Capture the Rainbow by Iris Johansen Page B

Joel had looked as if she’d struck him when she had innocently thrown that taunt at him. The pain on his face had been stark and raw before he had covered it with a sarcastic expression. Kendra suddenly couldn’t take it anymore. He was becoming too real and human with every word Billie spoke. She had to keep him one-dimensional if she was to come out of this with her heart whole and emotionally intact.
    She jumped to her feet. “I think I’d better get to bed if I’m going to be any good at all tomorrow,” she said hurriedly as she screwed the top back on the thermos and folded the cellophane around the remaining crackers. “I have to be on the set at six.” She strode across the room and put both items back on the little brass table. “I’m afraid I didn’t ask which bed was mine before I just plopped.”
    “It doesn’t matter, use either one.” Billie picked up her guitar again. “Will it bother you if I play for a little while? I’m something of an insomniac.”
    “No problem. I sleep like a log.”
    “So I noticed.” Billie’s fingers stroked the strings lovingly. “You looked so exhausted that I was a little worried. Are you sure you’re up to working tomorrow?”
    “I’m sure.” As Kendra moved briskly toward the bedroom, she threw the other woman a grin over her shoulder. “Haven’t you heard? We stunt people are as tough as old leather.”

    “Try it again, Kendra.” Joel’s voice was silky smooth and absolutely expressionless. Kendra gritted her teeth to keep back the exclamation of pure fury she wanted to hurl at the stone-faced monster lolling carelessly in the camera’s hoist some twenty feet above her. She had rolled down that bloody incline
five
times and Joel still wasn’t ready to film it. She sat up and dusted off the knees of her jeans and meticulously straightened the copper curls of her wig. She would
not
complain and give Joel the satisfaction of knowing that his treatment was getting to her. She’d roll down that hill a hundred times if his august lordship decreed. She had taken all the punishment he had handed out to her in the past two weeks and she could keep on for as long as he could dish it out.
    It couldn’t go on like this forever. Joel was taking too much time filming her stunts and he was far too professional to let the budget suffer to indulge his own personal quirks.
    “Are you okay?” Skip Lowden asked quietly as he reached down a hand to pull her to her feet. His gray eyes were as cool as ever but there was a flicker of concern in their depths. His hands ran over her hips and ribs impersonally. “The padding’s holding all right?”
    “Fine,” she said curtly. “I have more padding than an end for the Los Angeles Rams, and it seems that I’m going to need every bit of it.”
    “It looks that way.” Skip took her arm and was striding with her up the hill. “You’re keeping loose, but I noticed on that last roll you forgot to tuck your left arm underneath you. Watch it or you could end up with a broken arm.”
    “I will.” She hadn’t been aware of the slip but she had no doubt it had happened if Skip said so. She had been tired and upset, but a lack of concentration was not only unprofessional, it could kill her. “It won’t happen again, Skip.”
    “Just thought I’d mention it,” Skip said absently. “Like I said, you’re looking good.” He paused a moment, oddly hesitant for someone so self-assured. “I can’t take the heat off you, Kendra. I’d like to, but he’s not violating any safety guidelines. In fact, when it comes to the risky gags, he’s being almost too careful. He’s made them in one take every time.” He frowned. “And some of those shots were pretty marginal. Any other director might have had you do a repeat.”
    “Oh, he’s a great one for repeats.” They had reached the crest of the hill and she turned to face him, her expression grim. “Just ask me. I’m a living testament to his passion for