Wild on the Red Carpet (The Hollywood Showmance Chronicles Book 3)

by Olivia Jaymes

  “I’m not asking for any more.”

  She never asked for anything and it was the number one issue they argued about. She never let him do shit for her. That was the first thing that was going to change when he got his ring on her finger. She was going to learn to accept a little help now and then.

  “I know that but fair is fair.”

  He didn’t like that she wouldn’t look him in the eye. It wasn’t like her at all and it made him slightly suspicious. In fact, she’d never even borrowed gas money from him so her naming a price had him worrying. Was she alright?

  “Babe,” he began cautiously. “Are you okay? Do you need anything? Are you…sick?”

  Frowning, she finally turned to look at him. “No, why?”

  “If you need money for an operation or–”

  “Stop right there.” She held up her hands. “I swear that I am healthy. I just need the money. Is it important as to why?”

  No and yes.

  No, Tyler didn’t care what she did with it but since she barely spent any money at all it was surprising to hear that she needed fifty grand. Maybe she wanted a new car? He’d never let her spend her own money on a new vehicle. It would be his engagement present to her.

  Yes, it had him concerned though. Had she picked up a gambling habit? He knew she didn’t drink or take drugs.

  “How you spend the money is your business, babe.”

  And something I’ll figure out eventually.

  She was twisting her fingers together again. “I’d like to have it as soon as possible, if that’s okay with you.”

  Now he was in full-blown worried mode. She was avoiding his gaze and biting her lip. A sure sign she was keeping something from him.

  “You know you can trust me with anything,” he said gently, wrapping an arm around her shoulders and pulling her close so they were cuddled together on the sofa. “There isn’t anything I wouldn’t do for you, babe. Anything. Night or day.”

  Looking up at him with a pleading gaze, she exhaled shakily. “If you really mean that, then the thing I want you to do for me is to let this go. Don’t ask me again why I want the money. It’s…personal.”

  When Billie asked him like that there wasn’t any way he was going to refuse her request.

  “Then I won’t,” he replied, pushing a stray strand of hair behind her ear. “But I just want you to know that I’m here for you. No matter what. Even if you need something completely crazy like a husband.”

  A smile tugged at her lips. “That would be crazy. I need one of those like I need a hole in the head.”

  “We can start with fiancé and work from there.” He pressed a chaste kiss to her forehead, something he’d done a million times before, but today it felt different. More like a promise than the comforting gesture it was meant to be. “I’ll take care of you, Wilhemina. Please trust me.”

  Billie might be doing him a favor but he’d make sure she never regretted helping him. They’d have lots of fun, traveling and making movies together. Being married didn’t have to change their friendship. It simply meant that they could spend more time with each other. This wasn’t about love and passion and that’s what made it so fantastic. This was simple, straightforward while those other emotions were complex and messy.

  The best thing about Billie was that he wasn’t in love with her.

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  Billie didn’t know what poor banker Tyler had rousted out of bed in the middle of the night but she had fifty thousand dollars in her bank account first thing in the morning. He’d taken her seriously when she’d asked for it as soon as possible. She had been thinking a few days, but clearly he’d been thinking a few hours. Maybe he was afraid she’d back out, but she’d made her deal with the devil and she’d see it through no matter what. Of all the rotten things that could happen to a broke, aspiring actress in this town marrying Tyler Gaylord wasn’t the worst. Heck, it wasn’t even in the top one hundred of crappy stuff she’d seen. She believed him when he said he’d take care of her but she also knew that sometimes things happened in this life that he hadn’t intended.

  Padding into the kitchen, she poured herself a cup of coffee and sat down on the back patio of the little cottage to listen to the morning birds as they sang. The air was warm and dry but the sun felt good on her skin. It had snowed yesterday in Wisconsin. If she still lived there she’d be wrapped up from head to toe freezing her ass off.

  At least now she could try and help her sister out. Maybe…just maybe…Sierra would finally leave the bastard and start a new life. Like Billie had.

