Friends With Way Too Many Benefits (29 page)

"I'm so glad I caught you."

"Yes." Jillian just stared at her, her expression unreadable.

"Um, I, we haven't run into each other yet on the set and I just wanted to say hi."

"Oh, okay."

"You know, Paul said he spoke to you and you were okay with, you know, everything."

"Uh-huh," Jillian replied half-heartedly.

"I was hoping we could talk at—"

"Talk?" Jillian scoffed.

"Yeah, I just, um—"

"Natalie, look I've had a rough day and this really isn't a great time. In fact, I'm not sure there ever will be a good time."

"Oh, I—"

"But hey…" Jillian smiled and patted her a little too hard on the shoulder. "…I hear you're doing an amazing job. Keep it up." Turning on her heels, she scurried toward her car.

Jillian was sitting on a chaise lounge chair near the pool sipping the last of her green tea when Brian walked outside. "Sorry I'm late traffic was a nightmare."

"I made you some tea, but it might be cold."

Leaning down to her, they shared a kiss before he plopped down on the chair, sighed and picked up his mug. He took a sip and cringed. "You like this?"

"No, but it's supposed to be good for you."

He took another sip then placed his cup down on the table between them and shuddered.

She let out a brief chuckle and shook her head, smiling.

He looked over to her. "What is it?"

"I, uh, met your girlfriend today."

"What?" he asked confused then it hit him. "Oh, you mean Amanda."

"Yep, she's quite a character."

"Really. So, what's she like?"

"She's… nice I guess as long as you don’t look her in the eye, touch anything she touches and don't steal one of her special peach napkins."

"What?" He chuckled.

"Oh, wait, that's right… you
can
look directly at her. I'm getting a little confused with all the rules— they keep changing."

"I'm sure it's not that bad. These actors live coddled lives and have people doing everything for them. You know, they just get a little… quirky."

"Quirky?"

"Yeah."

"Well, she pretty much told me I'm either a child molester or mentally ill."

"You're kidding right?"

"I'm not. She was asking me questions about the script and her character and how the character in the story must have been abused as a child or… I don't know. I don't want to talk about it."

"Okay, sure."

She closed her eyes and slipped a little lower in the chair. "I'm just tired."

Rising to his feet, he stepped behind her chair and put his hands on her shoulders giving them a tender rub. "You need to relax."

"That feels good."

He slid his hands to her neck and worked the muscles hard.

"Yeah, I do need to relax," she repeated in a soft voice.

Adjusting his angle, he studied her cleavage. "Your tits look amazing in that shirt."

"Thanks," she said softly, melting with his touch. He moved lower, sliding his hands down her chest and into her bra, carefully massaging her breasts.

She moaned softly. "I could really use a full body."

"I could call the club and see if Andre can squeeze you in tonight."

"No silly, you're the only masseuse for me."

He chuckled and worked on the muscles in her neck once again.

"Oh..." Suddenly she opened her eyes. "I saw your other girlfriend too."

"Huh?"

"Natalie stopped me outside."

"Really, what'd she want?" He returned to his chair and sat with his feet on the patio facing her.

"She said she wanted to talk, but I was in no mood so I took off. I suppose I couldn't go the whole time without seeing her."

"You see? You survived." Giving her a sympathetic smile, he placed his hand on her knee.

She nodded.

"Hey, I've got some work to do— payroll stuff, but how about we go to bed a little early and I'll give you that rub?"

"Sounds amazing." She smiled. "I have some writing to do anyway. How about like ten o'clock?"

"It's a date."

Just before 9:00 p.m. at the Grayson-Nash home there was a knock at the door. After saving her document, Jillian headed to the foyer and opened the door. Her jaw dropped open when she spotted Natalie standing on the front porch holding a bottle of wine and wearing a hesitant smile.

"Really?" Jillian muttered.

"Please, I'd just like a few minutes of your time."

"Who is it?" Brian asked, reaching the foyer then spotting Natalie in the doorway. "Oh, wow..."

"Brian," Natalie said. "How have you been?"

"Fine."

"Why are you here?" Jillian gave her a tired look.

"Can I come in?" She held up the bottle of wine. "I brought you this. It was the best bottle I could find."

"I hate Chardonnay," Jillian grumbled.

"Sorry, I didn't know."

"Natalie, I really don't think this is a good idea." Brian took a step forward.

"Look, I tried to talk to you today, but..."

"Let her in. I think I'd like to hear what she has to say. In fact, it might be the highlight of my day."

"Thank you."

The three walked into the great room. Jillian and Brian sat down together on the loveseat and Natalie plopped down in a chair.

"Um, do you think I could get something to drink?" Natalie smiled nervously. "Maybe a double shot of vodka."

Brian chuckled. "What would you really like?"

"Um, vodka." Natalie replied.

"Okay." After sharing a look with Jillian, Brian rose up from the chair and headed toward the kitchen.

"If it's okay, I'll wait until he gets back," Natalie said.

"All right." Folding her arms, Jillian sat back and glared at her unwelcome guest.

Brian returned with a bottle of vodka and two shot glasses. He handed a glass to Natalie, sat down next to Jillian, placed the bottle on the table and tipped back his shot.

Natalie downed hers and shivered making a sour face. "I should have had this a little earlier."

