Finding Forever (4 page)

“Jake...” She’d come here with a list of reasons why seeing him further would be a bad idea. He’d managed to dispel every single one of them.

He held up a hand. “Give me a chance, that’s all. I’m in town for three months. I’d like to know you better. Since you’re here, you must be at least a little curious about me,” he said. “If nothing else, I want you to see what I do. Come by the set some time,” he urged. “This movie is going to be great.”

Jordan hesitated. “My friend’s husband would love that.”

“He would, huh?” Jake laughed. “You’re a tough one. Fine. I’ll leave your name with the set manager, along with two guests, so your friends can get in. But Jordan?”

“What?”

“I expect you to show up, too.”

“The kid’s family hired a lawyer. The Mexican Foreign Relations Department is involved. It’s a mess. A fucking mess. What do you have to say for yourself, Foley?”

Agent Lance Foley looked at the ground, then lifted his head to meet his superior’s gaze. “It was self-defense. I saw something shiny. The kid had a...”

Out of the corner of his eye, Jake saw her, and that was all it took to disrupt his concentration for half a second.
“Gun.”
He finished the line, but it didn’t matter. They’d need another take.

“Cut!” Reece yelled, bolting from his chair and walking toward Jake and the actor playing his superior. “What the hell is with the pause, Jake? Did you have to think about it? Because it’s in the damn script!”

Shit. Greg had warned Jake about Reece’s wrath, but so far in a week of shooting, he hadn’t been on the receiving end of it. Until now. “Sorry, Reece. I made the mistake of turning my head, and the sun got in my eye.” It was a lame excuse, but Jake figured it was better than telling his director that he got distracted because the most incredible woman he’d ever known chose that exact moment to walk onto a closed set.

Jake made good on his promise to leave Jordan’s name with their set manager, in case she and her friends wanted to come watch a shoot, but after four days, he’d begun to think she wouldn’t show up. Then, suddenly, she was there, and in spite of all his preparation for this crucial scene, Jake flubbed his lines. “Messed me up for a second, but I got it now,” he promised his director.

Reece nodded, seemingly satisfied that the sun caused the problem. “Let’s shift the angle a little bit, see if we can cut out some of the glare.” He looked at Jake. “I like what you did with the glance at the ground before you delivered the line. Good choice there. Let’s just remember the line this time, okay?”

Had Reece White just complimented him? It sure sounded like it. He flubbed his line, and got praise from the director. Still, he knew if he didn’t nail the scene the next time, Reece wouldn’t be praising any of Jake’s acting choices. “I know the line,” he said. “I won’t mess it up again.”

***

“Yep, he’s totally got it bad for you,” Beth teased as they found a place to sit among others watching the movie being filmed.

Jordan glared at her through sunglasses. “What makes you say that?”

“You made him mess up his scene.”

Sure enough, as they’d entered the restricted viewing area of the set, Jake had glanced in her direction. Not two seconds later, the young guy that Jordan figured must be the movie’s hotshot director rushed over, halting the scene. “It wasn’t me. The sun probably just got in his eyes,” Jordan said. And if it was, indeed, her that distracted Jake, it was yet another reason why she shouldn’t be here, watching him film, and shouldn’t be in his life. So why the heck didn’t he realize that?

“Yep. Blame the sun.” Beth smirked. “By the way, he is gorgeous.”

“Excuse me?” Beth’s husband, Aaron, feigned offense. “You’re married, remember?”

“As if I’d forget.” Beth jabbed him playfully in the arm. “It’s not like he’d notice me, anyway. He’s only got eyes for Jordan.”

“You do tend to exaggerate,” Jordan said. “I’m convenient because I’m here, but once this movie’s done, Jake will head off to another location shoot, and there will be someone there.”

“What makes you so sure?” Beth asked.

“Because I’m not the type of woman that guys do forever with,” Jordan said. It was something she
’d resigned herself to years before, and she tried to tell herself she was fine with that. Still, seeing Beth’s easy, playful rapport with Aaron sometimes made Jordan wish she could have that, too. “And Jake’s not a forever guy.”

***

Fortunately, Jake nailed the scene on the next take, remembering the line and delivering it in a manner that earned him further praise from the director. The movie might be controversial, and Jake’s character even more so, but Jake wanted it to be the success that so many people seemed to think it could be. That meant not getting distracted by onlookers who came to watch the filming, no matter how beautiful they might be.

