Hollywood Enigma: Hollywood Name Game Book 5

by Alexa Aston

  To think about her in such terms made him sound certifiably crazy. He’d spent half a dozen hours with Scarlett and she hadn’t merely charmed him. She’d caused him to fall head over heels for her. He could have kissed her all night long and into next week. The sex between them had been off the charts insane. Yet Wynn knew it wasn’t just physical attraction between them. His feelings for Scarlett ran deeper in one night than any emotion he’d experienced for Stephanie over several years. No other woman had come close to what Wynn thought he’d had with Stephanie.

  Until now.

  He tossed back the sheet and swung his legs from the bed and then reached back and grabbed a pillow. Inhaling deeply, he caught the floral scent Scarlett wore tonight. The longing that ran through him made Wynn promise himself he would do everything he could to prove to her that he wasn’t a shallow actor who only cared for himself.

  Wynn would take every opportunity available and even create some if he had to—but he planned to win Scarlett Corrigan over. Not for a day or month or a year.

  For a lifetime.

  CHAPTER 6

  Scarlett heard her doorbell ring in the distance and buried herself beneath the covers. She wasn’t expecting any packages, much less a visitor. Whoever it was could go the hell away.

  The tone sounded again, frustrating her. She pulled the sheet over her head, wanting to retreat from everything. Then her phone chimed. Her hand snaked out from under the covers and reached around, feeling the nightstand until she found it and brought the cell close.

  Keely.

  Throwing the sheet back, she squinted through swollen eyes to read the message. Oh, boy. Keely was the one at her door.

  Scarlett got out of bed and hurried into the bathroom, where she snagged her robe off a hook and wrapped it around her, belting it as she walked to the front door. She opened it and raised her hand to shield her eyes from the bright sunlight.

  “About time,” Keely said as she breezed past and headed to the kitchen, her hands full.

  Scarlett followed, pushing her hair back, needing caffeine. More sleep.

  Wynn.

  She cursed under her breath at that last thought as Keely opened the cupboard and took out two plates. She closed it and reached into a paper sack on the counter and withdrew two chocolate croissants. Immediately, Scarlett’s mouth watered.

  Keely took a plate and what had to be coffee and turned to hand them to Scarlett. And froze.

  “What’s wrong?” she asked, quickly placing the items down and drawing Scarlett to her.

  She wanted to tell her friend but no words came out, only a huge sob. Tears began flowing as Scarlett cried, gulping and gasping and trying to talk without making a bit of sense. Keely merely held on, murmuring comforting words that Scarlett didn’t comprehend but soothed her all the same. She quieted, hiccupped once, and sighed.

  “I hope that’s caffeine,” she finally got out and pulled away from Keely. Her hands gripped the tall Styrofoam cup and she took the first sip. The hot liquid had just the right amount of sugar and cream. She closed her eyes and sipped again, savoring the brew.

  “Grab your croissant and come talk to me,” Keely said gently.

  Scarlett retrieved her plate and Keely took hers and they moved to the breakfast bar. Keely didn’t push, which Scarlett appreciated. Keely knew Scarlett needed a decent cup of coffee in her every morning before she ever began to make sense. The two sat silently as Scarlett tore pieces of the croissant off but none made it to her mouth. The thought of eating, even her blessed chocolate, had no appeal.

  Pushing the plate toward Keely, she said, “You’re eating for two. Have mine.”

  Her friend accepted the pastry bits and ate a few before moving the plate aside.

  She couldn’t delay any longer. “I fucked up last night. Big time,” she began.

  “With Wynn Gallagher?”

  “Uh-huh.” Scarlett swallowed more coffee, draining the container, wishing she had more.

  “I liked him,” Keely said. “He wasn’t what I thought he’d be like. He was a little quiet to begin with but then he chimed in when he seemed to grow comfortable.” She paused. “Is whatever mistake you made fixable?”

  “I doubt it,” Scarlett said, her tone flat. “I had sex with him.”

  Keely’s eyes widened and then she smiled. “I didn’t see that coming.”

  “Neither did I.” She raked her fingers through her hair, pushing it away from her face. “We looked over the silent auction items and then gambled at the different tables for a couple of hours.”

