Hollywood Player: Hollywood Name Game Book 3

by Alexa Aston

  Sydney nodded sheepishly.

  “Are you kidding me?” He stopped, his thoughts jumbled. He’d only been joking but the look on her face told him she wasn’t.

  “Don’t think that.”

  “How do you know what I’m thinking?”

  “I just do.”

  “Sydney, you’re a golden girl. You have the Hollywood royalty pedigree going for you with your parents. You have a college degree and you graduated from Yale Law. I barely made it out of high school.” Dash wondered if he’d gotten in over his head. If he were even good enough for her. “I bounced around doing menial jobs until I started landing bit parts. It’s taken me over ten years to get to where I am.”

  “You think we’re mismatched.” She began chewing on her bottom lip, not realizing what a turn on it was to him.

  He put his hands on her shoulders. “Not necessarily. But I’m thinking that I pushed you into this relationship. I have a tendency to come on strong when I want something. I don’t mean to manipulate people but it happens.”

  “I’m not easily swayed, Dash. After all, I have a high IQ. And I graduated first in my law school class. At Yale, no less.”

  Dash laughed out loud. He liked her sass. He gave her a bear hug. “Okay. I’m smarter than I pretend to be. I skated through high school because I was bored. Even if I weren’t that smart, I’m at least smart enough to have latched on to you.” He kissed the top of her head. “I’ll try not to embarrass you in public or when we’re with friends.”

  “You’ll never embarrass me, Dash.” She sounded so sincere. Her belief in him made him feel as if he were ten feet tall. He would do everything in his power not to let this woman down.

  They changed back into the clothes they’d worn up to Malibu. Sydney brushed her hair out and put it back into a ponytail. He wrapped his hand around the back of her neck.

  “I love your hair pulled up like this. You have a very slender, very sexy neck, Miss Revere. I like looking at it with your hair swept off it.”

  Dash loved the blush that sprouted on her cheeks.

  She ran her nails along his forearm. “I love you in a crisp white shirt with your sleeves rolled up. You have very tanned, very sexy forearms. I like looking at them with your sleeves pushed back.”

  He laughed again. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d laughed so much in a woman’s company. He hoped that she’d pass the Herc test.

  Because if she didn’t, Dash didn’t know what he’d do.

  Traffic was heavy heading south. They didn’t pull through his gates until right before seven.

  “You live here? I could walk to your place from Dad’s house.”

  “I did the other night when I met with him the first time. I drove today because I was afraid I’d trip and fall and show up at the audition with a skinned chin and dirty shirt.”

  He came around and let her out of the car.

  “That was only this morning? Gosh, your audition seems like a lifetime ago.” As they walked to the front door, Sydney said, “I like your house. The landscaping’s nice. Great colors. A thoughtful layout. ”

  He shrugged. “I like flowers.”

  “Hmm. You cook. You like flowers. There has to be something wrong with you,” she mused.

  “I don’t eat Brussel sprouts. Or beets.”

  When he didn’t move, she teasingly asked, “Are we going inside? Or did you only plan to show me the outside of your house and save inside for another time?”

  Gathering his courage, he said, “I brought you here because it’s important that you meet someone. My brother.”

  Her face lit up. “I get to meet your brother? You are getting serious fast, DeLauria.” She waited a beat and then said, “Well, come on. Open the door. Or are you worried I may find your brother so attractive that I dump your ass for him?”

  “Herc is mentally challenged.” There. It was out. The ball was in Sydney’s court.

  She took his hand, threading her fingers through his. “Thank you,” she said softly.

  “For what?” he asked, puzzled.

  Her green eyes glowed at him as her fingers squeezed his. “For trusting me to meet your brother. He’s important to you—so he’s important to me.”

  “I just wanted to prepare you.”

  He unlocked the front door and escorted her inside. This was a big move on his part. Yet he thought it was a risk worth taking. Herc was enthusiastically all in, whatever he did. If Sydney were going to be in Dash’s life, that meant being in Herc’s, too.

  He watched her assess things as she looked at his office on the right and then entered the den.

  “Very nice. Cozy yet casually chic.”

  “Glad you approve.”

