Behind the Film Star's Smile (12 page)

It was the same for Jess. But right now she didn’t want to talk about that. ‘I was going to ask you about Baloo. Were all the kennels really full?’

‘No,’ Monica admitted, ‘and I was taking a huge risk.’

‘Giving a rescue dog with special needs to a total novice—that could really have blown up in your face, Monica. Big time.’

Monica laughed. ‘I like you, Jess. You tell it like it is and yes, you’re right. It could have blown up in my face. Especially as I wasn’t here to rescue them if it went wrong.’ She glanced ruefully at her cast. ‘And especially as this happened. I hate being stuck in a cast and having to rely on other people to do even basic stuff for me.’

‘That’s what Luke said—he’d give you a day of being in hospital before you were climbing the walls.’

‘He got that right,’ Monica said wryly.

‘Got what right?’ Luke asked, coming in to hear the tail end of the conversation.

‘Being stuck in hospital drove me crazy. At least I can do things, now I’m home.’

‘Just promise me you’ll be sensible and ask me for help when you need it,’ Luke said. ‘And I mean that, Mon.’

She rolled her eyes. ‘Don’t fuss. I’m fine.’

‘I mean it,’ Luke said. ‘Otherwise I’ll let my dog loose on your shoe cupboard.’

Monica exchanged a glance with Jess and smiled. And Jess knew exactly why the older woman was smiling: Luke was definitely near to accepting Baloo as his permanent dog.

*

Jess felt as if their relationship had turned a corner; over the next week, she and Luke grew closer, and she was really starting to think that, despite the huge differences between their lives, this might just work for both of them.

On Saturday night, she was sitting on the balcony with him, wrapped in his arms, when he nuzzled her ear. ‘Stay with me tonight, Jess.’

Stay with him.

Her pulse skipped a beat, and then another.

Stay with him. Fall asleep in his arms, and wake up with him.

Part of her wanted to. Yet part of her was scared. It had been a long time. Supposing she disappointed him? ‘I—I don’t have anything with me,’ she prevaricated.

He shrugged. ‘Well, I have a spare toothbrush and a washing machine. And, although I probably can’t produce anything like moisturiser, you’re very welcome to use whatever you need in the bathroom.’

‘You make it sound so easy,’ she whispered.

‘It
is
easy.’ He kissed her. ‘Stay, Jess. No pressure. We don’t have to do anything you don’t want to do. You can use the spare room if you’d rather.’

Time to meet him halfway, Jess thought. ‘I want to stay.’

‘But?’

‘It’s been a while,’ she said. ‘What if I disappoint you?’

‘You won’t disappoint me. Ever,’ he said.

And it really was that easy.

Baloo, for once, stayed on her own bed when she was told, and didn’t do her usual trick of opening the door and escaping upstairs.

And Jess discovered that Luke’s bedroom had the best view in the house. When she told him, he laughed and pulled the blind. ‘I have a better one right now.’

He undressed her slowly, gently, stroking every inch of skin as he uncovered it. Jess in turn enjoyed taking his clothes off, discovering how soft his skin was, finding out where he liked being touched and how she could make him gasp with pleasure.

‘Just so you know, I wasn’t taking this for granted,’ Luke said as he removed a condom from his wallet. ‘And the Press seriously over-report how many women I sleep with.’

She liked the fact that he’d guessed at some of her reservations—and he’d guessed correctly. But she also wanted to keep this light. So neither of them would feel pressured. ‘Are you trying to tell me you have a stunt double for Most Beautiful Man in the World, Mr McKenzie?’ she teased.

He groaned. ‘That accolade’s very flattering, but I’m not sure I live up to their expectations. They haven’t seen me first thing in the morning, with bed hair and stubble and being grumpy before my first cup of coffee.’ He stole a kiss. ‘You’ve been warned, by the way.’

‘Noted,’ she said, and let him carry her to his bed.

*

The next morning, Jess woke feeling sated and happier than she’d felt in a long, long time.

‘Morning.’ Luke drew her closer and kissed her. ‘OK?’

‘Very OK.’ She snuggled against him. ‘I thought you said you looked a mess and were grumpy, first thing?’

‘Bed hair, stubble, shadows under my eyes because I didn’t get a lot of sleep last night...’

She laughed. ‘You know, if the award-givers could see you right now...’ She stole a kiss. ‘They’d cancel all future awards on the grounds that nobody could look as good as this ever again.’

‘I wasn’t fishing.’

‘And I wasn’t flattering,’ she said softly. ‘You’re beautiful, Luke.’

‘And so,’ he said, ‘are you.’

