Searchlights lit up the sky above Grauman’s Theatre as we waited in Spencer’s Rolls-Royce that evening. There was a line of automobiles, all waiting to drop off their occupants for the premiere ofGold Diggers of Broadway. We had been given a specialinvitation, and even though Spencer and I worked for different studios, the producers of the Warner Bros. picture wanted as many top-name actors and actresses in Hollywood as they could get. The more attention they could draw for their movie, the better.
“First talking films, and now colorized talking films,” Spencer said with a shake of his head. “How is a small studio like your father’s going to keep up with all the changes?”
My heart was still heavy from my conversation with Vicky. Just like Spencer, she believed there was no hope. But I knew better. As soon as I could get the gold safely deposited at Wells Fargo in San Francisco in 1849, Papa and I could drive there the next day to retrieve it, though I wasn’t quite sure how it worked. Would it already be there, if we went for it today? Or did I have to wait until I put it there in my other path before it showed up in this one? It didn’t pay for me to even go to San Francisco in this path until I was certain.
So much could go wrong between now and then.
“I hope your father is pleased with filming today.” Spencer pulled his automobile forward a little. “I think this was our best day yet.”
There were hundreds of people milling around Grauman’s, and so many lights, it was a spectacle to behold. I’d been to other premieres here, but this one was highly anticipated.
“I think that’s why he let us leave a little early,” I said. “He was very happy with our work today.”
Everyone had done well, and we hadn’t come up against any obstacles. Even Vicky was in a good mood and remembered all her lines. She didn’t seem affected by our conversation, which meant she was probably relieved and excited to discover that mine and Spencer’s relationship was a sham. I caught her watching him throughout the day, and she didn’t hide her flirting. She was bold and unhindered, and he seemed to enjoy her attention. She tried getting him to invite her to the premiere, but he only had two tickets.
“It just occurred to me,” I said as I sat back in the chair andstudied Spencer. “You’re stuck here with me for the next few minutes. You can’t run away this time if I ask you a hard question.”
He laughed and turned to me. “I could say the same thing about you. We could practice that kissing scene again, and no one would interrupt us this time.”
My cheeks warmed at the memory of our kiss.
“It was nice, wasn’t it?” His gaze slipped to my lips. “Any time you’d like to—”
“What are you hiding from me?” I had to be blunt, not only because he was embarrassing me, but because he was deflecting again.
“Hiding from you?”
“The thing just under the surface?”
His smile disappeared, and he gripped the wheel. “Why would I answer that question?”
“Because you trust me.”
“It’s not a matter of trust. There’s no reason to tell you anything.”
“Aren’t we friends?”
He reached for my hand. “We could be more than that, if you’d like.”
“You’re trying to distract me again. Maybe it worked on your other girls, but not me.”
“I knew you’d be trouble.” He laughed, but I could see he was deflecting again as he let go of my hand.
“I’m serious, though.” I wasn’t sure the wisdom in telling him, but I went ahead. “I think my sister has feelings for you, and I don’t want to encourage her unless I know you’re trustworthy.”
“Vicky has feelings for me?” The look of surprise on his face was honest and raw. No pretense. No guile.
“I think so.”
“Yeah, well.” He shuttered his emotions again. “I wouldn’t do that to her.”
“Do what?”
“Encourage her.”
“Why not?”
“Because I’ve hurt every woman I’ve seriously dated, and I couldn’t do that to her—or to you and your family.”
