Darcy in Hollywood
Page 51
He seemed nonplussed. “I wouldn’t put it that way. I mean, there would be dinner and the premiere—”
“I don’t believe this.”
He had the panicked expression of a man who saw exactly what he wanted slip through his grasp. “If you want more than one night, we can…negotiate that.”
She wondered how many women he had used that line on. “Negotiate?”
“It’s just that…if I’m going to be seen with a woman regularly, it needs to be someone with, um, star quality. You know?” He gestured helplessly, his eyes begging her to understand.
Wow. He managed to insult me while inviting me on a date. Really, he should stick with having screenwriters craft his lines for him. “Why don’t we just sign a contract while we’re at it?”
“That’s not necessary. Though my manager might want you to sign an NDA.” Apparently he struggles with sarcasm.
What kind of a life must he have if he seriously considers contracts for someone he dates? Well, it’s a life I want no part of. Elizabeth edged toward the door. “Don’t put yourself to the trouble. I don’t want to go on a date with you.”
He looked so blank that for a moment she wasn’t sure he had heard her. “You just want to sleep together?” he asked.
“Argh! No. I don’t want to do anything with you!”
His mouth hung open. “But…you have a crush on me!”
“I do?” Now her mouth was hanging open. “It must have escaped my notice.”
“B-But on the set you’re always, you know, watching me.”
Elizabeth wondered if her face reflected the full horror she felt. “Oh my God. You actually believe every woman in the country wants to sleep with you.”
“Well…a large percentage of them…yeah.” There was that charming, lopsided smile again.
“Then go find one of them!” She gestured wildly to the outside world. “There are plenty of women who don’t know what your family did to George.”
She might as well have slapped him. “George…Wickham? What did he tell you?”
“Enough,” she hissed.
His face was flushed with anger. “So, this is all for poor George’s sake.”
“Don’t fool yourself. I hadn’t known you a day before I knew you were the last man in the world I’d sleep with.”
Will’s entire body stiffened.
She gave a bitter laugh. “Yeah, I don’t suppose anyone’s ever said that to you. It’s probably good for you. Builds character.”
“I thought…at least…for the sake of your career…”
“My career? What do you have to do with my career?”
He folded his arms across his chest. “If you want to be an actor, like it or not, you need to be seen with the right people.”
“I don’t want to be an actor.” Her tone reflected her confusion.
He gestured impatiently. “Or a director or producer. Whatever you want to do in Hollywood.”
“I don’t want to do anything in Hollywood.”
His head jerked back in surprise.
“I’m going to medical school in the fall, hopefully somewhere very far away from California. I just took the PA job to earn some money—and because I believe in this movie.”