Starlight

by Alexandra Richland

  Aidan took their hot dogs from her. “You lead. I’ll follow.”

  Upon their approach, Beth gestured to a boulder situated near the edge. “Is this a good place?”

  “If you like it, I’m good.”

  She frowned. “I like to think of today as our day, so by all means, speak up if you don’t agree with me.”

  Aidan flashed a grin. “I promise if I have a strong opposing opinion, I’ll let you know. As for right now, I like this spot, okay?”

  Beth giggled. “All right.”

  Aidan extended the hot dogs and napkins to her. “Please, hold these for a sec.”

  Once his hands were free, he removed his windbreaker, revealing his fitted white T-shirt and incredible physique that left Beth breathless. She pried her eyes away from him, her cheeks heating and her body tingling as she recalled resting her head against his broad chest during their hug at the Actors Studio … his strong arms holding her gently, protectively …

  “Okay, now you can sit.” Aidan’s voice jolted her from her thoughts.

  Beth looked at the boulder. He’d draped his jacket over it. “You’ll catch a cold!”

  “It’s not cold outside.”

  Beth lifted her head to the sunny sky. “Either way, I don’t feel comfortable sitting on your jacket. I don’t want it to get dirty.”

  Aidan crossed his arms over his chest. “Well, I’m not gonna let you get dirty.”

  “But I sat down on the edge of the fountain.”

  He frowned. “Please sit down.”

  Beth eyed his jacket. “Are you sure?”

  Aidan took the hot dogs and napkins from her. “I wouldn’t have offered if I wasn’t sure.”

  “What are you going to sit on?”

  He gave her a pointed look.

  Beth sighed and sat down on the jacket. Aidan sat beside her on the bare rock. Once she was comfortable, he handed over her hot dog and a napkin. As she ate, she watched the rowboats sweep across the water, and then turned her attention to the busy terrace. Two small children ran past her, laughing, their parents chasing after them with doting smiles.

  Aidan followed the family with dull eyes. He popped the last of his hot dog into his mouth and chewed slowly. Beth finished her hot dog, too, and looked at her feet, trying to come up with a light-hearted topic. All she could think about was how sad he looked.

  Suddenly, Aidan stood, the sorrow gone from his face. “How about we continue on?”

  Beth rose to her feet and picked up Aidan’s jacket from the rock with the intention of shaking it out.

  “Beth, I’ll do that,” he said.

  She shook her head. “I dirtied it, so I’ll clean it.”

  Aidan grinned and made a move for his jacket. Beth placed her back to him, preventing his success.

  “Nice try,” she said teasingly.

  Goosebumps appeared on her skin as he came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist, his warm breath skimming across the back of her neck. He tried to take the windbreaker from her again, but she held on tightly. He rocked her from side to side and she shrieked with glee, without attempting to break free.

  After additional failed tries to reclaim his jacket, Aidan stopped moving. He rested his chin on her shoulder and his hands on her hips. Beth leaned back into him, feeling his arms tighten around her. She glanced over her shoulder into his eyes, her heart racing. Their lips were only inches apart.

  Much too soon, Aidan released her and took a step back.

  Beth looked at his jacket in her hands, her knees shaking from the aftershock of his embrace. She extended it to him. “Here you go.”

  Aidan cleared his throat and took it from her. “Thanks.”

  He gave her a small smile and put his jacket back on, revealing a glimpse of his rippled abdominals as he slipped his arms into the sleeves and his T-shirt lifted. Beth’s mind immediately wandered to thrilling, unladylike thoughts.

  “Where are we going now?” she asked.

  Aidan shook his head. “Not a chance.” His voice held a playful warning.

  Beth smiled. “I know, I know. It’s a surprise.”

  Aidan placed his hands into his jacket pockets and nudged his chin in the direction they were taking, and they continued on to their next destination.

  Chapter Forty-Four

  As they walked up the stairs at the Bethesda Terrace, Aidan marveled at how cute Beth looked as she scanned her surroundings. She was decent, pure, and didn’t deal any nonsense. Being in her company was the closest thing to joy he’d experienced in a long time. The fact he was going to have to say good-bye to her tonight—even if it was, hopefully, only temporary—was a reality he wasn’t ready to face. Not today, not ever.

