“Did you laugh in his face?”
She smiled. “I was a bit more diplomatic than that. I told him we might consider a percentage deal instead.”
“And?”
“And,” she said with a little sigh, “he said he’d think about it.”
Zach picked up his coffee cup. “Maybe it’s time to consider some other actor for the part.”
“Not yet. We’ve still got some time left. Actually, I think I might be better off if I bypass Dex’s agent and go straight to Dex himself.”
Zach’s eyes narrowed. “I don’t like the guy, Eve. I’d just as soon you kept away from him.”
“I don’t like him, either.” She looked across the table and into Zach’s eyes. “You know that. But liking Dex or disliking him has nothing to do with knowing he’s right for this part.”
Zach’s jaw tightened. “Dealing with Dex instead of his agent is just trading one jerk for another.”
Eve laughed. “You’re right—but it’s worth a shot.”
Zach nodded. She was right. His feelings about Dex were his own problem. Eve was producing this film, and signing actors was her business.
“Sure,” he said. He even managed to smile. “Just keep me posted.”
* * *
By Thursday, Eve had spoken with Dex on the phone several times but he still hadn’t come around. In desperation, she agreed to meet him for lunch.
She arrived at the restaurant prepared for anything and found—to her relief—that Dex had turned over a new leaf.
He was charming and witty, and that was all. There were no hands moving under the table, no offers of the good time they could have if they met somewhere more private.
But there was one moment at the end of the meal…
Dex suddenly leaned over the table. “Do you seriously think I’d do this movie without some personal concessions from you, Evie?” he said softly.
Eve, who was signing their check, looked up. There was something in his voice that made the hair rise on the back of her neck. But Dex was smiling pleasantly, his expression open and easy, and she knew she was being ridiculous.
Dex was talking about business concessions, nothing more.
“We’re prepared to offer you a percentage above the line, Dex,” she said with a cheerful smile. “I think that’s enough.”
Dex laughed. “It’s a concession, Evie. But hardly enough.”
There it was, that same undertone.
“Okay,” he said.
Eve blinked. “Okay?”
Dex grinned. “Well, I’ll at least consider the offer.”
The next day—Friday—Dex telephoned. He told Eve he’d thought things over and decided she might be right. Maybe it was time he took a chance on something different.
“Let’s talk about it tonight, at dinner.”
Eve hesitated, but what choice was there? This was Friday, and she was running out of time.
“All right,” she said, trying not to sound as reluctant as she felt. “No, don’t pick me up. I’ll meet you at Spago’s, at eight.”
“Meet who at eight?” Zach said, as he came walking into the office.
“Zach,” Eve said happily. She rose to her feet as he shut the door. “How’d your meeting go?”
“Terrific.” He put his arms around her. “But I missed you.”
“Emma’s right outside,” Eve whispered, but she settled into his arms.
He grinned. “Emma’s not a dope. She sees the way I look at you. Now, tell me who we’re meeting for dinner tonight—and why. I planned on having you to myself.”
“I know. But…” She hesitated. It was foolish, but she felt as if Zach had caught her doing something she shouldn’t have been. “Not us,” she said. “Just me. I’m having dinner with Dex. I think he’s come around.”
Zach frowned. He let go of her and walked to his desk.
“Good,” he said brusquely. “Tell him to have his agent give me a call.”
“I said, I think he’s come around, Zach. I’ll know more after I’ve met with him tonight.”
Zach yanked off his jacket, loosened his tie and sat down behind his desk. He pulled a stack of papers toward him and began leafing through them.
“I don’t understand this town,” he said tightly. “Why have offices if meetings always take place in restaurants?”
“Come on,” she said gently. “You’ve told me yourself you do half your business on golf courses or playing racquetball.”
He bent over a letter, pretending he was reading it, wishing he could deny what she’d said—but he couldn’t. Almost any kind of business conversation went better outside the stuffy confines of an office. Hadn’t he just talked Triad’s way into a couple of million bucks worth of loans after a fast game of tennis?
