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The story was more than any reporter could resist.
A knife-wielding stalker with the delusional belief that she was married to the famous actor Dayne Matthews. The accusation that the same crazy woman had jumped from the dark shadows of Paradise Cove in an attempted murder of an associate of Dayne’s. The rescue of that associate by Dayne, the photos that showed him and an unknown woman kissing near the beach earlier that night, and the fact that no one had ever been able to identify her.
Never mind that it was just a deposition. A crew of news vans and photographers surrounded the entrance to the Los Angeles Superior Court this January morning, hoping for a glimpse of the star they couldn’t get enough of. Desperate for details beyond what they already knew.
Dayne Matthews sat in the backseat of the rented black Suburban. His attorney, Joe Morris, was driving. They were the only people in the vehicle, and from their position at a stoplight in front of the courthouse, they could see everything. Newscasters
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and print guys and tabloid photogs scurrying about the scene, searching for the best angle, the fewest shadows, plugging in wires and adjusting lenses as they waited for him to appear.
“They’re out in full force.” Joe turned the SUV into the parking lot.
“They love a good story.” Today’s newspaper lay on the seat beside Dayne, and he picked it up. His publicist had spoken with the media and put quite a spin on the facts. The article read: Dayne. Matthews and his unnamed associate will appear in court this morning to give depositions in the case against stalker Margie Madden.
Dayne chuckled to himself. Katy was coming into court half an hour after him, and she was hardly a mere associate-though that’s what the media and the police had believed about Katy since the beginning. An “associate” helping him scout out a location for an upcoming film. Since Katy was an unknown and since they didn’t need to release her name until the trial, no one had to know that she was an actress or that she’d turned down the lead role in Dream On or that she lived in Bloomington, Indiana. The tabloids had a picture of him kissing an unknown woman earlier that evening on the beach, and he had explained that she was an actress who preferred to stay anonymous. The media had never put the two stories together.
“Let’s go.” His attorney exhaled hard as he put the vehicle in park. “It’ll take a while to get through the throng.”
Dayne unbuckled his seat belt and slid toward the door of the Suburban. The explanation he’d given to the press and the police had holes big enough to drive a train through, but none of it was a lie, not really. Katy was his associate, in the sense that she’d associated with him in a work setting for a time. And the police didn’t care about the tabloid photos of him kissing some woman on the beach. He wasn’t on trial after all.
Margie Madden was.
The explanation bought them time. That way Katy could stay 3
out of the limelight as long as possible. By the time the press heard actual testimony and realized her name, and that she’d been thinking about the role in Dream On, the movie would already be released and Katy would be only a small aspect of the story.
Dayne and Joe walked close together, their pace fast and clipped. Joe had flown out from New York City to be here, even though his presence wasn’t really necessary. The prosecuting attorney would handle the deposition, and normally witnesses needed no other representation. But Dayne’s situation was different.
His public persona was at stake any time he did or said anything involving the law. His attorney even planned to have someone out here from the New York office at Dayne’s side every moment during the trial.
They were a hundred feet from the courthouse when the swarm of media caught wind of Dayne’s arrival. In a rush they pivoted and aimed their cameras. A few nicely dressed newscasters stepped in front of the others, large booming microphones in their hands. The bigger the network, the more likely they were to use his last name.
“Mr. Matthews.” A heavily made-up blonde stepped into his path. “Is it true you want the judge in this case to make an example of Margie Madden, and is it true-?”
“No comment.” Joe took hold of Dayne’s elbow and straight-armed a path through the crowd. “Excuse us.”
“Dayne.” It was a photographer shouting from a few layers back in the crowd.
“Tell us about the associate. Where is she? Isn’t she supposed to be-?”
“She’s already here.” Joe’s answer was loud enough for most of them to hear. It was part of the plan, that he would discourage the press from sticking around and waiting for Katy.
The photographer raised his hand and shouted again, “Does she still work with Dayne and in what capacity, since we don’t have a name on her and-“
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“No comment.” Joe kept up his pace. He pulled Dayne along, leaving no room for responses. Dayne sort of liked the help. Maybe if he had Joe around more often, the paparazzi would leave him alone. Ee stifled a grin at the thought.