  They left the park at Seventy-Second Street and Fifth Avenue. As they reached the sidewalk, Aidan switched to Beth’s other side so he walked nearer to the street. They were so close that his resolve not to take her hand was in the midst of crumbling. There were only certain instances where he felt it was acceptable to do that, given that this was only their first date, and he didn’t want to push his luck.

  “Do you still have a home here?” Beth asked.

  Aidan looked down at his scuffed leather boots. “Yeah, I rent a place on the other side of the park, just off Central Park West.”

  “An apartment?”

  “The top floor of a brownstone.” Aidan frowned at how dreary his apartment looked when he arrived from L.A. yesterday morning. “It’s not much, but it’s just me, so it’s not like I need a lot of space.”

  “I’m sure it’s very nice. I would love to see it some ti—” Beth’s face turned red. “Oh my, that was quite inappropriate. I didn’t mean it to … you know …”

  “It’s okay,” Aidan said, struggling to ignore the pleasurable way his body responded to the idea of being completely alone with her in his apartment … near his bed. “I know what you meant.”

  “The apartment Olivia and I rent in Hollywood isn’t much either, but we don’t need anything fancy.” Beth giggled. “Well, Liv would probably love something bigger that she could decorate, but right now, we’re all right where we are.”

  Aidan gave her a half-smile. “That’s cool.”

  “We’re thinking of buying a small house or renting a larger apartment if my contract is extended beyond my probation period, though.”

  “Where is your place in L.A.?”

  “On Luxor Avenue.”

  “Off Sunset?”

  Beth nodded. “So, do you miss New York?”

  “I’m not really the California type.” Aidan crinkled his nose. “Everything looks so … colorful. I like the authenticity of New York. I fit in better here. Plus, it’s where I started acting—live television, theater, stuff like that.”

  “You did live television? That’s really keen!”

  Aidan smirked. “Keen, huh?”

  Beth blushed. “Or real cool, man, as Spike Rollins would say.”

  Aidan chuckled. “Most actors look down on television, but I found it was a great way to work on my craft and grow more confident in my abilities as a performer. They do live teleplays in L.A. too, but I doubt it’s the same as it is in New York. There’s a great energy to this city that’s unmatched.”

  “I adore Manhattan so far,” Beth said, displaying the wide-eyed look Aidan loved so much. “I know it’s premature because I haven’t seen much of the city yet, but if I wasn’t tied to Los Angeles with work, I’d consider living here.”

  At her words, a weight lifted from Aidan’s shoulders. He was relieved she felt at home in the city he called his home.

  “Aidan, do you mind if I ask you why you came to Hollywood if you were satisfied with your life here in New York?”

  “It was just one of those things.” Aidan paused. “I guess it’s similar to you accepting Nate’s screen test offer, even though you wanted to become a schoolteacher. In my case, the Spike Rollins script was great, and my role was exactly the type that Gadg and Lee always encouraged
us to tackle at the Actors Studio. It just seemed like a good risk to take.”

  “Now that you’ve seen the final cut of the film, and it’s being so well-received in theaters, do you think it was worth it?”

  Aidan glanced at Beth and the hard times he experienced while filming Spike Rollins slipped from his mind.

  “Best decision I ever made,” he said softly.

  “Hello, you two! Do you want to have your picture taken?”

  Beth and Aidan stopped walking. A man wearing a top hat, colorful suit, and toothy grin, gestured for them to come over to where he stood alongside the park. A camera mounted on a tripod was situated next to him.

  “My name is Baxter. Are you two here on vacation?” the man asked with overwhelming enthusiasm. “Your honeymoon, perhaps?”

  Aidan rolled his eyes and placed his hand against Beth’s lower back. “Come on, let’s go.”

  Beth perused Baxter’s set-up, which also included a small table draped with a black tablecloth, and a cardboard sign that read in black marker, Get Your New York City Souvenir Photograph Here! Only Fifty Cents!

  Aidan tugged on her arm, but she didn’t budge.

