Course of Action

"Sylvia Goodman is here too."

"Here? Do you mean in town, or here at the hotel?" Annelie groaned inwardly.

"She's at the hotel and she has convention tickets. I think she was hoping to steal the show."

Annelie smiled. In a mess like this what else could one do? "Well, she was just outplayed. We all were."

***

Taking a deep breath to calm down, Annelie knocked on the door to the Presidential Suite. After a moment's silence she heard rapid steps from inside. As Carolyn opened the door, the actress's smile was in place.

"Annelie! So you've arrived. Please come in." Gesturing for Annelie to enter, Carolyn looked every bit the gracious hostess.

In the suite I booked. Annelie was fuming. "I see you've made yourself comfortable," she murmured between gritted teeth. "How did you persuade them to let you into the Presidential Suite?" She walked inside, placing her briefcase on the floor to stake her own claim.

"I merely assumed it was a mistake on your part to not invite me to the convention." Carolyn's eyes grew wide in mock disbelief. "When I told them who I was, and that I was your personal guest, they scrambled to accommodate me."

"I bet. Nothing like a little name-dropping, right?"

Looking around, Annelie was impressed with the accommodations. The Presidential Suite was luxurious. Complimentary fruit, chocolate, and champagne were displayed in the living room, and everything they could possibly need was either there or just a phone call away. She looked through the open doors leading into large bedrooms, each with a king-size bed.

"I'm sorry for any misunderstanding, but you're not my personal guest, so you'll just have to get another room."

"And we both know there are no vacancies at the hotel. I have nowhere to go."

Setting the stakes, are we, Carolyn? "There are other hotels nearby."

"They're full too. Not even a motel room in sight, I'm afraid." Carolyn probably knew better than to sound triumphant. Instead she had the good taste to pretend to be regretful.

Annelie moved past the other woman, their shoulders brushing, and walked over to the panoramic window. She could smell Carolyn's musk-and-sandalwood perfume, so familiar by now. Refusing to let her body react, she stood by the window for a moment, faking an interest in the view over Orlando while she gathered herself.

Eventually she pivoted, pressing her lips to a fine line. "The reservation is in my name." She was surprised at the ice in her voice. "I could have you thrown out."

"You wouldn't do that." Carolyn's smoky, velvety voice wrapped around Annelie. "You wouldn't humiliate me like that."

Damn you. "You placed all your bets on my benevolence. I resent being taken advantage of." The constriction in Annelie's throat made it hard to speak. "This is a clever plan. No doubt Parker masterminded it."

"He did what you should've done. He informed me of the convention, and we agreed I should be here. The fans want me here."

"The fans are here to meet some of the stars and try to find out who'll play Maddox. Not necessarily you."

"That's bull." Carolyn's face darkened. "You weren't here when I arrived yesterday. The way the fans received me in the lobby says it all. They see me as Maddox. No one else, and certainly not a silicone-enhanced starlet."

Wanting to groan out loud at the manipulative woman in front of her, Annelie clenched her fists. "You're forcing my hand and I don't like it."

"I have to! You're making a mistake if you think anyone else can portray Maddox the way I can. You're blinded by the talk of money, investments, marketing…You have to listen to your heart, and then you'll know what the right course of action is."

Carolyn's voice lost its animated tone. Her eyes turned bluer than Annelie had ever seen them as the actress seemed to speak from the heart. "You know the stories about Maddox better than most. You discovered Delia Carlton and published her books. Don't let any Hollywood moguls run over you. Trust your instincts." Carolyn paused, raising a hand as if to touch Annelie, but lowered it again. "Then, if you still can see someone like Goodman in the role…I guess there's nothing I can do about that."

She's reading my mind. Annelie studied the expression on Carolyn's beautiful face for a few more seconds. Was she acting? Was that impassioned plea just part of her diva routine?

"You've left us with little choice but to put you onstage tomorrow," she said stiffly. "People in the hotel think you're the main event."

"Yes. They do. And you hate me for it." Sorrow was hidden in the other woman's stubborn voice.

Wincing, Annelie shook her head. "I don't hate you." How could I? Annelie pulled herself together, keeping her voice matter of fact. "We have to share the suite. Which one is free?"

"Excuse me? Oh, you mean which bedroom? I'm in the one to the far right."

Annelie chose a room to the left, placing her briefcase on the bed inside. She dialed the front desk and asked for someone to bring her luggage up. As she glanced over her shoulder, she studied Carolyn through the open door. The actress looked a little weary, she thought, as she walked back out into the living room. Standing just behind Carolyn, she watched as street lights began to light up, drawing dotted lines in the distance. Suddenly Carolyn's conniving actions seemed temporarily unimportant.

"What's wrong?" Annelie kept her voice low, as if speaking softly would make the question less intrusive.

"I'm fine…I…" The other woman seemed at a loss for words. "An angel walking over my grave, that's all. Suddenly I'm nervous as hell."

There was a brief silence after the rare admission.

"You're betting the role of a lifetime, as well as your immediate future, on one card. Seeing all these fans downstairs, rooting for you, made you think this would work out."

Carolyn pivoted quickly, almost losing her balance. Annelie automatically reached out and steadied her, putting both hands on the actress's shoulders. Her palms tingled instantly, making her shudder.

"You're right." Carolyn sounded surprised. "That's exactly it. How did you know? And why are you being nice when you're so mad at me?"

Annelie lowered her hands, letting them slide down Carolyn's bare arms before clasping them behind her back. Why did I do that? Like a caress, for heaven's sake!

"I'm trying very hard to distinguish between our professional relationship and…" She swallowed hard, not wanting to show just how conflicted she was. "…and a potential friendship. You're skating on thin ice. I don't like being manipulated, especially by someone I've begun to actually…"

Annelie stopped short of admitting just how much she'd started to like Carolyn. Right now, she thought she could detect the vulnerable private person behind the diva persona, but…How can I be sure? She could be acting her little calculating heart out right now. Still, there's that haunted expression in her eyes. Can a person fake that?

"As I said before, we have to put you onstage since we can't disappoint the fans," Annelie continued, smiling faintly. Feeling tired, she was suddenly desperate to lighten the mood. She was still upset, and she knew it shone through as she lifted a hand in a dismissive gesture. "There'll be a question-and-answer session tonight."

"I'll be there. What will be expected of me? I mean, by the fans."

Refraining from a curt reply to hide the tremor in her voice, Annelie pulled herself together. "Just go out there and be the star. Let's be honest, Carolyn—you do that so well."

***

It was quite the entrance. Carefully orchestrated and with finesse, Sylvia Goodman sashayed into the hotel restaurant, her long blond hair in perfect ruffled waves. Glancing around the room, she let her publicist speak to the head waiter.

"Never mind. I see her!" Sylvia suddenly exclaimed, homing in on Annelie sitting alone at a table in the corner. "Ms. Peterson! How delightful to meet you."

A tad on the theatrical side. "Ms. Goodman, it's great to finally meet you too." Annelie extended a hand and was not surprised that Sylvia's grip was loose and quick. "What a surprise to find you here at the Maddox convention. I understand you've bought tickets to all events."

"I sure have." The breathless voice, normally high pitched, was toned down to a level Annelie guessed was supposed to be sultry.

No doubt the voice coach had been listening to Carolyn on the audiobooks. The result was as if the young actress did some sort of strange impersonation. Surely she doesn't think it sounds sexy? Realizing she was not being fair, Annelie tried to gauge the eager starlet from an objective standpoint.

Sylvia Goodman's body had clearly been sculpted by Hollywood's, or perhaps Fifth Avenue's, best plastic surgeons. Her breasts were not too big, but just right for her slender frame. Her bottom was high and firm, with no excess weight in sight. The tight-fitting jacket and skirt, over a blouse with a plunging neckline, left very little to Annelie's imagination. Creamy white skin glimmered, and she wore Obsession, a perfume that would soon give Annelie a headache.

"Please sit down. I've ordered already." Because you're twenty minutes late.

Sylvia ordered a salad and water, only pushing the food around when it arrived. Instead the actress focused all her attention on Annelie. Speaking about Diana Maddox's character, she sounded knowledgeable, obviously well read on the subject.

"I believe the actress who'll portray Maddox needs to do extensive research as a criminal investigator. I've got a friend in Seattle who dates a police officer. He put me in contact with their investigation unit, and I spent two days with them. All the guys there were so attentive and helpful."

Somehow Annelie found it hard to concentrate. Wondering briefly how much Sylvia could have picked up being admired by male cops, she tried to picture her as Maddox. With the right makeup, the younger woman could perhaps look the part, but the voice was all wrong. Too bright, too breathless, and not at all like the dark, velvet huskiness Annelie associated with the tough character in Delia's books. She sounds nothing like Carolyn. She may be younger, perhaps even more beautiful, in a smooth, wrinkle-free kind of way. But she's not right. Leaning back in her chair, Annelie let Sylvia continue with her interpretation of the role.

"I think Maddox should be sexier than she was in the audiobooks. No critique on your judgment when choosing actors, but Maddox is a tough woman in a man's world. She needs to play on her femininity more."

Was Sylvia suggesting Maddox should flaunt herself among her male colleagues? Oh, God. One of the things that had attracted Annelie to Delia's novels was the self-assurance of Maddox, her what-you-see-is-what-you-get attitude, which fell apart when her attraction to Erica Becker became apparent. She was not a tease, and Maddox surely didn't flaunt herself to anybody.

"When is a good time for me to read for the role?" Sylvia came right out and asked.

Taken aback by the actress's straightforward display of confidence, Annelie thought quickly. Even if she couldn't see this woman as Maddox, she might be wrong. Perhaps Sylvia Goodman possessed the skill to create a Maddox completely different from Carolyn's take, but just as good. And every suit involved in the project wanted her.

"Why not Tuesday? Can you be in Miami then?"

"Sure. For this role, I can be anywhere." A broad smile showed even, white caps, rendering Sylvia's a camera-perfect smile.

"Hello, Annelie."

The unexpected sound of Maddox's—no, Carolyn's voice, of course—made Annelie sit up ramrod straight.

"Carolyn. Hello." Momentarily stumped, she looked from one actress to the other. "Sylvia, this is Carolyn Black. Carolyn, meet Sylvia Goodman, a colleague of yours."

Carolyn's demeanor didn't change. Looking at the younger woman, she smiled politely and extended a hand. "Welcome to Orlando and the Maddox convention. How nice of you to drop in, Ms. Goodman."

Sylvia's eyes widened. "Thank you, Ms. Black. Please, call me Sylvia. I'm too young to be uptight about titles."

"Then call me Carolyn, Sylvia."

Annelie could have sworn there were icicles hanging from Carolyn's words.

"I'm a huge fan," Sylvia gushed, pointing at a chair. "Won't you join us?"

"I'm sorry, I don't have time. I have errands to run before I participate in tonight's major event."

"Yes, I heard you were speaking. What a great way to say goodbye to the audience." Sylvia's smile became razor sharp. "Your career has been so inspirational and a wonderful motivator for me. It's great that you can still find challenging parts at this late stage in your professional life."

Holding her breath, Annelie darted a look at Carolyn, stunned to watch her eyes turn slate gray. "Yes, it's a welcome development when the moguls in Hollywood and Broadway realize that an actress with talent, no matter her age, is worth much more than a young starlet who slept her way to her position."

Wanting to hide her face in her palms and groan out loud, Annelie refrained from both, watching the two women stare at each other. On the surface they maintained their composure, but the undercurrent was wild and unbending. Wondering if the rest of the lunch guests were going to witness an honest-to-God catfight for free, Annelie sighed with relief when Carolyn suddenly laughed and shook her head.

"Well, I'm off to find as stunning a dress as I can possibly scare up at the last minute." She placed a soft hand on Annelie's shoulder, its warmth permeating the thin shirt and making Annelie jump. "I'll see you later in the suite, then."

"Yes, see you later."

Flustered, Annelie saw Sylvia's jaw drop. Wanting to throttle Carolyn, but at the same time forced to admire how her roommate had handled the situation, she speared another shrimp from her salad. "You were saying about the screen test, Sylvia?" Frowning at the menacing look in the actress's eyes as they followed the disappearing competitor for the role, Annelie tried again. "Sylvia? The screen test?"

Turning her attention back to Annelie, Sylvia altered her expression completely. All smiles and charm, she gushed in her breathless voice, "That's right. I know I can convince you…"

Annelie's mind drowned out Sylvia's words with Carolyn's voice. Low and with a definite purr, along with the soft touch, it made it impossible for her to think of anything else.

***

"Ladies and gentlemen, I'd like to introduce the woman who made all this happen. Delia Carlton wrote the books"—Gregory was interrupted by the roar echoing through the large auditorium when the audience acknowledged the mention of the author's name—"but had this lady not seen the genius, the potential, in Ms. Carlton's manuscript, who knows? So put your hands together as the owner of Key Line Publishing joins us to introduce the next guest. Here she is—Annelie Peterson!"

Annelie felt a rush of awkwardness as she walked onto the stage. The large audience rose in their seats, and she was met by thundering applause, whistles, and cheers. The noise went on for half a minute before she raised her hands to calm the crowd.

"Thank you, thank you very much. Please take a seat. Thank you." She paused as people sat down. "Wow, that's some welcome—and I haven't really done anything apart from printing the books." Loud cheers erupted again, and Annelie smiled, shaking her head. "Thank you again. Now, I have two treats for you. First, I have a message for you from someone who has chosen not to be a public figure."

Annelie glanced to the left, searching for Carolyn among the faces in the wing. She could not spot her but knew she was out there, probably pacing back and forth, focusing hard and looking pale, like she had been doing only a minute ago. She came here on her own volition, forcing her participation on all of us. Why should I worry whether she's pale and nervous? Pulling out a piece of paper, Annelie read a short message from the author of the Maddox books, making the audience go wild again.

"We are taping parts of this convention, and I'll be sure to send a copy to Delia. Am I wrong in assuming you're having a great time?" The audience applauded and cheered again as Annelie pulled the microphone from its stand. "Have all of you listened to the Maddox audiobooks?" The crowd went wild as the majority yelled yes. "Then you know who the star of these books is. You've already met the lovely Helen St. Cyr, and now it's time to introduce…"

Annelie glanced to her left, seeing Gregory give a thumbs-up.

"…the lady who gave Diana Maddox her first voice. Please welcome Carolyn Black!"

The response from the audience was deafening as Carolyn stepped onstage. Walking toward Annelie, the actress surprised her by wrapping her in an embrace and kissing her on both cheeks before taking over the microphone. What was that about? Annelie raised a hand as if to touch her cheek but quickly turned it into a wave while walking hastily out of sight of the audience. Was that for show? Or for me?

"Thank you, everyone." The trademark throaty voice rose over the whistles and cheers. "I'm so glad to be here among you. Thank you!"

Annelie was relieved to be back in the wings again. Standing as close as possible without being seen, she watched Carolyn in action as the applause slowly dissipated. The audience seemed ecstatic, cheering loudly as Carolyn posed. Red highlights sparkled in her auburn hair, and her pale complexion, emphasized by skillfully applied makeup, made her look beautiful and fragile at the same time.

Photo flashes hammered the actress as she stood center stage. Waving at the audience, she raised the microphone to her lips again. "Can we make a deal, my friends? How about I walk slowly along the stage and give you the opportunity to take pictures; then you won't have to do it while we talk. The flashes blind me, and I want to be able to see you lovely people."

Annelie watched Carolyn slowly parade along the stage, smiling at the people who rushed forward with their cameras. After a few minutes, the actress held up her hands, and the audience obediently retook their seats. Amazed at Carolyn's control over the crowd, Annelie decided to just sit back and see how the performance would unfold.

"We all love Diana Maddox, don't we?" Carolyn began. "Let me tell you how I came to portray her in the audiobooks. Would you like to hear that story?"

A loud yes resounded throughout the auditorium.

"I had read the first Maddox book. You know it takes place in New York, at the School of Performing Arts. Of course that setting captivated me. Key Line Publishing approached me about a year later to do a theater version, really, of the books. I was intrigued. You younger people may not know this, but in the old days, first on the radio, and later on television, actors gave live performances—entire plays. Key Line's concept was similar. They had already signed Helen, Harvey, and a few other actors, and, for some unfathomable reason, they saw me as a good candidate for Maddox."

The audience cheered, making Carolyn smile and give an exaggerated shrug. "I was of course eager to get such a high-profile part—I mean, who could resist playing a savvy, headstrong criminal investigator?" Laughter broke out, and some people applauded. "I see you agree with me," Carolyn continued.

"So I accepted, and it was the most fun I've had in years. Harvey is, of course, a delight to work with—when he's not driving the rest of us crazy with his pranks. It was an honor to work with Helen St. Cyr, whom I admire so much. The kids in the story were handpicked, just like the rest of us. All in all, doing the audiobooks was one of the best things I've ever done."

