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“I’d love to see your favorite spot.”
Damon held out his arm, ready to escort her. “Then let’s continue our tour.”
Tessa eagerly went along with him.
She had a growing suspicion that she’d go along with Damon Drake anywhere he wanted to take her.
Chapter Twenty-Two
The hubbub of a busy, working studio was left behind as the limo descended a rocky, scrub-brush covered hill.
It parked in a gravel turnout where the road ended. The area was big enough to fit multiple large vehicles, and Damon explained why as he held the car door open for Tessa.
“They shoot up here every now and then. I saw a movie one time where they framed it perfectly. Looked like they were really out on some remote mountain. The audience had no idea that it was really shot just a few hundred yards away from the soundstages, in the middle of Hollywood.”
He turned and looked at his surroundings. “But I recognized it. I’d know it anywhere. I come up here sometimes, when I need to get away.”
Tessa looked around, too. “It’s beautiful.”
“Oh, just wait until you see the view over that ridge. Come on.”
He knew he probably shouldn’t be holding her hand, but he didn’t mean it in a romantic way. The terrain was uneven and rocky as they left the gravel behind and ascended up a small rise to the crest of the hill. He didn’t want her to fall and hurt herself.
Once they got to the top, he let go.
“This is beautiful!” she said.
“Told you. Check it out. You turn this way and you can see the studio.”
They both gazed out over the lot, seeing the large soundstages with their curved roofs. Beyond them were various office buildings, a backlot, and the famed water tower.
“Now, check out this way,” he said, turning. “Burbank and beyond.”
Tessa gasped as she took in the jaw-dropping view.
“Is that Hollywood Forever?” she asked, pointing out past the Los Angeles River to plots of green squares broken up by smooth driveways.
“Forrest Lawn Cemetery. Hollywood Forever is actually right off Santa Monica Boulevard, just a few blocks south of the Walk of Fame and all that.”
“I can’t wait to visit them both! It sounds weird to be excited about cemeteries, but some of my heroes are buried in them.”
“Not weird at all. I’ve gone myself. Many times. They even run old silent pictures at Forever sometimes.”
“Really?”
Damon nodded. “Sure do. Erect a big screen on the lawn and folks bring blankets and such and just have a nice evening watching the films of some of the folks who rest just a few feet away. I think it’s a fitting way to honor them. After all, it’s what us actors want. Attention. I guess even when we’re in the grave.”
They both laughed.
“Well, I just wanted to show you this. Like I said, it’s my favorite spot. Where I come when I just need to be alone. Or want to take a few minutes to think about things.”
“I’m glad you showed me,” she said.
He almost told her he’d never taken anyone else up there, and that it was his secret. But there was no need to share that with her. He didn’t even really understand why he’d brought her up there to begin with.
For some reason, though, he was glad she knew about it.
Maybe they’d go up there again sometime.
