‘I read somewhere that you left home at sixteen and went to Hollywood. That’s pretty young. My parents would have totally freaked out if I’d suggested crossing the Atlantic at that age.’
‘I had an opportunity. I took it.’
‘And your parents didn’t try and talk you out of it? Lucky you. I did my degree in London and my mum and dad were constantly worried about what would happen to me. Not that I’m complaining,’ Katie said hastily, ‘because at the end of the day you know it’s because they care. Yours were obviously pretty chilled about that sort of stuff.’
His eyes glittered and he rose to his feet. ‘Goodnight, Katie.’
‘Oh, but I—’ Her mouth opened and closed because she was talking to herself. Nathaniel had gone.
Katie spent the next few days poring over the script and making sketches.
She saw virtually nothing of Nathaniel.
After that first night, he’d kept his distance. They ate meals together and when he talked about films he’d made he was entertaining company, but she was acutely aware that he was acting a part. The part of host. He said nothing about himself and his conversation was delivered with the same air of bored mockery that characterised all his communication. The slightest attempt on her part to turn their verbal exchanges into something more personal was met by an impenetrable icy wall.
Increasingly lonely, Katie took to hanging out with the staff. She befriended Ben and even went out fishing with him early one morning. She spent time with Sylvia and Kylie who cooked for them. Soon she was firm friends with everyone.
Everyone except Nathaniel.
‘You talked to Ben for so long today he couldn’t get his work done,’ Nathaniel drawled one evening as they ate a delicious meal.
Katie put down her fork, trying not to feel hurt.
‘We were chatting. Do you know he only gets to see his girlfriend once a week?’
‘Lucky guy.’ Nathaniel suppressed a yawn. ‘He gets the sex and none of the rest of the junk that comes with a relationship.’
‘Do you always have to be sarcastic about everything?’
‘Who says I’m being sarcastic?’
Katie thought about his wicked reputation with women. ‘Haven’t you ever been in love?’
He threw back his head and laughed, genuinely amused. ‘That’s a question straight from Katie-land where the sky is blue and the sun always shines.’
Angry, she stood quickly, knocking over her chair in the process. ‘Actually, the sky isn’t that blue in Katie-land. I’ve had my share of problems. My life has bumps in it, just like anyone’s. Right now I’ve lost my job, thanks to you, and there is no way any bank is going to give me another loan when I don’t have work. Not that I expect someone like you to understand.’
‘So if it’s raining in Katie-land,’ he said softly, ‘why are you always so damned cheerful?’
Katie picked the chair up and sat down on it slowly. ‘I don’t know.’ She bit her lip. ‘I suppose I just prefer being happy to being miserable. Over the years I’ve learned what cheers me up.’
‘Talking?’
‘Yes—’ she flushed ‘—I like people. I find people interesting and generally very warm and friendly. Human contact is what makes life OK when things are tough.’
‘Really? Generally I find it to be the other way round.’ His beautiful mouth curled. ‘Human beings are what make life tough when things are OK. I presume your need to talk and make friends is the reason you’re distracting all the staff.’
‘I’m not distracting them.’
‘Sweetheart, you’re virtually on the payroll.’
‘I’d love to be on the payroll! At least then I’d be earning some money. And it’s better than being lonely by the pool.’
‘Lonely?’ Black eyebrows rose in incredulous surprise. ‘How can you possibly be lonely? You’re in paradise.’
‘It’s only paradise if you have someone to share it with. What’s the point of spotting a gorgeous bird if you don’t have anyone to get excited with.’ Katie poked at her food. ‘Today I was reduced to having a long conversation with a lizard.’
‘I saw one unconscious on the path,’ he drawled, deadpan. ‘Now I know why. He’d been “Katied.”’