"One," he whispered finally.
And his world vanished.
*****
Chapter Three
Luke didn't know if he had slept or not, but he felt wide awake when he opened his eyes.
This wasn't his bedroom anymore. He was lying on a royal blue chaise lounge, finding himself in a paneled room with high, arched windows overlooking a beautiful garden. It seemed to be cluttered with roses in every color imaginable. An open pavilion was barely visible through the trees in the distance. When he looked down at himself, he wasn't wearing his bathing robe anymore, but some kind of historical costume, a soft white shirt with an artfully folded cravat beneath his chin, a long black waistcoat, buckled shoes and ... damn, knee breeches and silk stockings! This was outrageous! Someone had drugged and abducted him, taking him to this place, this elegant parlor. Was it some kind of Regency movie set? And he looked like damn Mr Darcy! What would be expected of him next, doing a wet shirt scene in the pool?
"There you are, Luke," a cynical, very familiar female voice said. "You look dashing today. But you are quite late." Luke turned his head and saw the goddess from the beach, sitting at an elegant Louis XIV table with a china tea service in front of her, clad in a Regency-style empire dress. Its high waist showed off her ample bosom which was half visible in her low-cut bodice. She was pouring steaming hot tea into two delicate bone china teacups.
"Would you like to join me at the table?" she asked, eying him from head to toe in an outrageous manner, one fine dark brow lifted. "I fear your tea is getting cold."
Slowly he stood up, still wavering on his legs. No matter how much this seductress tempted him, he was starting to get really angry.
"Tell me, Jane," he said, his tone leaving no doubt that he didn't believe her name to be real, "where is the fucking hidden camera? Why am I wearing this?" He gestured to his breeches, making a face.
Instead of an answer, she raised her fine arched eyebrows and looked at him, her expression unfathomable.
"I have absolutely no idea what you mean", she said after a few moments. "There is no camera here, I can assure you. And you are wearing this because I've chosen to spend some time in the Regency. I happen to like this period. Haven't you ever read Jane Austen?"
"Of course I have. But what, Miss Eden, were you thinking when you decided to drug me, drag me to your house and dress me up like your costume doll? Aren't you aware that kidnapping is a federal crime? Now let me go this instant, or my lawyer will …"
"Don't be ridiculous, Luke. You can go whenever you want," Jane said softly, delicately raising her teacup to her lips and taking a sip. Just leave the salon and turn right, then go downstairs and leave. The front door is open. The only problem is that you don't want to leave, do you?"
He simply stared at her, still not realizing what was happening here.
"I didn't kidnap you. I invited you to my house, and you willingly came here when you followed the instructions in my letter. You can stay with me for as long as you like. If not, you can go. The house will take you back if you wish to return to L.A. It's that simple."
"But this isn't possible," he said. After a few moments he added, "Even if I … wanted to stay, I couldn't. I'm due to start shooting a new movie in New Zealand next month, and I need to prepare for my role." Maybe he could play her little game for a while, just to find out what really had happened here. Slowly he strode over to her and sat down at the luxuriously set English tea table.
Jane handed him a steaming cup of tea. He felt like a damn fool, but he had to admit that the tea was the best he'd ever tasted.
"Yes, I've read all about it," she said. "It's a fantasy role again, isn't it?" She blushed a little when she lowered her gaze, her long lashes throwing shadows on the pale perfection of her cheeks. "I must admit that I … particularly liked you in your last movie. I can't think of anyone who'd played the role of the elven prince better."
Now it was his turn to blush - of course he didn't, but he felt a heat rise up from his chest, and his heart pounded faster. Damn, this wasn't the first time a woman had praised him for his acting skills! How could he allow himself to become so affected? But strangely enough, he felt that he cared. He cared what this woman he hardly knew thought of him.
Clearing his throat, he said, "Thank you. It was hard work to prepare for that role. They flew in this stuntman from England who taught me all about fighting with medieval weaponry …"
Before he knew it, she had wrapped him around her little finger, this strange, alluring woman. Quickly he stopped himself from just chatting away about his role. "Who are you, really?" he asked, glowering at her. Where are we? I'm still not sure how you've managed to abduct me. But now that I'm here, what are you intending to do with me, if I may ask?"
To his surprise, she blushed again.
"I brought you here because I saw you in this movie, and … I wanted to get to know you. There's nothing more. I guess the house must have felt my wish and decided to bring us together. I was surprised myself when I was taken to this park.
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