The cage rattled to a stop, pulling me from my daydreams. I leaned forward and frowned. The light said I was on the fifth floor. I know I didn’t push that button. I stepped forward, pushing the gates open, peering out into the shadowed hallway.
“Hello?” I called, hoping someone was out there waiting to get on. Yet only silence responded. The hallway was empty.
I stepped back in, preparing to close the gates. A movement at the back of the hall caught my eye. For a moment, I hoped it was Jensen. He lived somewhere on this floor. I felt my heart race at the thought of seeing him and suddenly guilt swept in. What was I doing drooling over Mr. Hollywood, who would never even be an option? Like I would ever be anything but another pretty face in a sea of pretty girls to him.
But Jensen…he was the chance to be happy. I knew that. And after our little “undate,” I definitely wanted to see him again. I had felt safe and warm in his arms. It was the first time I had really felt content. Yeah. No more thoughts of Ryan. Not when I had Jensen to anticipate.
Movement caught my eye again. “Hello?” I called.
A dark shape moved forward, glowing red eyes burning into mine as it came.
I gasped, flattening myself against the back wall. It was the thing I saw the first time I rode up in the elevator. Time seemed to stand still as it moved towards me. I needed to move, to close those doors and get the elevator started. But I couldn’t move. I was frozen, completely helpless to save myself from the nightmarish thing headed my way.
I wheezed, trying to draw in air. I was panicking and there wasn’t a darn thing I could do about it. Prying my eyes away from it, I glanced at the doors. They had to be shut. I had to get to them, but no matter how I tried, I couldn’t get my body to move. Fear had hardened around me like cement. I closed my eyes, expecting the worst, all the while praying the doors would shut. They had to close. Now!
The gate slammed shut with a jarring screech. My eyes flew open. The doors were closed? Who had done that? The fear released me and my legs could move again. I leaned forward, my shaking fingers ready to push the button for the top floor.
The dark shape stopped outside the gates and looked at me. I felt his eyes examine me, curiosity burning bright within.
I stopped, dropping my hand, moving to the gate. I stared at the shadowed creature with just as much curiosity. What was this thing and why did I suddenly think it had never meant me any harm?
It held my gaze a few seconds longer, then nodded, turning around and disappearing back into the shadows of the hallway.
I slowly let out the breath I was holding and pushed the top floor button. Riding the rest of the way up in silence, I was puzzled by what had occurred. I was wrong. The creature hadn’t wanted to hurt me. Of that, I was sure. As sure of anything else my instincts had ever told me. It only wanted a closer look.
Stepping out of the elevator, I headed to the apartment in a daze. What kind of red-eyed shadowy creature wanted to get to know you better? As I unlocked the door, I vowed not to tell anyone about this. After all, it wasn’t like they would actually believe me.
Eleven
Signing out of the computer, I took a step back from the counter. It was break time. As soon as Van got up here to relieve me, I was going to hunt down a cup of coffee and some kind of pastry. I loved this job, but it was definitely a sugar and chocolate type of day.
This was only my third day on the job, but Van trusted me enough to run the whole check-in desk by myself. She said I was a natural at it and I had to agree. It was all becoming second nature to me, but it still kept me on my toes.
Especially with Ryan Everheart in the building.
Word had spread that the new Zand Taylor flick starring Ryan was filming at the DenMark, and let me tell you, everyone and their mother’s cousin’s neighbor were trying to rent a room here. It was slowly becoming a nightmare. At least we were pretty much booked until the end of the week.
“How’s the Ryan frenzy treating you?” Van asked, stepping behind the counter.
“Okay, I guess. I can’t believe how relentless some of these people are, though.”
She chuckled softly. “Some of the people? Try all of them. Even you can’t take your eyes off of him when he’s around.”
I glanced at her, indignantly. “I told you. That first day was a silly case of being star struck. I’m over it now. Ryan’s not even a blip on my radar.”
“Sure. Whatever you say,” she said, giving me a knowing smile.
