Page 52 of The Location Shoot
Jean chuckled, raised his champagne flute, and said, “To those who inspire us.”
“Cheers, darling,” Ella said.
ELLA WAS COZY IN BEDreading a novel while Finn reviewed his script for the next day, preparing for a pivotal scene with Charlotte. After a while, she placed her book on her lap and sat quietly, absentmindedly running her fingers down his arm. “That feels nice,” he said.
“I’ve gotten used to your nightly ritual. You always sip hot water with lemon as you review your script for the next day, making little notations in the margins. Chicken scratch, I can barely make out a word. Your eyes become intense when you’re concentrating. I just love these sexy little fine lines,” she said, reaching over and brushing the lines near his eyes with her thumb. “Then when you’re thinking about something, you relax your eyes and rest the end of the pen on your mouth. This is my favorite part of you. This curve that dips down in the middle of your upper lip and this soft, raised spot right in the center,” she explained, running her finger along his lip.
He smiled. “That’s so sweet. See? We’re already learning little details about each other’s habits.” He leaned over and kissed her. “Speaking of learning things about each other, that was a hell of a story about how you and Jean met. I can picture what you looked like that night, dancing in the café. I must admit that it wasn’t easy to hear him swoon over you.”
“Were you jealous?” she teased.
“Baby, I know you’re irresistible, but that doesn’t mean I want to picture other men trying to grope you. Even if it was a long time ago.”
She giggled. “Speaking of jealousy, there’s something I’ve been wanting to ask you, but I didn’t quite know how. I don’t want to sound ridiculous.”
“What is it?”
“If you have any more intimate scenes with Charlotte, please tell me in advance and I’ll skip coming to set. I know it’s just acting and that it’s your job, but . . .”
“We don’t have any sex scenes. Honestly, we spend most of the film arguing with each other, like in tomorrow’s big scene. Ours is not a happy marriage.”
“I know, but if there is more kissing . . .”
He reached over and rested his hand on her cheek. “That would bother you, to see me kiss her? Even in a film?”
“Kissing, even touching her face . . .” She stopped and shook her head. “I know it’s silly, but . . .”
“Shh . . . It’s not silly at all,” he said, beaming. “It’s perfect, actually. Exactly how it should be between people who love each other, exactly how I knew it would be someday with the right woman.”
“You’re not upset?” she asked. “I feel so embarrassed for even bringing it up.”
“Don’t be. Honestly, you can’t imagine how happy I am that you feel that way. It only makes me love you more.”
“Really?” she said, touching his chest. “You don’t have any on-screen love scenes, but how about we have one of our own right now?”
“YOU’RE ALL SET,” MAJA SAIDto Finn as she put the finishing touches on his makeup. “They should be calling you to set in about thirty minutes.” He headed back to his trailer, where Ella was waiting for him.
“Hey, sweetheart,” he said when he saw her sitting on the couch reading, her legs outstretched.
She looked up from her book. “Well, don’t you look dapper.”
“Thanks for coming with me this morning.”
“My pleasure,” she replied, scooching her legs up so he could sit beside her. “I know it’s a big scene for you. I’m glad to lend moral support.”
He wrapped his arms around her legs and rested his chinon her knees. “There’s something so incredibly nice about you hanging out in my trailer. I’ve never had that before.”
“None of your girlfriends ever came to see you on set before?”
He shook his head. “I never brought any of them with me.”
“That surprises me. Your work is such a big part of your life. You must spend most of your waking hours on film sets. You said you wanted me to travel to locations with you. Did you really mean that?”
“Yes, baby. I do, more than anything. I can’t imagine being apart from you. It would be unbearable.”
She smiled and stroked his cheek with the back of her hand.
“In the past, I’ve always kept my work life separate from my private life. I created boundaries to be professional, or so I told myself.”