The crowd parted easily, and Dayne did his best to look straight ahead, his expression serious. The press would have their requisite plxotos and footage-Dayne Matthews, Hollywood star, coming to court to give testimony on the crazy stalker who tried to kill Ms associate. None of them really expected more than that.
Other than passing glances and whispered comments, Dayne and Joe weren’t approached again as they entered the building and took the elevator to the eighth floor. Dayne stopped for a minute and looked out the window across the hazy Los Angeles scene. Somewhere out there Katy Hart was back in his city, making her way to the courthouse. Her visit was all he’d been able to think about since Christmas.
“This way.” Joe took the lead and headed toward a room at the end of the hall.
They were met by a sharp-looking woman who appeared to be in her midfifties. She introduced herself as the prosecuting attorney. “We have a xoom set up for you.”
She gave them a businesslike smile. “Follow me.”
The attorney explained the proceedings as they walked down another hallway, but Dayne did little more than give an occasional nod in her direction. Joe would handle the details. All he had to do was tell the story while the prosecutor tape-recorded it. For now he could let his mind wander, let himself think about Katy..*
He hadn’t heard from her since opening night of Annie, but she was there when he woke up and when he lay down to sleep. The past few months had been the loneliest of his life. Not that he hadn’t had offers. He was in the middle of filming a romantic suspense film opposite Angie Carr, a dark-haired beauty with 5
exotic looks and a penchant for her leading men. They’d met at several functions but never starred in a film together until now.
On the first day of filming she had poked her head out of her trailer and called to him. “Dayne, come here.” Her eyes danced, and her smile held the pout she was famous for. “I have a question.”
He was in the middle of three things, including a conversation with his agent.
But she was his priority as long as they were still establishing chemistry for the film. He jogged to her trailer, stepped inside, and closed the door behind him.
She stood facing him, dressed in nothing but a transparent negligee. “Hi.” She took a step closer. “I need your opinion.” Another step. “Will this work for the bedroom scene, the one at the beginning of the film?”
He swallowed and put his hand on the trailer door. “I thought the script called for a nightgown.”
She pushed out her lips in a pout most men would have found irresistible. She played with a lock of her hair, dropping her chin and looking beyond seductive.
“You don’t like it?”
“Yeah, well…” He let loose a single chuckle and rubbed the back of his neck.
“The film’s PG-13, so I’m thinking something less see-through.”
She grinned. “Oh, well.” One more step and now she ran her finger down the length of his arm. “It works for right now, anyway.” She nodded toward the set crew outside. “They’ll be busy for an hour before they need us.” Her face was so close he could smell the mint on her breath. She dropped her voice to a whisper.
“Do you know how long I’ve wanted to practice a love scene with you, Dayne Matthews?”
He gritted his teeth. “Angie, listen …” She was stunning, but so what? Did she want him to take her right here on the trailer floor? And if he did, then what?
They’d pretend to be hot lovers for a few weeks, and after that he’d be lonelier than ever. Some
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thing else too. The peace he’d found in Bloomington wouldn’t last if he went back to his old ways.
With gentle hands, he framed her face and drew her close. Then he kissed her forehead. “The film calls for a few kisses-that’s all.” He searched her eyes.
“We’ll have time to practice later, okay?”
She could’ve gotten angry, but she didn’t. Instead she took a few steps back, making sure he had a view of her full frame. “I’ll look forward to it.” She tossed him a confident smile as if to say she wasn’t giving up that easily.
“Dinner tonight?”
Since then, Angie’s attempts had been relentless, just short of desperate, but he’d managed to keep his distance and still build chemistry with her. Working with her had its benefits. She was a professional, brilliant on the screen and fun off it. But she made him.feel empty and plastic, the way all of Hollywood made him feel lately.
He was glad for a day off now, and never mind that he’d spend most of it here in a Los Angeles courthouse. He would’ve looked forward to a day in jail if it meant seeing Katy Hart again.
