Hollywood Ever After (Red Carpet 1)

Shannon burst out laughing. “I didn’t say groupie!”

“Whatever word you used, Shannon, I’m sure you meant it in the best possible sense.” He was very smooth.

“I simply said Claire is a movie-holic.” She was still a little breathless.

I nodded. “Guilty.”

“Ever stalked anyone?” He looked serious.

“Um, no.” I quirked an eyebrow. “Does that lessen my rank as a devotee?”

“Michael…” Shannon tried to stifle another round of laughter.

“I just didn’t know if I should be worried.” He smiled broadly at Shannon.

“I think I terrified him the first time we met,” she explained. “I was a little…”

“Hyperventilating? Red-faced? Speechless?” He was laughing now. “Once I knew you weren’t going to pass out or abduct me, I found it all very charming, Shannon. You, Claire, seem much less overwhelmed.”

Shannon shook her head. “She has loads of self-control and she’s very good at hiding her emotions.”

I doubted Shannon’s assessment. A shock of windblown hair on the deck below caught my attention. Josh was watching me. I hesitated a minute before I let my gaze meet his. I wasn’t sure what I expected to find, but the heat was unmistakable. I felt strangely aware of myself—and a little empowered.

“There’s nothing wrong with having self-control,” I heard Michael add, teasing Shannon.

Apparently, I had none this evening. Josh’s gaze upon me was dizzying, almost as if he was touching me. His gaze traveled over my arm, my shoulder, my neck. My breathing accelerated. I looked away, my skin tingling and warm. It had been a long time since real longing had filled me. But I recognized it now.

My phone vibrated in my clutch, snapping me out of my wayward thoughts. It was Natalie. “Excuse me. I’ll be right back.”

I took a steadying breath and walked from the railing. It took a minute to find a small path detouring off the deck. “Hold on, Nat,” I said into the phone as I wandered along and finally settled onto a stone bench at the path’s end, hidden beside a small gazebo wrapped in fragrant honeysuckle vines.

I smiled. “Hey, baby girl.”

“Are you at a party, Mom? Wow, it’s loud. Tell me everything.”

“Yes, I’m at a party.” I looked up, staring out across the wide night sky. “I went to a premiere with Shannon.”

“See anyone cool?” She sounded excited.

I thought of hazel-and-gold eyes stirring feelings I was not going to share with my adolescent daughter. Instead, I said, “I did see a few actors. You’ll probably be able to find it online tomorrow. You and Will okay? Not missing me too much?”

Natalie laughed. “Um, it’s been less than twenty-four hours, Mom. But yes, Will told Grams he missed you. And I do too. But I want to hear about California and Hollywood and everything. What do you see right now?”

“I’m kind of hiding in the garden while we talk, so just flowers and stuff. Like you said, it’s really loud. We’re at this fancy hotel, a movie premiere after-party thing on the beach.”

“Is anyone there that I might know? I mean, other than you and Shannon?”

“There are so many people here, sweetie. I don’t think so.” I looked up. Someone was coming down the path.

It was Josh, walking toward me with a slight smile on his lips. He had his phone to his ear, listening.

“What are you wearing?” Natalie asked.

He stopped, looking down at me, his smile slow and lazy. “Mind if I sit?” he whispered, his hand covering his phone.

I moved over, instantly aware of his proximity.

“That’s fine, thanks,” he said into the phone as he sat. “I look forward to it.” He hung up and turned to look at me.