  She turned to him, smiling. “Can we get our picture taken?”

  He frowned. “I don’t think it’s a good idea.”

  “Please.” Her lips formed a pout.

  Aidan couldn’t say no to her when she looked at him like that.

  He turned to Baxter. “Okay, what’s the deal, man?”

  “Well, I have different hats here, see.” Baxter gestured to a box on the ground.

  Aidan regarded the box with a scowl. There was no way he’d let Beth wear one of those hats. They were probably filthy.

  “I also have a feather boa, Lady Liberty torch and crown, and several other costume options.” Baxter pointed to another box. “You two can pick whatever you want and I’ll take your picture. Then, after four o’clock today, you pick up the photograph from me right here for the low cost of fifty cents.”

  Beth’s smile widened. “Oh, Aidan, after enduring so many boring photo shoots at Starlight Studios this seems like a fun idea. Plus, I didn’t bring a camera with me today. It would be a great souvenir of my time with you in New York.”

  Aidan had to admit that Beth holding onto a photograph of the two of them was a very attractive offer. “Yeah, sure, why not?” Her eyes lit up and he couldn’t help but grin. “So what costume do you want?”

  Beth clasped her hands to her chest. “Really, Aidan, you’ll pose with me?”

  He nodded.

  She wrapped her arms around his neck, giggling softly in his ear. As Aidan hugged her back, he decided her laughter was the loveliest sound in the entire world.

  Beth released him, still laughing. “I want the bright pink feather boa and the torch and the crown!”

  Normally, Aidan never would’ve considered something so silly. Now he thought he might actually enjoy the experience.

  “Excellent choice, my dear.” Baxter removed Beth’s chosen costume from one of his boxes.

  Aidan inspected the items warily while Beth took them without hesitation. With a giddy smile, she took off her coat and placed it on the table. Aidan’s breath hitched as he admired the view. Her classy blouse showed off her womanly curves. Modest had never looked so sexy.

  Baxter looked to Aidan. “What about you?”

  Aidan shook his head, his eyes trained on Beth. “I’m staying like this.”

  Beth flipped the bright pink feather boa around her neck. “Please pick a costume, Aidan. That way I’m not the only one who looks ridiculous in our photograph.”

  As he looked her over, he thought she looked spectacular, not at all ridiculous. He turned to Baxter. “On second thought, what’d ya got?”

  Baxter walked toward his boxes of costumes. He selected a red, white, and blue Uncle Sam top hat.

  “No hats.” Aidan waved Baxter away.

  Beth’s laughter made him reconsider.

  “Let me see it on you,” she said, picking up her torch.

  Reluctantly, Aidan put on the hat. He immediately felt like an idiot.

  “It looks great!” Beth said.

  “Here, take a look.” Baxter picked up a small mirror from his table and held it up.

  Aidan looked at his reflection and confirmed he did, in fact, look like an idiot. Beth was getting a kick out of it, though, so he decided to just go with it.

  Aidan still cringed, however, when Baxter came at him with a matching Uncle Sam suit jacket.

  Beth’s eyes widened. “Perfect!”

  Aidan took off his windbreaker and put on the costume jacket, with her encouragement. The sleeves were too short and it was too tight in the chest. He shrugged his shoulders, trying to get comfortable.

  Beth walked toward him. “Shall we, Sam?”

  Aidan flashed a grin. “Let’s go, Liberty.”

  Baxter pointed behind them. “Stand over here, please.”

  As directed, they walked to the short brick wall lining the park. Aidan stood on Beth’s left and she placed her purse at her feet.

  “Okay, sir, put your arm around your pretty lady,” Baxter instructed, “and ma’am, hold the torch in your right hand.”

  Aidan draped his arm over Beth’s shoulders. Her feather boa tickled him, but he didn’t mind. In fact, he moved a little closer to her. She was right. This was much better than any Starlight Studios photo shoot.

  “Smile!”

  Aidan grinned for the camera. No matter how stupid he looked in his costume, with Beth on his arm, he had every reason to hold his head up high.

  Once Baxter finished taking their photograph, he stepped away from the tripod. Enjoying the feel of Beth tucked into his side, Aidan waited a few extra seconds before dropping his arm from her shoulders.

