Zach chuckled. Im just trying to get the best performance I can out of Miss Castelle.
KELLY STARED AT her reflection in the dressing-room mirror. Her face was flushed and her eyes bright and it wasnt until a few minutes ago that she was able to breathe normally.
This was crazy! From the moment Zach Haas had stepped out from behind the camera, shed been unable to think, unable to do anything more than just lose herself in every detail of his face and his body. The sound of his voice, the color of his eyes, the shape of his mouth. He was one of those incredibly gorgeous young men, the kind who didnt realize the effect they had on women, the kind who made females of all ages weak in the knees.
In the course of a half hour together, shed managed to convince herself that he was probably the best kisser on the planet, that he had a killer body beneath the baggy cargo pants and T-shirt he wore, and that he could seduce a woman by simply smiling at her.
Yes, he was young. But his playful, boyish nature combined with just a bit of bad-boy attitude and quick-witted intelligence was a lethal combination in a package like that.
Shed pegged his age at twenty-five, give or take two years. If he were only twenty-three, then she was dancing close to perversity. But if he were twenty-seven, then that was nearly thirty. And any man over thirty would be an appropriate choice for her.
Kelly groaned and buried her face in her hands. What was happening to her? Ever since leaving L.A., she felt as if her life were spinning too fast for her to think straight. Was it the heat? Or was she really standing on the precipice of a midlife crisis?
Are you all right?
She sat up and looked at Janes reflection in the mirror, then slowly turned around in the chair. Im fine. Its just been a really long day. I got on a plane this morning at 5:00 a.m. and I havent had a chance to relax since then.
Your car is waiting out front. Hell drive you back to the hotel and pick you up tomorrow afternoon. Were scheduled to tape at three and Zach will probably be available before then to rehearse. If theres a change, Nicole will call you at the hotel.
Thanks, Kelly said. She slowly stood. Again, Im sorry about all the trouble I caused.
Dont worry. Were all looking forward to seeing Zach in front of the camera. Hes usually the one giving us grief about our jobs, now we can give him some grief about his performance.
He seems like a really nice guy, Kelly commented, trying to sound objective and uninterested.
He can be. Hes also an incorrigible flirt and too sexy for his own good. Be careful with that one, Jane warned. I suspect hes talked his fair share of ladies right out of their clothes and into his bed.
I got that feeling, too, Kelly said, forcing a smile.
But then, he is legal, so what goes on between consenting adults is
How old is he? Kelly asked.
Twenty-four, I think. Maybe twenty-five. He was in graduate film school until he started working for the show last winter.
Twenty-four, Kelly mused. Somehow nine years seemed a whole lot more acceptable than eleven. There was a double-digit difference between them!
Well, Jane said, Ill see you tomorrow.
Ill be here, Kelly replied. She stood up and began to gather her things to change back in to her street clothes. She slowly unbuttoned the silk shirt she wore and let it fall off her shoulders. A soft knock sounded on the door and a moment later it opened. She expected to see Jane again, but Zach stepped inside.
Kelly snatched up the shirt and held it over her chest. Hi, she said.
Zachs gaze slowly drifted down her body. Sorry. I didnt mean to
Kelly turned her back to him and slipped in to the shirt again, clutching it closed in the front. What is it?
Nothing important, he said.
She faced him, waiting for an explanation. A frown furrowed his brow and he studied her face for a long moment. Then in a few short strides, he closed the distance between them. Before she could even protest, he captured her face between his hands and kissed her, his mouth melting against hers, his tongue delving into the crease of her lips.
When he finally drew back, Kelly couldnt think of anything to say. Should she be angry or insulted? In truth, her mind was whirling. Zach Haas knew exactly how to kiss a woman. Hed obviously had a lot of practice. After all, shed been fantasizing about it since hed stepped out from behind the camera and it had been so much better than she could have imagined.
There. We got that out of the way, he murmured, running a finger along her cheek.
Out of the way?
I knew if we didnt, Id be thinking about it all night. And since we have to do it in front of the camera tomorrow, I thought we might want to get thebugs out.
So that was just practice? Kelly asked, trying to catch her breath.
Maybe, he said. And little bit of curiosity. Should we try again? Practice makes perfect.
She didnt object and he took that as an invitation. He kissed her again, this time lingering over her mouth until she opened beneath him. The kiss was deep and stirring and Kelly felt a delicious warmth course through her body. What harm could it possibly do to kiss Zach Haas? It certainly was one of the more pleasant experiences of her life. And an actress had to prepare for these things. Besides, she needed something to take her mind off the disaster that had made up the days events. Now, at least she had a bright spot to look back on.
Maybe we should rehearse tonight, Kelly suggested.
A wide grin broke over Zachs face. I think that would be a very good idea. I want to make sure we get it right. It needs to be believable. He slowly backed toward the door, keeping his eyes fixed on her face. Ill call you when I get done at the station.
Yes, call me, she said. Im staying at the Sheraton.
I know, he murmured. Everyone from the show stays there. Ill see you later, then.
See you, Kelly said, giving him a little wave.
When the door closed behind him, she drew a deep breath and groaned. Oh, God, what was she doing? Every instinct told her to keep her relationship with Zach strictly professional. And every impulse told her to do the opposite. He was just sohot! And it had been a long time since shed indulged in the pleasures that a mans body offered.
