HOT SET: Playing with Fidelity (A romantic suspense novel) (22 page)

“
Don’t stress. It’s the desert air. If Pete didn’t bellow, I’d never get up before midday. You looking for your wife?”

“
Yeah, after I visit the loo that is.”

“
She’s in the make-up caravan. Know where it is?”

“
Yep.”

“
See you ‘round.” Dave whistled as he ambled off towards a truck that had cables trailing out the back like an intestinal resection.

Mark went to the toilet and was heading across camp towards the
caravan when he spotted Rhys ducking out from his tent, going the same direction Mark was heading. Rhys hadn’t seen Mark and Mark slowed, not sure how to approach him. Just then, Kate’s made-up head emerged from the make-up caravan and Mark observed Rhys stop and stare at her for far longer than necessary. Rhys’s shoulders slumped and he looked resigned before turning around. He spotted Mark and immediately looked ashamed. Mark wasn’t great at picking body language but this one was unmistakable; the guy had it for his wife.

Rhys
recovered quickly and held out his hand, “you must be Mark.”

Mark walked over and shook his hand, noting the rather firm handgrip
. The men sized each other up swiftly.

“
I understand I owe you thanks for saving Kate.” They disengaged hands quickly.

“
No thanks necessary. I blame myself anyway.”

“
Why?”

“
I was rude to her which caused her to fall.”

“
Rude? About what?” Mark’s protective streak lit up and he was about to give this guy a serve.

“
You know, I can’t even remember now. Probably something about her being ornery.”

Mark
laughed, he couldn’t help it. Relaxing his shoulders, he said, “well, you’ve got that right. You going towards make-up, too?”

“
Yep.”

They turned together to see
Kate watching them. She looked uncertain. For Kate, it was strange seeing them together and she couldn’t explain the unease in her chest. Mark strolled over and taking her hand, kissed her. Rhys averted his eyes.

“
So, you’ve met each other, then?”

“
Yes. Rhys thinks you’re ornery.”

Kate
raised an eyebrow in Rhys’s direction. He raised his hands in a warding gesture.

“
I took the blame for causing you to fall and apologised.”

“
Well, I do blame you for that.” She paused. “You think I’m ornery?”

“
Sometimes.”

“
I’m not ornery.”

“
Of course you wouldn’t think so.”

“
You can hardly talk anyway.”

“
This isn’t about me.”

“
Pfft, never is. Oh, what am I saying? It always is, Mr Movie Star.”

“
You say it like it’s a bad thing.”

“
You cause problems wherever you go.”

Mark
was watching this exchange curiously; they seemed too familiar with each other. He stopped their banter by taking Kate’s hand again and turning her away from Rhys.

“
Sorry to interrupt, but I should get back into town so you can work.”

“
Oh, that’s okay. If you want, you can come on set to watch.”

Mark felt he’d watched enough.

“No, I’m good. I brought some work with me and should call some clients.”

She was disappointed
. “Okay. Will you come out again?” Rhys left them and ambled over to the caravan.

“
Yeah. Tonight, if you want. What time does filming finish?”

“
It’s a long way to travel back tonight. Why don’t you get your things and stay out here?

“
Don’t see why not. It’ll be a good excuse to snuggle you in that tiny bed.

“
So I’ll see you tonight?” Kate asked.

“
Absolutely”. He kissed her. “Can’t miss Nambita’s cooking.” He forced a smile and kissed her again. “I’ll see you tonight.”

“
Okay.” She hugged him close and kissed him once more. “Love you.”

He hesitated a moment
. “Love you, too.”

Mark drove away, seething
. There was something going on there, it was unmistakable. The way they spoke to each other and looked at each other... Were they sleeping together? He couldn’t be sure and although he’d seen her with other co-stars and watched closely, he’d never seen Kate so friendly with one before. He analysed what he’d seen and decided to keep a close eye on them. At least he’ll be at the resort to watch them.

He knew he shouldn’t have let
Kate do this movie.

Mark rubbed his forehead as the pain started pounding behind it again
. Taking deep breaths, he calmed down and let the winding roads and the barren, vibrant environment soothe him.

Mark arrived for dinner that night and ate far too much of Nambita’s mixed crepes. That lady had serious talent. Rhys was sitting at the other end of the marquee with several others. At their table was Pete, Sam, Jo from Sound, Gary the editor and Jane, and they had a casual, enjoyable meal, even if much of the movie world lingo went over Mark’s head. Afterwards, they went to Kate’s tent.

“
Not sure what I’m going to do without mobile reception.”

“
We have satellite phones and it’s quiet during the day when we’re on set so you can use them to call. Plus, the kiosk has a pay phone and dial-up internet.”

“
Haven’t used dial-up for years!”

“
It does the job. Just don’t expect to be able to email anything big.”

“
Right.”

Rhys was sitting by the fire on his own. He didn’t have his watch but thought it was getting close to midnight. He threw another log onto the fire and watched the sparks fizz and fade into the blackness above the flames. There wasn’t much sound over the crackling; even the night insects were silent for a change. He needed sleep but couldn’t rouse the energy to go brush his teeth and climb into bed.

He was thinking of her, again
. He was always thinking of her. He’d seen Kate chatting to Mark happily as they’d walked his bags across camp.

