by Jill Snow
“You look lovely. Late, but cute.”
Looking around, she couldn’t see him. Then she spotted a guy in a cap and scarf—all muffled up as if he were in the middle of a snow storm.
“Seriously?” she texted back.
“Didn’t want to distract the team.”
That was sweet. It was funny how before she would have assumed an actor or public figure was just being bigheaded if she saw something like this on TV. But Declan was genuinely trying to protect her brother. She was right, he wasn’t like most of the men she had met.
She made her way through the crowd, stopping to say hi to a few people she recognized. Then she was beside him.
“Hi.” She tried to sound casual. “Thank you so much for coming, especially since I was so late.”
“Is everything okay?”
‘Yes.” There was little point in trying to make excuses.
“Did you forget your makeup or is that slick of oil your usual basketball outfit?” he said quietly, his eyes dancing with laughter.
Oh no, she must have smeared something on her face while changing the tire. And she’d talked to all those people, not one of them saying anything about it. Crimson, she rubbed at her cheek.
“Let me,” he said, as he rubbed the spot more gently than she had done.
“Thanks,” she stuttered. Up close, he smelled divine.
Chapter 33
The final whistle blew and Dominic’s team won. To celebrate, Declan took the three of them to dinner. This time they choose a Chinese restaurant.
“Thank you so much for coming to my game, Declan.”
“You’re welcome, Dom. You played really well.”
“Thanks. I think I got a real chance at the main school team.”
“I thought you were on it already?”
“No, not yet. I have to—”
“So what are you guys having? Declan, can you recommend anything? I haven’t eaten a lot of Chinese food,” Zoe interrupted.
Declan caught the look Dominic sent Zoe. She had deliberately changed the subject and he wasn’t sure why. All Dominic had been doing was talking about making a team. Why was that something secret?
“I like the satay chicken and fried rice. Not very adventurous really,” Declan said.
“I think I’ll have the squid.” Dominic said, causing Zoe to look a bit green.
“Don’t you like seafood?” Declan asked.
“Some types. I don’t mind shrimp. But not things that are chewy and taste like rubber.” Her mouth screwed up as she spoke. She was adorable. He wasn’t about to mention that squid cooked properly was delicious. The last thing he needed was her thinking he was a know it all.
“Why don’t we order a selection and we can all share? You could even try the squid,” he said with a wink.
“No thanks to the squid,” she laughed. “But a selection would be nice.”
He ordered several entrees, two beers for him and Zoe, and coke for Dominic.
“So why were you late. Again?”
“Sorry, Dom. I got a flat tire on my way there,” she said, looking regretful.
“Showed up with a big oil smear on her face, just here,” Declan pointed to his own cheek. “I can vouch for her.”
Dominic just shrugged his shoulders, but Zoe sent him a look of thanks. He noted that she looked tired, but he knew enough not to say so. He wished there was a way to make things easier for her. But how?
“When are you making your next movie?” Dominic asked.
“We start filming in about a month or so,” Declan answered, happy to change the subject and give Zoe a break.
“Can I visit you on set?”
“Dominic, mind your manners,” Zoe interjected, looking embarrassed.
“Maybe,” Declan said. “It depends on the day and what we’re filming. If there are stunts involved, then there’s a no kid on set rule. But otherwise, I think I might be able to arrange that. You would both have to come out to LA.”
“Oh.” Dominic’s face would have been comical but for the fact he genuinely looked like he was about to cry.
“What’s wrong? You wouldn’t need a passport or anything. It’s not that far by plane although driving would take about five hours.”
He knew immediately he had said the wrong thing, but he had no idea what it was. Zoe excused herself to go to the bathroom and Dominic looked even more miserable.
“What’s up Dom?”
“Nothing.”
“Oh, it’s something. Tell me, please.”
“We can’t go to LA. Zoe will say it’s too expensive. She never has money for anything.”
Darn it anyway. How insensitive could he be? Here he was just announcing they could come to LA without even checking first. He should have kept his mouth shut and spoken to Zoe in private.
She came back a while later, her eyes suspiciously shiny.
“Dom, could you go ask the server if he has some fortune cookies please,” Declan asked Dominic
“Sure.”
Dominic ran off.
“Zoe, I am so sorry. I let my mouth run away again. I didn’t think.” He could have cut out his own tongue.
“Don’t worry about it,” she said softly.
“But I hurt you and I didn’t mean to. It would be my treat to take you both to the film set. We could drive but it is a five hour trip. I have a jet on standby if I need it. It will take about an hour by air. Please say you will come.”
She sat up straighter and he had to resist the urge to duck.
“I don’t need your charity.” Zoe’s eyes flashed.
“No, it’s not like that. I would love to show you around. Let you see where I work. After all, I’ve seen your garage. It’s only fair you see my place of employment.”
“That’s hardly the same.”
“It is, sort of. If we’re going to see each other, then I want you to know me. I want you to come see how I live. You may not like me when you see me at home with smelly socks and half empty cups all over the place.”
