California Dreaming: Four Contemporary Romances (114 page)

When Mandy woke the next morning, she luxuriated in the touch of James’s bare skin where he spooned against her. Her stirring must have woken him, because his arm tightened around her, and he nuzzled a kiss on her neck.

“Morning.” His deep voice echoed in her ear.

She flipped over. “Morning.”

As they looked into each other’s eyes, the memories of the previous night expanded into amazement at the love they’d shared.

He caressed her face. “I love you.”

“I love you, too.” Their lovemaking had opened her at many levels. James had been a tender lover to a point, but as their physical intensity had ratcheted up, so had his need to take charge and dominate.

She’d let him have his way last night.

But it was a different story this morning.

Pushing aside the covers, she let her mouth begin its exploration with his lips, his chin, the hollow in his throat, before moving down to flick her tongue on his nipples.

He groaned and tried to pull her back up.

“Not this time,” she said and continued her journey down his body.

A half hour later, they lay entwined and sated.

“What time is it?” she asked.

He twisted to glance at the clock. “Nine.”

“Damn! I have to meet Dana at ten!” She started to rise, but James wrapped his arm around her and drew her close.

“Not until I have one more kiss.” His kiss was gentle, but both of them twitched as desire re-awoke.

“We don’t have time,” she reminded him.

“That’s why it’s a good thing you’re moving to LA.” He released her. “Why don’t you shower and I’ll get some coffee going.”

Mandy took a quick shower, dressed, and threw her stuff back into her overnight bag. As she worked, her tension increased. What was she going to say to her father?

She brought her bag into the living room and walked to the kitchen area.

James held up a cup of coffee. “Relax. You’ll be fine.”

“I don’t know what to say.” She took the coffee from him.

“You’ll figure it out.” He put his cup down and crossed to her. Cupping her face, he gently kissed her. “Just take it one step at a time. You’re both feeling your way. If you don’t try to force anything, you’ll be fine.”

“I hope so.” She sipped her coffee, but the acid roiled her stomach, and she set it down.

“Shall we go?” James asked.

She nodded, a prisoner off to her self-made execution.

“Are you overreacting a bit?” James asked after they were on their way.

“What do you mean?” Her throat tightened. He was supposed to be on her side.

“You look like you’re off to your own death.”

“I am.”

“I see.”

She stared out the window at the changing neighborhoods. Maybe he was right. Memories of her mother’s drama-infused reactions flooded her mind. She may not have inherited Lola’s bipolar tendencies, but not all of her mother’s genetic traits had bypassed Mandy.

She definitely had the theatrical gene, though. She sighed. “I suppose you’re right.”

“Like I said, you’ll be fine.” He squeezed her hand.

A few minutes later he pulled into the coffee-shop parking lot. “I’ll be right here.” He held up his e-book reader. “I’ve got plenty to keep me busy. Call me when you’re done.”

“Okay.”

He leaned over and kissed her. “Go get ’em, champ.”

She laughed and walked to the coffee shop.

Dana looked the same as he had a few weeks earlier, except he had a calmer aura, like an animal more comfortable in its own environs.

They stood looking awkwardly at each other for a few seconds before Mandy stepped forward and gave her father a brief, if awkward hug.

“Hi,” she said, still unsure what to call him.

“Hi, Mandy. You can call me Dana if that makes it easier.”

She shook her head. “I’m going wait a little bit before I make that decision.”

He smiled. “Thank you.”

Her heart opened a little more to him.

“Shall we grab a table?” he asked.

She nodded, and he gestured to a table in the corner, overlooking the boulevard. As LA streets went, it was relatively empty. The waitress took their orders.

“Thanks for meeting me,” Dana said. “I know it’s hard for you. What brings you down here?”

Nothing like getting right to the important points. Although, the trait was probably what made Dana successful as a producer.

“I’m considering moving down here.”

“Oh?”

Like James, Dana had mastered the art of understatement.

May as well get it over with. “Sally—I know you know Sally.”

Her father nodded.

“Sally’s made me an offer to become a partner in her business. I’m considering it.” She took a deep breath. “And I met someone while I was working on the Davenport set who lives down here.”

