Somethin' Stupid

Rollin was surprised to see Cinnamon enter the party on the arm of a prominent producer. He stood at the bar watching as the man introduced her to everyone. He wondered for a moment if she could be on assignment. When their eyes met across the room and he saw her smile, he knew it wasn't the case. She excused herself from her date and she moved toward the bar. He grinned as she came closer and quickly ordered a bourbon and water from the bartender.

"Mr. Hand. " She said meeting his eyes.

"Miss Carter." He said with a quick smile, handing her a drink. "For you."

"Thank you."

"I'm surprised to see you."

"Oh?" She said sipping her drink.

"If I had know you would be interested in something like this, I would have asked you myself." He said.

"I don't think that's permitted."

"Why not?" He asked.

"I read that somewhere."

"Oh yes, the manual."

"You don't agree?"

Rollin smiled slowly. "No."

Cinnamons' date appeared at her elbow. "Hey there, is this guy hitting on you?"

Cinnamon laughed. "No, he was just kind enough to get me a drink."

"Sorry Honey. I had to see somebody..."

Rollin watched as the man pulled her away into the mass of partygoer's He was surprised that Cinnamon would be attracted to a guy like that. He turned back to the bar.

A little later in the evening, Rollin was dancing with a leggy redhead.  Over her head, he saw Cinnamon similarly engaged with her date.

He politely excused himself from his dance partner and moved to the bandstand.  The bandleader smiled as he saw the bill in his palm as Rollin whispered his request to the musician.

Rollin moved smoothly across the dance floor to stand behind Cinnamon as the song began.  ‘I know I stand in line until you think you have the time to spend an evening with me.’

Rollin made eye contact with Cinnamon with a quick smile.  “Would you do me the honor?”  He asked, extending his hand to her.

Cinnamon smiled and gave her date a raised eyebrow. 

“I’ll get us some drinks.” He huffed.

Rollin acknowledged the man as he brushed passed him. He grinned and took Cinnamon in his arms.

She met his eyes as he held her.

“Nicely done.”

“I thought so.”  

He pulled her close, his hand warm against the small of her back sent a tingle though her.  ‘I practice everyday to find with some cleaver lines to say to make the meaning come true.’  Rollin sang softly against her ear.

Cinnamon smiled as he twirled her about the floor. 

They moved well together and her date noticed the stares of the other partygoers.  He, too, was taken with the way they moved so naturally together.  

As the song ended, Rollin smiled as he dipped her low.  As he pulled her back to stand beside him, he kissed her hand.  “Thank you.”  He said moving off and leaving her alone.

Cinnamon smiled.  She was intrigued, what game was he playing? 

Her date hurried back to her with a drink for her.  “Honey, you have some moves.”  He said appreciatively. 

Cinnamon nodded her thanks but her eyes followed Rollin as he strolled out to the deck that overlooked the city. A smile crept across his face as he felt Cinnamon’s eyes still on him.

Rollin lit a cigarette as he looked out over Los Angeles.  He had the guy right where he wanted him. 

Cinnamon and her date stayed on the dance floor for two more songs. Her date was getting more aggressive with her as the number of his drinks increased.

Soon she ventured out on the deck for a breath of air.  Rollin was engaged in a conversation with another man.  Placing her evening bag on the railing, she extracted a cigarette from her case.  Rollin appeared at her elbow to light the cigarette.

She looked up through her bangs and lent to the flame.  “Thank you.”  She said, exhaling.

Rollin smiled.  “Where’s your date?”

“Ordering another drink I would venture.”

“Summoning his courage?”

Cinnamon chuckled. “He has courage, just not much finesse.”

Her date approached the twosome as they stood together on the deck.  “There you are.  Hooking up with this guy again.”

Cinnamon deflected the comment. “Just having a conversation.” 

Her date was shorter than Rollin and a little heavier, but attractive in his own right.

“I was just keeping the lady company.”

“That’s my job.”  The man retorted.

“Edward!”  Cinnamon was shocked.

“I just didn’t like the way he danced with you.”

Rollin smiled slightly.  “That was all her.”

“I think it was more than that.” Edward began. 

“Edward, please. Let’s go back inside.”   She said reaching for his arm.

Cinnamon gave Rollin a look as she led Edward back to the party.

Rollin noticed as the evening progressed that Edward was indeed becoming more intoxicated.  He mentioned this to his host who suggested that Edward say his goodnights and take a cab home.

Rollin stepped beside Cinnamon as her date was poured into a cab.  “Goodnight Honey.”  Edward called from the backseat.

“Looks like you need a lift.”  Rollin said watching the cab move off.

She sighed.  “Yes I do.”

“Then I’m your man.” He smiled.

She met his mischievous blue eyes.  “Yes you are.” She said moving her arm through his as he handed the valet his ticket for his car. 

The convertible arrived swiftly and Rollin slid in beside her and then moved off down the drive.

They were high in the Hollywood Hills so they twisted their way down the mountain.  Rollin pulled into the Griffith Park Observatory.  From there you could see all of Los Angeles.  He noticed several other cars parked along the rail.  

“I thought we could see the city from here.”  He said as he parked away from the others.

She looked up at the stars.  “It is a beautiful night.” 

He pulled his pack of cigarettes from his jacket pocket and offered her one.  She accepted it and held it to her lips as he lit it.  He lit his own and looked up at the stars.  “So how do you know Edward?”  He asked.