  “We saw you there. You looked like you were having a great time.”

  “I was. We were. And then he asked me if I wanted to have a drink. I’d really enjoyed his company so I said yes.” Scarlett paused. “He took me back to his bungalow.”

  Keely’s hand shot out and grabbed Scarlett’s wrist. “Did he rape you?”

  “No. Nothing like that. Not at all. Wynn is a real gentleman.”

  Keely’s grip loosened. “Okay.”

  “In fact, it was the best sex of my life. He is absolutely the most fantastic kisser on the planet. We made out forever.” Scarlett smiled, in spite of feeling so low. “It was almost like being a teenager again and discovering kissing.”

  “So, he’s a great kisser. And?” Keely prodded.

  “One thing led to another. Our chemistry was off the charts. Sex with Wynn Gallagher was like making bananas foster. You know, when you add the alcohol to the hot pan and that burst of flames occurs? It wasn’t a spark between us. It was a raging inferno.”

  Scarlett paused, lost in thought of those moments with Wynn. Touching. Tasting.

  “Why do you think it was a mistake?” Keely finally asked.

  “First, he’s a client. A potential client. Or probably not now, not after . . .” Her voice trailed off. “More importantly, he’s . . . Wynn Gallagher. A worldwide phenom who’ll only grow more famous because of that franchise he’s in. I swore to myself yesterday that I was going to put my needs first. My biological alarm clock has gone off at Defcon 5 and won’t stop blaring. I’m running out of time. I can’t do casual dating anymore. I’ve never really been a one-night stand kind of woman, despite last night. Wynn Gallagher is a huge star and hot. Like scorching hot. Like have any woman, anywhere, anytime, anyway hot. He’s not a man who plans to settle down anytime soon.”

  “He told you that?”

  “Told me what?” Scarlett asked, confused.

  “Wynn flat out told you he doesn’t plan to settle down?”

  Scarlett looked away. “No. Actually, I told him that. That he wasn’t the type to do so. That we revolved in separate universes and I’d blown it by being unprofessional and sleeping with a client, especially when I’m trying to turn over a new leaf and find a normal man, not some famous actor, to build a strong relationship with and start a family.” She grimaced. “I pretty much went diarrhea of the mouth on him. All of that came tumbling out pretty quickly.”

  “What did he say?” Keely asked, curiosity written across her face.

  “Not much. I feel pretty guilty, thinking back on it. I had incredible sex with him and then threw a lot of my emotional crap at him. I walked out before he could say much of anything.” She snorted. “Oh, but the lawyer in me offered to still represent him if he could look past everything that had gone down between us. God, I am so ashamed of myself.” Tears spilled down her cheeks.

  Keely reached into her purse and pulled out a packet of tissues and handed it to Scarlett. She mopped her eyes and blew her nose.

  “I’ll never hear from him again. Why would I?”

  “Do you want to?” her friend asked.

  Fresh tears cascaded down her cheeks. “The thing is, yes. Not only professionally. Wynn told Rhett he had some big problem. You know me. I come alive with a challenge. I’d love to be able to help him out. Personally? I regretted everything I said as it was coming out of my mouth. I don’t care if he’s my Mr. Right. I’d be happy with Wyn
n Gallagher being Mr. Right Now.”

  “You don’t mean that, Scarlett,” Keely chided gently.

  “I’m so torn. Wynn was amazing. He was funny and charming.”

  “And the sex was off the charts,” Keely reminded her, grinning.

  “That, too.”

  “Maybe he does want the same things you do, Scarlett. He might’ve told you if you’d given him a chance.”

  “You think?” She wanted to believe that but something held her back.

  “I think if you like him this much, there might be a chance that it could turn into more. If it does, great. If it doesn’t, then it wasn’t meant to be anyway. Wynn’s what, mid-thirties? He might be itching to have kids even more than you. And how does someone like Wynn Gallagher even meet a nice girl? Probably every woman he’s introduced to thinks of him as a superstar—and not a man.” Keely paused. “Even superstars are people first, Scarlett. They have feelings. They want love and happiness, the same as everyone else.”

