Living Dangerously

Chapter Five



Troy gingerly pulled up his jeans. It took him twice as long to do everything with his arm in the damn sling. Thank God he was right-handed or he’d really be screwed. Three days in the hospital had been three days too long, but he’d lost so much blood, he’d needed two transfusions and his doctors wanted to make sure his hemoglobin stayed at a healthy level. He couldn’t wait to get out.

He stopped in midzip and had to retract the thought. Spending time with Julie Fraser had been worth the price. She’d mistakenly put him on a pedestal, an interesting turn of events considering she was probably used to that type of thing.

He still couldn’t believe he was on a first name basis with her and that they’d actually chatted the past two days. Her round of questions had been a ball buster he hadn’t needed, but her friend Carrie Ann had broken it up easily enough.

Thinking back to Nowhere to Hide, Troy remembered Carrie Ann topless as she executed a pole dance and striptease. The over-the-top scene had been the nail in her review coffin. Hell, he’d been embarrassed to watch it, and it took a whole lot to embarrass him. He’d seen trailers of some of her other films, but none of them had achieved great success.

After dropping the hospital bag on the bed, he finished dressing and began gathering his few belongings before clearing out.

“Hey, sorry I’m late.” Troy’s new assistant, Blake, sauntered into the room. He was using Troy’s P.I. license as the umbrella for his required six thousand hours of on-the-job experience. “The wait for an elevator might take some time. One of them is very much out of commission.” The kid had brought him things from home and had been holding down the office during his hospital stay. Though young, Blake was eager to learn, and Troy had needed the help to keep up with the business coming his way. It seemed every time he saw Blake, the guy had grown another inch high and wide.

“Not a problem. The doctor just signed my release papers. I couldn’t have left before now anyway.”

Years ago, he’d worked for a woman to locate her sister. He’d found that needle in the haystack by being in the right place at the right time. The P.I. gods had looked down upon him with favor. After a year of searching, he’d been two seconds away from telling her that he was giving up. He’d worked his ass off trying to locate that woman. He’d had his cell phone in his hand, sitting at a sports bar when he’d seen the teaser. A picture of Trace Bradshaw had flashed on the screen and it was like looking at his client. In that second he knew. Instead of calling his client to tell her he could no longer take her money in good conscience, he’d called her to tell her to watch the All Sports Network. Another successful locate.

He’d worked for Trace Bradshaw’s brother-in-law after that, and because they’d been on a movie set, his name had been passed around and before he knew it, he had nothing but high-profile clients asking him either to do background checks or spy on cheating spouses. He hadn’t thought he’d feel dirty doing the work. On the other hand, the whole idea of “‘Til death do us part” was highly overrated in his book. He’d seen that up close and personal in the worst way imaginable.

“Did you manage to get any info while you were here?” Blake asked, interrupting Troy’s thoughts.

“Other than the fact that she’s had a stream of visitors a mile long, including Ari, no,” Troy said, shoving his wallet into his back pocket. He’d had to dodge Trace Bradshaw during her visit to Julie. It wouldn’t do any good to be outed by a former client’s sister—not to mention his most famous locate—before he wrapped up the case.

People cheated. Innately, people didn’t know how to stay with the same person for their entire lives. Sure, someone could argue that he hadn’t worked for everyone on the entire planet, and therefore happiness might exist for a few happy slobs, but for the most part... Love sucked. He’d seen that reality up close too.

“How often are spouses wrong about their cheating partners?” Blake asked. The kid was like a sponge, always wanting and soaking up information.

“So far I’ve only met one.” With Sophia’s claim that Ari was f*cking Julie, Troy’s hardened heart had taken an unexpected hit to discover this movie star might be a mistress to a sleazy producer. Maybe that’s why he wanted to hold out until he had absolute proof. Until then, he could still admire her, still respect her. Julie wasn’t ruining this marriage until he could prove it. A little piece of him had been crushed to think someone who seemed so wholesome could be just as tawdry as anyone else.

The pisser had come when he’d talked to her. She was nice. She was wholesome, beautiful and funny and everything he always thought she’d be from watching her on television.

“Do you think these two are doing the nasty?” Blake lifted a dark eyebrow.

