by Jill Snow
“No, but I do. I told you before, Mark. Shirtless is fine. The illusion I’m naked in bed is fine. But I’m not exposing my butt to the world for anything.”
“You’ll change your mind when you read the script.”
“I won’t. If they want me to play that part, they’ll change the scene. Surely the movie isn’t so bad it can’t succeed without my bare backside in it?”
Chapter 36
Declan’s sarcasm seemed to annoy Mark. He could tell by his agent’s flared nostrils, but the man didn’t say a word. He tossed the script to another pile and went on to the next project.
“British army officer fighting in Northern Ireland.”
“Geez Mark, did you sell your soul to the devil? I’m not going to act that part. Never.”
“The movie is already lined up for an Oscar.”
“No. I won’t betray my country.”
“Damn it Malone, it happened almost a hundred years ago. It’s time to put history behind you.”
“My dad lost his granddad in that fight and the family lost many more in the civil war that followed. I won’t do it.”
“Oh, the papers will love that. Irish actor announces British are all murderers,” Mark sneered.
“You can twist it any way you want. I love the British and they always make me feel welcome when I go over. But I won’t play that part. If you really want me in the movie, give me a part of a rebel.”
“But they lose. You can’t be on the losing side.”
“It’s a movie. Not real life.” Declan wondered if he came across to strangers like Mark did to him. Hollywood gave him a good living, but it was about as far from reality as you could get. Real life was different. It was about working hard, paying bills, saving up for stuff. Family time, meals with friends, laughing. He missed being with Zoe and Dominic. He even missed Gertie.
Declan put his hand out. “I’ll take it home and read it.”
“Good man. Knew you would see sense.”
Declan knew he needed to break ties with Mark. His agent had become so consumed by making it in the bigger leagues, he had forgotten why Declan agreed to work with him in the first place.
“Mark, you’ve changed a lot in five years.”
Mark looked up from the scripts he was working through. “What?” He looked totally confused.
“Do you remember that day I took you out to Howth to see the fisherman bring in the fresh fish? You wanted to see a bit of the real Ireland.”
“Can’t help but remember it. The smell was on my clothes for weeks.”
Declan pulled off some of his best acting by maintaining a serious composure. It was hard work. He could still picture Mark standing on the pier, dripping onto the stones stinking of fish. “Well, I didn’t tell you to take a swim.”
“It was your friends who pushed me in.” Mark shuddered.
Declan hid a smile. His mates back home had thought Mark was a pompous twit back then. What would they make of him now?
“You swore that day you would never pressure me to do anything I didn’t want to do. I was free to pick my scripts, work when I wanted to—”
“Yada, yada, yada,” Mark said. “That’s the same speech I give everyone. Would-be actors are all the same. They’re full of principles. Then they come here, they like the money and the lifestyle. They see how much more they could earn if they do have a more…flexible attitude to working.”
Declan had been guilty of that. He remembered taking on roles because they gave him a higher status in Hollywood, not because he believed in the movie. Nothing he did was making a difference to anyone. Well, aside from making the studios, Mark and him a lot of money.
“I think it’s time we call it a day, Mark.”
“What are you talking about?” Mark couldn’t have looked more surprised if Elvis had walked into the room
“I’m leaving you. I don’t want you to be my agent anymore,” Declan said softly.
Mark simply stared at him. He didn’t speak.
“I’m grateful for all you’ve done. You will still get your cut on the movies we have agreed to do, but I want to change agents. This, us, isn’t working anymore. You want to do one type of movie, I want another. I don’t want to fall out with you Mark, so can we agree to disagree and just split?”
Mark stood up and came right up in his face. Tempted to take a step back, Declan stood his ground. He wasn’t about to let Mark bully him.
“Are you joking? Or are you pissed because of what I said about the girl? I take it back. She’s gorgeous. She could even pass for a top model.”
Declan cringed. Couldn’t Mark hear himself?
“Mark, stop.”
“Just think about it. You’re in a funny mood this morning and maybe I was less than understanding. Go home, read these two scripts. You’ll feel different later. You’re tired. You’ve been traveling.”
“I didn’t travel that far.” Not in miles anyway, but he felt like he was an ocean apart from Mark.
“Take a day or so, Declan. I can see you have a lot on your mind. I didn’t mean to push you so hard, it’s just that I believe in you. I can see your name up on the Oscar lists. Clear as day.”
Declan took the scripts and left. He wasn’t going to convince Mark, not when he started talking about Oscars.
Chapter 37
He drove home slowly. His house was set away from Hollywood. If his fans saw where he lived, they would probably be surprised. But nobody knew it was his place.
The paparazzi knew he lived in the complex, but they were always sniffing around the larger mansion. That was purely for guests. His home was a smaller, three bedroom pad separated from the house by what he considered his secret garden. Only he had a key. Nobody came to his house, except Maria his cleaning lady. Her husband, Joseph, kept the gardens. He trusted the old couple completely.