“We met at a shoot I was doing.”

Rollin turned on the radio to a jazz station and stretched his arm behind her on the seat. “How much do you know about him?”

“Just that he is a producer.”

“I see.” 

“Should I know something else?”  She asked.

“From what I gather, he has quite a reputation with the ladies.”

“Not a good one I take it.”

Rollin shook his head-no.

“Then I should thank you for coming to my rescue.”

“I’m glad I was there.” 

“So am I.”  She said softly.

Rollin looked out over the city.  “Your place is that direction?”  He said pointing west.

She nodded.  “Where do you live?”

“I have a place in Malibu.”

“That’s quite a ways from the city.”

“Not really.”

“I thought you would want to be closer to the action in Hollywood.”

Rollin grinned.  “There is plenty of action in Malibu.”

Cinnamon chuckled.  “Hmm… the actor’s life.  I guess there would be.”

“It can’t be that much different from yours.”

“Mine is fairly structured.”

“But it’s not nine to five.”

“Hardly.”  She laughed.

“See, it’s not that much different.”

Cinnamon didn’t disagree.  She stubbed out her cigarette in the ashtray.  “Do you often pick up stranded women at parties?”  She asked.

“When I can.”

“Just how did we end up at the same party?” She wondered.

“Coincidence?”  He mused.

She watched him.  Somehow she didn’t believe that.

She knew he was attracted to her.  He flirted with her incessantly.  She had been impressed with him from their first meeting. He was handsome, funny and very charming.  They had worked together for only a brief time, but she knew something could develop between them, if she let it. 

Cinnamon believed the rules that had been presented to her when she joined the team.  However, Dan Briggs was not a stickler on rules and believed in getting the job done.  She’d been surprised when Rollin had appeared in the dark of night to assist them in getting Joseph out of prison. That had been first time they had been “on” in front of the team.  It had been easy because she felt comfortable with Rollin.  Maybe it was because they shared similar professions. Being able to mask themselves from others. Somehow she knew that she could trust him.  

“I’m not sure I believe in coincidence when it comes to you.”  She said.

“Are you saying I planned this?” 

“I think you may have had some inside information.”

“Me?”  He said laying his hand against his chest.

She nodded with a twinkle in her eye.  “Mm uh.”

Rollin couldn’t help but smile. He was caught.  “It was an unexpected pleasure to see you walk through the door.” 

“I should have known.” She said shaking her head.

“I wouldn’t be very good at my job if you did, would I?”

“I suppose not.”

“See.”  He said caressing her shoulder.  “Besides he’s not the guy for you.”  He added softly.

She met his piecing blue eyes. “Why do you say that?”

“I think you can do better.”

“How much better?”

“Plenty.”  He said and moved forward and kissed her softly.

His lips were soft, warm and gentle.  She did not resist. He pulled back and looked into her green eyes, waiting for her response. 

She put her hand to his cheek.  He kissed her again and her hand moved to his neck. 

It surprised when she responded to him so eagerly.  His right hand pulled her closer and the kiss lingered.

When they parted, Rollin smiled.  “That I hadn’t planned on.”

“Improvising?”  She quipped.

He nodded and pulled her closer to him.   Their lips met again with more urgency. 

Rollin’s lips eventually released hers.  “I feel like a teenager.”  He said as he held her to him.

She smiled.  “I think we’re in good company then.”  She nodded at the cars parked near them, several which had steamy windows.

Rollin chuckled and laid his head next to hers.  He glanced at his watch it was twelve-thirty.  “I suppose I should take you home.”

She nodded.  “It is late.”

“You gonna give me directions?”  He asked.

“We’ll find the way.”

He kissed her quickly, then reached for the ignition. 

She moved close to him as he drove through the streets with her directing him to her apartment in West Los Angeles.

He parked in front of her upscale building.  “Looks like a nice place.”  He said appreciatively.  

“It’s home.”

He looked at her and couldn’t resist kissing her again. 

She smiled as they parted.  “You do that well.”

“So do you.”

She could read the mischievousness in his eyes and she knew where it could lead.  She was surprised at his effect on her.  Suddenly, every touch, every word, every look had a new meaning to her.  

He pulled the key from the ignition and opened the door.  He stepped out of the car and then offered his hand to her.  “May I see you to your door?”

She took his hand and moved from the car.   “Thank you.”

He closed the door and moved his arm about her waist. Together they walked to the door of the building and took the elevator to the fifth floor.  He escorted her to the door of her apartment.

She pulled her key from her purse and handed it to him.  He unlocked the door and handed the key back to her.  She looked into his eyes.  “Thank you for the rescue.”

He bowed slightly. “My pleasure.”

He closed the distance between them.  “May I call you?”

Cinnamon swallowed.  “I’d be disappointed if you didn’t.”

He smiled and tipped her chin up and kissed her softly.  “Goodnight.”

Her knees were weak.  He moved away from her, leaving her standing in the doorway of her apartment.  He turned as he rounded the corner of hall, smiling as she watched him leave.

He was whistling as he rounded the car. 

She watched him from her dark balcony as he moved off down the street.  She knew it was against the rules, but she was drawn to him.  Maybe they could make it work.

THE END

Elena Vorska

December 2001

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