Click here for Part 2 of Lost in Heaven by Roo
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DISCLAIMER: All events in this story are completely fictional. While some characters are based on actual people, all situations and events are the product of the author's imagination.
Nikki moved from table to table, picking up trash and empty plates as the cast and crew finished lunch. She was humming to herself, a tune that had been trapped in her head since she’d gotten up that morning, not really paying attention to much of anything when a low, gruff, accented voice lightly complained, “Hey, I’m not finished with that.”
“Oh!” She nearly dropped the plate in her hand. “God, I am so sorry. I was lost-.”
“S’allright.” The man who had spoken was grinning up at her. His eyes were friendly, an unusual shade of ocean like greenish-blue. “Looks like you’re back now.”
“What?” She asked, looking down at him in confusion.
“You were lost…?” He prompted with a grin.
“Oh… right.” His grin was infectious and she couldn’t help giggling a little. “Well, anyway, just leave your plate when you’re done. I’ll come back.” She turned to go.
“Is that a promise?”
“Excuse me?” She glanced back at him over her shoulder. He was still grinning at her, puppy dog eyes sparkling in a face surrounded by a mass of unruly brown curls.
“Nevermind. Just thinking out loud.” He turned back to his food with an amused shrug.
“That’s what I thought.” Nikki returned to her work and it took her a full minute to realize that she still had a big goofy grin on her face.
He was still sitting there after everyone else had gone, smoking and writing in a small notebook.
“Aren’t you going to be late?” she asked.
“I’ve already got a mum.” He chuckled, marking his page with his pen and closing the notebook to stretch. “Besides, it’s unlikely they’ll start without me.”
“Ahh,” she nodded sagely. “So, you must be very important.”
He looked up at her, squinting through a stream of cigarette smoke and noticed that she wasn’t impressed. “People seem to think so.” He gave her a slow once over, from the apron at her waist on up and confirmed what he’d noticed earlier. She was pretty, with nice curves and strands of unruly blonde hair that had come untucked from the ponytail framing her face, but the best part was her eyes. Bluer than any he’d ever seen, clear and direct and staring straight back at him.
“Are you finished?” she asked, folding her arms across her chest, and he nearly blushed at having been caught studying her so boldly. “With your plate?”
“Uh, yeah, thanks.” He was suddenly flustered. Jesus, what was coming over him? He hadn’t reacted to a woman like that since… He shook his head to clear it. No, he had promised himself he wasn’t going to think about her anymore. The past was the past and that was it.. He looked up just in time to see her moving off towards the kitchen at the back of the tent with his empty plate.
“Russell?”
He turned and found the second A.D. frowning down at him. “They’re waiting for you in make-up.”
“Righto.” He stood and quickly gathered his things. “Sorry, luv. On my way.” He glanced back over his shoulder as he left the tent, but the girl was nowhere in sight.
“Please, Nikki? Please? I promise I’ll never ask you for another favor, but I’m short handed and this job is sooo important…”
“Yeah, I know, “ Nikki covered her eyes with her arm, blocking out the light, unwilling to acknowledge the fact that she was going to give in and get up. “It’s your first job catering a major production and if you blow it you’ll never make lunch in this town again.”
“C’mon, Nik,” Lisa pleaded. “I’ll make it up to you, I promise.”
“Jesus, Lis, you know I’ve got a gig tonight. I’ve got a million things to do before-“
“I guarantee you’ll be free by 3:30. “
With a sigh, Nikki sat up and threw off her light blanket. She had a cigarette in her hand even before her toes touched the floor. “Alright, fine.”
“Thank you, thank you, thank you!” Lisa shrilled, making her friend cringe. “I’ll see you in an hour.”
“One more thing.” Nikki shivered as the oscillating fan by the bed blew her way and raised goosebumps on her bare flesh.
“Anything.”
“You’d better save me one of those chocolate donuts this time… You know which ones I mean.”
“Done! You are an angel! See you soon.” Lisa laughed and hung up.
Breakfast was easy. By the time Nikki arrived, anyone who wanted a hot meal had pretty much come and gone. She and Karen and Juan, Lisa’s staff, refreshed the fruit and pastry platters while Lisa brewed a fresh vat of coffee. It didn’t take them long, and in no time at all Nikki had a few minutes to sit down and enjoy a cup of coffee and a smoke before they began prepping for lunch.
