Hot Docs On Call: Hollywood Heartthrobs

‘Sure. She looks mighty pale.’ Tina shook her head and frowned.

He frowned too. ‘She’ll be okay with rest and something to raise her blood sugar.’

‘Hey. I am here.’ Tired of being talked over, Lola managed a smile. ‘You can talk to me if you like. Tina, yes, I’d love a drink if you have time to make me one. And, no, Jake, you’re not going anywhere near me with vinegar and tweezers. I can do it myself.’

‘Really? You can twist your body at that kind of an angle and rip nematocysts out like a pro? This I’ve got to see. Wait right there.’

He dashed out of the room as Lola leaned back on the sofa, closed her eyes and groaned. She did not want to be beholden to him and she did not want him touching her again with all that kind consideration. Really, they needed to talk, not touch. Touching brought about way too many hot thoughts and not enough searing reality.

She didn’t need reminding that her particular searing reality was that she was here to work and not mess about with a doctor, no matter how much her body had other ideas. And now, accompanying Cameron to the location shoot was looking pretty touch and go. ‘Oh...why me?’

‘Because, Miss Bennett, you didn’t have a full wetsuit on.’

Lola had forgotten the housekeeper was still there. ‘Oh, sorry, Tina, I was thinking about how I was going to manage to work this afternoon.’

‘You won’t, no arguing.’ It was Jake again, back with them and holding his large black medical bag, which he set down on the floor. ‘Tina, it’s okay, we can manage here, thanks. I don’t want to take up any more of your time...except I’d be grateful if you could take the dogs for a while. Lola, you’re going to stay there and rest.’

Lola sat up. ‘I can’t do that. There’s too much—’

‘Shh. I’m the doctor and you’ll do what I say. I’ll go with Cameron. Once we’ve got the barbs out you can get some rest. You’ve had a bad shock.’ Not as shocking as necking in an ocean, to be honest, but there it was. He lifted her swollen leg onto a footstool, on which he’d laid out a dressing pack and drape, then he crouched down. ‘Now, this is going to sting so I’ll go slowly.’

‘It won’t sting if I do it.’ She reached for the tweezers, bent her legs and shuffled so she could see the barbs. She didn’t want him to see her frustrated tears or her weakest moments. She just wanted him to go and leave her to recover in peace.

He watched, eyebrows peaked. ‘And pray tell me how you’ll stop the sting if I can’t?’

‘I don’t know. Just let me do it and stop asking questions.’

‘Okay. Go right ahead.’ He rocked back on his heels and smirked as she tried to reach, couldn’t quite, and twisted some more. She got a deep ache low in her back. And still the barbs were stuck in her leg. ‘Go on, Lola, I’m waiting.’

‘Okay, clever clogs, you do it then.’ She all but threw the tweezers at him.

He rocked forward and grabbed them. ‘Stop me any time, there’s no hurry.’

‘No problem.’ She wasn’t sure where this big brave act was coming from, but in truth she didn’t want to owe him anything or to let him see how upset she felt. She was a grown-up, smart adult woman—she could deal with this. ‘I’ll be fine.’

His eyes were gentle and warm as he smiled. ‘Sure you will. You can handle anything, Lola.’

‘Yep.’ At least one of them had some faith in her. She sucked in a breath as he touched her leg, sending shivers of pain through her calf. She would not shout. She would not cry.

He paused, tweezers in mid-air, and it was worse to see compassion mixed with teasing in his eyes. ‘It is okay to scream. I have ear plugs somewhere.’

‘Get on with it, man. The suspense is killing me more than the damned venom ever will.’

The next few minutes passed in a blur of angry stinging, fierce tensing of muscles she hadn’t known she had and almost ripping the stuffing from the chair arm. When Jake felt satisfied he’d removed every barb, he smoothed cream over the now very puce ankle and calf and gave her another dose of painkiller. ‘You did well. Lie back and get some rest. I’m going up to the house to talk Cameron into letting you stay here.’

‘Good luck with that. I doubt she’ll be happy. It’s okay. Give me a few minutes for the pain to calm down and I’ll come with you.’

‘You’ll stay right there, missy.’

‘Or what?’

‘Or you’ll get a spanking.’ His hand was on the door but instead of leaving he looked at her and shook his head. ‘I shouldn’t have said that.’

She smiled on a sigh. ‘Promises...promises.’

‘Lola...’ There was a warning in his voice but a glint in his eyes.