He needed to be in his sanctuary, to have a long shower and wash off the contaminants of the morning. How could he have missed all the signs? Mark wasn’t interested in him. He was just a piece of meat to open doors for the agent. He had been more than a little naïve.
“Declan, you’re back. Did you have a nice trip?”
“Yes thanks, Maria. How are you and Joseph?”
“We’re great. We have a new grandchild. I will show you photos later. But now you look like you need coffee?”
“Yes, please.”
“I like your new girlfriend. She looks like a real woman, not a plastic doll.”
Declan burst out laughing, startling Maria.
“You have such a way with words,” he said.
“I just say it as I see it. Usually you have a Barbie looking women on your arm, with no clothes. How their mama let them out like that I do not know. If one of my girls tried that, I would slap their backside.” Maria crossed her self as she made her way to the kitchen. Declan grabbed his case and ran upstairs to dump it on his bed. He had a quick shower, changed and was back down in casual clothes just in time to sit down to a lunch only Maria could cook.
“I missed this. Nobody can cook like you, Maria.”
“My mama, God rest her, was right. The way to a man’s heart is through his stomach.”
Declan nodded, his mouth too full of delicious food to speak.
“So, you had a good trip?”
“Yes, the wedding was wonderful. I got plenty of pictures for you.”
“Thank you. I like Conor, he is a good man but he needed a good woman to find happiness. Like you.”
“Don’t go marrying me off yet, Maria. I only just met Zoe.”
“Yes, but you let yourself be seen with her. That hasn’t happened before. ”
“True.” He usually was very careful about keeping his personal life secret. But in his desire to spend time with Zoe, everything else had gone out of his mind.
“You bring her here and I’ll tell you if your mama like her or not. I know what mama’s like in wives for sons.”
Declan didn’t reply. He wasn’t about to d
isagree with his housekeeper. On the odd occasion when he did something she didn’t agree with, she didn’t say anything. But his meals would get very spicy. His ma had once told Maria to keep him grounded, and Maria took her duties very seriously.
“So when are you going to see Zoe again?”
“I am going to go stay in Cloudy Bay for a few weeks. I need a break from LA.”
“That’s good news. When you come back here, bring her with you.”
“This is so good, thank you Maria. I have to get back to work now.”
He kissed her on the cheek.
“Don’t work too hard. Call your girl, too.”
Declan retreated to his den. He lay on the sofa reading through the scripts he had picked up. The bare bum one, as he called it, got ditched after a few pages. It was boring and no amount of nakedness was going to save it. Instead, he picked up the war script. He began reading, intending to cast it aside and tell Mark to scrap both projects. But after a few pages, he sat up straighter. It was a great story. The British officer was a good bloke who abhorred violence. The Irish rebel, instead of being portrayed like a hero, was shown in full. The good, the bad and the downright ugly. By the time he finished reading the script, he wanted that role more than any he’d had before.
Dialing Mark on his cell, he couldn’t wait for him to answer. It had been ages since he had been so excited about a script. Mark answered, his frigid tone reminding Declan he was still pissed.
“Mark, that script—the Irish one—is amazing.”
“See, I told you I knew best. I can see you now, all—”
“I want to play the rebel.”
“But he dies.”
“I don’t care. The character is fantastic.”
“Declan, have you read the whole script? The audience will hate you.”
“They hated Fiennes in Schindler’s list. Didn’t seem to do him any harm.”
“I don’t think they will cast you.”
Declan stood wishing he was face to face with Mark rather than on the phone. He had to convince him. “Why not? Do they not believe I can act? Won’t they at least try?”
“I’ll see what I can do, but don’t expect miracles.”
Mark hung up without saying goodbye.
Declan sat back down. He wanted this role. He had to play this part. He was sick and tired of people not seeing that history was not a question of good sides and bad. Sure, the Nazis had been evil but there were good Germans too. Not enough films were made about the German resistance. This movie would show that not all British officers had behaved badly in Ireland. While he was proud of his rebel ancestors, he knew the Irish had committed atrocities too. That was war.
Chapter 38
Whistling, he checked the clock again. Would Zoe be busy now? He dialed her number, but she didn’t pick up. He left a message and his number. His stomach squirmed. What if she didn’t ring back? He picked up the newspapers Maria left on his desk. Usually she binned them, but today she must have thought he should see them.
It was worse than he’d expected. He wanted to be with her. Jumping up, he decided that’s what he would do. Nothing was holding him here. He could do everything by phone. He wanted to live in the real world for a while.
“Maria, I’m going to go back tomorrow morning. I can’t wait for the weekend.”
Her face broke into a broad smile. “That’s my boy. I knew you couldn’t let her face them alone. You bring her here. I’ll feed her up properly.”
“Maybe sometime. She has a job and a young brother.”
“So take time off and bring the brother too. He can help Joseph in the garden. Can’t be much fun for him, either. I don’t trust those reporters not to go to his school.”
Blast it all, he hadn’t thought of that. What had he done?
Chapter 39
Zoe pushed back her drapes to find reporters all over her lawn. This was ridiculous. She called the police who sent a car but that only got rid of them for a short time. Dominic’s school had called too, complaining about the disruption. What had she done to them both?
