Disclaimer: Mort Rainey and company belong to Stephen King and the movie studios.
AN: Not a lot of reviews for chapter 9…are people getting tired of this story already? Well, anyway, a sequel will only be written depending on the ending of this story. If I feel like ending it completely, that's it, and a new story will be born soon afterwards. It all kind of depends on the ending, and on whether my muses feel like working on the sequel. Enjoy the chapter!
Chapter 10: The World Calls:
Amber's POV:
Kissing Mort at the top of the Eiffel Tower, at night, was like something in a dream or a romantic movie. I hadn't meant to kiss him, but being so wrapped up in the moment and the atmosphere, I couldn't help it. I mean, who wouldn't have done it? The two of us had been in The City of Love, at night, surrounded by silver stars and golden lights. It had been amazingly romantic, and something every woman dreams about.
Upon our return to the hotel, Mort closed the door and pulled me into his arms, holding me close. Nuzzling my neck, he sighed and began rubbing the small of my back. I sighed, grateful for the relief he was unknowingly providing me. I'd heard that pregnant women get backaches, and I was no exception…I wonder if Mort knew about it, too? Oh, well, it didn't matter. His ministrations were soothing and gentle, so I let him do it. Savoring the romantic moment, we stood there, holding one another, listening to the sounds of the other's breathing and heartbeats.
After a few minutes, Mort pulled me over to the couch, where Bubbles was waiting for us. A maid had obviously fed her, because she was happy to see us; if she were hungry, Bubbles would be yowling like crazy. Since she was fed, Bubbles welcomed us with a happy 'meow' as she leapt at me. I caught her, and she began purring immediately. The three of us (four, if you count the baby) sat on the couch and watched a movie until I fell asleep on Mort's shoulder.
The Next Day, Amber's POV:
I woke up in the bed with Mort's arm wrapped around my waist, gently rubbing my stomach. I smiled and rolled over, looking into his warm brown eyes. They were bright and happy as he looked down at me, his hand never ceasing its rubbing. When our eyes met, Mort smiled as he slowly leaned over and gave me a soft kiss.
It was the type of kiss that steals your breath away and leaves you feeling beautiful and loved, all at the same time. With his warm, soft, gentle hand rubbing my belly combined with the kiss he was giving me, I felt like I was in a dream. Everything around me stopped, and I could practically feel myself glow with happiness.
A moment later, he pulled back, breaking the spell he had on me. However, his eyes were filled with love and tenderness.
"Good morning, beautiful," he murmured. "How're you feeling?"
I smiled at him. "I'm alright," I whispered.
Actually, I was a little uneasy. I was scared about spending the day alone and bored in the hotel room again. I wanted to get out and explore the city, to see everything that Paris had to offer. I wanted to see the markets, to go to the shops, to eat at the cafés…I wanted to do everything! Would I even be able to get that chance with Mort gone all the time, leaving me to fend for myself?
"Amber."
I snapped out of my thoughts and turned my attention towards Mort. Watching him, I realized that he had some sort of internal struggle going on. The joy in his eyes had dimmed, and was replaced by concern. When he looked at me, I could see that whatever he was going to say next was going to be difficult for him.
"Amber, I think it would be best for you to see Paris without me," he said, his voice sad.
I was shocked. He wanted me to go out by myself, in a foreign city, without him? Was that even a good idea? My alarm must have shown on my face, because Mort kissed my cheek to calm me down.
"You'll have a guard with you, but since I'll be busy all day with interviews and book signings, I doubt that I'll be able to be with you during the day," he said. "I think it works better this way."
I could tell that it was killing him to say this, but it was such a sweet gesture that I couldn't bear to see him upset like this. Reaching up, I wrapped my arms around his neck and brought him down for a kiss. I could feel him stiffen in surprise, but he quickly kissed me back. I was surprised at my boldness, but it felt like the right thing to do. Plus, Mort's a really good kisser, so I had nothing to complain about. When we separated a moment later, I felt out of breath. It took us both a moment to recover from the kiss, but from the way Mort smiled at me, it had been worth it.
"Thank you for letting me have this chance, Mort," I said, smiling at him. "And we can always spend the evening together, right?"
