Trusting Jack (6 page)

              Alison eyed Emma speculatively as they made their way towards another small trailer.  “Are you in a relationship?” she asked.  “Is that why you try to avoid Jack?”

             
Emma’s steps faltered.  “No,” she replied, “I’m not seeing anyone.”

             
Alison sighed with relief.  “That’s good, then.  Jack was afraid the Chris fellow you spoke of was a man you’re involved with.”

             
Emma’s laugh was quick.  “Not like that.  He’s my best friend,” she explained.  “I love him but I could never date him; it’d be like dating my brother.  Besides, he’s not interested in women.”

             
“Oh.”  Alison nodded in understanding.  “Then why do you shy away from Jack?  I know you know he’s interested.  He wants to ask you out; why don’t you agree?”

             
“I’m not sure that’s a good idea.”

             
“Jack’s a great guy,” Alison told her.  “If I were you, I’d agree to a date.  He’s sweet and funny and fairly gorgeous.”

             
“He is that,” Emma admitted.  “But I’m not sure if I’m ready.  The divorce…” She trailed off.

             
“It’s only one date, Emma.”  Alison rubbed her arm as they stopped in front of a trailer.  “It doesn’t have to go beyond that.”

             
Emma considered her words as Alison opened the door and stuck her head inside.  “Are you up for two more?”  They went inside and Emma was quickly introduced.  “This is Phillip South, Richard’s assistant.”

             
Emma shook hands with a thin, hazel eyed

man, and then turned as Alison continued.  “And this

one belongs to Roger.  Marcus Reynolds.”

             
Emma took his hand as she looked at him.  He was tall, with dark blond hair and deep brown eyes.  He was handsome, she thought, but in a cold way.  He held her hand a moment longer than necessary and his eyes raked up and down her body with a predatory gleam.  It made her uneasy, and she resisted the urge to wipe her hand on her shorts. 

             
“Emma,” he all but drawled.  “It’s refreshing to see a new face, especially since the face is a work of art.”

             
“Thank you.”  Emma smiled faintly as she accepted the beer Phillip handed her. 

             
“I’ll be glad when we move from here,” Phillip commented as he passed Alison a bottle of water.

             
“Norah, too,” Emma told him with a grin.  “I think being out in the open like this is beginning to get to her.  She’s a city girl through and through.”

             
“I’ll wager she’s a right bitch to work for,” Marcus said.  Alison gasped in surprise and Emma frowned at him.  She decided she didn’t like him.

             
“Not at all.  I enjoy my job very much.”

             
Marcus rolled his eyes.  “I’m just assisting until I land a role of my own,” he told her.

             
“Good luck with that,” she returned and smiled at Phillip as he quickly changed the subject. 

“Have you seen the town house where we’ll be filming?  It’s spectacular.  It was built in eighteen sixty four but it’s been fully restored and furnished,” Phillip told them.

“We drove past it,” Emma told him.  “It’s beautiful on the outside.”

“Inside as well,” he replied.  “The owners rent it

out to movie studios for period pieces such as this.  It has modern conveniences of course, and offices and dressing rooms scattered throughout.  But the essence of it, the history of it, is what stands out.”

“I can’t wait to see it.”  She spent close to three hours with them before she stood to leave.  Marcus stood with her and offered to walk her back.

              “I don’t want to trouble you,” she protested.

             
“Nonsense.  It’ll give us a chance to speak privately.  Besides, it’s late and I don’t want you walking alone.”

             
Emma gave Alison a look of exasperation.  She grinned in sympathy and returned to her conversation with Phillip.  Reluctantly, Emma began walking beside Marcus towards her trailer.

             
“Would you like to have lunch one day?” he asked her.

             
“I’m afraid I can’t,” Emma responded quickly, “but thank you for asking.” 

             
“Why not? I’m sure Norah would be fine without you for a while, and we’d have a pleasurable time.”  Marcus lifted his hand and suggestively trailed it down Emma’s back.  “I know of a little place close enough we can be there and back in an afternoon.”

             
Emma fought back a shudder and almost sighed in relief as they reached her door.

             
“Thank you for walking me back,” she said politely.  “But I’m not interested in a pleasurable time with anyone at the moment.”  Jack’s face flashed in her mind and she knew she lied.

             
Marcus gave her a long look then smiled.  “You’ll change your mind,” he told her.

             
“Goodnight, Marcus,” she returned and went inside.

Marcus walked away, confident Emma was only

playing hard to get. Women never told him no.  He smiled again as he thought about the shorts and tank top she’d worn and imagined the body underneath. 

She’s a beauty all right
, he thought
.  I’ll have her in bed before long.

***

              The next afternoon proved to be as hot and sweaty as the one before.  Emma tried to leave her hair down but after just an hour of lifting if off her neck trying to catch a breeze, she sighed and threw it up into a pony tail.

             
She kept her cell handy, and confirmed some of Norah’s appointments.  She was scheduled for a magazine interview to promote She-Wolf, and a television appearance for Running Far, her last film.  Emma made notes to choose outfits for each. 

