The fact that Steve took Kate out to dinner that evening and left a fifty-dollar bill in her purse when she went to the restroom, still did not leave him feeling any better about her desperate situation. The fact that she had made the decision to go ahead with the pornography casting. It was difficult for him to not worry just where that direction might lead. It was true that a number of established actors in television sit-coms and feature films had actually gotten their start in the porn industry, but as with all West Coast entertainment, success was a long shot at best. After Steve had heard Kate make the call that evening to "Kevin" and agree to do the porn shoot, he  was even more concerned. She confirmed the time and place—two more days, at a hotel nearby in Santa Barbara.

As promised, he agreed to accompany her there, masquerading as her protective boyfriend. And once again, she was super-grateful for his understanding and help. When he left her at her own hotel that night and gave a supportive hug in the lobby, he didn't expect her to reach up and kiss him surprisingly with passion on the lips. Perhaps he felt, it was done out of some cathartic release of her worries. Or instead, some way of preparing herself for the role they both would play as an authentic couple when she showed up for the casting.

As he drove back to his own posh hotel, Steve tried not to let the unanswered questions regarding his friend Kate disturb his purpose for being in Santa Barbara and the business commitment he had made to Caia. For as he had so painfully learned with other actors he had known, it was hard to tell when they were performing and when they were truly off stage.

* * *

While lying in bed that night and watching the large TV screen across from it, Steve's cell phone rang, and he could see it was Caia. As he looked at the time, it was just after 1:00 AM.

"Hello Caia . . ."

"Steve! How the hell are you!"

He could tell from the background noise and Caia's animated voice that she was obviously partying somewhere.

"I'm good, Caia. But I can hardly hear you . . . What's happening there?

"Just with my friend Lauren. At a party . . . in the Hollywood Hills."

He then heard more hysterical laughter and loud music.

"So Steve. Yeah . . . we're here with these guys in LA . . . and I can't believe how crazy things are right now!

Again more laughter and shouting in the background.

"OK, Caia. Sounds like you're having fun."

"Yeah, we are, gorgeous guy. How's our program going up there? You play'in it slow and cool?"

"Absolutely, Caia. We're talking already . . . and I guess you could say . . . flirting."

"Nice. Nice. Nice!"

He could hear her shouting at someone about keeping their clothes on.

"Well, you go Romeo! I'll be back up there in a few days . . . if Lauren's friends don't kill me first."

More hysterical laughter and male voices.

"Bye, Steve. Hey . . . Your money holding up?"

"Yeah. Yeah, Caia. No problems there. Just play it safe. LA's a dangerous planet!"

"A what? Steve . . . I can't hear you. . ."

"It's OK. We'll talk when you get back!"

"Yeah. True . . . Laterz!"

He heard the line click off.

* * *

The next day Steve still couldn't get Kate's dilemma off his mind. Even a long drive along the coast didn't help. Why, he wondered, didn't he insist that she refuse the offer to do light porn, no matter how 'light' it was supposed to be? He just had a bad feeling about it. Then, while driving back to the Biltmore to spend the rest of the day at the pool, he began to wonder why it even mattered so much. For him to be so protective of her. To actually interfere with her affairs.

Did his chance meeting with her there in Santa Barbara initiate some latent feelings of attraction he had had for her when they first met? It was true they had never hooked up. She was in a lengthy relationship at the time, and he did not want to interfere. But now, somehow those feelings seemed to be coming back. Could it have been her surprising kiss the night before? Her soft lips stirring not only questions about her feelings for him, but some honest sensations of infatuation he had all but forgotten? Heading out to the pool, he knew It was only a matter of hours before he would have to put on his acting hat again and get into character for Mireille. 

After taking a lengthy swim to calm his nerves, Steve found himself a reclining pool chair in the bright sun and lay back to spend the remaining portion of the afternoon sunning himself.

With his eyes closed and hearing only soft conversations and occasional splashing water near him, a voice came up close and personal to his ear.

"Thought I might find you here, handsome."

Startled, he opened his eyes and squinted into the sunlight to see the source of the female voice. It was none other than Kate, bending over him and smiling. She wore a bright green print beach wrap, sported large dark sunglasses and he could smell a fragrant perfume hanging in the air as she stood near him.

"Oh . . . Hey Katie. Wow. This is . . ."

"A surprise? Well just never tell a girl where you devilish guys hang out. Your mistake, I must say."

He smiled.

"Alright. I'll admit my fault. But it's good to see you. I was getting pretty tired of the rich families and stupid tourists who flock to this place."

She looked across the pool at those very groups lounging about. 

"Well as you know, Steve, that doesn't include me."

"Yeah. Thank goodness."

"I came to bring you this back . . ." she said, fishing out her wallet from her large bag.

She presented him with the fifty-dollar bill.

"Hey Katie, what are you talking about? " He got up and pulled another beach chair over near his own.

"Really, Steve. I don't want you to do that. It was great of you. But you're doing enough for me. I just wanted to come by to tell you how much better you've made me feel. It's my decision to go ahead with this thing. But knowing you'll be with me for it . . . and that someone here really does  care, is worth so much."

"Alright. But Katie, look. I was thinking today . . . Maybe you should just cancel this. Tell the guy you've got another job. A real acting or modeling gig came through for you. And you won't be here in two days. Tell him you're going to San Diego."

"You're so sweet, Steve. But I really do need the money. I think I can set this up on my own terms. And just until something better works out for me. Come on, I don't plan to make a career of this you know."

He was silent and sat back down in his chair.

"Wow. This sun feels so good," she said, holding out her arms as if to trap the beams of light. Can I join you while I'm here? The other hotel doesn't even have a pool."

"Sure, Katie. Enjoy it."

Without another word she removed her colorful beach wrap, and silently presented herself in a striking black bikini. Steve could not help but notice how alluring her body was. The thought of him being present on that day she would expose herself fully for the camera and then engage in pleasuring herself, was all too palpable in his mind. It was not difficult for him to imagine the whole lurid scene.

As Kate put a towel down on the reclining chair next to him and lay back on it, Steve took her hand in his and gently squeezed it. It was a gesture that possibly said so much. Yet he was not even sure himself what it meant to say.

* * *