Reel (Hollywood Renaissance 1)

“Nice,” Canon says, sitting on the stone bench where I take a few moments to meditate some mornings.

“Yeah, we like it.” I sit beside him, leaving a few inches and half a pound of cookies between us. “We didn’t have lemon trees in our backyard in North Carolina, and we don’t have yards in New York. LA is spoiling me.”

“I’m sure you’ll have more offers after this movie. Maybe you’ll consider moving out here.”

We stare at one another for a few seconds before I have to look away, the pent-up intensity straining my control.

“So did you need something?” I ask, knowing he must since there are no “just because” visits with us. I pull one knee up to my chest and swing the other leg, needing something to do with myself while I wait for his response.

“I was wondering what . . .” He clears his throat, stands, and walks over to the lemon tree, where he rubs a leaf between his fingers. “I was wondering if you have plans for New Year’s Eve.”

It’s not what it sounds like. There’s an explanation. It’s a studio New Year’s party. There’s an event. The suits want to show the cast off. Something work-related.

“Um, I’m actually coming back to LA for New Year’s.”

He plucks a leaf from the tree and twirls it between his index finger and thumb. “Would you like to spend it with me?”

My foot slips off the bench and I almost fall, catching myself just in time. I grip the bench and let my bare toes dangle in the grass. “What do you mean? Like a party or—”

“More private.” He glances up, a slow-burning fire in his eyes. “I was thinking just us for a few days.”

If he had said we’re boarding the next spaceship for Jupiter I couldn’t have been more surprised. Even though I know Takira can’t hear us out here and that no one is listening, I walk over, standing close enough that he’ll hear me whisper. “I thought you said we had to wait.”

His usual inscrutable expression softens, opens to show me what he’s thinking, that he’s feeling.

“I thought I could.” He pushes the hair away from my cheek, over my shoulder. “I was wrong.”

There could be a dozen cameras out here right now and I wouldn’t be able to stop myself. I tip up on my toes and link my hands behind his neck. “Yes.”

“Don’t you want to know—”

I press my finger to his lips. “I said yes.”

He slides his hands down my back to rest at the curve of my hips, pulling me closer.

“What changed your mind?” I ask. “You’ve barely acknowledged my existence since Thanksgiving and you seemed to be clear we shouldn’t . . . we shouldn’t ’til after the movie wraps.”

“I still feel that way, but I’m hoping we can be discreet. I need something.” The way he looks at me brushes heat over my cheeks. “I want you.”

He dips, takes my lips, and cups my ass. I strain up, opening my mouth under the hot, seeking slant of his. It’s been weeks and I’m starved for this. His hunger circles mine and we’re groaning and I’m grinding up against him, completely prepared to mount him under this lemon tree. He breaks the kiss, breathing as heavily as I am.

“We’ll wait,” he pants against my lips.

“Where?”

Antarctica?

Great this time of year.

The moon?

Who needs gravity?

Because wherever he says we can be together, even if only for a few days secreted away from everyone, that’s where I’ll be.

“I’d like it to be out of town,” he says, “but we start shooting again in a few days, so I need it to be close. Easy. Ever been to Santa Barbara? There’s this place I rent sometimes when I need to get away.”

“That sounds great. I’ll be back a few days before New Year’s.” A bitter laugh escapes me. “I’m going home for Christmas, but I don’t exactly expect a relaxing time and I need to get into the right frame of mind before we start shooting again.”

His big hands at my waist tighten and then caress my back. “You nervous about seeing your sister?”

“I don’t know that I will. Maybe. They’re spending Christmas in Virginia, and I’m only staying a few days. I have no idea what to expect.”

“I hope it goes well.”

“I’m most looking forward to spending some time with my mother. Somehow our relationship suffered even though the split was between Terry and me.” I shrug, not wanting to discuss my family right now. “Anyway, so I’ll be back a couple of days before New Year’s.”

“I’m spending Christmas Day with my mom’s people in Lemon Grove, but I’ll be back in LA that night. When you return, we could drive up to Santa Barbara and come back to LA New Year’s Day. Give us time to get ready for shooting to resume. How’s that sound?”