Return to You (19 page)

The wrap party was in full swing, cast, crew, and
select locals mingling merrily. Lainie surveyed the crowd, seeking
out Everett. She found him talking to a couple of the minor cast
members. Tonight he wore a tuxedo and looked more dashing than Sean
Connery.

And he was hers.

At least, she was working on it. They'd gone out
several more times and each time was better than the last. He was
everything she ever thought he'd be—gallant and fascinating and
attentive. During the day, he was circumspect, ever the demanding
employer. At dinner when they went out, he was different. And the
way he kissed... She rubbed at the goosebumps that rose on her bare
arms.

She'd been a nervous wreck the day after their first
kiss outside the restaurant. They'd gone home separately. Actually,
she went home and he went someplace else. She heard him come back
an hour after she did. She lay in bed and listened to him move
around the house. She wanted to crawl into his bed and wait for him
but she just couldn't. Even if she were bold enough she knew it
would be a tactical error. Subtle, Olivia would tell her. Make him
fall to his knees.

The next day, he gave no indication that the kiss
had ever happened and she'd been beside herself. But that night
he'd taken her out to dinner again—just the two of them. They
weren't out of the restaurant three steps before he drew her to him
and kissed her. Really kissed her. And then they went to the car
and kissed some more.

She sighed happily. Everett lifted his gaze and met
hers, cocking his brow. His eyes flickered over her quickly before
he returned his attention to his conversation.

There was promise in his gaze. She felt a flush
creep up her chest to her face even as she tingled on the
inside.

They hadn't progressed beyond their steamy kisses
and a few masterful caresses on his part. She stopped him before
they got very far. She didn't want to ruin this by going too
fast.

Sometimes she wanted to say to hell with caution.
But there was more at stake here than momentary pleasure.

"Elaine, wow! You look great."

She turned to smile at the director of photography,
who was dressed in his customary jeans and heavy metal band
T-shirt. "Thank you, George." She smoothed her dress over her
hips.

His whistled appreciatively. "I mean—wow. I've never
seen you in anything like this before."

She smiled. There wasn't much call to wear strapless
dresses to the office.

"Can I get you a drink? Maybe a glass of
champagne?"

"Okay," she said, a bit puzzled. He wasn't coming on
to her, was he? He was a good ten years younger than her.

He squeezed her hand warmly. "I'll be right
back."

She looked up to find Everett scowling at her. She
tipped her head inquiringly and the frown lines around his mouth
deepened.

She blinked. Could he be jealous?

"Here you go, Elaine." George handed her a glass
with a smile. He touched his glass to hers. "Here's to getting to
know you better."

What did that mean? She was puzzling it out when she
felt a solid wall move in behind her. She stilled, recognizing the
magnetic force.

Everett took her elbow. Possessively. "George."

George took one look at the way Everett was holding
her and stepped back, giving them a measuring look. He lifted his
glass to Everett in salute. Everett acknowledged him with a lift of
his brow. George bowed, turned on his heels, and disappeared into
the crowd.

Lainie faced Everett. "What was that about?"

"He was about to fall face first into your
decolletage."

Her cheeks burned. The dress
was
a little indecent. It
was red, strapless, tight, and barely covered her breasts. Olivia
insisted it looked great on her. "That concerned you?"

Everett didn't move, but suddenly it felt like they
couldn't get any closer. "I don't share, Elaine."

His voice was low and rough and made the goose bumps
come back with a vengeance.

She cleared her throat and looked away. Didn't he
know if he kept staring at her like this that she wouldn't be able
to refrain from throwing herself at him? "The party is a success I
think. Everyone's mingling nicely."

When he didn't reply, she went on nervously. "The
caterer did a great job. And we were lucky to find a band that can
play such diverse music. Not many can go from Duke Ellington to
salsa so seamlessly."

"Dance with me."

"Excuse me?" She couldn't have heard correctly.

"I want you to dance with me." Not waiting for her
answer, he steered her toward the makeshift dance floor where
people were swaying to a slow, romantic tune. He gathered her close
and masterfully glided her around.