Her cell rang. It was an unknown number again. She picked up Dominic’s whistle and, instead of saying hello, she blew on the whistle, directly into her phone. Only when she heard him scream, did she realize it was Declan on the other line.
“Oh, it’s you. I thought it was another reporter. Sorry.” She didn’t sound sorry, because she wasn’t. It was all his fault. If he hadn’t taken her to that stupid pizza place, she wouldn’t be in this mess.
“I am so sorry about all this, Zoe. I’m on my way back. I don’t want you to face this alone. And I want to spend more time with you. You have your business to run so it makes sense for me to come and stay somewhere nearby. I thought I could take Dominic out a bit and go to a few more of his games. Maybe help ease the pressure a little?”
She stared at her phone. She hadn’t really taken him seriously when he said he wanted to rent somewhere nearby and get to know her better. Yet he’d meant it.
Declan willed her to say something. He wanted so much to be a part of the real world. Just for a while. He’d realized he wasn’t bored as much as jaded with the whole Hollywood lifestyle. He wanted to go to games with kids, talk to people like Gertie and Joe, and to live like a normal person for once. Most of all, he wanted to see Zoe. But did she want to see him?
“Thank you for coming back so quickly. Do you want to come to the house for dinner?”
“Great, see you in a few hours.”
He spotted the paparazzi as he drove up to Zoe’s street.
“Malone, Sean Murphy with the Daily Gazette. Is it the real thing between you and Zoe Clark? Can we expect wedding bells?”
“Is this your version of beauty and the beast, only reversed?”
Declan glared at the man who made that comment. He wanted to punch him. Hard.
“Gentlemen,” Declan said insincerely. “I will make a press announcement at the correct time. Now please let me through or I will have to call the police.”
The crowd parted, reluctantly, as he made his way to the front door. Zoe had it open so he could slip in without much hassle.
“Wow, that is some circus. I’m so sorry.”
She shrugged. “You didn’t send them.”
Despite her words, he could see she was annoyed. He reached for her, intending to give her a hug. She gave him a funny look, so he let his hands fall by his sides.
“What do you want out of this Declan?”
He stared at her. It was a fair question. What did he want? Well, he wanted to get to know her better. But it wasn’t as simple as two ordinary people meeting over coffee. Dating him meant her whole world would be turned upside down just like she had seen.
He stepped toward her, resting his hands on her shoulders.
“I really like you Zoe. I know we don’t know each other that well yet, but there seems to be a connection between us. Can’t you feel it too?”
“Yes, but you’re asking me to turn my life upside down for an attraction.”
“But what if it’s more? What if it’s everything? I want to get to know you, the real you. I want to know how you think, how you feel about different things. I just…I don’t know. I just want a chance. “
“A chance?” She bit her lip and glanced to the side. It wasn’t an outright “no”.
“What if we have a future together? I know it’s too soon to be talking that way, but you have to know this isn’t about a one night, or even a one week, thing for me.”
He read the uncertainty in her eyes but the way she looked at him gave him hope.
He leaned down slowly, giving her plenty of time to move away but she didn’t. He brushed his lips across hers.
“I think we could have something special. Let’s take a chance?”
Chapter 40
She wanted to say no. To tell him to go away and take his paparazzi friends with him. She couldn’t risk getting hurt. Not again.
She glanced at her ha
nds. Despite her best efforts, there were still black oil marks under her nails. The word “glamorous” would never describe her.
But he was sweet and kind-hearted, and so good with Dominic. Declan hadn’t raised his voice nor his fist at the reporters, despite them being extremely rude and persistent. He didn’t appear to have a bad temper. And for some reason, he liked her, even if she was a bit dense.
She knew he was a talented actor, but he seemed so genuine. She couldn’t look at him as her thoughts became even more jumbled.
“Declan, I need to take things a bit slower than you seem to have in mind. You need to know, I have no intention of jumping into your bed.”
“I wouldn’t jump either, it’s likely to break.” He grinned at her.
“Funny!” she said, trying not to laugh. “But I’m trying to be serious. I’m not into that scene, so if you just want a casual fling you need to go. ”
He stood waiting.
Why wasn’t he leaving? He was just standing there, agreeing with everything she said. This was the Don Juan of Hollywood. According to the stuff she had read online, he never slept alone. Yet he hadn’t turned and run.
“I…well, I guess I’m scared.” There she’d said it. She’d shared some of the secret fear in her heart.
“Of me?”
He looked so completely confused, she answered quickly, almost without thinking.
“No. Of me. I have these feelings for you and they scare the heck out of me. I don’t even know you and I’m already afraid of losing you.”
“We can change that.” He pulled her closer. “I have feelings that scare me, too. They make me want to run into the hills and hide.”
“You do?”
“They also want me to pick you up, take you to the nearest preacher and never let you out of my sight again. I am so mixed up right now, I’m not sure what will happen.”
Her stomach turned over and, for a split second, she wanted him to grab that preacher. Then his next words put her feet back firmly on the ground.