Mort nodded. "Of course," he said, stroking my face. He was just leaning in for another kiss when the phone rang. I heard him curse before picking it up. "Hello…no, it can't be…I thought it was later?" He looked at the clock next to the bed. "Oh, my God, I'll be right there!" He slammed the phone down and jumped out of bed, hurrying to get dressed and ready. "Sorry, darling, but I guess they switched meeting times on me," he said, pulling on his clothes. "I'll meet you here at seven for dinner, okay?" Finished dressing, he gave me a quick kiss goodbye before flying out the door.
I sat there in shock, but quickly snapped out of it. I had a whole day of shopping and sightseeing ahead of me! Instead, I got up, showered, dressed, and was putting on a pair of comfy walking shoes when someone knocked on the door. I took a quick peek out the peephole and saw a huge bodyguard standing right outside the door. Swallowing, I cracked the door open and looked up.
He was at least six and half feet tall, with olive skin, green eyes, and brown hair. And he was huge! He could easily take on a football player, and win! Did I actually have to go out in public with this human wall standing behind me all day long?
"Mrs. Rainey?" he asked, looking down at me. His voice was amazingly gentle and friendly, and his face was softer and kinder than I thought. The combination of both calmed me down a bit. "I'm Lee, and I'll be your tour guide, bodyguard, and interpreter for the remainder of your stay in Paris."
I took a closer look at him, and realized that the guy was rather casually dressed for a bodyguard. In a brown leather jacket, black jeans, black leather shoes, and a green shirt, he looked like any ordinary guy…except for the gun and badge I saw tucked inside his jacket. A bodyguard who could serve as a protector, a guide, and a translator? Oh, well, why not? I smiled up at him.
"Please, call me Amber," I said, opening the door wider. "Would you like to come in? I'm almost ready. I've just got to find my purse." He nodded and came inside, but remained by the door as I searched for my bag. Five minutes later, we were out the door and out in the streets.
Two hours later: Amber's POV:
Lee was actually very fun to be with, and he had a wicked sense of humor that made me blush from all of the lewd jokes he told me. He took me to a few shops and markets, telling me what was what, and translating what the shop-owners were saying. After the third shop, I was disappointed that I didn't have any money with me. Mort hadn't given me anything to spend, and I really wanted to try a few foods that I had seen in a few of the shops and stores. When Lee asked why I wasn't buying anything, I told him about my lack of cash.
Lee slapped his forehead. "Oh, stupid me!" he said, looking embarrassed. Reaching into his jacket, he pulled out a small roll of bills. "Mr. Rainey's publishing company told me to give you this. They know how much you mean to Mr. Rainey, so they decided to give you some spending money for each city you stay in while in Europe."
I was shocked. First a hotel suite, and now spending money for me to use on whatever I wanted? What was next, a free car? Oh, well, you can't argue with free cash! I decided to spend the money on food and cheap (but tasteful) souvenirs to take back to the States. However, I'd have to be careful to pick a limited amount. My luggage only had so much room, after all, and foreign postage was something I did not want to mess with!
It was after five o' clock by the time I got back to the hotel. I was exhausted, but very pleased with myself. Lee was amazed that I'd managed to only buy a few triangles of cheese, half a dozen rolls, and a couple boxes of pastries (all of which would be either for breakfast tomorrow or for snacking for the next day or two). It was a very productive day, and I decided to end it with a nap.
Three hours later, seven o'clock pm: Mort's POV:
Walking back to the room, Mort was absolutely exhausted. The European reporters had been ruthless about wanting a photograph of Amber, and Mort was this close to strangling them when his agent interrupted and claimed that Mort was late for an important meeting. The 'meeting' had actually been an excuse, and Mort was grateful that he's been spared at having to deal with the press. All he wanted right now was to be with Amber, order some room service, and curl up in bed with her.
Opening the door, Mort was shocked to see Amber laughing with a very good-looking man. The stranger had brown hair, green eyes, and a leather jacket. He also had the physique of a football player.
Mort saw red.
