Season of Passion (19 page)
Authors: Danielle Steel
I'm meeting Mr. Weinberg, Stuart Weinberg.
And ' But the headwaiter was already smiling.
Miss Harper? She nodded, incredulous. The gentlemen are waiting for you outside on the terrace. Mr. Waterman is already with Mr. Weinberg. He carefully led the way, as Kate followed him, still barely able to see. But she didn't need to see the faces. Even their voices sounded important. And there seemed to be a lot of long, blond hair, a lot of clanking of bracelets, and a lot of men with clinging, open shirts and clusters of gold around their necks. But she barely had time to look more closely in the gloom, as the headwaiter sped toward the back and led her out to the terrace with a look of enormous decorum. It was nice to be out in the Sunshine again, and it was good to see someone familiar, as she caught sight of Stu.
Well, well, you made it. And don't you look pretty! She blushed beneath her tan as Stu stood up and hugged her in a warm brotherly way. He looked into her face approvingly and they exchanged an easy smile.
I'm sorry I'm late. She glanced around the table, not really allowing herself to see the other man, and looking at the chair which a waiter quickly pulled out for her. And then she was seated, and Stu swept an easy hand in the direction of the man to his right.
You're not late. And Kate, I'd like you to meet Nick Waterman. Nick, Kate. Kate smiled nervously and let her eyes stray to Nick's face as she shook his hand. It was a large, very firm hand, and the eyes were a fierce tropical blue as they held hers.
Hello, Kate. I've been anxious to meet you, Stu gave me a copy of the book. It's terrific. Even better than your last. He showered her with what felt like a torrent of sunshine from his eyes, and she felt herself start to relax.
You read my first one? He nodded and she looked at him, stunned. You did. He nodded again and laughed as he sat back in his chair.
Didn't you think anyone read them? He sounded vastly amused.
Not really, I guess. How do you explain to someone that you haven't been anywhere to find out if anyone was really reading them? Tillie had read her book, and Mr. Erhard, but she always figured they did it because she gave them free copies. It was incredible to meet a stranger who had read her too.
Just don't say that on the show. Stu looked at her with a grin and signaled to the waiter. What'll you have?
Pink grasshoppers. She said it in a careful whisper and grinned, Stu started to laugh again, and Nick looked bewildered as the waiter rapidly made a note.
A grasshopper for the lady?
No, no! And then she was laughing too. I don't know. Iced tea, I guess.
Iced tea? Stu looked surprised. You don't drink?
Not when I'm nervous. I'll pass out over lunch.
Stu glanced over at Waterman with a smile and patted Kate's hand.
I promise I won't let him attack you till after dessert And then they were all laughing again.
Actually, I think I'm drunk already. Oh, and by the way, the flowers were beautiful. She turned to Nick Waterman and felt herself blush again. She wasn't sure why, but he made her faintly uncomfortable. There was something magnetic about him, that made you want to seek out his eyes, made you want to reach out to him, but it frightened her. It was terrifying to be drawn to a man after all these years, even if only in conversation. And he was so big, so there. It was impossible to avoid him. And she didn't really want to. That was what frightened her.
What do you think of Hollywood, Kate? Standard, ordinary question, but she felt herself start to blush again under his gaze and hated herself for it.
After two hours, I'm already overwhelmed. Is this really it? Or is the hotel some sort of mad oasis in the midst of a saner world?
Not at all. If anything, this is the mainstay. It becomes crazier and crazier the further away you get. The two men exchanged a sympathetic glance and Kate smiled.
How do you stand it?
I was born here, Stu said proudly. It's in the genes.
How terrible, can they operate? Kate gave him a serious look. Nick laughed and she bravely turned to look at him too. What about you?
I'm clean. I'm from Cleveland.
Gawd, Weinberg said derisively as the waiter set the iced tea down in front of Kate. She smiled softly.
I went to Cleveland once. It's very pretty. She was lost in her iced tea.
Lady, I hate to tell you this. The voice at her side was a deep, baritone caress. But you didn't go to Cleveland.
Oh yes, I did. She looked up at him with a told-you-so smile, and his blue eyes flashed at her.
Not if it was pretty you didn't.
All right, let's just say I had a good time
That's better. Now I believe you.
They ordered huge bowls of shrimp on ice, and asparagus vinaigrette, and there was delicious hot French bread.
Well, Kate, shall we talk about the show tonight? Nick looked over at her with a gentle smile.
I'm trying very hard not to.
That's what I thought. The smile broadened
You don't have anything to worry about. Not a thing. All you have to do is what you just did.
