What I Did For Love Part 20

"I got a job. What do you think?"

"What kind of job?"

"I have to pee." She headed toward the small bathroom off the kitchen. "Are you going to follow me in here, too?" She shut the door and locked it. n.o.body would ever make her talk about what happened when she got to L.A. n.o.body.

When she came out, Georgie had disappeared and Bram was finis.h.i.+ng a phone call. She picked up a dishcloth and wiped the counter. "Tell Georgie to stop following me around with that camera," she said as he hung up.

"It's hard to tell Georgie anything." He pulled the iced tea pitcher from the refrigerator.

"What's with her anyway? Why does she keep doing it?"

"Who knows? A couple of days ago I saw her filming the women who clean the house. She was talking to them in Spanish."

Chaz wouldn't admit it, but she didn't like the idea of Georgie filming anybody but her. "Good. Maybe she won't bother me so much."

Bram fingered his cell phone. "Have you done it yet?"

She opened the dishwasher and stuck in the gla.s.ses from breakfast. "I'm thinking about it."

"Chaz, there's a big world out there. You can't hide here forever."

"I'm not hiding! Now do you mind? People are coming to dinner tomorrow night, and I have a lot of things to do."

He shook his head. "Sometimes I don't think I did you a favor by giving you a job."

He was wrong. He'd done her the biggest favor of her life, and she'd never forget it.

That afternoon, as Georgie got dressed for the paps, she kept asking herself why s.e.x with a bad boy was so much more thrilling than getting it on with a decent guy. Even if that decent guy had left her for another woman. So why had she made herself sleep alone last night? Because yesterday had been too good. Too much fun. Too deliciously debauched. So mindless and uncomplicated she wasn't ready to spoil it with real life. She'd also wanted Bram to understand she hadn't turned into a pushover just because that had been the most thrilling s.e.xual escapade of her life. But shutting him out had taken all her willpower, and she didn't like the knowing look he'd given her when she'd said she was sleeping alone. Georgie got dressed for the paps, she kept asking herself why s.e.x with a bad boy was so much more thrilling than getting it on with a decent guy. Even if that decent guy had left her for another woman. So why had she made herself sleep alone last night? Because yesterday had been too good. Too much fun. Too deliciously debauched. So mindless and uncomplicated she wasn't ready to spoil it with real life. She'd also wanted Bram to understand she hadn't turned into a pushover just because that had been the most thrilling s.e.xual escapade of her life. But shutting him out had taken all her willpower, and she didn't like the knowing look he'd given her when she'd said she was sleeping alone.

They left the house for a midmorning coffee run and photo op. She decided the best way to restore a sense of normalcy was to pick a fight. "Stop humming." She scowled at him across the pa.s.senger seat. "You only think you can carry a tune."

"What's eating you? Not me, unfortunately."

"You're disgusting."

"Hey, what happened to your famous sense of humor?"

"You."

"I guess that'd do it." He started humming a few bars of "It's the Hard-knock Life" just to provoke her. "You were a lot friendlier yesterday afternoon. A lot. lot."

"That was l.u.s.t, pal. I was using you."

"And doing a d.a.m.n fine job of it."

She didn't like the way he refused to join her in the fight she needed to have with him. "You shouldn't have said you remembered what happened that night in Vegas when you really didn't."

"Process of elimination. I guarantee that one of us pa.s.sed out before the deed was done, because if we'd finished up, I'd have remembered."

For once, she was inclined to believe him.

The paps surrounded them when they emerged from The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf. Georgie thought about the zillions of photos she'd seen of celebs carrying either coffee cups or water bottles. Since when had dehydration become an occupational hazard of fame?

"Right here! Look here!"

"Any plans for the weekend?"

"Are you guys still solid?"

"Like a rock." Bram tightened his arm around her waist and whispered, "If you were really as tough as you pretend to be, you wouldn't have run off to your nice safe bed last night."

