A-List Kiss: A Laugh-Out-Loud Romantic Comedy

by Brenda Lowder

  The fourth man leaned by the window to my right. I glanced at him and then did a double take. He was one of the most attractive men I’d ever seen. The most attractive man I’d seen IRL. His hair was short and dark brown, and he was tall, easily over six feet. He was lean but muscular and wore his dark suit like it was part of him. His broad shoulders and narrow waist looked perfectly accented in the tailored fabric.

  Hotness by the window met my gaze and, with a steely edge in his voice, said, “You can’t be here right now.”

  “It’ll just take a minute.” I began inching my way to the bathroom. Was Gavin hiding in there? Maybe he was still getting ready. I was told that he knew about this interview and would be expecting me. Weird. Maybe this was some coup by his agent. Maybe his agent was kidnapping him. Wouldn’t it be so great if I discovered his agent’s evil plot and saved Gavin’s life? Then Gavin would have to sleep with me. He’d say it was the least he could do, but really he’d want to because he’d suddenly know that this green-eyed, luscious temptress—that’s me—was the one woman he’d been waiting for all his life. Just like I’d been waiting for him. He’d scoop me up in his manly arms and throw me down onto the divan—I didn’t have one, but they always seemed to be on hand for love scenes—and tear the buttons off my new Versace silver-green dress—which I also didn’t own but had seen the last time my friend Corey had taken me shopping—trying to get me naked, and I wouldn’t even care about having to sew the buttons back on later.

  Yes. I had to get into that bathroom and see what was going on.

  The four guys were all shooting glances at each other. Drama was definitely afoot. Gavin had to be tied up somewhere waiting for me to save him. Forget about a celebrity charity interview. This was going to be national news, and I was going to be the hero.

  I edged farther toward the bathroom and Froggy Voice grasped my arm. I jerked my arm away, reeling backward, and caused close-walking Todd to trip and fall behind me.

  At Todd’s stumble, the whole room erupted into motion. Soap Opera guy on the couch pulled a gun out of his blazer and fired it, hitting the wall to my right. The sound was deafening. Everyone in the room went crazy. Froggy Voice cowered in a puddle near the floor with his hands over his head. Todd was already on the floor since he’d fallen and apparently had decided to stay there. Buzz Cut jumped on top of Soap Opera guy, trying to deflect the gun, and Hotness by the window was…jumping on top of me. My new cell phone went flying, and I fell on my back with an umph as two-hundred-plus pounds of hard sculpted muscle flattened me to the floor.

  Chapter Two

  Get down!” he yelled. I was already down, with him on top of me, and I stayed down. Hotness reached under his suit coat and pulled out a gun.

  Oh my gosh. Was I going to die? Was I going to die before meeting Gavin Braddock? I wouldn’t let myself think like that. Meeting Gavin was my fate. I had so much to live for.

  I peered around as much as I could in my flattened-on-the-floor position. It was like I’d wandered into a real-life movie. Maybe this was a movie! Would Gavin film a scene in his hotel room? And, um, if so, wouldn’t he be in it? I was too shocked to be as frightened as I should have been, but then there was also the very hot guy who was lying on top of me, who was distracting. He disentangled himself from me and slowly got to his feet, dropping his gun-holding arm down to his side.

  “Damn it!” he exploded, glaring down at me. “What are you doing here?”

  I rose up on my elbows. “I’m here to get my interview?”

  His jaw dropped and he shook his head. “Before the perp is even in custody? In five seconds you blew six months of work.” His look of disgust was real as he tucked his gun back into its holster.

  “I’m sorry?”

  I climbed to my feet and studied the room. Froggy Voice and Soap Opera Guy had lost no time hightailing it out the door and were nowhere to be seen. Todd was still hugging the floor behind me.

  Buzz Cut yelled into a walkie-talkie while casting glowering looks in my direction with every other word.

  “You should be sorry!” Hotness’s piercing blue eyes blazed.

  “Is the scene over?” It had to be a scene. There was no evidence for the Gavin-kidnapped-by-his-agent scenario. I silently kissed goodbye to my hero status.

  “Scene? Is that what they’re calling the news now? Figures.” He shot me a disbelieving glare that managed to be both condescending and full of blame. “You barge into an FBI raid with your high heels and tight skirt and try to interview my suspect before he’s even in custody?”