Not to worry. He didn’t expect Jordan to be a frequent visitor to the set. She probably only came because her friends were interested in the movie. Still, she came, rather than deliberately try
ing to avoid him. That was something.

As soon as they took a break in filming he made his way over to them.  “I wasn’t sure you’d actually show,” he said.

“Me neither,” she said. “But I mentioned Aaron’s a fan.” 

Jordan introduced him to her two friends. The woman with the red curls, called Beth, was a former law school classmate and now the DA, and the guy with the glasses wearing the green Dallas Stars cap was her husband, Aaron. 

Jake shook their hands. “It’s nice to meet you. Thanks for coming out.”

“Wouldn’t miss it.” Aaron pulled his cap lower on his head. “I’m excited about this movie. Gotta ask, did the kid really have a gun?”

Jake hesitated, wondering how much of the plot he should reveal. “No,” he said. “Cell phone.”

Aaron whistled. “Whoa
. So your character lied.”

“Or he was mistaken,” Jake countered. No way was he telling them everything about the movie or his character. Aaron asked a few more questions, which Jake did his best to give vague answers to before he turned to Jordan. “There’s something I want to run past you.”

“What’s that?” She lifted her sunglasses to rest on her head, revealing eyes as blue as the clear summer sky.

“Reece needs some runners on the set. Gofers, if you will,” Jake said. “It’s pretty menial work, but maybe a chance of scoring a bit part in the film.”

“No, thanks. I already have a job.” Jordan smiled, and again it reached all the way to her eyes.

Did Macy ever smile like that? If she did, Jake hadn’t noticed. He doubted it, though. Macy was fake. Jordan was real. “And you’re apparently very good at it,” Jake said. “I was thinking more about the case you just finished. The guy with the sick mom.”

“The one who committed armed robbery, you mean?” Beth asked, eyes widening. “He should be in Huntsville.”

“The jury disagreed,” Jordan said. “And Trey’s a decent kid.”

“Kid?” Beth scoffed. “He’s a nineteen-year-old felon.”

“He’s barely half my age. That makes him a kid to me.” Jordan turned to Jake. “Ignore her. We do this all the time. Are you serious about Trey working on the set?”

Jake watched the whole exchange with amusement. Jordan obviously shared a complicated relationship with her friend. Maybe someday she’d tell him about it. “Reece needs somebody, so it came to mind. Thought maybe the kid could use the work. Do you think he’d be interested?”

“Maybe,” Jordan said. “It would have to be cleared with his probation officer, too.”

***

Jordan tapped a finger on her desk while she waited for the call to be answered, hopefully by Trey’s probation officer rather than his voice mail.

“This is Rob.”

A human voice. Good. She hated playing phone tag. “Hi, Rob. It’s Jordan Priestley.”

“Hi, Jordan. How are you?”

Jordan smiled at the pleasantry, something she never failed to appreciate after too many years in Hollywood
, where no one ever bothered with such things. It was one of many reasons why she was happy making her home in Grande Valley, where people always took the time to ask about someone’s day and sometimes actually seemed to care about the answer. She just didn’t like it when they asked if she was okay when they clearly worried she wasn’t. “Fine, thanks.” She paused. While she appreciated a pleasant greeting, there was still an important reason for her call. “I want to talk to you about David Lozano,” she said, using Trey’s full name in case his probation officer had yet to establish much of a rapport with him. “I understand you’ve been assigned to his case?”

“That’s right. Just a sec. Let me bring up his file.” Jordan heard the click of fingers on a keyboard before Rob spoke again. “I’ve had a couple meetings with him. He reports on time. No problems so far,” Rob said. “The kid’s directionless, though, and I strongly suspect he’s running with a gang. He needs a job, or to go to school, or something. If not, you know what’ll happen.”

Rob didn’t have to elaborate. If something didn’t change for Trey, and fast, he’d probably end up exactly where her prosecutor friend thought he belonged, or worse. “That’s why I’m calling. I may have an idea to help with that.”

“Yeah? You want to hire him to work for you?” Rob asked with a laugh. “I like how you support your clients, Jordan, but that may be a bit much.”