  She sighed. “I don’t know. I don’t know.”

  “Give it some time. You don’t have to act now. See if he contacts you about repping him. If he doesn’t, maybe it’s because he wants to keep the professional and personal separate. If he does, you can get a better feel after being around him more.” Keely took her hands. “Just don’t close the door on this guy, okay? And remember, you can talk to me about anything.”

  “All right.” Scarlett sighed. “I’ll pull myself together. Thanks for the pep talk but shouldn’t you be at home with Mac? I know how precious your Sundays are together.”

  Keely grinned. “He was eager for me to come see you this morning. He really liked Wynn and wanted me to pump you about how things went between the two of you. Mac nudged me last night. It was while you were throwing the dice. He told me to look at the way Wynn was watching you.”

  “How?”

  “Like there was something there. A connection. Wynn’s face betrayed his interest in you, Scarlett. That man already cares for you. I’m sure of it.”

  “Hmm.”

  “Just food for thought.” Keely stood. “I’m going to head home. Mac promised me a lengthy foot rub after we walk Jax.”

  Scarlett hugged her friend. “That’s what I want,” she said softly. “A guy who’ll rub my feet when I’m pregnant.” She laughed. “Or even when I’m not.”

  She walked Keely to the door. “Keep me posted on how filming goes this week.”

  “Will do.”

  “Love to Mac. And Jax.”

  She closed the door and leaned against it.

  Had she been too abrupt with Wynn? She’d painted him as other men she’d dated, lumping him with self-centered actors whose vanity and ego didn’t allow room for anyone else. Yet Wynn was a huge name in the business. Men like that rarely gave Scarlett Corrigan the time of day. Yes, she was attractive and smart but too many men of her acquaintance wanted their women drop-dead gorgeous, without caring about intelligence or personality. Much less ambitious ones, which she was in spades.

  Was Wynn different? Is that why she’d felt such a connection with him?

  If anything, she had patience. She would take Keely’s advice and see how it played out. If Wynn didn’t contact her about representing him, there might be hope. And if he did?

  She’d make the best of it. Be the consummate professional. Solve whatever problem he had and know she was meant to look elsewhere for, lack of better words, the man of her dreams.

  ◆◆◆

  Wynn parked his Triumph Spitfire and walked a block to Lymon McGraw’s office tower. He knew he was taking a chance by keeping the lunch date he’d made with Scarlett Saturday night. She’d said she was busy all Monday but when he’d pressed, she’d agreed to a working lunch. He was afraid if he called her assistant, Scarlett would back out. Better to show up, lunch in hand. He’d Googled her firm and knew they represented big names from actors to musicians to athletes. Wynn bet she wouldn’t want to be seen turning him away in front of her colleagues.

  Sometimes, it did pay to be Wynn Gallagher, AKA Carbon Man, and noted Hollywood celebrity.

  A car pulled up as he reached the tall, glass building. A disheveled delivery guy jumped out, two large white sacks in his hand. His jaw dropped the minute he spotted Wynn. He slammed the car door and rushed over, grinning from ear to ear.

  “I didn’t believe it when they gave me the order, Mr. Gallagher.” He passed over the sacks. “I am a fan. Huge fan. No, huge doesn’t even begin to tell—”

  “Thank you for meeting me,” Wynn interrupted, giving the man an easy smile and slipping him enough to cover the meal and a generous tip.

  Looking in his hand, the guy said, “Thank you!” and then asked, “Could we selfie?”

  “Sure.”

  Quickly, a cell emerged and the delivery guy snapped the photo. Looking at it, he said, “You’re awesome, dude.”

  Wynn gave him a wave and headed into the office building, walking briskly to the elevators. He didn’t want to get involved in any more conversations. Right now, he was a man on a mission. Like a heat-seeking missile, he needed to locate Scarlett Corrigan and put Operation Wynn Her Over into high gear. Fortunately, an elevator was going up and he squeezed in at the last minute. He could tell by the particular silence that blanketed the crowded space that most of the occupants had seen him get in and knew exactly who he was.

  “Fourteen, please,” he said to the woman next to the control panel. She swallowed and nodded at him, quickly pushing the button and then turning to gape at him.

