Among the Tulips (12 page)

Victor's gaze was strained. But the door was opened at that moment. “Here we go,” he said.

He stepped out and Annie followed.

She nearly staggered from the noise alone. Huge crowds were on each side of the walkway. Cameras immediately started going off and reporters shouted questions. Victor managed to slip from side to side to sign autographs as they walked and
somehow Sean always managed to be on the opposite side of her when Victor moved. He too was signing autographs. Reanna was acting like a queen, signing, posing and answering questions thrown to her from the crowd.

Annie heard Victor deflecting questions about her, instead saying, “She's a friend. Give us a break. You'll find out soon.” And other things like that, all the while showing his perfect charming self to the people around.

And then they were inside. Victor patted her hand. “I need you to stand right over here,” he said, leading her away from the cameras, “while I do a few interviews and then we can go into the theater. Okay?”

She nodded. “Thank you. It'll be nice to catch my breath.”

He smiled. “You're doing great.”

He squeezed her hand and then walked off.

Sean sauntered over to her, having just finished an interview. Reanna was still being asked questions about a movie of hers that had just come out last week.

“How are you holding up, sweetheart?”

She glanced sideways at Sean. “It's overwhelming, actually.”

He nodded. “I don't know if you ever get used to it. You do learn to deal with it, however. Of course, there are some, like Reanna, who thrive on
it. But when something happens and she gets sour publicity, I imagine, she too, will take a new look at it.”

“Sour publicity? Oh.” She suddenly remembered Sean being blamed for the break-up of someone's marriage.

“I've had several bouts of it. That's what happens as you rise in the ranks of stardom. The job becomes a monster, fed by the adoring fans and press. But then, without them, you wouldn't make money doing a job you love.”

“You know, Sean, I think you're not at all what you seem,” Annie said, quite sagely.

He glanced at her. “Oh, I'm what I seem all right, but then, right now in public I can't show you that.”

She gaped at his words. “You're flirting with me for a reason, and I'm not sure what…”

He shook his head. “You haven't figured it out yet?” He nodded, his gaze boring into her own. “I'll have to fix that, I suppose.”

Her eyes widened. “I'm not sure I like the sound of that.”

“Oh, you might not, but I guarantee you'll like the results.” She was certain he wasn't talking about him, but she couldn't quite figure out his hidden meaning. He was definitely up to something.

Victor chose that moment to return and the look
he sent Sean was telling. Victor, it seemed, was getting tired of Sean flirting with her. She hadn't thought he'd cared until just now.

She would never figure out Sean. Why would he treat his friend this way? She would have to explain that Sean hadn't meant anything by that last sentence Victor had overheard. She didn't think he had, at least.

“Ready?” Victor asked.

She nodded.

“We'll see you inside, Sean,” Victor said.

“Sure thing, Jake. As soon as I can get Reanna away from the cameras.”

Together she and Victor entered the darkened theater to watch the showing of
Shelter,
and she wondered how this night would end.

I
t was 2:00 a.m. and the party that had followed the showing was finally slowing. Annie had met more stars on the ground than there were in the sky tonight. Many had been nice. Some people were curious while others were definitely shocked at her appearance on Jake's arm. She'd heard him called Jake more than she cared to admit. She was even beginning to think of him as Jake—at least in this setting. For the Jake at the party hadn't been the same Victor she'd known at his estate. He'd been ‘on' so to speak, socializing, saying all the right things.

Of course, wasn't everyone that way when out around others they weren't close to? She supposed even she was. She certainly had been tonight.

Her jaw hurt from smiling so much.

“Jake wanted me to escort you to the limo. He said he'd be there shortly,” Sean said coming up to her.

She glanced around. “Where is Reanna?”

He shrugged. “She's off with someone else. And I can't say that I mind much,” he said crisply. “She was quite a bore.”

He glanced over her head and saw something. “Come on,” he said and took her arm.

Before she could turn around, he'd slipped his arm around her just as Victor would have and had escorted her out of the ballroom where the party had been held.

“So, Victor still hasn't declared himself?” he asked as they walked.

Annie was shocked by Sean's words. “What do you mean?”

He chuckled and propelled her onward. “I imagine he is a bit stubborn, but I had hoped that tonight, with all of the press…still I should have realized he would have to be pushed a bit harder.”

“Sean, I'm sorry but I don't understand.”

“So, what did you think of the movie?” he asked mildly, changing the subject.

“I enjoyed it,” she said, though one part had certainly disturbed her.

“But not all of it, I can tell,” Sean said, too wisely.

“No. Well, it's just…”

They passed through the great hall toward the exit. She thought she heard someone call her name.

Sean continued walking, carrying her right along with him. “Seeing an on-screen romance between Jake and the leading lady bothered you, didn't it?”

