forehead. “I happen to think sex is much more fun when
it’s between two people who like each other. But if you ask me, all the talk of
true love and romance just gets in the way. Women get so caught up in wondering
if the man loves them that they read emotions into things that are simply
physical.”
Alix leaned forward, exposing a delicious eyeful of
cleavage. “You really believe that sex is the same whether the people love each
other or not?”
“People throw around the word ‘love’ too easily. This
whole story about some magical emotion that takes people over and makes them do
crazy things is ridiculous. It’s just an excuse for irresponsible behavior.”
Ryker couldn’t believe himself. He was babbling like some
baby actor at his first interview. He should have taken control by now, cut off
the conversation at the first mention of the word love. But something about
Alix’s gentle probing made it impossible not to respond.
“Are you saying you don’t think love exists?”
“I’m not saying there isn’t something to the way people
care for each other. But the whole idea of romantic love? The thing all the
poets rave about?” He flashed an apologetic smile. “I’m sorry, but I think it’s
nonsense. Pretty words and not much else.”
Alix frowned. “You’re dismissing one of the most essential
human emotions. Love motivates people to do incredible things and has
throughout history. Does Helen of Troy ring a bell?”
“Lust,” he said. “Not hard to understand. And for the
record, I’m not saying the idea of romantic love can’t make a great story. Take Casablanca , without doubt one of the finest films ever made.”
Alix bit her lip, as if she was considering arguing with
him. Then, apparently having thought better, she picked up her glass of water
and stared across the table, her luminous eyes revealing little of her
emotions. “Just not a movie you’re interested in making.”
He shrugged. “Each to his own, I suppose. And what about
you? Any more films in your future?”
“Unlikely. I’m really more interested in photography.”
“And you’re working on a book? Those pictures I saw were
part of it, I assume?”
She slid her finger around the edge of her glass. “Yes.”
He waited for her to elaborate. When she simply sat in
silence, he gestured for her to continue. It rankled that she had him running
at the mouth while he could barely extract a complete sentence from her. “And
what’s the book about? Sex? Love?”
Alix picked up her glass again and took a sip. “Yes.”
“Do you have a publisher for it yet?”
“No.”
“Are you working on anything else?”
“No.”
Ryker leaned back in his seat. “You like talking about
your work, don’t you?”
Alix flashed a quick smile. “Tell me more about Salva’s
Revenge . Have Jake and Lena been this difficult all along?”
“No. It’s been challenging, but overall, they’ve exceeded
my expectations. But the sex…” He shook his head. “That’s where it all breaks
down.” He gave her his most charming grin. “But enough about love and sex.
Let’s make small talk, shall we?”
It was too obvious, almost desperate, this need to change
the subject. But he was finding it increasingly difficult to talk about sex
without thinking about it—and thinking about her, having it.
With him.
Soon.
#
Lena stared at herself in the mirror above the tiny
bathroom sink in her trailer, unable to look away from the lines curving around
the corners of her mouth. Wrinkles. Already. She was only thirty, and time was
already digging trenches into her face.
She pinched the skin under her neck and pulled it forward
an inch or so, then let go. For a second, the fold of skin stayed loose, like
the waddle of a turkey, before it reabsorbed into her neck. The elastic was
breaking down. She’d need a face-lift soon. Very soon. Before anyone could tell
what she’d done.
Perhaps Botox and a face-lift. And a tummy tuck.
She
it’s between two people who like each other. But if you ask me, all the talk of
true love and romance just gets in the way. Women get so caught up in wondering
if the man loves them that they read emotions into things that are simply
physical.”
Alix leaned forward, exposing a delicious eyeful of
cleavage. “You really believe that sex is the same whether the people love each
other or not?”
“People throw around the word ‘love’ too easily. This
whole story about some magical emotion that takes people over and makes them do
crazy things is ridiculous. It’s just an excuse for irresponsible behavior.”
Ryker couldn’t believe himself. He was babbling like some
baby actor at his first interview. He should have taken control by now, cut off
the conversation at the first mention of the word love. But something about
Alix’s gentle probing made it impossible not to respond.
“Are you saying you don’t think love exists?”
“I’m not saying there isn’t something to the way people
care for each other. But the whole idea of romantic love? The thing all the
poets rave about?” He flashed an apologetic smile. “I’m sorry, but I think it’s
nonsense. Pretty words and not much else.”
Alix frowned. “You’re dismissing one of the most essential
human emotions. Love motivates people to do incredible things and has
throughout history. Does Helen of Troy ring a bell?”
“Lust,” he said. “Not hard to understand. And for the
record, I’m not saying the idea of romantic love can’t make a great story. Take Casablanca , without doubt one of the finest films ever made.”
Alix bit her lip, as if she was considering arguing with
him. Then, apparently having thought better, she picked up her glass of water
and stared across the table, her luminous eyes revealing little of her
emotions. “Just not a movie you’re interested in making.”
He shrugged. “Each to his own, I suppose. And what about
you? Any more films in your future?”
“Unlikely. I’m really more interested in photography.”
“And you’re working on a book? Those pictures I saw were
part of it, I assume?”
She slid her finger around the edge of her glass. “Yes.”
He waited for her to elaborate. When she simply sat in
silence, he gestured for her to continue. It rankled that she had him running
at the mouth while he could barely extract a complete sentence from her. “And
what’s the book about? Sex? Love?”
Alix picked up her glass again and took a sip. “Yes.”
“Do you have a publisher for it yet?”
“No.”
“Are you working on anything else?”
“No.”
Ryker leaned back in his seat. “You like talking about
your work, don’t you?”
Alix flashed a quick smile. “Tell me more about Salva’s
Revenge . Have Jake and Lena been this difficult all along?”
“No. It’s been challenging, but overall, they’ve exceeded
my expectations. But the sex…” He shook his head. “That’s where it all breaks
down.” He gave her his most charming grin. “But enough about love and sex.
Let’s make small talk, shall we?”
It was too obvious, almost desperate, this need to change
the subject. But he was finding it increasingly difficult to talk about sex
without thinking about it—and thinking about her, having it.
With him.
Soon.
#
Lena stared at herself in the mirror above the tiny
bathroom sink in her trailer, unable to look away from the lines curving around
the corners of her mouth. Wrinkles. Already. She was only thirty, and time was
already digging trenches into her face.
She pinched the skin under her neck and pulled it forward
an inch or so, then let go. For a second, the fold of skin stayed loose, like
the waddle of a turkey, before it reabsorbed into her neck. The elastic was
breaking down. She’d need a face-lift soon. Very soon. Before anyone could tell
what she’d done.
Perhaps Botox and a face-lift. And a tummy tuck.
She
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