  Pushing thoughts of the past away, she instead thought about her new future. Replaying last night’s conversation with the man that might just become her husband, she was more than a little mortified that Tyler had brought up the time she’d told him about her dream wedding. She’d lied to him last night. She did remember saying it. It had been when she was still starry-eyed and in love with him. She’d been his date for a wedding and they’d jokingly talked about what they wanted when they tied the knot. Tyler had said he wanted a beach ceremony and she’d said that she wanted a fancy wedding with all the trimmings like the ones she’d seen on television.

  It had all seemed so glamorous, especially from her humble background. A big ball gown of satin and lace. Tons of flowers. A tiered cake taller than she was. A huge diamond ring and a handsome groom. An exotic honeymoon that would never end. She’d been a hell of a lot younger and less wise then. Now she was more worried about the man she’d marry than how she’d do it.

  And she could do this. It wasn’t how she’d planned her life but she’d learned long ago that sometimes fate took a hand. It had brought her here to this little abode and to Tyler. That had turned out better than she could have ever hoped. Now it was taking her in a different direction.

  She truly did want to help Tyler, and she wanted to help her sister. This would accomplish both. All she had to do was keep her head on her shoulders and her feet firmly planted on the ground.

  I can do this.

  She just wished…

  Tyler simply didn’t understand her reluctance. When she’d imagined getting married – even engaged – it hadn’t been a business deal. Marriage wasn’t a game to be played with the press and the movie studios. It was serious. The good Lord knew she’d seen her mother take the commitment rather casually and that had been a disaster. How many men had wandered in and out of Sharon Oliver’s life over the years? Dozens, at least. Some good but most of them had been losers, drinking just as much or more.

  Billie simply wanted one good man that loved her more than anything. If she had that she wouldn’t care about the ceremony or the reception.

  The sound of familiar feet stomping through her house pulled her back to the present and her reality. She was officially engaged to Hollywood’s biggest playboy. A man-child wrapped in a sexy shell. It was anyone’s guess whether she and Tyler would even be speaking to each other in six months, let alone still be friends. But she hoped so.

  “You didn’t knock again,” she said with a sigh as he stuck his head out of the sliding glass doors to her tiny kitchen.

  “You’re right I didn’t.” Scowling, his gaze raked her head to toe. “You’re not dressed.”

  That wasn’t precisely true. She was wearing a pair of soft cotton pajama shorts and a tank top along with a pair of white socks because her feet tended to get cold at night.

  “I know I’m going to regret asking this but dressed for what? Did we have something planned today?”

  Tyler had that look in his eyes. The one that said he did indeed have a day of activities planned and she simply had to go along with him. Except this time she couldn’t really say no because…she did have to go with him. He was her fiancé.

  He lifted her from the chair and placed her on her feet. “We have a busy day, babe. We need to get you an engagement ring and then start making a list for the wedding. Plus, we have to call my parents and tell them the news. They’re going to b
e thrilled. They adore you. Then we have a meeting with Garrett to talk about some photo ops to get the public warmed up to the idea of me being a married man.” Bopping her on the nose, he took her now empty coffee cup from her. “And we can’t do any of that in your pajamas. You get dressed and I’ll get you more coffee.”

  A ring. His parents. Photos. She’d known it was all coming but somehow she’d thought she might get a day or two to get used to the idea. No such luck. When Tyler did something he did it all the way. Full out and balls to the wall.

  “I doubt your parents are going to believe this. Why don’t you tell them the truth? Surely they deserve to know.”

  “They wouldn’t understand but this will make them really happy. They’re always telling me I should marry you.”

  To Billie’s horror, they often did it while she was sitting right there. Still, it was nice that they weren’t going to be upset about the engagement.

  I still can’t say wedding or marriage yet. I’ll stick to engagement for awhile.