Stuff my face? She grinned at him and he wanted to reach out and ruffle the carefully done hair. But he wouldn't do anything to surprise her, or she would run like a frightened doe back into the forest He had listened carefully to what Weinberg had said. When she spoke, there was no trace of skittishness about her. In fact, she was kind of ballsy, and he liked it. But there was something different in her eyes. Something frightened, something sad, something older than her body or her face. Wherever she had been hiding, it had not been a happy place. It made him want to reach out to her and take her in his arms. That would have blown it for sure. Weinberg would have killed him. He grinned at the thought and brought his mind back to what she was saying about the show.
No, Kate, I'm serious. All you have to do is chat, laugh a little, say what comes to mind but no four-letter words, please! He rolled his eyes. They had had to bleep two shits and a fuck the night before with that goddamn comic Jasper had been so hot to have on. He had enough problems without a night full of language. But all you have to do is be you. Relax. Listen. Jasper is a master at the art. You'll feel like you're at home in your own living room.
I can't imagine feeling that way, between worrying about whether I'm going to pass out or throw up.
You won't You'll love it You'll never want to get off.
Bullshit
Say that, and I'll get you off myself!
Is it live? She looked horrified but he shook his head.
Nope So all you have to do is look pretty and have fun. Is there anything you particularly want to talk about? He looked serious now and she liked him better than ever.
She thought about it for a minute, and then shook her head.
Think about it, Kate Any particular aspect of the book that means a great deal to you? Something that would make it more real, bring it closer to our viewers? Something that will make them want to run out and buy it? Maybe something that happened to you while you wrote it? In fact, why did you write it?
Because I wanted to tell that story. I guess it was just something I cared about, so I wanted to write about it for other people. But that's not very remarkable. The decay of a marriage and a love affair is hardly hot stuff.
Bleep that! Weinberg rolled his eyes. Whatever you do, love, don't talk them out of buying the book!
Seriously, Kate. Nick was watching her again as he talked. The eyes, the eyes, there was something in her eyes. What die hell was it? Fear? No, something else. Something deeper. He wanted desperately to know what it was, to reach out to her. The feelings were wildly inappropriate at this lunch, and she was looking away from him now, down at her hands, as though she sensed that he saw too much. All right then, why did you write about football?
She didn't look up. I thought it would provide background. And that men might relate to the book too. Good commercial value He didn't know why, but he didn't believe her, and when she looked up at him, he knew he didn't Almost as if something had clicked.
You put some beautiful insights into that, Kate.
I almost got more excited about that than about the rest. You know the game. Not just football, the sport, but the game. I loved that.
Did you play in college? She felt as though they were alone now. Stu Weinberg knew he was forgotten, but he didn't mind.
Nick was nodding in answer to Kate's question. All through college, and one year of pro. I tore up both knees in my first season, and had to call it quits.
You're lucky. It's a shitful sport.
Do you really think that? That's not what I heard in the book.
I don't know. It's a crazy savage way to kill people.
How do you know all that, Kate?
Her answer, was quick and very smooth, and delivered with a Hollywood smile. Careful research for the book.
That must have been fun. He was smiling too, but still searching, still watching. She wanted to hide from him again, but she couldn't. And the bitch of it was that she wished she didn't have to hide. But she couldn't afford to get to know this man. He knew football. He was dangerous. She couldn't afford him even as a friend. Would you talk about the research on the show?
She shook her head and then shrugged. It wouldn't be very interesting. Some games, some listening, some interviews, some reading. That really isn't the main point of the book.
Maybe you're right He wasn't going to push. Well then, what about you? Married? He looked at the thin gold band still on her left hand, and remembered what Weinberg had said about her being a widow. But he didn't want it to look as though he knew too much. As far as he could tell, he didn't know enough.
No. Widowed. But for God's sake, don't say that on the show. It'll sound so melodramatic
Good point. Kids?
Her face lit up at the question and she nodded, but hesitantly. Yes. One. But I don't really want to talk about him either.
Why not? Nick looked surprised. Hell, if I had a kid I'd talk about nothing but Maybe there was a bitchy side to her after all, but he didn't think so.
I take it you don't have kids.
Brilliant deduction, madam. He toasted her with the last of his bloody mary. I am totally pure and untouched. No kids, no wife, no nothing.
Never? She was surprised. What was a man like that doing wandering around on the loose? Gay? He couldn't be. Maybe he had a heavy starlet habit That seemed the only answer. I guess that makes sense around here, she said. There's so much to choose from. She looked around the terrace with a mischievous grin and he threw back his head and laughed.
Ya got me.
Weinberg smiled at them both, and then sat back with pleasure. She was doing just fine. He didn't need to say a word.
So why won't you talk about your kid? Boy or girl, by the way?
