Hollywood Hearts (Steamy Standalone Instalove)

“She’s a little pushy at the best of times,” he says, looking away.

My hand slips away from his arm and I feel a little bit stupid all of a sudden.

Did I really think that Jack Mercury would look at me, think of me like that for even one second?

He’s probably just being kind. Like when famous people visit poor and sick people in hospital.

He’s an actor for god’s sake. It’s his job to make people believe things that aren’t real.

And I feel like, for the first time today that maybe I’ve let my imagination get the better of me.

“So, how long have you two been together? I mean, how long has she been your agent?” I ask, figuring I might as well get a story out of this after all.

If all else fails, I’ll have a story to blow the pants off any film festival review.

But that’s just the reporter in me talking.

The real Olivia. The girl who’s had a lifelong crush on Jack Mercury? She’s reminding herself not to get her hopes up too high.

But Jack looks confused, then concerned, and finally disappointed.

“Uh. Denise really is just my agent. My manager too but nothing else, you do see that?” he says firmly. Holding my gaze until he’s sure I understand.

Feels like I’ve poked the bear a little but maybe I am just imagining too many things today. Good and bad.

He did say there was food on this plane, right?

No wonder I fainted earlier, plus I’m the worst company when I don’t eat.

Jack lets the driver know the airport is our next stop, but we’re practically there. Like he knew all along or he was taking us there the whole time, who knows?

“I’ve never been on a plane before.” I hear myself tell Jack, sounding like I’m five, not twenty. Wishing I’d never brought up his agent, wishing I could hit rewind and get the past few minutes back.

“Sorry for what I just said, too,” I add. “It’s really none of my business.” Needing him to know. Wishing I could take it back.

“I’m not a fan of flying much either, and just for the record, I’m still the most eligible bachelor in Hollywood. Just in case you’re gonna write a story about all this,” he says with a forced smile.

A little of the public Jack showing instead of the real man I thought I was getting to know.

Idiot. I had to open my big mouth, didn’t I?

We ride in silence until the limo takes us right up to the gleaming pearl white jet, parked out in the middle of a runway that makes everything else feel so small all of a sudden.

“Hey?” Jack says. “Don’t go quiet on me now. I need someone to distract me for the next hour or two, I wasn’t kidding when I said I don’t like flying.”

The face he makes proves his point and makes me laugh, but it also worries me.

If flying is so bad, I don’t know if I’ll be much use to Jack or anyone.

“It’s so big though,” I say out loud as the limo door opens and he helps me step out.

The sound of the jet whining at idle is loud enough for Jack to have to almost shout so I can hear him.

The wind from the tarmac blowing my hair into an instant tangled mess.

“Yeah, looks like we got a properly sized one today, shouldn’t be so bad,” he assures me, taking my hand and guiding me up the narrow steps to the open cabin door.

It’s as though time shifts once we step onboard.

Despite what I know I must look like, I feel like a princess, with Jack’s hand still over mine as he leads me into the jet which looks like a five star hotel suite.

I’m guessing not all airplanes are like this one, and even Jack seems impressed to the point of mentioning that it’s a good pick considering how special the day is.

It’s enough to make me forget about how awkward things have been so far and in no time I’m sitting opposite Jack in a huge leather chair.

“You don’t mind traveling backward?” I have to ask him, with his back to the front of the plane, but he’s happy sitting opposite me.

The next seats over would mean he’d be too far away for my liking.

He just shrugs and pretends it’s not a big deal, but something tells me he wants to stay close.

Maybe to make me feel better about flying, or maybe just so we can actually hear each other. I mean, this thing isn’t a commercial airliner but it’s freakin’ huge inside for something with half a dozen seats.

“And we’re not waiting on anyone else?” I ask, looking around and feeling star-struck for the second or maybe it’s the third time today.

“Just us,” Jack smiles, offering to help me with my seatbelt when a light overhead glows to life.