  “This is real?” A chill shivered through me as I processed those were actual bullets he’d protected me from.

  His eyes widened. “Did you think you were dreaming? Yeah, this is real. And you almost got people—yourself included—killed. For real. Who leaked you the tip?”

  I shook my head. “No one. I’m here to interview Gavin Braddock.”

  Hotness, who was so mean he didn’t deserve his good looks or to be called hot, glared at me until he rolled his eyes.

  “Wrong. Room.”

  Yeah, I’d figured that out. “I’m sorry. What was this about?” The slight bit of a reporter in me wanted to know.

  “None of your business,” he growled.

  “Of course not, I was only shot at because of it.” Anger bubbled up inside of me. Actual bullets had whizzed past me. I could’ve died. Moments away from meeting Gavin Braddock.

  “Yeah, and who saved you from your ignorant choices?” He shook his head.

  I blinked at him, putting my hands on my hips and crowding into his personal space. “Ignorant choices? Are you kidding? I didn’t rob a bank. I walked into a hotel room through a door that had been opened for me.” Mostly. “The only ‘ignorant choice’ I’m making is talking to you.” I started to storm away, but he stopped me with a light touch on my arm.

  He blew out a breath and ran a hand through his hair. His tensed-up shoulders dropped an inch. “I guess I can tell you since it’s all blown to hell.” He leaned against the back of the couch and folded his arms over his broad chest. “This was the biggest case of my career. Ten billion dollars’ worth of industrial espionage. Those two men have been stealing trade secrets from America’s top companies and selling them to competing firms in China.” His pointed glare made my stomach twist.

  “I’m sorry.” And I was. And yet…how much of this was truly my fault? Or Todd’s, whom he didn’t seem to be blaming at all.

  “Sorry!” Todd yelled from his place on the floor. Good. I wasn’t in this alone.

  But come on, the case must not have been that airtight if my walking into the room completely obliterated it. Maybe Hotness just wasn’t a very good FBI agent. I leaned against the armchair and fixed my shoe that had come askew in my assisted tumble to the floor.

  “They were deciding whether to trust me with the information. They were supposed to believe I was just another well-connected criminal looking to make some serious bank. Thanks to you all, that went out the window.”

  I bit my lip. I didn’t know what to say to that. Sorry I ruined your case, but I really need to find Gavin Braddock so he can love me. This interview wasn’t just about meeting Gavin. All my life I’d harbored the secret belief that meeting him would be the beginning of an epic love story. There’d be a spark between us that would ignite—the start of our happily-ever-after flame. And this was only throwing water over me. “It’s obvious that I’m in your way. Think I’ll just head on out.” I bent and retrieved my bag from the floor and looked around for my cell phone. I found it two feet to my left, picked it up, and stuffed it in my purse. “I can’t be late for my interview.” I turned to where my cameraman still cowered. “Come on, Todd.”

  I stared at Todd until he finally moved to follow me, and then I ran before things got even more fun.

  Like somebody deciding I needed to be detained for questioning.

  ∞∞∞

  “Braden, so nice to see you again. It turns out that
408 was not actually the room I was looking for.” I startled Braden as I approached the reception desk for the second time that day.

  He paled. “You’re not covering the big FBI bust? It’s the most exciting thing that’s ever happened here.”

  “Actually, I’m here to interview Gavin Braddock, world-famous actor and philanthropist. But somehow I ruined a sting operation and now the FBI hates me.”

  Braden gulped. He was probably contemplating how much the FBI hated him now as well.

  “So if you’d direct me to Gavin Braddock, that would be fantastic.” I drummed my fingers on the counter.

  “I’m truly sorry, ma’am. Sometimes a wink is not very specific.”

  “No problem,” I said, even though I’m pretty sure it had been a big problem for the FBI, but I was still trying to get Gavin’s room number. “I know he’s using a pseudonym, but I don’t remember it.”

  “Mr. Braddock is staying in our Tournament of Roses suite. If you’ll follow me, I’ll show you how to get there.”

  “Thank you.” I grabbed Todd’s arm to make sure he’d keep up, and together we followed Braden to a private elevator.