Carolyn waited until the applause had died down. "Now, I see a long line of people in the aisle who need to know things. Please, fire away."

Annelie smiled cynically as she watched Carolyn make the large auditorium feel like an intimate little club, with the entire audience listening intently to every word she uttered. Her voice wrapped around them, captivating them completely. What a snake charmer she is, Annelie thought. If they only knew the real Carolyn Black.

"Oh, hello, Ms. Black. It's so wonderful—"

"Hello, darling, and forgive me for interrupting you." Carolyn beamed. "I just want to say, right off the bat, we're all on a first-name basis here. I'm Carolyn. What's your name and where are you from?"

"I'm Ally, from Los Angeles, and I'm thrilled—"

"Hello, Ally. You've traveled a long way to be here. What's your question?"

"I've just adored you ever since you played in The Passing of Time. You were so beautiful. I couldn't wait to see you every day. But I'm dying to know if you regret being in that show, when you're so famous and all now?"

Carolyn walked to the edge of the stage, glancing down at the doting older woman. "Of course not. I wouldn't be where I am today if I hadn't played Devon Harper. Working on a soap is tough, and it's a good way to learn your trade. The fans like yourself who liked me as Devon have been kind enough to remain loyal through the years. Does that answer your question, Ally?"

"Yes, thank you so much. And I've got to tell you, I just love your voice. I've got all three of the audiobooks and—"

"Thank you. That's so sweet of you."

A tall man stepped up to the microphone in the aisle, nervously cleared his throat, and introduced himself as Mike from Minneapolis. Annelie, watching his Adam's apple bob, estimated him to be about thirty and rather full of himself.

"First of all, I am one of your biggest fans. I have seen every one of your movies and, also, I have seen you onstage in Boston."

"Really? That's wonderful, Mike."

"I would be curious to know if you are going to play Maddox in the movies as well. Personally, I have a huge problem picturing anyone else as Maddox."

Carolyn gave a broad smile. "From your mouth to—well, we'll see what happens. The decision is not mine to make, Mike."

Annelie smirked, knowing full well that Carolyn realized she was listening.

The endless line of people wanting to talk to Carolyn questioned her about both her personal and private life. Annelie watched Carolyn bewitch everyone, even the ones who tried to overstep the boundaries of the strictly personal. Obviously in her true element, the actress managed to extricate herself slickly from questions she didn't want to answer, without ever appearing evasive.

Finally, a teenager dressed in an elaborate black leather jumpsuit adorned with zippers, chains, and rivets stepped up to the microphone.

"How's it going, Carolyn? I'm Cassandra, from New York. See what you think about this question."

Carolyn walked closer and gazed down at the youngster. "Go ahead, darling. Just let me say your outfit is stunning."

The girl gave a surprised smile. "Thanks, Carolyn. If you were peanut butter, which kind would you be? Crunchy or smooth?"

Annelie quickly covered her mouth to keep from chuckling out loud and wondered what went through Carolyn's head. As if she had read Annelie's mind, the actress glanced in her direction. "Funny you should ask," Carolyn answered, her voice a low purr. "There's no contest. I'd be…smooth." The way she said it, her head tilted to the side, one hand on her hip, seemed to shake Cassandra's bravado.

When the girl recovered, she grinned like a Cheshire cat. "I need to ask one more question—for my friend Paula over there. She's too shy to—"

"Come on, Paula. I won't bite, and I'm dying to meet you." Carolyn put her hand up to block the light from the rig above her. The

audience laughed as an obviously mortified teenager dressed similarly to Cassandra slouched up to the microphone, giving her friend a murderous glare.

"Don't be shy—we're all friends here," Carolyn smiled. "Fire away!"

"Hi…eh…well…driving here we were talking…uh…and we wondered…uh…if you and Helen St. Cyr really…you know…kissed. You know. In the audiobooks."

Complete silence fell. Annelie wondered how many people had wanted to ask that particular question but hadn't had the nerve. Falling into old habits, she slid her thumb into her mouth, about to bite her nail when Jem swatted her.

Carolyn gave a charming smile. "No, Helen and I didn't really kiss. We did just like they did in the old days. We mimicked it by making the appropriate sounds."

"If you're gonna…uh…play Diana Maddox in the movies, you know…er…you're gonna have to kiss, you know, whoever plays…eh… Erica Becker, though," Paula reasoned, making the audience cheer.

Carolyn didn't miss a beat. "Should I get the role, I'm sure I'll enjoy making it as authentic as I can…in every way."

Annelie released a small gasp. Of all the calculated comments Carolyn had made during her presentation, this one was aimed squarely at her. Was Carolyn simply letting her know she could be completely comfortable as a straight actress, playing a lesbian? Or was she saying something much more personal? Annelie could not imagine Carolyn hinting at a casting-couch opportunity, yet the woman had made it very clear she would do her damnedest to get the role. Uneasily, Annelie forced her concentration back to the proceedings.

The next question fell to a stylish woman in an austere business suit, wearing her dark hair in a bun. She introduced herself as Penelope from Atlanta.

"Welcome to Orlando and the convention, Penelope. How do you like it so far?"

"It's superb, better than I ever could have dreamed. My question for you ties rather neatly into the previous one."

"Go ahead." Carolyn tilted her head, as if listening intently.

Annelie watched the actress, increasingly amazed that she had been onstage, answering questions and entertaining the crowd with anecdotes, for over an hour without any sign of fatigue. In fact, she seemed energized by the whole experience. The woman was a real professional, she admitted grudgingly.

"Carolyn, did you know that a huge number of us in the lesbian community love and admire you, not just as an actress but as a person? And how do you feel about that?"

"Honestly, I just became aware of my popularity among different groups when my agent told me how many Web sites are dedicated to Diana Maddox, and also to me personally. I was stunned, and very flattered, since I assume a lot of time and energy goes into maintaining a Web site.

"How I feel about it? Honored to be the object of anyone's admiration and appreciation, no matter who they are."

Annelie smirked. The politically correct answer was smart, much smarter probably than Sylvia Goodman could have ever come up with. If the distributors could only see Carolyn in action they might open their hard-shell minds.

"May I become personal and say that I think you're wonderful, and your voice is such an incredible turn-on," Penelope said.

Carolyn gave her photo-ready smile and then laughed. "Thank you for the compliment."

The following questions were less personal, and soon Gregory concluded the session, promising that the stars would shortly sign autographs.

Carolyn waved to the audience and looked both touched and delighted when the standing ovations seemed never to end. Finally she walked offstage and into the wings where Annelie waited.

"Congratulations," she greeted her. "That was an amazing performance, Carolyn." You were so in your true element. You thrive on their admiration and you loved every second of it.

"I'm glad you think so." The actress beamed. "I had a great time out there."

I bet you did. You continued to cement your status as the perfect candidate for Maddox.

"I could tell. I found the question-and-answer session very informative."

"I bet you did." Carolyn's eyes twinkled as she tilted her head.

"You know, your voice turns me on," she echoed the words of the woman in the audience.

Annelie gave a faint smile, determined not to let Carolyn get the last word in this friendly banter. "And your legs do it for me," she returned the favor, watching Carolyn's eyes widen.

Walking toward Jem, who was gesturing for them to hurry up, Annelie had a feeling the comments might come back to haunt them.

"People are lining up for the autographs," Jem said, shaking her head. "I hope you're prepared for it, Carolyn. The line is a mile long already."

Carolyn cast a look of seasoned resignation at Annelie. "Don't worry," she told Jem. "It's nothing I haven't handled a hundred times before."

***

Carolyn looked around the dinner table, pleased they were all seated in a private area of the restaurant on the top floor. Most of all she was pleased that Sylvia Goodman, who had invited herself to the gathering, sat at the far end of the table. Carolyn was sitting between Annelie and Jem, and everyone was buzzing about what a success the convention had been. Helen St. Cyr was giving her impression of the audience and the response she had received while signing autographs.

"They were mostly women," the Canadian actress mused, "and they were so sweet to me. Some of them had brought presents, and I think I have at least fifteen little teddy bears and fifty cards. There even was a woman who had knitted me a blue sweater."

Carolyn smiled, knowing she had received just as many gifts and feeling amazed at the audience's generosity. "I think all the continents were represented. Three women even came from South Africa. Diana Maddox must appeal to all types of people, because I signed autographs for both men and women of all ages."

Helen concurred. "Honestly, I haven't experienced anything like this in my life." She shook her head. "What do you think, Carolyn? Is your ego as massaged as mine?"

"You bet." Carolyn nodded. "Any more of this, and I'll be impossible to deal with."

"And that differs from now…how?" Helen grinned.

"All a matter of degree, my dear." Laughter erupted around the table when Carolyn put on her best diva look before wrinkling her nose at her colleague. Sitting among these people, she felt more at ease than she had in a long time. Her performance was a success, and she had experienced such a rush when the audience yielded to her. It had been magical, the way they absorbed every word and constantly wanted to know more.

Carolyn reached for her glass, enjoying the soft, fruity taste of Le Volte 1999. Gregory had made numerous toasts during the evening, and she felt warm and relaxed after sipping her wine each time.

As if reading her mind Jem suddenly stood up, raising her glass. "We've toasted everyone but the person who's responsible for this tremendous success. I say we raise our glasses in a toast to Annelie! This whole endeavor would have been impossible without you."

"To Annelie," they all echoed and sipped their drinks.

"Or should I say Annie?" Carolyn smiled slowly at the blonde next to her.

"Hmm, I prefer Annelie, thank you, Lyn."

Carolyn laughed. "Touché."

The laughter and companionship around the table continued for another hour before Harvey and his wife rose to say good night. Suddenly, Annelie grabbed a digital camera and sprang from her chair.

"Please let me get some group shots as a memory of the first Maddox convention," she said. "I want one of the audiobook cast first, and then one of all of you…"

Soon, Carolyn was laughing out loud as Annelie arranged and rearranged different constellations of people, totally confusing everybody. Harvey didn't help by doing rabbit ears behind whoever stood next to him. When she glanced to her left, Carolyn's grin became even broader as she spotted Sylvia Goodman struggling to look as if she were amused by everybody's antics. Carolyn could tell Sylvia was equal parts fuming and exasperated.

When Annelie was finally ready to sit down, Kitty pointed out the publisher had not been in any of the pictures. The absolute dismay on Annelie's face made Carolyn laugh again, and Annelie gave her a mock glare, which turned into a broad smile.

After the impromptu photo session, Harvey and his wife retired, followed by Kitty and Sam. Annelie excused herself and went back to the Presidential Suite, explaining that she had to go over the numbers once more and send a few e-mails. One by one, the rest of them parted and went to their rooms.

Chapter Seven

Carolyn walked into her bedroom and undressed, still on an emotional high after the performance. It would be a while before she could settle, and she contemplated taking a swim in the hotel's outdoor pool. Of course, the idea was completely impractical unless she wanted to be surrounded by eager fans while she attempted her laps.

Resigned to the next-best thing, she strolled into the luxurious bathroom and ran the water in the shower until it was as hot as she could tolerate. She could feel the adrenaline slowly leaving her body as she stood beneath the spray. She was always jittery after a performance, especially a premiere. And tonight's had been one of the most important she had ever given.

If Annelie Peterson needed any proof that Carolyn was a hot ticket, she had it now. The publisher had been oddly silent when Carolyn returned to the room. No doubt she was trying to play it cool. Carolyn's coup must have been an embarrassment on some level. Carolyn took some satisfaction knowing Annelie had to act as if it was all her idea or look foolish.

Smirking a little, Carolyn dried herself off with a thick towel and pulled on the complimentary bathrobe. After drying her hair and brushing her teeth, she stared at her bed without enthusiasm. It seemed pointless even to try to go to sleep; her body was still tingling and her mind reeling. With a sigh, Carolyn headed for the living room.

Annelie was just putting her computer away and looked up in polite welcome. "Planning to stay up?"

"Thought I'd watch some TV. It usually puts me to sleep."

Annelie checked her watch. "Would you like some company for a little while?"

Carolyn studied Annelie, noticing how different she looked in casual clothes. Dressed in gray slacks and a white, long-sleeved T-shirt, she wore no makeup, her hair framing her face and waving around her shoulders. "You're beautiful," she blurted.

Annelie's eyes darkened. "Thank you." Her tone was cautious. "So are you."

"You think so?"

"Of course, and everyone in the audience agrees with me."

Carolyn sat down on the couch, noticing how it virtually embraced her. Pulling a pillow closer, she invited, "Join me?"

Annelie stood frozen for a moment and then sat down next to her. "What is it you want?"

Carolyn let her eyes roam Annelie's face, traveling from her full lips, as the other woman repeated the question, to the huge blue eyes that examined her with a guarded expression. Unable to resist, Carolyn raised a hand and cupped Annelie's chin. "I'm not sure," she tried to explain. "I just know I find you so beautiful, inside and out. I've never met anyone like you."

Softly sliding her fingertip along the amor arch of Annelie's upper lip, she discovered a faint tremor. Annelie was not indifferent to her.

***

Annelie felt the soft touch against her lips, and it started a fire inside her she was unprepared for. Carolyn was sitting too close, looking breathtakingly beautiful with her damp hair loose around her shoulders. The robe revealed slightly freckled skin just below her neck, and the left sleeve fell back along her arm as she cupped Annelie's chin. Just like in the photo.

"So you don't know what you want, and yet you touch me this way," Annelie breathed, fighting to stay in control. This was quickly leading toward disaster. "You're playing with fire, Carolyn."

"Am I? How?" the actress whispered.

Unable to reply, Annelie turned her head and pressed her lips against Carolyn's palm. A soft intake of breath escaped the other woman as Annelie placed her own hand over Carolyn's, urging the soft palm closer to her lips before placing a trail of kisses on the sensitive skin inside the actress's arm.

Carolyn leaned in closer, hooking her arm around Annelie's neck. "Annie," she whispered. "I'm trembling."

Feelings rampaged. Alarm bells echoed madly inside her head. Everything she knew and had learned told Annelie to stop.

Carolyn was looking at her with stormy gray eyes, her lips slightly parted. "I'm all wrong, I know," she continued in a low, throaty voice. "Still…" She leaned in farther, closing the distance between their lips until she was little more than a breath away.

Annelie knew she ought to pull back, but she simply couldn't resist. Closing her eyes, she wrapped an arm around Carolyn's waist. "You want me to kiss you?" she said huskily, her voice barely audible.

Not waiting for a reply, she leaned down and pressed her lips against Carolyn's. Afterwards she knew she might have been able to kiss her and then pull back, if only Carolyn had not moaned softly and whimpered Annelie's name into her mouth.

"Annie…"

Parting her lips, Carolyn wordlessly invited Annelie to explore further.

Annelie resisted for a fraction of a second before plunging her tongue into the warm darkness, finding its counterpart and caressing it over and over. Carolyn whimpered again, returning the kiss feverishly. Her soft, yielding body trembled in Annelie's arms, and Annelie felt like she was drowning in the sweetness. Her hands roamed Carolyn's back, tugging at the robe as if they had a mind of their own.

Soon the actress's shoulders were naked and accessible to her mouth. Annelie wasted little time, letting her lips and tongue explore the warm skin. Carolyn cupped Annelie's head and held her as if afraid to let her go.

Annelie finally sat up, gazing at the disheveled woman beneath her on the couch. Somehow the robe had opened fully, and she could not stop looking.

"Bedroom?" Carolyn managed, her voice husky and filled with desire. "Bedroom, please, Annie?"

Unable to stop the madness, Annelie pulled Carolyn to her feet. "Come." She guided the other woman to her room.

At the foot of the bed, Annelie pushed the robe off Carolyn completely. Standing there naked, she looked young, vulnerable, and almost frightened. Annelie took her into her arms and kissed her again, suddenly wanting nothing other than to reassure her. "Carolyn, open your mouth…let me in…" she whispered against the wine-colored lips beneath hers.

***

Carolyn's head was spinning. Trustingly she opened her mouth, allowing Annelie to deepen the kiss. She felt the bed at the back of her legs and gave in to the urge to lie down and just let everything happen.

Annelie helped her get comfortable and then stood gazing down at her reclining form for a moment. Suddenly aware of the age difference, of the unmistakable signs of her forty-five years, Carolyn blushed.

"You're exquisite," Annelie murmured.

"Please undress," Carolyn said, her voice trembling.

With hesitant hands, Annelie unbuttoned her slacks and let them fall to the floor. She pulled the T-shirt over her head and stood dressed in a whisper-thin satin tank top and skimpy panties that left very little to the imagination. Keeping her underwear on, she joined Carolyn on the bed.

"Don't be scared," she said, placing small kisses on Carolyn's forehead, along her nose, down to her lips.