I grabbed my purse with a grunt. Who cared what she thought. I knew I meant it and that’s all that mattered. I wasn’t going to let thoughts of Hollywood’s Golden Boy distract me from my new life. “I’ll see you in 15 minutes,” I called quickly.
Van turned around and smiled sweetly at me. “You can have 20 minutes if you promise to stay away from Ryan.”
Giving her a dirty look, I opened my mouth to send some kind of witty retort in her direction, when I heard someone clear their throat behind me.
“Who’s having trouble staying away from me?” a silky smooth voice asked from that direction.
Oh, no. I looked at Van in shock, mortified beyond belief. Did he really just hear that? She gave me a sympathetic look as I turned around to face him. I tried to put on my most professional look. “Is there something I can do for you, Mr. Everheart?”
He flashed a killer smile. “Yes, matter-of-fact, there is. I was hoping I would see you here today. I needed to ask you something.”
I stood there, amazed by his words. What could he possibly have to ask me? Unless…Zand told him about my audition. No doubt, he was here to torment me about my lack of acting skills. “What?” I asked, the word barely more than a whisper.
He looked at me for a moment, his blue eyes twinkling with mesmerizing mirth. “I’ve noticed you. I’ve seen you notice me, too. There was something that passed between us that first day. I know you felt it as much as I did. I was hoping we could figure out what it was.”
“Uh,” was all I could manage to get out. He couldn’t have really said that, could he? I must have been daydreaming again.
I heard Van fidget around behind me. Good. I wasn’t the only one who had heard that. But why did he seem just as nervous as I did? “Uh,” I said again. This was going well.
“Maxie,” he said, stepping closer to the counter. “Would you please allow me the honor of taking you out to dinner tonight?”
“Uh,” I said again. Was I breathing? I couldn’t tell; my mind had shut down on me. Ryan Everheart just asked me out? I was sure this was all a hallucination or something. I knew my body must have been laying dead somewhere, my mind playing tricks on me as the oxygen slowly faded from it. It had to be. That made a whole lot more sense than what was happening.
Van stepped up next to me. “Sorry, Ryan. Maxie already has plans this evening,” she informed him.
He glanced at her, and then let his eyes come to rest on me once again. “Oh, I’m sure she can change her plans. Can’t you, Maxie?”
Say no, my mind screamed. Remember Jensen. He was real, not some phony Hollywood actor just waiting to break my heart. But I couldn’t seem to focus. Being this close to Ryan was intoxicating. The smell of him washed over me, filling me with curiosity. If he smelled this good, I wondered how he’d taste.
No. This wasn’t a good idea. Not at all. Going down this road would only lead to another heartbreak. I needed to stay on the path I was on.
I opened my mouth to gently turn him down. “Sure, I’d love to,” I said and immediately snapped my mouth closed. What was I thinking?
“Great,” Ryan said with a grin. “I’ll pick you up here at eight.” He turned around and sauntered out of the lobby.
“Are you crazy?” Van said as soon as he was gone. “You can’t go out with him.”
I turned and looked at her, my shock momentarily forgotten. How dare she tell me what I could and couldn’t do. “Why not?” I snapped.
She looked at me, suddenly at a loss for words. “Because…”
/>
“I’m waiting.”
“Because you can’t. That’s why.”
I shook my head, anger seeping into my veins. No one was going to stop me from doing something. Even if it was something I didn’t want to do in the first place. “I can…and I will.”
She looked around her as if hoping for some sort of backup with this. “What about Jensen?” she asked suddenly.
“What about him? It’s not like anything is going on between us,” I told her, feeling guilty even as I said the words. But they were technically true. One little cuddle on the couch didn’t mean the guy owned me or anything. “Besides, it’s just one date. With Ryan Everheart. Ryan-freaking-Everheart. How many chances does a girl get to do something like this? I have to do it.”
Van looked like she wanted to say more, but shook her head instead. “Fine. I’m not your mother. You do whatever you want,” she said, turning her back on me.