  “Dash!” Herc came bounding around the corner, wearing one of his many Mickey Mouse T-shirts and denim shorts. He had a bath towel pinned around his neck, which flared out as he ran into the room.

  Herc stopped and gawked at Sydney. “You’re really pretty. I’m Herc. Who are you?”

  Dash held his breath.

  Without missing a beat, she said, “I’m Sydney, Herc. Are you Dash’s brother?”

  “Uh-huh.” Herc waved his arms wide. “I’m also a superhero. I fight crime.”

  “That’s why you wear a cape,” Sydney said. “I bet it helps you fly.”

  Herc glanced around before he confided, “I don’t really fly. I pretend I can.”

  “I used to have my mom pin a cape on me, just like yours. I’d climb on my bicycle and ride as fast as I could down the hill by our house. I loved how the wind would catch my cape and let it fly behind me. Can you ride a bike, Herc?”

  “Dash said he’s gonna buy me one soon.”

  “Once he does, I’ll help you learn how to ride it.”

  “All right!” Herc took Sydney’s hand. “Come look at my room. What’s your name again?”

  “Sydney. I’d love to see your room.”

  Herc led Sydney down the hall. She never looked back at Dash once. All of her attention was focused on Herc.

  Dash blinked back the tears welling in his eyes. Herc liked Sydney.

  And she liked Herc.

  Dash went into the kitchen. Tim was putting a large pasta pot filled with water on to boil. “Hey, Dash. Glad you made it home in time for dinner. Herc was hoping you would. How did your audition go?”

  “I got the part.”

  Tim frowned in confusion. “You mean you got the callback?” Tim had been with them long enough to understand how the process worked.

  “No. I mean they offered me the role. They’ve already called Pamela to set up a meeting to negotiate the contract.”

  Tim pumped Dash’s hand. “That’s terrific.”

  “And I brought a girl home.”

  Tim stopped and dropped Dash’s hand. He studied his employer carefully. “Okay,” he said slowly. “Where is she?”

  “With Herc. He’s showing her his bedroom.”

  Those few words told Tim everything he needed to know. The caregiver knew how protective Dash was of Herc. How Dash didn’t introduce Herc to any woman that he slept with.

  Tim couldn’t contain his smile. “She must be pretty special.”

  Dash grinned back. “She is, Tim. I’m not sure what I did to deserve her.” He let out a deep breath. “I think I’ll go check on them now. Put enough spaghetti in the pot for the four of us. Sydney’s staying for dinner.”

  “Sydney. I like that name.”

  “You’re going to really like her, Tim.”

  “I already do.”

  Dash strolled back to Herc’s room. He could hear his brother talking a mile a minute long before he reached the open doorway. He stood watching Herc interact with Sydney.

  “I keep my comic books here. That’s where my chapter books go. I can read them a little bit. And here are my cars. And these are my games. Do you like Candy Land, Sydney? I love Candy Land.”

  “I see Chutes and Ladders, Herc. That’s one of my favorite games. Maybe we ca
n play it after dinner.”

  Herc looked at her in astonishment. “You’re gonna eat with us? Yea!” He clapped his hands together.

  Sydney joined in the clapping, a smile on her face. She leaned over and hugged Herc. Dash saw happiness shining on his brother’s face. If he thought he’d fallen in love with Sydney on the beach, that one simple gesture assured him a thousand times over that he’d given his heart to the right woman.

  “But I hafta show you Ginger. You’re gonna love Ginger.” Herc scrambled over to the bed and picked up a worn stuffed animal. He handed it to Sydney. “This is my dog.”

  She stroked it lovingly and then kissed the top of the dog’s head. “I like Ginger. She’s a very sweet dog.”

  “She is!” Herc exclaimed. He looked up and spotted Dash. “Sydney likes Ginger, Dash. We’re gonna play Chutes and Ladders.”

  “We can all play after dinner. Go wash up for dinner.”

  “And potty?”

  “If you need to,” Dash said.

  Herc went into the bathroom.

  “Shut the door, Herc. Remember. Manners.”

  “Okay, Dash,” his brother called out. The door closed.