She scoffed. ‘Come off it. I’m ordinary. You work with some of the most gorgeous women in the world.’

‘Most of which is achieved with make-up and good lighting. It isn’t real. You are. And it’s not just about looks. It’s about how you make me feel.’ He kissed her. ‘Waking up with you, I don’t feel grumpy and in need of coffee. I’m with you, so I know it’s going to be a glorious day.’

It was one of the nicest compliments Jess had ever been paid, and she felt her face go pink with pleasure. ‘Thank you.’ And it was the same for her. Being with him had taught her how to be happy again.

He kissed her again. ‘Much as I want to do all sorts of wicked things with you right now, I have a dog who needs to go out and who’s probably trashed my kitchen cupboards because I turned the door handle upside down so she had to stay put last night.’ He rolled his eyes. ‘Stay there. I’ll make us a coffee while I clear up.’

‘Are you sure you don’t want a hand?’

‘I’m sure.’

Jess lay back against the deep pillows and drowned until Luke appeared in the doorway with two mugs of coffee. A second later there was a flying leap and a thud as Baloo landed on the bed.

‘So how was your kitchen?’ she asked Luke as she made a fuss of the dog.

‘Perfect,’ he said. ‘I was expecting rice and pasta everywhere. She hadn’t opened a single door or chewed a single packet.’

Because, Jess thought, the dog was finally feeling secure. She knew she was
home
.

‘Good girl,’ Jess said, and made a fuss of the dog.

‘You don’t mind?’ Luke asked, gesturing to Baloo.

She smiled. ‘This was how Sunday mornings were at home if we weren’t on duty. Coffee, the papers, and lazing the morning away in bed with Comet snoring his head off at the bottom of the bed.’

His eyes widened for a moment. ‘I didn’t think. Sorry. I’ll—’

‘No, it’s fine,’ Jess said. ‘They’re happy memories. Like you said, it’s part of who I am.’ She kissed him lightly. ‘And, like you said, it’s going to be a glorious day.’

*

Over the next couple of weeks, Jess ended up staying most of the time at Luke’s house, only dropping back to hers occasionally to pick up fresh clothes. The one day she did stay at home was when she’d been in court to testify at the hearing of the man who’d mugged her, and Luke had planned to pick up Baloo from Monica before meeting Jess at her flat.

When the doorbell went, Jess rushed to answer it—and was surprised to see her sister standing there. ‘Oh—Carly!’

‘Is now not a good time?’ Carly asked.

‘No, it’s fine. I just wasn’t expecting you, that’s all.’

Carly raised her eyebrows. ‘Well, you’ve been so unavailable lately, I just wanted to call round and check you were actually OK.’

‘I’m fine.’ Jess hugged her sister. ‘Come in. I’ll put the kettle on.’

Hopefully Luke would end up chatting to Monica and running late, and Carly would be gone by the time he arrived. Much as Jess loved her sister, she wasn’t quite ready to admit that she was seeing Luke. This was all still too new.

But Carly was in the mood to talk, and when the doorbell went again Jess knew that it was Luke.

‘It’s probably a neighbour with a parcel delivery or something,’ she fibbed, and went to answer the door.

‘My sister’s here,’ she told Luke.

He raised an eyebrow. ‘Is that a problem? Will she think it’s too soon for you to be seeing someone?’

‘I—um...’

‘Jessie, is everything all right?’ Carly came out into the hallway and gasped as she saw who was standing at the front door. ‘Oh, my God! Luke McKenzie.’

‘You must be Carly. Lovely to meet you.’ He held out his hand to shake hers.

‘I—you—oh, my God,’ Carly said again.

‘I should be recording this,’ Jess said. ‘The first time our Carly’s ever been lost for words.’

Carly cuffed her. ‘Luke McKenzie,’ she said again.

‘And Baloo.’ He introduced the dog to her. ‘Though I imagine you know all about her, as Jess has been looking after her for me.’

‘She has?’ Carly stared at the dog and then at Jess, who was making a fuss of the dog. ‘You said you were working on a film set.’

‘I am. I’m in the production team,’ Jess said. ‘One of my duties is looking after the leading actor’s dog and stopping her munching on expensive designer shoes. Luke, come in. I’ll get you a coffee.’

‘Thank you,’ He kissed her lingeringly.

Jess felt her face flame. If Carly had been under any illusions that her relationship with Luke was strictly professional, they were well and truly blown, now. Because that most definitely hadn’t been a business kiss or an actor’s air kiss.

Carly appeared to have recovered herself. ‘Come and sit down, Luke. As Jess said, she’ll make coffee.’

