Lovescenes

That bed was where everything had begun and it was where everything would end.

It was time to separate reality from fantasy.

‘Shannon, are you ready?’

She nodded. ‘Ready.’

‘OK, roll tape.’

Her face assumed its Alana Dunbar look as Rima began her lines in that awful voice of hers. She was as bad as ever, but that didn’t matter. She was a star, just as Cade had been.

Shannon picked up her cue and fed Rima the next line. How could she had been so stupid? Falling for somebody like Cade—he hadn’t even been subtle. He’d marched on to the set and into her life, taking what he wanted...

‘...you won’t see a penny of your inheritance, Alana,’ Rima wheezed. ‘My lawyers will see to it. How do you think your dear father would have felt about this dis­gusting relationship between you and Johnny Wolff?’

Disgusting is the right word for it, Shannon thought, moving aside so the camera could zoom in on Rima.

‘He didn’t want you, Alana. He was only interested in what he could get from you,’ Rima purred. ‘How could you have fallen for someone like him?’

‘Johnny loves me,’ Shannon said, feeling a kinship for Alana Dunbar that she’d never felt before. ‘He said he did.’

Their lines droned on, the words and gestures almost automatic. What time was the Simon audition? Not that she had a chance in a million at the part. The closest she’d come to comedy was Twelfth Night, which was hardly the same thing. But there were no love scenes in the Simon play, none for the role she was trying for, anyway, and that was a blessing.

How was she going to get through that love scene with Cade next week? Telling everybody, even herself, she’d be able to do it was one thing but actually doing it …

At least, she didn’t have to play it in that awful bodysuit. The script called for Cade to open her blouse and strip it from her.

No, that was wrong. Johnny would open Alana’s blouse, and Johnny would...

Her mind tuned into

the cue Rima threw her and she crossed the set, turning to the camera for her one close- up.

She was going to need more than laundry lists to get her through that bedroom scene, but not because she was worried about how she’d react sexually to Cade’s touch.

What she feared was that her hate would make her flinch from his ca­resses.

That was all there was to worry about. Wasn’t it? It had to be. There couldn’t be any other reason…

Damn. Was Rima going to blow her lines again? Not now, Shannon prayed, please, please, we’re almost done.

But Rima had a strange look on her face. There was a question forming in her emerald eyes as she stared beyond Shannon, no doubt looking for the cue card.

Dummy, Shannon thought, it’s in the other direction...

What was happening? There was a murmur off-set, coming from behind her and now there were whispers, too. The camera was moving in for a final one-shot of Rima, but Rima was paying no attention. Hang on, Rima, Shannon urged silently, hang on. It’s almost over. Just my line and then yours...

'I’ll get even with you for this,’ Shannon said. It was her last line and Rima was supposed to come in on it quickly, but she was silent, standing there with her mouth agape. ‘Did you hear me?’ Shannon improvised. ‘I’ll get even...’

Rima’s glance returned to her. ‘ You’re no good, Alana,’ she said in a strange voice ‘Neither one of you, you or that rotten Joh.. .that John—that John—‘The emerald eyes widened until they were glowing like twin green suns. ‘... that Johnny Wolff,’ she finally stammered, and Jerry’s voice boomed from the control booth.

‘Rima, damn it, what the hell’s your problem? And the rest of you… Doesn’t anybody know what “quiet” means?’

‘I’m sorry, Jerry. It’s my fault.’

The breath caught in Shannon’s throat. No, please, she thought, but even before she turned around, she knew.

Cade was here..