"Bloody, yapping actresses!" he told Rollie aside, "she wasn't my first choice, but then, I was offered a big stipend by production benefactors to have her take the lead."

"Really? Syd, doesn't that spell trouble to you?" Rollie asked, shaking his head and looking back over to Luce and Angie smiling and hugging again. He loved Luce but there were times that she absolutely drove him crazy.

"Yeah, well- don't worry. I learned my lesson in Avila, Rol. No way, we have a picture fall apart like that again. I do have great backing here. And that strapper, Roddy- he's got the young females all clamoring to the box offices like the next Leonardo DeCaprio or something. Have you seen his draw on the last movies he made?"

"No, we just finished a horrible movie with him. Remember, I told you- got fired from it. Ben Poe directed it- "Ectoplasmic Ranger", " Rollie commented in a low voice.

"Yeah, but they are already putting the trailers out on that one now. Seems Ben capitalized on his unknown quantity at the time and with his other movie, "Raging Storms" out right now, he's already on all the covers of teen magazines and movie mags," Syd told him, grinning.

"You're kidding!" Rollie said, loudly as Angie turned, hearing Rollie's comment.

"What's up?" she asked, coming back over to their conversation as Lucinda joined them as well.

"Roddy has hit Tiger Beat rage, Ange! He's on the fast trek to the big times!" Rollie exclaimed as Angie looked bewildered.

"Oooh, I can't wait to work with him!" Lucinda said, moaning, "just think, a young hunk like him and go home at night to my older hunk!"

Rollie and Angie both turned to her at the same time, eyes widened.

"Older hunk at night?" Angie asked, grinning. Lucinda smiled and put her hands to her lips, as if she had spilled the beans before she should have done so.

"Yeah, I noticed that your name on the schedule is listed as 'Lucy Conte' so what gives here?" asked Rollie, eyeing her strangely.

"Well, my time to say good evening," Syd told them all, not interested in the romances of the cast. He had enough on his mind with the responsibility of this film. It was his big chance to get back up to the A list and he wasn't go to blow it this time.

"Evening then, Syd. We will see you in the morning, bright and early?" Rollie asked, still looking at the coy Luce who had her tongue curved over the middle of her upper lip, grinning.

"I should say so, how's five sound? We need to go over the sequence shots I have planned," the Australian director and friend told Rollie as he waved them goodbye.

"Great, see you in the morning, " Rollie said and then returned his focus to Luce who was smiling like she had swallowed a big secret and was bursting to spill it out.

"Come on! Let's go into the bar. You can see your room later, by the way, they are fantastic! Come on!" and she led them out of the lobby into the bar. She looked around in the smoking lounge for a moment, shrugged, and went into the bar. Rollie and Angie both sighed and followed her.

Sitting down at a secluded booth, they all ordered drinks, Rollie drinking his beer in two swallows as Angie sipped her rum and coke gingerly. Luce had a zombie and grinned as she sucked on her straw and giggled.

"Okay, I guess I should let you know that I followed in your footsteps! I met a wonderful guy out in L.A. some time ago. We hit it off great and he really was like a fan, had seen everything I had been in- and that was really cool because he is foreign, from all places, Costa Rica! Anyway, after your wedding and getting back to L.A., I missed him terribly. He had gone back home for awhile on business but I was so surprised when he showed up on my doorstep about three weeks ago," she took a breath as Angie sat back in the seat, knowing what was coming next. Rollie leaned over the table, getting his second beer and shaking his head.

"You guys got married?" he asked, downing the second beer in the same fashion as the first.

"Oh Angie! It was absolutely fantastic. He rushed me down here, we got married a week ago and as a present, he got me this starring part in Syd's movie. To think, they were thinking of Meg Ryan for this!"

"A present? He's got bucks, then?" Rollie asked, amazed.

"He's loaded!" Lucinda whispered, laughing as Angie raised her eyebrows and half-heartedly, joined her as Rollie rubbed her leg under the table.

"Luce, how well do you know this guy, I mean really?" Angie asked her, touching her arm in seriousness.

"Oh Angie! Don't worry about me! He is such a dear and wonderful man. You have got to meet him. He's a bit shy…but I am working on him."

Angie smiled, "well, we will have to have dinner tonight?"

Rollie was throwing invisible daggers at her at this point but she pretended not to notice as Luce grinned widely and grabbed her hands with her own.

"Oh yes, I will ask Ricardo. He will want to meet my best friends in the whole world, you know he will. I have told him so much about you already!"

"Ricardo…Conte?" Rollie asked, as Luce nodded.

"He likes me to go by Lucy Conte for the film and you know, it has a ring to it. I was getting tired of Lucinda Scott, so prissy, you know!" she answered, grabbing her purse and pulling out her itinerary, "great, we can do it, say about eight down in the Nicoya Restaurante. It has absolutely the most fabulous dishes. I don't know what I was eating but it was so delicious!" she added, seeing them smile at each other. She sighed then, pausing and said in a softer tone; "you guys are the best. When I look at the way you two are now, it makes my heart want to burst! So the sex is great, huh?"

