His Leading Lady (16 page)

“We’re building a brand new team, looking for
young talent to grow with us. We’ve been following you since
college. Quite a record.” Dunston took a sip of his coffee. “I
think you’ve got the stuff. You’re good, Davis. And with us, you
could be great. We want you as our starting quarterback.
Interested?” He narrowed his eyes.

“I am, Mr. Dunston. You bet I am.”

“Do you have a manager? Tell him to give me a
call.” Jim tossed his card on the table.

“It’s a she. I will.”

“We’ll talk terms. You willing to leave the
Gamblers?”

“Yes. Definitely ready to move up.” Mark
nodded.

“I feel you are, too. Assuming we can agree
on terms, welcome to Delaware,” Jim said, extending his hand.

Mark grinned from ear to ear. Penny sat
quietly, watching.

“Here’s what we propose,” Dunston said,
handing Mark an envelope with folded paper inside. “Let her look it
over. Call me by the end of next week. Don’t wait. We’re seeing
other players. Frankly, you’re my first choice.”

“Thank you, Mr. Dunston.”

“Jim. Mighty fine job today.”

“Thank you.” Mark beamed under the man’s
praise.
Dad, where are you when I need you?
He forced
thoughts of his father from his brain.
Meg will be thrilled. Is
Penny? Can we get married? Her career is wrecked. Maybe she’ll come
with me.
He glanced at the beautiful woman at his side and
smiled.

“You’ll find living in Delaware is extremely
pleasant and very reasonable. You can get a huge house for less
than three hundred grand. Fine schools, too.”

“I’m sure I’ll love it there. Thank you for
the vote of confidence.”

They finished their meal. Jim Dunston picked
up the check. They parted with Mark’s promise to get back to him
quickly. Mark drove Penny to the apartment. He didn’t know which he
wanted to do first, make love to her, or read the offer from
Dunston.

“Open it, open it!” she squealed, making his
decision easier. He unfolded the paper and read the terms. When he
got to the dollar amount, he sank down slowly on the sofa. “Holy,
Jesus.”

“What? What?”

“Oh. My. God.” He stared at the contract in
disbelief.
I’m dreaming.

“What! Tell me,” she said, tugging on his
arm.

“A million and a half salary and twenty-five
grand signing bonus.”
Am I dreaming? I’m on my way.

Penny’s hands flew to cup her mouth. Her eyes
got wide. “Congratulations! Your dream has come true. I’m proud of
you.”

Not all of my dream.
Mark’s pulse went
into overdrive. He paced, trying to decide what to do next.
Call
Meg, shout out the window, or make love to Penny? Damn! It’s
already seven o’clock!
Mark pulled Penny to him and kissed her.
“No talk. It’s been forever. Let’s make love.” He backed her
through the doorway into the bedroom and kicked the door shut.

On the way to the airport, he realized their
time to talk was evaporating. “How much longer do you have to be in
Spain?”

“I don’t know. At least a couple of weeks.
Then some sound work in L.A.”

“Really? I’m going to take the offer from
Delaware. It’s my ticket out of here and into the limelight. I’m
ready.”

“You are. I’m so thrilled for you!”

“I want you to come with me.”

Penny stared out the window at the lights of
Las Vegas. “I don’t know, Mark. Don’t know where I’ll be.”

“Will you think about it?”

“Of course.”

“I love you, as much now as when you left.
Maybe even more.”

She placed her hand on his arm. “I love you,
too. But my life is in turmoil, right now. Let me figure it out
first. Can you wait?”

“I’ve waited this long. Of course, I’ll
wait.”

Another tearful goodbye at the airport tugged
at Mark’s heart. He feared for Penny, returning to the set where
she may not be safe. As he stood, waiting for her plane to take
off, he wondered about her.
Once the movie is finished, where
will she go? What’s her next move? Will she come to Delaware with
me? I didn’t offer marriage. It didn’t seem like the right
time.
As soon as he got in the car, he knew what he needed to
do.
Meg. Gotta talk to Meg.

“But I’ve never negotiated a contract, much
less a sports contract.”

“You’re a businesswoman. What’s the
difference? You know finance. It’s your major.”

“Mark, I’m not qualified.”