She eyed him, still looking a bit uncomfortable, but he saw the hint of a smile on her face.
“Uh, here,” Dominic said, setting down a handful of fortune cookies on the table in front of Declan.
Declan opened the first one. “Your luck has changed. The dark-haired lady will smile,” he read out, catching Zoe’s eye. It worked. She smiled.
Chapter 34
Zoe couldn’t hold the smile in. He was funny, even if he did have a habit of saying things he shouldn’t. He should have asked her first about taking Dominic to LA, but then maybe that was something you learned when you had kids. And Dominic really wanted to go. It would be mean of her to stop him.
She let Dominic chat to Declan as she worked through her thoughts. He had automatically included Dominic in the trip to LA. That was a positive sign wasn’t it? Or was she seeing things she hoped to see?
The bill came and he insisted on paying it. She agreed on the condition that he come for dinner at her place. She couldn’t afford to take them all out to a restaurant like this, but she could cook him something.
“That would be lovely, but I have to take a rain check.”
“Why?”
“I would love to come over for dinner but I have to go back to LA tomorrow. My agent has demanded my presence. I was supposed to go back last week, but um, I wasn’t ready to leave yet.”
Was he running away? Or did he think she was coming on too strong?
“Oh, okay.” She wasn’t sure what to say. She definitely wasn’t going to beg him to stay.
When they left the restaurant, it was obvious he’d been recognized again as there was a bevy of reporters waiting. Zoe noted he pulled Dominic close to him. He was protective of her brother, which went a long way to proving he had a good heart. But how she wished they could go somewhere without it causing such a reaction in the press.
When they got back home, Zoe invited Declan in for some coffee. Dominic ran off to meet his friends leavi
ng them alone together.
They sat on the sofa chatting about this and that. Zoe sensed Declan wanted to say something but he didn’t seem ready. She shut up and let the silence fill the room.
“Zoe, I…I was thinking of renting somewhere nearby. I’ve been chatting to Gertie and I’d like to spend some time here in Cloudy Bay getting to know her better.”
“Just Gertie?” she asked before she could stop the words coming out of her mouth.
“I mean, you and Dominic too of course.” He colored making him look younger.
It was funny how insecure he seemed around her especially as he was the successful actor.
“I would like that. Do you think you could get rid of your press followers?”
“They will get bored and start following someone else. I have to get back to LA tomorrow for a meeting with my agent. I want to check in with Maria and Joseph too – they mind my home. But I could be back in time for the weekend. Would that suit you?”
He was staring at her, waiting for her answer.
“I would like to get to know you better but before we go any further, you have to know Dominic is part of the package. I am responsible for him.” She bit her lip, her heart beating so fast she thought it might just leap right out of her chest. This was it. He would walk away now.
“That’s cool. He’s a great kid.”
She stared at him, her heart beating even quicker at the look in his eyes. She watched frozen as he put down his coffee cup and moved closer to her, taking the cup out of her hands. Her mouth was dry and she wanted to wrench her gaze away from his but her brain wasn’t answering any of her demands.
“Zoe, I like you. A lot. Please don’t read anything about me on social media. I am not that person. There are a lot of lies written about those of us who work in Hollywood.”
He was nervous about her not liking him. Wow. She had to say something.
“I have already seen some of them. They called me old.” She clamped a hand over her mouth, before looking at him. His lips twitched as if he was trying not to laugh.
She giggled and then so did he.
“Sorry but you old? What does that make me?”
He leaned in toward her as if he was about to kiss her when the front door banged and Dominic called out he was home.
Declan sprang back to the other side of the sofa like someone caught doing something they shouldn’t.
“Oh, you’re still here. Cool. Can you stay and watch a movie?”
“I think Zoe may have other plans.”
“No, I don’t. I can make some popcorn if you want to stay.”
“Please stay. Then I can watch your movie. Zoe never lets me watch them.”
“Dominic!” Zoe said as her cheeks burned. She hoped he would shut up now. “Sorry, I don’t remember specifically banning him from your movies.”
“You said they were superficial rubbish not suitable for growing kids.”
“Dominic, please.” Zoe wanted the ground to open up and swallow her. “That was before I met you Declan. I am sure they are great.”
His lips were twitching again as his eyes danced in amusement. He was enjoying this. Which was good in a way as it meant he didn’t take himself too seriously.
“Have you watched any of my movies?”
She kept her eyes averted. “No.”
“Let’s see if they are as bad as you think. Where’s the popcorn?”
Zoe ran. She had to gather her wits. Everything he said and did was making her like him more. And she liked him enough already.
The movie wasn’t as bad as she thought it would be but still wasn’t her type. When it was over, Dominic raved about it.
“I guess I didn’t convince you my movies weren’t all bad,” Declan whispered.
“I liked the music,” she whispered back. He threw the soft cushion at her and before they knew it, all three of them were laughing on the ground. Just as if they had been hanging out for years.
