California Dreaming: Four Contemporary Romances (94 page)

“What about James?”

Mandy stood again and stirred the pot. The liquid was almost cooked down. “He’s made his position clear. He’s got his career plan, and relationships are strictly short and casual.”

She kept stirring the pot, embarrassment flushing her face along with the steam from the hot mixture. No way was she letting Sarah know how she’d wanted to be one of James’s flings. His rejection, noble as it was, still stung.

“How will you deal with him on the set?”

“I guess I’m going to have to grow up, aren’t I?”

Sarah grinned. “Or convince him how irresistible you are.”

Mandy forced a chuckle. She added another cup of milk to the ground meat mixture. “There’s only one problem. I’d leave you in the lurch.”

“I can work it out,” Sarah said. “There’s always Gayle’s. I’m sure I can get someone from the college’s culinary school to fill in while you’re gone.” She paused. “One thing, though. Are you doing this for the job or the man?”

Mandy swallowed past the lump in her throat, sat down, and decided to tell the truth. “I’d like to say the job, but I guess that’s one of the things I need to figure out.”

Sarah studied her. “Go for it, Mandy. Please don’t get hurt in the process.” She reached her hand across the table. “You mean too much to me.”

Mandy squeezed her friend’s hand. “We both know getting hurt is part of the process. I remember all the tears you shed before you opened up to Hunter.”

“True. I guess I learned the pain of not knowing the truth is far worse than knowing it."

Mandy nodded. “Thanks. I’ll call Sally tomorrow.”

• • •

James surveyed the damage done by the 2013 Rim Fire as he climbed the road out of Yosemite Valley into the Crane Flats area. Blackened tree trunks marched like a skeleton army up the dark earth. Bits of green promised renewal that would be a long time coming. Fortunately the fire had spared the most spectacular scenes of the national park.

Beth Ann had chosen an untouched area close to Tuolumne Meadows for the shoot. The lodge had agreed to keep the tent cabins open a few extra weeks to accommodate cast and crew, but the restaurant would shut down in a month, giving Sally extra meals to prepare for the last weeks of shooting.

James had been relieved when Sally told him about Mandy’s decision. The mess he’d made in Costanoa haunted him. He’d have to work hard to set things right so the tension wouldn’t carry over to the set.

He pushed away the niggling thought that he’d missed her smile.

The scenery shifted from tall trees to the glacier-polished granite of Olmsted Point, then twisted again to reveal the iridescent blue of Tenaya Lake. The stress of the past few weeks fell away as James observed the landscape that the strong hand of nature had created and listened for the whisper of God in the stone canyons and crevices.

A half hour later Tuolumne Meadows came into view. James pulled into the parking lot, relieved to see Sally’s RV parked at the far end of the lot. He drove up beside her rig and got out of the car.

The caterer opened the door and stepped out. “I am seriously getting too old for this gig,” she said before giving him a bear hug.

“Where’s your assistant?”

“We need to talk about that.” Sally planted her hands on her hips. “I don’t know what you did in Costanoa, but I don’t need her heart tied up in knots by a guy only focused on his career. Mandy needs a guy who’s going to settle down, buy her a pretty little house in the burbs, and give her the kids she’s anxious to have. That’s not you, so leave her alone.”

“I messed up. I’ll make it right.”

“Yeah. You messed up. Now do as I say and leave her alone.”

James was silent. He’d deal with Mandy in his own way.

Sally shook her head in resignation. “I emailed her a list of stuff to bring with her from the coast. She’ll be here about five this afternoon.”

“Good. The crew should be here tomorrow and the cast rolls in the day after that.”

“Where are we setting up?”

“Up by the Dog Lake trailhead. Beth Ann wants to be able to use the meadow and river backgrounds for some of the scenes.” He knew Sally wasn’t happy with him, but it couldn’t be helped. “Have you registered at the lodge yet?”

Sally snorted. “Lodge? That’s camping … somewhat glamorous camping, but camping nonetheless!”

James smiled. “At least you don’t have to pitch your own tent. And they’ll give breakfast and dinner for another four weeks. Except when Beth Ann wants to shoot early or late, you only have to handle lunch so the work is cut down.”

