Starbright (18 page)

The sponge stilled over her heart, drawing her from her semi-slumber.

Aidan stared at her with tears in his eyes.

Beth sat up straight. “What’s wrong?”

Aidan dropped the sponge into the water and kissed a bruise on her left shoulder.

“I don’t know what I would’ve done if I’d lost you.” With a wince, he turned his head, resting his cheek against her wet skin.

“Beth?” he whispered.

“Yes?”

His hand found hers under the water. “I love you.”

With those words, it was as though gravity vanished. Beth’s heart soared into her throat, bringing forth the reply that felt the most natural, the most right.

“I love you, too, Aidan.”

Relief flooded his face, washing away the tension. Beth reached over the tub and clung to him. He returned her embrace, pressing his hands to her back and light kisses to her neck—kisses that soothed and adored, and stirred emotions in her she couldn’t articulate.

“I love you with everything I am, and everything I hope to be.” Aidan’s declaration possessed a determination she’d never heard from him before. “And not a day will go by from now on without me saying so.”

Beth tightened her arms around him, her fingers digging into soft flesh and hard muscle, confirming this wasn’t a dream, that he was real and felt the same way about her as she did about him.

“Oh, how I love you.” She clenched her eyes shut. “So much.”

Amongst still water and heartfelt confessions, they held each other until Aidan noticed her fingers had begun to wrinkle. He helped her out of the tub, wrapped her in a towel, and pulled her into his arms again.

As he brushed his lips to hers passionately, Beth realized his love for her was not a new revelation but testimony of a feeling he’d carried for her long before this night.

The towel gave way, exposing her to him once more. Aidan started at her feet, kissing every bruise as he made his way up her body and dried her. After he finished, he dressed her in a large gray T-shirt of his, taking extra care in making sure her dressing remained undisturbed.

When Beth stood before the mirror again, she didn’t cringe or feel nauseated. Her hair was wet and pushed back from her face, and a healthy pink color bloomed in her cheeks. Most importantly, there was no blood anywhere.

After she took her pain medication, Aidan held her hand and led her out of the bathroom.

“You can sleep in my room. I’ll stay on the couch in the living room.”

Beth pulled him to a halt in the hallway. “Please stay with me.”

“Are you sure? I don’t mind the couch.” His eyes scanned hers for affirmation.

“I need you with me, please.”

He kissed the back of her hand. “Okay.”

Aidan brought her into his bedroom. Beth settled in his bed under the covers while he walked to the window, pulling his bloody T-shirt over his head and tossing it aside.

Moonlight filtered into the room, accentuating his strong torso and tortured expression as he stared outside into the darkness. Beth watched him quietly, grateful for the rare honor of catching him in an unguarded moment but troubled by the reality of his brokenness, which he worked so hard to conceal from her tonight in favor of putting her needs first.

As she slipped off to sleep, the ache in her head and heart tamed by her medication, she had but one wish: for Aidan to see himself the way she did—
the compassionate and gentle soul beneath the tough exterior
. Then maybe one day, he, too, would be free from pain.

Beth lifted her arms in the air triumphantly, her smile as bright as her sequined costume. The music stopped and the supporting cast disbanded around her and Jack Peters. They had just finished filming the biggest dance number of
Venus Rising
on one of the studio’s largest soundstages.

Jack draped his arm over her shoulders. “Great job, Beth.”

She beamed. “Thanks. You were great, too.”

Jack’s assistant handed them towels and cups of water.

Beth patted her forehead with the towel and took a long drink that emptied her cup. “I can’t believe in a few hours we’ll no longer be costars.”

“We’ve had a really great run, haven’t we?” Jack gave her shoulder a squeeze. “You must be happy about getting rid of a certain somebody, though.” He jutted out his chin in Lydia Dale’s direction. She sat on a chair in the corner, perusing her script.

Beth giggled. “Well, we still have the press tour next spring, so we won’t be separated for long. I will miss you, though, Jack.”

“And I’ll miss you.” Jack’s grin widened as their choreographer, Ryan Sawyer, jogged over to them.

“Hey, you two. You did great! I think it’ll be the most popular number in the picture.”

Jack pointed to Beth. “It was all her.”

Beth blushed, even though she knew he was being overly generous. She wished Mr. Bankson would tell her what he thought about her performance, too, but he stayed mum as usual. His conversations with the cast were always kept to a minimum, as was his renowned directing style. The experience was the exact opposite of Beth’s working relationships with her previous directors, but she respected Mr. Bankson just as much.

“Well, it’s almost noon and I’m starving.” Jack cocked his eyebrows at Beth. “Would you like to join Ryan and me at the commissary for lunch?”

Beth set aside her towel and empty cup. “That sounds great. I’m famished, too.”

“Miss Sutton.” A studio messenger approached and handed her a telegram.

She tossed a perplexed glance at Jack and Ryan before reading it.

Miss Sutton,

Your presence is required at the office of Mr. Luther J. Mertz immediately.

Regards,

Ethel

Beth scanned the telegram a second time. Nathan and Mr. Stern hadn’t mentioned anything about a meeting when she saw them this morning.

Jack and Ryan looked at her expectantly.

She dropped the telegram into a nearby garbage can. “I’m sorry, but I can’t have lunch with you. I have to meet with Mr. Mertz.”

Ryan clapped a hand on her shoulder. “It’s okay. Some other time.”

Jack echoed his sentiment, and the two men left without her.

The messenger gestured to the exit door at the opposite end of the soundstage. “Miss Sutton, a car is waiting for you.”

Beth followed the messenger outside. Without any parting words, he jumped on his bicycle and rode off.

The chauffeur greeted her with a stiff nod and opened the back door of a limousine parked next to the building. As Beth entered the car, her stomach churned. She was never good with surprises, especially ones coming from the Big Boss.