Brian poured himself a second shot and motioned with the bottle to Natalie. She shook him off and he pounded his second one and blew air out through his teeth, shaking his head. "Wow… Okay."

Jillian narrowed her eyes at him curiously. "If you’re both done with your drinking competition could we get on with it?"

"Sure. Um, so I just wanted to say that I'm sorry for everything. I've done some things in my past that I regret. Things I can't undo, but I'd like to try to make up for them somehow if I can."

Jillian held her head high. "You mean like ruining our wedding and suing me and oh, yeah, trying to sleep with my husband?"

"Yeah, that pretty much covers it." Natalie shrugged.

"I have to say your apology is not accepted," Jillian grumbled, turning to her husband. "Is it Brian?"

"Huh? What?" Upon discovering his wife's expression he sat up straighter. "No, um, absolutely not."

"I know coming here with a lousy bottle of wine and saying a few words could never make up for all of that, but I just wanted to say that I'm sorry. I was stupid and immature and I wasn't really thinking things through. I mean, I never would have come to the wedding if I hadn't been invited. Your agent sent me the plane tickets and everything."

"Yeah," Jillian sighed, giving her just a little sympathy. "I know."

"In fact, he was the reason for the lawsuit as well... he sent me the book."

"Yes, I know about that too," Jillian groaned.

Natalie smiled weakly. "Now, throwing myself at Brian in the courthouse, I don't have any explanation for that other than he's just so adorable... I mean, who could resist?"

"She has a point." Brian grinned shyly. Jillian glanced over to him, scoffed and punched him in the thigh.

"Ouch."

When Brian's eyes met Jillian's he shrugged. "Sorry." He picked up the bottle and tilted it to his glass.

"What are you doing?" Jillian grumbled.

"Having another drink."

"I think you've had enough... Mr. Adorable."

"Okay." Sheepishly, he placed the bottle down.

Turning her attention to Natalie, Jillian sat on the edge of the sofa. "We've all done things we regret. This I understand, but I want to ask you something and I want you to be completely honest with me. Can you do that?"

"Yes." Natalie replied hesitantly fighting back a cringe.

"Did you know that Paul was directing this movie before you started seeing him?"

"I, uh..." Natalie looked down to the carpet. "You see, I—"

"Yes or no?" Jillian grumbled.

"Yes." She blew out a slow breath. "I knew he was directing your movie."

"I knew it." Nodding her head, Jillian sat back wearing a smug look.

"I wanted to break into acting," Natalie pleaded. "...and I couldn't even get a decent audition."

"Uh-huh."

"And this body double that you replaced, you setup her big break didn’t you? It wasn't just some coincidence."

Natalie sighed curling her lip.

"Didn't you?"

"Yes." She nodded her head and raised her hands up apologetically. "But—"

Jillian poked Brian in the shoulder. "I told you that too."

He nodded his head toward her then reached for the vodka bottle. Thinking better of it, he pulled his hand back.

"No, go ahead. You have a drink." Returning her attention to the woman on trial, Jillian smiled. "And Paul doesn't know any of it, does he?"

"He doesn't. I sorta tried to tell him, but I, um... I guess I, uh... I'm just looking for the right time."

"Uh-huh." Rising up from her seat, Jillian took a few steps toward the door and looked out over the pool. "Now how exactly did you orchestrate Lindsey getting thrown off the movie? That one I can't figure out." She returned her attention to Natalie. "We're all just puppets in your little game aren’t we?"

"No. No, I, um... that was just dumb luck. I really had nothing to do with that. I think she would have been replaced even if I wasn't involved."

"I guess..." Jillian rubbed her chin and shrugged. "... she was awful and she really is a bitch."

"Yeah, Chance didn’t like her at all," Natalie replied.

Returning to her seat, Jillian smiled and placed her hand on Brian's thigh. "You know you are right, he is adorable."

"Thanks."

Tapping her finger to her lips, Jillian looked to the ceiling. "So, what do we do now?"

Natalie sat up straight. "If you really want me to leave the movie I will."

"Oh, that won't be necessary."

"Really?"

"Yes, I think you’re doing a great job and everyone seems to agree."

"Okay..." Natalie gave her a hesitant look.

"But I do ask that you do a couple things."

"Sure."

"Don't try to sleep with him anymore." Jillian motioned with her thumb to Brian.

"I won't."

"And I want you to tell Paul the truth."

"I plan to and—"

"Tonight!" Jillian looked at her pointedly.

"Tonight?"

"Yes, you tell him all of it. If you don't, I will tomorrow morning."

Natalie sighed. "I'm falling in love with him."

"Well, if that's true, telling him the truth now can only help your chances. He's bound to find out one way or another."

"Okay, yes. I will tell him tonight."

"Good." Jillian smiled.

Rising up from her seat, Natalie rubbed her hands together nervously. "I'm really glad we did this."

"Me too."

"Again, I'm sorry for everything."

The married couple rose up and the three stood together in silence for a few awkward moments.

"Thank you for seeing me."

"Sure." Brian headed for the foyer with the women following behind.

After Natalie walked out the door, he locked it and turned his attention to his wife. He discovered Jillian wearing a sexy grin and sizing him up from head to toe.

He asked hesitantly, "What?"

"Nothing."

"How do you think that will go? Her telling him, I mean."

"I don't know." She shrugged. "I really don't care."

He studied her expression, cautiously. "Am I... am I in trouble for some reason?"