Page 34 of Earl

“There is nothing to apologize for.” She told him quietly. “And I will be okay.”

“Sure?”

She nodded. Pasting a smile on her lips, she squeezed his hands. “Let’s go to the beach.”

He beamed. “Now you are talking. Let’s get you into something skimpy. Who knows? We might both be able to find some sexy personages to take our minds off our troubles.”

“I am not picking up a total stranger.”

“They won’t be strangers for long.” He grinned at her and hauled her to her feet.

*****

“I was surprised to receive your call,” Diana stared at him tentatively as she took her seat.

Earl nodded. “When are you leaving?”

“Tomorrow. We wrap up tonight and head back in the morning. What about you?”

“I will be leaving in the morning as well.” He toyed with the saltshaker, a tiny frown on his brow.

“What is it?”

“I have been ruminating over what you said, the last time we were together.” Hooded gray eyes studied the lovely face. “That no woman would ever be able to look past my status to see the real me. Did you mean it?”

Diana shifted uncomfortably and was slightly relieved when the waiter came to get their orders.

“The soup du jour for me.”

“Same for me.”

They waited until the man had left before resuming the conversation.

“You are a very attractive and virile man.”

“But?”

“The money is always in the middle of it. I am sorry Earl, you asked for honesty, and I owe you that much,” she fiddled with her glass of water. “You told me yourself that the relationships never make it to more than three months. Have you asked yourself why?”

“I suspect that I have a knack of hooking up with greedy bitches like you.”

She flinched at the insult and bowed her head to avoid his eyes. “I made a mistake.”

“One that cost me a hell of a lot.” With an impatient flick of his wrist, he dismissed that.

“Why are you asking me these questions?”

“I am interested in someone,” he told her abruptly.

Diana felt her heart shifting and turning over. When he called and asked her to have lunch, she had been hoping that he was open to giving her a second chance. Now that she had time to reflect on what she did, she realized that she could have had something wonderful with him.

He was sometimes absorbed with business, but in bed, he was an excellent lover. Out of it, he was charming and witty, and she would have had financial security for life. She was getting too old for the business and the directors and producers, she worked with, were already hinting that her acting days were coming to an end.

It was becoming more and more difficult to find good parts that highlighted her talent, and she was sick and tired of the rat race. She was not into selling her soul to the highest bidder.

“If I might say something?”

“By all means.” His mouth twisted sardonically. “I am all ears.”