“I don’t know anyone. Hell, I wouldn’t trust
anyone else. Besides, you’re smarter than most people. Please,
Meg.”

“I don’t want to screw it up for you.”

“You won’t. I’ll fax it through to you.”

“Maybe one of my professors can help.”

“I knew you’d figure it out. This is our
ticket, Meg. We’ll finally have enough money, and I’ll be doing
what I’m meant to do.”

“I’m so proud of you, Lug. Way to go.”

“Thanks. Now, we have to get Penny to move to
Delaware with me.”

“Are you sure?”

“What do you think? Get your ass out here.
You can help me pack up.”

“Let’s wait until the contract is
signed.”

****

Penny landed in Madrid tired and cranky. All
she wanted to do was go back to Mark. She dragged herself to the
set and fell asleep in a chair. The crewmember who had threatened
her had not shown his face for several days. She wondered if he had
been fired. The fallout from the nude photos was more than she had
ever imagined. Awash in regret, she prayed to sink into the
background and have it all forgotten. But that was not to be.

Memorizing her lines and shooting her scenes
took up all her time. Brief breaks were spent thinking about Mark
and the Delaware Demons. Though he had asked her to go with him, he
had never mentioned marriage.
How can I move across the country
without a commitment? What about my career? I’m not ready to go to
school. I don’t have the money, yet.

Worry plagued Penny. Being alone didn’t help.
While she tried getting close to the other actors in the movie,
everyone had already formed friendships and alliances long before
she had arrived. She was the odd one out. Her emails to Mark got
longer. While he replied faithfully every day, he still didn’t
mention marriage. She began to wonder if what they’d had was
something she had imagined.
Is he just out for an easy
companion? Maybe he’s simply too young.

Penny was included in the Thanksgiving dinner
given by the film company for the cast and crew. She didn’t care if
she worked through the holiday, after all, she had nowhere to go
anyway. The more she worked, the sooner she could return to Las
Vegas and the arms of her lover.

Mark wrote about the contract negotiations
and when they finally had reached agreement on all sides. As the
football season wound down, he talked more and more about Delaware.
He was anxious to move there, find a place to live, and settle in.
He pressed her for her plans, but she dodged his questions, still
uncertain over what her future would hold.
Is acting over for
me?
Keith called her every day.

“I’ve got a great part for you. Supporting,
but pays thirty-five percent more than you’re making now.”

Penny narrowed her eyes. “Why?”

“There’s a couple of topless scenes. Nothing
prolonged or anything.”

“No!” She hung up the phone.

He kept calling. According to Keith, every
director who wanted a topless scene in his movie was begging for
her.

“You must have a great rack, Penny, because
I’m getting a ton of calls. Not that I know firsthand. Can you send
me the link to the pictures online?”

“I don’t have a link. Are they online? Oh, my
God. I don’t want to know. And I’m not interested in doing any
topless scenes for any director, no matter how famous or
infamous.”

She needed Mark.

Hi, Mark,

If I get one more call from Keith for a
topless part in a movie, I’ll scream! Damn him. He knows I won’t do
it, but he keeps asking, hoping he’ll wear me down. The topless
parts pay a lot, more. More money for him. That’s why he keeps
bugging me.

Before you ask, I’ve turned them all down.
But he won’t listen. It’s driving me crazy. Wish you were here. I
could use a hug. A lot of hugs.

Love,

Penny

Mark answered right away.

Hi, Honey,

Give me Keith’s address, and I’ll take him
out. I’ll pound some sense into him. Missing you. Meg is going to
help me pack. I’m planning to go to Delaware as soon as the season
is over. I doubt we’ll be Super Bowl contenders this year, so that
should be sooner rather than later. You haven’t told me when you’re
coming home.

I’ll be there to pick you up. I hope it’s
soon.

Love,

Mark

By the beginning of December, Penny was
finished with her movie. She packed up as fast as she could and
hopped a plane back to Las Vegas. Connections, delays due to
weather, and cancelled flights kept her traveling all day. She
texted Mark all the changes.

She received a text from Keith while she was
boarding for the last leg of her trip.

Got you some publicity. Reporters will be at
the airport.

