Theyâve got this place on lockdown. Youâve nothing to fear.â
Chynna shrugged. âDonât be mad. He says itâs for the best.â
âIs there no escaping your life?â Kenya inquired and went in search of her luggage that was still sitting in the foyer. Sheâd already decided on which room she wanted. It was the one that would get the morning sun, which, being a morning person was perfect for Kenya. She would go out for a long run or hike to clear her mind.
âKenya!â Chynna yelled at her retreating figure; but she was already gone.
When Kenya returned from her run, Chynna was waiting for her.
âI donât want to get into it,â Kenya said, heading for her room.
âWell then, you wonât hear me say that there will be no bodyguards.â
âWhat?â Kenya turned around.
âI ordered Deacon to call them off,â Chynna said proudly. âIt will be just us.â
A smile rippled across her sisterâs mouth. âGood for you. Iâm going to go shower, and then Iâll be ready for lunch.â
A half-hour later, the sisters shared a healthy lunch of grilled chicken and a pear, pecan and cranberry salad. Then they went to the spa for a much-needed massage and facial treatment. Afterward, they returned to their villa and sat outside on the patio to watch the sunset with a cup of tea to catch up on old times.
Chynna would have preferred something stronger, but apparently Canyon Ranch was dry unless you brought your own goodies. âI canât believe I escaped to Tucson with no press on my heels.â
âOh, yeah.â Kenya sipped on her tea. âWas the press on your tail?â
âYou know it,â Chynna snapped. âWe had to send two decoys in my place to two different locations to throw their scent off.â
Kenya sighed and laughed. âSuch covert intrigue. Is it always like that? How do you live with it?â
Chynna was silent for a moment as she thought over the question. âOn the one hand, I love it. I was born to be a star, but â¦â
âBut what?â
âBut sometimes I wonder what it would be like to be a regular person ... to be able to go to the grocery store on my own without the paparazzi shadowing my every move and trying to catch me without my makeup on.â
âIt sounds exhausting,â Kenya replied.
âIt is sometimes. But enough about me. Whatâs going on with you?â
Kenya was shocked that Chynna could manage to turn the conversation away from herself. âEverythingâs fine.â
âAre you sure?â Chynna eyed her suspiciously. âI thought I heard rumors your show could be canceled.â
âI sure hope not,â Kenya said. âI was reading the next couple of scripts on the plane, and theyâre writing some brilliant stuff, Emmy-worthy material.â
âYa think?â
Secretly, Kenya had hoped she wouldâve won last year when sheâd received an Emmy nod for best dramatic actress, but the Academy had awarded pretty much the same actresses as it had previously, leaving Kenya without a statuette. Everyone had said it was a travesty, and Kenya had tried to put on a brave face, but it hurt always being the bridesmaid and never the bride.
âWell, youâre going to win it next time!â Chynna said passionately. âYouâre a phenomenal actress, Kenya. Always have been. I wish I could say the same.â
Ah, and in true form, the conversation returned back to Chynna, Kenya thought .
âHaving a hard time with the movie?â Kenya inquired.
âHard time?â Chynna laughed bitterly. âMake that worst time . Iâm terrible, and no one is willing to tell me so. They all want me to be this incredible brand of music, movies, perfume, clothes, and usually Iâm up for it, but acting ...this might be the one thing thatâs out of my element.â
Kenya got a smug feeling