Walking up behind Amber, who was facing away from him, Mort glared at the man who was flirting with his wife. He put his hands on her shoulders possessively, staking his claim on her. There was no way he was going to let this creep get his hands on his wife!
"Who are you and what are you doing here?" Mort snapped, still glaring.
"Oh, hi, Mort," Amber said, smiling up at him. "This is Lee, the bodyguard that your publishing company sent over. Lee, this is Mort."
That really didn't make Mort feel any better. This guy was supposed be protecting and guarding his wife, not sitting in their hotel room, making her laugh as though they were on a date together! He would definitely be having a word with his agent tomorrow morning.
"Thank you for looking after my wife for me," Mort said, stressing his marriage to Amber. "I'm sure you have more important things to do right now."
Lee looked from Mort to Amber and back again. "Ah," he said perceptively, standing up. "Well, it was nice showing you around, Mrs. Rainey. I'll be by tomorrow to pick you up and show you around the countryside. I'm sure you'll love the wineries, they're fascinating to see." He offered his hand to her and, to Mort's displeasure, Amber took it to shake. "I'll see you tomorrow."
"I can't wait! Thanks for everything, Lee," Amber said, smiling at him as she broke from Mort's grasp and stood up. She escorted Lee to the door, closing and locking it behind him. When she returned to the living room, she was still smiling. Mort grit his teeth; he really didn't like that guy.
"Mort, what's wrong?"
"I don't like the idea of that guy hanging around you, Amber," he said, glaring at the door Lee had left through. "What if he tries something with you?"
Amber walked up to him and placed her hands on his face, making him look at her. "Mort, there is nothing going on between Lee and me," she said, looking directly into his eyes. "He's got a wife and two kids, and he's not about to leave them for the pregnant wife of an author." Her thumbs began to caress his cheeks. "Okay?"
Mort nodded. Despite what had happened with Ted and Amy, Mort trusted Amber like he trusted no one else. Besides, Amber was almost four months pregnant with his child! And if that Lee guy had a wife and kids of his own, well, Mort would trust him with Amber, the baby, and their safety.
"Now, how about dinner?" she asked. Her eyes suddenly became concerned. "Are you alright, Mort? You look exhausted; do you need to lie down?"
Mort smiled. "I'm alright, it's just been a long day," he said. Sometimes Mort thought that he had married the most caring woman on the planet. She was the one who was pregnant, and here she was, asking about him and his health! God, he loved her more than anything in the world!
"Let's order in, then, hmm?" Amber said, going over to the phone and picking it up.
They had a cozy dinner and Mort ordered another film for them to watch. The two fell asleep in front of the TV, wrapped in each others arms.
Four days later: Amber's POV:
I was shocked that Mort had given in and allowed Lee to guard and guide me. I knew that he'd been betrayed by Amy and Ted's affair, but, for some reason, he trusted me. I'd never been trusted like that before…it was an unusual, but wonderful, feeling.
The rest of our days in Paris flew by amazingly fast. I'd tour the shops and markets by day, and Mort and I would walk around together at night, usually ending our walk at the Eiffel Tower and looking over the city. Mort would wrap his arm around me, we'd kiss, and I'd always have fantastic dreams at night about it.
However, even though our days in Paris were soon coming to an end, our stay in Europe was just beginning!
London, England, Amber's POV:
I pressed my nose against the glass window of the taxi and stared at all the buildings going by, unable to believe I was here. I'd always wanted to visit England, and now I was driving past the Tower of London, where the Crown Jewels were kept! I let out a squeal of excitement, startling Mort in his seat.
"What was that all about?" he asked, smiling at me. I don't think he's ever seen me this excited before, and he looked fairly pleased about me being so enthusiastic.
I bounced in my seat. "I'm really here, in London!" I said, clapping my hands like a small excited child. "I've always wanted to come here!"
Mort grinned even wider. "Well, I'm glad you're happy," he said, taking one of my hands in his. "And we'll be able to go out during the day together, because my agent scheduled several days off for me."
For some reason, knowing that Mort had some time off made me even more happy and excited. For the rest of the journey to the hotel, we held hands and looked at the passing scenery.
