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Annelie shook her head. "No, she's been in D.C. Some family issues."

"Ah. Well, I've been thinking. I know the suits want Ms. Breathless…" She broke off when Annelie groaned. "Oh, excuse me, Ms. Goodman, to play Maddox, but I'm not convinced. I think

Carolyn Black can play any damn role they throw at her. She's a true chameleon."

Annelie knew Jem had a point. Carolyn's career was proof of that.

"I've never doubted her ability as an actress, but that doesn't mean she's right as Maddox." What if she's rightand I make the wrong decision, for the wrong reason? Annelie tried to examine her feelings, but merely doing what the experts advised her seemed the most logical way out. Or simply the easiest? No, there was nothing easy about disappointing Carolyn.

Jem eyed her closely. "Don't you think you owe her the benefit of the doubt?"

Wincing at the truth behind her friend's words, Annelie sighed. "Her contribution to the audiobooks…well, she's the major reason they're doing so well." Voicing this undeniable fact made her reasons for procrastinating regarding Carolyn's reading seem petty. I'm being unfair. She's earned it. "Still, I'm against giving Carolyn the role by default, just because of that." Or because I was once a starstruck teenager who would've given my right arm to see her perform.

"I guess you do need to know a lot more about her before you make your decision. When's her screen test?"

Was Jem reading her mind? Annelie sipped her water. "I haven't scheduled it yet, but I ought to call Parker. Perhaps later today."

"All right." Jem closed the bag of chips and gave a sly grin. "If you ask me, I think she'll blow everyone away as Maddox. But that's just me."

Now as she drove through the gates, Annelie wondered how she would be able to deal with Carolyn after what took place in the kitchen during the luncheon. She could still vividly picture how the actress had leaned into her, the soft hand on her arm, as the fine lips came closer.

Once she'd parked in her driveway, Annelie grabbed her briefcase and jumped out. Pushing the thoughts of the beautiful woman out of her mind, she fought to focus on the last-minute things to do before Charlotta arrived.

***

The cul-de-sac was filled with cars, blocking the driveway to

Annelie's house. Muttering under her breath, Carolyn drove back to a small parking lot at the beginning of the street and managed to find the last available spot. She opened the door, and the humidity engulfed her as she grabbed her bag from the passenger seat.

Carolyn pulled the card through the reader and listened to the familiar sound of the gate clicking open. Deciding to go straight to the pool, she took the garden path around the house. As she rounded the corner, Carolyn glanced toward the large windows and stopped abruptly. Annelie was home and stood in a tight embrace, her arms around a petite woman with fiery red hair in a pageboy. The stranger had buried her face against Annelie's shoulder. Oddly disturbed by the sight, Carolyn stalked to the patio and removed her shorts.

She was already wearing her swimsuit under her clothes, and she dived into the deep end of the pool without ceremony, swimming half a length underwater.

As the cool water closed above her, she felt protected. She remained below for as long as she could before she surfaced unwillingly, inhaled deeply, and dived again. Carolyn kept this routine up until she was so out of breath she had to stop and grasp the edge. Pulling herself up with the last of her strength, she sat in the sun gasping for air. Her head pounded, and she cursed inwardly at her treacherous body.

When her dizziness from lack of oxygen had dissipated, she leaned toward her bag and pulled out her cigarettes. Lighting one, she sucked the smoke deep into her lungs, coughing as it stung her throat. Tears burned behind her eyelids as scattered emotions whirled through her mind. She tried to calm down but failed miserably. What the hell was the matter with her?

"Carolyn? I walked my friend to the door and didn't see the Lincoln. Where did you park?"

The alto voice cut through her tumultuous thoughts and made it possible for her to focus. Glancing up, Carolyn squinted toward the sun. "I parked down the street at the visitors' parking lot. Your driveway's blocked."

"Yes, I saw that. Charlotta's cab had problems getting here too." Annelie sat down next to Carolyn, water soaking the hem of her khaki shorts as she dipped her feet in the pool. "Welcome back. How was your flight?"

"Okay. I had a couple of seats to myself." Hating herself for

sounding so short, Carolyn put the cigarette to her lips, inhaling deeply again.

"You look pale," Annelie observed. "Is something wrong?"

"I'll be fine. I guess I'm just tired after spending the weekend with my niece."

Apparently not buying into the explanation, Annelie reached out as Carolyn raised the cigarette to her mouth again and stopped her midway.

"You're trembling," she insisted in a soft voice. "You've got dark circles under your eyes, and you look exhausted. Please let me try to help."

Annelie's voice wrapped around Carolyn like a soothing blanket, yet she still instinctively withdrew, determined to protect herself from becoming too vulnerable.

"The woman earlier…Is she why you didn't let me kiss you?" she blurted out, shocked at her own defensive tone of voice.

"Who…" Annelie frowned. "Oh, you mean Charlotta?"

"Whoever. I saw the two of you."

Obviously she was losing her mind, alienating the woman who held her immediate future in her hands. Carolyn wished she could take the words back, but now her head pulsated with every beat of her heart.

"Charlotta is one of my oldest friends. I hug my friends, as I'm sure you do too. She came over to sign some papers and to fetch her things. We grew up together, and she's been very ill. Unlike you, I'm not in a relationship, Carolyn. I just don't date straight, married, or curious women. It makes life complicated and brings too much heartache." Annelie's voice was kind but firm.

Carolyn opened her mouth to speak, but her voice failed her twice before she spoke the truth. "Jared and I are not a couple. I don't do happy couples, Annelie." She fought back the stupid tears and looked down at her cigarette, humiliated by the bitterness in her tone.

It had not been her intention to reveal anything of herself to this woman, certainly not to appear weak. The actress of a certain age admits her personal life is not exactly fulfilling…what a cliché.

To compound her embarrassment, Annelie took the cigarette from her and pressed it down into the closest flowerpot. "Have you eaten anything since you came back?"

"No. I came straight here. I needed to swim."

"I see." Annelie rose to her feet before extending a hand toward Carolyn and pulling her up. "Well, before you do, it might be a good idea to eat something. Mary has the day off, but my omelets aren't too bad." She led Carolyn through the door into the guest room. "Why don't you take a shower? Make it a hot one. You're still shivering. If you like, you can use the robe hanging behind the door, and then join me in the kitchen. Okay?"

"All right," Carolyn whispered, feeling strangely relieved someone else had taken command for once.

"Good. I'll start lunch."

***

Annelie arranged some lettuce, tomatoes, and cucumbers next to the omelets and filled two glasses with ice water. Deciding it was too hot on the patio, she placed everything on the small kitchen table.

"It smells good," a throaty voice from the doorway said.

Annelie glanced up and saw Carolyn hesitating on the threshold, dressed in a gray terry-cloth robe. Her slightly tousled hair was almost dry and framed her pale face.