She beamed up at him. "I told you. I got my period."

He beamed down at her. "And I told you I didn't give a d.a.m.n."

Lance had given a d.a.m.n. He'd been nice about it, but s.e.x with a menstruating woman wasn't his thing. Not that she'd really gotten her period.

"Obviously I haven't made myself clear," she whispered, playing the role of the female s.e.xual predator as shutters clicked around them. "You pa.s.sed your audition yesterday at Provocative. From now on, your only function is to service me. When and where I want it. And I don't want it right now."

Liar. She wanted it all right, and she wanted it with him. Yesterday's experience had been so incredible specifically because she'd been with gorgeous, useless, depraved Bram Shepard. s.e.x didn't mean anything more to him than a handshake, and knowing that gave her an exciting new freedom. Her fake-and possibly alcoholic-husband could never have the hold over her Lance had possessed. With Bram, she wouldn't stew over whether a negligee was alluring enough to attract him or feel as if she needed to read the latest s.e.x manual to keep him interested. Who cared? She might not even shave her legs.

He kissed the top of her ear. "Just so we're straight, Scoot. You didn't get your period. You chickened out because you're afraid you can't handle me."

"Not true."

He gave a final wave to the photographers and began steering her toward the street, still speaking so only she could hear. "The thing about these restrictions you keep trying to set up..." He brushed his knuckles down her spine. "I'm not going to pay attention to any of them."

Bram loved messing with Georgie-mentally and physically. She'd shocked the h.e.l.l out of him yesterday. In his mind, Georgie and Scooter had always been pretty much the same person, but no way in h.e.l.l would Scooter have put on a show like that. What had happened at Provocative proved the Loser hadn't managed to whip all the self-confidence out of her, something that had become increasingly evident in the past few weeks. The fact that Lance had traded Georgie in for a cold fish like Jade gave Bram a lot more pleasure than it should. with Georgie-mentally and physically. She'd shocked the h.e.l.l out of him yesterday. In his mind, Georgie and Scooter had always been pretty much the same person, but no way in h.e.l.l would Scooter have put on a show like that. What had happened at Provocative proved the Loser hadn't managed to whip all the self-confidence out of her, something that had become increasingly evident in the past few weeks. The fact that Lance had traded Georgie in for a cold fish like Jade gave Bram a lot more pleasure than it should.

As they returned from their coffee run, he toyed with the idea of getting her naked right away-it wouldn't take much effort-but Aaron ruined his plans by meeting them at the door.

"Rory Keene's secretary called. You're invited to her house for a gla.s.s of wine at five."

Bram did a mental high jump. He'd been hoping Rory's affection for Georgie would translate into an opportunity for a face-to-face meeting so he could state his case personally, instead of through her people. He grinned and jiggled his car keys. "Call her back and tell her we'll be there."

Aaron pushed his gla.s.ses higher on his nose. "She didn't mention anything about you, Bram. Just Georgie."

Bram tightened his hand around his keys. "She meant both of us."

"I don't think so. She said to tell Georgie not to get dressed up because it would be just the two of them." Aaron beat a hasty retreat.

Bram let loose with a string of obscenities. Rory was still stone-walling him. She loved the Tree House Tree House script, but according to her V.P. in development, she wouldn't consider backing the film unless he stepped aside as producer and lead actor, which would defeat the goal of restarting his career. Sometimes he thought he should buy an ad in script, but according to her V.P. in development, she wouldn't consider backing the film unless he stepped aside as producer and lead actor, which would defeat the goal of restarting his career. Sometimes he thought he should buy an ad in Variety Variety and announce to the world that he wasn't the same feral kid who didn't have enough character to survive his success. Or maybe a simpler message... and announce to the world that he wasn't the same feral kid who didn't have enough character to survive his success. Or maybe a simpler message...How about a f.u.c.king second chance?

