Mildred awoke with a start to
find Laura leaning over her, shaking her shoulder. Groggily
Mildred sat up, looked around and realized she was on Remington's
couch.
"Oh, Miss Holt!" Mildred
exclaimed in relief as she put her hand to her head. "Thank
goodness you woke me up!"
"That must have been some dream!"
Laura said with a laugh. "I've never seen you blush quite like
that before. Want to tell me about it?"
"Oh, I couldn't possibly!"
Mildred protested quickly. "It was a nightmare I'd rather forget
as quickly as possible."
"Well, I picked up some things at
my loft and I'm set to stay the night with Mr. Steele," Laura
explained. "Why don't you go on home and try to get some real
rest?"
Mildred got up and began
gathering her things.
"How's he feeling?" Laura
inquired as she walked Mildred to the door.
"I insisted he take one of his
pills about an hour ago, so he's been sleeping since then,"
Mildred said. "He was determined to stay awake until you got here,
but he was exhausted and I wouldn't let him."
"I'm glad you made him take a
pill,"Laura agreed. "Falling down an elevator shaft, breaking his
leg and then being held hostage is enough trauma to incapacitate
even a man of steele."
"Ah, but Miss Holt; it was his
worrying about you that hit him the hardest. He keeps worrying
about what Wally might have done to you if the police hadn't
arrived in time. He feels guilty because he wasn't able to save
you himself."
"I'll have a talk with him in the
morning," Laura promised. "Don't worry."
"He's also been pretty restless
tonight, Miss Holt. He's done a lot of tossing and turning and has
been mumbling in his sleep."
"Sounds like you're not the only
one having nightmares tonight, Mildred," Laura said with a
smile.
"Well, good night, Miss Holt.
I'll drop by tomorrow and give you a break."
"Thanks, Mildred. Good night. And
pleasant dreams."
After locking the front door,
Laura walked into the kitchen and poured herself a cup of
coffee.After changing into the gown and robe she had brought with
her from the loft, she entered Remington's bedroom.
She found him sprawled atop the
bed covers in pajamas and robe, his broken leg propped up on two
pillows. One arm was thrown above his head. Laura smoothed his
tousled hair with her hand and gave him a light kiss on his cheek.
She rummaged in the mirrored closet, located two pillows and
carried them to the bed.
An old movie was playing on the
large television screen. Laura walked to the video shelf and
pulled out one of her favorites, The 39 Steps. Although she had seen it several times
with Remington, she never tired of it. Robert Donat, Madeline
Carrole, handcuffed together, on the run in the European
countryside. Seeing it was always a bittersweet experience for
gave Laura. She'd never be able to forget the disappointed,
wistful expression on Remington's face when his amnesia had lifted
and he had remembered they were merely 'good friends.' She had
felt that same disappointment herself many times. But at the same
time, watching it brought back many pleasant memories--especially
of sweet kisses in an Irish hayloft and the knowledge that
Remington had not been withholding his real name from her after
all.
Laura set up the tape, found the
remote control under Remington's arm and gently stretched herself
on the bed beside Remington. She fluffed the pillows beneath her
shoulders and settled down to enjoy the movie. As she started the
movie, however, Remington awoke with a jerk.
She leaned over and placed a
reassuring arm on his shoulder. "It's just me. Go back to sleep,"
she said in a soothing voice.
"Mildred went home," Laura
explained. "I'm playing nursemaid now."
"Ahhh, The 39 Steps. One of my favorites. If you'll help me
sit up, we can ... watch it together... Mmm...."
"Absolutely not, Mr. Steele. I'm
watching it alone this time; you need your sleep. Now be quiet and
go back to sleep so I can hear," Laura ordered.
"I am ... sort of ... sleepy..."
Remington mumbled as sleep overtook him again.
Laura smiled, sank back into her
pillows and began enjoying the movie. It wasn't long before she
found herself yawning...
*******
It was early afternoon at the
Remington Steele Agency. Remington, in his shirt sleeves, was hard
at work behind his desk. Laura, wearing a skirt and dressy silk
blouse with a bow, entered from her office. She slowly walked to
the door leading into the agency lobby, locked it and then leaned
against it, striking a seductive pose.
Remington watched her warily,
wondering what she was up to and what she was holding her hand.
Then to his utter amazement, she began singing at the top of her
voice. He recognized the tune as "Let's Get Away from It
All"--but the lyrics were
definately her own. Finally he was catching a glimpse of a wild
and passionate Laura and he was going to enjoy it while it
lasted.
It's time we call it
a day, Love;
(Laura loosens her bow, takes it
off, and tosses it to Remington.)
It's time we both
have some fun.
(Laura kicks her left shoe across
the room; Remington catches it.)
Let's take a
breather;
(She kicks off her other shoe;
Remington catches it, also.)
Mix business with
pleasure--
(She slinks over to Remington's
desk, removes her barrettes and shakes her hair.)
Let's steele some
time for romance.
(Laura lies provocatively across
Remington's desk. She opens the two fans she was holding in her
hand, and fans herself.)