The attorneys were still talking as they reached a door at the end of the hallway. Dayne glanced at his watch, then toward the elevator. Katy would be here in fifteen minutes.
“This is perfect.” Joe opened the door and led the way into a small room. He looked at Dayne. “You ready?”
“Perfectly.” Dayne felt a sudden rush of passion toward the job ahead. The stalker had cost him much. This was his chance to get back at her.
The prosecutor followed them inside. “The deposition doesn’t start for twenty minutes.” She checked the clock on the wall. “I’ll grab coffee and be back by then.”
“I’ll come.” Joe set his portfolio on the desk and nodded at Dayne. “Want anything?”
“I’m fine.”
The attorneys left, and Dayne took one of the seats. In the 7
silence he could almost hear his heart beat. Would Katy still have feelings for him? Would the electricity, the emotions that had existed between them still be there after they’d been apart so long? He tapped his fingers on the table. The minutes couldn’t drop off the clock fast enough.
He should’ve brought his Bible, the one Katy had given him. That would’ve passed the time. He had been reading it lately, taking in a little more of the message every night. Not that he was ready to hit the nearest church or claim himself born again, the way some of his athlete friends had done recently. But the God of the Bible was the same God claimed by his parents, the Baxters, and Katy Hart. Because of that, He was the same God on Dayne’s mind more often now.
He was about to step outside and check for Katy when he heard a knock. The attorneys would’ve come in without waiting, so maybe it was …
He stood and opened the door, and before he could take another breath he was looking into her eyes. The same clear blue eyes he’d connected with from the balcony of the Bloomington Community Theater back in November.
“Hi.” Katy was breathless. She looked over her shoulder, nervous. “I’ve never seen so many cameras.”
“They didn’t know it was you, did they?”
“No.” She exhaled, finding her composure. “I slipped past.”
He let her in, closed the door, and suddenly they were alone, face-to-face as if no time at all had passed between them. “Katy-” he reached out and took her hands-“you look wonderful.”
The faintest blush tinged her cheeks, and she shifted her gaze to the floor.
When her eyes found his again, he had the answer he was looking for. The connection was still there. It was in her eyes and in her expression and in the way she ran her thumbs along the tops of his hands. “I didn’t think we’d have any time alone.”
“We won’t have much.”
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Her smile told him everything she was feeling. But at the same time it cried of resignation. Because here they were again, their emotions leading the way, and yet their time would be measured and counted by the events around them, by the parameters of his world.
“How are you, Dayne?” Katy didn’t blink, didn’t seem to want to lose a moment of whatever minutes they had together.
“I’m good.” He grinned, wanting desperately to keep things light. How was it fair that this visit would end up amounting to little more than another sad goodbye? “What are you working on?”
“Robin Hood.” She stifled a laugh. “It’s coming together.”
“The kids?” He wanted to know, wanted to soak himself in everything about her.
“Are they okay?”
“They are. The older kids are still in the Bible study, the one they started after Sarah Jo Stryker’s accident.” She made a funny face. “Of course, we should probably spend an extra day a week on practice the way things are going.”
“Blocking, you mean?”
“No.” She laughed. “Trying to stay onstage. I’d be happy with that.” Katy talked with her hands when she was excited. Now she released his hands and began illustrating her story. “So there’s this scene where Robin’s supposed to fly in from the wings on a rope, right?”
“To rescue Maid Marian?”
“Exactly.” She took a quick breath. “Marian’s standing on a fake tree stump, her hands tied, and he’s supposed to swing in, land beside her, and save the day.”
Dayne chuckled. He could see what was coming.
“Instead-” Katy demonstrated the swinging motion-“he sails in from the wings and knocks her square on the floor.”
“Oh.” Dayne made a face. “Was she hurt?”
“Her pride, yes. Her onstage chemistry with Robin, yes.” Katy 9
gave him a teasing look. “We decided we’d better just have him run in from now on.”
“Sounds good.” Dayne saw so much more than her physical beauty. Her enthusiasm and spirit, her joy and excitement for the little things of life. All of it was like getting air after being too long underwater.