She spent a few minutes watching cast and crew members hurry past, then lost interest and pulled out a memo pad from her back pocket. The tune from yesterday was still chasing around in her head and she had the feeling that with a little bit of encouragement…
“Well, hullo.”
Nikki looked up, shading her eyes with her hand. It was the guy from the day before, Mr. Important, the one who’d been staring at her breasts. “Hello yourself,” She replied, not unpleasantly, squinting up at him.
“I was hoping I’d see you again.” He grinned down at her, saw that this bit of news didn’t have it’s desired effect and frowned. Realizing that he was towering over her, he squatted down on his haunches. “Actually, I was a bit bothered by our conversation yesterday. I said something that I wanted to clarify.” He glanced at her and saw that she was looking at him expectantly. “When I said that some people thought that I was important, well, I didn’t mean to imply that I was one of them.” He paused to chuckle. “I’m no Tall Poppy, honest.”
“Oh,” she nodded. “Okay.”
He watched her face, saw that she was still looking at him with those eyes, those startlingly blue eyes…“What I mean to say is, I’m no more or less important than anyone else, you know? I mean, we’re all important in our own way…” He realized that he was starting to babble and wondered again why she had such an effect on him. “Do you mind if I sit down?”
“Help yourself.” Nikki found herself fighting back a grin. This guy was goofy as hell, but he sure was cute. And that accent … She moved aside on the trailer step and he sat down on the next one down.
“Do you have another one of those?” He gestured to her cigarette. “Seems I left mine back in my trailer.”
“Sure.” She handed him the pack and watched him light one before handing it back.
“Thanks.”
“No problem.”
They smoked in silence for several minutes, silence that began to drag on and on. Nikki had a fine vantage point from which to study his broad shoulders and thick dark hair. He turned and glanced at her with a brief smile and she used the opportunity to get a good look at his face up close. He had a strong nose, a slight dimple in his chin; lips that looked made for kissing… She stopped short. Now why would she think something like that?
He cleared his throat. “I guess I’d better be getting back.” He pulled himself to his feet. “I’d hate for people to start thinking I was, you know…”
“Overestimating your importance in the universe?”
He looked at her sharply and saw that she was having a go at him. His expression softened into a shy boyish grin. “Yeah. Something like that.” He backed away a few steps. “Look, can I see you later?”
“You can count on it,” the girl smiled slightly, shading her eyes with her hand as she looked up at him.
“Really?”
“Sure. I’ll be the one dishing up the potato salad.”
“Oh.” He shook his head as though chagrined. “Right.” He took another few steps then took off at a jog in the direction of the set.
“Nikki?” Lisa came to the door of the lunch wagon. She paused to release her long auburn tresses from their clip before stepping outside. “We should probably get started on lunch.”
“Okay.” The girl put out her smoke and stood up, brushing at the seat of her jeans. “Hey, Lis, see that guy over there?”
“In the flannel shirt? Yeah. Why?” Lisa’s dark brown eyes squinted against the sun and she struggled to speak around the hair clip between her lips as she began to finger comb her long hair.
“Who is he?”
“Jesus!’ Her friend laughed, nearly dropping her hair clip in the process. “You really do need to get out more. That’s Russell Crowe.” The girl gave her a blank look. “Hello? He’s only, like, the star of the movie?”
“Really?” Nikki raised an eyebrow. Maybe he was a little more important than she’d previously given him credit for.
“Don’t you remember him from L.A. Confidential?” Lisa was constantly amazed that her friend could live in Hollywood and remain so unimpressed by the trappings of the movie industry. She shook her head in disbelief, wound her hair into a small bun and clipped it in place at the nape of her neck.
“Oh, yeah, right, he played that cop… Bud something.”
“I seem to remember you thought he was pretty hot when we watched the video a few months ago,” Lisa teased, waving the girl inside.
“Did I?” Nikki asked absently as she slipped her apron strap over her head and rolled up her sleeves. “I don’t remember him having an accent, though. I definitely would’ve remembered that.”
“No kidding. Couldn’t you just melt?” Lisa giggled in agreement, handing her a bowl of greens to be washed. “I mean, don’t tell Brad I said this, but, Jesus, that guy could make me forget I’m married just by saying hello!”
“Honestly, Lisa.” Nikki laughed, shaking her head. “You’ re terrible.”
