‘And your grandparents? Are they any comfort to you in this situation?’

‘I haven’t told them. They know I’m in Los Angeles but not why. If it works out badly I don’t want to spoil their African holiday.’

‘So you knew it might work out badly,’ he said, ‘right from the day you came out here?’

‘Yes, well-you always hope for the best, don’t you?’

‘That’s right. Keep on hoping.’

Travis squeezed her hand and they sat in silence for a moment.

‘What do you think of this place?’ he asked at last, rising to fetch more coffee.

‘Fascinating. Especially your bookcase. All that Shakespeare.’

‘You were naturally surprised to find that a TV actor is bright enough to understand Shakespeare.’

‘No, I didn’t mean that,’ she said hurriedly.

He grinned. ‘Didn’t you? All right, I’ll take your word for it. Actually, the only play I know well is A Midsummer Night’s Dream. That’s how I understood what you were saying about how you met Lee. I acted in it once, years ago.’

‘Were you Lysander or Demetrius?’ she asked, naming the two young male leads.

‘Neither. I played Puck.’

Of course, she thought. Puck, the fiendish but delightful elf, described by one person as a ‘shrewd and knavish sprite’ and by himself as ‘that merry wanderer of the night’. He spent the play performing roguish tricks and laughing at the chaos that resulted.

Strangely, Puck was the perfect role for Travis. His ‘romantic hero’ looks might seem more suitable for one of the lovers but the sense of delightfully wicked mischief that pervaded him suggested a different story. And something told Charlene that this was his true self.

‘I’m just staggered by the window in my room,’ she said. ‘Enormous. Floor to ceiling. And that long view down to the city. It’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.’

‘The ones in my room are even better,’ he said. ‘Come and look. It’s a sight you’ll never forget.’

Taking her hand, he drew her into his room and made a gesture of revelation. Charlene gasped as she saw the two huge breathtaking walls of glass, angled to form a corner. It wasn’t yet completely dark, but evening was closing in and the lights of Los Angeles gleamed against the shadows.

‘I was wrong before,’ she breathed. ‘This is the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen. Nothing else could ever be like it. Oh, goodness!’

‘That’s how I feel,’ Travis agreed. ‘I look at the view every night before I go to bed.’

‘And the HOLLYWOOD sign,’ she said, pointing into the distance. ‘Just to remind you what it’s all about.’

‘All about,’ he murmured, his eyes fixed on the view. Briefly he glanced at her over his shoulder. ‘Do we ever really know what it’s all about?’

‘Perhaps it’s better not to,’ she suggested.

‘That could be the wisest thing you’ve ever said.’

He gazed at the view a moment longer, then pulled the huge curtains closed and led her out of the room.

‘An early night for me. After this morning I was warned not to be late again.’

Charlene tidied away plates in the kitchen, then glanced briefly out of a small window that looked out over the front of the building. Suddenly she tensed. Beneath the lamp at the gate she’d just glimpsed a woman followed by a man.

And the woman had red hair.

Pictures raged through her mind. The lap dancer who’d set her sights on Travis in the club-she had red hair, didn’t she?

It was impossible.

Was it?

Like the sound of approaching fate, she heard the elevator rise and come to a halt. The next moment Travis’s bell rang.

She flew into the hall as he approached the front door, catching him just as he reached out to open it. By using all her weight, she was just able to stop him.

‘Hey, what-?’

‘That girl who sat on your lap. She had red hair, didn’t she?’

‘Yes, but-’

‘It’s her out there.’

‘What? Are you sure?’

‘I caught a glimpse of her hair as she went under the lamp. Don’t you see what they’re doing? If you open up, she’ll grab you and the photographer will pounce. Frank Brenton warned us that he’d try something else.’

‘Then it’s time I hit back. Stand aside.’

He made a lunge for the front door. By using all her strength, she was just able to slam him back against the wall.

‘Hey, what are you doing?’

‘Stopping you making the biggest mistake of your life. Open that door and you’re finished. But you’re not going to, because I’m not going to let you.’

‘Oh, you’re not?’

‘No, I’m not.’

‘Look, I know you mean well, but it’s time for action. I’m going to put a stop to their tricks.’

‘But you won’t. You’ll simply hand them another weapon and there’ll be no end to it. Your only hope is to play it cool. Let them hammer on the door as much as they like. It won’t open.’

‘Won’t it?’ he growled.

‘No, because with your usual brilliance you’ve seen through their rotten little trick and you’re one up on them. That’ll teach Frank Brenton. He won’t enjoy being made a fool of.’

Travis had been trying to free himself from her, but now he stopped, staring into her face as light dawned.

‘It could work,’ he said.

‘It’s going to work. Here’s what we do. Make sure all the lights are off and go to bed. When you’re in your room don’t be tempted to pull open the curtains. You’re not there. You’re not here. You’re not anywhere. And don’t answer the phone.’

He gave her a stunned look. ‘Remind me never to get on your wrong side.’

‘That’s a promise.’

The doorbell rang again. She felt Travis tense, and tightened her grip in case he yielded to temptation. But he stayed completely still, seemingly turned to stone while the bell rang and rang.

Then the knocking began. Fists thundered against the door, growing louder when they received no response.

‘Let’s leave them to it,’ Charlene said softly, drawing him away.

‘Will they never stop?’

‘Probably not. So what? Let them go on all night. If you don’t go to the door they’ll gain nothing.’

‘You think they really would keep that up all night?’

‘Unless your neighbours lose patience and threaten them with the police.’

‘Think what a story that would make,’ Travis mused, beginning to laugh.

