Free Wishbones by Carolyn Haines Page A

morning. He said there was talk of seeing a ghost in the house."
    They both looked at me. "Whose ghost?" I asked, playing it innocent.
    "Most likely Carlita's ghost. There's talk that she didn't commit suicide." Dallas leaned forward. "I've heard rumors that she was murdered. That's why she haunts this place. She can't rest until the person who killed her pays."

CHAPTER EIGHT

    Dusk had swallowed us in a warm mango glow by the time we finished filming for the day. While the end result of our labors might look glamorous, I was learning that shooting a movie was grueling work.
    Anticipation of the arrival of Tinkie, Cece, and Millie had me to the point that I couldn't rest, though my body warned that I needed some shut-eye.
    "Sarah Booth, why don't you try to relax?" Graf asked. "I'll make you something cool and delicious and you can rest until your friends get here. I'll even go to the airport and retrieve them."
    I wondered where Graf kept his suit with the cape and the big "S" on the chest. "Will you really fetch them for me?"
    "My pleasure. I owe them a lot. They helped me when I was in Zinnia."
    If I had matured in the months that Graf and I were apart, he'd had a major growth spurt. This wasn't the same man I'd shared my bed with in New York. This was a conscious man, one who could put my needs ahead of his own.
    "I'll make this up to you."
    He shook his head. "This is nothing, Sarah Booth. I don't understand why I never got this until now. Maybe I've nevertruly loved anyone before. Now it's all so clear and simple. I'll do everything in my power to make you happy."
    I felt a lump in my throat. "I'm not sure I deserve this."
    "It isn't up to you to decide. This is my choice." He kissed my forehead. "Now take a hot shower and crawl in bed. I'll make you a Fuzzy Navel, lots of fresh orange juice and vitamins and a dollop of vodka to ease the tension. Then I'll dash to the airport. I should be back by dinnertime. We can all go out."
    I started to make a smart-ass remark, but instead I kissed him. A good, solid smack that took his breath away. And then I left him standing at the front door while I went upstairs to follow his prescription for rest.
    Federico had generously made two rooms available for my buddies, and I checked to be sure they were ready before I stepped under the stinging spray of a hot shower. The water was marvelous, pounding on my shoulders and melting away the tightness. I was wrapped in plush towels and sitting at the dressing table when Graf brought the drink. He'd squeezed the oranges himself.
    "Drink this and I'll be back as quickly as possible," he said.
    "Yassa, boss man."
    "If you want to play roles, I can think of more interesting ones," he whispered in my ear.
    He left while the pink still tinted my cheeks.
    I sipped the drink and wandered around the room, examining the portrait of Carlita Marquez. She'd been incredibly beautiful, if a bit too thin. The version of her death I'd heard was overdose of prescription medication--ruled accidental due to Federico's influence, no doubt.
    It would be interesting to talk to Millie about this. She was like a research database when it came to movie stars and celebrities. She knew things that no one else could possibly remember.
    Though I stretched out on the bed, I couldn't rest. I was anxious. The day had been hard, but the good news was that, despite the lost hours from Joey's accident Federico had shot more usable footage than he'd anticipated. Minimal retakes meant we were ahead of schedule, and he was thrilled at the way things were going.
    After twenty minutes of twisting and turning, I gave up trying to rest, slipped into my favorite black jeans and some walking shoes, and decided to explore the Pacific beach.
    The sun had set, but the sky was still warm with light as I made my way along the half mile down to the shore. Venus had risen in the western sky, and soon the moon would lift out of the Pacific. Waves crashed against the shore, and I noticed a