CHAPTER NINE
Roberta startled awakewhen she heard the door at Taylor’s house slam shut. The dogs bounded off the deck to greet him, abandoning her stretched out on the chaise lounge. Her head dropped back against the headrest as her eyes closed. She groaned.Sleep. Even now, he’s keeping me from sleep.Nearly every day, Taylor had come over to play with the dogs.
“Hey.”
Popping one eye open even though she knew who it was, Roberta gave a slight wave. “Hey, yourself.” She closed her eyes.
“You feeling okay?”
Opening her eyes, she sat up straight. On top of her sleepless nights, the comment flared her anger, and she spat out, “I’m doin’. Why do you ask?”
Scratching the back of his head, Taylor said, “I mean, no offense, but you sorta look like hell.”
The burn continued in her belly. Unable to hold her tongue, she bit out, “What do you guys do around the patio table night after night?” She motioned for him to have a seat, but he stayed where he was, leaning against the outside of the deck rail, the dogs at his feet waiting to play.
Taylor’s eyes darkened. “We discuss the changes in the script for the next day and go over the lines. Why? Are we bothering you?”
Roberta’s anger melted slightly. “Yeah, guess you could say that.” On those nights, a dozen or more candles burned to provide enough lighting to read the scripts and free-flowing alcohol often led to increasing decibel levels as the night wore on. During each gathering, she watched the flames dance, her nerves boiling, her muscles tense, and her teeth clamped, fighting with every ounce of her being to remain calm. She never went to bed until all the candles were extinguished. There was no way she could. Even when she did fall asleep, the dancing flames returned. The lack of proper sleep was taking its toll. Dark circles grew under her eyes and around her eyelids. How those guys stayed up so late and then made early morning set calls boggled her senses.
Taylor scrubbed a hand over his face. “I’m sorry. Why didn’t you say something?”
“Because I figured it was work-related.”
“That doesn’t make it right. I’ll put an end to them.” Taylor stood straight, his shoulders back.
Roberta got up and walked over to him. “You’d do that for me?”
“Why not? You deserve your peace and quiet. And you need your rest. From the look of you, you aren’t getting much sleep.”
Shrugging, she turned away, walking back to the deck chair. It was almost July now—just another two and a half months to the end of her contract and the five-thousand-dollar bonus. It helped keep her going when her disposition turned dark. Nonetheless, there were times when she questioned her ability to last through the noise and inconvenience. When she got home, she could write in peace and quiet and sleep the whole night through without fear. “I don’t want to stop you from doing your work.”
“Nonsense. It’s not that important. Your health is. We can always do it at someone else’s place.” He started to return to his house but stopped abruptly and returned. “I almost forgot to tell you. I’m having a Fourth of July party here for the cast and crew. Lots of food, drinks, and music.” He held up his hands in surrender. “I swear it will be the last noisy event. You’re invited, of course. And I hope you’ll save me a dance.” He gave her a wink, turned around, and jogged off across the yard, with the dogs hot on his heels, ready for their play session.
A warmth filled her chest at the thought of being held in Taylor’s arms. Maybe he was coming around to her. The idea sent a shiver down her spine until she remembered her days here and his, were numbered.Why are you getting interested in him?Shaking her head, she started back to her house, her thoughts muddled.
?
He turned off the shower just before his phone rang. The Sinatra tune signifying it was his mother, he answered with one hand, reaching for the bath towel with his other.
“Taylor, honey, how are you doing?” the feminine voice echoed through the cell phone speaker.
Rubbing his wet hair with a towel, he said, “Fine, Mom, how are you doing?” Taylor tried to sound pleased to hear his mother for yet another of her weekly check-in calls, but her timing was inevitably poor.
“I am well, very well, but I haven’t seen you in weeks, dear, and I’m missing you terribly,” she said, drawing out the word “terribly” as if to match the length of time since she had last seen him. “I hear you’re having trouble with those paparazzi again.”
Toweling dry, he rolled his eyes. “Laurel’s got it under control, Mom.” Taylor could hear her clicking her tongue in disapproval.
“You should have stayed in a first-class hotel. The added security would have been helpful.
“True, but I prefer the quietness here in the country. Besides, I’m ten minutes from the set.” He flung the towel over the shower curtain rod and strode naked into the bedroom to dress.
“I know you’re renting a furnished house out there; is there a spare room I can use when I come to visit you?”
Taylor dropped the shirt he was going to put on, grabbed the phone, turned off the speaker, and whipped it to his ear as quickly as possible. “Um, Mom, not a good time to visit. I’m on the set fourteen hours a day. I barely have time to shower and sleep,” he said, conscious of the little white lie he was telling.
“Darling, you can’t spare your mother an hour a day? Are they keeping you so busy?”
“Look, Mom. I’m really sorry. I have some free time after this shoot. I’ll come visit you in Beverly Hills as soon as this is over.” He reached for his jockey shorts and struggled to put them on while scrunching the phone between his neck and ear. He dropped the phone. Swearing as he picked it up, he punched the speaker button.
“Would you, dear? Oh, it would be great. You haven’t seen my new house yet. Maybe I can have a dinner party. I have wanted to introduce you to my new neighbors. And speaking of neighbors, I ran into Melissa yesterday at the Friends of Beverly Gardens Park fundraiser event. She said she hasn’t seen you in weeks.”
He froze. “There is a reason for that, Mom. I broke up with Melissa months ago, and I don’t intend to see her again.” The hair on the back of his neck stood at full attention.
“Honestly, Taylor, she’s such a lovely woman. I don’t understand why you would do such a thing. You have been together for ages. She’s perfect for you! It will be the Hollywood wedding of the century! And you two will make the most beautiful grandchildren. Did I tell you all my friends have grandchildren already?”
Pacing the floor, he kept his voice even. “Mom, we’re not having this conversation. I broke up with Melissa, and she can’t seem to accept the fact. I’m done with her. End of conversation,” Taylor said firmly. “Now, if you don’t have anything else to tell me, I have to get back on the set. I’ll call you in a couple weeks.” He punched the phone with his index finger, disconnecting.