Lainie sighed and settled into his
arms. It felt right to be there. She wasn't sure how much longer
she'd be able to hold out. It was torturous being so close to him
without being
close
to him.

He pressed his hand against the small of her back,
bringing her close enough to whisper. "You look stunning tonight,
Elaine."

"Thank you."

"Red suits you. I'm surprised you never wore much of
it before."

"You noticed?"

"I can't believe I didn't notice more." He tightened
his grip on her. "We need to—"

A commotion at the front door caught their
attention. Sophie walked in, resplendent in peacock blue, followed
by her entourage. Sophie required her assistants to wear only
black. Lainie once heard her say black made the best backdrop for
her.

Sophie Martineau may be one of the businesses most
difficult actors but no one could deny how stunning she was. Men
all succumbed to her sweet blond radiance, not seeing the claws she
kept so well trimmed. Lainie didn't know of any man who wouldn't
want to be with Sophie.

She glanced at Everett, wondering if he found Sophie
attractive. He looked impassive but she could see a hint of
impatience in his regard.

Then he frowned.

Lainie followed his gaze. Sophie homed in on
Michael, clinging to his arm like a parasite. From the way Michael
ran his hands down her back, he didn't seem to mind.

"Oh no." Lainie searched the room, hoping Olivia,
who'd come in with Michael, was in the restroom.

No such luck. Olivia stood off to one side, alone,
watching Michael and Sophie through narrowed eyes.

She shook her head. "This isn't good."

"Agreed." Everett propelled her forward. "Shall I
intercept Sophie while you take care of Olivia?"

"Yes." She stopped him with a hand on his forearm.
"You're a good man, Everett Parker."

For a moment, he dropped his guard and she could see
beyond his careful shell. His eyes were full of emotion—surprise,
pleasure, and hope. She ached to show him how good he really was,
to prove it so he believed it as fervently as she did.

Throwing caution to the wind, she got up on tiptoes
and kissed him softly on his lips. "Go. I'll look after your
daughter."

As she turned to go to Olivia, he tugged her back.
Without a word, he dropped his mouth to hers and gave her a hard
kiss that curled her toes. He broke it as suddenly as he initiated
it, satisfaction written on his very male features. "Remember that
for later," he said before he stalked away.

She watched him, bemused, running her fingers along
her lips. She felt imprinted by him and as unliberated as it was,
she loved the feeling.

Later. She couldn't wait.

But first things first. She needed to diffuse
Olivia. By the look in her eyes, Olivia was a moment away from
ripping Michael apart with her bare hands.

Not that she could blame her. Lainie glared at
Michael as she rushed to Olivia's side. She'd be willing to
help.

Eve and her husband reached Olivia before she did.
Eve's hand rested on Olivia's arm—whether to comfort or hold her
back, Lainie wasn't sure.

Eve's husband, Treat, nodded at her when she joined
their party. Lainie had only met him a few times but she'd liked
him immediately. He was a lot like Everett—virile, manly, and sure
of himself, only with longer hair.

Eve was talking softly to Olivia. "—sure you're
okay? Because you don't look it."

Olivia frowned but her gaze stayed on the spectacle
Sophie was making. "What do I look like?"

"Like you could take Mike Tyson single-handedly,"
Treat said.

She tore her gaze away from Michael, noticing for
the first time the small posse surrounding her. "What are you guys
doing? You're corralling me like I'm a rabid animal."

"We're not corralling. We're lending support." Eve
scowled in Sophie's direction.

Lainie nodded. "We're just concerned about you."

"Well, I'm fine." Olivia flipped her hair over her
shoulder.

How could Michael want Sophie over Olivia? Looking
at Olivia now, Lainie didn't understand it. Sophie was pretty in a
pouty, little girl way but that type of beauty always faded in
time.