"I'm not. Just feeling clumsy and, I guess…a little shy."

"We can stop."

Carolyn's heart almost quit beating. She was more turned on than she had been in a very long time, if ever. Now her heart was racing, and the moisture pooling between her legs was going to make it embarrassingly clear to Annelie just how much she wanted her.

"No, please…Annelie…" Carolyn reached out and was rewarded when Annelie parted her legs, settling between them.

"Hold on to me," she suggested. "There, that's it." Leaning down, Annelie unceremoniously took a rigid nipple in her mouth, sucking it in between her teeth. She flicked her tongue over it repeatedly, making Carolyn moan aloud and arch her back. "So this is what you like, what you want," she murmured around the pebbled surface before letting it go.

"Yes…" Carolyn's voice betrayed her when Annelie pushed herself closer between her legs.

"Oh, Carolyn, you're so ready for me…so ready to be touched," Annelie whispered, sneaking a hand between her thighs. "Like this?"

She pushed her fingers along swollen, drenched folds. "Oh, yes, just like this." Rubbing Carolyn's aching clitoris, she began to rock against her.

Feeling tender fingers enter her, Carolyn knew it would not take long before she was completely lost to sensation. She pulled her knees up and circled Annelie's hips. Wrapping her arms around that beautiful neck, she cried out softly as their lips met in a profound kiss.

"Oh…oh, God, Annie…oh…"

***

The sound of that famous voice giving in to passion, the feeling of Carolyn surrendering in her arms, made Annelie hold her breath as heat surged through her. The way Carolyn clung to her, calling her Annie in a longing tone of voice, almost broke her heart.

"Now, now…" Carolyn whimpered, and her inner muscles began to contract, pulling Annelie's fingers deeper inside.

"I've got you. I've got you, Carolyn," Annelie whispered as one long shudder after another gripped the woman she held. Rocking against the convulsing woman, Annelie felt the fire between her own legs erupt and spread to her stomach and down her thighs. "Carolyn…" She hid her face in the other woman's hair, knowing her own orgasm was close. "Carolyn!"

Still holding on tight to Annelie, the actress whispered huskily in her ear. "Oh, you're amazing. You take my breath away. Never before…" Carolyn's voice faded. "Don't let go."

Annelie shivered and rolled over on her side, pulling Carolyn with her. Sensing the deep need and pent-up desire in the other woman, she knew it was going to be a long, passionate night.

***

Dawn was breaking, but the woman standing on the large balcony dressed in only a robe did not care about the spectacular sunrise. Tears streamed down her cheeks, and her shoulders shook as she cried soundlessly.

Annelie had made love to Carolyn all night, taking her from one height to another, making her sob from a pleasure so intense it seemed to border on pain. Annelie had never fully undressed, nor had she allowed Carolyn to touch her intimately. It was impossible for her to let her guard down.

Carolyn had hugged her close and kissed her deeply—wonderful, passionate kisses that left Annelie feeling robbed of all the oxygen she needed to think clearly. She would have given anything to be able to just let go—to allow herself to give in to Carolyn and let the other woman reciprocate every erotic caress.

"Annelie? You okay, darl?" a familiar voice to her left said, making Annelie jump.

"Kitty! Oh, God, you startled me." Annelie blinked away her tears as she walked over to the balcony adjoining hers. "What are you doing up so early?"

"Still on Aussie time, I guess. What's your excuse?"

"I…eh, I'm thinking of what to do next, really." She fiddled with the belt to her bathrobe.

"Something's happened, hasn't it?" Her friend sounded concerned.

"Yes, Kitty, something happened," Annelie whispered. "I've done the most stupid thing. I'm such an idiot."

"Tell me about it," the other woman said in a gentle voice. "It can't be that bad."

Swallowing hard, Annelie wiped her wet cheeks. "It's worse, actually."

"You're beginning to scare me, babe. Tell me what's up."

Annelie had to clear her throat again. Looking at her friend with eyes burning from tears still unshed, she couldn't be anything but honest. "I made love to Carolyn."

Kitty paled. "Oh, shit."

Annelie gave a bittersweet laugh at the other woman's choice of words, so in character. "Yes, I agree."

"What are you going to do?"

"What I have to. Will you help me?"

Kitty extended a hand, barely able to reach Annelie over the distance between the balconies. "Of course. You just tell me what you need, babe."

***

Carolyn slowly opened her eyes, squinting at the bright sunlight flooding the room. Rolling onto her back, she felt aching muscles she didn't even know existed. She reached over, letting her hand slide across the other side of the bed. The fact that it was empty rattled her, and, sitting up, she realized two things—she was naked, and she was still in Annelie's room.

Looking around for Annelie, she was about to call out her name when she saw an envelope lying on the bedside table. Puzzled, she noticed her name written on the front, and her heart fluttered as she reached for it.

Carolyn's fingers trembled when she opened the envelope. The card within contained only a few handwritten words.

Congratulations, Carolyn.

The role is yours.

Annelie

Chapter Eight

Carolyn picked up the robe from the floor and walked back toward her own room, noticing Annelie's computer bag was missing. Thinking her suitemate had gone to a meeting with Gregory or Jem, Carolyn went to her bathroom and ran the shower until the room filled with steam.

Her body ached from the previous night, and memories of endless passionate kisses and soft hands roaming her body made Carolyn shiver inside as she stood there nude, pacified for a moment by the sound of the rushing water.

Feeling unsettled, she replayed the night she'd spent in Annelie's arms, being thoroughly taken, pushed over the edge repeatedly. She stepped into the shower, welcoming the hot, streaming water. She regretted washing Annelie's fragrance from her body, which surprised her. She had never before wished to savor a lover's scent upon her skin.

She had never experienced such abandoned pleasure, and realizing that this earth-shattering lovemaking had occurred with someone of her own gender made her head spin.

Annelie, beautiful and vibrant behind her cool exterior, had shown Carolyn a side of herself the actress had never known. Not until this stunning woman entered her life, her mind…My heart? God. Does this mean I'm a lesbian? What if I am? What will that mean? What will people think?

Carolyn thought of the emptiness she felt when she woke up alone, and she rubbed her eyes, trying to force the feeling from her mind. Annelie had taken her thoroughly, several times, and Carolyn blushed when she remembered how she had whimpered and begged for release. When Carolyn had reached for Annelie's full breasts, which were barely covered by the thin fabric of the tank top, Annelie had pulled her hands away, distracting Carolyn by kissing every inch of her. Annelie had pressed her heated sex against Carolyn's throbbing center several times, but always with fabric between them, never skin to skin.

Carolyn had felt Annelie come at least twice, though never from her direct touch. The realization left her feeling unsettled, a dark tone reverberating through her whole being, leaving a desolate feeling in her stomach. Maybe she thought I was totally inept as a lesbian lover. Go figure. Perhaps I'm not only a lesbian but totally incompetent, to boot. Her throat clenched and she fought against the sting of her self-deprecating thoughts.

Her mind reeled at the short message Annelie had left her. Wanting the role for so long, then finding out she had landed it, seemed unreal, but she knew euphoria was not far away. Still, she was disappointed that Annelie was not there to share the excitement. How could she leave this morning without telling me in person?

She turned off the shower and wrapped herself in a large towel. Wiping off the foggy mirror with a washcloth, she examined her reflection. Her eyes were huge and stormy gray, as expected, with a definite fire burning in them. Jittery, with an overwhelming feeling of excitement for getting the role, Carolyn wanted to shout it out from the balcony. I'll be playing Diana Maddox in the film, damn it!

A knock on the door startled her and made her reach for her robe. "Just a minute."

Tying the belt around her waist, she disregarded her dripping hair and rushed through the suite. When she peeked through the peephole, she saw Kitty.

Her caller's eyes widened when Carolyn opened the door. "Oh, did I interrupt your shower? I'm sorry."

"No, no, I was done. Please come in."

Once inside, Kitty turned to look at her. "I thought I'd come by and ask if you'd like to have breakfast with us before you leave for the airport."

"Sure, I'd love to. I'll be ready soon." Carolyn hesitated briefly. "Do you have any idea where Annelie is?"

Kitty's expression was unreadable. "Annelie's gone, Carolyn. She had to leave unexpectedly."

It took all Carolyn's acting skill and self-discipline not to show

Kitty how her stomach lurched. "She left? Oh. I didn't hear her pack. I must have been out like a light after yesterday."

Carolyn thought she glimpsed a look of sympathy in the other woman's eyes. "Yes, she left very early. Apparently she managed to get a last-minute ticket. I talked to her briefly out on the balcony, and she told me she had to leave."

Making herself stop fiddling with the bathrobe belt, Carolyn gestured toward her hair and then the room in general. "Just give me a minute to dry my hair and pack, and I'll be down for breakfast. Can't miss my caffeine."

"I know what you mean." Kitty nodded. "We'll be waiting for you in a private section of the breakfast room." She looked at Carolyn intently. "Are you all right, Carolyn? You look a little pale."

Not about to make a fool of herself in front of Annelie's friend, Carolyn gave a broad smile, slipping into her comfortable role as the diva. "I'm probably a little hungover, but it was worth it. We had a lot of fun, didn't we? I'll be fine as soon as I get my hands on some coffee."

"It was a blast." Kitty looked as if she was about to say something else, but apparently changed her mind. "See you downstairs in a little bit, then?"

After closing the door, Carolyn stroked one hand along her face, letting it linger over her mouth. She shivered when cold water dripped from her hair inside her collar. Wavering between feeling overjoyed and desolate, she decided she better pull herself together before she faced the others. It wouldn't do to let anyone see her like this.

***

Annelie looked down at the dense quilt of clouds preventing her from seeing anything of the New York area as the plane descended at LaGuardia. She had lowered the backrest fully and stretched out in her first-class seat, pretending to browse through some documents, but her thoughts had whirled aimlessly—all about leaving Carolyn. Carolyn, looking like a sleeping angel, lying completely relaxed, her hair spreading like a dark red shadow across the pillow. She hadn't even stirred while Annelie packed. Annelie had watched her for a few precious minutes before grabbing her bags and leaving the bedroom, closing the door softly behind her.

She automatically checked her seat belt during the turbulent landing, but her mind was still on the previous night. Blue-gray eyes looking up at her with a wondrous expression as passion rode the petite body beneath hers. For those moments, she'd allowed herself to drown in Carolyn's eyes, reveling in her responsiveness. However, she feared last night could never lead to anything more. She was all too aware of Carolyn's reputation for always having a plan or an ulterior motive.

She was jerked from her reverie by the plane's erratic course along the runway. It taxied toward the terminal, and soon she was walking on the moving sidewalks, too impatient to stand still and be carried along. After she claimed her bags, she continued toward the exit when suddenly a reporter followed by a camera crew stopped her. Bringing her sunglasses down from her hair to cover her eyes, Annelie answered her questions regarding the Maddox movies in a short, polite manner while she kept walking, wanting nothing else than to find refuge in her large two-floor apartment. Telling the TV reporter goodbye, she hailed a cab and gave the driver her home address in Manhattan.

As she leaned her head back against the neck rest, she drew a deep breath. She still had Carolyn's musky scent in her hair.

***

Carolyn briefly closed her eyes as the cab drove up to Annelie's house. She had dropped her bags off at Jared's, to her relief finding the condo empty. Wanting to talk to Annelie face-to-face, she had taken a cab to Golden Beach immediately, hoping to find her at home.

She pulled the large hair clip from her hair, letting it flow freely around her shoulders. Why am I so down when I should be walking on air? I must have been crazy last night. Waking up alone hurt like hell, and I simply can't understand why she left—especially after all that…passion.

The note—despite its positive message—didn't convey anything about Annelie's state of mind. Carolyn thought back to the empathetic look on Kitty's face when the Australian came to fetch her. She knew, damn it. Annelie told her what happened. Mortified at the sudden realization, she flinched as the cabdriver tried to get her attention by raising his voice.

"You okay, ma'am?"

"Fine, thanks. Here you go. Keep the change." She stepped out into the scorching sun.

Had anyone asked her before yesterday what could ruin such a day, Carolyn would have replied, "Nothing on God's green earth." Now, her happiness about getting the coveted role was overshadowed by the fact that Annelie hadn't waited to tell her in person. How dare she? The note left her feeling more alone than ever, with a queasy sensation erupting in her stomach. She didn't usually read more into things than what seemed reasonable, but now she felt vulnerable, an easy target. And I hate it.

When she reached the gate leading up to the paved garden path, Carolyn pressed the buzzer, since she had returned the key card to Mary when she left three days earlier. The speaker came to life with Mary's voice, and the gate swung open seconds later.

"Welcome back, Ms. Black," Mary greeted her at the door. "What can I do for you? Did you forget something above the garage?" The wiry woman studied her closely.

"Hello, Mary, I didn't realize you worked on Sundays."

"Usually I don't, but I'll have a week or two off and wanted to make sure everything was in order before I left."

Carolyn frowned. "Annelie isn't home, by any chance?"

The housekeeper raised her eyebrows. "She had to leave directly from Orlando to fly to New York. I thought you were aware of this, since you were there with her. She originally planned to go tomorrow or Tuesday."

"Something came up, I assume." Carolyn tried to sound casual, her mind reeling. What the hell…To New York? Had Annelie run away? "I'm going back to New York myself, and I'd like to get in touch with her. Do you have her address?"

Mary nodded her head. "Of course. Come on. I've started a light lunch."

Feeling reprieved from her increasing depression, Carolyn followed Mary into the kitchen and sat down at a small table. "There you go, Ms. Black. I'll go find a business card and then join you."

As Carolyn contemplated the large salad and Melba toast in front of her, she suddenly felt nauseous. Mary's assumption only emphasized the reality of the situation. Annelie had opted for New York without so much as a goodbye, rather than return to Miami with Carolyn.

Her jaw tensing, she held on tight to the fork, staring down at the salad. Was facing me in the morning so incredibly embarrassing, she'd rather act this rudely? So out of character? Carolyn could only surmise that her first fear was correct. For whatever reason Annelie was forced to go to New York, the way she did it…

Mary returned with the card, interrupting Carolyn's train of thought. Accepting the card, Carolyn raised an eyebrow. "Annelie Peterson, Peterson & Associates. This is a law firm?" she asked. "Her own firm?"

"Yes." Mary said. "She employs several young lawyers, and they only do pro bono work."

They ate in silence while Carolyn digested this new information. Stunned, she was more than impressed with Annelie's multiple ventures. Perhaps there was a perfectly logical reason for Annelie to return so hastily to New York. The thought was comforting, but a persistent voice within her cautioned Carolyn not to assume this was true.

Refusing to go down the path of self-pity and anger again, Carolyn gazed down at the business card next to her plate. The idea of Annelie owning a law firm and turning out to be even more dedicated to putting her wealth to good use was not a surprise. It was the extent of Annelie's involvement, which was impressive, far beyond anyone Carolyn knew, that was astonishing. Carolyn knew people richer than Annelie who clung to their wallets like life rafts in a storm.

Something Mary had said earlier surfaced. If Annelie had originally meant to leave Monday or Tuesday, she must have run from Carolyn. Was she overwhelmed with regret for breaking her own rules? Knowing full well her own part in what had happened in Orlando, Carolyn wanted to bury her head in her hands and moan aloud. And that damn note…I'll go confront her. She's not going to get away with this. We'll just see what she has to say for herself. Nobody treats me like a whore and gets away with it!

After finishing what she could of her salad and thanking Mary, Carolyn called a cab and headed back to Jared's condo. She didn't offer much of an explanation for her hit-and-run stay, immediately reserving a flight for early the next morning. She would be in New York just after lunch Monday.

Dodging Jared's inquisitive looks, she locked herself in the guest bathroom, letting her clothes fall to the floor. She looked at her body in the mirror, seeing the clearly visible traces of Annelie's passionate caresses. Carolyn let her hands trace the reddened skin on her left breast, wincing when the nipple proved to be more sensitive than usual. She could still feel Annelie's full lips closing over the puckered skin, drawing it into the warm, moist cavity of her mouth…

Snap out of it. Carolyn turned on the shower and stepped into the cool stream of water. Scrubbing her sensitized skin, she tried to wash the memory of Annelie out of her mind.

Of course she was doomed to fail.

***

"Morning, Grey. How are you today?"

"Carolyn! I've been trying to reach you!" The agent sounded excited.

"Sorry, I forgot to switch on my cell phone earlier. The only good thing about that is at least the battery's still fully charged."

"Well, I'm delighted you called. I have contracts waiting here for you, several of them."

Carolyn stopped walking, causing a man to stumble into her from behind. Miami International Airport was buzzing with activity, and all the corridors were crowded.

"What on earth are you talking about?"