  Wynn was used to it. He’d perfected the art of acknowledging people and then ignoring their stares, knowing he gave off something that said it was fine to gawk—just don’t engage him in conversation.

  The doors opened but no one got out. That was typical. Fans would ignore where they were going in order to ride a few more floors with Carbon Man. Even now, he heard the subtle clicks as passengers took his picture with their cell phones. They’d also be curious as to where he got out and what was located on that floor. Hollywood was filled with spies for the tabloids, everyday working people who phoned in tips to bloggers, reporters, and the paparazzi. By the time he left Lymon McGraw, Wynn knew to expect people to be waiting for him and the Carbon Man sighting to have been logged on half a dozen Internet entertainment sites, maybe more. Twitter would be having a field day, wondering what he’d been up to at the prestigious law firm.

  The elevator arrived at his floor and he exited. Glass doors awaited him and he breezed through them, balancing his sacks as he approached the reception desk.

  A pretty brunette glanced up. She must have been used to seeing heavy hitters on a regular basis because she didn’t blink an eyelid. That—or she was one of four people in America who hadn’t seen an Alpha Tharra Universe movie.

  “May I help you, Mr. Gallagher? I don’t seem to have you scheduled for an appointment.”

  The receptionist did know who he was then. He said, “I made lunch plans with Scarlett Corrigan at a charity fundraiser Saturday night. She said her scheduled was booked solid for Monday but that we could squeeze in a working lunch.” He indicated the bags and gave her a charming smile. “I brought lunch.”

  The receptionist picked up the phone. “Let me speak with her assistant. Miss Corrigan is about to finish up a meeting in one of our conference rooms. I’m sure Erica can get you situated. Excuse me for a minute.”

  She dialed a number and spoke briefly and then gave him a winning smile. “Erica will be here in a moment. In the meantime, is there anything I might be able to get you?”

  “No, thanks.”

  Wynn wandered over to a group of seats and sat, ignoring the stares of a couple waiting there. Within sixty seconds, a trim, petite Asian woman came around the corner and toward him.

  “Erica Chang, Mr. Gallagher. Let me take those for you.”

  “No, I’m fine, Erica.”

  “Please, come with me.”

  She led him along a maze of cor
ridors. “I’m surprised Scarlett didn’t let me know you were coming in for lunch. She’s always on top of things.”

  “We left it in the air,” he said vaguely. “She said she would be available for a working lunch today and I told her I was interested. Then too many people came up and the casino night got so busy, we never got back around to confirming our appointment. I hope that won’t cause any problems.”

  “Not at all,” Erica said smoothly. “I had ordered Scarlett a sandwich from the cart. She’s awful about working straight through lunch. I’ll just eat it myself and save what I brought for tomorrow.”

  They arrived at a door and Erica opened it, indicating for Wynn to come inside. He did, noting the spectacular view of downtown LA the corner office had.

  “You can put lunch on this table,” the assistant said. “I’ll grab some plates. Would you care for anything to drink?”

  “Iced tea if you have it. If not, water is fine.”

  “Have a seat. I’ll be right back.” She glanced at her watch. “Scarlett shouldn’t be too much longer.”

  Wynn opened the first bag and pulled out the steamed Thai dumplings, filled with pork, shrimp, water chestnuts, and mushrooms. For most women in LA, he would’ve ordered the veggie dumplings but Scarlett had attacked her steak and lobster Saturday night with gusto so he felt safe with his choice. He lifted out both soups and heard a noise behind him. Turning, he saw Scarlett standing in the doorway, a bemused look on her face.

  “Hi,” he said, pushing aside the doubt that began to fill him. “I know we spoke about a working lunch today. I decided to follow up and come see you. My problem is pretty pressing.”

  She composed herself and stepped into her office. Setting down an iPad on her desk, she said, “I’m happy you decided to keep our appointment.” Stepping toward him, she inhaled. “Mmm. Smells like Thai.”

  “I hope that’s okay.”

  Her smile reached her eyes, a rarity in a town filled with too many actors and sycophants. “Better than okay. It’s my favorite. Did I tell you that?”