Rhys
missed her company something awful. He’d gotten used to having Kate around with her bubbly, positive outlook. She reminded him of an evening rain shower that cooled off a hot summer’s day. He’d look forward to the hours they’d spend each night by the fire. He and Kate had a, well... connection.

Then he came to his senses and
shook his head. It was never going to be. Connection or not, this had to stop and it was driving him friggin’ nuts. This was too complicated and too stupid. It was… over.

Rhys
straightened his back.

“
Enough,” he mumbled. “Enough.”

Mark was making love to Kate whilst spooning. She usually liked the closeness of this position and Mark loved that he could reach all of her. He had a hand on her breast and the other between her legs as he moved quickly. He was getting close and Kate was moaning softly, hoping the sounds weren’t carrying to the other tents.

What he couldn’t see was
Kate had her eyes open and was staring at the sarong curtain. She was making the right noises so it wouldn’t hurt his feelings. She just wasn’t into this tonight but, as usual, she avoided confrontation by just going along with it. She could tell from Mark’s grunts he was getting close and she arched her back and encouraged him.

Mark felt the tingle start in his groin and it expanded, shot down his legs and
the blessed whiteness blinded him for a second as heat rushed from him. Within a moment, his sweaty forehead was pressed against Kate’s loose black hair as now replete, he relaxed against her.

“
Awesome,” he whispered against her hair.

“
Definitely,” came her reply and she stretched as he slipped from her, grateful it didn’t last long. She lay on his chest and soon Mark’s quiet snores reached her ears, she pulled on her clothes and rolled over.

It wasn’t always like this; most of the time
Kate enjoyed sex with Mark. Climaxing was a rare bonus but nevertheless, they were closer as a couple and more affectionate when sex was regular. But this time was different. Mark did not deserve this; he was a good man, a good husband and deserved her total commitment and adoration.

Mark was right. S
he never should have done this movie.

For the next two days, Mark worked where he could while Rhys and Kate avoided each other, except when rehearsing or filming, and soon it was time for Mark to leave.

T
he unease he felt when first meeting Bradford passed with his wife close to him. He reassured himself it was a good idea to come out.

“
It’s only for another six weeks,” Kate told Mark at his car.

“
Yes. I’ll see you again soon, my darling. Now don’t forget, call me any time for any reason. I miss you terribly.”

“
And my cooking, no doubt.”

“
Well, of course. Why else do you think I married you?”

“
Love you.”

“
Love you more.”

Mark kissed her affectionately and with a farewell wave,
climbed into the car and drove off.

Mark had been gone a week when Kate joined Rhys at the fire again. She had retained a professional stance with him at all times in the last week, hoping the teenage crush would go away with distance. Rhys behaved similarly. She spoke to Mark daily, acted when she had to, learnt lines when it was required, put on and wiped off make-up according to the schedule, ate and went to bed when everyone else did and time moved on slowly.

Then
, on the seventh night after Mark left, Kate was at the camp fire after dinner sitting in chair next to Shane who was chatting to Rhys, Jane and Hijar. She listened to the conversation while staring sightlessly at the flames, loving the feel of the heat on her face and the cool desert air on her back twisting her hair around its wispy tentacles.

Shane stretched, yawned and scratched at his chest in a primitive man gesture
.

“
Well, me uglies, I’m going to catch some sheep.”

“
It’s zees, idiot, catch some zees” retorted Jane.

“
Zees... sheep... as long as I’m catching them with me eyes closed, I don’t care.”

“
Night,” sang the lazy chorus as Shane meandered towards the toilet block.

Jane and
Hijar stayed for ten-minutes before both declaring bed to be inviting and left together.

That left
Rhys.

Kate
cast a sneaky glance at him; he was pushing a large ember around the base of the fire with a poker. He looked speculative and ill at ease. The silence lengthened whilst the background noise of the camp and thousands of night insects hovered gently in their ears.

Kate
was getting agitated with the quiet and stood, taking a few steps into the darkness.

“
Kate, wait.” She stopped. “Can you stay a while?”

Kate
stood still, her back to the fire, the pristine desert air smoothing and lifting her hair in turn, her bare arms lifting in goosebumps at both the breeze and his words.

Leave
, said rationality.

Stay
, said her body.

His voice
was soft behind her, “please.”

She spoke over her shoulder,
“I can’t.”

“
Why not? Can’t I spend time with a friend?”

She felt safer talking into the night
and didn’t turn. “Is that what this is?”

Rhys
paused and processed his feelings for her, the complexity of their relationship and their partners waiting for their return, trusting them. “That’s what it has to be,” his low voice responded.

Here was one of the world’s sexiest men, lusted over by millions and he was offering friendship... no, more than friendship
. Was she blessed or cursed?

Kate
could feel her pulse pumping in her neck and her body became aroused as a hundred possible intimate scenarios slithered into her mind, blocking all other thoughts. For a split second, she imagined the night breeze was his breath warm against her skin, brushing across her neck as soft as a rose petal and tickling her ear lobe. His large, heavy body would cover her own protectively and he would lick across her collar bone and up to her ear before trailing kisses across her jaw and taking her mouth in a bruising, passionate kiss.