"A courier was waiting for me when I arrived this morning. He refused to let anyone but me sign for the documents—and I can't blame him. You have four different contracts waiting for your signature, Carolyn! The three Maddox movies and a special contract for more Maddox conventions. We're talking about roughly fifteen million dollars."

Carolyn was stunned and had to clear her throat twice before her voice would carry again.

"Oh, my God," she said huskily. "Good thing I'm on my way to New York, then. I'm at the Miami airport."

"That's what I like to hear. Get yourself right to my office when you land, my dear."

Inwardly shaking her head at her agent's enthusiasm, Carolyn couldn't blame him for being excited. This would be a nice feather in his hat, as well as a profitable 10 percent fee.

"I'll call you when I get there, okay?"

"Looking forward to it."

Carolyn disconnected and dialed her sister as she resumed walking toward her gate. "Beth, honey, it's me. How are you doing?"

"Lyn, I'm so glad you called. I have some news for you," her sister replied. "I've hired someone to help me around the house, part-time. Her name's Frances and she seems great."

Exhaling deeply with relief that the news wasn't bad, Carolyn smiled. "I'm delighted. Now, have her address ready for me when I call you next time, and I'll arrange to send her a check every week."

"But, Lyn…"

"No buts, darling, just humor me. Let me do this for you."

There was a sigh of mock exasperation. "All right, then. So, how was the convention? I haven't heard from you since you got back."

"The convention went very well, sweetie. Actually, I just wanted to let you know I'm on my way home for a bit. I have some things to take care of with Grey."

"Sounds exciting. Anything you can tell me?"

"No, not yet," Carolyn smiled and began to walk toward the gate as they called her flight. "I promise you'll be the first to know, though, when I can." The energetic tone in her sister's voice was reassuring.

"You better." Beth laughed.

"Hey, I have to go. It's time to board. Say hi to Joe and Pamela for me, okay?"

Beth promised and Carolyn disconnected, making sure she switched the phone off. Passing the smiling flight attendant, she returned to her thoughts of Annelie, wondering how the other woman would react to seeing her so soon. Impatient with herself for letting her nerves get to her, she found her seat, stowed her only bag in the overhead compartment, and sat down.

A short time into the flight, the screen embedded in the backrest in front of her lit up, and Carolyn was able to choose from a variety of TV shows. Browsing through the channels, she found E! News. She smirked as she watched with some amusement how several of her colleagues had made fools of themselves at a Hollywood mogul's housewarming party. Carolyn sipped her mineral water and almost choked on it when a familiar face filled the small screen. The narrator continued by presenting the next interview.

"E! News had the pleasure of bumping into the elusive publisher of the best-selling Diana Maddox books, Annelie Peterson, at LaGuardia Airport on Sunday morning. Several sources have confirmed Ms. Peterson is in the process of casting the movies based on the famous books. Here's what the blond beauty had to say on the matter."

After a shot of the covers of the three Maddox books, Annelie's face came into view again. "Ms. Peterson, can you tell us who's going to play Diana Maddox?" a reporter asked as Annelie, wearing large black sunglasses, hurried toward the exit.

"We're going to start the casting process tomorrow," Annelie replied. "I'll get back to you when I know more."

"So no hot tip about who the lucky actress is going to be?" the reporter insisted.

"No, we're considering several interesting names. As I said, I'll have to get back to you when I know more."

"Is Carolyn Black among the interesting names you're referring to?"

"Carolyn Black did a wonderful job portraying Diana Maddox in the audiobooks and was instrumental in making them even bigger bestsellers than the hardbacks and paperbacks. She's definitely of interest to us, but so are several other actresses."

"Can you give us a few more names?"

"No, that'll have to be a surprise. Supernova Productions will hold a press conference as soon as we have made a decision."

Annelie acknowledged the members of the press with a regal nod. Giving an equally royal wave, she disappeared into a cab and drove off.

Carolyn sat staring at the small screen, her blurring eyes making it impossible to see the face of the famous singer who'd been arrested during a cocaine bust in downtown L.A.

Unsure why the sight of the other woman would twist her stomach into a knot, she clenched her fists, her hands suddenly cold. Seeing Annelie in her professional role only added to the emotional distance she felt from the woman she had been intimate with so recently.

As she blinked back tears of confusion, Carolyn followed Annelie's example by putting on her large sunglasses and reclined her seat so she could lean back in it. Biting her lower lip, she was even more determined to obtain answers to her growing set of questions.

***

Annelie walked into her office, smiling at the receptionist sitting at the front desk.

"Good morning. How are you?"

"Ms. Peterson! Just fine. I didn't know you were expected in today, ma'am. I thought…" The new employee looked slightly panic-stricken as she browsed though her day planner.

"Don't worry about it. I flew in a day early."

The nervous young woman looked relieved. "Should I page Ms. Dillon, ma'am?"

Annelie's personal assistant, Margo Dillon, was also her personnel manager. The energetic woman hired everyone from the law clerks to the janitors at the firm. Annelie now headed for the main desk in Margo's office where the personnel manager usually sat, queen of her domain.

"Margo, do you have a minute?" she asked blithely, walking up to her and making her jump.

"Annelie! Jesus, Mary, and Joseph. Are you trying to give me a coronary? You're here already?" Margo exclaimed in her familiar Irish accent. Rising, she freed herself from her headset. "Good to see you, girlie!" She rounded the desk and wrapped Annelie in a bear hug.

Margo was the only one who could get away with calling Annelie "girlie." A close friend of Annelie's mother, Margo had lived next door to them in Chicago and, after Annelie's mother died, stepped in and took the lanky seventeen-year-old under her wing. She became a different kind of female role model. Feisty, with a colorful vocabulary, the energetic, caring woman had been just what Annelie needed.

"It's wonderful to see you too, Margo." Annelie beamed at her friend, placing her briefcase on the closest desk before returning the hug. "I came earlier, which means I can participate in the meeting with the lawyers from city hall."

"Yeah, that petition is going to take some fine-tuning," Margo sighed.

After hearing the latest on the pending case, Annelie grabbed her briefcase and walked toward her office. Pushing the door open, she looked involuntarily at the two posters above the couch. One was of the first off-Broadway play she had sponsored, Dream Catcher. The critics had been impressed with the new playwright, and the audience had kept the show going for a year.

Annelie's eyes narrowed when her glance fell on the other one, a collector's item. Little Women had played on Broadway eighteen years ago with a young Carolyn Black as Jo. Annelie had bought the poster at a charity auction five years ago. As much as she longed to do so, she refused to think about the woman she had so recently left behind in Orlando. Doing so would only bring her pain and confusion.

Her cherrywood desk was empty, but Annelie knew it would become cluttered with documents after the meeting. She welcomed the busy day ahead of her; hopefully it would take her mind off her disastrous weekend.

Chapter Nine

Carolyn stepped out of the cab in front of the large office building. When the security guard looked inquisitively at her as she signed her name and identified herself, Carolyn knew he probably recognized her but was reluctant to ask. She gave him her automatic diva smile before heading toward the elevators.

The mirror in the elevator didn't reveal how nervous she felt. Am I doing the right thing, barging in here like a wounded wildebeest? Will she toss me out and tell me to tear up my contracts? Or will she act like an ice goddess and freeze me out? I'm afraid I'm going to throw up, but this is the only way I know to get in touch with her. She's so damned private I'd never find her home address. Oh, to hell with it. Here goes nothing. I'll just have to play my charm to the hilt.

Large glass doors with Peterson & Associates, Attorneys at Law painted on them in gold letters led into a formal reception area. A dark-haired woman wearing ultramodern black glasses looked up as Carolyn approached the desk and gave her a welcoming smile. "Good afternoon, ma'am. How may I help you?" "I'd like to speak to Annelie Peterson. Is she in today?" The receptionist nodded. "Do you have an appointment, Ms.…?" "Black. Carolyn Black. No, I don't, but if you ask Annelie, I'm sure she'll see me. It won't take long."

"I'm sorry, Ms. Black. Ms. Peterson is in a meeting and can't be disturbed. If you can wait just a second, I'll page Ms. Dillon, Ms. Peterson's assistant."

Carolyn bit back an impatient reply and waited while the receptionist made a quick phone call.

"Ms. Dillon will be right with you, Ms. Black," the receptionist said. "Here she is already."

A slender middle-aged woman, dressed in a cobalt blue suit and high-heel pumps, approached. "Ms. Black, welcome," she greeted Carolyn, extending a hand. "What a pleasant surprise. We had no idea you were in town. I'm Margo Dillon."

Slightly taken aback by the other woman's energy, Carolyn shook her hand. "Hello, Ms. Dillon."

"Oh, call me Margo, please."

"Nice to meet you, Margo. I know I don't have an appointment, but…"

"Don't worry about it. I'm sure I can pry Annelie out of the conference room for a minute or two. Could you please come with me? And would you like something to drink?"

Having gone directly from the airport to her apartment to change, Carolyn hadn't bothered to eat. "I'd love some coffee. Black, please."

"Like the name, should be easy to remember." Margo chuckled. "Here's Annelie's office. Make yourself comfortable and I'll bring you some coffee and, hopefully, the woman herself."

Rushing off, the energetic woman left quite a void. Carolyn stepped into the corner office and looked around the room curiously. Ivory walls and peach and forest green furniture gave the room a feminine elegance. Dark peach drapes framed the large panoramic window overlooking Manhattan.

Several diplomas hung on the wall behind the desk, and a painting, which on closer examination proved to be an original, hung across the room. Carolyn had never heard of the painter, but the name Carl Larson sounded Scandinavian. This portrait of a woman holding a child, called "Idyllic Studio," soothed her. Turning around to sit down, Carolyn discovered two large posters. One was of a play she had actually seen a few years back, and the other…was of her. Or of her as Jo March, many years ago.

Not sure what to believe, Carolyn sat down on the couch only to rise again, feeling jittery. She scrutinized the empty desk, wondering if Annelie had already started working today.

Quick steps approached and Margo returned with a tray. The Spode china and Georgian silverware didn't surprise Carolyn. "Thank you," she managed. "Is she going to be long, do you think?"

"No, just give her a few minutes. Enjoy the coffee."

Margo smiled and left after pouring the black, steaming-hot beverage. Carolyn sat down again and sipped her coffee, comforted by the familiar, rejuvenating taste. Anticipating how the caffeine would enter her bloodstream, travel to her brain, and energize it, she finally began to calm down.

"Carolyn," a soft voice said from the doorway. Looking up, she had to force herself to carefully place the delicate coffee cup back on its saucer since her fingers had begun to tremble. "This is a surprise."

Annelie was dressed in a black pantsuit over a crisp white blouse. Silver-white pearls gleamed around her neck and in her earlobes, reflecting the light in an expensive, understated way. A larger pearl was attached to the jacket's left lapel. She wore a white gold watch on her left wrist, but no other jewelry on her hands.

This was another side of Annelie. Having become accustomed to seeing her only in casual clothes, Carolyn was awed as she looked at the professional vision before her. As she stood with her arms folded over her chest, her hair swept up in a tight twist without a strand out of place, Annelie looked untouchable.

"I need to talk to you, Annelie," Carolyn said, amazed at how calm she sounded. "I'm sorry to barge in here like this, but I didn't know how else to get in touch with you. I couldn't talk to you about this over the phone."

Annelie stepped inside and closed the door behind her. "You're right," she admitted. "We have to talk but not here, like this."

"I just flew in today. I went home to change and then came straight here. I…I just don't know what to think."

A slight frown marring her forehead, Annelie remained standing just inside the door. "I'd have thought you'd be paying a visit to your agent first, or hasn't he contacted you?"

"Grey? I talked to him when I was waiting for my flight in Miami. He told me about the contracts."

"I'm surprised you didn't go by and sign them right away."

Not sure if Annelie was being sarcastic, Carolyn recoiled. "I wanted to talk to you first. I'm amazed you're offering me the role. I've wanted it ever since the rumors about the movies started spreading. Now I'm all confused and—" She flung her hands into the air. "Damn it, Annie, I don't know what to think! You leave me behind with no explanation other than a note that makes me feel like…for heaven's sake—" She broke off again. "You're giving interviews talking about people auditioning for the role. What the hell's going on?"

Hearing her voice almost break, Carolyn forced herself to stop before she embarrassed herself further.

"I had important meetings here in New York," Annelie explained. "I can't talk now. I have to go back in there." She gestured vaguely behind her. "As for the media asking me questions at the airport yesterday—that was merely for the sake of appearances. Surely you realize that? We can't go public with who will star in the movies before the contracts are signed—and if you'd actually read the contracts before you came here, you would've seen we added a confidentiality clause. You won't be able to tell anyone you got the role until a certain date, when Supernova hosts a press conference with the director and the actors."

Carolyn noted that Annelie avoided the issue about leaving her alone in Orlando.

"I understand you're busy, but this is important too. When I called Grey from the cab on my way to my apartment, he almost bit my head off for not going directly to his office. It's just that I'm not so sure I should sign the contracts."

Annelie's eyes narrowed. "What are you talking about? What's the problem? They're standard contracts for this kind of project. You're the perfect choice for the role, and you've made it very clear you want it more than anything."

Carolyn lowered her eyes, a pang of guilt and other undefined emotions exploding in the pit of her stomach. "Not more than anything," she murmured.

"What do you mean?"

"Saturday night," Carolyn murmured huskily, "something more than the physical part of it happened. If signing the contracts drives a wedge between us…If it means I'll miss the opportunity to…"

Suddenly Annelie seemed to relax. Lowering her arms she walked over to Carolyn and gently touched her left shoulder. "Listen to me. I promise we'll talk, but not here. I won't be done until late this afternoon. Why don't we have dinner at my apartment? We can talk uninterrupted in a more private setting and," she gestured at herself with a faint smile, "in comfortable clothes."

Carolyn swallowed hard, forcing her breathing to become even. "Sounds good to me."

"And, Carolyn, do me a favor? Go by your agent and sign the contracts. You're the one we want for the Maddox role. Nothing that's taken place between the two of us has anything to do with that, nor will it, in the future."

"All right." Carolyn's voice was noncommittal.

"Here, let me give you my home address." Annelie walked over to her desk and pulled out a small notepad and a pen. "I'll let the doorman know you're coming. How about sevenish?"

"See you tonight, then." Carolyn watched as Annelie turned to walk toward the door. She was elegance personified—the black suit tailored to fit her curvaceous body, the high heels adding to her length.

Annelie surprised Carolyn by stopping in front of her and raising a hand to cup her cheek. "Yes, see you then." After she disappeared out the door, Carolyn could hear her talking to someone outside. "On my way."

Carolyn reached for her coffee again, taking a large gulp of the still-warm liquid. Her eyes reverted to the Little Women poster on the wall, narrowing as she tried to figure out its potential importance. Something had made Annelie put this up in her office, and she was dying to know what it was. Adding it to the picture Annelie had of her in her house in Florida, Carolyn was indeed mystified.

"Everything all right, Ms. Black?" Margo poked her head through the half-open door. "Anything else I can do for you?"

Carolyn shook her head and put the coffee cup down. "No, thank you, Margo. I'm fine. I'll be going now, so thank you for being so obliging."

"Not a problem." She escorted Carolyn back to the reception area. "If you need a cab, this young lady will be glad to call the company we use."

"That would be great."

Margo motioned for the receptionist to make the call, smiled, and said goodbye to Carolyn before returning into the inner regions of the office.

"The cab will be here shortly."

"Thanks. I'll head downstairs, then."

Riding the elevator, Carolyn glanced at her reflection, noticing she had more color in her cheeks than when she'd arrived. Meeting Annelie for the first time after their night together had gone reasonably well.

Squaring her shoulders, Carolyn took a deep breath and willed herself not to return to her previous confused frame of mind. Right now she would take Annelie's advice and go by Grey's office. She had contracts to sign.

***

Annelie pondered what to wear. Riffling through the rack of clothes in the walk-in closet, she let her fingertip bounce off the hangers and finally settled for dark blue stretch jeans and a white T-shirt.

She'd called for Italian takeout, though not pizza this time. Glancing at her watch, Annelie tried to ignore the butterflies cavorting in her stomach.

The doorbell startled her, making her drop her hairbrush. Chastising herself for being so jumpy, she picked it up and placed it on the dresser before walking to the front door and opening it.

Dressed in a long black coat, Carolyn looked completely calm as she leaned against the wall, one leg bent over the other, her arms crossed over her chest.

"Hi, Annelie," Carolyn said, a slow smile making goose bumps appear on the other woman's arms. "Colorful fellow downstairs. Chatty."

"Yes. He's quite a character, but somewhat overwhelming."

"I could tell. I think he likes me. I thought he was about to propose before I could escape to the elevator." Carolyn paused, raising an eyebrow. "May I come in?"