A boy. He's six. And terrific. A real little cowboy. She looked as though she were sharing her best secret and Nick smiled again as he watched her, and then her face grew serious. I just don't want to expose him to what I do. He leads a nice, simple life in the country. I want to keep it that way. Just in case ' in case '
In case Mom becomes a celebrity, huh? Nick looked amused. What does he think of all this?
Not much. He was barely speaking to me when I left. He's ' he's not used to my being away. I ' he was pissed. She looked up with a broad smile.
You'll have to take him back something he wants
Yeah. Me.
And you spoil him rotten, don't you?
No. A friend of mine does that. A friend. So that was it. There was somebody. Dammit. But nothing showed in his face.
So, let's see, where does that leave poor Jasper tonight? You won't talk about football or your research, and you won't talk about your kid. How about a dog? He was grinning at her and Stu rolled his eyes and got back into the conversation.
You shouldn't have said that. You just blew it.
She has a dog?
I have a Bert. Kate looked prim as she said it. Bert is not a dog, he's a person. He's black and white with long ears. And a fabulous face.
What does that make him? A cocker spaniel?
Of course not! She looked offended. A basset hound.
Great. I'll be sure to tell Jasper. Okay, lady, be serious, what'll you talk about? Marriage? How about marriage? Any views on marriage?
I love it. It's very nice. So why didn't she marry the friend who spoiled her kid? Or was she still carrying the torch for her dead husband? He hadn't figured that one out yet. But he would.
Living together? Any feelings about that?
That's nice too. She grinned and finished her iced tea.
Politics?
I'm not political. And, Mr. Waterman she looked up mischievously again I must tell you that I am very boring. I write. I love my kid.
And your dog. Don't forget your dog.
And my dog. And that's about it.
What about your teaching? Stu stepped into it again with a serious look on his face. Don't you teach retarded kids or something? He had gotten Tillie on the phone a few times when she was visiting Tom.
I promised the school I wouldn't mention it. That was a lie she was still good at, and Nick Waterman sat back with a smile.
I've got it! Weather! You can talk to Jasper about the weather! He was teasing but Kate looked suddenly crestfallen.
Is it really that bad? Jesus. I'm sorry.
But instantly his hand covered hers and his face softened from laughter to something that almost looked like love. It startled her, it happened so quickly. I'm only teasing you. It's going to be just fine. We never know what's going to come up. Subjects may come up that you never knew you cared about. You may end up carrying the whole show. But no matter what, you're bright enough and pretty enough and amusing enough to carry the ball for as long as you have it. Just relax. And I'll be out there waving at you, and grinning, and making terrible faces to keep you amused.
I'll never make it She practically groaned as she thought of it.
You'd better, sweetheart. Or I'll kick your ass. It was Weinberg again and they all laughed. But she had to admit that she felt better now. At least she knew she had a friend on the show. Nick Waterman was already a friend.
What are you doing this afternoon? Nick was looking at his watch as he asked. It was already ten after three, and he had things to do back at the studio.
I thought I'd take a swim and relax for a while. I have to be there at a quarter to seven?
Better make it six-fifteen or six-thirty. We tape at seven. You can check your makeup, chat with the other guests in the Red Room, and just kind of settle in. Oh, and before I forget, you can't wear white. It'll glare on us.
I can't? She looked horrified. What about off-white?
He shook his head.
Oh my God.
That's all you brought? He said it the way a husband would looking over his wife's shoulder as she dressed, and she felt awkward at the intimacy.
I was going to wear a cream-colored suit with a peach-colored blouse.
Sounds gorgeous. I'll have to take you to dinner sometime just to see it. But not on the show, Kate. I'm sorry. He looked sorry, too, and she looked sick. She should have listened to Licia, and gotten a bunch of things from the store, but she had been so sure about the suit. And the only other thing she had to wear was that half-naked, navy-blue, chiffon halter dress. And she didn't want to be that bare on national television. Christ, they'd think she was a hooker. Do you have anything else? You can always go shopping, you know.
I guess I'd better. I brought something else, but it's too naked. Weinberg perked up his ears, and Waterman glanced at him. They had both been afraid she'd wear something too serious.
Whatcha got? Waterman asked.
A navy-blue halter dress. But I'll look like a tart Weinberg whooped and Waterman grinned.
Believe me, Kate, you wouldn't know how to look like a tart.
Is that a compliment? She had a feeling it wasn't, but Nick looked around with an air of acute boredom at the overdecorated women at the surrounding tables.
In this town, Kate, that's a compliment. Is the dress sexy?
Sort of. It's more just dressy.'
Glamorous? She nodded again, almost apologetically, and he beamed.
