Familiar Double. Caroline Burnes

were working fine. The first shots, where she’d scaled the exterior wall of the house, had gone off without a hitch. Now she was waiting for the director to signal her into the window. Of course, the exterior had been spiked with handholds and footholds for her safety. Familiar had been added to the scene later.

      “Move to the window,” John Hudson called out to her.

      Following his direction, she eased to the window and slowly raised it. Per the script, a gossamer curtain drifted out and surrounded her. In another moment she felt Jax’s strong arms lift her into the building and to safety. He also gave Familiar an assist into the house.

      “That was terrific,” Jax told her. “John was able to get it clean with only one shot.”

      “Thank goodness. I don’t want to have to do that again.”

      “You’re not afraid of heights, are you?” Jax teased.

      “I’m not afraid of them, but I’m not in love with them either.” Nicole found that she was smiling at him. The entire time she’d been getting ready for her action scene she’d been thinking of him. She could still recall his oh-so-relaxed pose in the jail. But he’d shown up to help her and he didn’t even know her.

      “Jax, thanks for this afternoon. I’ll pay you back the bond money. It’ll take me a little while, but I’ll pay back every penny of it.”

      Jax didn’t say anything. He just looked at her. “I’m not in a bind for cash right now. Don’t worry about it.”

      “But I will return the money. I always pay my debts.”

      “I’m sure you will.” He gathered up some rope and gear and walked to the window, signaling down to the director. “Okay?”

      “Perfect!” John called up to him. “Absolutely perfect. Tell Nicole she gets the gold star for the day.”

      “You can tell her yourself,” Jax said. He turned to Nicole. “This is a perfect opportunity for you to explain what happened today. John will listen and be fair.”

      He was handing her a chance to save her job. Maybe. Or it could just be an opportunity to get thrown off the set in front of the entire film crew. At least Angela wasn’t around.

      “Do you want me to talk to him?” Jax asked.

      Once again she was amazed at his willingness to put himself on the line for her. “No,” she said carefully. “This is my problem. You’ve already gone out on a limb getting me out of jail. What if something else goes missing?”

      “That’s a risk I’m willing to take.”

      She felt a rush of tears and blinked them back. She hadn’t cried since she was twelve years old and had watched her father being escorted into jail. “I’ll talk to John. And I’ll do it right now.”

      She lifted her shoulders and held her head high as she walked out of the set house and over to a battery of cameras. John Hudson sat among the expensive machinery, his speculative gaze focused on the house.

      “Films today are all about action, Nicole. You know that, I know that, but why is it that I just long to tell a good story?” His grin was ironic as he patted the chair next to him. “The camera loves you, Nicole. Let an old man give you some advice. Start reading for the female leads. You’re good enough to get them. And a lot less trouble than our current female star.”

      “John, I was arrested today for stealing Angela’s earring. The cops found it in my dressing trailer.”

      John Hudson’s craggy and wrinkled face was part of Hollywood lore. He slowly turned to Nicole and looked at her. “I remember when your father was arrested for stealing the Dream of Isis. I never believed he did it. But he was convicted and sent to prison.”

      He let his words hang between them.

      “I didn’t take the earring. I had no reason to take it.”

      “How did it get in your trailer?”

      She shook her head. “I don’t know.”

      “What do you suspect?”

      She started to tell him that Angela was quite capable of framing her and why—her new movie offer. But she held her tongue. She had no evidence against Angela, and she knew what it felt like to be falsely accused.

      “I really don’t know. All I do know is that I’m innocent. I didn’t take it.”

      John nodded. “I have your word on it.”

      “You do.” She almost added “For what it’s worth,” but she didn’t. John was doing his best to be square with her. He didn’t deserve her caustic remarks.

      “Have you hired a lawyer?”

      She shook her head. “My father recommended Carlos Sanchez.”

      “He defended your father.” John nodded slowly. “Okay, then let’s get back to work. I want to finish this sequence, then you have a costume change. We’ll do the scene on the balcony with the evening gown.”

      “Tonight?” Nicole wasn’t prepared for that scene. It wasn’t scheduled to be shot for at least another week, and it was one of the trickiest shots of the movie, at least for her.

      “Yes, right away. I’ll tell everyone to begin to prepare. I want this scene in the can.”

      He walked away to consult with a cameraman and Nicole was left sitting alone. She finished John’s thought. He wanted this scene in the can before she was carted off to jail.

      JAX SIPPED the cold beer. Normally he wasn’t a beer-drinking man, but it was hard to fit in with the cast and crew without occasionally drinking a brew. Especially when a card game was as hot and heavy as this one.

      He threw in another fifty-dollar chip and called the bet. His cards, tightly folded together, were held loosely in his hand. Unless the gods of luck were truly against him, he had the winning hand that would bring home a five-hundred-dollar pot. He’d always been lucky at cards, horses and escaping injury. Now, women were another story.

      Two men dropped out, leaving Jax, the male lead Kyle Lancer, and O. J. Adams, the cinematographer.

      “Well, well, looks like lucky Jax has done it to you boys again.”

      They all looked up to see Angela standing at the door. She was wearing a red evening gown. “I thought I might find you boys here. I guess you forgot you were supposed to show up for the publicity shots, Kyle.”

      “I didn’t forget. I decided not to do it. Besides, I wouldn’t want to come between you and your love affair with the camera.”

      A couple of the guys started to laugh but stopped when Angela walked into the room. She moved like a panther. She was just as beautiful and just as deadly.

      “You left me waiting there for you like a fool. I don’t appreciate it.”

      “Sorry, Angela. I thought I was doing you a favor.”

      “That’s the problem with you, Kyle. You aren’t equipped to think. That requires a working brain. You’re just one handsome hunk of muscle. So in the future, don’t think. Just show up and do what you’re told.” She whipped around and left the room, leaving a faint trail of perfume that smelled like gardenias.

      O.J. took in a deep breath. “Wow, she smells like flowers, but sulfur would be more appropriate.”

      The men laughed. Jax still held his cards, biding his time.

      “Well, it’s show time, boys,” Kyle said, putting two pair on the table. “Who can beat it?”

      O.J. threw his cards facedown. “Not me.”

      Just as Kyle was reaching for the pot, Jax laid his cards down faceup. The three queens were offset by a pair of threes.

      “Full house,” Jax said, pulling