Blushing faintly, Annelie stepped aside. "Forgive me. Of course you can. I might as well level with you—I'm nervous."

Something vulnerable flickered across Carolyn's features before she smiled and patted Annelie's arm. "Don't worry, so am I."

"Want to look around the apartment?" Annelie asked, knowing she was stalling. "It's going to be another ten or fifteen minutes before our food gets here."

"I'd love to see your home. Lead the way."

Annelie took Carolyn's coat, noticing the other woman had changed into khaki chinos and a chocolate brown turtleneck. She started the grand tour by showing Carolyn the large living room with the open fireplace, then moving through the kitchen and the long hallway with oak parquet floors. The guest bedroom was decorated similarly to the one in Florida, but the rest of the apartment was more of a mix between East Coast style and Scandinavian influence. Walking toward the recreation room, Annelie looked at Carolyn as she opened the door, not about to miss the other woman's reaction to what was hiding behind it.

"Oh, my God. A pool!" Carolyn's jaw actually dropped.

"Thought you'd like it," Annelie grinned. "Actually, it's more than just a pool. It's called an Endless Pool. Let me show you."

She pressed a button next to the eighteen-by-eight-foot pool, causing the water to move.

"You swim against the current," Annelie explained.

Carolyn looked impressed. "You know about me and swimming…" She smiled.

"You're welcome to try it anytime." The words left Annelie's lips before she realized what she meant to say. The invitation hung between them, and Carolyn had opened her mouth to reply when the doorbell interrupted them.

"The food's here. We can finish the tour later." While switching off the controls to the pool, Annelie wondered if she sounded as relieved as she felt.

After she took the bags from the delivery woman, Annelie carried them out into the kitchen with Carolyn in tow.

"Did you mean it?" Carolyn's voice was low.

Not about to pretend she didn't understand what Carolyn meant, Annelie busied herself with the bags of food. "Of course I did. You can use the pool if you like." She took heated plates out of the oven and arranged their meals on them.

"You said anytime."

Pausing, Annelie shot Carolyn a glance. Carolyn looked serious, and she had an unreadable expression in her eyes.

"I meant that too."

Carolyn moved closer, standing next to Annelie at the counter. Frowning, she pressed her lips together before she spoke. "Why did you run? I mean, I can think of several reasons, and I have, ever since yesterday morning when I woke up alone."

Reaching for the bottle of Bettinelli chardonnay breathing on the counter, Annelie carried it over to the table she had set for two when she came home. Picking up the two plates, she motioned with her chin toward the table. "Please have a seat."

Carolyn complied, not taking her eyes off the other woman.

"I guess I did run. I panicked," Annelie admitted. "You must have seen by now how I live my life. Inviting you to stay at the garage apartment was out of character for me, but I wanted to help. Usually, I'm not this open with someone I hardly know."

"You've treated me very well," Carolyn allowed. "I know about your reputation for keeping a low profile."

"And I told you about my rule never to get involved with curious, married, or straight women."

"You saw me as all of the above, I assume. Until last Saturday." Carolyn speared a mushroom.

"Some of them, I still do." When she saw Carolyn flinch, Annelie regretted her harsh tone of voice. "And I was very angry with you for showing up uninvited and forcing my hand. You left us with no other choice but to allow you to hijack the convention."

"I'm not apologizing for fighting dirty when it comes to the Maddox role…but about what happened later…it certainly wasn't anything I had planned to do."

"And you still fit the description of women I stay away from." Annelie's voice sank.

"I'm aware of my ineptness in making love to another woman," Carolyn murmured. "However, you know by now Jared and I are just friends, and I've never questioned my sexual preference. I always assumed I was heterosexual. Until you."

Feeling bad for the hurt she detected within Carolyn, Annelie sighed. "Ineptness doesn't factor into it. I don't think you're that type of curious either. But you have a reputation for going after what you want—no holds barred."

"Yes, you're right. I have done that. I did that by showing up in Orlando. But ending up in bed with you was not part of my plan!"

Annelie stopped with the fork halfway to her mouth. "But we did."

"Yes. We did." Carolyn's voice became huskier. "We did. And now I don't know what to do."

"What do you mean?"

Carolyn hesitated and then shrugged. "I simply don't know how to proceed. I'm puzzled. I guess I should have second thoughts about what happened and disregard it, but I can't."

Cocking her head, Annelie reached for her wineglass. "That's a very honest reply."

"Coming from someone like me, you mean?" Carolyn made a face. "Will you give me an equally candid answer? Do you regret making love to me?"

Annelie was about to say yes, even knowing it wasn't true. Rolling the wine around in the glass, she stared down at the minivortex forming. "No, Carolyn, how could I?" she whispered. "You were beautiful… wonderful, in my arms."

"I've never experienced anything like it in my entire life," Carolyn confessed. "Nobody's ever made me feel that way. Nobody."

Something in Carolyn's voice gave Annelie courage to meet her gaze. To her surprise, the other woman's eyes shimmered a bright blue. "I couldn't resist you," Annelie admitted hoarsely. "I wanted to. I knew you might be in my arms for all the wrong reasons."

"What reasons are those?"

"You have a reputation for being an opportunist, Carolyn. The last few weeks, I've felt your interest and just didn't know what to make of it."

"My interest?" Carolyn raised her voice. "Your interest in me is just as plain!"

Annelie carefully put her utensils down and leaned back in the chair. "What are you talking about?"

"I'm talking about the picture of me, a very young me, on your desk at the house in Florida. I'm talking about the old theater poster of me when I did Little Women that I saw in your office today. It's a little too obvious to be a coincidence."

Annelie felt herself pale. She rubbed her forehead, looking into Carolyn's angry eyes. "Touché."

"You've obviously followed my career." Carolyn sounded calmer. "Want to tell me about it?"

"You'll laugh."

"Maybe, but who cares. It's just the two of us." Carolyn sipped her wine. "Fire away."

"When I was twelve, my mother was holding two jobs to support us. During the summer break, I began watching The Passing of Time. I fell in love with you as Devon. The network aired reruns every weekend and I didn't miss a single episode. I would watch every Sunday morning, five episodes in a row. Whenever you were in a scene, I'd move closer to the TV, watching your every move, every facial expression. When you quit the show, I was devastated and stopped watching it. I kept track of your career from a distance, watched your TV movies and feature films, as well as all the other appearances you made, like talk shows and so on."

"I'm flattered, Annelie. I really am. What's there to laugh about?"

"I was trying to get to know you through the media, even though I realized that image couldn't capture all of you. You're as private as I am, if not more so. There's very little known about your family, other than the basic stuff, which I respect completely. When I said you have a reputation for being an opportunist, I meant it literally—a reputation. I'm aware of how wrong it can be but, then again, it's all I had to go by."

Carolyn frowned. "I went by my agent's and signed the contracts. I don't want you to misunderstand. I'd rather tear them up if signing them somehow means losing your friendship…"

"No, Carolyn, I'm not sure why you think I'd ask you to make such a sacrifice. Don't even consider it."

"Because you left the note the way you did. It suggested you thought I'd seduced you to get the role, and this was your way of saying I'm on to you. The night was so wonderful. Nothing we did or felt gave me reason to think otherwise—but the note did. You say you want nothing but honesty from me, and the truth is, the note was like finding money on the nightstand. It hurt like hell."

"I'm sorry, Carolyn. I should have stayed. I'm normally not such a coward." Annelie pressed her lips together. "The note was a bad idea and certainly not meant to hurt you." Noticing Carolyn had barely touched her meal, she gave up on the idea of eating. "Why don't we put the food away and sit on the couch and talk?"

Carolyn nodded. "Yes, please. It's delicious and deserves more attention."

They put their meals in the refrigerator and then walked into the living room. Annelie motioned toward the big leather couch by the fireplace. "Want a blanket?"

"Yes. I'm cold for some reason." Carolyn nodded.

Annelie took a wool blanket from the armchair next to the couch and spread it across both of their laps as she sat down next to Carolyn.

"Better? Good. Now listen to me. You're perfect for the role. The convention proved it. Everyone in the audience identified you as Diana Maddox. You're a most professional, conscientious actress, and

your reputation in that respect is impeccable. Of course, some of your female colleagues have made catty personal remarks about you, and a few men have made acid comments, probably because you've turned them down. I can't think of anyone else doing a better job with Maddox than you."

Carolyn looked stunned. "And personally? You idolized me for years, and now that you've known me for more than a month, are you disappointed?"

Thinking to herself, In for a penny, in for a pound, Annelie inhaled deeply and slowly exhaled. "You're more than I ever thought."

***

Carolyn studied the telltale pink cheeks of her hostess. Annelie looked embarrassed but also strangely relieved after her confession.

"In true Hollywood manner, I have no problem calling perfect strangers darling, sweetheart, and honey." Carolyn smiled ruefully. "And now, when it counts, all I can think of is I called you Annie last Saturday."

"Yes, you did."

"Did you mind?"

"No, not at all, coming from you. You must've realized how… turned on I was by everything you said."

"That was another new thing for me," Carolyn admitted. "I've never been that vocal in bed before."

"Your voice is amazing. Now—your turn." Annelie leaned her head against the backrest, her legs pulled up underneath her.

Carolyn knew she had to stay truthful or she would lose any of the ground she had gained.

"I've always considered myself heterosexual, though I've had plenty of chances to experiment. I simply wasn't interested in the women who came on to me, so I didn't need to reflect on my sexual preference until I met you. In the kitchen, when we were fixing dessert, I didn't mean to try and kiss you. I just had this overwhelming urge and—"

"And I pulled back."

"I thought I'd offended you. When you explained, I was prepared to accept and respect your standpoint." Carolyn smiled ruefully. "After the convention, which frankly was quite the ego trip, I was on such an emotional high. I was feeling giddy, excited, and simply unable to wind down. When we were on the couch together and you looked so beautiful…oh, God, Annelie…" Reaching out for support, Carolyn took the other woman's hand in hers. "I was hot and cold at the same time, and more so, I knew I had to hold you. I had no ulterior motives, no thoughts of the next day. I can be a calculating bitch, but I had no plans to seduce you, I swear."

Annelie studied her for a moment, as if trying to make up her mind. "I want to believe you. What I couldn't believe, though, was how your voice, the look on your face, made me feel. I was about to pull back, to leave you alone to watch TV, when I saw the passion in your eyes."

"You did pull back, in a way. You never let me touch you, Annie." The words were hard to say. Carolyn cleared her throat. "I was naked but you never fully undressed."

"Self-preservation. I was trying to protect myself somehow." Annelie paused. "I thought, if she touches me, like I used to fantasize, I'll break. It wasn't because I didn't want you to. I was afraid."

"I wanted to touch you, the same way you caressed me, so much. I wanted to know how it felt to make love to you. Not just any woman. You."

Annelie's eyes welled up with tears. Blinking them away, she squeezed Carolyn's hand hard before she let go. "Me?"

Carolyn rose on her knees on the couch. Framing Annelie's face with her hands, she didn't take her eyes off her lover. "You. I'll go out on the proverbial limb now and tell you the truth. I have to."

Annelie swallowed and pressed her lips together into a thin line. "Will I like it?" she whispered huskily.

"I don't know. You might feel awkward or look at me with pity. Or you might give me a chance, despite your principles." Carolyn let one of her hands stroke Annelie's hair down to her ponytail. Freeing it from the large hair clip, she watched as the blond abundance cascaded down around Annelie's shoulders. "I'm falling for you, Annie. I really am."

Annelie gave a muted gasp.

"It's true," Carolyn repeated.

Annelie suddenly rose, making Carolyn's hands fall into her lap. She paced back and forth in front of the couch a couple of times, making

Carolyn hold her breath, fearing she'd overstepped the final boundary and made her presence in Annelie's life impossible.

"Please, Annie." Her voice was merely a whisper.

Annelie stopped pacing and knelt in front of her guest. "I have to be blunt, Carolyn. This whole situation scares the living daylights out of me. I'm independent and treasure my freedom. I keep to myself for a lot of reasons. Now…having you here…I'm afraid! You have a reputation for doing just about anything to get what you want—even if it means sleeping your way to it. How can I possibly know this isn't just part of your plan?"

Knowing there could be no excuses if she was going to stand a chance with Annelie, Carolyn reached out and pulled the visibly distraught woman up next to her on the couch. "Some of those rumors are true, and I deserve to be criticized for some of the things I've done, especially in my younger days. But listen to me. This is important.

"I have never cheated on anyone. I have never had a one-night stand with anyone to get ahead. I've schemed and also lied, fought tooth and nail for roles, but I've never willingly or deliberately lied about personal feelings.

"Grey constantly tells me I'm too frank for this business—he could be right." Forcing herself to stay calm, Carolyn sighed. "I care about you. I don't want to lose what I've found with you. That's why I'd rather tear up the contracts than risk—"

"No, don't even say that." Annelie's eyes probed hers. "If I'm to take a chance on you…on this…it will be my decision, based on how I feel—not on how much you're prepared to prove or give up."

Carolyn held her breath when Annelie leaned forward, sliding her hand underneath Carolyn's hair, caressing the soft skin on her neck.

"Carolyn, tell me. Will you spend the night? Will you sleep next to me and, I mean, just sleep? Things are moving too fast, and I'm afraid of doing the wrong thing. I don't want you to go, but I don't want us to rush headlong into it—making love. Not yet. Last Saturday we ended up in something way too soon. We couldn't resist each other, and we risked destroying a budding friendship and a great working relationship. Now, as I said, I don't want you to go. Please stay?"

Taken aback, Carolyn nodded. "I don't want to go either. I'd love to stay all night. We'll take it slow. We can take it at any pace you like or feel comfortable with, just as long as you know I'm sincere."

Annelie looked intently at Carolyn. "There's still so much to settle, to learn, about each other. Is it enough for you if I say I believe in your good intentions?"

Carolyn realized this was the most she could hope for at this point. "Yes."

Suddenly Annelie blushed faintly, looking down at her hands before raising her gaze again.

"You can have the guest room, if you prefer. I didn't mean to assume…"

"Shh. I want to sleep next to you. I don't want the guest room."

***

Annelie watched Carolyn approach the king-size bed. After they had finished their reheated meal, they had listened to soft music, both of them lost in thought, until bedtime. Annelie's mind had wandered to how Carolyn had sounded, asking Annelie to trust her motives, without sounding pleading or begging. The whisky voice rose and fell, its timbre setting off the strangest sensations inside her. It was the voice she had admired for so long and yet completely different. Mulling it over, Annelie had finally realized the new qualities, the urgent tone, in the famous voice had been the sincerity so clearly present. And here she comes, dressed in one of my T-shirts. Oh, God, she looks so innocent, shy almost…and so sexy.

Carolyn climbed into bed, the fragrance of Annelie's citrus shower gel clinging to her. As she looked at Annelie hesitantly, she raised an eyebrow. "So, where do you want me?"

Annelie gave a faint smile. "Right here. Any way you want."

Poking at the big pile of pillows, Carolyn pushed a large one encased in a satin pillowcase close to Annelie's right shoulder. Then she settled down next to Annelie without touching her.

"Comfy yet?"

"Getting there." Carolyn moved around a bit.

"May I assist you, ma'am?" Annelie joked, trying to take some of the tension away.

"I'm all right, I just…I usually fall asleep on my right side."

Annelie's chest filled with tenderness when she realized Carolyn was feeling shyer than she let on. "Then lie down on your right side.

There, that's it." She moved until she could almost feel Carolyn's back. "Lift your head." She pushed her arm under the pillow. "Now lie down again."

She adjusted her position, spooning behind Carolyn, her right arm under her neck, her left hand stretched down along Carolyn's thigh, touching the naked skin just below the hem of her T-shirt, though feeling no sexual sparks.

"Comfy?" Annelie repeated.

"Oh, yes," Carolyn sighed. "Very."

Placing a tender kiss on the auburn hair, Annelie closed her eyes. Nothing could have prepared her for this day. She was playing it by ear now, completely against her normal method of operation.

Carolyn stirred slightly. "Good night, Annie. Sleep tight."

"You too."

Chapter Ten

Jazz music seemed to come out of nowhere. Carolyn stirred, unsure of where she was until she managed to open her eyes and see blond hair cascading across the pillow next to her. Lifting her gaze further, she looked at Annelie's relaxed face, realizing she was still asleep.

"Annelie." Carolyn gently rubbed the naked shoulder next to her. "Annie, your alarm clock says it's time to get up."

Slowly ice blue eyes opened, and the head next to her turned. "Carolyn?"

"Yeah, time to wake up."

Obviously still half-asleep, Annelie rolled toward Carolyn and wrapped a slender arm around her waist. "Good morning."

"Good morning." Carolyn's heart raced as she inhaled Annelie's sweet scent. Unable to resist, she buried her face against her neck, amazed at the softness. "Did you sleep well?"

