"As I'll ever be." He offered his arm, formally, and led her outside to
the waiting limo.
"Don't try that shy, retiring stuff on me. I happen to know that no one
loves the spotlight better."
It was true enough. He settled back against the cushy seat, enjoying
the scent of leather and fresh flowers. But he worried. "I thought I
knew the bastard," he said half to himself "I didn't like him
particularly, but I figured I knew him. One of the biggest pissers is I
helped write his first hit."
"It's a bit foolish to beat yourself up over that now "If he had
anything to do with Darren ..." With a shake of his head he pulled
out a cigarette. "That should keep the tabloids going for years."
"We'll deal with it." She laid a hand over his. "It's all going to come
out anyway. Jane's part in it, and Blackpool's. We'll just have to
learn to live with it."
"It's rough on Bri. Like going through it a second time."
"He's stronger now." She fingered the pin on her jacket. "I guess we
all are."
He brought her hand to his lips. "You know, if you threw Michael over,
I might just might consider changing my ... style."
She laughed, then picked up the phone as it began to ring. "Hello.
Michael."
Johnno sat back and watched her smile spread.
"Yes, I'm sitting here thinking over a proposal from an incredibly
attractive man. No, Johnno." She put a hand over the receiver. #michael
wants you to know he's got an in with the Department of Motor Vehicles
and can make your life a living hell."
"I'll take the bus," Johnno decided.
"Yes. We're due at the theater at four. The early award ceremonies
should have already started."
"I'm sorry I can't be there," Michael told her. He glanced down the
hospital corridor toward ICU. "If things change here, I'll meet you."
"Don't worry about it."
"Easy for you to say. I miss my chance to ride in a limo and rub elbows
with the rich and famous. If you mained me, I could do it once a week."
"All right."
He caught a glimpse of a doctor coming down the corridor. "All right
what?"
"I'll marry you."
He ran a hand through his hair and shifted the phone. "Excuse me?"
She grinned foolishly at Johnno and squeezed his hand. "Have we got a
bad connection?"
"No, I ... Shit, hold on." He put a hand over the speaker to listen
to the doctor. "I've got to go, Emma. He's coming out of it. Listen,
don't forget where we left off. Okay?"
"No, I won't." She hung up just as Johnno popped the cork on the
champagne.
"Do I get invited this time?"
"Hmmm? Oh, yes. Yes." A little dazed herself, she stared at the glass
he handed her. "It was so easy."