Hidden Hollywood

“Get out,” Mad said, blushing furiously. “It’s smoke and mirrors.”

“You are beautiful,” Julia said. Everyone piled on the compliments for Mad.

“Shut up, bitches,” Mad said. “I know you’re just fishing for a return compliment and you won’t get it out of me. You all look damn ugly.”

A shocked silence fell.

“Uh, I meant that affectionately,” Mad said. She turned to Hailey. “That’s how I talk to my friends. Guys know it’s meant as a compliment. You insult each other and call each other names.”

“Women say nice things like you look beautiful,” Hailey instructed patiently.

Mad rolled her eyes and sighed heavily. “Fine. You all look beautiful too.” She turned to Hailey. “Now why do women say that to each other? Don’t you want a guy to say that? It’s not like I’m going to be your date or something.” She shuddered.

“Not like I want you as my date,” Hailey returned.

The women laughed. Hailey found herself laughing too. The idea of her and Mad as a couple was ridiculous. Like an evening gown with high-top athletic shoes. It just didn’t go!

When they got on set, they were quickly ushered back to the green room, where they waited with bottled water and a couple of closed-circuit televisions showing the soundstage.

“Wait here,” a guy with a headset said. “Claire wants to greet you personally.”

They waited, giddy, and a little buzzed from champagne. Claire had provided the drink so she must’ve wanted them in a festive mood for the party scene. Of course she’d only provided one bottle for the seven of them so she didn’t want them smashed.

“See you out there,” Julia said, slipping out of the room. She was the only one with complete access to every part of the set. Claire had made her a producer.

They waited around for a while, and just when they were getting restless and bored, the guy with the headset came in and called them to set. Hailey was surprised to see the set wasn’t as large as she’d thought it would be. Three white walls, some strategically placed round tables with white tablecloths, a dance floor, and a buffet area. Potted plants in two of the corners. There were three cameras and numerous lights hanging from a metal grid overhead.

Julia gestured them over to where she was standing with a group of people dressed in suits and cocktail dresses. Maybe they were extras too. Hailey immediately recognized Julia’s husband, Angelo, and rushed over to greet him, giving him a hug.

“Are you going to be in the scene today?” Hailey asked.

Angelo shook his head. “Nope. Just here to watch. Julia and I are keeping a low profile. But my brothers are here with their wives.” He gestured to where two stunning dark-haired Italian men stood with three equally gorgeous men with light brown hair.

Hailey did a quick count of the women standing with them. “All of them married?”

“Yup,” Angelo said with a smile.

“Damn.”

Claire swooped in. “Hey, girls! Looking good.”

The women all gathered around Claire, thanking her for including them.

“Is that Blake?” Charlotte whispered, looking over at a tall dark-haired man getting his makeup touched up.

“That’s him,” Claire confirmed.

“Omigosh,” Ally said, fanning herself. She was prone to exuberance. “He’s even hotter in person!”

“How can you tell that from across the room?” Mad asked.

“He is,” Charlotte breathed.

“Can we meet him?” Hailey asked.

Claire gave them an indulgent look. “Of course I’d love to introduce you, but, ladies, you do not want him for real life. He won’t even talk to you if he doesn’t think he has a chance of getting in your pants.”

“But he can,” Ally breathed.

The other women agreed.

“We’ll be on our best behavior,” Hailey said.

Claire gestured for them to follow, and they moved eagerly, but with much sophistication, over to meet Mr. Blake Grenier in the flesh.

“Hey, Blake,” Claire said. “These are my friends. They’ll be extras in the party scene today. This is Hailey, Mad, Charlotte, Ally, Lauren, and Carrie.”

The women all gave him a flirty hello, except Mad, who jerked her chin at him and said, “Hey.”

Blake scanned the group before landing on Hailey, giving her a once-over that warmed her. He picked me! He crooked a finger at her, beckoning her closer, and she moved, drawn to him like a total fan girl about to lose her shit.

“You look like you’ve done this before,” he said in a husky charming voice. His eyes were a stunning blue, his jaw masculine perfection, his lips sensuous with a hint of a smile. She bit back a swoony sigh. “What else have you been in?”