Carolyn Haines - Wishbones

“Are you sure, Sarah Booth?” he asked.

My answer was another kiss, one that left no doubt of what I wanted.

In the back of my mind I could hear Jitty. “Girl, you’re jumpin’ out of the fryin’ pan and into the fire.”

I tuned her out. She was another betrayer. She’d abandoned me. It was up to me to craft the life I wanted, and right now I wanted to feel wanted. I needed the intimacy of Graf’s kisses and his embrace.

He lifted me in his arms and carried me to the beach where he made a makeshift pallet of our discarded clothes. Beneath the rising moon, we made love, and I clung to Graf and the magic of his touch.

I awoke in the early hours of the morning, thirsty and with a headache. Beside me, Graf slept peacefully. It took a moment for me to recognize the sounds that had awakened me. Sweetie Pie was pacing the room, going to the door again and again on clickety nails, a soft whine telling me of her need to go out.

Slipping from the bed, I grabbed a gown and slid it over my head. Barefooted, I padded across the room and opened the door. Sweetie Pie bolted forward with a low growl that caught me by surprise. She was after something.

Or someone.

I gave chase. She was ahead of me in the hallway, almost to the stairs, her growl louder, more ferocious.

“Sweetie!” I whispered loudly, hoping to bring her back to me. When she didn’t respond, I had no choice but to follow.

“Sweetie Pie Delaney!” I ran down the stairs just in time to see the hem of a red dress disappearing out the front door that closed on a soft slam. Someone had been in the house. Estelle? Out to cause more mayhem for her father? I grabbed Sweetie’s collar so she couldn’t follow and opened the door.

Outside, moonlight strong enough to cast shadows lit the grounds. There was no sign of anyone on the front lawn or down the drive. My heart raced, but I forced myself to take deep breaths.

“Can I help you?”

The male voice coming from less than five feet away almost made me scream. I swiveled and saw the security guard standing in the shadow of a porch column. “Did you see someone come out the door?”

He shook his head slowly. “No one left the house. I’ve been here all evening.”

“But I saw…” What had I seen? “The door opened and-”

“No, senorita. The door hasn’t opened all evening.”

Still gripping Sweetie’s collar as she tugged against me, I thanked the guard and closed the door.

Around me the house was silent, and I went to the kitchen for some water. The “ghostly visitor” had finished the job of sobering me up, and I sat at the huge kitchen table to think about the last few hours. I didn’t regret the passion I’d shared with Graf, but worry nagged at me. My feelings for him weren’t clear, and the act of making love seemed like a promise I wasn’t certain I could honor.

Outside the kitchen window, I saw the sun brighten the horizon. Dawn would be upon me soon, and I had a hard day of shooting. Would the intimacy that Graf and I had shared affect our on-camera intensity? Anxiety rode me like a cruel rider with spurs.

Someone stirred in the depths of the house. Sweetie stood and wagged her tail as Federico came into the kitchen.

“Sarah Booth, what are you doing up so early?” When he looked at me more closely, he sighed. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing,” I lied. “Too much wine and too little sleep.”

“The doctor at the hospital said Joey is going to be fine, Sarah Booth. Go back to bed. I’ll send someone to get you when you’re needed on the set. Take some ice to put on your eyes. Michelle is an excellent makeup artist, but she can’t compensate for lack of sleep.”

“Thanks, Federico.” I might not be able to sleep, but at least I could try. With some ice wrapped in a towel in my hand, I was almost back at my room when I heard my cell phone ringing. I dashed the rest of the way and answered it just as Graf gave me a sleepy “good morning” smile.

“Sarah Booth! Are you okay?” Tinkie’s voice was worried. She had to be upset to be awake at 6:00 A.M.

“I’m fine, why?” I wondered if my friend had some kind of radar that made her aware of my indiscretion with Graf.

“Millie just called. It’s all over the entertainment news.”

“What?” I was lost.

“Someone is sabotaging your film. That young man was seriously injured, nearly killed!” The more she talked, the louder she got.

My first impulse was to calm her. “Joey is going to be okay. He took a fall. Broken wrist, two broken ribs. No serious injuries.”

“That’s not the way the media is playing it. They’re calling this movie cursed. They’re saying that the movie may shut down.”

I considered telling her that the balustrade had been damaged, but it would serve no good purpose. She was already worried, and she was a thousand miles away. “Things are under control.”

“That’s not very reassuring.”

Graf rose from the bed and came to put his arms around me. His lips found the sensitive spot on my neck and sent shivers all over me.

“Sarah Booth, are you carrying on with that actor?”

She did have radar. “Everything is fine here.”

“That’s not an answer.” Her worry had turned to suspicion. “You sound… satisfied. You slept with Graf, didn’t you?”

It was impossible to have this conversation with Graf nibbling at my neck and earlobes. “I have to get ready for my scene.”

“Listen here, Marilyn Monroe, talk to Federico and tell him that your friends from Zinnia are on the next flight out. Obviously you need someone to come out there and keep you safe.”

Happiness made me grip the phone harder. “You’re coming? Really?”

“Me and Cece and Millie. Have someone pick us up at the Petaluma airport.”

“I can’t believe it.” I was thrilled.

“You’d better believe it, and tell that gigolo he’s going to answer to me if his intentions aren’t honorable.”

I didn’t have to tell him. He was close enough to the phone to hear.

“I intend to make love to Sarah Booth until she begs for mercy,” he said into the phone. “After that, it’s up to her what happens.”

“I’ll see you soon,” I said before she could respond to Graf. “I love you, Tinkie.” I snapped the phone closed.

“Come back to bed.” He put his words into action as he picked me up and placed me gently back in the bed. “Now let’s pick up where we left off.”

I didn’t have a better plan for the early morning hours so I returned his kisses. If I couldn’t look rested for the camera, at least I could look like the cat that got the canary.

Graf and I appeared on the set, causing a series of speculative glances in our direction. Had someone seen us on the beach, or heard us in the mansion? I wasn’t ashamed of my actions, but I had a degree of modesty. I fought the flush that would betray me.

Federico had replaced the defective balustrade with a plaster piece, but it was clearly marked so that I wouldn’t lean against it. The rest of the balustrade had been tested for safety.

I went up to my room and stepped onto the balcony. The wind fans were started and the chimes rang a beautiful song of light and dark notes. The silky length of the dressing gown blew against my body, reminding me of the feel of the water the previous night, which led to thoughts of Graf and the things he’d done to me… and the things I’d done to him.

“Close up on her face!” Federico directed.

I looked down and saw Graf walk onto the lawn, his shirt rumpled and his tie askew. Desire licked at me like hungry flames.

Below I heard Federico ordering camera shots, but I forgot everything except the role I was playing and “Ned,” a man I meant to seduce, use, and destroy.