“Terribly honest,” her friend laughed. “Now, let’s get that salad going…”
Russell lingered over his lunch, waiting until most everyone had left. He wanted to talk to the girl again. He couldn’t explain the effect she had on him, but he’d given up trying to fight it. When a young Hispanic guy began clearing the tables, he realized that she wasn’t coming out. “Where’s the girl?” he asked the young man. “The blonde?”
“Out back,” Juan told him in heavily accented but perfectly understandable English. “Behind the kitchen. Do you need something?”
“No, mate, thanks.” He got up and strode purposefully towards the lunch wagon.
He found her sitting on the steps again, a paper plate of leftovers balanced on her knees. He cleared his throat to get her attention. “Um, hi…”
“Hi.” She set her fork aside and used her napkin to dab at her lips. “Did you need something? I’m sure Juan could-“
“Actually, all I need is a minute of your time.”
“Oh, okay,” she nodded. “What’s up?”
“I, um…” He paused, shifted his feet in the grass, shot her a shy grin. “Look, are you busy tonight?”
She smiled, but this one wasn’t quite as open and friendly as before. He noticed that her eyes had gone as pale as the ocean. “Actually, I am.”
Russell felt his heart sink, but rallied his courage and tried again. “What about tomorrow?”
“I’m busy tomorrow night, too.” She shrugged. “Sorry.”
“Right, okay then.” Russell turned and walked away before she could explain. He was halfway to the set before he realized that he didn’t even know her name.
They were on a six-day workweek due to a weather delay, and for once Russell found that he was actually eager to work on a Saturday. He’d decided to ask her out one more time, and, if she said no this time, he’d simply chalk it up to experience. After all, it wasn’t exactly as if he had any lack of willing women in his life these days. In fact, it was just the opposite. He could barely walk down the street without attracting attention and, in all honesty, he could have his pick of most any woman he met. It wasn’t just his rugged good looks that got him noticed. At 36, after 30 years in the business, his hard work had finally paid off and he had become not just a working actor, but an actual honest-to-God movie star.
He looked for her at lunch. She wasn’t on the lunch line and she wasn’t in the kitchen. At least not as far as he could tell. Instead, she seemed to have been replaced by a punky redhead with pale freckles and a loop through her eyebrow. When the redhead came around collecting plates, he stopped her. “Where’s the other girl? The blonde who was here the last two days?”
“Um…” the girl stammered, then took a deep breath. “I don’t know, Mr. Crowe. She was just filling in after I had dental surgery, and-“
“Do you know how I can find her?” he prodded.
“I don’t know. She’s a friend of Lisa’s, so I guess maybe you could ask her.” She glanced back towards the lunch wagon. “I think Lisa’s still inside cleaning up.”
“Thanks.” He got up and made his way towards the kitchen. He knocked at the back door of the trailer and after a moment the catering woman came out wiping her hands on her apron. “Lisa?”
“Yes, Mr. Crowe? What can I help you with?” The woman smoothed one hand over her hair and made a half-hearted effort to pull herself together.
“Well, actually, and this is sort of embarrassing, but I was looking for your friend. The blonde?”
“Nikki?” She gave him a confused look. “She was just filling in for Rachel for a few days” Her eyes darkened as her pretty face pulled into a frown. “Is there a problem?”
“No, no, nothing like that,” he chuckled, shaking his head. He took a moment to size her up. She seemed like an allright sort, and besides, having parents who were movie caterers made him feel like she was almost family. “She’s a good friend of yours, this Nikki? You know her pretty well?”
“I ought to,” Lisa chuckled, still looking slightly puzzled. “She’s my best friend. Maid of Honor at my wedding and everything.”
Deciding the direct approach was best, Russell just flat out asked. “So you’d know if she was seeing anyone?”
“Nikki?” This time the woman laughed outright. “No. Definitely not.” She seemed to catch herself as if remembering who she was talking to. “Why do you ask?”
Nikki leaned forward and adjusted the microphone in its stand. She could hear the audience better than she could see them with these stupid lights in her eyes. Still, she pasted on her best smile and leaned into the mic as she settled her guitar across her knees. “How’re you guys doing tonight?” she asked and was greeted by applause and whistles. “It sure is nice to see so many friendly faces out there,” she lied and took a deep breath. “So, I’m gonna play a few of my favorites and hopefully a few of yours, too. If you like what you hear, I have a mailing list that my friend Lisa will be passing around, so put your name and address on the list and-”
“Whoo, baby!” a guy in the back called. “I’ll give you mine if you give me yours!”
