Charlene had arrived three days ago, called him, leaving a message but receiving no response. Texts and emails went unanswered, and now she realised that he’d never given her an address. In the end she’d booked a place on the tour as the only way of seeing him.
She’d looked up the show online and learned the background story, and the role Lee was playing.
Up-and-coming English actor Lee Anton will be making his debut as Dr Franklin Baker, newly seconded to work at the Mercyland Hospital, where he rapidly becomes the friend and confidant of Brad Harrison, (played by Travis Falcon) and the only one who suspects his mysterious secret.
That morning she’d bought a newspaper, attracted by the headline—HEAVENLY ANTICS, the latest startling story from the show everyone’s talking about.
But to her disappointment there was only the briefest mention of Lee. Most of the page was taken up by a photograph of a man sitting with a girl on his lap, his shirt open to the waist, her hand seductively caressing his bare chest. His face was only half visible and for a fearful moment she checked in case it was Lee. But it wasn’t and she breathed again. It was only Travis Falcon.
Whoever he was, she thought, uninterested.
She knew she must be careful. Exposed to the glamorous temptations of Los Angeles, Lee was bound to have indulged himself, and she wouldn’t spoil things between them by harsh judgements. That was in the past. When he’d heard her news everything would be all right, and only the future would matter.
But she was glad it wasn’t Lee in the picture.
The queue was moving. Then she was inside, following the others in the guided tour that would end in the special privilege of being allowed to watch a scene being rehearsed. She paid only the slightest attention, while all the time her eyes wandered, seeking Lee.
Inside her head two voices were raging at each other.
He’s dumped you. Why don’t you face it?
And the other voice.
But he doesn’t know about … When you tell him the news it’ll make all the difference.
And then she saw him.
He was down the far end of a corridor, reading something on the wall. She tried to call him but her emotion caused her to choke. Suddenly he turned away and vanished around a corner. She began to run, not looking where she was going until she collided with an obstacle, felt two arms tighten around her and heard a man’s voice say, ‘Hey, steady there.’
‘Let me go. I must catch him.’
Charlene wrenched herself free and ran along the rest of the corridor, turning the corner, then stopping abruptly, backing off, hand to mouth to silence the joyful cry that had been about to burst from her.
Now she could see him again: Lee, half turned away from her, hailing someone just out of sight.
‘Where have you been?’ he called. ‘I’ve been looking for you. Come here and kiss me.’
The next moment a girl appeared from nowhere, throwing herself into his wide open arms, kissing him again and again between squeals of laughter, crying, ‘Oh, darling, it’s such wonderful news!’
He was laughing too, kissing her back, saying breathlessly, ‘Hey that’s right, give me a kiss … and another … and another … Oh, I like that … oh, yes … oh, yes—’
He was lurching backwards under the girl’s impact, until they both vanished around a corner. Charlene felt as though her heart had stopped dead. Not just her heart, but the whole world. That had been Lee. No—impossible. Yes—it had been Lee. No—yes—no—yes—no!
She turned wildly, knowing she had to get out of here. But her way was blocked by the man who’d been there before and who’d reappeared.
‘I’m … I’m sorry—’
He put a friendly hand on her shoulder.
‘Don’t get upset. That guy’s not worth it.’
‘I—’ She tried to speak normally, but only a choke would come.
‘Don’t cry,’ he advised her.
‘I’m not crying,’ she said fiercely, although tears were streaming down her cheeks.
He didn’t waste time arguing, just took out a clean handkerchief and dabbed her face gently.
‘People kiss each other all the time,’ he said. ‘It doesn’t mean anything, not in this place. Kissing is just like saying hello.’
She knew that what she’d seen was far more than that, but he was trying to be kind, and she forced herself to be calm.
‘Yes—yes—thank you. I’ll stop bothering you now—’
‘You’re not bothering me. I just don’t like to see you upset. Do you know him?’
‘I thought I did—I mean, yes—no—’
He nodded, as though fully comprehending her confusion.
‘I can’t say I like him much myself,’ he admitted. ‘Are you one of his fans? You sound English. Did you follow him here?’
‘No!’ she said fiercely. ‘Of course I didn’t. What a thing to say!’
‘Sorry, sorry. No offence. So you haven’t lost your heart to him?’
‘No!’ she said violently. ‘That would be just silly—mooning over a pretty face just because he’s an actor.’
‘It has been known,’ he murmured wryly. ‘But if you haven’t, that’s good. This is no place for people with hearts. What’s your name?’
‘Charlene Wilkins. Who are you?’
She sensed, rather than saw, a tremor of surprise go through him. ‘What did you say?’
‘I just asked your name. Have I seen you before somewhere?’
‘Evidently not. My name’s Travis Falcon. I work here.’
‘Oh, yes—you’re in the show, aren’t you?’
His lips twitched with something that might have been amusement. ‘That’s one way of putting it. Now, let’s get out of here. We’ve got time for a coffee before I start work.’
‘No, I’m fine … fine—honestly—’
It was a lie. Appalled, she could feel herself on the verge of hysterics as the truth crashed in on her.
‘Come on,’ he said firmly. ‘I’m not leaving you on your own in a strange place. Not given the state you’re in.’
But to be alone was what she needed in case the screams rising within her broke out. When he reached for her she flailed madly to fend him off, and the next moment she heard a loud crack as her hand made contact with his face.
The sound was shocking and the way he rubbed his cheek told its own story. Charlene backed away, hands over her mouth, eyes wide with horror. But, incredibly, he wasn’t offended.
‘Hey, it’s not that bad,’ Travis said. ‘No big deal.’
‘It is. Oh, heavens, I hit you really hard. I didn’t mean to—I’m sorry—’
‘You will be if you don’t let me buy you a coffee. Come on, no more arguments or I’ll get tough.’
His tone was light but he held her arm in a no-nonsense grip. Nor could she have defied him now. All the strength seemed to have drained out of her. The next thing she knew, she was sitting at a table in the corner of the studio canteen.
‘I’m going to the counter,’ he said. ‘Don’t even think of escaping while I’m gone, or I’ll