Her father’s arched eyebrow stood in for his reply.

The waitress plunked hot cups of coffee and two donuts in front of them.

Mandy broke off a piece of the sweet cake and dunked it in her coffee. She looked up to see her father do the same and chuckled.

He looked up and shrugged. “Some things New Jersey does right,” he said. “Although all my California friends shudder whenever I do it.”

“Including Catherine?”

His smile was cautious. “Especially Catherine.”

“Do you love her?”

“With all my heart. She’s been the best partner and friend a man could want.”

Mandy considered her father. She’d finally accepted Lola hadn’t been the best wife for Dana, or for anyone. Was it wrong for him to seek happiness after the marriage broke up?

“I’d like you to meet her someday. And your sisters.”

“Half-sisters.”

He nodded. “Please don’t be bitter toward them. It’s not their fault I didn’t get to include you in my life.”

“I still think you could have tried harder.”

He studied his coffee for a few moments. “Perhaps. But I did the best I could for who I was at the time. It’s in the past and can’t be changed. Can we let it stay there and move on from here?”

Mandy’s answer would mean the difference between a possible relationship with her father and none at all.

No one was perfect.

“I think it’s worth a try.”

“Good.” He sipped his coffee. “Now what about that young man you’ve found in LA? At least, I assume it’s a young man.” He peered at her. “You’re not gay, are you? I mean, it’s not a problem. I just don’t want to assume anything.”

She shook her head. “No. Not gay.” She twisted her napkin in her hands. “It’s someone you know.”

Again the arched eyebrow was the only response.

“James Lubbock,” she blurted out.

“Ah.” He dunked another piece of donut. “At least it’s not an actor.” He raised the dripping donut piece in the air, his index finger pointing up. “I mean I have nothing against actors, either. They provide me a great deal of income.” He popped the piece into his mouth. “James is a good guy. I hired him as a location manager for my next film—hear he has ambitions to be a producer someday. We’ll see.” He wiped his hands with his napkin. “There’s one more thing we need to discuss, Mandy.”

He leaned forward. “Even though your mother wouldn’t let me see you, I paid child support every month.”

“You did? Lola never told me that.”

“I’m not surprised. I paid until your mother let it slip you’d moved out and were on your own in California. She wouldn’t tell me where you were, but I started looking and let people, like Sally, know I was doing so. I know you’re aware she’s the one who told me where you were, but don’t be too hard on her. She knew how desperate I was to find you.

“But that’s beside the point. Once I started making real money as a producer I set up trust funds for all my daughters, including you. Actually, I set up two for you. One you can access when you’re thirty-five, like my other daughters. The other became available when you turned twenty-five. It’s yours now to use how you see fit.” He patted her hand. “It will give you a good start in LA.”

She sat back, stunned by the news. Money wasn’t everything. It didn’t replace the time she’d lost with her father, but his forethought meant he’d cared the best way he knew how.

“Thanks.” She paused a second. “Dad.”

Tears of joy trickled from her eyes.

• • •

“Do you mind if we take a brief stop before the airport?” James asked after she’d returned to the car and they were on their way.

Mandy glanced at her watch. “I think we have plenty of time—but you’re the one who knows LA traffic.”

“Good.” James made a series of turns off the main boulevard that left Mandy lost.

“I hope I never have to find this place again,” she said.

He frowned. “I hope you change your mind.”

Where was he taking her?

He slowed down when they reached a block of modest homes painted in the cheerful pastels of Southern California.

Her bewilderment increased when he stopped in front of a robin’s-egg blue bungalow with—

“A white picket fence! What is this place?”

He grinned at her. “It’s a rental my parents own. The tenant just moved out. Want to see it?”

“I couldn’t afford to rent a whole house.”

He laughed. “The rent’s less than you think because it’s not close to any of the big malls or business districts. It also needs a little fixing up, but I know you have experience in that department.”

“What? Oh. Sarah’s Inn.”

He dangled a key in front of her. “Want to see it?”

Her eyes widened. “Oh, yes!”

The space was small, but efficient. In her mind’s eye, Mandy saw how she could, with a little effort and some of her father’s money, make it into a perfect retreat. It would be the first home she didn’t have to share with anyone.