  After they returned their costumes and put their coats back on, he walked up to the photographer. “So we come back here after four o’clock?”

  “Right,” Baxter replied. “And don’t forget the fifty cents.”

  Beth joined Aidan’s side. “I can’t wait to see our photograph.”

  “You now have the embarrassing evidence to bribe me into doing anything you wish,” he said, knowing he would give her the world, anyway.

  Beth fluttered her eyelashes. “I’ll keep that in mind.”

  Chapter Forty-Five

  Beth couldn’t erase the smile from her face as Aidan ushered her to the traffic lights and across the road. He had looked adorable in his Uncle Sam costume. She was happy he’d been such a good sport about it.

  As they walked along East Sixty-Eighth Street, she read the street signs. They passed Madison Avenue, Park Avenue, and then turned right onto Lexington Avenue. She loved the energy of the city, the traffic, even the crowds. The view was picturesque, and the atmosphere, exciting.

  “So you’ve never been on the subway before?” Aidan said over the loud car horns and rustling trees lining the sidewalk.

  “No, I haven’t. Henry, my studio chaperone, told me it’s too dangerous.”

  Aidan rolled his eyes. “He’s exaggerating.”

  Beth’s eyebrows furrowed. “It isn’t dangerous?”

  Aidan shrugged. “Well, for a young woman, alone in the city, yeah, maybe—more so at night. But like I said yesterday, as long as you’re with me, you have nothing to worry about. I’ll take care of you.”

  Aidan took her hand, which had become a natural, comfortable occurrence for her in the short amount of time they had been together today, and led her down into the subway.

  As they descended the stairs, Beth heard the rumbling of the trains underground. It was humid at the bottom, even in the absence of sunlight, and a stale odor lingered in the stuffy air. They walked down a dismal hallway. A Spike Rollins poster was mounted on the wall ahead. She stopped and surveyed Aidan’s tough pose in the advertisement.

  Aidan turned to her, his eyebrows drawn. “What’s wrong?”

  Beth dropped his hand and pointed behi
nd him. “Nothing. I was just thinking it must be wonderful to see yourself on a poster, especially for a film you’re proud of. I haven’t seen any Sparking Meadow advertisements yet, but apparently they’re around, too.”

  “Yeah, I guess.” Aidan dropped his gaze to the floor.

  Beth frowned. “You don’t think so?”

  Aidan placed his hands into his jacket pockets. “To be completely honest, it’s creepy seeing my face everywhere—newspapers, magazines, posters. And I don’t think I’ll ever get used to strangers recognizing me on the street.”

  Beth weighed his words. His humble attitude was refreshing after spending the last few days with Will. “I never viewed it that way. I just looked at it from an acting standpoint and how accomplished you must feel to have a brilliant performance under your belt in a film everyone loves.” She paused. “But now that I think about it, it must be pretty bizarre having strangers know your name and interested in your every move.”

  Aidan shifted on his feet. “Yeah, it is. I can’t explain it, but I guess I don’t need to. You’ll experience it firsthand after your film is released.”

  Beth studied the defiant look on Aidan’s face in the poster. “My film won’t make the impact Spike Rollins did. Not to mention my talent isn’t nearly a match for yours.”

  Aidan moved to the side, blocking her view of the advertisement. Their eyes met. “I might not have seen your performance in Sparkling Meadow yet, but I have no doubt you’ve done a great job with your character.”

  Beth’s cheeks turned scarlet. “Thank you, that’s very nice of you to say. But I still think your performance in Spike Rollins is the best I’ve ever seen from any actor in any film.”

  Aidan took a step forward. He was so close that she felt his breath on her face. “I gotta tell ya, Beth, out of all the praise I’ve received, your opinion means the most to me.”

  Beth stared into his eyes, swept away by the unassailable sincerity and passion they possessed. Then someone bumped into her from behind, ruining her moment.

  Aidan caught her as she stumbled forward. His eyes scorched as he focused down the corridor. “Hey, watch where you’re going!”

  “You watch it!” the perpetrator said before disappearing around the corner.