Page 44 of Heavy Shot

"No," she said, turning for the door. "I think it's best for everyone. I know it's best for me. I can't go through this with you again. It was too difficult getting over it the first time."

"Jill, I wanted last night, too," Kline said quickly. "And I don't know what's going to happen here but don't check out on me right now. Today is too crazy for you to check out on me."

She leaned against the door, hand on the brass knob and shook her head. "I can't trust myself with you," she said. "You're my weakness. You always have been."

Kline set his jaw. He was not about to make the same mistake twice. He’d make a different mistake this time.

He strode across the floor and took her by the shoulders. "I need you, Jill. I can't make any kinds of promises because I don't want to break them, but I found you again, and whatever capacity I stay in your life, I want to stay in your life. If you walk out that door, don't walk out forever."

"Make me want to stay," she said, her voice thick with emotion.

"Fuck," Kline cursed helplessly, then pushed her hard up against the door and pressed his lips into hers. She made a small noise, then wound her arms around his neck and pulled him closer until his body was crushing hers against the uneven surface.

It all flooded back. Every curve, every plane, every tender spot. She was longer and leaner, and she had picked up some skill, but he was twenty years old again, with his hands full of fairytale, loved and in love to his surprise. And she wanted him.

He still couldn’t believe she wanted him. He was still surprised, still delighted, still couldn’t help wondering why because he was always just Scott Kline around her. And there was the problem. She knew him too well.

She knew him so well that before they could fall back into the bed, she managed to stop herself. And he knew her well enough to see the Herculean effort it took. “Tomorrow,” she said raggedly, ducking out from under his arms and grabbing her sweater up to her naked chest, putting distance between them. “Tomorrow. If we still feel this way tomorrow, then… I’ve waited this long. I can wait.”

Kline groaned and sat back on the bed with his head in hands, nodding. “Right. Yes. Right.”

Jill disappeared into the bathroom and came back out mostly repaired, keeping space between them, both of them knowing the brush of fingertips would ignite the flame again. “I’ll meet you at the Today show tomorrow and be moral support. And I’ll leave now so I’m not immoral support.”

She was trying to joke so he gave her a crooked smile. “Where were you last fucking week?” he asked.

“Don’t ask me that. I know what that means and that’s cruel.”

“I’m sorry.”

She had the door open that time. “I’ll see you tomorrow and we’ll…see.”

“Jill?”

“Yes?” She paused, but she didn’t look back at him.

“Thank you. For being you. For never hating me because I bloody well deserve to be hated.”

“I couldn’t if I tried, and believe me, I have tried.”

She walked out and let the door shut behind her before she could throw herself at him again. It was exactly like old times. She half expected to find August lurking around the corner, waiting to console her.

Rhiannon Charles

Rhiannon sat up in bed and flicked on the television for the Today show. After an hour's worth of teasers for Kline, commercials finally bled into his introduction. Megastar of romcom and action film, notorious slightly-bad boy, currently starring in the romantic action-drama Knight and excited about the upcoming premiere of his first major dramatic turn in Lone Star.

Samantha Guthrie welcomed him effusively, seeming a little starstruck. Kline smiled disarmingly to her and complimented her, which sent her into a blushing giggle. She was composed soon enough and had launched into her interview, asking about his film, showing a clip, then gave a vulpine grin after the screen faded back to the two of them.

"Well, the latest rumor is that you are dating three women. Your costar in Knights, Kara Viceroy, a writer for your best friend, Thad James's sitcom, and one of New York's very own, Tony award-winning actress, Jill Parker. How do you weigh in on that?"

Kline laughed merrily and rubbed his thighs. "Well, I'm sorry to say that I am not, nor have I ever been the object of Ms. Viceroy's affections.I certainly wouldn't have minded!"The studio audience laughed with him."We worked very closely together--the film nearly got an R-rating, you know--but outside of that, we were really just friends. We didn't have a lot of choice on whom we went out with, so we spent a lot of time in the same company.She's got a boyfriend, though."

"And your writer friend?"

"She is a lovely girl I know from back home in LA.I’m not sure how those photos came to be, but if you can look past my stunning date, you’ll see that they were taken at my home–likely with a long-range lens. It’s an absolute violation of privacy and I'm sorry she got dragged into the media madness that is my world. She deserves much better than that." He paused for Guthrie’s validation, then leaned in. "Not that I won't be suing the bollocks off the photographer. Can I say bollocks?" He asked someone slightly off-camera, looking innocent and adorable.

"I think so," Savannah nodded eagerly. "Now I noticed that you brought the lovely Jill Parker to the studio with you.Is there something going on there?"

Again, Kline looked slightly off-camera, focused on something and smiled genuinely as his face lit up. "Jilly and I are very old friends, who look out for each other," he said, still focused away from the interview. "She knew me back in the underwear modeling days."

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