  He led the way back into the house and poured her another cup of coffee, his expression wary. “Is there…is there anyone that you want to tell? You know…back home? Maybe an old friend or a distant relation?”

  She’d never told Tyler about her family, content to let him think she didn’t have any. It was far easier and she’d never wanted his pity. He came from loving parents and had a middle-class upbringing while her early years hadn’t been nearly as idyllic. Billie was pretty sure he didn’t even know where “back home” even was. She’d referred to the Midwest and her childhood in the vaguest of terms and he’d allowed it, seeming to understand that she didn’t want to discuss it.

  She had a few friends she wanted to tell and eventually she’d tell Sierra. If her sister was even speaking to her, which at this moment wasn’t the case.

  “Everyone can find out when the photos of you buying me a ring hit Twitter.”

  He looked like he might argue but then he nodded. “Whatever you think is best.”

  She took another fortifying sip of her coffee. There wasn’t enough caffeine in the world for what they were going to do today. This was going to cause a frenzy in his fandom.

  “Give me thirty minutes to get ready and then we’ll go.”

  As if half an hour would prepare her for what was about to happen. All hell was going to break loose.

  CHAPTER NINE

  The most exclusive jeweler in Beverly Hills lived up to its reputation. The private room in the back Billie and Tyler were ushered into was opulent but understated. Tyler made a mental note to thank his friend Sam Collins who had recommended the establishment. He’d called ahead and they’d been able to accommodate his request quickly. In an effort not to discuss prices in front of Billie he’d given the discreet manager his price range ahead of time. Nothing would be brought out for her to see that was over his outrageously huge budget. Nothing under it, either. If he knew Billie, and he did, she’d try and get out the door with the smallest, cheapest engagement ring this joint sold.

  He was not going to allow that to happen. This ring was going to be photographed by dozens, if not hundreds of paps, and seen in magazines all over the world. He wasn’t being immodest when he said that the wedding of Tyler Gaylord was big news. No one – himself included – had ever thought it would happen. But here he was acting the role of besotted groom-to-be.

  The manager, Harmon, who appeared to be helping them personally, offered up wine but Billie demurred. She didn’t make a big deal about not drinking alcohol but he’d never seen her do it. There was a story there he was sure but he hadn’t pressed her for it. He’d always assumed she had one or more parents who drank to excess. Not that he would know that, either. She was decidedly closed-mouthed about her childhood. That had been fine when they were best friends hanging out at Laker games but she was going to be his wife and he ought to know more about her.

  Harmon, a slight man in an expensive suit, sat across from them, a big smile on his face. When Tyler and Billie left here, the man would have bragging rights that he’d outfitted the Hollywood golden couple of the year with their wedding rings.

  “So did you have anything in mind?”

  The question was directed at Billie but when she didn’t answer immediately Harmon turned to Tyler, which wasn’t much better. Tyler hadn’t given it any thought other than he wanted her ring to make a statement.

  “We want an engagement ring for Billie and wedding bands for the two of us.”

  Harmon nodded as if that cleared everything up. Maybe everyone came in here as clueless as he was. “Matching bands? Yellow gold? Platinum? White gold?”

  Tyler didn’t know shit about jewelry but he’d heard enough from his actor friends Max and Nate who were both married to know the basics. Platinum was the most expensive.

  “Platinum.”

  Harmon’s eyes lit up. “Ah, platinum. Excellent taste. Were you thinking platinum for the groom’s band as well?”

  Billie shook her head, finally joining the conversation. “Whatever he wants is fine.”

  They were back to him again. “I’m open to be persuaded.”

  That seemed to make Harmon happy so he pulled out a black velvet tray of sparkling diamond rings, each one more ostentatious than the last. “We have an excellent selection of platinum wedding sets but if you don’t see anything you like today we can always design something for you and have it made. I can also assure you that these stones were ethically sourced. Did you have a particular cut in mind?”