"Very well. And you?" Annelie whispered, stroking her hands up and down Carolyn's back.

"Dead to the world. I don't even remember dreaming."

Annelie rose on one elbow and looked down at Carolyn. "You look rested," she murmured. "You look wonderful."

"You're beautiful any time of day, but I don't think I've ever seen you look this way." Carolyn traced Annelie's face with soft fingertips. "No makeup, no jewelry…just you."

Annelie smiled faintly and placed a gentle kiss on Carolyn's forehead. "Time to get up, I'm afraid. I have meetings all day."

Carolyn glanced at the alarm clock again. "Seven o'clock…I guess I should go home and change before I meet Grey. He wants to go over some business details with me."

Annelie stood up and stretched. Looking at Carolyn, she hesitated. "Want to have lunch today? There's a nice restaurant a block from the office."

Carolyn smiled broadly and rose from the bed. "I'd love to. What time?"

Walking up to Carolyn, Annelie wrapped her arms around her. "How about one o'clock?" She kissed the top of Carolyn's head. "You want to hear something silly? I was about to suggest dinner tonight… but suddenly I didn't think I could wait that long."

"That's not silly," Carolyn objected. "So, do you want to have dinner tonight?"

"Yes. We need to talk more, don't you agree?"

"I do. And I want to look at you. I can't seem to get enough of that."

Placing her fingertips under Carolyn's chin, Annelie tipped her head back. She leaned down, kissing her with more tenderness than passion. "We promised to go slow," she murmured. "Is this slow enough, Carolyn?"

Wrapping her arms around Annelie's slender waist, Carolyn rubbed her cheek against her silky tank top after returning the soft kiss. She was still stunned at how Annelie filled her with equal parts of passion, joy, and fear. "Yes, this is slow enough for me."

***

"So you're meeting Carolyn Black for lunch?" Margo asked while she poured them another cup of tea. She glanced at Annelie. "Is that why you're blushing, girlie?"

Annelie dropped the Sweet'n Low dispenser dangerously close to the cup. "What?" She fiddled with the sweeteners before managing to add one to her tea.

"Aw, come on, Annelie. I've known you all your life. You practically bounce in here, cheeks flushed, eyes aglow…I'm not blind."

"And certainly not subtle in your approach," Annelie smirked. "All right. I'm silly enough to be giddy about having lunch with Carolyn."

Margo studied her, making Annelie smile sheepishly. "Want to talk about it?" She raised an eyebrow.

Annelie had worked hard all morning and already finished a productive meeting with her associates. On a small break with Margo in her office, she leaned back against the couch and kicked off her pumps.

"She's all wrong for me," Annelie confessed, "but I can't stop thinking about her. I simply want to be around her as much as I can."

"Are you in love?"

Annelie's heart stopped, only to race a second later, pumping color to her cheeks. "I guess I am."

"I thought Carolyn Black was straight."

"So did I. And she. Now we're both confused." Tracing the rim of her cup with a finger, Annelie sighed before continuing. "She says she's falling for me. We talked all of yesterday evening, and she was very blunt, making no excuses. Still, I'm afraid. I just don't know if I can trust her. Her reputation isn't exactly encouraging."

"It's a reputation, not a universal truth. Whatever she did in the past—we know nothing about her motivation, and she certainly didn't do any of it toward you."

"I know."

"We can all change. Things can happen in our lives that change everything. You of all people should know that, Annelie." Margo's voice was soft. "You won all that money, and it was the start of your new life."

Annelie knew the other woman was right. Margo had been with her every step of the way, even long before she began creating a new life for herself. "I've known Carolyn for about a month and have become good at spotting when she's in her professional skin and when she's just herself. Last Saturday after the convention, as well as last night, she was herself. She let down her guard with me in a way that took courage."

"You must be important to her."

Annelie sipped her tea. "I believe I am. She stayed the night, and the way she fit in my arms…" She could feel herself blush and was unable to stop a smile. "And before you ask, no, nothing happened."

"Oh, girlie, you've got it bad." Margo returned the smile, cupping Annelie's chin. "I swear, if I thought for a second Carolyn had a hidden agenda, I wouldn't say this. I've seen people circle you like predators, out for your money, influence, or your endorsement for whatever product they're hustling. I don't believe she's one of them. Seeing her come here, practically straight from the airport, gave me the impression very little else but you mattered to her."

Annelie's eyes widened at Margo's candid words. The Irishwoman was not easily fooled, and to hear her speak this openly about Carolyn meant a lot.

"Anyway, I have no idea where this is going," Annelie confessed, "but I know I'm not about to let her slip away from me. I've dreamed about getting to know her for years. Now that I'm starting to, she's everything I thought and more."

"Then go to lunch with her, talk to her, and learn who she really is."

"I will." Annelie glanced at her watch. "I've got a few more things to do, and then I'm out of here for an hour or so."

Margo drank the last of her tea and winked as she set the cup down. "Have fun."

***

Grey Parker rushed through the reception area, greeting Carolyn as soon as she stepped inside the door.

"There you are!" He beamed before turning to his assistant. "Camilla. Bring us some coffee and those chocolate biscotti, please."

Guiding Carolyn into his office, the balding agent grinned at her. "So, sweetheart, I'm taking the best care of you possible. I had Camilla work out the details yesterday. She printed your schedule for the three films and the conventions. You'll be busy the next three years, darling, but not to worry. It's a comfortable pace. You start preparing to shoot Dying for Fame in about two weeks." He pulled out a chair for Carolyn.

"Have you gotten the script yet? Any news of who's going to play Erica Becker and Gordon Fisher?"

"I've got it all under control. Chatted up Greg Horton, of course. You'll all get your scripts Friday at the big press conference at the Pierre." He handed Carolyn a document. "Here's the schedule for that, by the way. Starts at two o'clock on the dot, and the media will get a chance to talk to you, Harvey Davidson, and Helen St. Cyr."

"I was hoping for Helen and Harvey." Carolyn smiled broadly. "Will we do individual interviews or a joint session?"

"Just a joint session at this point. Horton's saving the individual interviews for the premiere. You know—Leno, Letterman, Conan, the works. You're going to be very busy, my dear. I also renegotiated the contracts for the three commercials you were supposed to do for the Volvo Corporation. Have to earn my keep, you know."

Carolyn had to laugh at her agent's obvious delight. She remembered how she, as a young actress, had practically stalked him until he agreed to see her. Their cooperation had been fruitful during the years, and now she considered him a friend.

"Good. I'm still trying to wrap my brain around the fact I'm going to play Maddox, let alone all the stuff that comes with it," Carolyn confessed. "I can't even begin to fathom the idea that this is just the beginning."

"You'll be identified as Maddox worldwide, sweetheart. The books have already been translated into ten languages. The Internet will probably overflow with rumors the next few days."

Carolyn smiled, shaking her head. "From what I experienced with the Maddox fans at the convention, there's no doubt about that." She reached for her bag. "Well, I'm on my way to have lunch, so I'll get out of your hair. Do you have the contracts I signed handy, by the way? I can take them with me."

Grey raised his eyebrows. "I told Camilla to send them by courier down to Supernova."

"I'm lunching with Annelie Peterson, so thought I'd give them directly to her."

Fortunately the courier hadn't arrived yet, so Camilla handed Carolyn the thick envelope containing Supernova's copies.

As Grey walked her to the door, he gave Carolyn's shoulders a friendly squeeze. "My best to the lovely Ms. Peterson, my dear."

"Of course."

Walking out the door and crossing the hallway to reach the elevators, Carolyn was already thinking about Annelie. It was only hours since they'd parted after a quick cup of coffee, and yet she couldn't wait to see her.

***

Annelie spotted Carolyn taking a sip of mineral water and smiled as she glided toward her famous friend.

"Hi, you."

"Hi." Annelie sat down next to Carolyn. "How's your day going?"

"Fine, thanks. Before I forget, I've got something for you." Carolyn reached into her bag. "Here are your copies."

"The contracts?" Annelie put them in her briefcase.

"Signed, sealed, and delivered," Carolyn quipped. "When I went by Grey's office, I realized how many plans I have to change to do these movies. It's a good thing I'd put off committing to any major projects after my last season."

"I'm glad you were available. I did check your schedule before I offered you the role, though. Just to be sure you wouldn't delay the project."

"I've never broken a contract in my life, but this could have been a first."

Annelie wrinkled her nose at the cheeky gleam in Carolyn's eyes. Knowing Carolyn's reputation for complete professionalism, she doubted it.

"Speaking of contracts," Carolyn continued, "I'm so glad to be working with some of the audiobook cast, especially Harvey and Helen." She paused. "Did they know during the convention?"

"Actually, they signed a few weeks ago, but they have a confidentiality clause too. Choosing Diana Maddox was the last piece of the puzzle. Your performance at the convention ended any doubts on that score."

"Thank you. So, how was your morning?"

"Very productive. We're trying to start new homeless shelters in several cities. It's just typical that several of my pet projects come to a critical point simultaneously." Annelie smiled and cocked her head. "And before you ask, yes, you're one of them."

Not sure how Carolyn would take the joke, she was delighted when the other woman tossed her head back and laughed. Several heads in the restaurant turned, and Annelie suddenly felt proud to be the one there with Carolyn. Of all the people who adored Carolyn Black, Annelie was the one who'd spent the night with her and was the center of her attention.

"So I'm a pet project." Carolyn grinned. "Well, I take that as a true compliment."

"Good. Now, have you ordered?"

"No, I waited for you. I peeked at the menu, though. The pasta looks tempting, but I don't know…Should I start watching my weight again?"

"Absolutely not. You're perfect, and if you're thinking of the role, remember your character is a real woman, not a supermodel."

Carolyn raised an eyebrow and pursed her lips. "So you mean I shouldn't try to look like something I'm not?"

Appalled before realizing Carolyn was yanking her chain, Annelie groaned. "Funny. You know what I mean. Be yourself. A little more you, a little less Carolyn Black."

As soon as she'd said the words, Annelie understood something about her final casting decision. It was not Carolyn's glamorous public persona that made her ideal for Maddox; it was her private self, the woman Annelie was coming to know. The fact that Carolyn could thrill the film's target audience would certainly help convince distributors to get on board with her, but the role itself needed the real person.

To her surprise, Annelie felt a soft caress along her stocking-clad leg under the table. Staring at Carolyn, she didn't see any indication the other woman was guilty of the furtive touch. "What are you up to?" she murmured, opening the menu.

"Me? Nothing. Except being myself, of course."

The foot kept up the caress, well hidden by the long white tablecloth. When it reached her knee, Annelie quickly grabbed it and tickled underneath. Watching Carolyn bite her lower lip, probably to keep from giggling, she let go after a stern look. "Behave."

"I would've, if you hadn't winked at me when you said it," Carolyn replied sweetly, but relented. "Okay, for now."

Amazed at Carolyn's unexpected playful side, Annelie tried to focus on the menu. Glancing up, she caught Carolyn looking at her with a warm expression.

"Are you going to the next convention?" Carolyn asked after they ordered pasta. "I went over the next month of commitments with Grey, and Los Angeles is coming up in less than four weeks."

"Yes, I'll be there. I haven't been to California in quite a while, so it'll be fun."

"I think so too. I usually stay there several months a year when I'm filming, but I haven't been at all this year."

Annelie gazed at her. "Do I take it you'd like me to be there?"

"Of course I would. I can't think of anyone I'd rather be with."

Feeling warmed inside by Carolyn's remark, Annelie fought to keep the exchange casual. "I'll arrange for all of us to travel from LaGuardia. This time, the crew from Florida won't go. Jem told me they're up to their necks with work. She sounded exhausted." Annelie shook her head.

"Jem's a good friend of yours from way back, isn't she?"

Annelie nodded. "I've known her since I was nineteen. When I moved to New York, she followed suit, and we shared an apartment the first months. And, no, Jem and I were never lovers." She smiled at Carolyn's sheepish look.

"I wasn't going to ask."

"But you wondered."

"Yes."

Annelie appreciated the honest reply and, slipping out of her shoes, gently tapped one of Carolyn's feet, making her jump. "It's okay to be interested."

As they ate in silence for a few minutes, Annelie wondered how much Carolyn knew of her past, how much Jared might have told her.

"What about you? Who's your oldest friend?" Annelie broke the silence.

Carolyn looked surprised. She opened her mouth as if to answer, but hesitated. "I guess my sister Beth is my best friend."

"I always wanted a brother or a sister." Annelie's voice was wistful. "I grew up in a neighborhood with lots of children, though. There was always someone to play with."

Carolyn only nodded and smiled. "I was a very serious child. I didn't have much time to play."

Though this last statement sparked Annelie's interest, she realized this wasn't the time or place to pursue it. She and Carolyn would have plenty of time to get to know each other.

"About dinner tonight…" Annelie began, her eyes narrowing at Carolyn's expectant look.

"Yes?"

Carolyn seemed as anxious about the future of their relationship as she was. "Is it okay if we just stay at the apartment? I'd planned for us to eat out, but on second thought, perhaps we need our privacy to talk."

Carolyn seemed to relax. "I like the idea of having you to myself." Blushing faintly, she paused before continuing. "Do you want me to… stay the night?"

"I'd love for you to stay, just like last night."

"All right." Carolyn leaned back against the leather backrest. "When do you want me?"

Annelie wanted to groan out loud at the other woman's ability to talk in double entendres. Not convinced Carolyn was unaware of it, she pushed her empty plate aside and leaned in closer across the table.

"Any time after seven o'clock."

***

Carolyn leaned down and let her fingertip lightly bounce along Annelie's CD collection. Jazz, classical, musicals, pop, and rock— Annelie had an eclectic taste in music. She selected Ella Fitzgerald, one of her favorite singers, letting the legendary voice calm her nerves.

"Good choice," Annelie said as she entered the living room carrying two large coffee mugs. "Want to sit out on the balcony?"

"Sure, it's a nice evening."

Annelie placed the coffee on a small table in front of a cane furniture suite and then walked over to a console by the door. After she pressed a few buttons, Ella's voice drowned out the distant noise of the traffic. Carolyn sat down on the soft cushions.

"Not too loud? Good." Annelie sat next to Carolyn. "It's been a while since I've been out here. I try to stay in Florida as much as I can, but I make sure the apartment is ready at a moment's notice."

"The view's wonderful." Carolyn reached for a mug and sipped the strong coffee. "Mmm, I needed this."

Annelie tilted her head to one side. "So, is it beginning to sink in yet—you playing Maddox?"

"Yes, and I meant to ask you, is it okay if I tell Beth and Joe? They won't tell anyone."

"That's fine. I trust your judgment. Does your sister know you were interested in the role?"

"I'm not sure, really. Our conversations have mostly been about her recently. So giving her something else to think about is probably a good thing."

Annelie angled her body toward Carolyn, pulling one leg up underneath her. "What does your sister do for a living?"

"Beth's a registered nurse."

"A nurse? She must possess a special kind of strength."

Carolyn stopped with the mug halfway to her mouth. "Yes," she said, "I think you're right. I guess I'm rather protective where she's concerned, since I raised her."

"I can understand that. What's her husband like?"

"Joe's a great guy and adores Beth and Pamela. He's not overly impressed with my fame, either, which makes it possible to talk to him like a human being. Actually, he treats me more like a sister than John does."

"John's an artist, isn't he?"

"Yes. I haven't seen him in a while. His choice more than mine. When he's in one of his creative phases, he treats me like a leper. You know, I'm so commercial I might contaminate his process." Carolyn smirked. "Personally, I think he's going through either a midlife crisis or a seriously delayed puberty."

Annelie smiled but didn't avert her eyes. "That's hard to take, isn't it?"

Carolyn shrugged. "Jokes aside, it feels like a rejection. I've always been proud of him and for some reason…" Her voice trailed off. "I'm not so sure he feels the same way."

Annelie reached out and took Carolyn's hand. "You have every reason to be proud of your success."

"Thanks, and I am. I've worked hard. Sometimes John seems to think I worked too hard at mothering him and Beth over the years. He was really angry after our father died."

"That was a long time ago."

"Yes, but he's still stubborn as a mule. It was easier with Beth. She just remembers losing one parent, not two."

Annelie pulled Carolyn's head onto her shoulder and encircled her with an arm. Resting her chin on Carolyn's head, she said in a low voice, "I know what it's like to lose a parent. My mother died when I was seventeen. In my case, my only parent."

"What about your father?"

"He left us when I was a little girl. I have no idea where he is. Sometimes I wonder, but I try not to dwell on it."

"That's so sad, Annelie. I'm sorry." Carolyn relaxed against her, inhaling the faint smell of lemon and enjoying the soft warmth of Annelie's skin above the neckline of her T-shirt.