“Well, what do you know, folks, sounds like my ex is out on probation again.” She began strumming a few chords as the audience laughed. “I knew I should’ve renewed that restraining order.”
With a sly grin, she bent her head and began strumming the guitar in earnest, letting her fingers begin to pick out the opening melody to Little Wing. “Well, she’s walking through the clouds… With a circus mind that’s running wild…Butterflies, zebras and moonbeams…”
“Hi.” A waitress appeared at the table. “What can I get you folks?”
“I’ll take a glass of white wine,” Lisa told her.
“Vodka tonic,” Brad added.
“And for you, sir?” She turned to the man who sat closest to the stage. He was staring at the girl onstage. “Sir? Can I bring you something to drink?”
“Sorry.” He tore his eyes away. “Yeah, Uh, I’ll take a beer. Lager if you’ve got a decent one.” He handed her a credit card. “This is on me, “he told his new friends, then turned back to their server. “Just run a tab, luv. We’re here for the duration.”
Nikki finished the song and began making some more small talk as she strapped on her capo and checked the tuning. “This is one the guys always seem to like, which make sense, since I, you know, wrote it for a guy.” She grinned, shading her eyes against the light, trying to find a friendly face. For some reason she was feeling especially nervous tonight, but was pretty sure no one could tell. “So, anyway, it’s called ‘Desire.”
Her hand began to strum out a chunky rhythm as she closed her eyes and began singing in a low, husky growl: “What does it take to make you scream…? What does it take to get into your dreams…? You know that I’m easy to please… I want to live out all your fantasies…”
Lisa prodded her husband and made a subtle gesture in Russell’s direction. Brad glanced through the darkness at the actor and grinned. He was staring up at the stage, cigarette burning forgotten in the ashtray, completely transfixed. “I think he likes it,” Lisa chuckled.
“He likes her,” Brad nodded his dark head in agreement.
Nikki was halfway through her set when she decided that she couldn’t take the overly bright lights for one more minute. “Jimmy? Can you turn the lights down, please? Just a little?“ She waited as the sound man in the booth made the adjustment she’d requested. “Thank you. That is soo much better.” Now that she could see more than just the flickering candles on the tables, her eyes began to search for Lisa and Brad. “This next one is sort of new… Well, actually, I just finished it this afternoon, so you guys are the first to hear it. It’s about how you meet someone and, they’re like a song you can’t get out of your head…” She began picking out a delicate melody. A moment later she was singing, her voice somehow both girlish and throaty. “I saw you through a cloud of smoke… Just one look was all it took before I knew… You were the song I’d been waiting to sing…” She located her friend’s table and shot them a grin. Lisa waved to her and her smile broadened as she sang, “Your heartbeat is a rhythm that my heart already knew… You smile and I understand what you already do -“
All of a sudden, Nikki recognized the man seated at her friend’s table and her hands nearly faltered on the strings. “…You’re the song I’ve been waiting to sing…”
“She’s fucking brilliant,” Russell turned to Lisa and Brad smiling broadly as he signaled their waitress for a fresh round. “I can’t thank you enough for letting me tag along tonight.”
“Glad you could come.” Brad, a struggling screenwriter, saw this as an opportunity to make a pitch. “So, Russell-“
“Later, mate, later,” the actor waved him off with a happy grin. “I don’t want to miss this.”
Nikki played for almost an hour covering a mix of pop ballads and her own songs. Her closing number, as always, was a slow and sultry version of the old standard “Makin’ Whoopee.”
“Well, that’s it for me.” Nikki began to unplug her acoustic guitar as the applause died down. “If you liked what you heard tonight, I’ll be at Brady’s on the Boulevard next Thursday, and back here sometime next month. Hopefully by then I’ll have the new tape done, so make sure you sign that mailing list. Remember to tip generously, and stay put for The Pat Maxwell band. ” With a grin, she bowed slightly and disappeared backstage.
The house lights came up and the next band’s roadies came out and began loading on and checking the headliner’s gear. Brad turned to Russell who was grinning and lighting a fresh smoke. “She’s good, huh?”
“Fucking great!” the actor agreed, then leaned over and dropped his voice conspiratorially. “Look, mate, man to man… what’s her story?”
