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means he'll be keeping a steely eye on everything I do. I'm going for a hot young director. Unfortunately, it's a depressingly low budget. But the lead's a fantastic role for an actress."
     
    "I don't get it,"
    Lara said.
    "Why didn't you fe//me?"
     
    Nikki shot a baleful glare at Richard. lHe said I shouldn't bug you."
     
    "Which is exactly what you're doing now,"
    Richard interrupted, with a What am I going to do with you? look.
    "I've told you, Nikki, this is not the kind of movie Lara would be interested in."
     
    "Do you have a script yet?"
    Lara asked.
     
    "Nothing I'm satisfied with."
     
    "I'd love to read it."
     
    "Just for fun?"
    Nikki asked hopefully.
     
    I'm curious to see what you're letting yourself in for."
     
    "She has no idea,"
    Richard said drily.
    "Try stopping her - /
    can't."
     
    Isn't that what life's all about,"
    Lara said gently.
    "Helping other People achieve their dreams?"
     
    "Right on!"
    agreed Nikki, squeezing Richard's arm.
    "And when
    29 I'm a big fat mega-rich producer with an out-of-control coke habit, a live-in stud and a majorly inflated budget, the first person I'll hire will be Richard Barry - who by that time will be an ancient out-ofshape drunk, living in Santa Barbara with nothing but his memories and a couple of senile fart-rilled dogs."
     
    "Thanks, darling,"
    Richard said ruefully.
    "You sure know how to make a person feel good about himself."
     
    "Only joking."
     
    "Like I didn't know that?"
     
    "Don't get uptight."
     
    "Who's uptight?"
     
    "You two,"
    Lara said, shaking her head and laughing.
    "You're acting like a roadshow version of Virginia Wolf!"
     
    "Let's go get a drink,"
    said Richard.
    "We may as well be first."
     
    if ft &
    Much later in the evening Harry Solitaire grabbed Lara on the dance floor. He was sweating through his red polo shirt, his hands clammy as he placed them clumsily on her shoulders. His wife, a pleasant-looking English girl who'd arrived in time to spend the last weekend with her husband, sat in a corner conversing with the first AD. Lara felt sorry for the poor girl. After Harry's aborted attempt at making it with her, he'd had a series of one-nighters with her standin, the continuity woman, and two extras. There was no such thing as a secret fuck on location, everyone knew the moment it happened.
     
    "I want to thank you for not saying anything about the other night,"
    he said, shooting a furtive glance at his wife, feverishly hoping the first AD was not saying anything he shouldn't.
     
    "Why don't you try being a gentleman and stop cheating on your wife?"
    Lara suggested.
    "What would you do if she carried on the same way?"
     
    "She wouldn't,"
    Harry said gruffly.
     
    "Maybe she should,"
    Lara retorted crisply.
    "See how you'd like it."
     
    I
    30
    "My wife's not that kind of woman,"
    he said, sweat beading his
    upper Up.
     
    "What makes you so sure?"
     
    "It's different for men,"
    he said, as if she should understand.
    "Everyone knows that."
     
    "No,"
    Lara said unwaveringly,
    "that's where you're wrong."
     
    Harry was not about to argue. He had the delectable Lara Ivory in his arms, and this was his last chance to score. He pulled her so close she could feel his erection pressing against her thigh. Before she could move away, he managed a sly - Td give my left ball to make love to you. You know that, don't you?"
     
    "Oh, for God's sake, grow up, Harry,"
    she said, pushing him away and leaving the dance floor.
     
    Wrap parties. Sometimes they were too much of a good thing.
     
    fr
    The next morning Lara departed early for the airport. Nikki and Richard came to the door of the villa to see her off - both clad in terry-cloth bathrobes, bleary-eyed with monster hangovers.
     
    "Can't believe it's over,"
    Nikki said, stretching her arms high above her head.
     
    "I know what you mean,"
    Lara agreed.
    "I feel the same way."
     
    "Be sure to look after yourself, sweetheart,"
    Richard said, squeezing her hand.
    "Anything you need -