Chapter 19 #2
She thought of Brian. Then she squeezed her eyes shut tight, forcing him out of her thoughts. Stepping back, she swiped away her tears. “When?”
“Tomorrow,” Tim said.
“But you were supposed to be doing a commercial shoot on the West Coast for the new campaign…” Roxanne looked at Laura.
“That’s where we need your help.”
“Laura, you know I’d do anything for you, but I’ve been fired from a volunteer job with the hospital for pity’s sake. How can I possibly…”
Laura interrupted her. “Harry and I’ve arranged for you to be on the payroll of the advertising firm doing the shoot. It’s all set. But that’s not the real problem.”
“The real problem is Lindy,” Dr. Oki interjected.
“What is it?” Her heart pounded with a vicious jump.
“No, nothing too bad, but her operation has been moved up. We’re only taking a two-day honeymoon as it is, and we need you to bring Brian back for Lindy’s operation. It’s extremely important that he be here for her.”
“I checked,” Laura said. “He’ll miss at least two games. But it can’t be helped.” Laura confirmed.
“It’s very important that he be here, Rox.
I can’t stress that enough. We figured you could convince him.
So that’s why we’re sending you. Consider it a mission.
” Dr. Oki smiled as he handed her an airline boarding pass printout.
A quick check confirmed one passage to L.A.
and two for the return. It was a grand setup, she had to admit.
“There has to be something you’re not telling me. Why the change in the date for surgery?” The drumming of her heart started up again.
“It’s not that bad. It shouldn’t be a problem at all. She had a slight fever and we got it under control. We have to do the surgery while she’s stable. To wait two more weeks as planned would risk another infection and another delay.”
“Of course I’ll go.” She didn’t tell them that she had no influence on Brian.
But maybe they were all wrong about him.
Maybe he wouldn’t need any convincing to drop everything for his daughter.
She looked at the airline printout again to realize the flight was the red-eye tonight.
The commercial shoot was for tomorrow at the LA Forum after practice and the return flight was a red-eye the same night.
Maybe she wouldn’t have time to be distracted or worried about what he or anyone else would think.
The thought of Detective Turner flashed through her mind and she didn’t give it a second take.
It didn’t matter. Some things were too important. Lindy Dennis’s health was one of them. To hell with what Brian or Detective Turner or reporters or anyone else.
***
Arriving at the Los Angeles Forum with her entourage of two cameramen, a production assistant and a director, Roxanne was set to play the role of producer.
It was something she’d enjoyed doing the few times she’d had the opportunity in the past. They walked out onto the blindingly lit court to be met by the Lakers’ PR man.
“Celtics’ practice will be over in five, I’m told. So how do you like the Forum?” The man’s sunglasses weren’t entirely inappropriate, Roxanne thought.
“It’s exactly as billed,” she said. Cartoon colorful and cartoon real, she thought.
The man beamed. They walked to the visitors’ end of the court to set up the cameras and lights with their scripts in hand.
Roxanne wandered over to where the Celtics were doing last minute three-man weave drills.
She strolled under the basket and watched each man execute his layup.
The coach blew the whistle and the action stopped. Roxanne could swear the coach paused to glance her way. But he was too far away to tell who she was. It didn’t matter. When she turned away, Brian stood with the ball directly in front of her, game face in place.
“Do you approve, coach?” He twisted his mouth into that painfully dear half-smile, with a nod at her baseball cap.
She wore pants, sneakers and a jacket and cap with the ad agency logo, same uniform as the others from the crew.
She had hoped to stay under the radar as much as possible.
She forced herself to stay calmly professional even as her nerve endings jumped and her stomach flew around.
She smiled up at him. Her poise would fail her if she forced too much.
“Are you ready for the commercial shoot?”
“What are you doing here, Roxanne?”
“I’m doing a job, same as you. I hope.”
He got the hint and started walking over to where they were setting up the cameras. “I don’t get to shower and clean up?” He tossed over his shoulder to her.
He sounded so formal. “In a minute.” She followed him and caught up. “The director will brief you first. After that you can get into your dress whites.”
“I don’t have my ‘dress whites’ with me. They’re for home games.” He stopped and looked down at her with a neutral expression.
“Don’t worry. We brought them with us. We’ve thought of everything.