‘Oh, yes.’ She laughed with him and they stood together in the dim hallway, shaking, holding on to each other.

‘Hey!’ From outside the door came an angry yell. ‘Stop that noise. Some of us want to get some sleep.’

Mumbles, arguments, exasperation. Finally silence.

But then came the sound of Travis’s cellphone.

‘Don’t answer it,’ Charlene said quickly.

‘Don’t worry, I’m not going to. I can see it’s a number I don’t recognise. Take no chances.’

‘And you won’t answer it if it rings again later?’

‘I promise you can safely let me out of your sight. Play it cool. I’m learning a lot from you.’

Another noise from below.

‘That sounded like the front door being slammed.’ Travis went to the tiny window and peered through the crack. ‘Yes, they’re going. It’s over.’

‘Yippee! We beat them.’

‘You beat them. I’d have walked right into the trap.’ He regarded her with a touch of awe. ‘What was that remark about my usual brilliance? Someone was brilliant, but it wasn’t me.’

He hugged her, not briefly or lightly, but with both arms folded around her, holding her tight.

‘Goodnight,’ he said softly. ‘Thanks for everything.’

He saw her to her door before going to his own room. There he lay awake for a while, enjoying a feeling of contentment. It was strange to feel that way, he thought, given how recently his nerves had been jangling, but all was well. Instinct, stronger than words, told him that.

Just once he got up and went out into the hall, lingering outside her door, wondering if by chance Lee was calling her. But there was only silence, and after a while he went back to bed. Smiling, he snuggled down and slept the sleep of the innocent.


* * *

When they met in the kitchen next morning Travis eyed her with an air of caution.

‘Is everything OK?’ she asked.

‘I’m not sure. I’m becoming nervous of you.’ He rubbed his shoulder where it had rammed against the wall in their tussle. ‘Women are supposed to be the weaker sex, but I guess that’s just a myth.’

‘Just beware us when we’re really determined.’ She laughed.

‘I learned that last night.’ He rubbed his shoulder again. ‘I’m getting used to you beating me up.’

Suddenly he dropped his joking manner.

‘But I’m glad you did. You really saved me from disaster. Why I was crazy enough to argue with you-if I’d opened the door-’

‘It did seem strange. I thought you were being cautious.’

‘I was, but I lost my temper. It doesn’t happen often, so when it does I don’t tend to think straight.’ He touched her face. ‘Thank you. Thank you more than I can say.’

She placed her hand over his and held it against her cheek, moved by an emotion for which there were no words.

‘I told you about my doctor friend,’ he said. ‘I’m going to send her to see you. She’s a nice lady. She’ll do that test, then you’ll know and you can make decisions.’

Charlene nodded. ‘Yes, that’s the best way. Thank you.’

‘Don’t thank me. I’m in your debt, not the other way around. I’ll call you. Bye.’

He kissed her cheek and departed.

Dr Grace Hanley arrived an hour later. She was in her forties with a mature, kindly face. Charlene tried not to feel too nervous. This was it. The final answer.

They got quickly down to business and soon Grace was studying the test cylinder with a face that revealed nothing.

‘Were you hoping to be pregnant?’ she asked.

‘I’m not sure. Does that mean it’s a negative?’

‘Yes, I’m afraid so.’

‘But at least…now I know. Thank you, Doctor. Can I make you some coffee?’

She was trying to sound normal and untroubled, but the doctor evidently understood her inner turmoil because she declined, patted her hand gently, and departed.

The walls of the apartment seemed to crush Charlene in bleak, hopeless silence. So that was that. It had all been for nothing. She’d made a fool of herself by pursuing a man who didn’t want her.

She lay down, trying to control her flickering memories. There was Lee, or was it Demetrius, smiling as they came offstage after a rehearsal, complimenting her.

‘Hey, you really played that scene for all it was worth. Wow!’

And herself, dazzled to receive a compliment from such a knowledgeable source, gazing at him, starry-eyed.

She could see him now, warming to her, holding her in his arms, smiling as they made love.

Or was it love? Perhaps on her side, but whatever he’d been making it wasn’t love. She should have faced that earlier.

Yet if there had been a baby, might his feelings not have warmed, flowering into family affection that would embrace her and their child?

Instead-nothing.

Nothing!

She was seized by a fierce longing for Travis to be there, wrapping her in his arms, offering brotherly comfort that would have made this bearable.

No!

The ferocity of her emotion made her sit up. Hell would freeze over before she became a pathetic, needy creature, clinging to Travis. He would be kind, she knew, but soon the kindness would become forced, as he strove to conceal his exasperation.

That mustn’t happen. The moment she sensed him thinking, How long must I put up with this? was the moment she would inwardly die. Or run a mile. Or both.

When he came home she was waiting for him, calm and smiling.

‘Everything all right?’ he asked.

‘Everything’s fine.’

He didn’t ask her for the test result. It would have been dishonest when he already knew. As promised, Grace had discreetly texted him one word: No. It might be a disgraceful violation of professional confidence, but friends did that for each other. So he waited for Charlene to speak, which at last she did.

‘I’m not pregnant, so that’s that.’ She made a gesture of finality. ‘I’ll make some coffee.’

She turned away but he detained her. ‘Wait a moment. “That’s that”? Nothing more? You don’t care?’

‘Not really. This always seemed likely. And besides, something else has happened.’ She laid her hand over her stomach.

‘You mean you’ve finally-?’

‘Yes. I don’t know what made me late in the first place, but perhaps it was caused by tension because it started barely an hour after the doctor left. Anyway, it’s the clincher. There’s no baby. There never was, thank goodness.’

Her voice was bright and efficient, informing him that all was well.