‘Jealous? Why?’
‘All these lovebirds all around. Celia and Tack. Richard and his menage. What happened to Callie?’
‘She and Leo decided they wanted to be exclusive. It’s part of the reason I’m here. Didn’t want to bump into her every three minutes. You know how small a world the London theatre is.’
‘Well, only from the point of view of a person who failed lots of auditions.’
‘I thought you’d make it one day, you know.’
‘Thanks. I know. So did I.’
She sighed.
‘And now, here you are in Hollywood, the perfect place to make a name for yourself, and you can’t even try.’
‘I’ve thought about it. Thought about risking it. But it’s not safe. Not with McKenna and his crew still at large.’
‘It’s a tragedy, Emma. Someone should write it.’
‘Maybe you could.’
‘Maybe I will. It’s not a bad idea, actually. How Emma Frayne’s beautiful bottom ruined her prospects.’
Tack had now removed Celia’s bikini completely and was thrusting into her with a wet slap-slap-slap no less noisy than the spanking.
Emma laughed.
‘I think there’s more to the story than my arse.’
‘I find it quite hard to see past it, personally.’
‘Yeah, well, you’re a pervert.’
‘Guilty. Speaking of perverts, what did Allyson have to say?’
‘Allyson.’
Emma looked shocked for a moment, and pale beneath her compulsory LA golden sheen.
‘Yes,’ persisted Peregrine. ‘She sent you a note. I saw Richard give it to you.’
Emma reached over to her beach bag and fished out the folded paper. She handed it to Peregrine without a word.
He read it swiftly, then handed it back.
‘She loves you,’ he said, lighting a cigarette.
‘I know.’
‘Do you still love her?’
‘I do. I lose sight of it sometimes and think I’m over her, but then something happens, like this, and I know she’d only have to crook her finger. But how can we be together, Peregrine? I’m here now. She won’t be able to leave the UK when she gets out, and I don’t really want to go back, not now.’
He took a long drag, his eyes still fixed on the rutting couple on the poolside.
‘Love finds a way,’ he said. ‘But there’s no need to worry about it now. It’s still at least a year off. And didn’t she say she hoped I was taking care of you? You know what she means by that.’
‘She knows me too well to expect me to live like a nun.’