Free Phoenix Falling by Mary Jo Putney Page A

We weren't going to try again until after Centurion was shot, but well, things happen."
    Rainey felt a powerful, unworthy stab of envy. How marvelous it would be to have a loving husband who wanted children. Well, Emmy deserved that. "Location work is brutal. Your doctor is right to put it off limits. I can find another assistant, even though she won't be as good as you."
    "I can still handle the Los Angeles office. Will that help?"
    "That will be wonderful, as long as you don't work too hard. Maybe we can have calls and mail forwarded to your place so you can work at home and get as much rest as you need."
    "That would be great." Emmy sniffled back tears. "Damn, ever since I got pregnant I'm crying all the time. Thanks for being so understanding, Rainey. I was almost afraid to tell you."
    "Babies come before business. Give David a hug and my heartiest congratulations." Rainey sighed as she said good-bye and shut down her phone.
    "I gather that Emmy is pregnant and grounded?" Val asked.
    Rainey nodded. "Wonderful for her, of course, but terrible timing from my point of view. I was counting on her to watch my back while we're shooting. At least she'll still be running the business office, but now I have to find a good location assistant."
    "You've overcome far worse obstacles than losing an assistant." Val refreshed the wine in their glasses. "Have some more chardonnay to mitigate the shock. Or does this call for a second round of fudge sauce?"
    "Things aren't quite that bad." Rainey gazed at her friend through the balloon of her wineglass. Nice to have Val to commiserate with her.
    Wait, a minute, Val . The idea was absurd—or maybe a stroke of genius. "Will you take Emmy's place, Val?"
    "Me!" Val's voice rose to a squeak. "That's absurd. I'm a lawyer, not a moviemaker. There must be herds of personal assistants who'd jump at the chance to work with you. People with production experience."
    Warm with wine and excitement, Rainey swung her feet from the sofa to the floor and leaned forward earnestly. "Don't underestimate your experience. You've visited me on plenty of movie sets, you've been my sounding board while I prepped Centurion , and you're one of the best organized people I've ever met."
    "I've got a job here! I can't just flit off."
    "It's only a couple of months. Didn't you say earlier that you have a ton of unused vacation and sick time?" Rainey grinned wickedly. "Time to fish or cut bait, Valentine. You're always complaining about how much you hate being a lawyer. Or have you outgrown your famous impulsiveness?"
    "I hope not, but... but what about my cats?" Val clutched the calico so close that it meowed and slithered from her lap.
    "That's really feeble. Leave them with Kate and Donovan—they adore cats and wouldn't mind a couple more for a few weeks. I think you'd be terrific at the production end of moviemaking. In fact, you already are—I'd never have gotten through the prep as quickly without your help."
    Val ran a hand through her hair, standing the red curls on end. "This is a rotten trick, Rainey. You're handing me a golden opportunity, and if I don't take it, I'll forever lose the right to complain about my job."
    "This is pure selfishness, not a golden opportunity. I'd just really like to have you there." Rainey's teasing faded. "Making this movie with Kenzie will probably be the hardest thing I've ever done. I'm going to need someone who doesn't think of me as the boss who must be placated to her face and cursed behind her back. I need a friend."
    After a silence, Val said, "Since you put it that way—it's a deal. But if I'm awful at assisting, for heaven's sake hire someone who knows what she's doing, and I'll just hang out and be available if you need someone to vent to."
    "You won't blow it. This will be fun, Val, you'll see. A lot of work, but fun." Rainey smiled mischievously. "I guarantee you'll meet a lot of fascinating, maddening men who are totally ineligible and would make you miserable if