  Of course Billie didn’t, so they spent what felt like the next ten hours looking at rings, although it was probably less than forty-five minutes. In the end, she had narrowed the selection down to two rings. One was a simple eight carat princess cut stone and the other was a smaller six carat emerald cut with small diamonds on the band. She kept going back to the smaller diamond but for some reason she wasn’t ready to say it was the one.

  “Do you like it, babe? Try it on again,” he urged.

  Nodding, she slid it on her finger and held it up for his inspection. He hadn’t ever noticed her hands until now but they were small and dainty, with manicured nails polished in a light lilac shade. Yet he knew from personal experience that those same hands were strong and capable. He’d seen her take down a man in self-defense class and also helped him prepare an elaborate meal for their friends. It was that contradiction that fascinated him. One minute she was a young actress that needed his protection, the next she was a warrior who didn’t need anybody.

  “It’s like it was made just for you,” Harmon gushed. “There’s a matching band for that.”

  The manager dug into a cabinet and pulled out another tray of rings. It only took a moment for him to locate what he was looking for and he slid it onto her finger before handing Tyler a larger, much heavier platinum band.

  “I think this will fit you, Mr. Gaylord. Why don’t you try it on?”

  For a moment Tyler hesitated but then plucked it from Harmon’s grasp and slid it on his own ring finger. The weight of the metal was more than he’d imagined and for a split second the fit was far too tight, almost cutting off his circulation before relaxing and allowing the blood to flow again. Except that rings didn’t shrink and grow at will and this one hadn’t budged on his finger. It had been all in his mind.

  The fingertips of his other hand passed over the cool metal and he couldn’t seem to drag his gaze away from the ring. There it was. Real and solid. He was really going to get married and he was going to do it with Billie. They would say vows and wear rings. They would belong to each other because of their promises and a piece of paper.

  Maybe he should take this marriage stuff a little more seriously than he’d originally thought. She was right that it wasn’t something you play with. It should mean forever ideally, although for him the thought was ludicrous. He could give her honesty, fun, happiness, material wealth, and fame. Wasn’t that enough? In return, all he needed was her loyalty.

  “Are
you okay?” Billie’s sharp tone broke through his daydreaming and he jerked his head up to gaze into her concerned eyes. “We don’t have to do this today, you know.”

  Had she recognized his momentary panic? The heavy mantle of responsibility he would wear as her husband? She’d talked him out of getting a cat a few years ago because she hadn’t been sure he could keep it alive. Now he was going to have a wife.

  “It’s fine. I was just thinking about how these would photograph. Is that the ring you want?”

  Her fingers curled over the ring, covering it from his sight. “I know you probably want me to have the other one. It’s bigger and will show up in pictures better.”

  It would but it was more important that she have what made her happy.

  “So? Is that the one you want?” he repeated, a smile tugging at his lips. “If the paps can’t see that ring I’ll buy you a big necklace and earrings to go with it.”

  Harmon almost swooned but Billie just scowled, of course. “You’ll do no such thing, and yes, this is the one I want.” She pointed to the band on his own finger. “Is that what you want?”

  Was it? Never in his life had he thought he’d be picking out a wedding band.

  “It’s okay but I’d like you to pick out my ring. Whatever you like.”

  It was a cop out but Billie did have great taste. She’d chosen the prettiest wedding set they’d been shown today.

  Reaching down, she tugged off his ring and handed it back to Harmon. “I think Tyler needs something far more traditional. I think he needs a gold wedding band. Plain and old fashioned.”

  In a flash a yellow gold band, heavier than the last, was slid on Tyler’s finger. Jesus, he’d feel good and married with this one. There’s be no forgetting he was committed.

  That’s a good thing.

  His phone buzzed in his pocket and for a second he thought to ignore it but then decided he needed the distraction. It was a text from his publicist Garrett and Tyler began to smile. A wedding ring wasn’t so bad after all. He and Billie had been spotted on the sidewalk coming into the jewelry store and it was all over social media.