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As she hurried away, he picked up their mugs and plates and carried them to the sink. He was turning on the faucets when his phone rang. It was Anna Lee.
“Good morning, Anna. I hope you’re calling to tell me you’re madly in love, or at least getting there.”
“Yes, oh, my gosh, Angelo’s incredible, but no, that’s not the reason for my call. I need to ask you something, and I hope it’s okay.”
“I’m sure it will be. Go ahead.”
“The script Angelo brought over yesterday is called Moonbeams and Fairy Dust. Is Continental involved? Did you option it?”
“You’re asking me this because...?”
“Because if you are, we want to talk to you. Before you say anything, I know things aren’t done this way, and I know this is totally unprofessional, but will you please give us ten minutes to listen to what we have to say? Please?”
“It’s not fair to ask me in that voice,” Zach said with a grin. “Is that a yes? Can we do it today? My shooting schedule is crazy starting tomorrow.”
“Come in at 11:15 this morning, but you must be on time. I can give you fifteen minutes, no more.”
“You’re the absolute best!”
“But you know this is—”
“Don’t say it! I know! Way too early to discuss casting or anything else, and it will be totally off the record, but I know you’ll be interested in what we have to say.”
“Only for you, young lady. I take it you had a nice evening?”
“Zach, it was wonderful. He said he wants to court me. Court me,” she repeated. “How romantic is that?”
“Very, and a relief. I don’t have to punch him in the nose.”
“Just as well,” she said with a giggle. “I think underneath all his sweetness and charm he’s a tough guy.”
“I think you’re right. See you soon.”
“I’m about to take off,” Emma announced, walking into the kitchen as he ended the call.
“Not until I kiss you goodbye!”
Striding across to her and taking the bag from her hand, he grabbed her around the waist, plunged her into a dip and kissed her fervently.
“That will last me a while,” she said breathlessly as he stood her up.
“I hope so.”
Walking out to her car he kissed her again, but reluctant to let her go, he softly lingered his lips.
“Drive carefully,” he murmured, finally breaking away. “I’ll see you a few minutes before eleven. You can be five minutes early, but not five minutes late.”
“Yes, boss,” she said softly, and pecking him on the cheek, she climbed into her bright red Mustang.
But as he waved her off and headed back to his house, he couldn’t shake the feeling that Kurt’s vanishing act spelled trouble.
* * *
AS ZACH WAS PREPARINGto leave for the office, down the street from Continental Pictures, Kurt Fielding walked wearily into Emile’s cafe and chose a table in a corner at the back. Without looking at the menu, he ordered scrambled eggs, downed the freshly brewed coffee the waitress had just placed in front of him, and ordered a refill.
The Gods had smiled on him, and he still couldn’t believe his luck. He’d been flying past the traffic on the inside when some asshole had changed lanes. Though he’d slammed on his brakes, he was traveling at high speed and hit the car, pushing it forward before finally coming to a stop. Hearing the crash of several other vehicles behind and around him, he’d staggered from his crunched Corvette and found himself looking at two surfers standing in front of a VW van parked on the side of the road. As they’d stared at him, he fished out his wallet and offered them a hundred bucks to drive him into Venice. One said they had to wait for the police, so he’d quickly doubled the offer. They'd accepted, and on the way to Continental Pictures, one of them cleaned him up.
Kurt had a gash on his forehead, and pain down one arm and in his chest, but now more than ever, he had to finish what he started. He needed cash, and he’d been on his way to get it when the accident happened.