             
She looked towards the field where a battle was raging and smiled.  Norah was on her white horse, watching the fight from a distance.  She held the reins in a death grip.  Norah wasn’t afraid of horses, Emma knew, but she wasn’t exactly comfortable with them either.

             
Emma glanced at the shooting schedule. She was relieved to see that they would be remaining in London for close to two weeks before having to venture out on location again. 

             
Then she heard it.  The rumble of thunder in the distance.  She stood and looked to the west.  Sure enough, the sky was darkening.  She cursed and grabbed her phone to check the weather.

             
“Damn,” she swore.  Rain was moving in, and would be there by nightfall.  Shooting would be suspended if it was more than a light shower.  And the weather app promised a hell of a stormy night.

             
The first fat raindrops fell two scenes later.  The crew ran for the tent, and Jack came to stand beside Emma.  “The pasta was delicious,” he said by way of greeting.

             
“Thank you; it’s my mama’s recipe.  Where’s Alison?  I haven’t seen her today.”

             
“She wasn’t feeling well this morning.”  Worry clouded his eyes.  “I think the heat is getting to her, now that she’s so far along.”  

             
Emma felt herself soften at his obvious concern.  “She’ll be fine.  I’ll check on her tonight.”

             
“She’ll like that.  She enjoys your company.”

             
“This really sucks.”  Norah joined them as the rain began to fall more heavily.  “We’ve only got three more scenes to go before we can leave here.  Stupid rain.”

             
They began to walk back to the trailers.  “Maybe it won’t last long,” Jack commented.

             
“I looked; it says heavy rain most of the night, but it should clear out by midmorning.”

             
“What’ll we do till then?” Norah pouted.  “I’m ready to get this over with.”

             
“Ummm…We’ve got Scrabble; we could play that while we wait,” Emma suggested.

             
“That sounds fun,” Jack agreed.  “Shall I see if Alison is up for joining us?”

             
When Emma nodded, he pulled out his phone and texted her.  She texted back that she’d meet them there and bring the cookies she’d made the day before.

             
“At least we get treats,” Norah muttered as they ducked inside the trailer just as the storm hit with a vengeance.

Chapter 6

              After waiting a day for the ground to dry a bit, Emma watched as Norah and Jack filmed a touching mother-son battle camp scene.  He truly was a talented actor, Emma thought as they wrapped it up and started towards the tent.  Norah paused to speak with Richard.  Jack kept his eyes on Emma as he neared her.

             
“Emma.”  Jack stood in front of her and waited until she looked at him.  “Will you come to dinner with me when we return to London?”

             
“Jack…”

             
“No buts, Emma.  I would enjoy it tremendously.”

             
“Why?” The question slipped out.

             
“Because I find you beautiful and smart, and I want to know you better.”  Jack smiled.  “Because we have to eat and I dislike dining in restaurants alone.  Say yes, Emma, before I begin begging.”

             
Emma smiled back as she tucked a stray hair behind her ear.  She’d lain awake the night before thinking about Norah and Alison’s advice.  They were right, she had decided.  It was time and it was only dinner.

             
“Yes,” she told him before she could change her mind again.  “I’d love to.”

             
Jack’s eyes warmed as he grinned.  “Splendid!  Let’s see…we’ll be through here by tomorrow.  Would Tuesday night work for you?”

             
“It should.”

             
“Perfect; I’ll pick you up at eight and we’ll enjoy ourselves.”

             
Emma laughed.  “You seem so sure of that. 

What if I turn out to be a terrible dining companion?”

she teased.  “What if I chew with my mouth open, or

slurp my water?”

              He laughed with her as he tugged at her pony tail.  “Then I shall endeavor to teach you proper manners before our second go at it.”

             
“I’ll try to remember what Mama taught me,” she replied with a smile.

              Jack glanced back as Richard called his name.  “I’d better see what he wants.  I look forward to Tuesday,” he told her and walked away.

             
Emma watched him leave and placed a hand on her dancing stomach.

***

              As eight o’clock drew nearer, Emma paced the living room and rubbed her neck.

             
“For God’s sake, Emma, you’re making me nervous.”  Norah took Emma’s chilled hands in hers and rubbed them.  “If you’re really too afraid to do this I’ll call and cancel for you,” she said.

             
Emma smiled weakly.  “No, I need to do this.  Anyway, it’s too late to cancel.  He’ll be here any minute.  How do I look?”

Norah stepped back and studied her.  She wore light gray slacks and a royal blue blouse.  Her thick brown hair was in a French twist and her jade green eyes sparkled with a mix of nerves and excitement. 

“You look fine,” she reassured her.  “But undo one more button on that blouse.  You’re not a nun.”

             
Emma gave a small laugh but slipped the button free as a knock sounded at the door.  “Oh, boy,” she whispered.

             
Norah sent Emma an encouraging smile as she opened the door.  Jack stepped inside and his blue eyes went straight to Emma.