“It’s the only reason I agreed to do this film.” She touched his arm. “Seriously, James, I think this is my last location shoot. I’m ready to go to Hawaii and be with my sister. Live the good life. Find me a young surfer dude and learn to ride the big waves.”

The image of Sally on a surfboard, her short arms clutched around a boy toy, made him chortle, lifting his spirits. He’d miss Sally. “What will happen to the business?”

She shrugged. “Maybe I can convince Ms. Parker to buy it. If not, someone else will take it.”

Another problem that he’d deal with later. “Let me check in and then I’ll help you get the rig set up in the right place.”

After confirming his tent assignment, James returned to the parking lot and showed Sally how to get to the trailhead parking. He helped her get the rig stabilized and went back to the parking lot to wait for Mandy.

A few minutes before five, Mandy’s maroon station wagon pulled next to the Explorer. He got out of the car as she rolled down her window.

He drank in the sight of her.

“Where’s Sally?” she asked.

“She’s set up. Follow me and I’ll take you to her.”

“Okay. Lead on.”

As he drove the short distance, James wondered if he was going to survive the next month. Seeing Mandy rekindled the desire to kiss her, touch her, and explore every inch of her body. With nothing but canvas between them at night, would he be able to refrain from approaching her?

Sally’s warning came into his mind.

He wasn’t ready for a woman like Mandy, a woman who brightened his days with laughter and made him feel man enough to protect her. Best to leave her alone.

• • •

Mandy had been nuts to take this job.

She followed the Explorer down the rutted road to the familiar trailer, cursing herself the whole way. Did she think that she’d be able to be within feet of James and not want to explore the sensations his kiss on the beach had awoken? Was she delusional enough to think magic happened, and the genie of passion could be stuffed back into a cold brew bottle?

If only James had a rotten personality to go along with his good looks. But, no, he had to treat her like a gentleman, and he was no slouch when it came to hard work.

No way could she move to Hollywood. Not with James within a hundred mile radius of the city.

Nope. The only way to survive the stew she’d dumped herself into was to maintain professionalism, keep her distance, and skedaddle out of Yosemite the first chance she got. Fortunately, the logistics of feeding people on the shoot would keep her busy and out of James’s way.

After Mandy launched herself out of bed the next morning, she made her way to the camp showers, getting in and out quickly. Showers used by multiple people she didn’t know always increased her “yick” factor.

She envied the actors and director their trailers.

“I hate parks,” Sally grumbled when Mandy joined her at breakfast in the dining tent by the Tuolumne River. “Give me a city any time. Mice I understand. Here everything jabbers at you like a radio announcer at a slow ball game.”

Mandy chuckled, but concentrated on the vegetable omelet in front of her. Anything that someone else cooked had an extra bite of sweetness.

Her phone jangled, and she dropped her fork on the plate. “I thought we couldn’t get reception up here,” she said.

Sally shrugged. “You never know where there’s pockets of coverage.”

Mandy glanced at the readout.

Lola.

“I should probably take this.” She stood and went outside, hoping the signal would stay strong enough to give her mother a call back. If Lola didn’t hear from Mandy on a regular basis, she was likely to call the National Guard.

“Oh, hi, darling,” her mother said when she got through. “Where are you? I thought you were coming back home to be with me. You need to get over all that California cooking nonsense and get on with your life.”

Mandy sighed. No matter how often she told Lola she was never moving back to New Jersey, she persisted in thinking Mandy’s return was imminent. “I sent you an email, Lola. I’ve got a job that’s got me tied up until the end of September. Maybe I can make it out there for Thanksgiving.”

“But darling, the play will be over then. I do want you to see me in it. I’ve still got it.” Her mother laughed, a tinkling sound that had always won her the attention of any man in the immediate area.

“I’m sorry. I’m not going to make it this time, but I’m sure you’ll be on stage a lot more now that you’ve decided to resuscitate your career.”

“Can’t you fly out for the weekend? The play ends Sunday night.”

“No, I can’t. The movie just started shooting.”

She hadn’t meant to tell Lola that.

“Movie? What movie? What are you doing there? If you have to join me in this awful business, come back east so I can give you a proper start. You’d be great in ingénue roles.”