Her gaze slipped back up to Sean's. “Am I that transparent?” she asked miserably.

Out of all that had happened, that one thing had disturbed her. Probably because all she could think about lately was Victor and wanting to experience his kisses. She was ashamed to admit it, but she had fallen hard and fast for the man and couldn't think of anything but him.

Sean nodded. “I think you are. Of course, I couldn't see Jake's reaction on your other side. Really, sweetheart, it's business. The woman he was kissing is worse than Reanna. And it's hard to get into the mood when you have fifty other people standing around watching. Trust me. There's nothing there between them.”

“It looked so real,” she said quietly as they pushed through the doors. And she'd seen Meredith. She was gorgeous and perfect. How could he not fall for her?

Most of the paparazzi were gone now. Sean sig
naled for the attendants to bring the limo around and then strolled off to a secluded area to wait. “It's supposed to look real. The directors keep at it until they get the scenes right. That's the idea behind movies, to make the audience think it's real. And that's the idea behind what I'm about to do,” he said gently.

Confused, she glanced up. “I'm sorry. What?”

His gaze turned dark. He said something in Dutch and then, to her utter shock, his hands slipped to her shoulders and he pulled her forward.

“Wha—” she started and was engulfed in his kiss.

Her mind absolutely froze with astonishment for a moment.

Good heavens. Sean Hampton was kissing her, she thought and then her mind began working again. Sean Hampton was
kissing
her!

She lifted her hands to push him away.

“Excuse me.”

Before she could move, a hand closed around her upper arm and she was jerked away.

Annie's ball gown tripped her and she staggered. She latched onto the hand holding her and looked up.
Oh good heavens!
Victor stood there, eyes blazing.

Sean lifted his hands in mock surprise. “I didn't think it was serious between you two,” he said.

“What?” Disbelieving, she looked back and forth between the two men. She saw flashes and thought, Great, lightning and thunder. Rain was coming and they were standing out here arguing or—something—since she couldn't understand them. Words were exchanged in rapid-fire Dutch, and then the limo arrived.

“Come on,” Victor said and hauled her along with him to the limo, shoving her inside, almost causing her to trip again.

“I—” she started.

She glanced back and saw Sean smile at her.

She glared.

Victor climbed in and closed the door and off went the limo. “But what about him?”

Oh boy. That was the wrong thing to ask. Victor's gaze riveted to her.

“Would you rather be with him?” Victor asked. “Is that it?”

“Huh?” Her mouth fell open.

Growling low in his throat, he said, “I've wanted to do this since day one. I guess I should have just done it.”

Before she could answer, he'd grabbed her and pulled her into his arms.

It only took a moment for her to melt and accept Victor's kiss.

“Victor,” she whispered. She wanted to say so
many things, tell him so many things. Unfortunately, his name was all she could remember.

She couldn't believe how right this felt. She also couldn't believe the emotions he pulled out of her. In his arms like this, she couldn't deny the feelings she had for him. She ran her hands up through his short hair, thinking how much she'd wanted to reach up and do that since she'd met him. It was soft, curly, slick between her fingers. She squeezed her hands closed around it and sighed.

She had grown to care more than just a little for this man. If she were honest, she would admit she could even find hope again of not being alone the rest of her life, of having someone to share it with. She could admit that love was in her heart for Victor Rivers.

Before she could say anything, however, Victor suddenly groaned and released her. Annie still leaned across Victor's lap, staring up at him in utter wonder.

She touched her lips and simply blinked.

“You were kissing Sean.”

“What!”

Shocked at his abrupt words, she struggled to sit up.

Though Victor looked angry, his hands were gentle as they helped her back across to her own seat.

“You heard me,” he said shortly.

“I wasn't!” she argued, abruptly pulled out of the haze Victor had managed to weave in her mind.

Victor's eyes narrowed. “I saw you.”

“No, you didn't,” Annie argued and started to get angry. “You saw
him
kissing me.”

He shook his head. “After the way you looked at him the day he arrived? I heard what he said to you. He's been infatuated since day one. He even told me he was going to chase you.”

“He what?” Flabbergasted, she simply stared at him.

“When he first arrived. He said he was interested. And you haven't rebuked his advances. And then tonight you left with him and went to the limo, willingly going into his arms.”

“I did not. Victor, what is the matter with you!” This was not the man she'd come to love, was it?

Victor fell back in his seat. He lifted his hands to his head and ran them into his hair. “Sean is driving me crazy chasing you as he has been.”

She shook her head. “He's not chasing me.”

“What would you call it?” he demanded.

“I don't know.”

“You wanted him to come back with us in the limo.”

“No,” she said, working hard to keep her voice
calm. “I just thought since he rode with us, it was impolite to leave him standing on the sidewalk.”

“He lives here, remember?”

“No, Victor, I don't remember. I had no idea he lived in London.”