Mort's POV:
In the early afternoon, after they finished settling in, Mort watched as Amber pulled Bubbles out of her carrier, kissing the cat on the head before setting her down. Smiling, he couldn't help but think about what sort of mother she would be. Amber had a sweet, caring spirit, one that was warm and comforting and giving. Their baby would be lucky to have her there when it was sick or scared.
"I'm surprised that she's taken to traveling so well," Amber said, breaking into his thoughts. "I thought most cats didn't care for traveling, but Bubbles has been so good, especially on the plane ride here to Europe!"
Mort chuckled. "Maybe she does it to make her beautiful mistress happy," he said, wrapping his arms around her waist. "Now, what do you say to a few hours of touring and some dinner?"
Amber's eyes lit up. "Could we get fish and chips?" she asked eagerly, turning her head around to face him. "I hear that English fish and chips are better than ours."
Mort kissed her forehead. "Anything you want, Beautiful," he murmured, burying his face in her hair.
The two took a cab out to Hampton Court, and spent hours walking around and enjoying the artwork. Later, they headed back to London and took each other's picture in front of Buckingham Palace and Big Ben before going to the Tower of London, where they took more photos of one another. By the time the day was ending, Amber was clearly exhausted and eager for dinner. They stopped at a local café, and ate fish and chips while discussing the sights they had seen that day. Amber couldn't stop talking about the Tower of London and its historical significance and background. Listening to her talk, Mort was amazed that she knew so much about English history; she didn't even stop eating her dinner throughout the entire time she was talking! Heck, she didn't even notice that Mort had moved some of his food onto her plate so she could have more than what she had received!
Watching his wife eat, Mort tried hard not to laugh. With the way Amber was eating, their baby was sure to be healthy, and of a good weight, too! To make her happy, Mort ordered a slice of strawberry shortcake for them to share. After Amber managed to polish most of that off, the two got up and walked along the street, back towards their hotel.
The streets were bustling as they walked. The stone sidewalks and streets were crammed full of people trying to get to a local club, bar, restaurant, or anywhere else that was fun. It was a lot like New York, but had a much older atmosphere. A person could almost feel the history in the air. Even with the blazing lights, large crowds, and cars going everywhere, the history of London sticks out. Mort could feel it, and he knew Amber could, too.
They were three-quarters of the way to hotel when something unexpected happened.
Amber's POV:
A flash went off in front of my eyes, and I was momentarily blinded. Rubbing my eyes, I blinked away the spots in my vision and looked up at Mort. He, too, was blinking madly.
"What the Hell was that?" I asked, still seeing spots as I blinked. Damn it, I hated camera flashes!
Mort frowned. "I'm not sure, but we should get back to the hotel, right now," he said, his eyes narrowing dangerously. He looked like a wolf whose territory has just been threatened.
"Mort, what's wrong?" I asked, suddenly scared at his emotional change. He must have sensed my fear, because he looked down at me and smiled.
"I just think that it would be a good idea for us to get back to the hotel, as soon as possible," he said, grabbing my wrist and pulling me along. I was confused by his reaction, but followed anyway.
Once we were inside, Mort bolted the lock and headed for the phone. Meanwhile, I curled up on the bed with my cat and fell asleep.
Mort's POV:
Hanging up the phone, Mort let out a sigh of relief. Hopefully his agent would get that photo before it hit the papers. He knew that it had to be a photographer for a newspaper or magazine, Lord knows he'd seen enough of them at the interviews! He'd know those bulb-flashes anywhere! Turning around, Mort saw his wife asleep on the bed, her cat curled in her arms, and smiled.
No, he couldn't let that photo get over to America. If it did, his marriage and his life would be over. Mort was not going to lose his wife and baby because some idiot wanted to make money selling papers! Amber and their baby were everything to him, and it would destroy him to lose them both because of one lousy photographer. No, he was going to save his family if it was the last thing he did!
AN: Well, I hope that this chapter was good. I've never been to Paris or London, though I'd love to go someday. All I did was watch a few travel shows and worked off of that. If there's anyone reading from Europe, I'm sorry if I'm totally inaccurate…please forgive me! Anyway, please review! Thanks!