Rush to the Altar. Rebecca Winters

keep in mind you’re already twenty-eight years old, that’s over the hill for an actress.”

      “Thank you very much.”

      She knew it was true, but like any woman with red blood in her veins, she hated to hear it.

      “I’m your agent. You pay me to tell you things like that for your own good. In your case you have to keep your name and gorgeous face before the public on a continual basis or it’s curtains for you.”

      Maybe it was…

      “Perhaps I should move to England and try to get work in the theater.” It had been Colin Grime’s idea. Their long distance romance was difficult with him based in London and her in L.A.

      D.L. looked scandalized. “You’d be a fool to do that when you already have a foot and a leg in the door here. Before you ruin what we’ve already got going for you, I have something else to tell you about. It’s still in the works, but I can guarantee you a part.”

      “What is it?”

      “A couple of writer friends of mine have been kicking around the idea of a survivor movie. It’s strictly hush-hush at the moment. You’d be perfect for one of the older female roles.

      “All I have to do is let them know you’re interested. It’ll be the biggest box office hit of the season. At that point you’ll receive the kind of attention that will allow you to pick more of the type of projects you want.”

      “Thanks, but no thanks, D.L. That’s not the kind of acting I’ve dreamed of doing since I was a teen. If you want to know the truth, I’d be ashamed to show my face in anything so crass.”

      His eyes squinted at her. “What happened to the woman who was one of those television contestants on, Who Wants to Marry a Billionaire? And what about that Hollywood benefit you were in, Who Wants to Marry a Prince? The one your twin sister had to make good on instead of you? You want to talk crass?” he bellowed.

      Trust D.L. to hit her where it hurt most.

      “I admit there was a time when I was so desperate to get noticed by a Hollywood mogul I’d do just about anything, but I’ve changed since then.”

      “You’ve changed all right.” He got up and tossed three twenty dollar bills on the table. He was furious. “When you’re down to counting pennies again, don’t phone me.”

      “D.L.?” she called to him before he’d stalked away with the rejected scripts. “I appreciate everything you’ve done to help build my career. Please don’t be so angry that you write me off prematurely.”

      He eyed her for a long, uncomfortable moment. “I had you figured for someone a lot hungrier.”

      “You mean you thought I was capable of selling my soul.” Pain shot through her. “It hurts to realize I gave you that impression. I have only myself to blame.”

      “You’re damn right about that! When I get back to my office there’ll be at minimum forty calls my secretary has taken since nine this morning from two-bit actresses who’d walk through fire to be in your position right now.”

      “I know.” Once upon a time she’d been one of them. “Thank you for the delicious lunch. I’ll pay next time.”

      “There may not be one.”

      “All I’m asking for is a decent script!”

      “Don’t hold your breath,” he muttered before skirting the tables to make his exit.

      As soon as he was gone, a dejected Ann left the restaurant and headed for her condo only a couple of miles away. After letting herself inside, she dashed to the kitchen to call her sister. But the red blinking light on the phone prompted her to listen to her messages first.

      “Ann?”

      It was Colin.

      “How come you haven’t been returning my calls? What’s going on? I don’t care if it’s the middle of the night. Phone me, otherwise I’m getting on a plane to L.A. to find out what’s wrong!”

      He didn’t bang down the receiver, but she sensed he’d wanted to. She couldn’t deal with him right now and clicked to the next two messages from some actress friends of hers. After listening to their various plights, she punched in her sister’s phone number.

      There was a nine hour time difference between Hollywood, California, and Turin, Italy. It would be quarter to ten at night there. She doubted her sister was in bed yet…unless their baby Anna was being good and Nicco wanted some private time with his wife. He always wanted to be alone with her.

      Ann had never seen a couple more in love.

      Since her return from witnessing the christening of their adorable daughter a month ago, Ann had been experiencing a vague dissatisfaction with her own life.

      The kinds of scripts D.L. had told her to look over only added to the strange emptiness building inside of her. She was almost frightened by the feeling because it reminded her of the way she’d felt after her father had died years ago.

      She closed her eyes tightly. D.L. was right. She had changed in recent months. She’d been restless and out of sorts. Unable to focus.

      In truth she longed for the comfort of precious Anna in her arms. The first time that tiny bundle of wiggling warmth cuddled up against her body, Ann’s heart had melted. It had been a wrench to leave her niece when it came time to return to L.A.

      Colin had attended the christening service with her. Afterward he’d accused her of caring more for the baby than she did for him.

      “Ann?” her sister cried out excitedly after picking up on the fourth ring. “Nicco and I were just talking about you! We’ve been waiting to hear if you’re contracted to do a new film yet.”

      Ann bit her lip. “Not yet…Callie? H-how would you like a babysitter for a couple of weeks so you and Nicco could go on a trip?” she stammered. “I know you could both use some time alone together. I promise to love her like my own and guard her with my life.”

      There was a pregnant pause.

      “Until Anna’s quite a bit older we couldn’t bear to leave her for that long, but you don’t have to be her babysitter to visit us!” Her sister sounded hurt. Callie always did have a heart of gold.

      “As we told you before, there’s a whole suite in the palace that will always be your home when you come. You can live here forever if you want. There’s nothing I’d love more. You’re the only family I’ve got, you know,” she said in a quiet voice.

      Ann did know. That’s what was wrong. Callie was her only family and they were separated by an ocean. Tears stung her eyes. “Thank you,” she whispered. “I don’t intend to live with you, but I’m between scripts at the moment and—”

      “And things aren’t working out with you and Colin,” her sister read between the lines.

      Being identical twins made the two of them telepathic.

      “Listen to me Annabelle Lassiter—you’re getting on the next plane to Turin. Little Anna misses you terribly. We all do.”

      “As soon as I get off the phone I’ll make reservations.” She gripped the receiver tighter. “Are you sure Nicco won’t mind? He must feel so stressed with all the responsibility now that Luca Danelli has passed away. The last thing he needs is another worry.”

      “Don’t be ridiculous. From the beginning he’s been doing Luca’s work along with his own. His death was very sad, but he was getting on, it was expected.

      “Nicco’s the one who told you you’d always have a permanent home with us. My husband never says something he doesn’t mean.”

      “That’s because he’s so in love with you, he wouldn’t do anything to upset you if he could help it.”

      “That’s