"Lucinda!" Rollie blurted out, nearly choking on his third beer, taking it slower now as Angie chuckled. Rollie's face showed his usual embarrassment at the newest of many earthy questions that Lucinda had asked him over the years.

"Just fine," Angie commented finally, her hand stealing to Rollie's as he looked at her, sighing and turned back to Lucinda.

"Gosh, sorry Rollie, you know me…Dr. Ruth," Lucinda said, bobbing her head from side to side and in a German accent, very close to the infamous psychiatrist said; "it is so good to hear that young people are doing healthy, enjoyable sex. Good for your glands, you know."

Rollie laughed then, Luce's talent at accents and characters was as usual, impeccable and he almost could see the little woman sitting across from them.

"Well, gotta go and find where the heck Ricardo has disappeared to…we will meet you later. I am so anxious for you to meet him!" Lucinda said, sliding out of the booth.

"See you tonight," Angie said, waving as Rollie called for a fourth beer. The waiter came over and supplied him quickly as Angie still nurse her initial drink.

"Better slow down there, Rol, " Angie told him in a warning manner as he leaned back in the seat and wrapped his arm around her, kissing her softly by her ear.

"Alright, love- just was so thirsty. This place drains the water right out of me," he said, as she noted he was perspiring more than usual.

"Come on, let's go up to our room. You can take a nice cool shower and we can rest a little before dinner. I am still trying to get use to Luce being married and to a guy that she hasn't known for a really long time…" Angie said, a frown on her face.

"Come on," he said, leaving the rest of the beer and pulling her out with ease from the booth, "your suggestion for that shower sounds heavenly. I could use it, for sure."

They walked out of the lobby, following the directions on their welcome brochure to the Casa Corcovado and went up a winding pathway to bungalow number 42 near the top of the grotto. Opening the door, they were amazed at the spaciousness of the place. There was warm, cilantro brown tiling on the floor in the entranceway. One entire side of the bungalow was an open window that could be closed with netting or sliding doors, depending on preference. In an alcove, for it was one immense room, was the bath area and Angie let out a little cry as she saw the sunken tub. A shower was also nearby and from what they quickly read, natural spring water flowed through the entire water system. There were skylights everywhere and they could see the overhanging cliffs above them and the magnificent foliage that draped over them and down the sides of the bungalow.

"I feel like I am in the Swiss Family Robinson's tree house," Angie said, grinning and then quickly started to unbutton her shirt, "I get the tub right now, you already said the shower!"

Rollie smiled, "go ahead. I know you miss your old tub from your apartment. My little bathroom in the loft has been driving you crazy, I know."

Without a second thought, she started the tub, noting the water was almost bubbly as it started to rise in the tub. Rollie leaned over and commented, "salt crystals and what not- it really is mineral springs running in the pipes."

He undressed and got in the shower, letting it flow over him as he lathered and washed away the heat of the day. He hadn't told Angie but he had Malaria as a child and coming back to this tropical location reminded him of that terrible bout of illness. He had two episodes of it later, one in his early teens and again, one in his twenties when she had been away at college. He had taken the quinine treatment as a child and been treated again both times. He hoped that he would not have another episode here.

Angie stepped down into the tub and let out a groan of pleasure. As she sank in the tub, she almost floated. She closed her eyes, hearing the sound of Rollie's shower and the gentle slapping of the water in her tub as she moved slightly, sponging herself. She could get very used to this tub and never come out, she thought to herself. She was beginning to like Costa Rica and was glad they had not gone to Jamaica now. Seeing Luce again was always great and hearing that this film may be different for all of them was making her gain a new sense of purpose.

"My, don't you look like a little sea nymph."

Angie opened her eyes and looked up to see Rollie hanging over the side of the tub, gently stirring the water near her with his fingers.

"Wonderful!" she commented closing her eyes again, but feeling the cold drips of water from his hair hit her body, she opened them, making a face; "hey, that's cold!"

"Sorry, love," he said, and started to get up and towel off.

Angie grabbed his arm then, "hey, wanna feel this nice tub of water?"

"You inviting me in?" he asked her, grinning.

"Sure, there's plenty of room here," she replied, moving to the side as he stepped in and lower himself slowly into the water.

"Oh yeah, nice!" he said, leaning all the way back and his face going under the water as she laughed.

He came up for air and blew out water, putting his arms behind his head as she cradled her head on his shoulder.

"I could get use to this," she commented, closing her eyes.

"Hey, I'll build you a new bathroom and a tub," Rollie promised her as she smiled.

"That would be great!" she answered as she felt his hand move across her skin, knowing it would make her breathe faster and move beneath his touch. She felt his lips caress her own softly, his tongue teasing hers as he moved along her neck and kissed her shoulders and back to the hollow of her neck.

"Oh, you really like this tub," she said in a whisper as he worked his magic over her and she sat up in the tub and began to return the favor.

"Angie, what would Dr. Ruth say to this?" he asked her as she smiled, her cheek resting on his chest.

