Game of Love (20 page)

Gemma watched the sun as it danced with the ocean. Nearly sunset. The shadows grew long and the air turned cool. One by one, the friends left. The next day was a work day. When they hugged Andre, they held on, as if unsure of the next time they’d see each other again. It seemed this circle of friends had always been, and would continue to be, each other’s support structure.

“When will we see you next?” Dan asked Andre.

“Soon. The worst is almost over.”

Gemma wondered what he was talking about.

“What’s going on?” Dina asked. “How can we help?”

“Don’t worry. It’s all under control.”

Dina frowned then extended her arms to Gemma who leaned down to embrace her. “Thank you for trusting us,” Dina said. She whispered into Gemma’s ear. “He’ll move mountains for us, but won’t ever let us help him.”

“I didn’t realize he was so stubborn,” Gemma whispered back.

“Like a mule.”

“Hey, what are you two whispering about?” Andre asked.

“You,” Dina said.

Gemma’s eyes opened wide. “You’re honest to a fault.”

“That’s the only way this group operates,” Dina said. “Always the truth.”

They drove with the top down, the cool air soothing.

“Slowly,” Gemma said then glanced at him. “Drive slowly.”

Andre reduced speed, the car practically gliding through Pacific Coast Highway.

She placed her hand on top of his. He glanced at her.

She mouthed,
Thank you.

“Maybe you can have a normal life after all.”

For the first time, she had tasted the possibility. “Today was lovely.”

“Nearly perfect,” he said.

“Nearly?”

“It had to end.”

She reach out and caressed his hair. “Then don’t let it end. Take me somewhere you’d want me to see.”

They drove past Santa Monica into Malibu, farther north than her home. Some time later, he pulled a U-turn and parked on PCH on the ocean side.

“Leo Carillo,” he said. “Have you been here before?”

“Never.”

He grabbed a blanket he had from the beach, took her hand, and led their way to the sand. “To the lifeguard shack,” he said.

“Are we allowed to do that?” she asked.

“Yes, absolutely. So long as nobody catches us.”

They climbed the ramp and leaned against the rail in front of the vacant lifeguard’s viewing tower. He draped the blanket across their shoulders.

Gemma hooked her arm through his and squeezed tight into him. She laid her head on his shoulder, certain the warmth of his body would stop her from shivering.

“During the day,” he said, “if the skies are clear, you can see Point Dume from here. At night, it’s just serene. The ocean is lit by the moon and the stars. Unfortunately we already missed the sunset.”

“It’s so beautiful here,” she said, but the cold was a bit too much. Her teeth rattled for a few moments. The minutes drifted while they listened to the crashing waves.

“It was near that cave,” he pointed to some boulders in the distance. “I was visiting from MIT. Dan drove me out here to catch up. We were hanging out when Dan told me he and Dina were dating. I told him I was happy for them and even told him I had been over her for years.”

“You lied to him.”

He nodded. “I had to. I wanted him to be happy and chase his heart.”

“Then this place doesn’t hold fond memories for you.”

“I’m about to change that,” he said.

His lips met hers. His mouth thawed her trembling lips when his warm tongue found hers. She grasped his face as she tasted his mouth forcefully, and backed him against the rails. She stepped into him, sliding her leg between his, pressing tighter. His hands slid into the back pockets of her shorts. She needed air, she needed him.

What are you doing? You’re in a public place.

Between kisses she said, “Wait.”

His lips latched on to hers again, but she took a small step back. His eyes opened. “What’s wrong?” he asked.

“Not here. What if–?”

“What are you doing up there?” A booming voice startled both of them, and a flashlight beamed in their faces.

Andre spun around, keeping her behind him. “Good evening, officer,” Andre said. Gemma put out a hand to stop the blinding light, but also to hide her face from the officer.

“What the–?” the officer said.

She was done for now; he had recognized her.

“Is that you, Dr. Reyes?”

Gemma’s eyes widened.
What the hell?

“Yes?” he said cautiously.

“Oh, sorry,” the officer said as he dropped the light and lit up his face instead.

“Sheriff Bonelli. How are you?”

Andre walked down the ramp and shook hands.

“I’m fine,” the sheriff said. “Didn’t mean to startle you. The park is closed, so when I saw a parked car near the entrance, I came to investigate.”

“We didn’t realize the park was closed,” Andre said. “We’ll leave.”

The sheriff waved his hand. “You don’t have to. It’s a beautiful night. Just mind the path in the dark.” They shook hands again, then the sheriff tipped his hat to Gemma as he left.

