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she returned to fiddling with her camera.
Gin returned from her run to the other side of the bay,
satisfied with the plans she was making for the coming year.
It was a bonus that the stunt academy planning would keep
her in this area for the rest of the month. Then, by the time
she d finished the Vancouver shoot, her house would be well
underway. She sighed in contentment. She felt so at peace in
this little cove. It was magical. She could think of no better
place to start really living again.
Slipping into the house, she hurried upstairs for a quick
shower before joining the others for a pre-party drink. At the
top landing she hesitated, seeing Solley s bedroom door ajar.
Imagining she could faintly smell her cologne and unable
to stop herself, she moved quietly to the doorway, drawn
by a tantalizing glimpse of a negligee draped over a chair, a
discarded summer sandal.
There, sprawled on her belly across Solley s bed, her
half naked body covered by only the thinnest sheet, lay Dan.
What was that using bastard doing in Solley s bed? Gin s heart
lurched in disbelief. With a sharp intake of breath, she slowly
backed away from the sleeping woman. Her withdrawal was
hampered by the sudden appearance of Nelson at her heels.
With a wag of his floppy red tail, he ambled past her into the
room and hopped onto the bed beside the sleeping woman.
Gin held her breath, waiting for Dan to wake and catch
her hovering like a thief. Nelson proceeded to drop two well-
placed, sloppy licks across Dan s mouth and cheek before
curling up to snooze alongside her.
Gin couldn t prevent an evil grin, but her amusement was
soon squashed when, without waking, Dan murmured into the
furry head, Sol?
" 180 "
FALLING STAR
What s she doing in your bed? Gin hissed like a fury.
She had pounded downstairs to find Solley on the veranda
with Grace and Sniper.
Who? Dan? Solley was stunned at her lover s
vehemence. She s sleeping off a migraine. Jesus, what did
you think? Don t you trust me? Her quick-fire temper flared.
Gin was momentarily appeased, but she pushed on
belligerently. Seeing Dan in Solley s bed had pushed buttons
she didn t even know she had. Jealousy burned off her like a
satellite on reentry. Well, what s she even doing here?
Babysitter whiplash. Solley and Gin were almost nose
to nose in their stand off. Why, did you think your check had
bounced?
What the hell is that supposed to mean?
It means Dan may have blackmailed you, but it doesn t
mean you own me. You didn t buy me. I don t care what she
said about open relationships.
What s going on? A stressed Janie appeared beside
Grace and Sniper, who shrugged in confusion.
Dunno, sis. They just started clubbing each other.
Stop it, you two. I don t need a domestic incident before
guests start arriving. Janie s fretful tone brought Marsha out
to see what was annoying her wife. Strident voices began to
rise as each bickered over the other.
This is not a domestic. We re not together, Solley
informed Janie.
We are together, Gin yelled.
You fucking red-haired bastard, Dan roared. I m gonna
kill you.
In the stunned silence all eyes turned to Dan, who was
wiping her mouth on the T-shirt that hung over her briefs.
Nelson pranced at her side, trying happily to trip her up.
Fucking furball had his putrid tongue in my mouth,
" 181 "
GILL MCKNIGHT
Dan complained. I m diseased. We all know what he does
with it.
Why the hell did you let him do that? And what did I tell
you about language? Solley scolded angrily.
I thought it was your tongue. And I only cursed because
this is an emergency.
What? You thought it was me?
See! Gin spat.
Solley, what s going on here? Janie asked, hands on
hips.
Well, I was half asleep and I saw the red hair, Dan
spluttered defensively. At least it explains the breath.
If Gin thumps her, can I take pictures? Sniper whispered
to Grace. It was a once in a lifetime opportunity to snap the
famous Gin Ito pounding on Marsha Bren s evil twin.
But you still thought she was in bed with you Gin
accused.
Oh, fuck off, Grasshopper. Is that why you re looking
daggers at me? You thought we were still together?
You told me you were.
Hey, if you re so keen to be the new daddy, you can mind
the kids for the rest of the week. Dan stabbed an indignant
finger in Solley s direction. And take her. The farther away
from me the better. That madwoman spat seven levels of hell
into my ear on the phone the other night because you brokered
a deal with me. That was meant to be private.
There are no secrets in this family, Solley declared self-
righteously.
No secrets, huh? Marsha, Janie, and I had a threesome.
Dan pointed at a mortified Janie. Bet she never told you about
that.
It was years ago, Marsha blurted.
" 182 "
FALLING STAR
Janie glared at her.
What? the others rhymed in a stupefied chorus.
Janie turned anxiously to Solley, scrabbling for damage
control. It was before you and Dan even met.
You holier-than-thou tramp! Solley howled, outraged.
Hey, my sisters swing like lemurs, Grace snorted,
amused that her siblings were sliding off the soapboxes they
so often preached to her from.
Oh, you hypocrite, after the covering-up I did for you last
week. Janie railed against Solley s slur. Sol humped Sniper
in the sand dunes.
What? another chorus of disbelief rang out.
I never did, Solley gasped.
You humped my sister? Grace bellowed at Sniper who
blanched, then panicked.
No. No. But I helped her set up the Rayner Terror
Web site, Sniper confessed, because that, of course, made
everything better.
A Web site? Gin looked aghast.
Dan looked proud.
A Web site? Janie echoed. She looked bilious.
Well, there was money to be made with all the gossip and
rumors. Why should I be the one constantly exploited? Solley
tried to sound justified.
Yes, instead exploit everyone else, Janie snapped.
The gaggle of voices rose again.
Enough! Marsha commanded hands raised in the air. I
got the kids in the family room with ice cream and a stack of
DVDs. The rest of you go get ready. This party is happening
and people will be arriving soon. Go go go.
" 183 "
GILL MCKNIGHT
The party was a resounding success. The movie was
going to be a box office winner and spirits were high. Sniper
was in her element, being able to freely move around and snap
people she would normally never get within a million miles
of, unless she crawled through their sewer pipe. She even had
the authority to go up to some seriously famous faces and ask
outright that they crush up close and pose for her. Paparazzi
heaven.
Grace s interpretation of assistance was to sit back and
watch her work, a satisfied smile on her lips. Sniper knew if
she took one step out of line her ass would hit the sandbar in
seconds flat. Truth was, she kinda liked the fact that she had
at last met her match. It made her feel all warm and fuzzy
inside.
Laughter and music floated across the surf as Gin and
Solley stole away, after hours of dancing, to stroll up through
the dunes and watch the sunrise. Snuggled together, they
watched the light bloom over the horizon and the stars begin
to fade. Gin gazed at the woman lying beside her. She took in
the changing colors in the auburn hair as night crept away and
dawn stole in. She marveled at the soft curve of Solley s cheek,
the generous bowed lips, and the peachy fuzz of her earlobe.
She had almost finished counting the bronzed eyelashes when
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