Local Hero

wondering if he might be willing to come along.
    “Twice. There’s a scene between the mad scientist and the sane scientist that’ll knock you out. And there’s this mutant that looks like a carp. Fantastic.”
    “A carp.” Hester sipped her coffee. “Sounds wonderful.”
    “A cinematic treat for the eyes. Can I tag along?”
    “You just said you’ve seen it twice already.”
    “So? The only movies I see once are dogs. Besides, I’d like to see Rad’s reaction to the laser battle in deep space.”
    “Is it gory?”
    “Nothing Rad can’t handle.”
    “I wasn’t asking for him.”
    With a laugh, Mitch took her hand. “I’ll be there to protect you. How about it? I’ll spring for the popcorn.” He brought her hand up to his lips. “Buttered.”
    “How could I pass up a deal like that?”
    “Good. Look, I’ll give you a hand with the dishes, then I’ve got to go down and take Taz out before his bladder causes us both embarrassment.”
    “Go on ahead. There isn’t that much, and Taz is probably moaning at the door by this time.”
    “Okay.” He stood with her. “But next time I cook.”
    Hester gathered up the plates. “Peanut butter and jelly?”
    “I can do better than that if it impresses you.”
    She smiled and reached for his empty mug. “You don’t have to impress me.”
    He caught her face in his hands while she stood with her hands full of dishes. “Yes, I do.” He nibbled at her lips, then abruptly deepened the kiss until they were both breathless. She was forced to swallow when he released her.
    “That’s a good start.”
    He was smiling as he brushed his lips over her forehead. “I’ll be up in an hour.”
    Hester stood where she was until she heard the door close, then quietly set the dishes down again. How in the world had it happened? she wondered. She’d fallen in love with the man. He’d be gone only an hour, yet she wanted him back already.
    Taking a deep breath, she sat down again. She had to keep herself from overreacting, from taking this, as she took too many other things, too seriously. He was fun, he was kind, but he wasn’t permanent. There was nothing permanent but her and Radley. She’d promised herself years ago that she would never forget that again. Now, more than ever, she had to remember it.

Chapter 9
    “Rich, you know I hate business discussions before noon.”
    Mitch sat in Skinner’s office with Taz snoozing at his feet. Though it was after ten and he’d been up working for a couple of hours, he hadn’t been ready to venture out and talk shop. He’d had to leave his characters on the drawing board in a hell of a predicament, and Mitch imagined they resented being left dangling as much as he resented leaving them.
    “If you’re going to give me a raise, that’s fine by me, but you could’ve waited until after lunch.”
    “You’re not getting a raise.” Skinner ignored the phone that rang on his desk. “You’re already overpaid.”
    “Well, if I’m fired, you could definitely have waited a couple of hours.”
    “You’re not fired.” Skinner drew his brows together until they met above his nose. “But if you keep bringing that hound in here, I could change my mind.”
    “I made Taz my agent. Anything you say to me you can say in front of him.”
    Skinner sat back in his chair and folded hands that were swollen at the knuckles from years of nervous cracking. “You know, Dempsey, someone who didn’t know you so well would think you were joking. The problem is, I happen to know you’re crazy.”
    “That’s why we get along so well, right? Listen, Rich, I’ve got Mirium trapped in a roomful of wounded rebels from Zirial. Being an empath, she’s not feeling too good herself. Why don’t we wrap this up so I can get back and take her to the crisis point?”
    “Rebels from Zirial,” Skinner mused. “You aren’t thinking of bringing back Nimrod the Sorceror?”
    “It’s crossed my mind, and I could get back and figure out what he’s got up his invisible sleeve if you’d tell me why you dragged me in here.”
    “You work here,” Skinner pointed out.
    “That’s no excuse.”
    Skinner puffed out his cheeks and let the subject drop. “You know Two Moon Pictures has been negotiating with Universal for the rights to produce Zark as a full-length film?”
    “Sure. That’s been going on a year, a year and a half now.” Since the wheeling and dealing didn’t interest him, Mitch stretched out a leg and began to massage