Hollywood Hearts (Steamy Standalone Instalove)

“Who was that?” Olivia whispers. “I mean, is that one of your bosses?” she asks, swallowing.

“Yeah, one of ‘em,” I tell her, trying not to sound as angry as I feel.

It’s just like him, so much like Goodwyn to do whatever he can to ruin someone’s day.

“What were we saying about bosses?” she asks me cheerfully. “C’mon. I wanna see how things work on set. A real scene with direction from the real Jack Mercury,” she says, her eyes wide before she gnaws at her lip again.

I know exactly what she’s thinking because I’m thinking the same thing.

I hope I don’t have to kiss any lips except hers, not ever again.

The director and the actors are all new to me, nothing unusual about that. There are more scenes and movies that are made and dumped that never see the light of day, with just as many people from behind the scenes who never make it either.

Being in a studio, making a film, or shooting a scene doesn’t guarantee a job the next week or the next year, even if the film gets made.

I should know all about that.

Marcel introduces everyone, and they all figure Olivia and I have just come off the set of something else, nobody batting an eyelid as to how we’re dressed.

And everyone knows who Jack Mercury is, even if I only know two people present.

“Okay Jack, here’s the scene,” Marcel says, handing me the script which I mull over for a minute.

“There’s just one line and then the kiss, why don’t you run through it with Dana here. I’ll look after your little friend,” he says assumingely, a bony hand hooking around Olivia’s shoulder as he guides her to a canvas chair.

I give a brief smile and ‘how do you do?’ look to Dana, the female lead, and then to her leading man. An actor I’ve never heard of but he certainly reminds me of myself minus twenty years and about a hundred pounds.

They know the lines, when and how to kiss, but there’s just “ no magic,” the director tells me, biting his nails and checking his watch. Double panic in his eyes because a studio head’s just ambushed his set with Jack Mercury of all people.

I can tell what he’s thinking as though he was shouting it.

I ask the two actors to run through it, to show me what they’ve got so far.

He’s right. It looks the part, we even check out some rushes from what they’ve shot so far. It just doesn’t have… that something that a good romance scene should have.

Taking both lead male and female actors aside separately, I tell them everything I know about what works and what doesn’t when it comes to kissing scenes.

They nod, one yawns and I feel like my job is done.

But Marcel has other ideas.

“Show us, Jack, don’t tell us,” he says from behind the lights with impatience, checking his watch. “Time is money and this ten second scene has cost the studio enough already.”

If it was any other day, if it was with any other time I know I wouldn’t hesitate.

But now I’ve met Olivia. Now I know what I want and how I feel. There’s no way I want to kiss anyone else either, not for show or anything else.

Deciding to beat Marcel at his own game, I call Olivia over and tell the actors everything I’ve already coached them on all over again.

My voice cracks a little with nerves and I can feel my hands sweating as they shake a little.

It feels like it’s my first acting audition ever.

And looking into Olivia’s eyes as I pull her closer, I know she feels the same way.

It’s not how I would have planned our first kiss, not even how I would have dreamed it in a hundred years, but it’s also my big chance.

“Like this,” I tell them. Tell Olivia, who I know is waiting for me to kiss her.

As soon as I feel my mouth over hers, it’s like we both feel what we know we wanted from the moment we first met.

Like we’ve wasted half a day by pretending. Overlooking what matters most.

Her body melts against mine, and I feel the same magic from her touch transferred to our lips, magnified by a thousand.

It’s a feeling I don’t want to end and at the same time I know we’re both home now. There’s no turning back.

The camera’s rolling and once we finally stop there’s applause from everyone.

Except the studio boss, who I notice is suddenly missing.

Suddenly found something better to do.

“That’s how we do it, folks,” The director calls out, applauding louder than anyone, coming over and taking my hand in his.

“If only we could have you on board with this project. Mr. Mercury. An honor, a real honor, thanks for coming down today,” he gushes.