“You just heard most of it in her songs,” Brad shrugged. He could tell by the look on Russell’s face that this answer wasn’t going to suffice. With a quick glance over his shoulder he located his wife moving through the bar with Nikki’s mailing list. “Okay, here’s the deal… Nikki’s a great girl. Lis and I love her to pieces, but she’s, I dunno…complicated. At heart, she’s a hopeless romantic, one of the sweetest girls I’ve ever met, aside from Lisa, but she can also be a real tough cookie.”
“I’ve had some first hand experience with that already,” Russ chuckled. His eyes scanned the room, searching for the girl in question.
“Chalk it up to bad luck.” For a moment it looked like he might say more, but then he shook his head dismissively. “She’s dated some real losers recently.”
“Haven’t we all?”
“Let’s put it this way,” Brad sat up straighter as his wife began making her way back towards the table. “That crack about the restraining order wasn’t entirely a joke.” He smiled up at Lisa as she rejoined them. “Hey, babe, did you get a lot of sign-ups?”
“Nice set, Nikki.”
“Thanks, Pat,” she smiled at the headliner as she packed up her guitar. “It’s a good crowd tonight.”
“You know, we should jam sometime. Maybe write something…” Pat told her. “In fact, if you’re interested, we’re going into the studio soon and I could really use that sweet voice of yours to round out some harmonies.”
“Sure.” She pulled a business card out of her back pocket. “Here’s my voice mail. Give me a call.”
“Great.”
“Sorry about the lights, Nikki,” Jimmy breezed past on his way to the stage.
“No problem.” She snapped the latches on her guitar case and moved her gear into a corner out of the way. She figured she’d get a drink, then load her stuff out to her car.
“Need a hand?”
“No, thanks, I’m fi-“ She looked up and saw Russell standing there. Now it was her turn to be flustered, but she did everything in her power not to let it show. “So… we meet again.”
“Yeah,” he grinned, sticking out his hand. “I’m Russell, by the way.”
“I know.” She moved her cigarette into her other hand to shake hands with him “I’m Nikki.”
“So I found out.” He chuckled. “So, listen, now that we’ve met officially, can I buy you a drink?”
“Um…” She looked at the cigarette in her hands, stalling for time. Then she glanced at his face and immediately got caught up in his eyes. There was so much going on in there… they were full of sparkling laughter and invitation and she knew that despite the fact that he was setting off all kinds of warning bells, she wasn’t going to turn him down. Besides, he’d somehow managed to convince Brad and Lisa to bring him here tonight. They were her best friends and very protective of her, so that had to count for something. “Sure, why not?”
They made their way through the crowd to the bar. It was slow going at first because several people stopped her to compliment her on her set. Russell received a few curious looks, though most of the people there were music types and considered themselves too cool to do more than stare and nudge each other. When the band began to play, the bar cleared out for the most part and they were able to find two seats near the corner. “Hey, Nikki!” The bartender, a tall black woman with an afro greeted the girl. “Nice set tonight. Even better than last night. I don’t know what it is you do to those boys, but you sure do make them thirsty!”
“Now if I could only make them tip, right, Sophie?” the girl laughed.
“Girl, you can’t do everything.” She leaned on the bar expectantly. “So, what can I get you guys?”
“Actually, I could really use a tall coke, lots of ice.”
“You got it.” Sophie was already reaching for the pint glasses. “How about you, honey? I’m gonna guess… tequila, am I right?”
“No, God, no,” Russ laughed. “Not tonight, anyway. I’ll take a Harp’s.”
“You got it.” She set down Nikki’s drink and began drawing his Harp’s. Catching Nikki’s eye from behind his back, she grinned and mouthed “cute!”
Nikki was in the process of nodding when Russell turned around and caught her. She blushed and he grinned, making his eyes sparkle. “So, this is why you turned me down the other day.”
“You didn’t give me a chance to explain,” she shrugged.
“And this is what you do, then?” His handsome face grew even more handsome as his smile spread. “International pop star?” he teased, and she couldn’t help giggling even as a slow blush crawled up her cheeks.
“Hardly.” Nikki shook her head with a grin . “I work part time in a vintage clothing store over on Melrose and I do a lot of voice-over work, you know, commercials and stuff like that.”