"Have you thought about what we discussed last night?" Annelie asked. "About us?"

Annelie's faint tone of caution worried Carolyn. "Yes, but I wanted to tell you this first. I slept better last night than I have in a long time. Sure, I woke up a few times and didn't know where I was. But when I felt your arms around me, I went right back to sleep."

Full lips pressed against her hair, making Carolyn sigh and wrap one arm around Annelie's waist.

"I thought about you all day at work," Annelie murmured. "Margo picked up on it. She knows me so well. I told her about you. No details, of course, but she knows I'm interested. You don't have to worry. She'd never tell anyone."

"Does she know it's mutual?"

Annelie paused briefly. "Yes."

Carolyn tipped her head back, wanting to see Annelie's face. "What did she say?"

"That I should give you a chance. Give us a chance, really. She told me to form my own opinion about you."

"Smart lady. I like her."

"Margo isn't easily swayed. I could tell she was impressed by you. And I was too. It took a lot of courage to come find me yesterday."

Carolyn felt her cheeks grow warm. "I had to."

Raising a hand, Annelie traced her lover's lower lip. Suddenly finding it hard to catch her breath, Carolyn opened her mouth and inhaled deeply.

"So…" Carolyn's voice trailed off as she tried to focus. "What did you think…when you thought about me today?" She was afraid of the answer.

Annelie's hair tumbled down over her right shoulder as she turned her head to one side. As her fingers traced the arch of Carolyn's left eyebrow, she murmured, "Hearing your voice first thing in the morning. Waking up in the night, snuggled up behind you, how easily I could—" Annelie broke off.

"Could what?" Carolyn coaxed after a minute of silence.

"Could get used to you being there."

Tenderness overflowing at Annelie's apprehensive tone, Carolyn raised both hands to cup her face. "Oh, Annie," she whispered. "I don't know what to say to reassure you. I just know how right this feels, how much I want to hold on to you."

"What if you decide this isn't for you after all? What if you stumble on a man who can give you everything? What if another role comes along and you…It would hurt me so much, Carolyn. I don't think I could take it."

She knew Annelie's fear was talking, so Carolyn placed her fingertips over her lips. "Shh." Shifting on the couch, she pulled Annelie closer. "Life doesn't offer many guarantees. But I can't imagine ever feeling this way about anyone else, male or female. I've never felt this way before."

The tiny light that appeared in Annelie's eyes encouraged Carolyn to continue.

"There will always be roles I want, and I'll probably be prepared to walk through fire to get them. But I promise I won't do anything without talking with you.

"Doing the Maddox films, I'll have the luxury of being financially independent, so I can wait and pick the roles I really want. You know…I dream of going onstage again, doing a play, maybe in a small format."

"So, no big productions after Maddox?"

"Oh, I never say never—perhaps, if the script and the circumstances are right. I simply can't imagine doing anything that doesn't involve you." Carolyn felt tears sting behind her eyelids. "I'm beginning to understand I don't have to run anymore."

"What do you mean, run?"

"I've run to or from things so many times. I admit it's a rare feeling, and I'm a little afraid, but it feels so good to be where I want to be."

"And where is that?" Annelie asked gently.

Carolyn tipped her head back, looking into the ice blue eyes. "Here, in your arms, in your life." Unable to resist, she took Annelie's hand and raised it to her lips, placing a soft kiss on the fingertips.

Annelie's eyes darkened, her lips parting as she inhaled deeply. "Carolyn," she murmured and slid her fingers along Carolyn's cheek, moving up into her hair.

Closing her eyes, Carolyn felt satin-smooth lips brush her forehead, dip down to kiss her eyelids, then follow her nose, only to bypass her lips. Annelie nuzzled her cheeks, kissing her way down Carolyn's neck and making her sigh when pleasure rippled down her spine.

"Oh, God…don't tease," Carolyn breathed. "Kiss me." She opened her eyes enough to see the desire in Annelie's before her lover claimed her mouth.

Carolyn's eyes fluttered shut again when she parted her lips, allowing Annelie access. Tongues met, played, and tasted the softness, their passion overwhelming. Carolyn drew Annelie closer and felt strong hands move over her back and pull her silk blouse loose from her slacks. With slow caresses Annelie stroked up and down underneath her clothes. Wanting to experience the same, Carolyn slid her arms down along Annelie's back.

As she suddenly remembered how Annelie had avoided her touch in Orlando, Carolyn stopped and held her breath. Feeling utterly clumsy, she withdrew, ending the kiss.

Annelie didn't let go completely, but gave Carolyn some space. "You okay?"

"Yes."

Annelie scrutinized her. "Really? I can see there's something."

Carolyn swallowed hard and tried to smile, failing miserably. "I'm sorry, I…I want to touch you, but I was afraid you'd pull back, like before." Her heart pounded in her chest, as she waited to see how Annelie would react. To her surprise, Annelie rose from the couch, still holding her hands.

"Come with me. It's getting chilly out here. No, no, leave the coffee—it can wait till tomorrow."

Silently, Annelie circled Carolyn's shoulders with her arm and guided her toward the bedroom. The room was lit by two small bedside lamps, which cast a soft glow on the walls. Stopping at the foot of the bed, Annelie turned toward Carolyn and held her gently at half an arm's length.

"I wasn't about to pull back, not this time. We agreed to take things slow, as slow as it takes to still feel comfortable, but you can still touch me any way you want."

Her mouth suddenly dry, Carolyn tried to moisten her lips with the tip of her tongue. "I feel clumsy."

"You're not." Annelie pulled Carolyn's arms around her waist. "Here. Hold me." She buried both her hands in Carolyn's hair.

Carolyn rubbed her cheek against Annelie's shoulder, again inhaling the faint scent of her citrus soap. Her hands slipped under the T-shirt, and she spread her fingers wide, trying to feel as much of Annelie's smooth skin as possible. Stroking up and down along her back, she reveled in how exquisite Annelie felt. Carolyn moved her hands up farther, finding the clasp to Annelie's bra. Her fingers lingered there, carefully examining it.

"You can unhook it, if you want," Annelie whispered, gently pulling Carolyn's head back, kissing her lips.

Carolyn gave a muted gasp but managed to undo the white lace bra. With no obstacle in the way, she slid her hands up and down the satiny skin. "You feel wonderful," she murmured. "Simply wonderful."

Annelie let go of Carolyn for a moment and pulled her own T-shirt over her head, taking her bra along with it.

All Carolyn could do was look. Annelie's full breasts were pale compared to the rest of her slightly tanned body, with plump, pink nipples, now pebbled and, she hoped, eager to be touched. Carolyn lifted her gaze, looking up at Annelie, who stood there half naked, with her hair tousled, trusting her.

"Annie…" She raised her hands, cupping Annelie's shoulders, pulling her closer and kissing her right collarbone. "I'm not sure this qualifies as taking it slow, but I'm certainly not uncomfortable." Turning her head sideways, she nuzzled the curve of the soft breast.

"Me either." Annelie's voice was husky. "Mmm."

With reverence, Carolyn lowered her hands and cautiously cupped the full breasts, tingling as she touched Annelie in this intimate way. The hard nipples pushed against her palms, making her want to explore precisely how rigid they could become. Her own breasts ached to be touched, but she focused on Annelie, absorbed with the feel of her body.

As she moved her hands in slow circles, the puckered skin tightened even more. "Am I doing this right?" Carolyn was breathless and a trembling smile formed on her lips. "Do you like it like this?" Her fingers tweaked the nipples in a way she herself liked.

Annelie swayed and held on tighter to Carolyn's shoulders. "Yes, yes…please, I need to…sit down."

"Here, let's get undressed first," Carolyn suggested, suddenly feeling self-confident. She unbuttoned her own blouse and pulled it off and was reaching for the clasp of her bra between her breasts when Annelie's hands stopped her.

"Let me." Annelie unhooked Carolyn's black satin bra, her eyes locked on the skin she was revealing. She reached down and undid Carolyn's slacks, pushing them down slender hips.

Standing before Annelie, Carolyn felt her heart overflow with emotions. Fast-growing tenderness rose within her, along with the arousal stirring deep inside. She trembled, unable to take her eyes off the enticing curves before her.

Annelie undressed until she too was wearing only sheer white panties. "Are we going too fast?" she whispered.

"I think we are," Carolyn allowed, her voice throatier than usual. "I just don't know how to slow down or stop. I can't even remember why I should…"

She pulled Annelie into a firm embrace, their bodies meshing together as she claimed the other woman's mouth, parting her lips to kiss her feverishly. When she felt Annelie's tongue enter her mouth, caressing hers over and over, she nudged her toward the bed, and they both tumbled onto it, inadvertently breaking the kiss. Reaching for Annelie once more, she held her close while she let her lips trace her lover's jawline, down her long neck toward her breasts.

Closing her mouth over Annelie's taut nipple for the first time and hearing her name whimpered in response was something Carolyn knew she would never forget. The taste and texture of the pebbled skin, combined with the trembling hands laced in her hair, made her forget any insecurities. She hooked one leg across Annelie's legs, holding her tight, while she cupped her lover's breasts, alternating between them.

"Carolyn, please…oh…" Annelie gasped. "You're driving me crazy. Please come here." She pulled Carolyn up against her, hugging her and placing kisses on her forehead. "Shh…now we're moving too fast."

"Don't you want me?" Carolyn murmured huskily, her heart hammering in her chest.

"I want you more than I can say," Annelie vowed. "I could ravage you all night and it still wouldn't be enough, but I don't want to rush things." She leaned over Carolyn and kissed her lips gently. "I want us to do this slow, and right."

"But it feels so right." Carolyn blushed but kept her promise to level with Annelie on everything. "I'm on fire. I want you so much."

A faint smile appeared on Annelie's lips. "And I want you. Your touch, your body…everything about you." She reached down and cupped Carolyn's left breast, gently flicking her thumb over the nipple, which was as hard as her own. "I could go into detail about what I want to do with you and for how long…" She slowly licked her lips.

"Annelie," Carolyn growled, her voice a low purr. "So, what do we do when we feel this way, then? Leave the room?"

Annelie kissed the tip of Carolyn's nose. "No, silly. Let's just play it by ear. We'll know when the time's right. Tonight, I wanted you to see how much I want you."

Carolyn tugged at a blanket lying at their feet. "And you did," she whispered. "You let me touch you. You liked how it felt."

"No, you're wrong," Annelie objected, pulling Carolyn closer under the blanket. "I loved how it felt."

***

The limo driver navigated through the heavy Manhattan traffic on the way to the Pierre, a famous hotel next to Central Park. The press conference would take place in the Wedgwood Room.

Annelie glanced at Carolyn, noticing a frown on the otherwise smooth forehead as she stared out the tinted window.

"You were exhausted when you got back yesterday. I never had a chance to ask what your sister and brother-in-law said when they heard about the role."

Carolyn turned her attention from the traffic and gave Annelie a quick smile. "Beth was delighted, of course—partly because I'll be working in New York once we start to shoot. I tried to tell her I won't be able to go to D.C. very often during filming, but I'm not sure she heard me."

"How's she doing? She okay?"

Carolyn raised a hand and rubbed the back of her head. "I think she's doing fairly well. However, she seemed a bit…I don't know, too animated. She couldn't sit still while we were talking. She kept getting up to fetch things or to go to the bathroom. Joe seemed concerned."

"Did he say anything to you?" Annelie had felt Carolyn's stress level rising ever since she'd returned from the capital the previous night.

"We talked when he walked me to the cab. Sounds like all her test results are fine. She doesn't show any of the signs she did when she lost the other two babies. Still, I couldn't help feeling something was wrong."

Annelie took Carolyn's hand. "She's scared. Perhaps her fear's affecting her more than she realizes. She's at a crucial period, isn't she?"

"Yes, she's eleven weeks now. I know time will work in her favor, and I tried to tell her so."

"I'm glad you could be the bearer of good news. They must've been thrilled you're going to play Maddox."

"Me too. The news did distract Beth for a bit."

They rode silently in the limousine the rest of the way, Annelie careful not to let go of Carolyn's hand until the vehicle stopped at the back entrance of the Pierre.

"We've arranged to come in through the back door, since we don't want to spoil the surprise. If everything goes according to plan, Harvey and Helen should be there already." Annelie squeezed Carolyn's knee reassuringly just before the driver opened the door and offered them a hand.

"Welcome." Gregory met them at the hotel's rear entrance. "Nice to see you again, Ms. Black. Annelie, everyone's here and we're ready to begin."

"I know you wanted me to speak, but I'm glad we decided for you to make the introductions," Annelie said.

"Only if you listen in the wings and keep an eye on us." He grinned.

"That's my specialty. So, how's the media turnout?"

"The place is packed. All the major networks and entertainment channels are here, as well as newspapers and magazines, even several e-zines."

Annelie discussed some last-minute details with Gregory while they walked through the hotel toward the Wedgwood Room. She glanced at Carolyn gliding beside them, concerned as she saw the other woman press her lips together. She hoped this was merely a sign of how Carolyn focused before an appearance.

Harvey, his wife, and Helen greeted them in the green room. To Annelie's relief, Helen's presence seemed to distract Carolyn, who lit up as soon as she saw the other actress.

Gregory winked at them, rubbing his hands together. "Wish me luck, folks. This is it."

As he disappeared through the doorway, Annelie could hear cameras go off before the door closed behind him. Someone spoke Annelie's name, making her turn around.

"Annelie, good to see you again." Regina Carmichael extended a hand. A striking woman in her mid-fifties, she had been Annelie's first choice as director of the Maddox films. The charismatic woman was known for adapting several other best-sellers for the big screen. Regina kept a strict regime on her sets and enjoyed an impeccable reputation for sticking to budget without compromising on quality.

"Regina, you look wonderful. Carolyn, this is Regina Carmichael. Regina, Carolyn Black."

"Regina, how are you? It's good to see you again."

"I'm fine, and you look ravishing. I told you, black's your color."

Carolyn gave a husky laugh. "Oh, please, not again."

"A private joke?" Annelie looked from one woman to the other. "Now I'm curious."

"I directed Carolyn in a movie made for TV about five years ago. Our designer insisted on dressing Carolyn in psychedelic colors, so we had constant battles with wardrobe. We tried to tell her—where this lady is concerned, less is more, and preferably black."

Annelie had to laugh at Carolyn's visible distaste. "Psychedelic colors? Oh, goodness, that must've been a sight."

"It sure was. I confiscated the negatives." Carolyn smirked.

"Ms. Carmichael, you're on."

Regina squared her shoulders. "See you in there."

Annelie watched as Carolyn began to dig frantically in her purse. "Did you forget something?"

"Damn it, I need a smoke before I go out there." She sighed impatiently when her search seemed fruitless. "Shit."

Annelie cupped the other woman's elbow and guided her toward a private niche. "Carolyn, you can't smoke in here, and you don't have time to do it anywhere else."

Dark gray eyes looked back at Annelie. Frowning, Carolyn slapped her palm against the wall. "God, I don't know why I'm so damn nervous. I hate when my nerves do this to me. I should know how to deal with the jitters better."

"I know a way to beat them." Carolyn's eyes narrowed, and Annelie knew she was taking a big chance.

"You do?"

Glancing over her shoulder to make sure they were out of sight, Annelie pulled Carolyn into her arms.

"You'll do just fine out there, and I have something for you far better than any cigarette."

"Really?" Carolyn breathed, wrapping her arms around Annelie's waist.

"Yes."

Tipping Carolyn's head back with a gentle fingertip under her chin, Annelie brushed her lips softly.

"Annie…" A soft gasp.

Taking advantage of the half-open mouth, Annelie deepened the distracting kiss, which turned into a passionate embrace. Only the fact they were close to Helen and Harvey kept Annelie from losing herself in the woman in her arms. Slowly letting go, she looked down at the dazed expression in Carolyn's eyes. "There, you see, all relaxed."

Relieved to see the familiar slow smile appear, Annelie dared breathe again. "So, purely for medicinal purposes?" When Carolyn wrinkled her nose, she added, "I aim to please."

Carolyn laughed and reached into her purse. "Lipstick for me and handkerchief for you. You were wearing colorless gloss, right? Here, let me help you." She carefully wiped Annelie's lips before reapplying wine-shaded lipstick to her own.

As Carolyn turned to go back into the green room, Annelie stopped her. "I have a suggestion," she said in a low voice. "When we're done here, we have a week before the whole circus begins. Why don't we go back down to Florida in the meantime? I have things to take care of down there and—"

"And I need to start studying the script. Sounds like a plan. Can we leave tonight?"

"If possible, or tomorrow morning."

"Deal."

They walked back into the room where Helen was sitting on a couch, talking with Harvey and his wife. Annelie looked at Carolyn as she made her way over to the other three, now every inch the self-assured professional.