  Braden inserted a key and pressed the penthouse button.

  “That’s it?” I said. “That was way too easy.”

  “That’s it.” Yup, Braden knew he screwed up big time sending me to 408. He was letting me skip the hoop-jumping and go straight to Gavin. “You’ll have to hurry—much of the press has already been and gone.”

  “Thank you, Braden,” I called to his retreating back.

  Todd and I stepped onto the elevator. As the doors closed in front of me, I stared at my reflection in the polished metal surface for the second time that day and realized I wasn’t exploding with nervous energy anymore. My brush with death in room 408 had knocked all the anxiety out of me.

  When the elevator arrived on Gavin’s floor, Todd and I stepped into the business area of the suite. A trim redhead with a clipboard and cat-eye glasses walked toward me, heels clicking on the marble floor. “Name, please?”

  “Hi, Eden Perry with KLLA news,” I said. “Sorry I’m a little late. I had, um, an accident before I could get here.”

  “She fell down,” Todd said. I turned and shot him a withering glare. He upped the ante. “She falls down a lot. All that drinking—makes her late for stuff all the time.” The redhead glanced from Todd to me like she couldn’t decide which of us was the crazy one.

  “I’m sorry.” She addressed her apology to both of us. “Mr. Braddock has concluded interviews for today. I’m sure you can understand he has a very busy schedule and did as many as he could. Perhaps next time he’s in town…” She trailed off as she began to usher us back toward the elevator. I knew with a blazing certainty that she would not be getting rid of us if we were Access Hollywood or Entertainment Tonight. Celebrities consider local news interviews tantamount to charity work. But I wasn’t going to get this close to the man I’d loved all my life without an interview—or at least a fight.

  The redhead rested her hand lightly on my back as she herded us toward the elevator. I spun away from her, but my escape was short-lived as I crashed into a small occasional table and crystal vase. I tumbled to the floor along with the table and the vase which made a thunk and crash respectively. For the second time in an hour I was dazed on the floor, this time surrounded by splinters of glass.

  “See?” Todd said, raising his eyebrows. “She falls down a lot.” He made the drinky-drinky motion to the redhead.

  I got to my feet, swaying with dizziness, which probably validated Todd’s drinking comments.

  “What was that?” Gavin Braddock strode into the room, and I have no excuse for what happened next. I fainted.

  ∞∞∞

  When I came to, I was lying on something much more comfortable than broken glass on a marble floor. Down-filled pillows cushioned my head, and a brushed-cotton comforter enveloped my body. Such softness, until…

  “Ow!” I yelped.

  “Sorry.” Gavin looked sheepish. Gavin! He was sitting on the edge of the bed—the same bed I was on—swabbing a cut on my leg with an alcohol-doused cotton ball. Gavin was touching me! I took a moment to absorb The Gavin Braddock in person. He was every bit as handsome in real life as he was on screen. A lock of his dark blond hair fell in front of his mesmerizing ocean-blue eyes, and he pushed it away. His tall, lanky-but-muscled body had a barely contained energy that made him seem like a carefully controlled force bucking to be unleashed. His strong hands were gentle on my leg, despite the stinging alcohol.

  “It’s okay.” I was amazed that my voice sounded like me being normal and not swinging from the rafters like my insides were. “Where am I?” I asked, even though I was completely unconcerned with the answer. We could be in an underground bunker in Siberia and I’d still be vibrating at a frequency not even dogs could hear.

  “My room,” he said.

  Okay, I was wrong. I was greatly concerned with the answer. The answer was everything. My already-racing pulse sprinted.

  He went on. “There was just so much glass that I had to move you, and the couches in the sitting room are hard. Thought you’d be more comfortable here. How are you feeling?”

  “Okay, I think.” I lay still for a minute and assessed the damage. I had a bit of a headache. My elbows, hips, and knees were sore. I tried to lean forward to get a better look at my cuts.

  “No,” Gavin said. “Absolutely no getting up yet. I have a doctor on his way here to check you out.”

  “That’s not necessary. I’m fine.” I was starting to feel embarrassed by the attention. I didn’t need a doctor to tell me I had some bumps and bruises, and it looked like Gavin was doing a fine job of first aid. My skin tingled up and down my right leg where he held it. And that had nothing to do with the antiseptic.