  Sydney gave Dash a warm smile. “He’s a great guy.”

  “Herc is the reason my mom left. She couldn’t handle his disability. He’ll always be around five or six, mentally.”

  She came and put her arms around his waist. “Your mom missed out then. On both of you.”

  “I’m Herc’s legal guardian,” Dash explained. “When Dad died, I was an adult. I couldn’t let Herc go into a group home. He’s all the family I have.” He paused. “Herc will always be with me, Sydney. Wherever I live, Herc will have a home there.”

  “I think you’re an amazing man, Dash DeLauria.” She gave him a soft, sweet kiss.

  “You’re pretty amazing yourself.” He kissed her back.

  “Kissing, kissing,” Herc said in a sing-song voice. “You like Sydney, Dash.”

  Dash kissed her again. “I sure do, Herc.”

  His brother gave them a bashful smile. “I like Sydney, too, but she can be your girlfriend, Dash.”

  “Thanks, Herc. Let’s go help Tim with the spaghetti, okay?”

  “Okay!” Herc skipped out of the room.

  Sydney touched her palm to his cheek. “I like being your girlfriend, Dash DeLauria. A lot.”

  “I like having a girlfriend, Sydney Revere. A lot.”

  They followed Herc into the kitchen. Dash introduced her to Tim, who was stirring the spaghetti sauce. Sydney offered to set the table, saying it was her only useful kitchen skill.

  “Other than phoning for take-out or delivery,” she added.

  Herc helped her arrange the plates and silverware and showed her the drawer where the napkins were kept.

  “Cloth napkins for you men,” she said. “I’m very impressed.”

  Tim drained the pasta and removed the sauce from the stove while Dash took the salad from the refrigerator. Herc hurried over to get the bottle of Italian dressing and the tub of butter.

  “We have rolls, Sydney,” Herc shared, his eyes gleaming. “They taste good. They have . . .” He frowned. “What’s that called, Dash?”

  “Yeast.”

  “Yeah, yeast. Dash puts yeast in the rolls. It makes ‘em taste good.”

  Sydney gave him an appreciative look. “You made the rolls?”

  “And the marinara sauce,” Tim added, trying to make Dash look good in front of their guest.

  They gathered around the table. Herc said his usual short and sweet prayer and then they dug in.

  Half an hour later, Sydney pushed back her plate. “That was outstanding. You really can cook, Dash.”

  “Tim made the spaghetti,” Herc reminded her.

  “Oh, yes. Thank you, Tim,” she told the caregiver.

  “Dessert, anyone?” Dash asked.

  “Me!” cried Herc.

  Sydney and Tim shook their heads no so Dash went and pulled a chocolate chip cookie from the cookie jar. “One? Or two?”

  “One. Please,” said Herc.

  Dash gave his brother the cookie. Herc ate it while they cleared the table. Tim excused himself, saying he wanted to catch up on his emails so that left the three of them to play the board game. Herc retrieved it and set it up. He had everyone choose a playing piece.

  After one game, Herc begged to play again, but Dash said, “Time to get ready for bed. And I have to take Sydney home.”

  “Are you coming back?” Herc asked.

  “If you want me to,” she said.

  “You’re Dash’s girlfriend. You should come back.” He paused and then smiled. “You could move in with us, Sydney. That would be great.”

  Dash watched her hide a smile. “Thank you for your offer, Herc, but I’ve just moved back to California from a far off place called Boston. I’d like to stay with my dad for now. Is that okay?”

  “Sure. Want to watch me brush my teeth? And scrape my tongue?”

  “I’d love to.”

  Dash watched Herc take Sydney’s hand and lead her to his bedroom. He followed and took pleasure as Herc told her all about his Mickey Mouse T-shirt collection. Sydney praised him for his excellent teeth brushing and tongue scraping skills. Then Herc put on his pajamas and climbed into bed.

  “Tuck me in.”

  Dash went and pulled the covers up. “Goodnight. Sleep tight. In the morning, you’ll be all right. Love you, buddy.”

  “Love you, Dash.” Herc looked at Sydney with sweet innocence. “Love you, Sydney.”

  “Love you, Herc,” she said softly.

