dip again. “You’ll be busy for another four weeks, right? Isn’t that what you said?”
“Not that long.” His eyes held hers, and her sadness and guilt from earlier today faded compared to how he made her feel. “Besides, I have to see your show again. I’d see it every night if I could.”
“Not tonight.” She laughed, enjoying the feel of his eyes on hers. “We’re dark today. I’m off until tomorrow.”
“That’s right.” He leaned back and laced his fingers behind his head. “So that means our Skype date can last all day. Wouldn’t that be great?”
She giggled. “If you want.”
“I want.” His eyes softened. “You have no idea how much I want that. How much I wish I was there with you.” They locked eyes and stayed that way for a long while. Then as if he’d just remembered something he held up his phone and seemed to check the time. “Wow, it’s almost one.” He held up his finger. “Hold on. I’ll be right back.”
She waited, grateful that he was home, that they could talk through Skype this way. She had so much to tell him. But as she watched the empty screen facing what she assumed was his bedroom or his office at the studio, she sat up straighter, squinting at the details. The room where he’d been sitting didn’t look like anything from his house or his studio or —
Suddenly someone put gentle hands on her shoulders, and she screamed. At the same time she whirled around and her hand flew to her mouth. “Brandon?” She stood, laughing even as tears flooded her eyes. “Are you serious? You’re really here?” She jumped into his arms and they stayed that way a long time, holding onto each other.
“You should’ve seen Betty trying to think of a place to hide me during your Bible study.” He laughed, his eyes tender toward Bailey’s landlord. “And trying to explain Skype to her.” He whistled low. “Wow … that was tough. But I needed you to get on Skype if I was going to make it happen like this.”
“I love it … I mean,” she looked at her computer screen and back at him. “It’s like you transported yourself here or something.” She hugged him again, and her voice lost some of its excitement. Instead there was a depth in her tone that she had only recently started using around him. “You don’t know how much I needed to see you today.”
“God knew.” He smiled at her, and then hugged her once more. Bailey couldn’t believe it, couldn’t convince herself she wasn’t dreaming. Brandon was really here!
And because of that all was right with the world.
Twenty-Three
BRANDON STAYED AT A HOTEL A FEW BLOCKS AWAY FROM THE Kellers’ apartment, and after a long day with Bailey he was finally ready for sleep. He had big plans tomorrow, but for now he couldn’t stop thinking about the last ten hours. Right from the beginning when he surprised Bailey the day had been perfect. He’d brought an Old Navy baseball cap and dark sunglasses this time, and he wore beat up khaki shorts — too plain for anyone to think he was a celebrity.
They walked through Times Square holding hands, and shared dinner at a small pizza shop — all without being recognized even once. Brandon climbed into bed and thought about the last two months filming on the Tahitian Islands, spending every day making a movie with a handful of Hollywood’s top talent. No matter how great the experience, he had missed Bailey with every breath.
His leading lady this time was Eva Gentry, a single, exotic-looking brunette in her midtwenties. On the first day of the shoot she’d asked him to take a walk with her to the beach. Night had already fallen, and Brandon had his guard up from the moment they set out. Once they reached the shore, the actress started to take off her shirt. “Let’s take a swim.”
“Hey,” Brandon grabbed her top and pulled it back into place. “You said you wanted to walk.”
“It’s the oldest line in the book.” She had batted her dark eyes at him, moving closer. “Come on, Brandon … you and I know what’s going to happen on this island. We’re here for weeks. We’re supposed to be in love.”
Brandon explained that he was flattered. “But you need to know something.” He kept his distance, his arms crossed, his voice filled with a new sort of passion. “See … I want to honor God. I