“Commercials, know how that goes. When I first started out, I paid the rent by busking and the odd advert, when I could get one,” Russell nodded. He stole a glance at her face as he spoke. She was a very pretty girl, not supermodel material, but extremely attractive in a natural, unaffected way. His eyes came to rest on hers and he wondered what she was thinking. “Can’t say as I miss those days much.”
“I’m luckier than most,” she agreed with a shrug. “I have a little money to fall back on and the music thing is really starting to pick up.” She noticed that he was staring at her and dropped her eyes on the pretext of lighting a cigarette. “So…” her eyes flicked back up to his, “How did you hear about this place? I know you’re not a regular.”
“I spoke to Lisa. She told me you’d be here tonight.” His grin turned sheepish. “She seemed to think you wouldn’t mind if I came along.”
“I can always use a new fan,” Nikki couldn’t help teasing him a little. The truth was, she was very flattered that he would go to the trouble of coming to one of her gigs. She was a little surprised that he’d come by himself without the entourage most celebrities seemed to attract like flies.
“Seems to me you’ve got plenty of fans here tonight.” He nodded towards the crowd. “Do you get a flat rate or a percentage of the door?”
“Flat rate plus a percentage of the bar,” she told him, looking impressed. “You know the business.”
“I’ve got a band back home,” Russ explained.
“Any good?”
“Haven’t caused any major ear bleeds recently.”
Nikki threw back her head and laughed at that one. “Well, I guess that’s something” she grinned as her laughter settled to a chuckle.
“There you are!” Brad approached the couple, a big grin spreading across his bearded face. “We’re going to head home soon. I promised the sitter we’d be back before midnight. Do you want help with your stuff?”
“I can manage, Brad. Thanks, though,” Nikki assured him. She turned to Russell and shot him a curious look.
“I’ll stick around for a while if you don’t mind.” Russell grinned with an easy shrug.
“Okay, sure. Will you excuse me for a minute, then, while I see my friends off?” He nodded and pulled out a smoke as she got up and followed Brad back to the table.
“Hi, honey!” Lisa threw her arms around the girl. Nikki noticed that her friend seemed a little buzzed. “You were so great tonight! I think I got 20 new names on the list and-“ She saw the look on her friend’s face. “Oh, come on, you’re not really mad that we brought him. Are you?”
“She can’t be that mad,” Brad pointed out, putting his arm around his wife. ”I just found her having a drink with him at the bar. Besides, we brought him for selfish reasons. He promised he’d read my screenplay.”
“He seems like a nice guy,” Lisa added. “Hey, did you know his parents used to be location caterers?”
All Nikki could do was smile and shake her head. “Well, I guess he has to be okay if he can get past you two.”
Lisa’s face took on a serious look. “He seems allright, Nik. Everyone on the set speaks very highly of him and he’s always been nice enough to me and the staff. Not overly friendly, but nice. Besides, you’re in a public place where people know you…” She moved forward to put her arm around the girl. “You’ve got to start somewhere, right?”
“I guess.”
“I think he’s on the level,” Brad agreed easily. “We talked a bit, earlier. I think he just likes you and wants to get to know you better. He’s smitten, and hey, who can blame the guy? You’re a doll.”
None of them mentioned why she was so nervous. They didn’t need to. What had happened had involved all of them and it wasn’t anything any of them were likely to forget anytime soon. Even now, more than a year later, the memories were still all too vivid.
“I’ve got a good feeling about him,” Lisa told her, shrugging on her jacket as they walked towards the bar. “You’ll be okay.”
“Thanks, you guys.” Nikki stopped walking to hug them both. “I am so lucky to have such good friends…”
Russell and Nikki spent an hour more at the bar, but between the loud music and the people who kept stopping by to introduce themselves to one or the other, they found it difficult to have any sort of a real conversation. Finally, he suggested that they make a move to somewhere a little quieter. “I don’t have a car here, but I’ll carry your gear in exchange for a lift.”
Nikki paused to consider this. The thought of being alone with him made her nervous, but at least they’d be in her car. Besides, her friend’s assessment of him seemed accurate. There was something about him that seemed … right.
“Okay, come on then.” She got up and led the way backstage to grab her gear.