The door opened to the Wedgwood Room, and they could hear Gregory announce, "I present to you two amazing actresses and an equally splendid actor, who will portray the key characters in Delia Carlton's famous novels."

The actors walked over to the door.

"First, in the lead role, as Diana Maddox—Carolyn Black!"

Carolyn took one step through the door before turning her head over her shoulder and shooting Annelie a broad smile. Winking, she mouthed, "Showtime."

Chapter Eleven

Annelie smiled as she regarded the sleeping form to her left. Carolyn had rushed from the hotel to her apartment, picked up a few necessities, taken a cab to Annelie's place, and ridden with Annelie to LaGuardia. Though excited about the press conference, she had eventually fallen asleep on the flight to Miami.

"Can I get you anything?" a flight attendant inquired.

"No, thanks, I'm fine," Annelie said, glancing up. "Oh, wait. May I have a blanket for my friend?"

When the flight attendant returned with a blue blanket, Annelie tucked it around Carolyn, careful not to wake her. Leaning back in her seat, she smiled at the thought of a week in warm weather, alone, more or less, with Carolyn. She longed to hold the other woman in her arms, undisturbed, just being close. Imagining Carolyn's body fitting so well with her own, when they snuggled during the night, made Annelie's heart beat faster.

There was something frail about her delicate hands, and yet they could be so strong when pushing Annelie onto her back, roaming her body. Carolyn's eyes, changeable, commanding, yet vulnerable, were one of her biggest assets, adding to her mystery. Annelie had seen them shoot daggers, well up with tears, darken with passion, and light up with mischief and laughter.

At first, she thought it was yet another actor's trick, a learned trait the other woman could switch on and off like a faucet. She still considered Carolyn artful but had consciously decided to trust that her lover wouldn't put on an act around her, at least not when it mattered.

Carolyn stirred next to her, reaching out a hand from underneath the blanket. "Annie?"

"I'm here, Carolyn." Annelie took the hand in hers. "Go back to sleep. We won't be in Miami for another hour."

"Thought you'd gone," the husky voice whispered. "Perhaps a dream."

"Shh. I'm not going anywhere without you."

Annelie kept Carolyn's hand, stroking across it with her thumb. This touch seemed to soothe the exhausted woman, who snuggled closer and let her head fall on Annelie's shoulder. "You promise?"

"I promise."

The soft scent of Carolyn's musky perfume enveloped Annelie, making her stealthily kiss the auburn hair. Tenderness almost choking her, she rubbed her cheek against the top of Carolyn's head, not caring about the flight attendant's curious looks.

***

"Home, sweet home," Carolyn exclaimed when the cab drove away.

"Glad you think of it that way," Annelie remarked, pulling her bag up the driveway. "It's a nice change from the busy streets of New York. It's amazing how quickly you get caught up in the pace up there."

Carolyn smiled at Annelie as she wrinkled her nose. "I know. We were there less than a week, and still it's such a relief to be back here. Perhaps the fact we're going to stay in New York while shooting the movie factors in?"

"Sounds plausible."

They walked up the driveway and Carolyn stopped at the stairs leading up to the garage apartment, suddenly feeling hesitant and ridiculously shy. "Well, I—"

"Do you—"

They both laughed and indicated the other should continue.

"You first," Carolyn insisted.

Annelie shrugged. "I was going to ask if you'd rather stay at the house with me. I mean, you can use the garage apartment as much as you like…but I'd miss you if…" Her voice trailed off as she gestured between the house and the apartment, a faint blush on her cheeks.

"Same here, but I didn't know how to put it," Carolyn confessed. "I didn't want you to think I was taking things for granted."

"I know you're not. I want you with me as much as possible while we have some free time."

"You're right. So, should I unpack in the guest room in the house for now?"

"No, I'd rather you unpack in my closet and stay with me in my bedroom."

Carolyn inhaled deeply. "But what about Mary?"

"Mary's loyal and won't raise an eyebrow. She's as straightforward as can be and protective of me, which extends to friends and people I love."

Carolyn wanted to ask Annelie what category she fit in but knew the driveway in front of the house, fully visible to the neighbors, wasn't the right place.

"Lead the way," she murmured, feeling her cheeks burn.

Annelie gave her a curious look before they walked inside.

The cool house was a welcome change from the humid evening outside. Annelie walked up to the small marble table in the hallway and picked up a note. "Mary's shopped for us and fixed something to eat."

"Great, but I'm not hungry yet."

The women walked to Annelie's bedroom, Carolyn stopping on the threshold to take it all in. The warm, golden sand walls, chocolate brown curtains, and elevated queen-size bed reflected their owner's personality, Carolyn thought. Feeling how exhausted she was, she couldn't wait to lie down on the golden brown and off-white checkered bedspread and rest her head on the large pillows. The Polarfleece blankets folded neatly at the foot of the bed looked soft and were just what she needed to wrap around herself.

Annelie turned off the ceiling light and switched on the small lamps in the window and on the nightstands.

"Better," she said. "I don't like ceiling lights."

"Cozier," Carolyn agreed. She pulled her bag into the room and looked around for the closet door.

"I'm so tired. I think I'll unpack tomorrow. It's late."

"Good idea. Why don't I run the shower—" Annelie stopped as Carolyn pursed her lips. "What?"

"You have a tub?"

"Come here." Annelie smiled as she nudged Carolyn toward another door, next to the closet. "Voilá."

Of course Annelie's bathroom was a study in understated elegance and functionality. It featured a large shower stall and an oval Jacuzzi.

"Oh, wonderful." Carolyn sighed at the sight of the large tub. "I've never seen a Jacuzzi with that many jets."

Annelie leaned down, turning the faucet to fill it up. "It'll only be a minute."

"Great." Carolyn turned and walked into the bedroom again, rummaging around her bag for her short bathrobe. She tossed it on the bed and had begun to undress when gentle hands wrapped around her waist from behind.

"I can see who my biggest rivals are going to be," Annelie breathed against her neck. "Anything with water…pools, tubs, showers, oceans, lakes…"

Pivoting, Carolyn gave a smile as she raised one eyebrow. "Oh, you don't have any rivals, Annelie—none whatsoever. In fact…" She hesitated and her heart picked up speed. "In fact, I'd like you to join me, if you want."

Annelie's eyes darkened, and her lips parted. "You sure? We're supposed to take things slow, remember? I don't want you to feel obligated to—"

Carolyn interrupted Annelie by kissing her quickly on the mouth. "You must be joking. Obligated? Obligated to have the most beautiful woman in the world in the tub with me?" She wiggled her eyebrows, making Annelie laugh.

"All right, I'd love to take a bath with you."

The women undressed, each careful not to ogle the other too blatantly, but Carolyn was very aware of the tall, voluptuous body next to her. They returned to the bathroom, Annelie holding Carolyn's hand as she stepped into the tub and slowly sank into the hot water, moaning at its effect on her sore muscles.

"Oh, God, I was stiffer than I realized. This is heaven."

"Just wait till we start the jets," Annelie said as she joined her. "You want me behind you?"

"Yes, please. It seems to work well when we sleep, so why not?"

Carolyn jumped when Annelie started the jets. The water flowed and bubbled around her, massaging every inch of her body. Leaning back against her lover, she savored the feeling of soft skin. Annelie stretched out her legs on both sides of Carolyn, wiggling to get comfortable. Carolyn moved, twisting to the left so she could wrap an arm around

Annelie's hips and rest her head between her breasts. She closed her eyes, sighing in relief.

"Comfy?" Annelie asked, raising her voice to drown out the jets.

"Sinfully so."

"Good. Me too."

They lay in silence for a while, every now and then softly stroking each other wherever their hands made contact with hot skin. Eventually Carolyn raised her head and looked drowsily at Annelie.

"Think it's time to rinse off and go to bed. I'm too tired to eat. I'll do Mary's food justice tomorrow, I promise."

Annelie reached out and turned off the jets. "Let me help you. You look positively drunk."

"I'm very sober—but drained."

"I know. Come here."

Annelie helped Carolyn to her feet and into the shower stall. Slightly cooler water rinsed them off, helping Carolyn find her bearings. Annelie wrapped her in a large towel from a heated bar next to the tub and then took one for herself. "You okay?"

"I'm fine. I'll just grab my toothbrush out of my bag and—"

"Here, use one of my new ones." Annelie pulled out a drawer. "You're too exhausted to do anything but stumble into bed."

"That's what old age brings you," Carolyn joked.

"Oh, don't worry. I'm going to stumble right behind you."

Folding back the covers, Carolyn climbed in between the cool Egyptian cotton sheets, too worn out to bother with a nightgown. Annelie switched off the bathroom light and left on only a small lamp on the dresser before joining Carolyn. Unlike Carolyn, she wore a long white T-shirt.

"Mmm," Carolyn murmured and rolled into Annelie's arms. "We smell very nice. Is it vanilla?"

"Uh-huh."

Soft lips brushed her forehead. Drowsily looking up at her lover, Carolyn smiled. "Whatever it is, I like it." She raised a heavy arm and pulled Annelie down, kissing her. "And…I like you." Another kiss. "A lot." Her voice was a mere whisper. "Oh, God, an awful lot…"

"You're slurring. Come here." Annelie took the naked woman in her arms. "Temptress." Snuggling close, she arranged them with Carolyn's back toward her, one arm under her neck and the other along her hip. "We have the whole weekend to relax before I have to go to work."

"Good."

Carolyn felt herself drift off, her backside covered by Annelie, feeling utterly safe.

"Annelie?"

"Yes."

"Sleep tight."

Annelie brushed a kiss along Carolyn's shoulder. "You too."

***

"I can't believe I'm this late!" Annelie rushed through the kitchen, grabbing a shoulder bag and a briefcase before turning to Carolyn, who sat enjoying her first coffee of the day. "I never oversleep."

"Must be me, then." Carolyn grinned. "Calm down. They won't start without you."

Annelie made a face. "I hate to keep people waiting." She shot the amused woman a questioning look. "What'll you be up to today?"

"I'm going to start reading the script, swim, and also…I might meet Jared for lunch. He left a message on my answering machine. I've still got some clothes and other things at his condo—my address book, for one."

Carolyn noticed a subtle change in Annelie's demeanor. Squaring her shoulders and slightly setting her jaw, she gave an automatic smile. "Of course." Her voice was polite.

Uncertain what to say, Carolyn rose from the chair and tried to change the subject. "Are you sure it's okay if I move my things in here instead of the garage apartment?"

Annelie avoided her glance for a moment. Finally looking straight at Carolyn with expressionless eyes, she spoke in a low tone of voice. "Naturally. Feel free to use any space you see fit."

Knowing something was wrong, Carolyn walked up to Annelie and pulled her into an embrace. "Thank you." She tipped her head back and was surprised when Annelie's lips descended on hers, making her open her mouth and allow Annelie's tongue to examine her completely. Her head spinning, Carolyn clung to the woman now pressing her against the counter as she plundered her mouth. Caught up in the passion, Carolyn returned the kiss as fire rose inside her. She gasped for air as they pulled back, and she could see a myriad of emotions in Annelie's eyes.

"How am I supposed to let you go to work when you kiss me like that?" Carolyn said huskily. "Goodness, Annelie…"

"I'll be home around three, an hour later at the most."

Carolyn swallowed hard. "I'll be here. I can't wait."

A faint smile flickered over Annelie's beautiful features. "Me neither."

As Annelie walked through the house and out the door, Carolyn grabbed her mug of coffee and took a deep sip to calm her aching body.

What the hell just happened? She sensed she had involuntarily caused Annelie pain, and it stung her deeply. The mention of seeing Jared, no matter how trivial the reason and even though he had never been her lover, obviously tapped into Annelie's fear that Carolyn would leave her for a man. Me and my big mouth. I should have realized… Imagining the reverse situation, that Annelie was meeting an ex-lover at this fragile point in their budding relationship, made her stomach twitch. Later, once they were more established and secure in their roles together, it would be another matter.

"Damn," Carolyn whispered and picked up the cordless phone. She left a message on Jared's answering service asking him to ship her things to her New York address. No way would she risk seeing him; in fact, she was relieved not having to do so.

Carolyn sat down on the living-room couch, eager to start on the script. After only a few pages, she realized Delia Carlton must have been pivotal in adapting the novel. The language flowed, and the scenes were poignant, exciting, and occasionally even heartbreaking. Several scenes between Maddox and Erica Becker would challenge her and Helen. Carolyn read several of her lines aloud, absorbed in her work.

She wondered how Regina would tackle the romantic scenes, especially the controversial and quite explicit scene where Maddox and Becker made love in Maddox's office late one night. It would obviously entail partial nudity, which she had no problem with as long as it moved the story along. Reading through the scene again, Carolyn blushed, suddenly imagining Annelie as Becker.

Sleeping close to Annelie every night, Carolyn had shared passionate caresses with her, yet both women still restrained themselves. Carolyn had learned a few things that drove Annelie insane with pleasure. To her surprise, the serene and composed woman loved for Carolyn to lavish her with rough but loving attention. Carolyn had once used her teeth on Annelie's nipples during a particularly heated moment, chewing and tugging at the sensitive tips. Suddenly afraid she had gone too far, she apologized for being too eager, but Annelie arched beneath her, moaning and begging for more. That was the closest they had come to making love since Orlando. Carolyn had eventually pulled back, forcing herself not to spread Annelie's legs and plunge into the softness between them.

Checking her watch, Carolyn realized it was already time for her swim. She still felt a little unsettled after the emotional scene this morning, a warning tension around her temples. Hopefully, swimming would relieve it.

Dressed in her black swimsuit, she dived into the pool and began her laps, relieved how the strenuous exercise soothed her muscles. Carolyn lost track of time, and only when her legs felt like lead did she swim over to the ladder and climb up, her muscles trembling with an exhilarating fatigue.

A movement in the corner of her eyes made her jump. Mary was not due until tomorrow. Then she saw Annelie enter her study, not even looking toward the patio or the pool area.

Carolyn wrapped a towel around her shoulders as she padded through the living-room door and toward the study. When she entered, Annelie was browsing through a folder, her back toward Carolyn. A quick glance toward the wall clock let Carolyn know it was one thirty.

She wrapped her arms around Annelie from behind and planted a kiss on her neck just below the ponytail. "Welcome home. You're early."

Annelie gave a muted gasp and pivoted in Carolyn's arms.

"Whoa, Carolyn, you scared the living daylights out of me! I didn't think you'd be home."

"I never went out. Truth be told, I was relieved to just leave a message for Jared to ship my things. I've been reading the script and, as you can tell…swimming."

A small light, a glimpse of hope, glimmered in Annelie's eyes, making Carolyn's heart gallop. "I was stupid," Annelie whispered. "And jealous. I'm sorry."

"Don't be. I reversed roles, and the mere thought made me turn green. We're not ready for male companions and the Lisa-Betty-Jennys of our past yet."

Annelie leaned back against the desk and raised an eyebrow. "The Lisa-Betty-Jennys? What are you talking about?"

"I don't know the names of any of your exes—and I don't want to, yet."

"Lisa-Betty-Jenny. Sounds like you think I've had a complete harem," Annelie muttered, but the happy spark was back in her eyes.

"Of course you have. You're the most beautiful woman in the world—who could ever resist you?"

Annelie tossed her head back and broke out in uncharacteristically resounding laughter. "God, you kill me, Carolyn," she snorted. "Your sense of humor. Wicked and wacko."

"Wicked and wacko, huh?" Carolyn shook her head. "Sounds like a sordid C-movie to me."

"If I ever produce such a movie, I know who to typecast."

"Watch it, Peterson. You're skating on thin ice."

"Oh, yeah?" Annelie disregarded the fact that Carolyn was soaking wet under the towel and pulled her in for a kiss. "How's this for melting the ice?" She dipped her head and captured the smiling mouth beneath hers.

Feeling both relieved and euphoric because they were back on track, Carolyn returned the kiss, losing herself in Annelie's familiar taste. "You melt me…you turn me on like no one has ever done," she moaned. "You are so wonderful."

"And you're shivering. You can't stand here, half naked and wet, with the air-conditioning going."

"I should take a shower, I guess."

Annelie raised a hand and tucked a dripping lock of hair behind Carolyn's ear. "I can scrub your back, if you like."

Carolyn sighed in contentment. "Please, feel free to scrub any body part you like."

"I'll remind you that you said that."

***

Annelie checked the rearview mirror of the powerful car she was driving. The tan leather seat smelled of lemon leather polish. The 1969

Tweety-Bird yellow Chevrolet Corvette Stingray was in mint condition, and she had given the dealer a handsome tip for making this happen.

She had called him from New York. Remembering the longing tone in the actress's voice when she talked about such a car, Annelie had decided to surprise her with one.