The First Assistant (42 page)

“I guess you won an Academy Award,” Luke said by way of explanation. “I did,” I said and cast my eyes over at Oscar who had his own place

on the sofa.

“Shall we go for a swim?” Luke asked as he poured us a couple more tequilas.

“I guess we should,” I said, and Luke and I downed our tequilas, and I felt the fire race down my throat again. Then we looked at each other and high-fived.

“Race you!” I shouted as I hitched up my dress, grabbed Oscar, and pushed Luke out of the way as I dashed toward the swimming pool.

“Hey!” he yelled, coming up behind me fast. “Not fair.”

The next thing I knew we were in the deep end of his pool and my satin, floor-length dress, which I had to return by noon tomorrow, was trailing like a mermaid’s tail through the water. Oscar was watching from the side. Luke had stripped down to his shorts and was splashing beside me.

“Luke, I’m going to be the prexy of the studio!” I screamed over the sound of water.

“Congratulations, baby!” Luke shouted, then ducked under the surface and swam underneath me. I tried to escape but the next thing I knew he was right beside me, breathless and brushing his sodden hair off his face.

“I’m really happy for you,” he said as he took me by the hand and swam a little closer to the side of the pool.

“Thanks.” I grabbed on to the side of the pool with one hand.

“Do you think this means, now that you’re more successful than I am, that you might be able to come to dinner with me sometime?”

“Dinner?” I said, a slow smile breaking over my lips.

“Or lunch? If you think dinner’s a little . . . you know ... ?” “Forward?”

“Exactly,” he said.

“I’d love to have lunch with you,” I said as I took my hand off the side of the pool and put it around the back of his neck. My feet weren’t touching the bottom and my dress was heavy in the water, so I had to cling to him a little more than I’d anticipated to stay afloat.

“Great,” Luke said as he looked me in the eye for a second too long and then leaned in to kiss me. “I’ve got myself a date with the prexy.”

“I’ll put it in my diary.” I kissed him back this time. “But you have to promise me one thing?”

“What’s that?” Luke asked as he absentmindedly wiped some drops of water off my cheek.

“That you’re not even going to
think
about sleeping your way to the top, Luke Lloyd.” I laughed as he held me up in the water and began to kiss my neck, with Oscar looking on.

“I promise,” Luke said. “Anything to make the prexy happy.”