‘I know, I know. Timing. Work. Stuff. Life. I get it. If you look for excuses you’ll find them.’

‘They’re everywhere, Lola. I don’t need to look. Now, I’m going to tell Cameron that you have to stay here.’

‘My money’s on an immediate departure to the set for all of us, dogs included.’

But Cameron, it seemed, had other ideas. Very surprising.

Apparently she insisted that her assistant stay at the lodge and that Jake stay with her. A situation they both found irritating. More Jake, it seemed.

He slumped down in the chair opposite Lola, grumbling, ‘She was surrounded by Alfredo’s guests and just wafted her hand and told me to stay with you as if it was no big deal that a top neurosurgeon was wasting his time here—and I couldn’t get to talk to her privately. She demanded I come all this way, cancel my clinics and rearrange my schedule, and now she doesn’t even need me to go with her, and won’t let me talk to her.’

Lola lifted her head from the couch then laid it back again when the room started to spin a little. ‘I think you’re just her insurance policy. She hasn’t been feeling great over the last few months on that stupid diet. She probably just needs to know you’re close by in case of emergency. You’re here, filming’s only a few miles away, she can call if she needs you.’

‘Which was exactly what she said to me.’

‘Why do you want to go anyway? Seems to me you don’t want to be here in the first place, so an afternoon off would suit you just fine.’

‘It’s my job.’ He shrugged, pulling out his laptop. ‘Right, if you’re okay with it I’ll log into the clinic intranet and get some work done. I can’t sit around doing nothing.’

‘Me neither.’ Lola swung her legs from the stool and tried to stand. It was relatively easy to bear weight, but the pain knocked the wind out of her lungs. ‘Oof.’

‘What do you think you’re doing?’ He glared at her over the top of his computer screen.

‘Going to get my phone. I’ll do some ringing around, sort out a dress for Cameron for the after-shoot dinner tomorrow night.’

‘All that luggage and she didn’t bring a dress?’

‘Of course she did. I packed more than enough clothes for a whole month. But there are some fabulous Bahamian designers and she wants to try their clothes. I call, they send. She wears. Or not. It’s routine. She could make them a lot of money being seen in one of their creations. Top one on my list is Evelyn Rice—some of her dresses were worn at awards ceremonies earlier in the year and—’

‘Okay.’ Jake came over to her and made her sit back down, his hand slipping around her waist. He was comfortable around her body when there wasn’t the immediate threat of a kiss, it seemed. His voice was soothing. ‘I’ll get your phone. You can make one call. One. Then you need to do something that isn’t work. Solitaire? Knitting? Your script? Yes. Your script. This is legitimate sick time, which means no work—just relaxation.’

‘You know, you can be quite bossy when you try.’ But she had to agree it would be nice to sit and do something for herself. The extra-strong painkillers had started to make her head feel woozy and her limbs like melting honey—limpid and weak. She felt as if she was sinking and flying at the same time, which was doubly weird. ‘My phone’s in my beach bag and my script’s on my dresser in the bedroom.’

‘By the look of you, those meds are kicking in. Very soon you won’t want to do anything, you’ll be asleep in five minutes.’

When he came back she was still trying to find a comfortable position on the sofa. ‘The cushion doesn’t feel right.’ And she was indeed very tired. Very tired indeed.

‘Hold on.’ Jake put her phone and her script on the arm of the sofa and sat down next to her to plump up the cushion. ‘Better?’

‘Not really. But thank you for trying and for talking to Cameron. I know she doesn’t mean to be difficult, she’s just learnt to be like that. She can be really nice—she gave me a dress once, just because I liked it. But I get how everyone sees the bad in her when she gets so demanding. If I could just sell my screenplay then I wouldn’t have to stay... Where did you put it?’ Why was she only hearing her own voice? Was she talking too much? She probably was, but she couldn’t stop even though it was getting harder to control her mouth movements. She had to concentrate to say the words. ‘Ah, there it is. Thank you.’

‘Have you sent it to him to read yet?’

‘My dad?’ Her heart thumped once at the thought of what she’d done but then...she didn’t feel so bad right now... ‘No. I can’t. I haven’t... I should. But, oh, Jake, there’s too much... It’s hard...to explain...I will, though. I will send it to him...’ How to start that conversation? I know you think I’m in LA making the most of Cameron’s connections, but I lied and I keep on lying... ‘I’ll send it tomorrow. Maybe...I might have to...’