Once they were in her car, she had no idea where to go. Even in LA, at this hour there weren’t many places she could take a “celebrity” and not expect to get noticed. She pulled out a cigarette and he lit it for her, then did his own. “So, where can we go?” she asked. “I mean, a club is one thing. Those people are way too busy being cool to make a fuss over someone like you, but…”
“I have no idea.” Russell shrugged. He seemed vaguely amused by their dilemma.
“That makes two of us.” Nikki leaned her head against the door frame watching him from out of the corner of her eye, feeling too nervous to look at him, trying to think.
They sat in silence for several minutes, just smoking. “We could go to my place,” he suggested finally.
Her eyes cut to him and he saw fear. For a minute he was taken aback. He’d done nothing to make her uncomfortable “Or, not.”
“Are you hungry?” she asked, having seemed to come to a decision of some kind.
“I can always eat,” he shrugged agreeably.
“Okay, then.” She started the car, turned on the radio and they were off.
They drove to Santa Monica, stopping for burgers at an all night fast food joint Nikki found along the way. Sitting on the hood of her old Volvo they ate and watched the waves crash up on the beach. “This is nice,” Russell sighed contentedly, stealing a look her way. She was even prettier by moonlight. “Sort of romantic.”
“So, tell me more about Australia,” Nikki prompted, ignoring his comment, hoping he couldn’t see her hands shaking as she began gathering up the food wrappers. Maybe coming out here alone with him like this hadn’t been such a good idea after all.
“Australia is a pretty big place, luv,” he shrugged, leaning back against the windshield with an arm cocked back to cushion his head. “I’ve seen a lot of it, though. What do you want to know?”
Nikki got up and tossed their trash, then sat down cross-legged on the hood beside him. “Tell me about where you live.”
“Well, I live in a place called Nana Glen, in New South Wales,” he began. “It’s pretty far from most everything. More than seven hours drive from Sydney. If you want anything, it’s nearly an hour to the nearest store down at Coff’s, but it’s a great little place, sort of a combo dry goods, take away and liquor store. If they don’t have it, you don’t need it.” He chuckled and raised up on his elbows to see her better. “At least you’d better not.”
She lit two cigarettes and handed him one. It was nice to sit here and simply listen to the sound of his rich mellow voice. “Go on…”
“You’re gonna make me homesick,” Russell chuckled, “but okay. I’ve got a farm of sorts. About 40 head of cattle currently, some chickens, a few dogs… But, I’m not much of a farmer, really. I can’t seem to get my head around slaughtering any of the animals and the soil is a bit dodgy at the moment, though we’re working on it.”
“Who takes care of things while you’re gone?” she asked softly, trying to picture his farm in her head.
“My brother terry, mostly. Him and a couple blokes we hired look after things.” He smiled sadly, missing home. “My parents live there, too, when they’re not off traveling, which isn’t too often. Still, it’s nice to have family around to come home to.” He sat up and chuckled, shaking his head. “Damn, this is making me homesick. What about you?”
“My parents split up when I was a kid,” Nikki shrugged. “My Mom died a few years ago in a car accident. My Dad and his wife live up in Reno. I live here.”
“Don’t you get lonely?”
“There’s the family we’re born to and the family we collect,” she explained earnestly. “I’ve got Lisa and Brad and the baby. A couple of other really good friends.” She shrugged again, noticed him moving closer behind her.
“But no one… special.”
Nikki closed her eyes, trying to steady herself. God, she really liked this guy. He seemed to be everything she’d ever dreamed of in a man before…. Before Josh had taken those dreams and turned them into a horrible nightmare.
“You’re trembling.” Russell’s voice was soft and right behind her ear. She could feel his breath on the side of her cheek.
“Am I?” She choked out something that was supposed to be a laugh. “It’s, you know, getting a little cold out here.”
“I could warm you up.” He slipped his arms around her and felt her go stiff. He debated a moment whether to hold on or let go and decided on the former. “Nikki?”
“Yeah?”
“Are you okay?”
“Um… I’m not sure.” She was staring at the ocean, afraid to look at him, knowing she was probably blowing any chance she’d ever have with him, but powerless to stop.
“Did I…” He cleared his throat. “Did I do something?”
“No.” Her voice was barely more than a whisper.
“Someone else, then?”
She nodded.
“Someone hurt you?”
Again, she nodded.
“Do you want to talk about it?”
She shook her head and he could see tears glistening at the corners of her eyes. He felt helpless. Someone had done something very wrong to this sweet and beautiful girl and knowing that made him feel both angry and sad.
