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."