Page 24 of The Location Shoot
She smiled and they headed upstairs.
“It was so sweet of you to plan this evening for Albie,” Finn said.
“I was glad to. Good things should be celebrated. Since I first heard the story of how he met Margaret, blueberries have reminded me of love, epic love. Can’t eat one without thinking that they taste like love.” She giggled.
“I don’t think I’ll ever eat another blueberry again without thinking the same.”
After a long pause, as their eyes lingered on one another, Ella said, “Anyway, I’ve gotten to know Albie over the years, mostly through Jean. I’ve always had a bit of a soft spot for him.”
“He clearly has one for you too. He’s a legend to guys like me. He’s had a hell of a career on both stage and screen, and I’ve admired him for a long time. It’s been a dream to work with him, to get to know him.”
“It was nice that you told him so the other night. Sometimes, I think . . .”
“What?” he asked, staring into her eyes.
“Just that we don’t tell people what they mean to us when we have the chance.”
Finn took a breath. “Sometimes we want to, more than anything, but we’re not sure if they’re ready to hear it.”
Finn’s words hung in the air between them as they stood outside of Ella’s room, so close they were practically touching. After a long moment passed, Ella said, “Here we are. Thank you again for the dance.”
“It was absolutely my pleasure.”
“Have a good night.”
“You too,” he said, turning to leave.
She stuck her key in the door, and Finn delicately put his hand on her wrist to stop her. She turned to look at him, sparks flying between them.
“Breakfast tomorrow?” he asked. “We could try eating a little earlier so we can be alone.”
She smiled. “Sure, I’d love to. See you in the morning. Good night.”
“Good night.”
CHAPTER 7
Bright and early the next morning, Finn walked into the dining room, looking for Ella. To his surprise, he instead saw Jean and Albie having breakfast together at the large table they shared each night for dinner. “Finn, join us,” Jean called.
“Good morning,” Finn said as he sat down, noticing dark circles under Jean’s bloodshot eyes. There was a typed manuscript spread out on the table, the pages marked with red ink.
Jean signaled to the waiter. “Another espresso.”
“Coffee, please,” Finn said.
“More water for your tea?” the waiter asked Albie.
He nodded.
“I’m surprised to see you here,” Finn remarked.
“I barely slept last night. Ella gave me the manuscript for her philosophical treatise on sex. I made the mistake of starting it, and I couldn’t put the damn thing down. I was up half the night reading it and then spent the other half obsessing about it,” he explained, swallowing the last dregs of espresso. “You wouldn’t believe some of the things in here,” he said, shuffling through the papers and pushing them into a messy pile.
“That Ella is really something,” Albie said with a soft smile. “There’s precious little I would give up my alone time in the morning for, but Jean read me some excerpts and I’m hooked. Riveting stuff. Very provocative.” He chuckled. “She’s quite a woman.”
Just then, Michael strutted into the room, quickly scanning it. He looked taken aback to see all the men sitting together. He joined them just as the waiter delivered their drinks.
“I’ll have an espresso,” Michael said.