‘Carly,’ Jess began, but her sister shooed her away, clearly in bossy teacher mode.

‘Sorry,’ she mouthed at Luke, and went to make coffee at double speed.

*

‘So you’re seeing my little sister,’ Carly said.

‘Yes. Is that a problem?’ Luke asked.

‘I hope not.’ Carly folded her arms. ‘I don’t mean to be rude, but I’m her big sister and it’s my job to look out for her.’

As an only child, Luke didn’t have a clue about sibling relationships. But he liked the fact that Carly obviously loved her sister very much and worried about her.

‘Has she told you about last year?’ Carly asked.

Straight to the point. Luke liked that, too. ‘About Matt and Comet?’ He nodded. ‘She trusted me with that much. And...’ He gestured to the mantelpiece.

‘She’s finally put the photos back.’ Carly’s eyes filmed with tears. ‘Was that anything to do with you?’

Jess clearly hadn’t mentioned the mugging or the trial today, and it wasn’t his place to tell Carly about it. ‘A bit,’ he said. ‘And I want you to know that I have no intention of hurting your sister.’

‘Good. Jess has been in a bad place and I don’t want her going back there. Ever again.’

‘She won’t be there on my account,’ he assured her.

‘Thank you—and she seems to be bonding with your dog.’

‘Temporary dog,’ he corrected. ‘Once my aunt’s back on her feet, she’s going to find Baloo a proper home.’

Carly looked at him. ‘Hmm. I know a good home—and I also know that Jess’s lease is up in a couple of months. There’s no reason why she can’t find another place that
will
allow her to have a dog.’

He smiled. ‘She said you’d nagged her about her job.’

‘She hated it, Luke—she was so miserable, and even now she refuses to go to our parents’ house because she can’t face seeing the dog. She makes them come here or sees them at mine. Maybe now that will change.’ She bit her lip. ‘I know Mum and Dad understand—we’ve all been worried about her. We all think this new job has been good for her, but she kept it quiet that she was looking after your dog.’

‘Maybe she needs time to work things out for herself,’ Luke suggested. ‘And you do know she’d be cross with both of us for talking about her.’

‘Yes, I am,’ Jess said, walking into the room in time to overhear the last bit. ‘Don’t talk about me. I’m a grown-up and I can make my own decisions.’

Carly spread her hands, ‘Jessie, I love you, and you know we’ve all worried ourselves sick about you since Matt died.’

‘I’m fine,’ Jess said. ‘Really.’

‘I think,’ Carly said, ‘I believe you. For the first time in months.’

‘Good. Shut up and drink your coffee.’ She scowled at Carly. ‘You were supposed to be so dazzled at meeting your idol that you’d stay lost for words.’

Luke laughed. ‘No way is your sister ever going to be lost for words, Jess.’

‘Charming.’ Carly rolled her eyes, but she was laughing. ‘I still can’t quite take in that my sister’s dating a movie star—oh, and thank you for the signed photos, Luke. Shannon and I both appreciated it.’

‘My pleasure.’ He smiled at her. ‘I know you’re an English teacher. Jess tells me you take her to see
Twelfth Night
every year.’

Carly nodded. ‘I can imagine you as Orsino.’

He smiled. ‘Yes, I’ve done that. But I want to play Feste.’

‘Can you sing?’

He launched into Feste’s song from the end of the play.

‘That,’ Carly said when he’d finished, ‘was lovely. Did you ever think about auditioning for
Les Mis
?’

‘My singing voice isn’t good enough, not for a full-blown musical,’ Luke said. ‘Though I have to admit I’d love to do
The Sound of Music
.’

‘Captain von Trapp.’ Carly grinned. ‘Yes. I can see that. You’ve got that lovely rich voice, like Christopher Plummer. You know, you might be the only person who could do a better Captain von Trapp than him.’

Jess groaned. ‘Luke, just make her the head of your fan club now, will you?’

He laughed. ‘I don’t have a fan club. But thank you both for the compliment.’

The conversation turned to favourite films and plays. Carly and Luke were both animated, and Jess thought how well Luke fitted in to this side of her life. Maybe, just maybe, this was going to work out.

‘I ought to go,’ Carly said finally. ‘Jessie, see me out?’

Jess knew what her sister meant. Time to be grilled.

She went to the front door with Carly.

‘Shannon said you were seeing someone, but she didn’t push you for details because she didn’t want you to go back into your shell. I can’t believe it’s Luke McKenzie.’ Carly smiled. ‘You’re right—he lives up to all my expectations and Shannon’s. He’s fabulous.’