Page 64 of Stone Promises

“Only for you,” I say, leaning over to place a kiss on her forehead.

“What were you reading over there?” she asks.

“Some scripts Paul sent over.”

Her eyebrows shoot up. “Scripts? As in more than one?”

I nod. “It seems I pretty much have my choice of gigs these days.”

“Do you mean you get to pick which parts you want? What about auditioning and stuff?”

“All those screaming fans; and the opening weekend numbers ofDefcon One—those were pretty much my audition,” I tell her. “I haven’t had to screen test since I got the part inBlind Shot. Well, except when they want to see how I mesh with actors who are up for other parts.”

“Wow,” she says.

I huff through my nose. Sometimes I still can’t believe it myself. “Yeah.”

“So, what’s on the agenda for the week?” she asks. “We’re going to your parents, right?”

“I think they would kill me if I didn’t bring you around. I was thinking we’d go for a beach day early in the week and then stay for dinner. You’ll love it. Their house is right on the ocean and the beach goes on for miles.”

“Sounds heavenly,” she says.

“Ana Garner is having a party next week. I think you’ll get along great. Hayden will be there and I’d like you to meet him, too. He’s probably my closest friend here in L.A.”

She looks up at me, using her hand to shield her eyes from the sun. “So you aren’t going to keep me locked up here at your house?”

“Hardly,” I say.

“But what about—”

“I don’t give a shit about what people say or what they print in the tabloids, Mal. Paul will just have to deal with it. It’s not like I’m going to stick my tongue down your throat on Rodeo Drive or anything. But I’m sure as hell going to take my girlfriend out on the town.”

She smiles. “You’re taking me to Rodeo Drive?”

“Sure. If you want to,” I say. “I thought you could join me next Thursday when I go in town for a pre-production meeting. It’s a short one that day so we could do lunch and go shopping after.”

“I’d love that,” she says. “So what exactly happens at pre-production meetings?”

“A lot of things. I don’t have to be there for all of them, though, because the studio makes the decisions about shooting locations, scheduling, and costuming. But they need me for the casting of supporting roles, legal agreements, training, fittings. Did I tell you I have to learn to rock climb?”

“Really? That sounds exciting.”

“It is pretty fun, actually. I’ve only been training at inside facilities for now, but soon they’ll be taking me on real climbs.”

“Wait. Will you do your own stunts?” she asks, lines of concern etched into her forehead.

“Only the ones where there isn’t the potential for me to fall to my death,” I joke. “Maybe once I’m better at it, I can teachyouhow to do it.”

She laughs. “There aren’t many places to climb in New York City,” she says. “Not unless you want to scale the side of the Freedom Tower.”

“Well, maybe you’ll have to visit me on location then. We’ll be filming in Sedona, Arizona this summer.”

“Maybe,” she says, dipping her hand in the water and flicking it on me. “Will there be a private pool there?”

“There will be anything you want there,” I say, reaching my arms under her and pulling her body off the floating mat. I cradle her in my arms and walk her to the side of the pool. “Let’s get you out of the sun before you burn.” I carry her up the steps of the pool and deposit her on a lounge chair, situating her under a large umbrella. “Can I get you a drink?”

“Water would be great.” She uses a towel to dry her hair as I head to the kitchen.

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