Jake ran his finger over her cheek. ‘Now I understand why he calls you a chatterbox. One tiny relaxant and you’re in full throttle. Let me know when you need me to reply, because the gaps you’re leaving aren’t big enough for me to get a word in.’

‘Oops, sorry.’

‘No need to apologise. Now read.’ Smiling, Jake lifted her leg and she kind of swung sideways and landed against his arm. Without thinking twice, she snuggled under and into his armpit. He was so warm and strong. Comfortable... And he smelt delicious. Her eyes started to close, her heart slowed a little and it was so tempting just to lie against him and... She should really look at her script, but she didn’t have the energy...

He gave her a little nudge. ‘Lola. Lola...don’t go to sleep here.’

‘Hmm?’

His voice was by her ear, warm and soft. ‘Maybe you should go to bed. You’ll be more comfortable.’

‘Hmm? No. I’m fine.’ There was an opportunity for more innuendo there, but she couldn’t move her mouth enough to say anything much. It was as if her brain was on a go-slow. She just wanted to lie here in his arms and let the pain drift away. ‘Can’t walk... Stay right here?’

When he didn’t answer she let herself fall further down into the black hole. When he nuzzled the top of her head she spiralled further and further... He was very close. Nice and close and warm. Her body started to tingle, starting first in her gut but then spreading through her, to her breasts and down low, deep inside. Half asleep and half turned on. No—all turned on, in a drowsy, calm, warm kind of way. Sex would be delicious right now. Sex with Jake would be more than delicious.

She managed to twist herself so she was facing him. His mouth was only inches from hers. His eyes glittered with concern and desire, his Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed. ‘Lola—’

Again a warning. She knew exactly what she wanted to do right now, and wondered if he thought the same thing. ‘Jake. I know you said—’

‘Hush.’ He placed a finger over her mouth. ‘You need some rest.’

She curled her hand around his finger and drew it away. Then she leaned close and pressed her mouth against his, because she couldn’t not. Because she knew it was what they both wanted. And for a brief moment she felt his hesitation, heard his low groan before his free hand cupped her cheek and he kissed her back, soft and gentle. She reached for his face, for the soft touch of his skin; she wanted to be sheathed in his scent, to taste him over and over and over.

This time the kiss went deeper than passion, to somewhere beyond the rabid desperation she felt inside. It stoked something fierce, something rare and beautiful. Something precious.

She didn’t want this to stop; she curled the back of her hand against his cheek and melted into the press of his lips against hers, into the dance of his tongue, the tight clutch of her stomach. This was something. He was something. Something important. Something good. For the first time ever she felt soul-deep that this was right.

When he drew away Jake was shaking and there were deep lines across his forehead. He looked unsettled, spooked.

Worse, she felt as if someone had taken her lifeline away. ‘I’m not going crazy, am I? There is something here? You do want this, right?’ She knew her words were coming out a little slurred, as if her mouth was full of cotton-wool. But she wanted to know...needed to know. He’d said they’d talk, well, now she was going to say a few things... ‘Because I want to kiss you. And maybe more. Some more...yes, more.’ She laid her hand on his chest, felt the reassuring beat of his heart under her fingers. There was something about Jake that was different from any other man she’d ever known. There was a quiet strength to him—one that irritated her slightly as he fought the attraction. There was a calmness there. He was funny and beautiful to look at. He made her feel good about herself. He made her think that anything was possible.

He made her lose track of her thinking—and that wasn’t always such a good thing. Because she had to keep her mind focused on her goals. She didn’t want to fall for him—but maybe it was already too late. Right now she was so laconic she didn’t care.

There was a long pause while he looked at her. Sin flashed across his gaze. ‘Yes. Yes, I do want to kiss you again, Lola, and more. But wanting and doing are different things. You’re hurting now, and pretty much flying high on meds, you don’t know what you’re doing—and, to be brutally honest, neither do I. You need to sleep it all off. Things will look different when you wake up.’

His rejection should have hurt, but it didn’t touch her. Because she knew. Knew he wanted her. Knew this was right. She couldn’t stop looking at his mouth. She wanted to feel his mouth on her skin, on her body. Everywhere. ‘Why do you keep pushing me away?’

‘Because I wouldn’t be good for you.’