If only Rory would meet with him personally, but the closest he'd been able to get was during the nighttime incident in her backyard. He'd even slipped through the rear gate with a bottle of Cristal a few days later as an apology for having woken her up, but one of her lackeys had taken the champagne from him and shut the door.

He glared down at Georgie. Thanks to Chaz's cooking, she'd gained enough weight so those big green eyes peeping at him through a fringe of bangs had lost their sunken appearance, and her s.h.i.+ny brown hair curved around fuller cheeks. "I want you in my office in ten minutes."

She opened her mouth to tell him to go to h.e.l.l, but he was ready for her. "Unless you aren't interested in seeing the script for Tree House... Tree House..."

He knew he had her, and he walked away without looking back.

She kept him waiting ten minutes longer than he expected. She hadn't used the time to change her clothes, and she still wore the outfit from their paparazzi coffee run: a bright lemon knit top with a modestly curved round neck, a tiny cropped cardigan as insubstantial as a spiderweb, and wide-cut green-and-cream mattress-ticking slacks only someone so slender could carry off. The outfit concealed far more than it revealed, which made it s.e.xy as h.e.l.l.

She made the first move in this new game they were playing by tilting her head toward the poster of Jake Koranda playing Bird Dog Caliber. "Now there's a real man."

"I'll be sure to tell him you said so." He squeezed a rubber exercise ball in his fist, channeling Humphrey Bogart in The Caine Mutiny. The Caine Mutiny. "I need a little cooperation for a change." "I need a little cooperation for a change."

She looked wounded. "What do you mean, 'for a change.' I'm always cooperative." She plopped down on his couch. "Okay, mainly cooperative with other people, but still..."

"Stop s.c.r.e.w.i.n.g around and listen." He curled the ball in his palm and pointed his index finger at her nose. "Don't sabotage me with Rory Keene."

"I wouldn't do that."

"Wouldn't you? Rory loves everything about the Tree House Tree House project except..." project except..."

"You?" She widened those gum ball green eyes. "It's because you have a bad reputation."

"Thanks for pointing that out." He set the ball on his desk. "I have to make this film, Georgie. Me and n.o.body else. You need to convince her I've turned into Husband of the Year."

"You haven't."

"Pretend."

"You're asking me for help?" Again the big-eyed Orphan Annie thing, but Georgie had always been a team player, and he figured she'd help him...after she gave him a hard time.

She put a finger to her cheek. "If I suck up to Rory for you, what do I get in return?"

"Hot s.e.x and my undying grat.i.tude."

She pretended to think it over. "Nope. Not good enough."

"I'll let Meg stay in the guesthouse."

"Meg's already staying in the guesthouse."

"Let me put it another way. I won't hit on her while she's staying in the guesthouse."

"You won't hit on her anyway. You treat her like she's twelve." She finally got down to business. "I want to read the script before I meet Rory this afternoon. Hand it over."

"I told you I'd let you see it."

"Yes, but you didn't tell me you'd let me read read it." it."

"You noticed that."

She held out her hand.

He hesitated. "You don't exactly have the best judgment when it comes to scripts. You're the one who made Summer in the City. Summer in the City."

"Pretty People, too, another stinker. And too, another stinker. And Cake Walk, Cake Walk, which you haven't seen yet, and which I recommend you don't." She wiggled her hand at him. "That's all in the past. You're looking at a whole new Georgie York. Give it up." which you haven't seen yet, and which I recommend you don't." She wiggled her hand at him. "That's all in the past. You're looking at a whole new Georgie York. Give it up."

She was no longer the pushover she'd once been, so he didn't have much choice. He pulled the bound script from his middle desk drawer, the one she'd searched three weeks ago only to find a broken telephone. She s.n.a.t.c.hed it from him before he could change his mind, gave him a cheery wave, and left.