She glanced at James.

At least for the near future.

“I love it,” she said. “It’s perfect.”

“I thought it might be.” He gathered her in his arms and pulled her close. “I love you, Mandy. I can’t wait until you’re home for good.”

She looked up at James. “Wherever you are, I’m home.”

His grin broadened as he leaned in to kiss her.

The following April

Mandy sat in the back row of chairs as she watched her friend Sarah walk down the flower-strewn aisle. Her azure-blue dress was a perfect complement to her dark complexion. Following her was her mother Elizabeth, another dark-haired beauty, tastefully clad in a chic white dress, probably from Italy.

Marcos beamed as he waited for his bride. His best man, John, stood next to him, looking like he’d rather be on a horse somewhere. Mandy glanced across the aisle at John’s wife, Annie. All of her attention was focused on her husband. Next to her, her son David stared off in the distance.

In front of them, Mandy noticed Sarah’s half-sister, Alicia, and her baby.

A string trio played Pachelbel’s “Canon” in a side corner of the inn’s garden.

“It would make a good scene at the end of a chick flick,” James whispered in her ear.

“Hush.” She looked around to see if anyone had heard.

Annie grinned at her.

Mandy gave James a mock glare.

He picked up her hand and kissed her fingers, paying special attention to the one ringed with a substantial diamond.

Mandy’s heart warmed with memories of his proposal their last night in Maui. He’d suggested a walk on a starlit beach after dinner. When they reached a promontory with a view to a shadowy island in the distance, a lone ukulele player began a haunting native melody.

James had gotten on one knee and proposed.

Tears in her eyes, and joy in her heart, she’d accepted.

The man certainly knew how to organize a production. He’d pulled in favors from people he knew in Santa Cruz to help make Elizabeth’s day perfect. From the setup to the string trio, James had worked with Elizabeth to get her what she needed.

Mandy glanced toward the catering RV parked in the lot and grinned. James had even convinced Sally to cater the affair so Mandy could enjoy herself.

Sarah read a piece she’d composed about her mother and Marcos, reminding everyone of their meeting in Italy and the world wide courtship that followed, making reference to Elizabeth’s reluctance to get married. As she spoke, Mandy noticed something glint on Sarah’s left hand. When had that happened?

Marcos and Elizabeth exchanged vows and returned down the petal-strewn aisle as attendees scattered birdseed in their wake.

When Mandy finally reached Sarah in the receiving line, she said with a grin, “Let me see your left hand, girlfriend.”

Sarah blushed and held out her hand. A small but elegantly set emerald glistened in the sun. “Hunter gave it to me this morning. He said Elizabeth’s friends should know her daughter is cared for.”

“Well done,” James said and reached out his hand.

Hunter balanced baby Hannah in one arm as he shook James’s hand. “Thanks. It’s taken me a while to convince her. She’s like her mother that way.”

Mandy chuckled. “Marcos’s family didn’t make the trip?”

Sarah shook her head. “We’re headed there on Wednesday. His family is having a big to-do, getting the local priest to bless the union. They had to jump through all kinds of hoops to make that happen since Marcos is divorced. Then my mom and Marcos are going on their honeymoon.” She looked up at Hunter and smiled. “Hunter and I will explore Italy for a week before we come home.”

“What about Hannah?”

“She’ll come with us. Italy is baby-friendly.” Sarah grinned.

James and Mandy walked over to the tables where Sally had set up
hors d’oeuvres
. A bartender poured them each a glass of wine.

“Do you need any help?” Mandy asked her partner.

Sally shook her head. “This is easy stuff. No actors, no Hollywood divas.” She glanced over at Elizabeth. “No bridezillas either. Your friend is a very nice woman. How was your trip to New Jersey?”

Mandy wrinkled her nose. “Lola hasn’t changed, but she seems to have found a man to put up with her mood swings. The car dealer came back around and seems to be sticking.” She shrugged. “I seem to be handling her better, too. Like Dr. Graham taught me—my stuff is mine. And Lola Parker’s stuff
definitely
belongs to her.”