Keith

Penny made a face. The last thing she needed
was a slew of questions from nosy, obnoxious reporters trying to
dig up dirt. It was too late to tell Mark not to meet the plane and
save him the grief.
Guess he’ll have to deal with it. Hope he
doesn’t take a swing at a reporter.

The thought of seeing Mark lightened her mood
as they came in for a landing.
Just minutes and I’ll be wrapped
in his arms. Can’t wait.
Time seemed to grind to a halt as she
watched the slow motion ticking of the hands on her watch. She
brushed her hair and reapplied lipstick. Then, down the gangway
into the terminal. Flashbulbs started popping the second she
entered. Blinded by them, she didn’t see Mark at first.

“Penny! Over here!” She shielded her eyes
with her hand and searched until she saw his wide shoulders looming
above the other men. She smiled and chuckled to herself how
wonderful it was that he was so tall. A reporter approached
her.

“Are you giving up legit acting for porno
films?”

“What? No.” She pushed past him only to be
accosted by another one blocking her way to Mark.

“Are you going topless in your next
movie?”

“No. Please, get out of my way.” Penny tried
to shoulder her way past him with no success. The man didn’t budge.
He scribbled for a second then opened his mouth for another
question. But a long arm and large hand reached between the
journalist and Penny. It fastened itself on her arm and pulled her
through the crowd.
Mark.
She looked up, beaming at his
handsome face. Within a second, she was tucked into his
embrace.

“Hi, baby,” he muttered as he lowered his
mouth to hers. Penny couldn’t tell if the flashing lights were from
cameras or stars bursting inside her head. His kiss sucked her
breath from her lungs. She clung to him with every ounce of
strength she had. The flashes kept coming. When they broke, Mark
stroked her hair and smiled into her eyes. Within two seconds, the
news hounds were poking into their relationship.

“Are you two engaged?”

“How do you feel about your fiancée posing
nude?

“Do you have framed copies of those
pictures?”

“Rumors say you’re going to Delaware, Mark.
Are you taking Penny with you?”

“Are you living together?”

“How much did Delaware give you?”

“What’s your next film, Penny? Any nudity in
it?”

Mark looked up, temporarily dazed by all the
noise and bright lights. Silently, he grasped Penny’s hand and
steered her toward the baggage claim area. While they waited for
her luggage, reporters continued to fire nosy, nasty questions at
the pair and take pictures. They alternated—sometimes Penny denied
a claim or said “no comment,” and other times, Mark did.

When he had her large suitcase, he toted it
like it only weighed two pounds and shouldered his way through the
crowd like one of his teammates pushed through the line on the
gridiron. Penny followed right behind, her hands on his waist. Mark
fended off the nosy reporters long enough to get her safely stowed
in his car. She leaned back and closed her eyes.

“What the hell was that? A cockroach
convention?” Mark blew out a breath as he maneuvered them onto the
highway.

“Keith called them. Said it would be good
publicity for the film. No one asked me a thing about the movie.
Only about those damn pictures. I wish I’d never done them.”

“Geez, no one wants to let you forget, do
they?”

“Nope. How are you?”

They chatted until Mark pulled into the lot
behind his building. She turned to look at him, warmth flowing
through her body.
He’s actually here.
She eased herself
closer, snuggling into his shoulder. He pulled her in for a giant
hug.

“Don’t let go, Mark. Don’t ever let go,” she
whispered, closing her eyes. His scent brought a smile to her lips.
God, I missed this so much.
His lips grazed her hair, and
she kissed his chest. His closeness, his strength, buoyed Penny.
Energy began to flow through her again.

Circling around to the front door, they
stopped as a taxi pulled up next to them. The door opened.

“A reporter?” Mark mumbled. “One more
flashbulb, and I’ll punch this guy’s lights out.”

Penny turned to look at the man getting out
of the cab behind them. “Dad?”

****

Mark’s head snapped up. “What?”

“Dad? Is that you?”

“Penny, my dear. How are you? I’ve had a
devil of a time finding you.” A slim man with steel gray hair
turning white at the temples approached. He had Penny’s blue eyes,
but that’s where the resemblance ended. His face was lined and
puffy. Medium height, he wore clothes that were too big for him.
His camel-colored corduroy jacket was worn at the elbows. His shirt
collar had a little fray in it, and the soles of his shoes were
worn down.