I turned quickly, too, putting distance between me and the lobby. I couldn’t believe how Van was acting. It wasn’t like this was a marriage proposal or anything. It was just one little date. Okay, maybe a date of a lifetime, but still…she had no right to act this way. Wow, jealousy was so not becoming on some people.
Twelve
I finished applying my lipstick and looked into the mirror. Done. I looked absolutely stunning, perfect enough for any movie star. But inside my stomach was eating itself raw. I was a nervous wreck. Here I was about to go on one of the most important dates of my life and all I could think about was whether or not I could keep myself from throwing up on him.
“Maybe your body’s trying to tell you something,” Van’s voice drifted from my doorway.
I turned around, my brows wrinkling as I did. I guess I wasn’t fooling her with my perfect façade. “What do you mean?” I asked innocently.
“Oh, come on, Maxie. Anyone who really knows you could see how terrified you are,” she said, stepping into my room. “Maybe there’s a reason for that. Maybe deep down you know this is a bad idea.”
I shook my head. “Okay, so I’m nervous. Anybody would be. I’m going out with Ryan Everheart.” Picking up my purse off the vanity, I headed out the door into the living room.
Van followed quietly on my heels. I knew she wanted to say more. I could practically feel her trying not to explode with it.
I reached the sitting room and turned to face her. “What?” I demanded. “Why is it so important for you to try to stop me?”
She stood there, mentally debating something. “There are things you don’t know about him.”
What was that supposed to mean? I had just met the guy. I didn’t know anything about him. “Like what, Van?”
“He’s…a movie star. They all have skeletons in their closets, Max. Ryan Everheart included.”
“So,” I said, tossing my hair out of my face. “We all have dark spots in our past we’d rather forget about. That’s just life.”
She looked at me, a sadness in her eyes I couldn’t understand. “I just don’t want you to get hurt.”
I shrugged. “I’m an adult, Evangeline. What I do is my business. If I take a chance and he breaks my heart…Well, at least I took a chance. Besides,” I said, reaching for the front door. “It’s not like there’s a future for us anyway. I’m just another name on his dance card. Even I know that.” Pulling the door open, I gasped in shock. Danny and Jensen were standing in the hall, looking at me.
“Wow, Max. You look great,” Danny said, eyeing my sapphire blue dress. “But, aren’t you a little overdressed for the movies?”
Van looked at them and shook her head. “She’s not coming. She has a date with Ryan Everheart.”
“What?” Danny said as they all exchanged some kind of look. Great. Now I had three people trying to run my life.
Van shrugged. “Maxie’s a big girl, if she wants to get involved in that life, let her,” she said, stepping out the door and taking Danny’s arm. “Let’s go. I hate missing the previews.” She and Danny disappeared down the hall.
Jensen remained there, a hurt look in his eyes. “Why are you going out with him?” he asked softly.
I stood there, helplessly feeling guilty, and not knowing why. It wasn’t like we had made any promise to each other. We hadn’t even discussed whether there might be a relationship in our future. I was a free woman and I could date anyone I chose to. And right then, I was choosing Ryan. A girl didn’t pass up something like that.
“Look, Jensen,” I told him, almost apologetically. “This is the first great thing to happen to me since I got here. I’m not going to turn down a chance like this.”
He stood there, his face an emotionless mask, but I could sense the hurt underneath. “If that’s what you think, Maxie, then you deserve to go out with him,” he said calmly before turning around and walking away.
I stood there, watching him go. A part of me wanted to stop him, to beg his forgiveness, but I didn’t. Just because I felt confused and giddy around him didn’t mean anything. Jensen and I were from two different worlds. It would never have worked out between us anyway.
At least that was the only thing I could tell myself to keep the tears away as I headed to my waiting cab.
Thirteen
I stood in the lobby of the hotel, nervously waiting for Ryan. I checked the clock on the wall. 8:16. Three minutes since the last time I checked. He was late. Maybe Van was right. I shouldn’t get involved with someone famous. It was just a disaster waiting to happen.
“I’m so sorry,” a voice spoke from behind me.
