‘For him. Someone – something too. Coke, mainly. Staying up all night, wanting to party, while I went to bed with a book and a couple of Advil. The writing was on the wall, really.’
Leonardo exhaled, never breaking eye contact with her.
‘What a wanker,’ he said, almost prayerfully. ‘Leaving you to go to bed alone. He wants to see a fucking shrink.’
‘Oh, he’s got several of those,’ said Jenna, bu
t her cheerful tone was forced, and a huge, red danger alarm pulsed all over body.
‘I’ll bet. So you didn’t have anyone else, then?’
Jenna shook her head. ‘No time for any of that. Plenty of opportunity, but you know people are only trying to get you to bed so you’ll give them something. A contract, a newspaper exclusive, a spot on the show. Fuck it, Leo, I’m so tired of it all. So, so tired.’
She put her glass down at her feet and laid her head on her arms, which were crossed over her knees.
Saying the words had made her realise it, made her finally see that she couldn’t carry on with the LA life.
‘Hey.’ His voice was a little breath, but so heavy with concern that she made no objection when he put his hand on her shoulder.
When she stayed put, the hand crept around the base of her neck, so his arm was around her. He was close, clean and fresh-smelling, warm and strong. She felt protected. How mad. How could she feel protected by this feral fugitive, years younger than her? Yet she did.
His fingers were firm on her shoulder while his thumb lightly stroked the base of her neck. It was very soothing, and very tender, and it made her see how long it was since anyone had performed a really caring gesture towards her.
‘So you’re a runaway, too,’ he said.
She still sat slumped, head down.
‘I guess I am,’ she said, muffled but clear enough.
He bent and she felt his lips at her ear. He could do what he wanted. She had no strength to fight him off, even if she had wanted to.
‘I think,’ he said, ‘it’s time you were in bed.’
Oh God. Here it was. The seduction scene.
‘Leonardo, I don’t know …’
His hand tightened on her shoulder, fingertips digging in to her soft flesh.
‘Fuck off!’ he said. ‘Do you think I’m trying to …? Jen, I’m thinking of you. You’re knackered and you need to sleep. That wine’s good stuff for insomnia. Even I might get a few hours kip tonight.’
She raised her head and cast bleary eyes in Leonardo’s direction.
‘I’m sorry,’ she said. ‘Of course I didn’t think that. Why would I? You’re young and good-looking, I’m a shrivelled old bag. I’m sorry.’
He looked so furious at that that she shrank away from him, but he reached out and held her face in his hands, his darkest of dark eyes boring down on her.
‘Shut. Up,’ he said fiercely. ‘Don’t you dare talk about yourself like that. D’you hear me?’
She swallowed and tried to nod. He dropped her face and stood up.
‘Get to bed,’ he said, and he stalked out of the room, stopping only to pick up an unopened pack of sausage rolls from the table.
Jenna did as she was told, but all the while she was undressing and brushing her teeth and taking out her contact lenses she felt this odd, hot, weak feeling, as if she were coming down with a virus.
‘Perhaps I am,’ she murmured, slipping under the covers. ‘Perhaps I’ve caught something.’
Chapter Three