Free Stars Over Sunset Boulevard by Susan Meissner Page B

he had already shown her this dress in secret, but her face colored nonetheless. The wink felt personal, intimate, and suggestive. She could not remember the last time a man had winked at her.
    She replayed the gesture in her mind for the rest of the day.

SIX
    A udrey swung open the bungalow’s front door, and Valentino, at the threshold, meowed a greeting from the edge of the dark living room.
    â€œHello, kitty.” She stepped inside and reached for the wall switch, and kicked off her shoes as light spilled into the room. She tossed her purse and coat onto the sofa and walked barefoot into the kitchen, the cat at her heels.
    Moments later, with the cat munching on his food and a martini in her hand, Audrey contemplated making herself something to eat for dinner. She didn’t have much of an appetite, and her skills in the kitchen paled miserably in comparison to Violet’s. Filming of
Gone With the Wind
had officially begun that day. She’d wait to see whether Violet arrived home feeling motivated to prepare something for the two of them to eat.
    She wandered into her bedroom to change into more comfortable clothes, but once there, she lowered herself tothe armchair beside her bed. With Violet working late the past few days, Audrey had more hours for introspection—something that most of the time she was content to avoid.
    A month had passed since the holidays and the trip home, and her thoughts crept backward now.
    She had arisen early Christmas morning, leaving Violet to her dreams while she tiptoed from the room. The sun had been peeking over the eastern horizon, and Audrey expected to find the kitchen dark and empty. But a light was on and coffee had been brewed. Her father stood at the window, looking out over the orchard, a cup in his hand.
    He hadn’t heard her coming and she could have gone back to her room without him knowing she had seen him, but she’d remembered what Violet had said about making the horse thirsty so that he would have no choice but to drink.
    â€œGood morning,” she said softly, so as not to surprise him.
    Her father startled, anyway, and turned around abruptly. Coffee sloshed out of his cup and onto his hand and the floor.
    â€œI’m sorry.” She rushed forward to grab a dish towel.
    â€œIt’s all right, it’s all right.” He set his cup down, took the towel, and blotted his hand with it, grimacing slightly.
    â€œDo you need some ice?”
    â€œI’m fine. Don’t worry.”
    He turned to the sink and ran the cold tap over his wrist for a few seconds. Audrey opened a drawer to get a clean dish towel for him but found hot pads and place mats instead.
    â€œShe keeps them in the next drawer over,” her father said.
    Audrey located the towels, handed him one, and watched as he patted his skin dry.
    â€œYou’re up early,” he said.
    â€œSo are you.”
    He shrugged. “It’s the usual time for me.”
    â€œGuess I’d forgotten.”
    He hadn’t known what to say to this, and she immediately wished she had made no comment that alluded to how long she’d had lived away from home. He picked up his cup.
    â€œI better go let the dogs out.”
    â€œI can get dressed quick and come with you if you like,” she offered.
    A look of doubt or maybe unease wavered across his face. “I’m sure you don’t want to do that, Audrey. It’s cold and dark.”
    â€œI don’t mind.”
    â€œThey’ll be anxious for me now. I’d best get out there.”
    Her father had started to move past her and Audrey reached out to stop him. “Are you really saying you won’t wait for me?”
    Leon Kluge’s gaze was trained on the door. “You should go back to your bed, where it’s warm. It’s too early. Too dark.”
    â€œBut I want to come with you.”
    Her father had half turned toward her. “No, I don’t think you do,” he had