Hollywood Ever After (Red Carpet 1)

“Oh, hey, Will says he loves you, but he doesn’t want to talk on the phone. So here’s Grams. Love you, Mom!”

There was a bit of static as the phone changed hands. “You’re awake? Isn’t it a little early?” My mother sounded surprised.

“Watching the sun come up,” I replied. I could hear Natalie and Will in the background, along with the faint tune of their favorite show on the TV.

“I think Natalie e-mailed your picture to everyone in her address book and added it to her Facebook page.” She laughed. “You look like a celebrity, sweetie! And then Will said he saw you on the news this morning—”

“What?” I had closed my eyes to listen to her and the familiar home sounds. My eyes were wide open now. “What do you mean, on the news?”

“Oh, we didn’t get to hear it. The TV was muted. And then when Will yelled that you were there and Nat turned the volume on, you weren’t there anymore.” There was a pause. “Eat one more bite, Will, please.”

I relaxed. “It probably wasn’t me.”

“That’s what I said. Have a wonderful birthday, sweetie. Dr. Pratap is taking Natalie to school and I have to finish getting Will ready. I’ll talk to you later.”

“Have a wonderful day. Thanks so much, Mom. Love you.”

“Love you too, sweetheart. I hope you’re enjoying yourself.”

“Oh, I am.” I felt a smile on my face as I hung up.

That conversation was almost as effective as drinking three cups of coffee in a row. The quiet was too quiet now, and I felt a bit restless. I stretched and stood, leaning over the balcony as the sun broke over the horizon in full. The hotel faced the beach, so the sun was behind us, but its early morning rays sent iridescent ripples from the coastline to far out into the Pacific Ocean. I took in a deep breath, letting the sound of the sea fill my senses.

My entire body ached deliciously. Every nerve was softly tingling, a reminder of the night before. I felt alive and awake for the first time in so long, and I hadn’t slept for more than two hours. That also hadn’t happened in a long time. I smiled a little then let my hand shake through my hair, the last drops of water from my shower still hanging in my curls.

“You look like a Raphaelite angel.” His voice came from inside the room.

I looked over my shoulder into the room with a smile. I spoke softly. “Are you really awake?”

“I’m not sure.” He sighed faintly.

I waited for a few minutes then peeked inside the room. His eyes were closed, his limbs splayed across the bed, one long leg wrapped around the edge of the white sheet. His dark blond shock of wayward locks went every which way across his pillow. He looked totally at peace, and completely asleep.

I smiled and went to find my laptop. My mind was racing and I needed a place to put it all before it disappeared.

***

“Bloody hell, is that the time?” He sounded awake now. I heard movement from inside the room, the sound of him going into the bathroom and turning on the shower.

I had opened the balcony door, pulling the gauze curtains aside to let the natural light in the room, but ended up moving onto the balcony to write. I had no idea what time it was; time wasn’t important to me right now.

I glanced at the clock. It was nine-forty-seven. I stretched and made my way into the room and found his clothes, which trailed from the door to the bed.

He emerged from the bathroom five minutes later, his hair still dripping wet. “I’ve a meeting in less than fifteen minutes.” He was naked and I was staring.

I held out his clothes. “Can you make it?”

He looked at me, his eyes red and his chin covered with morning stubble. He looked absolutely gorgeous as he grinned. I felt the blush flood my cheeks as my eyes wandered over his body. He was too damn beautiful. My pulse began to pick up as my mind wandered…

He shook his head as he spoke. “Not if you keep that up.” He took a step toward me, his body willing to accommodate my line of thinking.

“No!” I put a hand out in front of me, feeling ridiculously out of control. “Go…go to your meeting. I’ll be here. You’re my ride, remember?”

He smiled as his hand cupped my chin, his thumb trailing my lower lip. “I could have great fun misinterpreting that statement.” He smiled again as a blush covered every inch of my exposed skin. “That’s the only reason I’ll go. You have no escape,” he said softly before kissing me.

I felt warmth pooling in the pit of my stomach, my limbs willing me to wrap myself around him again. Instead, I shoved his clothes at him, my heartbeat pounding in my ears as I stepped a bit away from him. “Do you have time to get there? Have a change of clothes?”

He shook his head as he stared at my mouth, smiling. “No worries. Rumpled clothes and dramatic entrances aren’t cause for alarm in Hollywood. All is right with the world.” He pulled his clothes on quickly, his wrinkled and unkempt appearance somehow dashing and chic. He sat, pulling on his shoes, singing something softly under his breath as my room phone rang.