Page 29 of The Location Shoot
“We spoke for a little while today as she was leaving the set. She said she’d be at dinner,” Michael said.
“Maybe she’s immersed in her book project,” Charlotte suggested. “My husband always loses track when he’s working on a play. Time rarely means much to writers.”
“That’s the truth,” Jean agreed. “Ruined my second marriage. One night, my wife confronted me in the middle of the night when I was banging away on a script. She said, ‘Would you rather fuck me or finish that fucking script?’ I chose the script.”
Everyone laughed.
“You’re a real artist. I could never pick work over sex,” Michael said.
“He didn’t. He was sleeping with their cleaning woman, Vivienne, who no doubt serviced him as he worked,” Ella said as she flitted into the room.
Finn turned to look at her, but she headed straight for Jean, sliding into the booth next to him. “For all we know, she was tending to his needs under the desk at the very moment his wife was screaming at him.”
Albie laughed so hard that it morphed into a cackle.
“That’s the trouble with old friends—they know all your secrets,” Jean said, squeezing Ella’s shoulders. “Of course, she’s right. I couldn’t get my wife out of the room fast enough. Vivienne was a generous, sensual woman. Terrible cleaner, though. Broke nearly every vase and piece of crystal in the house.”
The room exploded with laughter.
“Sex uncomplicated by feelings. Is that your holy grail?” Ella asked.
Jean shrugged. “Sexual energy clutters the mind. One needs to get a good dusting to be creative. I am an artist, after all.”
Ella crinkled her nose and smiled. “At least you embrace who you are. Can’t fault you for that. It’s honest.”
“Speaking of honest, there’s so much more I want to discuss about your book,” Jean said.
“Oh please, not tonight, Jean. I’ve had more than enough sex talk today. Read the book on art when you have the chance, and then we’ll chat more. I’d like to give them both to Charlotte as well, if she’d like to read them.”
Charlotte smiled brightly. “I would be honored. I admire your work enormously.”
“You’re such a talented artist,” Ella said. “I don’t want to impose, but I’d be delighted to hear your feedback, if you have any time to spare while we’re all here.”
“I’ll make time,” Charlotte replied.
“Shall we eat?” Jean asked.
“We waited for you,” Finn said, looking at Ella. “We were wondering if everything was okay.”
She wouldn’t meet his eyes and kept her body turned slightly away from him. “Lost track of time. Sorry to hold everyone up. You should have gone on without me.”
“Nonsense. We’re not on a bloody schedule,” Albie said, taking a swig of his bourbon.
“It’s more fun with you here,” Willow said sweetly.
Ella turned to her and smiled.
“Jean’s right about sexual energy. I got a little, uh,exercisetoday with one of the extras, and I’m famished,” Michael said, springing to his feet to get dinner. The others slowly followed. Finn and Ella found themselves the last two at the buffet again. Finn desperately tried to make eye contact with her, but her gaze was singularly focused on the selection of food.
“Ella, is everything okay?” he asked softly.
“Uh-huh.”
“You haven’t looked me in the eye since you came into the room.”
She continued perusing the buffet, picking up a serving spoon to take some roasted vegetables.
He gently put his hand on her wrist. She looked straight into his blue eyes.