Oh, you would. So damned good. But she had to admit that her vision had started to blur at the edges and she was feeling quite strange. ‘I think I can decide what’s good for me. I think sex with you would be amazing—’

His growl was low and almost feral as he edged away from her. ‘So do I, Lola. Which is exactly why we’re not going to do it.’

CHAPTER EIGHT

THE AIR WAS cooler when she woke, alone on the sofa, her body contorted, her limbs still limp, her head aching just a little. Her mouth was dry. And she was sure she was supposed to be doing something important, but all she could remember was lying in Jake’s heat and how safe she’d felt.

It was going dark too. Almost six o’clock.

She’d been asleep for hours, way too long.

Whoa, shoot. She was supposed to have phoned Evelyn Rice’s office and organised some clothes. And the beauty therapist...damn, damn, damn.

Her head was clearing now, very quickly. Unfortunately. There was no soft-focus buzz to make the neglect of her duties appear in any way warm and fuzzy. She reached for her phone.

But it was gone. As was her script. She jumped to her feet. Wobbled a little on her bad leg. Righted herself. What in hell had she been thinking, sleeping for so long as if she hadn’t a care in the world? What had he given her for the pain that had wiped her brain of any sense? ‘Jake? Jake?’

He wasn’t in the kitchen, bedrooms...the bathrooms were empty. She started to wander outside, but met him and the dogs in the hallway. He’d changed out of beach clothes and wore a navy collared T-shirt that clung interestingly to his biceps, and tan shorts that made a perfect gift of his backside. And he gripped three leads tightly in his fist. ‘Hey, you’re awake. Get down, Butter or Jelly, or whoever you are. Stop fussing. We’ve been for a walk. I think Tina was getting just a little tired of them. Cameron’s still on set.’

Lola was still a little drowsy, but her head was no longer filled with mush. She bent to stroke the dogs, gave them all the kisses they needed, then stood. Wobbled a little. ‘Why did you let me sleep so long?’

Jake held her arms at her sides and looked her up and down, steadied her. ‘You needed it. Your body told you what it needed. You’ve been working hard, you were in shock...’

‘I was drugged.’

He laughed. ‘Lightweight. Seriously, they weren’t even strong. How’re you feeling? You seem to be walking okay.’

She peered down at her leg. It was still red and swollen, but not as raw as it had been. The pain had definitely subsided and whatever cream he’d put on had helped reduce the itch. Reduce, not obliterate. ‘Better. But I haven’t time to think about that. I need to phone Evelyn Rice and arrange some clothes for tomorrow. But, damn, she’s probably left already, and I only have the workshop number.’

‘No need.’ He walked her back through to the kitchen and let the dogs off their leads, and after they’d scoffed some biscuits they scampered through the open-plan space to the lounge area, climbed onto their favourite rattan sofa and began preening. Just like their ‘mother’.

Talking of which... ‘But—I have to—Cameron asked me—’

‘Wait.’ Jake opened the fridge, lifted out a bottle and filled a glass with iced water then handed it to Lola. ‘Drink this. Okay, I’ve already phoned Miss Rice. It’s all sorted.’

‘You called her? Oh, my God, what on earth did you say?’ This was it. She was fired. Gone. Back to London. Regretting everything...except the part where she’d kissed Jake. Twice.

Whatever, she was doomed.

He grinned, obviously pleased with himself. ‘I explained what the issue was, and that I hadn’t a clue what I was doing. She took pity on me. She was delighted Cameron wanted to sample her clothes and we guessed her size. She’s sending an assortment of this season’s garments over tonight, different sizes just in case.’

Lola tiptoed to kiss his cheek, but thought better of it. The last time she’d kissed him things had gone downhill pretty quickly. ‘Great, thanks. That’s brilliant. You are brilliant.’

‘I know.’

‘And very modest too. So the only other major thing I need to do today is arrange a beautician for tomorrow evening for before the dinner.’

This time he gave her a very satisfied look. ‘Done.’

‘What?’ He was a revelation.

‘Evelyn recommended someone. I called, she’s fitting Cameron in. In fact, she’s rearranged her whole day for that divine woman. Her words, not mine.’

This time she did give him a quick peck on the cheek and neither of them seemed to mind. ‘Double brilliant. Thank you. You’re a lifesaver.’

‘I know.’

‘But what I don’t understand is why.’ To think that only a few days ago she’d never even met the man, and now he was doing her job for her, tending to her leg. And not trying to sleep with her... Maybe he was just an altogether good guy.

