Rick roared with laughter over his shoulder.
They reached the hotel to find that the revelries had ended and the place was quietening down for the night. Travis escorted her to her suite.
It had a luxurious bathroom, a huge bed and vast windows overlooking Sunset Boulevard. Charlene stared, trying, unsuccessfully, to imagine her ordinary self in these palatial surroundings. But she made no protest. Clearly Travis had a plan in mind, and now she must leave everything to him.
She knew that some people would say this was foolish. How could she draw Lee back to her by being seen with Travis?
But in her heart she knew that a few short hours had changed everything between herself and Lee. He hadn’t missed her and didn’t want her. Only a woman determined to delude herself could think otherwise. He was ambitious, which was one reason for escorting Penny, who was more established and could inspire the interest of the press.
But the really big star was Travis. It was he who made headlines, and the fact that Charlene had apparently secured his interest had made Lee gape with astonishment.
She didn’t know what the future held, but having Travis as her champion saved her from humiliation and she would cling to him.
As though he’d read her thoughts, Travis said, ‘Don’t worry. If Lee comes knocking I’ll fade into the background.’
‘I wonder if he will,’ she mused.
‘And if he did, would that make you happy? Do you really want him?’
‘Let’s say I’m seeing him with new eyes, but…it might be complicated-’
He put his hands on her shoulders. ‘Are you pregnant?’ he asked quietly.
She looked up and the misery in her face made him catch his breath.
‘I don’t know for sure,’ she said desperately. ‘When I was late I did a pregnancy test, and it was positive. But then someone told me that shop-bought pregnancy tests aren’t always one hundred per cent accurate so I did another one and that was negative. But I’m still late. Perhaps I should have waited until I was more certain before I came here, but I was so happy, and I thought he might be happy too.’
She choked off into silence. Travis wasted no more words. Instead he drew her close, his arms around her in a warm hug.
‘I’ve got a doctor friend who’ll help you,’ he said. ‘We’ll get a definite yes or no. Don’t worry. I’ll take care of everything. Now, I’m going. Go to bed and get some sleep. I’ll call you in the morning.’
He placed a gentle kiss on her cheek, and left.
She went to bed but couldn’t sleep. Her thoughts seemed to be fighting each other. One saying that she’d expected better from Lee. The other asking if it was really such a surprise? Hadn’t she, in her heart, known that he wouldn’t welcome her?
She laid her hands over her stomach, wondering what she should tell him; wondering if there was anything to tell.
Her eyes were closing when a soft knock at the door made them open wide. Throwing on a robe, she hurried to answer, half expecting Travis.
But it was Lee who stood there, looking anxious.
‘Are you alone?’ he asked.
‘Quite alone,’ she said, standing back to let him in. ‘What else did you expect?’
‘Well…he might be with you.’
‘He?’
‘Travis. They say he never passes up a chance.’
‘Well, you’re wrong,’ she said with a touch of anger. ‘I came to Los Angeles to see you.’
‘Yes, but after the way he’s been haunting you tonight, I thought… Well, you’ve really got his attention.’
‘Lee did you come here to insult me, because-?’
‘I’m not insulting you. That guy lives in the spotlight, and if he’s interested in you then you’ve got the spotlight as well. This is LA. These things matter.’
‘And you wouldn’t mind me sharing his spotlight?’ she demanded. ‘Even though you and I have some unfinished business?’
‘I thought we sorted that out earlier.’
‘Then you must think it was very easily sorted. We made love, Lee, and sometimes that can produce results. Have you thought of that?’
The sheer blank horror in his face answered every possible question.
‘Are you saying…? You mean you’re…? Are you sure?’
‘No, I’m not sure. It isn’t definite yet.’
‘Phew! So things might still be all right.’
‘That depends on what you mean by all right.’
‘Charlene, I swear I didn’t want to leave you in trouble. If the worst comes to the worst I’ll help you fix it. There are places where these things can be arranged discreetly.’
‘And that would make everything…all right?’ she said slowly.
‘You won’t have any problems, I promise you. Just call me when you know for certain, and we’ll do what’s necessary. But let’s hope for the best. It may be a false alarm.’
Suddenly she couldn’t bear the sight of him. Every word he uttered seemed a blow to her heart.
‘You’d better leave,’ she said. ‘Go!’
‘Ah, you think he may still turn up? Right. You don’t want him to find me here.’
‘I didn’t say that. I’m not expecting him.’
‘Oh, come on! He was good to you. Don’t tell me he doesn’t want something in return.’
Her eyes blazed. ‘Get out before I do something violent.’
He escaped. As the door closed behind him it took all of her self-control not to hurl something at it.
Could he be right? she wondered. Would Travis arrive and demand ‘payment’, thus proving himself as cynical and self-seeking as every other man?
As the night wore on she tensed at every sound outside her door, waiting for the knock. But it never came, and at last she realised that Travis was better than her fears, better than Lee’s spiteful accusations.
Somehow after that it was easier to sleep.
Next morning she rose very early and ordered breakfast through room service. As she was finishing, the phone rang.
‘It’s me,’ said Travis. ‘Can I come up or will I be in the way?’
‘I’m alone,’ she said, correctly interpreting this. ‘Do come.’
She was waiting for him with the door open, and shut it quickly behind him.
‘I came up the back stairs,’ he said. ‘Nobody will know I’m here so if Lee…you know…’
‘If Lee asks any jealous questions you won’t have compromised me,’ she said, bitterly amused. ‘Don’t worry, he won’t. And he’d actually be glad you were here.’
‘Why would he…? Oh, no, tell me I’m wrong.’
‘You’d relieve him of a problem. He was here last night. Not for long. He escaped as soon as he could.’
‘You told him about the baby?’
‘I told him there might be one. He was horrified. He’s probably calling abortion doctors this minute.’
Travis drew in a sharp breath. ‘Would you-?’
‘No, of course not!’ she said passionately. ‘Never,
She began to pace the room, clenching and unclenching her hands until he took gentle hold of her.
‘Calm down,’ he said. ‘We’ve got to find out the truth. We can’t do anything until we know one way or the other.’
‘You’re kind but it’s me that’s got to do something, not you. I won’t drag you into this.’