“Ha! No, not that.” Jordan reached for the soda can on her desk. “I do have a lead on an opportunity that might keep Trey out of trouble this summer, though, if you approve it.” She explained about the possible job working on Jake’s movie.

“It’s interesting,” Rob said. “I’d rather he be making regular wages, not something hit and miss. He’s got fines to pay off.”

“Yes, and he can start to do that with the money he makes on the film,” Jordan continued. “It’ll keep him busy doing something constructive. And who knows, maybe he’ll decide he loves the movie business.” That might be a stretch, but she figured she better pull out all of her arguments.

Rob hesitated. “Okay, we can try it on one condition. He needs to keep looking for a regular job. This movie isn’t going to be in town forever.”

No, it wouldn’t. It would wrap filming in a few months and Jake would be on his way back to California, or maybe another location shoot. Wherever it was, it wouldn’t be in Grande Valley. He deserved his success; she knew he’d worked hard for it. They simply lived in different worlds now, so why didn’t he understand why it was a bad idea for them to spend time together? Better yet, why was she putting herself in the middle of something that would potentially keep her in his orbit during the time he was in town? As much as Jordan didn’t want to admit it, Jake had a pull on her.

“Thanks, Rob,” she said. “I appreciate it. I like Trey and I want things to work out for him.”

“He’s lucky to have you on his side.”

“Same for you, Rob. I know you have a soft spot for kids like Trey.”

The probation officer laughed. “Yeah. Just don’t tell anyone, okay? I’ll deny it.”

***

Jordan called Trey to her office to discuss the opportunity with him, and made sure Jake was there as well to explain it.

“You’re serious?” Trey’s eyes lit up. “I get to work on a movie set?”

After getting off the phone with Rob, Jordan wondered if she’d made a mistake in not talking to her client first to see if he was even interested before clearing it with his PO. If he was interested, though, she hadn’t wanted to get his hopes up only to dash them if Rob said no. Judging from Trey’s reaction, she’d made the right decision. “Maybe. That’s up to the director. And you have to show him you can be responsible, Trey.” She hoped she didn’t sound too much like a mother lecturing a child. Then again, if Trey had more parental involvement, maybe he wouldn’t be in the situation he was in.

“I can introduce you to Mr. White tomorrow,” Jake said. “It’s his decision. Jordan speaks highly of you, though, so I’ll do what I can to put in a good word for you.” Jake winked at Jordan.

She directed her gaze to her desk. The man had an uncanny knack for getting her completely flustered, even with seemingly innocent comments. His proximity as he leaned against her desk didn’t help.

“Thanks, Jordan,” Trey said. “And thanks, Mr. Jake.”

“It’s just Jake.”

“Okay.” Trey nodded. “Is she your girlfriend?”

“No, I’m not,” Jordan said with more force than she intended.

Jake shook his head. “Not yet. I’m working on it, though.”

Trey laughed. “Good luck, man. If I were a little older, I’d fight you for her.”

***

“Why do you say things like that?” Jordan demanded as soon as her client was out of the office.

Jake offered a look of innocence. “I have no idea what you mean.”

“Oh, please. The whole girlfriend thing. You’re working on it?” Jordan rolled her eyes.

“It’s the truth,” Jake said. He moved over to sit down in the chair Trey had vacated. “And my mom raised me to be honest.” He smiled in amusement, hoping he was weakening her resolve. “That’s ridiculous,” Jordan insisted.

Okay, she was a tough one, but Jake had no plans of giving up. “That my mom preaches honesty? She’d be offended to hear you say that.” Jake leaned back to study Jordan, crossing his hands behind his head. She was even sexier when she was riled up.

“I’m serious, Jake,” she said.

“So am I. Looks like I’ve got a challenge on my hands, though, so it’s a good thing Trey decided he’s too young for you.” Especially given Jordan’s obvious fondness for the young man.  “You like your work here, don’t you?” he asked, hoping to shift their conversation to a topic Jordan would be more comfortable with.

“I do, yes. At least with what I do now, I feel appreciated.”

Jake didn’t know if that was a slight directed at him, or his profession in general. He chose not to take it that way. “You should.” He stood up. “I’ll let you get back to work now, but there’s something I want you to know. I think you’re beautiful, inside and out. Especially inside, though. The way you go to bat for that kid proves it. I hope when you start to think that about yourself, you’ll give me a chance.”