Apart from not trying to sleep with her...

‘To save your ass. The last thing you needed was to make a drug-slurred call to a top designer. Not a great look. Now...’ He took her hand and walked her out to the deck. In the distance someone was playing soca music, light and lyrical. ‘Sit down. Chef is sending dinner over in ten minutes. Watch the sunset...or something. I’ll just check on the dogs.’

‘Oh. Wow. Yes.’ She gazed out and wondered whether the drugs were having an effect on her vision—because the view was breathtaking. It looked like someone had taken a paintbrush and daubed the brightest colours they could find right across the horizon.

The sky met the ocean in a deep molten orange that reflected across the water. A bright yellow globe dipped into the sea and shimmered almost golden. To her left, palm trees swayed in silhouette, black against the ombre haze. And there, just in front of her, were two large torches, flames flickering in the gentle breeze, and a table set for two with candles and white linen.

Her phone was there, too, next to her script. The pages were held down with pebbles at the place where he’d stopped reading. The End.

All this had happened while she’d been asleep?

‘The more time I spend here the more impressed I am.’ He pulled out a chair and indicated for her to sit. ‘The dogs are fine. Asleep. Cameron’s busy. Sit down.’

‘You read my script?’ She sat. Heat burnt her cheeks. She might as well have been naked in front of him. Worse. What could be worse than laying open her naked self to him?

Ah, yes. Laying open her heart. That was something she didn’t want to do. Flirting and fun were one thing, but she didn’t need him to know about the clutch of her heart when she’d kissed him. She didn’t want him to know how much she admired him. Some things she had to keep to herself to protect her heart from the fallout.

He sat opposite her and was about to speak when the chef arrived with a tray of food. Lobster, crab, potatoes, fruit. An amazing array of delicious local delicacies. She turned down wine and stuck to water, not wanting to mix the painkillers with alcohol and befuddle her head even more.

After a couple of mouthfuls and uninhibited groans of delight at the fresh flavours, he put his knife and fork down.

‘So, yes, I did read your script.’ He was unabashed, as if reading her words hadn’t been like peering into her soul.

‘And?’

‘It’s excellent. Really, I think you should do something with it.’ He drank some rosé wine, took up his cutlery again. ‘But what do I know? I’m a doctor. You need an expert opinion, not mine. Show it to Cameron, she’s an expert on tap.’

Lola almost choked on her lobster. ‘I couldn’t do that. I’d rather die than press it on her and beg her to read it. Believe me, she wouldn’t anyway, she has far too much to do. She doesn’t even know I write.’

‘Well, she should. That story deserves a home. You’re right, it is surprisingly funny. Although I shouldn’t be surprised—it’s just an extension of you. With all the things you are—funny, smart, witty, brave.’

‘Wow. Thank you. Thank you so much.’ She felt a surge of confidence. ‘I don’t think I’ll ever believe it’s ready to go out into the big wide world.’

‘Email it to your dad.’

This time she felt the thuds in her heart go on and on at the mention of her dad. But she wasn’t going to have that conversation with Jake. ‘Yeah...maybe.’

‘Tomorrow?’

‘Pushy.’

His tone got serious. ‘What are you waiting for? You want a career in this? Yes? You’ve given up everything to come out here for this?’ He stabbed his finger at the paper on the table. ‘But you’re still at first base. You won’t get on if you don’t do things. You know the old saying—if you want something to work for you, you have to make it work. Right?’

‘Right.’ She was almost carried along with his enthusiasm. Sure, she was dedicated, ambitious, hard-working...but putting herself out there? There was too much at stake for her right now. He was talking about things he had no knowledge of. ‘Are you this demanding on everyone?’

‘Usually just myself.’

‘Why?’

He looked down at his food. ‘We work hard... Look, my parents didn’t have much, but they taught me that you can achieve anything if you’re prepared to put the hours in. Now, about that script...’

It didn’t escape her notice that he’d changed the subject back to her as soon as he could. Talking about his family clearly wasn’t a favourite thing of his. Well, snap to that. ‘Yes. Okay. I’ll get it out there as soon as I can.’

‘Send a copy to me too so I can take another look at the medical scenes. Soup them up a bit. You’re in a prime position to change your life, Lola.’

‘Yes, yes, I am.’ He was good at this—voicing the feelings she’d arrived with in LA. ‘Have you always been this in control of your own life? Planning world domination?’