the kitchen spewing flames up the wall.

  “That was just a warning,” said Ted. “They’d better start putting this together.”

  Gabrielle, tearful, nodded.

  Tuesday

  I woke at five and got up without waking him.

  Fritz walked in the kitchen where I was making coffee.

  “You didn’t answer your phone.”

  “I was down here. I slept with Jack…literally. No sex. Just sleep. But you probably already know that. It’s like living in a submarine around here.”

  “And…”

  “What?” I stretched.

  “Why?”

  “I didn’t want to be alone.”

  “You’re playing with fire, my love. Go away with me this weekend.”

  “And where would we go?”

  He wrapped me in his arms and it once again seemed that we had been doing this for years.

  “There’s an Inn in Vancouver. Gorgeous. Green. Quiet. Good music. Sometimes theater.”

  “Sounds like heaven. But I do have obligations to Jack’s foot, you know.”

  “It was nice to imagine for a moment, though.”

  We smiled.

  The studio was practically empty.

  “Where is everyone?”

  “Closed set. Nude scene,” Fritz told me as Jack rolled away.

  “Oh. Do they actually do it…?”

  “No. Although there have been those who do. But it’s very awkward with cameras in your face, people watching every hump. And they call ‘cut’ and what’s a man to do? Most men—unlike women—can’t just turn it on and off like that. I mean, once you’re loaded…”

  “Yeah, yeah, yeah. I understand.”

  We walked to the café on the compound.

  “Ever get caught?”he asked. He seemed to have fun no matter where he was.

  “Yes. Once. In the back of a Volkswagen. The only thing I had on was my pink socks. Knee highs.“

  “Now there’s an image I can keep…caught by a cop?”

  “Yes.”

  “Get arrested?”

  “No. And you?”

  “In a barn once. Back home. I never knew a person could run with his pants down but with the right motivation…”

  “Where is back home?”

  “Southwold, England. Right on the sea.”

  “I’d love to go to England. I’ve always wanted to see the castles.”

  “Name the day and I’ll take you.”

  “Just like that.”

  “Yes, just like that.”

  “I suppose Jack would give you a bit of a vacation.”

  “I would leave, my dear, and show you the world.”

  “And what would we live on in this fantasy of yours?”

  He laughed.

  “It is a fantasy. But, the money is very real. I’ve worked hard these past years as Jack’s manager. I invest most everything I make—after all I have very few expenses of my own. And now I am quite wealthy.

  “In fact, I could buy one of those castles for you if you like. A lot are up for sale. Families dying out, that sort of thing. They often need repair and modernizing but it would give us something to do.

  “Fix up a… nursery.” He stared long and hard.

  “Nursery,” I could hardly get the word out.

  “Yes,” he whispered and bit my shoulder. “Nursery. Baby toes, baby bellies to kiss, baby baths--the sweetest smell in the whole world.”

  Emotions I didn’t know existed were choking me.

  “I love newborns. You surprise me. I don’t know what else to say.”

  “How about ‘let’s make reservations’?”

  “How about, ‘should I have the bacon today or stay healthy’? I’m thinking bacon. Two slices.”

  He looked at my bracelet.

  “He’s a charmer. Guard your heart, my little love.”

  All during breakfast I thought of castles. Ancient. Large stones. Large beds. Making love to Fritz any time I wanted. Being naked with Fritz. And…a nursery. A child. Something I hadn’t allowed myself to think of in a long time.

  “You’re awfully quiet.”

  “Just daydreaming. Babies, nurseries, making love whenever, you and me, naked… You have my gray cells on over time. I’m a little tired, too.”

  “I could find a place where we could take a nap. I’m utterly exhausted myself.” He leaned over on the table and looked at me upside down like a playful, horny cat.
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  I was thinking of saying yes when his phone went off.

  “Yes? I see. Damn. We’ll be right there.”

  “What?”

  “They’re sending him home.”

  “Was he bad?”

  He laughed. “Shandi has the sniffles and didn’t think she could suck face. So they’re sending Jack home. He’ll be in a snit.”

  But he wasn’t. He was smiling.

  “Call Gloria, tell her that we’re taking Sammy to Malibu.”

  “The beach?”

  “Yes. We’ll have some lunch, watch the waves, it’ll be great.”

  Fritz called Gloria. “Sunnie’s. Yes. Meet you there.” He hung up. “She was saying very bad words to me.”

  “She didn’t want us to go.” Jack played with a small ball he’d found in the parking lot.

  “No, she wants us to go back home and sit in our rooms with the doors locked.”

  The drive to Malibu was beautiful, the temperatures were in the mid-eighties and the sky was filled with puffy white clouds.

  “Wish I had a suit, though. I’d love to get wet.”

  The two men exchanged looks.

  “They have shops all up and down the beach,” Fritz said. “And I am an excellent swimsuit shopper.”

  “I think I can handle that on my own…as long as you’re paying.”

  As expected we found a boutique but the prices were outrageous.

  “Come on, let’s go,” I said.

  “You don’t like them?”

  “Too expensive.”

  Fritz moaned.

  “You could buy the whole bloody shop and Jack wouldn’t blink.”

  I grinned and chose a one piece that looked more like scarves tied together than a swimsuit. It plunged just low enough to allow nice cleavage but still cover my stomach, and the back was open. Very open. It was perfect.

  “My God, woman.” Jack said when we got to the car. “You’re going to make me drool.”

  “Men are absolutely disgusting.”

  Jack laughed again and we drove to the pier.

  “You know, my old friend, in all the years we’ve been together we’ve never fought over a woman,” Jack said.

  “Hey, woman in the backseat here.” They ignored me.

  “Right. But this woman, this gorgeous woman…in the backseat… isn’t like any other we’ve ever met.” Fritz smiled at me in the rearview mirror.