  “I insist.” Gavin’s eyes held mine, and I forgot to breathe. Did he really care so very much? Maybe. Or maybe he was just afraid I was going to sue him and wanted to certify that I didn’t have any actionable injuries. Yup, movie star protecting his assets.

  “Really, I’m okay.” I made a weak attempt to sit up. “I won’t sue you or anything. It was completely my fault. Sorry about your vase.”

  He huffed. “Eden, I don’t care about the vase. It belonged to the hotel, and I’m paying them not to care. I feel terrible that you’re hurt. I won’t let you wander off, bleeding from a head wound.”

  I blinked at him. Warmth stretched across my heart. “You know my name.”

  Gavin smiled. “Todd told me.”

  A slight sinking feeling rolled through me as I wondered what else Todd had told him. “Of course. Did he also tell you I drink excessively?”

  “No.” Gavin leaned forward with interest. “Do you?”

  I slumped back on the sumptuous pillows and gave them a covert squeeze. Ah, the texture of Gavin’s pillow. “Never. But he likes to give me a hard time.”

  He laughed, eyes twinkling, head thrown back, exposing the perfect line of his jaw. “Well, I would too. I think I’d say anything to get your attention.” Gavin’s cheeks dimpled with his promise-filled grin.

  My stomach jumped. I was in danger of losing consciousness again. Gavin Braddock just said what to me? I must be hallucinating. Or dead. Was I dead? Would I know if I were dead?

  “Ow!” I yelped at another application of the stinging alcohol. Nope, not dead.

  “Sorry. I have to finish cleaning these cuts. I don’t want them to get infected. Here. That should do it.” He put the cap back on and set the bottle on the bedside table.

  There was a knock on the door. “Come in,” he called over his shoulder.

  An older man carrying a black medical bag entered the room. “Mr. Braddock, I’m Dr. Hurst.”

  The doctor grasped Gavin’s hand in a firm handshake and smiled. He looked pleased to be touching the movie star. I wondered if he’d carry the story home to kids or grandkids who’d want to hear every detail of meeting the famous
actor. “Leon. You can call me Leon. If you want.” Even Dr. Hurst was flustered in Gavin’s presence. “I’m told that your lady friend had a fall.” The doctor pushed his glasses higher up on his nose and regarded Gavin with unconcealed interest.

  Hmmm…“lady friend.” Old fashioned, I know, but it tickled me to no end to be referred to as Gavin Braddock’s lady friend. To my surprise, Gavin said nothing to set him straight as to our extremely limited acquaintance.

  “Yes, Doctor. Thank you for coming.” Gavin gestured to me on the bed.

  The doctor approached me with a skeptical eye, but it was Gavin he spoke to. “I see you’ve cleaned the lacerations. Nicely done.” He glanced at me before turning to Gavin. “If you’ll excuse us, I’ll examine the patient.”

  Gavin sent me an encouraging smile and left the room. I watched him go, his rear view so much better in real life than on my Pinterest board.

  I wanted to call out something to make him stay. I felt like the second he left my sight he’d cease to be the flesh-and-blood Gavin Braddock who recognized my existence and return to being the play of shadow and light and color on the movie screen.

  The doctor checked my pupils and then poked and prodded me. He also quizzed me on the date, day of the week, and who was President. I got them right. Yay, me.

  “Well, my dear, you don’t appear to have a concussion. No broken bones, though you have multiple lacerations and will have a couple of nasty bruises. You don’t have any cuts that require stitches. All in all, I’d say you’re a lucky girl.” Dr. Hurst adjusted his glasses again and closed his medical bag.

  I was a very lucky girl. Gavin was in the next room, and I was in his bed. Lucky was an understatement. I still hadn’t ruled out the possibility that I was dreaming.

  The doctor wished me well and left. I stretched my arms over my head and luxuriated in Gavin’s bed. Now that I was alone, I could indulge myself. I snuggled my face into his pillow, breathing deeply. I inhaled a light scent of cologne—clean cotton, crisp ocean air, and a manly heat that was pure Gavin. Images of Gavin kissing me on a white sand beach while we stood next to crystal blue water sprang to mind. I hugged the pillow to my face, closing my eyes and slipping into the fantasy.