Chapter 35
Declan pulled up outside his manager’s apartment the next day. Mark lived in one of the flashiest neighborhoods. He could have had a huge place out in the suburbs for what he paid for his small pad but he insisted it was all about location, location, location. Donning his sunglasses, Declan stepped out of the car. Thankfully, Mark had private security and a gated entrance. The paparazzi weren’t allowed onto the property. That didn’t stop them from trying to take photos with long lenses though.
He couldn’t believe they were running the story of him and Zoe. He hadn’t read a lot, but he’d seen enough to know the comments about her were not all complimentary. The female reporters seemed worse than the male, pulling apart her hair, makeup and her clothes. He couldn’t see Zoe putting up with it for long. He grinned at the thought of any reporter getting too close to her, he might find himself eating his lens.
“Dump her, Declan. Enough with the poor chick from the up and coming neighborhood. You need someone like Beyoncé on your arm.” Mark greeted him at the door.
“Beyoncé, apart from being married and a mother, wouldn’t look twice at me. I happen to like Zoe.”
“So what? Take her out and get her out of your system.”
Declan’s fists clenched at the vulgar implications. He always hated it when men referred to women like that, but this time it was more personal. Zoe deserved more respect.
“Don’t speak about her like that again Mark, or I’m out of here.”
“Jeez, you got it bad. Okay don’t give me that look.” Mark slurped his coffee as he handed Declan a load of papers. “New scripts came in. We need to talk about the premier for Action Men Five as well. I got us both tickets to the Cancer Charity Ball, the one all the hottest people in the industry will be at. I checked, Susie Marr is still available to go as your date.”
“I don’t want Susie Marr on my arm.”
“Are you serious? She can do a lot for your career.”
Declan moved to look out at the view. Mark rambled on about this job and that event but all he could think about was Zoe. He hoped she had the sense not to read the papers. Even the most confident person would be wounded by some of the comments.
“You listening to me?”
“Sorry, no. You stopped listening to me about Susie so I guessed you didn’t need my input.”
“Jeez, will you chill? I’m doing all of this for you. Where would you be without me?”
Declan shrugged. Mark had helped his career and for that he was thankful. But he wasn’t naïve. If Mark hadn’t done well from it, Declan would have been dropped in an instant, just like all the other would-be actors Mark came across.
“I am grateful Mark. But I’m not going to be your puppet anymore. Or anyone else’s puppet. I want to live life on my own terms.”
“Oh, here we go. Mr. Hot Shot thinks he can go it alone.” Mark sneered. “If I had a dime for every Hollywood actor who stood in front of me saying the same thing, I would be rich enough to live in a pad a hundred times bigger than this one. Don’t be a chump, kid. I like you, I like you a lot, but there are always other Irish kids willing to jump into your spot. Just as talented and with even better looks. Ever thought of that?”
Declan had, probably more often than Mark realized. He knew he was only as big as his latest movie. He might survive one flop but that would be it. One thing Hollywood wasn’t short of was actors.
“So, you going to behave now?”
“Stop talking to me like I’m a kid. I told you Mark, I’m not putting on a show for the media. For what it’s worth, I wouldn’t bed Susie Marr if she were the last girl in LA. She has the personality of a drainpipe.”
“Who cares? Nobody wants to know her views on world peace. She looks the part.”
“So does Zoe.”
“Who?’
“The woman I’m dating. The one you seem to be in a flap about.”
“The broad from the tabloid pictures? Don’t make me laugh. She’s cute enough, for a normal sort of person. But she’s noth
ing compared to Susie.”
Declan gave Mark a look warning him he was crossing the line.
“Okay, okay. If you don’t want to go with Susie, what about Mel? She is your co-star after all.”
“I doubt Liam would like that, do you? He’s rather infatuated with the mother of his child.” Declan paused. “I’m asking Zoe. If she doesn’t want to go, I will go alone.”
“Go alone. This isn’t up for discussion. I won’t have you put everything I’ve worked, we’ve worked, hard for on the line because of your hormones.” Mark paced a bit before changing his tone. “Look I get it, you think you’re in love, and maybe you are, but face it, you don’t know her very well. Is it fair to the girl to put her up in front of the world’s press like that? You know they’ll pull her apart, piece by piece. If you think today’s coverage is bad, it’s nothing compared to what they’ll do if you make her official.”
Despite not wanting to, Declan could see Mark had a point. It was early days and who knew whether he and Zoe would last. It wouldn’t be fair to expose her to the press wolves.
“If she says no, I’ll go alone.”
“Fine,” Mark said, throwing his hands in the air. “Now scripts. Please don’t tell me we’re going to argue all day about that, too. I’ve got other people to see.”
“No, we won’t.”
Mark looked relieved
“So long as you did your job.”
Mark had that look on his face again. Declan swore silently.
“No.”
“You haven’t even heard what I was going to say, Declan.”
“I know that look. I’m not doing a nude film. Not for any amount of money. Mam watches all my movies. She isn’t going to enjoy that.” She had told him often enough in the past that she didn’t want to see any pink bits. Thinking about it now, he missed her.
“Your mother doesn’t make those choices.”