Troy still couldn’t picture her with Ari, but chances were good that they were carrying on an affair. They’d already had two meals together. Sophia had told him when she hired him that Ari was using the excuse that he wanted to hire Julie to star in his next film and needed to talk to her regarding her vision of the character.

Yeah, right. And he had a bridge in San Francisco he was dying to sell.

“Anything is possible.” Troy said.

Blake helped him zip his bag. “Have you looked into the shooting? I figured you’d start investigating since you got hit.”

“I thought for the time being I’d let the police handle it. There’s a chance the shooter didn’t have a specific bone to pick with Julie Fraser, in which case it’s not likely she’s in danger anymore. The suspect might have targeted her that night, but Julie had a point. Maybe the shooter only wanted the notoriety of hitting a movie star so it doesn’t mean she continues to be a target now. Besides, I’d have to bill myself and I’m expensive.”

Blake chuckled. “How long will you be in the sling?”

“A few more days, I guess. I’m supposed to follow my pain.”

Adjusting the bag over his shoulder, Blake glanced at Troy’s arm. “For what it’s worth, I’d appreciate it if you wouldn’t run into any more bullets. I need the job.”

Troy opened the bedside table to check he’d cleared everything out. “Trust me, it’s not in my plans.”

He had done some work for Blake’s father, a defense lawyer. Usually, Troy didn’t love working for the guys who attempted to get people back on the streets after committing their crimes, but Blake’s dad was a decent man who asserted that not all people taken into custody were guilty, and all had a right to a fair trial. The man had a point.

Which meant there remained a fraction of a chance that Julie and Ari were not actually f*cking each other.

Despite his new crush since meeting Julie, he had a job to do. But he did want to say goodbye to her before he left. “I’ll be right back,” Troy told Blake. “The nurse is supposed to come with a wheelchair.”

Blake leaned against the windowsill. “I’ll be here.”

Troy had told Blake to keep a low profile if he came to the hospital. A security guard would not have an assistant, and he didn’t want to lie to Julie more than he had to. He went to her room and found an empty bed with the sheets pulled back. The bathroom door sat ajar, also empty. He checked up and down the hallway. No sign of her. He had no idea how long she’d be gone.

Damn.

He’d probably see her again if she had any contact with Ari, but the dynamic would be completely different. He’d had her to himself for a couple of days, but as soon as she got out of the hospital, she’d once again belong to the world.

Rehab. She was probably in physical therapy. What the hell. He’d detour there on the way out. Chances were he’d only see her through his camera lens after today so he might as well take this one last opportunity.

Troy sucked it up and went back to his room where his four-wheeled chariot awaited.

* * *

After visiting the pediatric ward, Julie finished her rehab session early and wiped off the sweat. She’d sent Abbey home after the elevator fiasco. The poor kid was still shaking after fifteen minutes so Julie gave her the afternoon off.

Now, in front of the bathroom mirror, Julie took an extra few minutes to fix her hair and put on a little lip gloss. She grinned at her reflection, then lost the smile. “Stop it,” she told herself. “He’s just a man. You talk to men all the time.

“Not men who dodge bullets and risk their life for you,” she answered herself.

She thought about other men coming to her aid the way Troy had done, and laughed out loud. Lucas Monroe and Leo Frost would’ve fought over being the first to run away screaming for help.

She ran her hand through her hair and tousled it just enough to make it look like she hadn’t styled it. She wanted more time with Troy, just to talk. Cal had hung around yesterday and Julie hadn’t had a chance to see Troy again. He’d be leaving the hospital today. If she were lucky, she’d catch him before he disappeared.

Happy to be rid of the IV stand, she shuffled toward his room. Most of the nursing staff had already stopped in to say hi and they waved as she made her way down the sterile hall. The bright smile she pasted on her face vanished as she entered the room. The bed was made so tight she could’ve bounced a quarter off of it. The bedside table had an unopened water pitcher and basin waiting for the next occupant.

A tiny seed of disappointment took root in her stomach. The room had clearly been vacated, but she moved to the closet anyway and opened the door. Empty. Her shoulders slumped. Her happiness sputtered out and died a quick death.

He’d been discharged. Hadn’t bothered to say goodbye. She’d missed her chance to get his number or give him her number.

Unless he didn’t want her number. Maybe he didn’t want anything to do with the woman who nearly cost him his life.