Andre started to climb up when Gemma met him halfway. “Can you take me home?”

“Sure. Did the cop freak you out?”

“A little. I’m worried. I don’t want to be found here.”

“Right. Pictures and newspapers.”

“I’m sorry,” she said.

“Don’t be. I get it. I want you to feel comfortable, not scared or worried.”

As they strolled the path back to the car, she squeezed into him. “How did you know the officer?”

“I’ve done plenty of work for the various police agencies here. I am connected, my dear.”

“CIA, FBI, police… who are you?”

“To protect the innocent, it’s best we leave some secrets unearthed.”

Once inside the car, he blasted the heater, but it didn’t seem to warm her fast enough.

“Bugger! It’s freezing!” she yelled. “Look at my legs. I have gooseflesh all over.”

He laid his hand on her knee. “I can help with that,” he said then slid his hand along her inner thigh.

She gasped and slammed her hand on his. “You better not do that,” she whispered.

“Do what?” He squeezed.

“That!” She closed her eyes. “Take me home before something bad happens to you.” She wrapped her hand around his.

“I was only trying to help,” he said as he pulled the car out of the parking spot.

“I bet you were,” she said. Her body rumbled. She wanted more of him. All of him. “What am I doing with you?” she asked through a flirtatious smile.

“Anything you want.”

She gave him a sly look and nodded. “I’ll keep that in mind.”

They fell silent for a few minutes.

“Come over tomorrow,” he said as they neared her home. “Breakfast, lunch, dinner, anything. I’ll prepare us a meal.”

“You cook?”

“I make a killer
paella
–my grandfather’s recipe. What do you say?”

“I’d like that. But to be clear, were you inviting me to breakfast, lunch,
and
dinner? Or were you giving me an option?

“You can have it all.”

The crowds were long gone by the time they pulled up to her private gate. Security opened the doors, but before they were fully open, she stepped out of his car.

“Let me drive you in,” Andre said.

She jogged around to his side and leaned on his door. “What you did for me today I will never forget. I am indebted to you. Go home. We’ll talk tomorrow.”

He put his hand on hers. “Tomorrow.”

Her eyes faltered. “I’ll call you,” she said, then quickly ran up her driveway as the gates closed. If she hadn’t run, if she had hesitated, she would’ve dragged him out of his car and into her room. What was wrong with her? With him, her self-control was anything but. She wasn’t ready to make the same mistake she had with Georg and Johnny. Even with Johnny it had taken weeks to open up. She had to be smart this time.

As he drove back home, Andre pulled his phone from his glove compartment and studied the missed calls and messages. Practically one per hour. The convertible’s top rose as he listened to his voicemails. Ten from his assistant and the last two from Roger.

“
Roger here. We need to talk. You have to be in D.C. Wednesday morning. That means you have to leave tomorrow. I’m looking at the 9:00 a.m. flight. I need to hear from you so we can book the trip. Call me.
”

The last one concerned him.

“I don’t know what’s going on, Andre. This is odd behavior. You don’t answer my calls, you don’t return my calls. I can’t help but wonder if something else is on your mind. Please call me.”

Andre wanted to see her again. He didn’t want to leave. He would push the trip out by a day. He’d call the client directly and work something out.

His phone chimed. A text message from Gemma.

“You can call me with surprises. This is my mobile. Sleep well.”

After she sent the text, Gemma sank into her bed, thinking of Andre and what he had in mind for the next day. She knew she wanted to be with him, but they were moving too fast, too soon. What would be the appropriate time to wait, she wondered. A day? Two?

Her mobile rang.
Andre?
She grabbed it and studied the display.
Tish? At this hour?

“Isn’t it early in London?” Gemma said.

“She’s alive! Bloody hell, Gemma. We’ve been trying to find you all day. Where have you been?”

“I’ve been about,” she said, disturbed at how quickly the day’s freedom disappeared with just one call. With one question, her dream day was replaced by her other life. She felt stuck between two worlds. “What now?”

“You need to get back to London ASAP. We dropped the ball fantastically. Your agency arranged for your appearance with Johnny for the UK premiere of
Triton Warriors
. It’s on Wednesday night. You need to come back.”

“No! No fuckin’ way. The agency screwed up. Let them find some other imbecile who’ll smile for the cameras. I’m in LA and can’t leave.”

“G, be reasonable. You’ve never broken a commitment. They can’t just send anyone. Johnny’s expecting you. This was the plan, remember? You both agreed you would keep up appearances of friendship and not let the media create alternate interpretations of what happened.”