Bruce and Harry exchanged a look. His manager made himself scarce without a word. He took a deep breath, sure he was about to deal with a weeping woman. It wasn't fair that the other girls were talking about Kat that way. Then again, it was just gossip. He'd make a joke of it, cheer her up somehow.
Kat turned and slowly gave Bruce a look that could have frozen water. He inhaled sharply, feeling like he'd just gotten a swift kick to his gut. God damn if she didn't look gorgeous when she was angry!
"Yes?"
She narrowed her eyes and grabbed her threadbare jacket, thrusting her arms into it angrily.
"Not speaking to me?"
She threw him a look and grabbed her purse, heading for the door.
"Are you mad because I gave you the part Kat? Or because of two jealous busybodies?"
She stopped and turned, backing him into a corner as she hissed at him.
"It's not funny! You heard them! You've just given me a reputation- one that I didn't earn."
He smiled at her lazily. Yes she was mad, but it wasn't really a big deal in the grand scheme of things. He'd find a way to make it up to her.
"I'll say."
"What?"
"I think I would remember if you earned it."
Her eyes flashed and she lifted her hand to smack him. They both froze. He watched as all the blood rushed from her face.
"Oh my God."
She looked horrified. As anyone who'd been about to slap their boss probably would. He gave her a twisted smile.
"Go ahead. I probably deserve it."
She lowered her hand slowly and backed away from him as if he was a keg of dynamite.
Which in a way, he was.
"Kat-"
She had her hand on the door handle when she spoke. She wouldn't even look at him. When she spoke her voice sounded strained.
"I apologize for my outburst Mr. Harrison."
"It's okay."
"No. It's really not."
And then she was gone.
7
Katrina woke up early on Saturday. They left for Vegas on Monday and she had a lot to do before then. She had to make sure Tommy's prescriptions were all filled, that his clothes were clean, that he'd been keeping up with his reading.
He was too sick to attend his classes but his school had provided them with everything he needed to keep up. It was blind optimism at it's best, hoping that a kid with recurring cancer would make it to the next grade.
But he was doing so much better with the supplements they'd started giving him. Even the doctor at the free clinic said so. Turmeric and something called Essiac they gave people with cancer in Canada. Who knew?
And once she started getting paid she was taking him to a real doctor. One who could tell them if he needed to start chemo again or not. She'd be able to pay for the treatments and the scans.
She was deep cleaning the kitchen later when she heard it. The rev of a muscle car out front. For some reason she just knew that it was him.
Bruce Harrison was in Canoga Park.
Her mother ran into the kitchen with a wild look on her face.
"He's here!"
Kat stood slowly and wiped the back of her forearm across her face. Her hair was tied back and covered in a faded pink bandana. Her clothes were dusty and dirty. She looked awful.
But she didn't care. She was too angry to care.
"What the hell does he want now?"
"Trust me, you'll want to see this for yourself."
"I swear to God…"
"Katrina! You will be gracious!"
Kat rolled her eyes and went to the front door, flinging it open.
Her heart skipped a beat.
She had been right. He'd done it. He'd actually done it.
Bruce was leaning against a shiny black Audi convertible. There was a big red bow on the hood.
Bruce Harrison had bought her a car.
Her mouth was open. Again. How many times could he shock the hell out of her? The man was infuriating. He was high handed. He was arrogant.
He was incredibly generous.
But why?
What was his interest in her anyway?
It's not like he couldn't have his pick of gorgeous women.
Kat tugged her t-shirt down over her ratty old jeans. She felt self-conscious suddenly. And she definitely had no idea what to say.
One thing was certain, she was not keeping that car.
One step at a time, she walked slowly down the front path to the street.
"Hi."
"Hi."
"What are you doing here Mr. Harrison?"
"Isn't it obvious?"
"I asked you not to do this."
He shrugged and grinned at her.
"I'm not very good at following rules."
She sighed and crossed her arms over her chest. She knew she should invite him inside but then he would see Tommy.
"How about a drive?"
"I don't know, I was kind of doing something."
He smiled at her in a way that made her insides clench up.
"I can see that."