Her hurt turned to anger. Was she beneath a goodbye? Was his life so busy that he couldn’t take the time to stop by or write a note? Had he figured that saving her life had been plenty and she wasn’t worth the extra time?

Julie straightened her shoulders and moved out of the room, disgusted with herself for getting angry. What was the point? Five minutes ago she couldn’t wait to set eyes on him, and now she had to get used to the idea that she’d probably never see him again.

She’d thought he was different. Quiet, yes, but nice, brave and funny. Did she forget to mention gorgeous?

Maybe stardom had given her a big ego after all. Her mom had been warning her about that. Just because she had fame and fortune didn’t mean everything in life would go her way. Why was her mom always right?

If she really wanted to, she could probably call the Sporties and track him down, get a list of their security team. Wouldn’t that shock the hell out him? But why bother? The man had made it clear that he didn’t particularly like her...at least not enough to say goodbye. What did that tell her?

You can’t always get what you want. Mick Jagger said it so right.

* * *

A day later, Julie got back from rehab with Kelly at her side. A giant bouquet of white, pink and red roses sat on her bedside table. The massive arrangement stopped her cold. Had Troy sent her roses because he hadn’t said goodbye?

“Holy smokes,” Kelly whispered. “That is one giant-ass flower arrangement.”

Her thoughts exactly. Troy probably wouldn’t have known about her request to send donations to cancer research instead of flowers. Julie stared at the massive bouquet. What the hell was she going to do with the whole thing?

Kelly lifted a blond eyebrow. “You don’t seem too excited. Most women would be thrilled to get flowers like that.”

“It’s not that I don’t appreciate the thought, but I think this is such a waste of money. People should donate to cancer research or their favorite charity.” She moved toward the flowers and plucked off the card. “These had to cost a fortune and they’ll be dead in a few days. Pointless,” she mumbled.

“Not if you’re a florist,” Kelly joked. She helped her in bed. “How long before they let you fly the coop?”

“I should find out today. I’m hoping by tomorrow or the next day at the latest. I might be moving slow, but I’m moving and I can continue physical therapy as an outpatient.”

“I see no reason why you can’t go home, but it’s up to the doctor. You’re doing great so I’d say there’s a good chance he’ll let you out.”

“From your mouth to God’s ears,” Julie quipped. She eased under the covers and looked down at the card as Cal came in.

“What’s shakin’, girlie? Hey, Kelly.” She spotted the flowers. “Whoa, mama, who spent all that dough on you, chick? Look at those friggin’ roses, would you?”

“Yeah. They just got here,” Julie said, shaking her head. “Yes, it was very nice of someone to think of me and go to the trouble, but I specifically asked for people not to do that. I don’t understand why they don’t listen. It’s not hard. If I ask you not to do something, it means don’t do it.” Her agency or one of the production companies she’d worked for had probably sent them. No expense had been spared on this bouquet.

“Yikes,” Cal muttered. “Crabby much? I’ll be happy to take them off your hands. Who are they from anyway?”

Julie looked at the card still in her hand and the small hope that Troy might have sent them vanished as she scanned it. “Oh my God, this is priceless. Listen. ‘To Julie, I couldn’t imagine a world without you. Hope these roses make your recovery more bearable. We’ll be together soon, I promise. My undying love, Allen.’”

“Who’s Allen?” Cal asked.

“I have no idea. I don’t know any Allens,” Julie replied.

Cal chuckled. “Okay, so the next question is where does Allen live? Never Never Land? Someone needs to wake him up from that dream. Next.” She picked up the stack of envelopes near the flowers. “Here, these look normal.”

“Normal is good.” Julie snatched the cards and read through most of the stack. Two marriage propositions and dozens of get-well wishes made her feel better. Julie opened the second to last and pulled out a folded piece of notebook paper. The large block print jumped off the page. YOU SHOULD HAVE DIED. WE’D BE BETTER OFF WITHOUT YOU. Chills streaked down her arms and spine as her mouth dried up. She flipped to the other side to see if she’d missed anything.

“What?” Cal asked, obviously reading the expression on her face.

Julie wanted to rip it up and pretend she’d never seen it, but knew better. This was the kind of the thing the police would want to see. “Clearly this guy didn’t like my last movie.”

Cal laughed. “Why? What’d he say?”

