Somewhere I'll Find You (15 page)

“But what about this place?” Michael pushed.  “You must have done some sort of property research.”

Shuddering, Paige noticed a chill in the air
and left off picking at her food in order to wrap her arms around herself instead
.
“It stoo
d empty for quite a few years and was
rented out for a season or two.  The house was in terrible disrepair when I found it.  As far as I know, the last person to
really
own this place was a woman who died in the late
1930s.”  She shoved her plate away again, unable to eat – to sit, enjoying a meal, -- wh
ile
danger see
med to lurk around every corner.

Restlessly,
Paige moved to her feet
and turned her eyes, the color of rich oak, on him
.  “And now it’s time for you to come clean.  You didn’t just seek me out at the museum, follow me all the way to Mulholland, and then risk your life because it was the manly thing to do.  Tell me the truth, and don’t try lying, I’ll know if you do . . . trust me, I’ll know.”

Time for the truth indeed, and let’s just see if she believes me.
 
He drew a deep breath. 
“I started having dreams about you, apparently about the same time as you purchased this place.”

“Excuse me?”

“You said that you could tell if I was lying,” he countered.  “Now, tell me, am I lying?”

She gazed at him, visions playing in her mind of him tossing in
various beds
, one arm flung over his e
yes while images of her played through his sleeping mind.  Some were fantasies that made her want to cringe, while others brought a bright tint to her cheeks.

“How could you?” she whispered.  “You’ve never seen me before the museum.”

“Lots of
people
have seen you.  The trick,” he answered dryly, “was finding you.”

There was sunlight, streaks of it shimmering
against the water
.  She could smell the hyacinths, light and sweet through an open window.  The murmur of nearby water was quiet, soothing, but every muscle in Jenny’s body tensed when Erik turned to her.  The small cottage seemed suddenly invaded by
his
sheer masculine presence.

“This is what I want,” she muttered, gesturing at the surroundings.  “And you’re . .
. you’re
not what I want,” she whispered, and turned
away t
o escape from him, from the sudden feelings that he evoked in her.
He’s an actor,
she told herself.
W
hat you see in his eyes isn’t real.

When he spoke, his words were clear, highligh
ted with desire. 
“Why are you running, Jenny?  It’s yourself you’re running from, not me.”

There was impatience in his voice, impatience that became only sharper when he closed the distance between them, taking her into his arms.  He wanted her more desperately than he had ever allowed himself with any
other
woman.  Her uncertainty, her hesitation, aroused some deep primitive part of him.  Demand, take, possess.  The thoughts tangled together in one throbbing pulse of desire.  He didn’t feel the pleasant anticipation he
had with other women but a raging
passion, which
burn
ed
almost to violence. 

When he tasted her mouth, feeling that first hint of surrender, he nearly went mad.

His mouth was so hungry, his hands were so strong.  The pressure of his body against hers was insistent.  He held her
as if she had always been his.   Yet, she knew that the choice was ultimately hers.  It was if there had been a stone tossed into clear water; her decisions would now send ripples flowing through her life.  Where they ended, how they altered the flow, was something she didn’t know.  To give, she knew, would be a risk.
But
risk held its own excitement, its own fear.  With each second that passed, the pleasure grew more bold and ripe until, with a moan of acceptance, she brought her hands to his face and let herself go.

The sharp ring of a bell barely registered in their minds, and the insistent barking from Argo distracted them even less.  Only when a growl grew to accompany the sound did Jenny reluctantly leave his arms to open the door. 

St
anding on the opposite stand of the door, Daniel’
s weathered face greeted Jenny, and she had just enough time to notice how the
grin of sheer delight
he wore
set his shocking blue eyes twinkling
with naughty mirth
.  Stepping inside
before she could react
, he looked at the stunned couple.  “Do ya have any idea how many palms I had to cross to find this place? It cost me a s
mall fortune, that I’ll tell ya
.”  Reaching down, he patted Argo carefully before looking up at Erik.  “Does this animal go everywhere with you?”

“Everywhere that he’s welcome,
” Erik grunted. “
That
is more than I can say for you.”

Ignoring Erik’s jibe, Daniel’s long legs made short work of crossing over to where Jenny stood, surprise reflecting in her ey
es.  “I have to protect my --
or should I say
,
our
--
investment.”  Daniel tossed back over his shoulder before taking Jenny’s slender hands in his.  “Now, I need for you to listen, lass.  I ran the outtakes past the big bosses today.  The big man himself
,
for sure, and to say that he was impressed is putting it mildly.  He’s willing to extend our budget – thank the Lord that we weren’t far into production.  I was able to negotiate for you a three-picture deal here with Erik.  You’re going to be a star, you
ng
lady.  A big star.”

Stunned, Jenny backed away, her face a mask of terror.
 
“
No … I can’t … but …
”
 
However, she knew as well as they did that
Jack Warner ran this town and no one who ever wanted to work in the industry said ‘no’ to him.  She’d be
blackballed
by every studio in town.  If she backed down, her days in Hollywood were over.

She schooled her emotions, telling herself to give all the right answers.  But somehow, despite her good sense, her anger took hold instead.  Turning on Erik, she allowed him to see the
glaring
disappointment
in her eyes
.  “That’s what this is all about, isn’t it?” She asked lowly, betrayal sharpening her words.  “A little charm, a little romance . . . maybe a roll in the sack
,
and I’d be willing to do whatever the two of you dreamed up.  Well, I won’t have it, I tell you. . .  I’ll go back . . .” Pausing, she shook her head, her words ground out from gritted teeth.  “I’ll leave this town before I’ll ever
star in
any film – but especially one with you.”

Stung by her words, Erik only paused a moment before he lashed out with icy words of his own.  “And would that be so terrible?  To be able to sock away what you need to finish that novel you leave sitting day after day instead of
publishing
it and d
oing something with your dreams?
  Or is it just
easier
to hide under someone else’s name for the rest of your damned career?”

Moving
between them, it was easy for Daniel to see the passion in their eyes, and hear it in their voices. 
It was a
passion that
would be dynamic
on screen
– that is
,
if he could keep them from killing each other first.  “Sure now, that’s enough from the both of you.  Erik, go for a walk and take that dam
ned dog with you.”

Watching
as
his friend storm
ed
out, Daniel eased Jenny onto a
nearby sofa.  The sound of Ireland echoed in his voice while his boney hands grasped hers.  “I’m afraid that it was my idea to put those rushes in front of Jack.  Erik knew nothing about it.  Warner was so impressed
that
he’s already found your replacement. 
I’m fearin’,
darlin’
, that
it’s either this film or the unemployment line.”

* * * *

It had taken
quite a tussle before Michael agreed to sit while Paige finished up the dishes.  In her mind, she was already determined to return to the mansion, leaving the coziness of
Seaview
behind.  Being in close quarters with a man
such as
Sinclair was, in her mind, a recipe for disaster
, and at least the house on Mulholland was large
.

“You know
you’re not going back there alone.”
  He set his empty wine glass down on the table once more and rose.

Startled, Paige turned, soapy water dripping from her hands.  “Should I add ‘mind reader’ to your list of accomplishments?”

Tossing her a nearby towel, Michael grinned as he shook his head.  “Sorry
,
Angel, but you would make a terrible poker player.  I could read you a mile away.”

Slowly drying her hands, Paige chose her words carefully.  “Look, I’m not certain I want to know what your background really is, since you
appear to
know Alistar Carver.  But whatever is out there wants – death.  I haven’t
any idea if it’s yours or mine – or that it even matters.”