  Dash clicked on the night light that Herc insisted on having lit every night. He switched off the lamp on the nightstand. Herc closed his eyes. Within seconds, his brother fell asleep.

  Dash motioned for Sydney to leave. She stepped into the hall as he closed Herc’s door. He looked at her and saw everything he could possibly want. He had no reason to hide his feelings. It didn’t matter that others might think it too soon. He had to speak what was in his heart.

  Dash said, “Love you, Sydney. For real.”

  CHAPTER 16

  Wake Marshall entered the coffee shop and glanced around. No Marker in sight. He ordered a black coffee and sat at a table in the corner so he could see the door. He wondered what news Marker had about Sydney.

  Wake didn’t understand why he couldn’t let his ex-wife go. Maybe it was because divorce felt like losing and he’d always been a competitor who won. After his dad lost all their money in a Ponzi scheme and killed himself to keep from going to prison, Wake had to fight to earn everything. He’d been humiliated having to leave his private prep school for a public high school. His strong grades won him an academic scholarship to Princeton. He’d combined loans and grants to get through Yale Law. He landed his dream job with a New York law firm.

  Then Sydney walked out on him. It ate him alive. He’d been jealous of her that first day he’d laid eyes on her in Civil Procedure class. She knew the answer to every question a professor asked, even the curveballs meant to trip her up. He wanted to edge her out on every test. He offered to be her study partner, wanting to see what made her tick. Despite her stellar track record, Wake could see Sydney Brown had zero confidence.

  The funny thing was, he found her really sweet. Likeable. Little by little, he’d fallen in love with her. It still irked him when he fell short by a few hundredths of a point in GPA and she took the top slot at graduation. But by then, they were engaged and a team.

  She proved very tentative in the bedroom. She wasn’t a virgin but Wake didn’t think she’d had much experience with men. Because of that, he treated her very gently. Nothing rough. Always soft words and loving hands. She had a firm body with curves in all the right places and tried her best to please him. When he pulled off the huge glasses and pushed away the hair that always hid half her face, she was a very attractive woman. It was his little secret that she was beautiful. The rest of the world never seemed to not
ice.

  Wake had a dark side he’d inherited from his father. He’d found the old man’s porn stash when he was ten. Hundreds of images of bondage and incredible kinky stuff which fascinated him. He got off on it. That meant he had to look elsewhere to satisfy certain needs. He couldn’t introduce Sydney to that world or she’d run away screaming and never look back.

  His mistake was bringing that hooker home with him. He always took care of private business away from his personal life, never wanting the two to intersect. The one time he’d let it invade his home space had been a huge mistake. Wake thought it was safe. Middle of the morning. Sydney worked incredibly long hours, even longer than he did, so he didn’t expect her for another ten or twelve hours. When she walked in to retrieve a flash drive she’d accidentally left at home and found them—and saw what he was doing to the woman—Wake knew by the horror on her face that he’d lost her for good.

  No amount of pleading or apologizing had been good enough for her. She didn’t understand that world—or his dark needs—and never would. He could still see the disgust on her face. She immediately filed for divorce. Didn’t want a penny in alimony. Quit her firm and left with no forwarding address.

  At first, Wake enjoyed having the apartment to himself. Reveled in his new freedom. Then he came to realize that he was addicted to Sydney. To her goodness. Her steadiness. That’s when he hired Marker. The ex-cop found Sydney in Boston. Kept tabs on her for him. Wake didn’t care how Marker got his information. The PI regularly provided pictures of Sydney, with details about her daily routine and the cases she worked. She didn’t have any life outside of her law firm. She was friendly with her assistant, Brenda, and had no social life, other than work functions the firm’s partners required her to attend.

  Wake tried calling her. Emailing her. She shut him down every time. He’d sent flowers on multiple occasions. No response. He was starting to go a little crazy for wanting her when Marker told him last week that she’d abruptly left Boston. Wake took the next shuttle from LaGuardia and slipped her super a few twenties so he could see inside her apartment. She’d left in a hurry. Clothes still in the closet. Furniture and dishes left behind. He dug through every drawer and looked in every cabinet but nothing personal remained.