We've got the place
to ourselves, Love;
(Laura slides across his desk,
dangles her legs over the edge. She hands Remington one of the
fans. )
Let's be impulsive
and wild.
(She crosses her legs and slowly
removes a stocking.)
Passion and
kisses
(She tosses her stocking around
Remington's neck.)
Sound oh, so
delicious;
(Laura removes her other stocking
and drapes it around Remington's neck.)
Let's steele some
time for romance.
(Laura tickles Remington
teasingly under his chin.)
There's no one here
but you and me;
(Laura loosens Remington's
tie.)
The office doors are
locked.
(Laura pulls Remington close by
his tie and gives him a quick kiss.)
Let's make love all
afternoon;
(Laura removes Remington's tie
and flings it behind her.)
We'll pull out all
the stops.
(Laura seductively unbuttons
Remington's shirt.)
Now's not the time
to be shy, Love;
(Laura begins running her
fingers over his chest.)
Now's not the time
for restraint.
(Laura unbuttons her
blouse)
Let's fan the fire,
Love,
(Laura tosses her blouse behind
her.)
Of flaming desire,
Love;
(Laura playfully sits on
Remington's lap, placing one hand inside his shirt and messing his
hair with the other.)
Let's steele some
time for romance!
(Laura leans in close and
assaults Remington with mad, passionate kisses.)
Laura and Remington were
oblivious to everything around them. They did not hear Mildred
buzzing them on the intercom. They did not hear her calling their
names and asking if they were okay. They did not hear Mildred and
Abigail pounding on their door. They did not hear Laura's mother
order them, in no uncertain terms, to open their door. And they
did not hear Century City Security tell them to move away from the
door before they forced it open.
But they *did* notice when
Remington's door flew open and two Century City guards came flying
into the office, followed by a very shocked Mildred and Abigail.
Remington and Laura abruptly stopped kissing as they looked up and
saw their unexpected visitors.
Mother!" declared Laura in total
surprise.
"Abigail?" Remington asked in
bewilderment as he stood up, unceremoniously dumping Laura off his
lap and onto the floor.
Seeing the still shocked
expressions on his visitors' faces, he ran his hands nervously
through his hair and hastily tried to make himself presentable.
"Ah, Abigail. Mildred. Won't you
come in?"he asked as he rebuttoned his shirt and began looking
around for his tie.
"Mr. Steele," Abigail said
indignantly.
Remington then noticed Laura
sprawled on the floor beside his desk.
"Ah, Laura. There you are," he
said as he gallantly helped her to stand. "You didn't tell me your
mother was coming for a visit."
"That's because I didn't know,"
Laura explained as she tried to straighten her hair.
"Laura!" Abigail gasped as she
sawing her daughter's state of undress.
Suddenly realizing she was minus
a blouse, Laura grabbed the nearest thing she could find to cover
herself, which happened to be the two fans still laying on
Remington's desk.
"Laura, I am shocked. Utterly
shocked," Abigail declared in a pained voice.
"Mother, please..."
"And you, Mr. Steele," Abigail
admonished as she turned abruptly to face Remington. "I entrusted
my daughter to you. I know some bosses like to take liberties with
their employees, but I never imagined you as the type."
Remington looked embarrassed, but
said nothing.
Mildred, who had been watching
this odd display, approached him. On the way, she picked up his
tie and quietly handed it to him.
He took it gratefully, draping it
around his neck. "Abigail, it's not as bad as it looks," Remington
tried to explain as he finally found his voice.
"0h, I know exactly what it looks
like," Abigail said. She was in no mood to listen to
reason.
"Mother, let me explain..." Laura
began again.
Abigail ignored her daughter once
more.
"I realize Laura is attractive.
And sometimes it may be difficult for a man like you, Mr. Steele,
to curb his natural desires. But haven't you ever heard the
expression 'business and pleasure don't mix'?"
"Many times," Remington
sighed.
Abigail then turned her wrath on
Laura. "And you, Laura. You always were reckless and
impulsive--just like your father. Wild and uninhibited. You've
always needed someone to help curb those traits. Therefore, you're
coming back to Connecticut with me. I'm getting you out of this
den of iniquity."
"Mother!" Laura screamed,
stepping in front of Abigail, fans still in place. "There is no
bloody way I am moving back to Connecticut."
"Very well then," Abigail
reasonably replied. "I'll just move in with you here in L.A." She
then glanced pointedly at Remington. "And Mr. Steele, I'll be
dropping in frequently here at the office, to make sure you don't
take any more liberties."
Laura opened her mouth to say
something, but nothing came out. Remington, also, was at a loss
for words.
"Come along, Laura. We need to
find a suitable home for the two of us in a nice neighborhood. Oh,
and do put some clothes on..."
Remington finally found his voice
just as Abigail, dragging Laura behind her, reached the door
leading to the agency lobby. "Always a pleasure to see you,
Abigail. Perhaps we can have dinner soon."
Laura and Mildred looked at
Remington like he had lost his mind. He just shrugged and smiled
sheepishly.
dtalley@mindspring.com