"Hopefully, Dr. Ruth is enjoying her own tub!" Angie replied.

"Come on, I am turning into a prune," she added, getting out as Rollie moaned, not exactly satisfied at her leaving.

She was toweling off and threw him a towel as well. She stepped over closer to the large window of their bungalow. With the netting in place, it's gauzy opaqueness in the twilight was starting to fade with lights being turned on, so she slid the doors across. But she did notice as she looked down on the deep basin below them, a figure in a white jacket and pants darting across the veranda. The way he moved and looked from the side, she swore it was…

"Impossible," she said to herself but out loud as Rollie looked at her, not hearing her.

"What?"

"Nothing…" she replied, and then smiled as he pushed down the mattress on the bed.

"Hmmm, nice and sturdy."

"Well, let's finish up what we started and test its craftsmanship."

"Already waiting for you…"

************************************

They dressed up for dinner. It was rare that they did the real dinner thing out since they had gotten married. Angie smiled as she finished zipping up the side of the white strapless dress that she had worn in Avila that night they had eaten at the local bistro. That dinner had been so wonderful, so romantic and she looked down at herself, wondering if Rollie would even notice. She put on the Celtic cross that her uncle had given her at the wedding, the strand of pearls that held it around her neck, glowing with milky opulence against her tanned skin.

She was leaning over, slipping on her other shoe, sliding the sling over her heel when she heard a whistle.

"Shazam!" Rollie said, his voice going into a Gomer Pyle expression.

She turned around and he smiled even wider as she hopped slightly, the shoe finally sliding on and she corrected her balance.

"Umm, and the front is not bad either," he added, coming over to her, his finger tracing the tops of her breasts over the snuggly fit dress.

"You remember?" she said, smiling and he looked at her vacantly for a moment and then added;

"Sure, yeah- the dress. You wore it, where now?" he asked, as she looked at him, tightening her lips and he laughed.

"Angela, this dress I will never forget, sweetie. God, that night was wonderful. I could hardly eat my dinner…"

She grinned then, her cheeks glowing as he pulled on his jacket and she adjusted his tie.

"I hate these things," he said to her as she tightened the knot.

"Just this one time, you didn't even wear one at the wedding, so behave," she told him, raising a finger, "remember, we are going to meet Luce's husband."

"Right, okay- I'm ready!" he said, whirling her around and they left their bungalow walking slowly down the steep pathway, Angie having trouble with her shoes.

"Hey, wait a moment, here we go," Rollie said, and lifted her up into his arms as she looked around, pushing against him.

"Stop! You're making us into a scene!" she told him.

"Just being chivalrous, my love. Can’t have you tumbling down to the basin, now."

Angie looked around. There weren't many people around, she noticed. She relaxed in his arms as they made it to the bottom in one piece. Rollie pulled out his handkerchief and mopped his brow as she frowned.

"I've put on some weight, huh?" she asked, almost timidly.

"No, just the blasted heat and humidity here," he replied, "come on, let's go met the man that stole our Luce away."

The Nicoya Restaurante was barely occupied. A few couples were seated in the sprawling room. A gentle spring trickled in the center of the room as Angie and Rollie were led to Lucinda's table. She was certainly there, looking great in a Gucci long sarong and her hair swept up in a loose French twist.

"Oh, good!" she said as they reached the table.

"Sorry we're a little late," Angie said, grinning, noting that there was no husband seated beside Lucinda.

"No problem, as you can see, Ricardo is late himself…" Lucinda said, a little saddened.

"No problem, here, have some wine," Rollie offered, as the waiter poured the house wine for him to taste. He nodded up at him and the glasses were filled with a robust Merlot.

"I don't know what is keeping him? I left him in our room over thirty minutes ago…" Lucinda said, nervously.

"We love our room!" Angie remarked, breaking the ice as Lucinda smiled.

"Yes, they are divine…the tub!" she added, her eyes sparkling as Angie blushed.

"OH! I see you have already tried it!" Lucinda remarked, chuckling as she looked to Rollie. He smiled, trying to remain with a straight face.

Lucinda chatted away for another ten minutes about her scenes coming up and Angie was fascinated that it was about a woman archeologist who discovers a rare archeological find, a lost city in the middle of the rain forest. They didn't notice the man that approached them from behind. Lucinda saw him first and grinned from ear to ear;

"There he is! Ricardo! We were worried. Rollie, Angie- This is my husband, Ricardo Conte!"

They stood up, eagerly and turned around, Rollie already with his hand out to shake. Lucinda had come around and taken her husband's arm into hers, her face glowing.

"Well, what's the matter? Goodness, everyone- Ricardo, this is Rollie Tyler and his wife Angie!"

Rollie slowly and stiffly shook Ricardo Conte's hand. Angie bit her lip as she noticed Luce's adoration of her new husband- and Ricardo looked at both Angie and Rollie with darkened, almost defiant eyes.

"Pleasure meeting you," Rollie said, stammering slightly, holding the hand of Michael Sanchez, alias Michael Lopez, alias Richard Conte.