With a shock her hand went to the bandana in her hair. How had she forgotten what a mess she was? The man had a way of twisting her up in knots.
"Mom?"
She turned and her heart sank. Tommy was standing in the open doorway. He wasn't as pale as usual today.
"Who's this big guy?"
Oh God, now Bruce was talking to him. She glanced at him over her shoulder, a clear warning in her eyes. He just raised his eyebrows expectantly.
"This is Tommy. Tommy this is Mr. Harrison, my boss. He was just leaving."
"Wow, you are that singer guy!"
Bruce laughed.
"Yes, I am that singer guy."
"Cool."
"Tommy go back inside."
"Hey Tommy, have you ever been to Disneyland?"
"No."
"Maybe we could all go sometime. I have kind of a lifetime pass."
"Really?"
"Yeah. I get to skip the lines and everything."
"Whoa. Can we Mom?"
"We'll see. Now go back inside. You still have three chapters to do before I leave."
Tommy waved and went back inside, looking more buoyant than she'd seen him in a long time. She turned to face Bruce, expecting to see censure in his eyes. But he was just grinning at her expectantly.
"Any more secrets?"
"No. And I swear it won't impact my job. My mom looks after him most of the time and-"
"I never said it would."
"Okay. Great. Thanks. I just- it's easier if I just-"
"Don't mention him?"
She nodded, feeling miserable suddenly.
"Look, I really appreciate everything you are doing. I just can't accept this."
He stared at her for a moment before sighing deeply. He was giving in! It was hard to believe but it was true. Thank goodness.
"Fine. Consider it a loan then. You need a reliable ride. I won't take no for an answer."
She shook her head at him and grudgingly smiled. She couldn't help it. He was really too much.
"Okay, a loan. Thank you."
"Don't you want to try her out?"
She took a deep breath.
"Why not?"
He tossed her the keys and watched her walk around the car to the driver's side. She climbed in, inhaling the new car smell.
She'd never had a new car in her life.
"I'm too dirty for this car."
"You look fine to me."
She gave him a look of disbelief and slid the key into the ignition. Then she pulled on her seatbelt and put her hands on the wheel.
"Where are we going?"
"Malibu."
She stared at him.
"What? You're not going to give me a ride home?"
"Right. Of course."
Kat pulled out into the street.
***********
Bruce was trying not to stare but it wasn't easy. Kat was wearing a whisper thin t-shirt and tight jeans that were torn in several places. The kerchief on her head completed the look.
She might think she looked like a mess, but the effect was effortlessly cool. Well, except for the kerchief. That just made her look adorable. It was a drastic change from the rock and roll girl he was used to at work.
He liked it.
He liked it a lot.
Hell, he liked her a lot. More than he could remember liking anyone. And he hadn't even gotten her into bed.
Yet.
Now that he knew about the kid he had a better idea of why she was so damn skittish around him. It made sense that she'd be protective. Maybe she'd lighten up if he made it clear the kid was a non issue for him.
"So how is it possible that Tommy has never been to Disney Land?"
"He grew up on the East Coast mostly. We just got back here. It hasn't been that long really."
"What's on the East Coast?"
"Nothing. I mean, I was just following the gigs. Our last place was in Brooklyn."
"What kind of gigs?"
She swallowed. He knew he was making her nervous. Good. Maybe he'd actually get a straight answer. And since she was trapped in the car with him so there wasn't much she could do about it. Maybe if he kept her off balance she'd be less defensive all the time.
And more likely to tumble into bed with him.
"Indie bands mostly. The last one I was in almost got a record contract but it fell through."
"Playing bars, that sort of thing?"
"Yeah."
"It's good. It gives you the chops to hold your own on stage. And you learn fast how to hold a crowd's attention."
She didn't say anything, but he saw her hands clench on the steering wheel.
"Am I going the right way? I've never been to- um- Malibu."
"Yes. Our exit isn't for another twenty minutes or so. I'll tell you."
She nodded and focused on driving. God she was a serious little thing. She'd probably had to be tough all these years on her own, with a little boy at home.
Especially looking the way she did. The woman was the equivalent of a God Damn ice cream cone. He just wanted to lick her.