“I don’t want to act, Lola. I want to cook.”

“Nonsense, Mandy.
Everyone
wants to act. Do you think they’ll give you a walk-on during shooting? They’re always looking for extras in an environment like that.”

While her mother peppered her with opinions and questions, and clicked her tongue in dismay, Mandy managed to explain the bare bones of what she was doing, who she was doing it with, and where she was.

“Oh, darling, you’ll never been safe in that environment. Come back home so I can protect you.”

“I’m fine. It’s time for me to be on my own.”

“Then I’m coming out there.”

“No!” Mandy yelled, frustrated with her mother’s lack of understanding.

“Well, if you don’t want me around—”

Sheesh.
Lola was pulling out all the stops.

“It’s not that. It’s just this place is really remote. There’s nowhere for you to stay, and the nearest nail salon is in Oakhurst, two and a half hours away.”

That should keep her mother in New Jersey.

“Have you seen Dana? Did you ask him about the movie?”

“No, Lola. I haven’t seen him. Remember, I told you last time I talked to you. I haven’t talked to him since I was five. You wouldn’t let me.”

Silence.

“I’m in Yosemite. Dana’s in LA. Our paths are not going to cross.” Then she remembered something she’d been meaning to ask her mother. “Do you remember George Stubbins from the old days? He seems to remember you.”

“Um. Stubbins. No, I don’t think so.”

Her mother was lying. Mandy could tell it from her voice.

“Are you sure you can’t come to see me in the play? I’m very good.”

The change of topic confirmed the lie.

Sally walked out of the dining tent. She looked at Mandy, tapped her watch, and pointed in the direction of the food RV.

“Sorry. I’ve got to go. My boss is waiting.”

“Oh, darling. You should be able to talk a little longer.”

“I’ll call you later.” She slipped the phone in her pocket.

“Thanks for the rescue,” she said to Sally. “Lola can go on and on.”

Sally nodded and handed her a cardboard box. “I had them wrap up your breakfast. Figured you’d need the sustenance.”

Mandy warmed with the thoughtfulness. “Thanks, Sally.”

• • •

James knocked on the catering vehicle door before opening it and entering. Early in their relationship Sally had made it clear that was the proper way to interrupt her. He’d learned early to follow Sally’s instructions to the T.

Mandy was alone, mixing some chocolaty concoction that tickled his nose with its hot-sweet spice. She smiled at him—a cautious smile, but a smile nonetheless.

An ember of hope heated in his heart. “Mmm,” he said. “What is it?”

“Brownies with Mexican chocolate. A hint of chili spice brings out the flavor. Want to stick around to lick the spoon?”

“You bet.” He settled himself on a stool at the front of the galley kitchen. “How are things going? The crew seems happy with the food.”

“They’re eating lots of it.”

“Brisk mountain air.” He had a vision of the two of them at the top of a crest. “We have Sunday off. How about hiking to Cathedral Lakes?”

She stopped stirring. “I think it’s a bad idea for us to be together. You know, boss-employee relationships and all that?”

“This isn’t a date. It’s simply a friendly hike.”

She stared at him. “Right.”

“So will you come with me?”

She handed him the spoon, but didn’t answer.

Maybe hiking was a bad idea. She probably hated physical exercise. That would be too bad. He loved to explore new areas.

“Look. I know I messed up before. I promise not to do it again. But we could be friends, couldn’t we?” He put on his most puppy dog expression—the one that got him out of trouble with his mother every time.

She poured the chocolate into a pan and scraped the bowl with a spatula. Then she placed the pan in the oven and set a timer before turning back to him. A smile teased her lips when she saw his face. She picked up the spatula and contemplated it for several seconds before licking it.

The pink of her tongue sent a zing straight to his groin.

Without taking his gaze from her he repeated her gesture on the spoon, making his tongue movements slow and leisurely.

Her cheeks reddened and she dropped the spatula into a sink filled with soapy water. “How long a hike is it?”

“About seven miles round trip.”

“We should plan a picnic lunch then.”

“Yes, we should.” He handed her back the spoon. “Maybe you could save some of those brownies?”

“Could be.”

“Leave about eight?”

“Sounds good.” She stopped moving and stared at him.