“Should I let you go?” he asked finally.
“I… no.” She shook her head and glanced back at him. To her amazement his eyes held only patience and compassion, with no sign of the frustration or annoyance she’d expected. “We could just sit here for a few minutes maybe… If you don’t mind?”
“No worries,” he assured her. “This is nice.”
They sat that way for a long time and finally she began to relax into his embrace. He moved a little closer, resting his face against the side of her head, and that seemed to be okay, too. He felt for her hands, found them to be cold and warmed them in his own big hands. As he raised them to his lips to breathe on them, she giggled and he took a chance and kissed her fingers lightly.
Nikki turned to look at him over her shoulder and he saw that she was smiling.
“What?’ he demanded, grinning back.
“You’re just not what I expect a movie star to be like, Russell Crowe.”
“Met a lot of them, have you?” he chuckled.
“A few.” She shrugged and her eyes sparkled in the moonlight.
“Ah, well, thing is, I’ll bet they were all American movie stars, right?” She nodded. “See, we do things differently where I’m from. Sure, in LA it’s easy to, what did you say the other day? Begin to overestimate your importance? But, I’ll tell you, go muck out a stall or spray the cows for lice, and that brings you right back down to earth in a hurry, luv.”
“No,” she shook her head and turned to face him. “I think maybe it’s just you.” Her eyes searched his for something, he wasn’t sure what, but she must’ve found it because after a second she smiled. “Can I tell you something?”
“A secret?” He was still holding her hands in his, was yearning to pull her close and kiss her.
“Yeah, a secret.” Her smile turned shy. “I like you, Russell. You’re the first man I’ve met in more than a year that didn’t absolutely terrify me.”
He tried to think of something to say to that. Something that wouldn’t sound sarcastic or take away from the importance of what she’d said. “Well, thanks… I think.”
She laughed, and it was like music.
“Hey…” He gave her hands a squeeze. “I’ve got a secret, too.”
“You do?” Her eyes lit on his expectantly as a smile tugged at her lips. “What is it?”
“I’ve been dying to kiss you all night.”
“That’s not a secret,” Nikki giggled.
“No?” He raised one eyebrow in surprise.
“No.” She looked at him for a long time, smiling until he began to feel silly and smiled back. “Okay, then…”
Before she could change her mind, Russell used her hands to pull her closer. His big hands gently cupped her face and drew it closer to his. A moment later his lips found hers and embraced them tenderly as though he had all the time in the world to do this and only this. His tongue moved across her lips and they parted, opening to him and he was tasting her, exploring her mouth, losing himself completely in her. Her sweet, timid tongue pressed forward to explore his lips and teeth, slipping into his mouth, growing bolder by the minute and he found that he was more excited than he’d been in quite some time.
“Beauty,” he sighed as they parted for air. She was soft in his arms now and he wanted her so badly at that moment that he could barely think straight. He also knew that there was no chance of them taking things any further. At least not tonight.
“I think maybe we’d better go.” Nikki said, not without some measure of reluctance.
“Yeah,” Russell agreed with a sly, wicked grin. “I think maybe you’re right.”
Conversation came more easily to them on the drive back and, by the time they pulled up to the house he was renting in Beverly Hills, they were laughing and joking like old friends. “Nice place,” Nikki commented dryly, trying not to sound impressed.
“Its okay,” he shrugged, feeling suddenly embarrassed by the obvious comforts of the place. “The pool is nice. I keep thinking I should have a yard party one of these days.”
“Throw a coupla shrimp on the baaaarbie?” she giggled.
“Christ,” Russell groaned, shaking his head. “Don’t even start.” He glanced at the house, looked back to her. “I don’t suppose…?” He saw the look on her face and answered his own question. “No, I suppose not.. Fair enough.” He nodded and leaned closer. “How about one for the road, then?”
“Absolutely.”
He could still feel her smiling as she kissed him. When they parted this time it was as if an understanding had passed between them. There was more to come and when it did, it would be well worth the wait. "Can I call you?”
“I’d be disappointed if you didn’t.” She reached into her back pocket and pulled out a business card, started to hand it to him and stopped. Reaching up to the visor, she grabbed a pen and wrote her home number on the back. “Sweet dreams, Russell Crowe,” she called after him, then took off into the dawn.
Click here for Part 2 of Lost in Heaven by Roo
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