On the drive across the studio lot, she closed her eyes and tried to relax. She felt exhausted, and her forehead was still tender where the stitches were. Stressing over the meeting wouldn’t help her condition.

Mr. Mertz didn’t want to waste filming time while she recovered and ordered the
Venus Rising
stylists to give her a far side part, so her hair would sweep across her forehead and conceal the stitches. Since she no longer wore gauze, the style hid the injury perfectly and didn’t conflict with any scenes filmed already. With Christmas Eve tomorrow, the motion picture had to be completed today no matter what, as per the original shooting schedule.

Nathan notified Mr. Mertz of Beth’s stitches so she wouldn’t have to meet with him directly. As an explanation for how she obtained the injury, Nathan said she fell at home. He omitted the details about the man in the window because he didn’t want to delve into her hospital visit and the police questioning. More specifically, he didn’t want Mr. Mertz finding out about Aidan’s visit to the hospital or that she had stayed at Aidan’s house for two nights following the incident.

Nathan added that Connie’s doctor stitched her up in his office, and the press was unaware of what happened. Beth assumed Mr. Mertz was satisfied with the explanation, but now that he’d called this urgent meeting, she wasn’t so sure. The last thing she needed was to get into trouble. It had already been a hectic week because of the move and filming. She couldn’t take any more on her plate.

Thankfully, the new house already felt like home, even after only living there for three days. Beth never returned to the apartment and neither did Olivia. Aidan and Nathan drove them directly to their new residence and then picked up the items from the apartment they wished to have transported personally instead of by the moving company.

Aidan had been on edge ever since the incident, but his anxiety eased after the move. Their new house was in a frequently police-patrolled, upper class neighborhood. There was still the question of whether the man on the fire escape had targeted Beth specifically, but since she and Olivia no longer resided at the apartment, they felt confident they were safe. The police hadn’t called with any leads on the case, and Beth expected nothing more to come of it.

While Beth stayed at Aidan’s house, he was a complete gentleman, serving her breakfast in bed and taking care of her every need. Part of his care involved ensuring she didn’t do anything strenuous. Unfortunately, this included intimate things as well. They had kissed but nothing more.

Even so, Beth felt closer to him and thought about asking him if he wanted to start being more open with their relationship. She didn’t mean flaunt their love around town or make an announcement to the press, just perhaps stop being so covert about it.

Not only was their relationship progressing beautifully, but their careers thrived, too. The second motion picture Beth made with Will Everett,
Forever and a Day
, was now in theaters and doing very well, though the critics pointed out what she already knew: It wasn’t as special as
Sparkling Meadow
. The filming of
Venus Rising
prevented her from doing an extensive promotional tour, but she was featured in newspapers and magazines across the country. She also participated in photo shoots during the brief breaks in her schedule.

Although Aidan didn’t currently have a movie in theaters, he was more popular than ever. He wasn’t a Starlight Studios contract star, but because
Spike
Rollins
was made for the studio, he received more fan mail there than any other actor. The press added to the hype by reprinting the photographs he had posed for when filming the motion picture and making up stories about what he was doing around town while waiting for
Golden Gloves
to begin production, since he refused to participate in any new interviews at this time.

Beth’s uneasiness returned as the limousine stopped in front of Mr. Mertz’s building. Mr. Stern was required to be present at any meetings between her and her boss. She hoped she would have a chance to talk to him beforehand so they could plan their strategy.

The reception room on the top floor was vacant except for Ethel and Caroline, who typed on their typewriters. Mr. Stern probably waited for her inside Mr. Mertz’s office, which meant she wouldn’t be able to converse with him privately.

Beth smiled at Ethel upon her approach. “Good afternoon.”

“Good afternoon, Miss Sutton.” Ethel stopped typing and picked up the telephone. “Mr. Mertz, your twelve fifteen is here.” She paused. “Yes, sir. Right away.” She placed the receiver back in its cradle and gave Beth a strained smile. “Mr. Mertz will see you now, Miss Sutton.”

With an anxious glance at Nathan’s closed office doors, Beth entered Mr. Mertz’s office. Inside, her worst fear was confirmed: Her boss was alone.

Mr. Mertz gestured to one of the vacant chairs in front of his desk. As usual, he offered no pleasantries, not even a hello. “Sit down, Miss Sutton.”

Beth tried to remain calm as she took her seat. “Where is Mr. Stern?”

Mr. Mertz glared at her. “He is not invited, nor is Mr. Taggart. In fact, they both have no idea this meeting is taking place. I didn’t want them speaking for you or coaching you beforehand on what to say.”

Beth’s eyes widened. She considered running from the office, but the invisible chains of her contract kept her seated.

Mr. Mertz’s gruff voice disturbed the tense silence. “Show me your stitches.”

With trembling hands, Beth brushed her hair aside.

Mr. Mertz didn’t say a word as he surveyed her injury. His scowl showcased his displeasure. “You may release your hair.”

Beth followed his instruction, bracing herself for his rage.

Instead, he withdrew a magazine from the top drawer of his desk and slid it toward her. The publication was opened to a specific article, which he positioned so she could look at it right-side up.

“Explain this photo of you and Aidan Evans in Santa Barbara.”

The blood drained from Beth’s face. She gripped the armrests and rose from her chair, peering over the desk at the publication. It was an issue of
Life
magazine. The largest photograph was the group shot of her, Aidan, and their friends taken after the race. The other photographs were of Aidan and his Porsche. Surely the group photograph wasn’t the source of her boss’s anger?

Mr. Mertz slapped his hand down on the magazine and dragged it toward him. “Why were you at Mr. Evans’ race? He is no good for your image, and a racetrack is not a place you should be visiting under any circumstances.”