He hated asking anybody for help, especially Georgie, and he slumped in his chair to brood. When that got him nowhere, he turned back to his computer. As good as the script had been, it still needed work, and he'd been tinkering with one scene or another from the beginning. He could imagine what Georgie would say if she learned that a high school dropout was monkeying around with Sarah Carter's words. Or...even worse, how she'd laugh if she discovered he'd finished a script of his own.

Except she wouldn't laugh. Unlike him, she didn't have a cruel bone in her body, and he could even imagine her mustering up a few well-intentioned words of encouragement.

The idea stuck in his craw. He didn't need phony encouragement from anybody, especially Georgie. He'd raised himself, screwed up his life by himself, and now he was digging out the same way. By himself.

Georgie couldn't read fast enough, and she finished the script in two hours. It was just as amazing as the book. An incredible opportunity...and not only for Bram. fast enough, and she finished the script in two hours. It was just as amazing as the book. An incredible opportunity...and not only for Bram.

Tree House told the story of Danny Grimes, a man who'd been falsely imprisoned for s.e.xually abusing a child. Released on a technicality, he's forced by his father's terminal illness to return home and face both the town and the ruthless female prosecutor, now a state senator, who hid DNA evidence to ensure his conviction. Danny's self-imposed isolation is threatened by his suspicions that the child next door is being abused by her father. The script was powerful and heart wrenching, filled with fascinating and complex characters, none of whom were exactly what they seemed to be. told the story of Danny Grimes, a man who'd been falsely imprisoned for s.e.xually abusing a child. Released on a technicality, he's forced by his father's terminal illness to return home and face both the town and the ruthless female prosecutor, now a state senator, who hid DNA evidence to ensure his conviction. Danny's self-imposed isolation is threatened by his suspicions that the child next door is being abused by her father. The script was powerful and heart wrenching, filled with fascinating and complex characters, none of whom were exactly what they seemed to be.

She found Bram swimming laps in the pool. She stood on the edge near the waterfall and s.h.i.+fted impatiently from one leg to the other, waiting for him to stop. He saw her, but he continued cutting through the water. She picked up the leaf skimmer and whapped him on the head.

"Hey!" Water flew as he spun around.

She took a deep breath. "I want to play Helene."

"Good luck with that." He dove under and swam for the ladder on the opposite side of the pool.

She dropped the leaf skimmer, her heart thumping with excitement. By the time she'd finished the first scene, she'd known she had to play the coldly ambitious prosecutor. This was exactly the opportunity she'd been waiting for. Playing Helene would cut through years of typecasting and give her the challenge she so desperately wanted. She strode toward the ladder. "The script is brilliant. Bone chilling, intricate, thoughtful. Everything you said it was. I have to play Helene. I mean it."

Water sluiced down his body as he climbed out of the pool. "In case you haven't been paying attention, I'm having a small problem getting the movie financed, so casting Helene is the last thing on my mind."

She grabbed his towel and handed it over. "But if you do get a green light...The only reason no one ever thinks of me as a dramatic actress is because I've never gotten a chance to show what I can do. And don't tell me audiences wouldn't be able to get past the two of us in Skip and Scooter. Skip and Scooter. The love story is between Danny and the home nurse, not with Helene. I know exactly how to do that part. And I'll work for scale." The love story is between Danny and the home nurse, not with Helene. I know exactly how to do that part. And I'll work for scale."

"Bottom line, Georgie, if I can get this film made, you still won't be playing Helene." He rubbed the towel over his head, then draped it around his neck. "Considering my own recent lackl.u.s.ter career, this film needs an actress with a proven record at the box office, and let's face it, your face sells a lot more tabloids than movie tickets."

She refused to concede his point. "Think of the publicity value of the two of us doing a film together. Audiences will line up to see if we can pull it off."

"We can't." He dropped the towel on the chair. "Georgie, this whole discussion is beyond premature."

"You think I can't play a complicated character? You can do it, but I can't? You're so wrong. I have the discipline and focus to pull it off."

"Meaning you think I don't."