“You can read, but don’t touch. My prints are already on it so no reason to add yours.” Julie angled the letter.

Cal read aloud, “‘You should have died. We’d be better off without you.’ Ah,” she said, nodding her head. “More hate mail. Your favorite. It’s signed A. Look at you and your admirers,” she murmured.

Kelly looked over Cal’s shoulder and gasped. “Oh, my God! That’s a kind of admiration I could do without. Creepsville,” she muttered before heading to the door. She shuddered and waved. “See you tomorrow, Julie.”

“Bye,” Julie called absently. “Great. Now every time I meet a guy with the first initial A, I’m going to wonder if he hates me.” Or if he tried to kill me. She folded and replaced the note in the envelope.

“Not everyone.” Cal tapped her arm. “We know Allen loves you. Apparently, getting shot brings out the crazies.” Cal gestured to the table. “You want to open the rest of these? There are only a few more.”

Shaking her head, Julie snorted. “Nope. I’m done with mail for today.” Eyeing the remaining stack, she glanced at Cal. “Can you take it all and let Abbey sort through them?” It was easier to forget about it and stare at the flowers. The very unnecessary flowers.

“Yeah, sure. What are you going to do with that?” Cal asked, referring to the letter.

“Normally, it would go in the bin with all my other crazy mail, but I’ll call the detectives on the case and let them know. I’m sure they’ll want it. Can we drop it now?”

“Whatever.”

Julie stared at the flowers. A tickle started in her nose and she sneezed. The movement pulled her stitches and she gasped at the twinge of pain. “Fragrant, aren’t they?”

“Very,” Cal teased.

“Too fragrant,” she groused. She buzzed for the nurse and when Wendy came in, she asked her to take the flowers to the pediatric ward. Out of sight, out of mind. Whoever Allen was, she doubted he’d find out she’d given his flowers away. Besides, the only man with an excuse for sending flowers wasn’t the man who sent them.

Didn’t that just suck?

* * *

Cal arrived the next afternoon to take Julie home. She showed up in another pair of sky-high wedges and capri pants that showed off her fabulous legs. Her tight T-shirt outlined every petite curve of her hard body. “Sorry I’m late. I had to make sure Drew got on the plane.”

“Not a problem. I’m still waiting for the doctor to sign me out,” Julie said from the chair near the window, “but it should be anytime now.” Wearing loose sweats already gave her a sense of freedom. She wanted to take home her hospital gown with the sole intention of burning it. “I forgot, where did you say Drew was going?”

“Connecticut. I set him up to volunteer building low-income housing for a few weeks. I’m hoping that the experience brings him out of his shell and gives him some perspective. I can’t seem to do it myself.”

“I’ll bet it’ll be great for him. Drew will come back a new man.”

Cal plopped into the empty seat. “I sure as hell hope so.”

Julie’s cell phone rang and she checked the screen. “It’s Ari. I should probably take this.”

Waving her to do so, Cal stuck her feet up on the end of the bed, pulled her iPad out of her bag and started playing a game.

Julie answered the phone.

“Querida,” Ari crooned. “How are you? I feel terrible that I wasn’t able to see you the last two days. Work has been taking all my time. When will you get out of there and when can I take you out for a special dinner, just the two of us?” His accent came from a unique blend of cultures. His father was Italian, but his mother was half Spanish and half Middle Eastern. Though his hazel eyes were striking, his dark shiny hair—slicked back with enough product for a fleet of Armani models—killed any possibility of attraction for Julie even if the man hadn’t been married.

Julie imagined Ari sitting at his giant desk in his extravagant office, leaning back in his leather chair the way he did when he negotiated a deal. She’d seen him in action, during preproduction of Dangerous Race. As usual, she tiptoed through the minefield of Ari. As much as she wanted an answer about the film, she had no intention of sleeping her way to get it. “I’m fine. In fact I’m waiting to be released right now.”

“Wonderful!” he said. “Can I come pick you up and take you home?”

The offer shocked her, but he probably had ulterior motives. She’d known the man long enough to realize that. “No need. I’ve got Carrie Ann. She’ll take me.”

“You know, I set up a reward for anyone with information leading to the arrest of the bastard who did this to you.”