Olivia was striking. Her hair was loose and parted
in a way that made the thick blonde highlights stand out. When they
went shopping, Olivia had chosen a two-piece outfit reminiscent of
what a harem girl would wear. The long gauzy skirt sat low on her
hips and tangled in her long legs as she walked. She wore a choker,
dozens of bracelets on her arms, and rings on her fingers as well
as her toes. The top was a single band that covered her breasts,
leaving her midriff bare and her belly button ring glittering.

Lainie wondered what Everett would say if she got a
piercing.

"So." Olivia smiled but it was tight and forced.
"Are you guys enjoying your evening?"

Eve sighed and slipped her hand in Treat's. Treat
grinned at Olivia. "It certainly is an entertaining party, isn't
it?"

"I'm definitely engrossed by the sideshow." Olivia
glared at Michael.

"I'm sure Michael is just talking business to
Sophie," Lainie lied.

"Yeah. Monkey business," Olivia said under her
breath. She shot back the contents in her wine glass. "Treat, want
to cut a rug?"

"Love to." He exchanged a look with Eve before he
led Olivia to the dance floor.

She and Eve exchanged their own look before watching
Treat lead Olivia around the floor.

Good thing she hadn't ordered fireworks for the
evening. Elaine glanced at Everett, who was trying to break in on
Michael and Sophie's tete-a-tete. Fireworks would have been
redundant.

Parker cut through the crowd with singleness of
purpose, barely acknowledging the comments directed to him on the
way. He had Michael to deal with.

The rage he felt at Michael was surprising. He
glanced at the tight expression on his daughter's face and felt a
wave of black fury flow through him. He wanted to drag Michael
outside and beat sense into him.

Maybe he'd been wrong. Maybe he shouldn't have
forced Olivia and Michael together again. It seemed like they'd
been doing well. Guilt and uncertainty—two emotions he wasn't well
acquainted with—fueled his anger.

His face devoid of expression, he stopped in front
of Michael and cleared his throat. Michael managed to tear his gaze
from Sophie's face.

Sophie looked up and smiled with
catlike cunning. "Everett.
Enchantee de
vous voire
." She stepped away from Michael
long enough to kiss the air on either side of Parker's cheeks
before cuddling next to him again. Michael didn't look put out by
her clinginess in the least. In fact, he pulled her
closer.

"Sophie. Michael." Everything he was holding back
from showing on his face came through in his voice.

And Michael heard it. "Great party, Parker. Elaine
outdid herself."

"You should be sure to mention that to her." He
turned to Sophie. "I hear your performance was unparalleled. There
are some people from the media who would love to talk to you."

"Reporters?" Her blue eyes lit up. "Where?"

Parker felt grim satisfaction. He knew exactly what
her weakness was and felt no compulsion in exploiting it. The
clueless woman unwittingly put herself in the wrong person's path.
"Why don't you get a glass of champagne and I'll have Elaine send
them over to you."

"I
adore
champagne." She batted her false
eyelashes at Michael. "Coming,
mon
chou
?"

"I need to talk to Michael." Parker smoothly removed
her hand from Michael's arm and steered her toward a waiter with a
tray of drinks. "Since he's leaving Parker Pictures at the
completion of this film there are details we need to discuss."

She pouted and batted her eyes. "You didn't tell me
that."

Michael raked back his hair. "Guess it never came
up."

"Then I'll leave you men to it." She slanted her
eyes at Michael from over her shoulder. "Find me when you're
done."

Parker resisted the urge to retch at her sugary
command. By the look on Michael's face, he was in the same
boat.

"Are there really reporters here tonight?" Michael
watched her slither away.

"Yes." He just declined to mention
the man was from the
Marin Independent
Journal
.

Michael faced him. The stiffness of his jaw and
clenched fists made it apparent he was expecting a fight. "So
what's this about?"

"You really don't know?"

Michael's eyes darted to where Olivia was dancing
with a sharply dressed man with a ponytail. "I can probably hazard
a guess. Though I can't imagine why you'd care."

"She's my daughter."

"Fine way to show your filial affection. Force her
to face the one man she's hated for years." He glanced at Parker.
"Make that two men."