I turned around. Sparkling blue eyes danced as they met mine. My breath faltered in my throat as I looked at him. I couldn’t seem to function around him. He was like a god come to life.
My soul actually ached as I took him in. Dress shirt, suit jacket, and designer jeans. His blond hair perfectly ruffled. A very expensive version of bed head, no doubt. Dressy, yet trendy. Everything I could ever want in a man stood before me. I mentally shook myself as I pulled my eyes away from his. This was going to be the best night of my life.
“Wow,” Ryan spoke, a smile showing as his eyes drank me in. “You look amazing.” He stepped closer, looking down at me. “I’m really sorry about being late. Zand kept me longer than I thought he would. Barely had enough time to get ready. I’m glad I did, though, or you would have put me to shame.” He leaned closer, placing a quick peck on my cheek. “You probably do anyway. You really are quite breathtaking,” he said softly as he pulled back away from me.
I knew I must have been grinning like an idiot as heat crept into my cheeks, but I didn’t care. Ryan thought I was breathtaking. Even if I never saw the man again after our date, I would always cherish that moment. It was one of those rare perfect moments one couldn’t dream of obtaining. Yet, here I was, living the dream.
“Thank you,” I told him, still mesmerized by the feel of his lips against my skin. “But you have nothing to worry about. You’re just as gorgeous as ever.” I blushed harder as I realized what I had said. So much for playing it cool! I was going to be nothing but putty in his hands, and thanks to my big mouth, he now knew it.
He grinned at me as I tried to calm my nerves. “I just got here myself,” I said, lying through my teeth. I had seen Zand in action. I knew how much of a slave driver he could be.
“Good,” he said, holding his arm out to me. “Are you hungry? We have reservations at my favorite place.”
I slipped my arm through his, leaning into him. “Sounds great,” I murmured, enthralled by his closeness.
“Come on, there’s a car waiting for us outside,” he said and led me to the hotel entrance.
I smiled up at him as we went. If I were a cat, I’d have been purring at that moment. My fairytale was finally beginning to come true.
Walking through the doors of La Fem, one of the hottest restaurants in So. Cal., I looked around me. I couldn’t believe I was really here. I know I’m rich. And I know I had influence back in New Haven, but that meant no
thing in a place like this. You had to be someone to get in here. And …apparently, now I was.
“What do you think?” Ryan spoke softly in my ear. His breath tickled my neck in just the right places. Oh, God. I was in heaven.
“It’s amazing.”
“I thought you’d like it,” he told me with a grin.
“Hello, Mr. Everheart. Pleasure to see you this evening,” a man in a crisp black shirt said, approaching us.
“Hi, Harry. How are things tonight?” Ryan asked, greeting him.
“Oh, perfect as usual,” he said, looking around the busy restaurant. “Life is good in a place like this.” He looked over at me. “Who is this remarkable creature?”
Ryan turned and looked at me. “This is my new friend, Maxie Duncan. Maxie, this is the owner of La Fem and a friend of my father, Harold Morgan.”
“Oh, please call me Harry,” he said, taking my hand in his. “Everybody does.” His lips brushed the back of my hand in greeting. “Pleasure to meet you, Maxie Duncan.”
I took my hand back, smiling warmly at him. “Thank you, Harry. The pleasure is all mine. This is a great place you have here.”
He beamed as he looked around. “It is, isn’t it? Consider it your new home away from home. You are welcome here anytime, my dear.”
Wow. I was now part of the elite. The night just kept getting better. “Thank you.”
“So,” Harry said, turning back to Ryan. “I assume you’d like your usual table?”
He nodded. “That would be great.”
“Of course. Right this way,” he said, leading us through the restaurant.
I tried not to stare as I realized who was occupying the tables around us. I’d never seen so many celebrities in one place before. Well, maybe on TV at award shows, but never in real life.
They smiled at us as we passed. I knew it only went as far as their lips, but I still felt special. I was Ryan’s date for the evening and that meant something.
Maxie Duncan Box Set Page 5