He looked up. “You’re right.” Rising, he came around the desk and took her in his arms. “But the thought of you having dinner with that jerk…” He shook his head. “I’m irritable as a bear, sweetheart. I’m sorry. It’s just that I’ve missed you this week.”
“I’ve been right here all the time,” she said with a little smile.
“Don’t joke about it. I’m going crazy, Eve. I think this has been the longest week of my life.”
A flush rose in her cheeks. She didn’t have to ask what he meant. She felt the same frustration. They had not made love since they’d left the cabin.
Zach had asked her to come to his hotel, but the thought of walking past the reception desk to the bank of elevators had been daunting. He’d offered to come to her apartment, but Eve had pictured the nosy Mrs. Harmon watching through the spy hole as he arrived.
In the end, they’d made do with dinner. With walks on the beach. With going to a new, much-heralded movie. But it wasn’t enough, not anywhere near enough.
“Eve.” Zach took her face in his hands. “Let’s go away for the weekend. Acapulco, maybe. Or San Francisco. I know a little hotel just off Russian Hill that you’ll love.”
She thought of everything there was to do this weekend, the appointment she’d made with the still photographer, the Sunday brunch she’d set with the actress who was to star in Hollywood Wedding.
She thought of all that, smiled and said, “Yes.”
Zach let out his breath. For a moment there, he’d half expected her to turn him down. But that was impossible. She wanted to be alone with him as much as he wanted to be alone with her, and his arms tightened around her as he thought of what the weekend would be like.
“Will you pick me up early Saturday morning?”
He grinned. “I’ll do better than that. We’ll leave this afternoon, right after work. How’s that?”
“Perfect. All I need is an hour to pack, and…” Eve’s face fell. “Oh, Zach. I’ve got that dinner appointment. With Dex.”
She saw the smile fade from his face.
“Dammit,” he growled. “The hell with him. Break the appointment.”
“No, I can’t. I told you——”
“I know what you told me. And I’m telling you, the hell with Burton. Call him up, tell him to either agree to our deal or forget about it.”
“Zach, please——”
“He’s hitting on you, isn’t he?”
Her eyes flew to Zach’s face. It was as harsh and unyielding as his voice.
“Come on, Eve, I’m not a fool. The first time I met Burton, you told me you thought he was a creep. I know the reason. He’s been trying to get you into bed.”
Eve flushed. “Maybe, in the past. But that’s all done with. I told you, he sees the potential in Hollywood Wedding. And——”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Because I’m a big girl, Zach. I can take care of myself.” She put her hand on his arm. The tension in it almost thrummed beneath her fingers. “It was just a game he plays, and now it’s over.”
“In that case, have dinner with him.” His eyes met hers. “But I’m coming along.”
“Zach, don’t be ridiculous. I don’t need protection.
”
His smile was wolflike. “Humor me. If he’s serious about this part, he won’t mind my presence.”
Dex was serious now, Eve was sure of it. Still, she had the feeling that bringing the two men together would be like trying to mix oil and water.
“Eve?”
She looked at Zach. He was smiling pleasantly, but she could sense the tension still smoldering in him, and she knew what she had to do.
The movie was important—but nothing could ever be as important as Zach.
She sighed and put her arms around his neck. “Whatever you say,” she whispered.
Zach felt the tension ease from him as his arms went around her and he kissed her. It was a long, sweet kiss, filled with promise and tenderness, and when it ended, he knew it was time to admit the truth, to himself and to Eve.
He was head over heels in love.
* * *
This was going to be one heck of a weekend, Zach thought as he pulled the Porsche to the curb outside Eve’s apartment that evening. Oh, yeah, it was going to be a winner.
He smiled as he got out of the car and trotted up the steps to the door.
I love you, Eve, he would say, in the tiny, romantic garden of the hotel in San Francisco. I love you—and I want to marry you.