He sighed. He looked absolutely miserable.

She wasn't sure what to say. Slowly, she began, “He told me you had asked him to escort me to the limo.”

“Why would I do that?”

“I don't know, Victor. Because you are good friends.”

“Why would he lie to you?”

She shrugged. “He's been acting oddly all week. The reason I didn't rebuke him at your house, Victor, is that I'm not used to being around people like you. I wasn't sure if what he was doing was considered normal banter. You never said anything about it.”

“I'm not your boss. If you want to flirt with him or allow him to flirt with you, it's not my say.”

Annie was hurt. “He only flirts when you're around. The rest of the time he's a perfect gentleman, except for tonight.”

“Sean's not that way. You obviously wanted more from him than you're admitting.”

Annie's eyes suddenly widened. “You're jealous.”

He glanced up. “No. I'm not. I don't believe in long-term relationships. I'm the type that believes in enjoying what you have, and when the other person is done having fun, you split.”

Annie gasped.

His words caused her physical pain.

“So, that's all this friendship has been to you?”

He shrugged. “I admit it's been fun, but if you want him…”

“I keep telling you, I don't!” She couldn't believe she said that. Before she'd met Victor, the idea of ever kissing someone as handsome and well-known as Sean Hampton had been a dream as it was for every woman in America, and England as well, most likely the world. But since she'd met Victor, Sean had paled in comparison.

Victor obviously read her thoughts in her gaze, because he actually looked upset.

“You can't see past your jealousy,” Annie said simply.

“Please,” he said and waved a hand.

“I'm right. That's what Sean meant tonight.”

“What?”

She shook her head. “You're unwilling to listen.”

The limo pulled up to the hotel. Victor got out. “The plane is waiting to take us back to Holland.
I won't be on it tonight, however. Make yourself at home when you return.”

He closed the door.

She gasped again. What was that all about? Before she could get out and confront him, the limo pulled away from the curb. She fell back against the seat, aghast.

Victor had dumped her—in England—alone.

The man she'd come to love had simply stepped out of the limo and sent her on her way to the airport. Annie burst into tears. Good heavens. She cried all the way to the airport.

At the airport the driver pulled around to a private entrance. She didn't even have her clothes from the hotel. What was she going to do about them?

They sat there for at least fifteen minutes before the driver got out. He came around and opened the door.

She stepped out—and came face-to-face with Sean Hampton.

She didn't think, only reacted. With every bit of anger and pain in her, she reared back and slapped the fire out of him.

Sean actually staggered.

“Whoa!” he said, grabbing his cheek.

She started toward him and he grabbed her hands. “Calm down, sweetheart—”

“Don't call me that!”

“No really. Where is Victor? I came to apologize. He left so fast—”

“He left me.”

She started sobbing again.

“What?” He said a very British curse and then looked back at her. “That wasn't supposed to happen. I was going to give him some time to come to grips—”

“I don't want to hear it.”

Her shoulders drooped and she started crying again. “Uh, Annie. We need to get you on the plane. The paparazzi are coming.”

“I don't care,” she said miserably.

“Well I do, and Victor will, eventually.” He slipped an arm around her and picked her up.

“What are you doing? Keep your hands off me.”

“My lands, woman, will you calm down? I'm only trying to help you,” he said sternly.

“Just like when you kissed me?”

“That was fun,” he said cheekily and then immediately backpedaled when she started to struggle. “I'm sorry. No. That was a mistake. I hadn't realized just how deep…oh for crying out loud. Stop struggling!”

When she continued to struggle he squeezed her
tightly against him. “You're not a size three, you know. I might actually drop you!”

She gasped.

He reddened. “I didn't mean that how it sounded. Please, Miss Hooper. Let me explain.”

They arrived at the plane, and he lowered her to her feet.

Looking up she saw nowhere to go but up, so she simply started climbing the stairs. Which was really difficult in a full-length gown.

“I'm only helping,” Sean warned as he reached around her and helped gather some of the dress into his hands.

“Thank you,” she said stiffly, wishing she could slam the door in his face when she finally made it onto the plane.

He released her dress.

She glanced back, hoping to see that Victor was somehow there. He wasn't however.

She stepped inside the plane. Going to a seat she collapsed down into it.

Sean showed up shortly and offered her brandy.

“I don't drink.”

“Ah. That's right. Sorry.” Going back to the refrigerator, he looked in and brought back a bottle of water. “Here, sweetheart. Drink this.”

“Don't call me sweetheart,” she muttered and accepted the water.

Sean seated himself across the aisle from her. “Buckle up, love,” he said softly. “We're about to take off.”

She gave up arguing with him. Listlessly she pulled the seat belt around her waist and snapped it.

He snapped his own seat belt.

In seconds they felt the plane taxi to take off.