” She couldn’t resist throwing him a taunting smile.
He remained cool as ever. She felt like slapping a reaction into him.
Anything to shake out a response. He was so tantalizingly familiar and real and she longed to reach out to him.
She squeezed her hands into fists. She had to wait until after the shoot to tell him about Lindy.
Then he might crack and show some emotion in that robot-like facade.
That was a cruel, selfish thought, she knew, but even the Tin Man showed more heart than Brian did right now.
The director finished with him. The production assistant gave him his white uniform and Roxanne watched him trot to the locker room.
“How long do you think the shoot will take?” she asked the director.
“Depends on how many takes he needs.”
“What’s your bet? Less than five?” Roxanne dared the man to guess.
“Nah. That’s tough. Even for a pro. Though he does seem to be a cool one…nah. Why? You want to put some money on it?”
“Yeah.”
“How about twenty bucks says he goes over five takes?” The man looked confident.
“How about a thousand says he does it in less?” Roxanne enjoyed the look of surprise on the man’s face.
“You’re kidding, right?”
The production assistant had been listening and laughed. “I don’t think she’s kidding. I think she knows something you don’t. Watch out. Smells like a sucker’s bet to me.”
The director looked at her again, rubbing his chin. “That’s right. You’re supposed to be tight with this guy aren’t you? All bets off, honey. Nice try.”
She flashed him a smile and shrugged. They waited a while, fussing with placement and discussing each segment, blocking out possible moves, until the production assistant returned with the star.
After another quick briefing with the director, some manhandling by the production assistant and testing of the lights and camera angles, Brian perfected the shoot in three takes for each of three segments.
They wrapped it up and the crew began disassembling the makeshift set. Roxanne and Brian were walking away when the director gave Roxanne a smug smile. “You thought I’d fall for that sucker’s bet?”
Brian stopped in his tracks. “What the hell?”
Roxanne waved the man off and took Brian’s arm to lead him off the court toward the locker rooms. “A girl can’t have any fun,” she said over her shoulder to the director.
The man chortled. “I’ll bet you have plenty of fun,” the man said, and the entire crew laughed at that.
Brian tugged his arm from hers and looked down at her. “What the hell was that all about? I can’t afford any more rumors about you and me, real or otherwise.” They’d reached the locker room door and he stood looking down at her with a frown, sparks of anger in those blue eyes.
She felt exhilarated that she’d broken through his cool. “Don’t worry, Mr. Dennis. Your virtuous reputation is safe with me.” She turned to walk away and he caught her arm, stopping her.
“Where do you think you’re going? Is our business over? I was kind enough to put up with your presence in the first place. I was expecting Laura. I expect an explanation. I don’t know what you want from me, but …”
“Nothing. Damn it. Absolutely nothing. All right? So don’t worry your overinflated ego about it for another second. I didn’t come here chasing you.” She stopped and bit her lip, wishing her hurt didn’t show, but knowing it did. It felt too deep, too consuming to be covered by her flash of anger.
“Then what is it, Roxanne? Why the fuck are you here?” His voice was softer, but his look was not.
They still stood outside the locker room.
The hall was deserted. She looked around and caught a glimpse of the crew on the court.
She took a breath, willed her heartbeat to slow down, and then forced herself to meet his eyes.
“Lindy’s surgery has been moved up. You have to leave with me tonight. We’re flying out on the red-eye.” She raised her chin. “I was sent here to fetch you.” She noticed the flicker in his eyes at the mention of his daughter.
“I’ll come back with you. They thought you’d have to drag me back kicking and screaming?” His voice sounded gravelly and strained.
“Yes.” She continued to watch him as he looked around. Then he looked back down at her with piercing intensity.
“But you knew better, didn’t you?”
She looked away. He took her chin in his hand, not gently, and forced her to look back up at him. He had her. She didn’t speak. How could she? But he already knew.
“Didn’t you, Roxanne?”
“Yes.” She spat the word at him, and then pulled herself from his grasp. She kept her chin up and continued to stare him straight in the eye.
“Why did you come here then?” He didn’t give up.
“To make sure.” She knew it sounded lame.
“No. Tell me the real reason.” He taunted her with a soft voice and his intense eyes holding hers. He stood close, but didn’t touch her. She could smell his sweat, feel his heat and his tension.