“I know, Ari. That was very sweet of you. Thank you.” It was also another carrot he had to dangle in front of her nose in hopes she’d reconsider his proposition.

“Querida, you know we have to talk about the part. Tonight, I’ll come over with some dinner and wine and we’ll talk.”

“I’m not sure—”

“Nonsense. You need to eat and we need to talk about the project. I’ll be there at seven.” He hung up the phone and left Julie staring at the screen.

“What was that about?” Cal asked, with one lifted eyebrow.

“Ari just invited himself over for dinner tonight. He wants to talk about the movie. I know I can’t do it since I’ve been shot. Production will start before I’m physically strong enough for the role. He already told me the window for the project is now or six months from now, and six months from now he loses his director of photography. I don’t think he’s as worried about finding an actress for the lead as he is about keeping his DP. I just wish he didn’t feel the need to break the news to me in person. I’m a big girl. I can handle a rejection over the phone.”

“He’s not coming over just for dinner,” Cal reminded her.

“How many times do I have to tell the guy no before he gets it? I mean, seriously...does he really think I’m going to have sex with him on the day I get out of the hospital after I’ve already told him that I’m not going to have sex with him to begin with?”

Cal shrugged. “He’s not thinking with his big head. He’s thinking with his little head.” She needlessly pointed to her crotch.

How did she counteract Ari tonight? With backup. “Maybe you can drop me off and just stay.” Maybe Ari would consider Cal for the part and leave her alone altogether. Julie’s mouth dropped open wide. That was it!

“What?” Cal asked. Her eyes narrowed at the obvious excitement on Julie’s face.

“I’ve got it! I can’t do the movie, but you can!”

The air in the room changed instantly. Cal sat forward in her seat, her head tilted to the side. “What? What are you saying?” She slipped her iPad into her bag.

“I’m saying that Ari’s going to tell me he can’t wait for me to shoot the film and you’ll be there and I’ll say, ‘You should talk to Carrie Ann. She’d be great for the role.’”

“You’d do that for me?” Cal asked, her tone full of shock and awe.

“Of course! There’s no reason not to. If I can’t have it, at least my best friend should get a shot at it. I mean, it’s up to him, of course, but he’s not going to tell you to your face that he won’t even give you a chance. He’ll be afraid he’s hurting his chances of getting me in the sack. He’ll agree to talk to you, maybe even screen-test you. You’ll be ready and blow him out of the water! It’ll be great!”

Julie still felt guilty for the Nowhere to Hide debacle. She’d been originally slated to do the role, but the script had changed at the last minute and she hadn’t liked the direction. Cal had auditioned, and because Julie had turned it down, Cal had booked the movie. It had been a disaster. Cal never blamed her for the fallout, but Julie had blamed herself. Yes, she’d told Cal her concerns over the new script and explained why she didn’t want to do the project, but Cal hadn’t cared. She’d thought the movie was going to be giant. It had been a giant flop. That single movie had shaped Cal’s career, and Julie had gone on to shoot one of the biggest blockbuster hits of that year.

Life worked in mysterious ways.

Still, Ari’s script was wonderful and Julie had wanted the part from the beginning. Her meetings with Ari were part of the process and she knew he was meeting with other A-list actresses in town. She understood the business. If sleeping with Ari sealed the part for her, then she just wouldn’t do the movie. She didn’t need the work that bad. If one of the other actresses Ari met with wanted the part bad enough to let little Ari under the sheets, then so be it. She couldn’t control it.

Ari had assured her the script wouldn’t change, and this movie had so much heart and emotion wrapped in a sexy package it was bound to get the critics’ attention. It was just what Cal needed to jump-start her career.

“It’s settled. You stay for dinner and before the night is out, you’ll be in the running for Meltdown. If Ari thinks he can invite himself over at the drop of the hat, he’s going to get a surprise of his own. You.”

Cal shot off her chair like a rocket, and only at the very last second did she slow down to envelope Julie in a close hug. “You are the bestest friend a girl could ask for.”

Julie rolled her eyes. “I know. I rock.”

Cal laughed and squeezed her too tight.

Pain zipped up and down her arm and exploded across her chest. “Ouch!” Julie said around a laugh.

Grinning, Cal pulled back. “Sorry. My bad.”

The doctor rounded the corner and Julie saw her day brightening up by the minute.