There had been boyfriends over the years, but Hollywood romances were always rather shallow and short-lived. And Kelly had a unique talent for picking men who were emotionally unavailable. Whenever things came close to getting serious, they usually headed for the door. She once visited a therapist to try to sort it all out and the woman had claimed it was Kelly who was deliberately choosing men who wouldnt stay because she was the one afraid of commitment, afraid of anything coming between her and her career. But who cared about commitment? All she wanted was a chance to kiss Zach Haas again.
Kelly reached up and touched her lips, still damp from his tongue. Her heart was still pounding at a rapid rate and she could barely draw a breath without growing dizzy. She felt silly and nervous and overwhelmed. What difference did age really make anyway? Hell, any man who kissed as well as he did was no novice to seduction. They were two consenting adults who were attracted to each other, so there was nothing standing in the way.
She was just a little bit more adult than he was.
2
KELLY RELAXED in the backseat of the Town Car as it sat stalled in rush-hour traffic. She pulled out her day planner and wrote down her call time for the next day, then flipped through the pages, searching for the number of her yoga instructor. She traded acting lessons for private yoga instruction and shed made plans to meet with Katie tomorrow morning. Plans that would have to be cancelled. McCready, she murmured.
As she was looking through her planner, she passed a familiar name. Angie McMahon. Sweet Nothings. Atlanta, Georgia. She and Angie had been roommatesand best friendsseven years ago, until Angie gave up acting to marry a businessman from Atlanta. They hadnt spoken in almost two years, but still exchanged long letters with each Christmas and birthday card they sent.
Are we near Buckhead? Kelly asked the driver.
About five minutes away, he said. But your hotel isnt in Buckhead.
Im not going to the hotel. I want to go somewhere else if thats all right.
Wherever you want to go, miss, he said. You just have to be there by six. Ive got to make a run out to the airport for a pickup.
I can grab a cab back to the hotel, she said. The shop is called Sweet Nothings. Kelly read off the address and the driver nodded, then made a lane change when they reached the next intersection and turned right. Within minutes, they were moving more quickly.
She and Angie had shared a tiny two-bedroom apartment in West Hollywood for almost three years, while they were both trying to break in to television work. One night, theyd gone out clubbing and Angie had met Joe Sheppard, a devastatingly charming thirty-five-year-old in town on business. After a long-distance romance, theyd fallen in love and married in a lavish ceremony in Santa Barbara. Now, Angie had a four-year-old daughter and owned a lingerie store.
The driver found the location in a matter of minutes and dropped her and her overnight bag at the curb. Kelly walked up to the door and saw by the sign that the shop was open until six on Tuesday evenings. How would it be to see Angie again? They barely had anything in common anymore, beyond the friendship theyd once shared. And at times, Kelly had envied Angies happy marriage and her new family. Her friend had given up her dreams of stardom and simply exchanged them for a better dream.
Kelly opened the door, then set her bag just inside and strode up to the counter. I think my boyfriend is stealing my underwear, she said in desperate tone, recalling an old joke between them. And he likes to wear it. Do you think we should break up?
Angie glanced up and a wide smile broke across her face. Kelly Castelle! What are you doing here? She hurried around the end of the counter and threw her arms around Kellys neck, hugging her tight. I cant believe its you. Gosh, look at you. You havent changed a bit.
Im here for a job. Im doing a segment for Just BetweenUs.
Angie stepped back. The talk show? Really? How long are you going to stay?
Tonight and tomorrow night.
Oh, thats so great! We can have dinner tonight. Joe is out of town on business and Caroline is at Joes sisters place for a birthday sleepover. Im a single woman. At least for one night.
Kelly thought about the offer for a long moment. She didnt really have firm plans with Zach, just plans to make plans. And she had enough trouble controlling herself in his presence. It wouldnt do to tempt the attraction she felt toward him with an evening of kissing rehearsal. All right. Well have dinner.
Oh, drinks first and then dinner. God, I cant believe youre here. It seems like ages ago that we lived together. I miss having a roommate. Its so hard to talk to Joe about that time in my life. He just doesnt get it.
It does seem like it was ages ago. Back then, they were both twenty-seven or twenty-eight and still full of hope about their future. Theyd tell each other nearly every day that their big breaks were just around the corner.
You havent changed, Angie said. I think you might have even gotten more beautiful. Ive been watching for you on television and checking your page on IMD.
My career has slowed down a little. Ever since I got written off on the soap, Ive just had a few jobs. Nothing big. Kelly took a deep breath. In fact, Im thinking about getting out of acting. Im going to look for a real joba normal job. Maybe sell real estate or get a job in casting.
Oh, you should move here! Angie said, her eyes full of excitement. I need someone to help manage the store. Im opening up another location in midtown and I cant be two places at once. And youd love Atlanta. Its got everything that L.A. has, except people are real here. And everything doesnt revolve around the movies. And you dont have to even think of plastic surgery until youre at least forty.
Kelly shook her head. I dont know. I havent really decided where Ill settle. Just that I have to make a change.
Angie glanced at her watch. Come on, lets get out of here. Its nearly six. Im the boss and if I want to close early, I can!
She grabbed her purse from beneath the counter, locked the register and then slipped her arm through Kellys. My car is parked out back. Where should we go?
They ended up at the bar at the Sheraton. Kelly checked in, then made a quick trip up to her room to wash her face and change. By the time she got back downstairs, Angie had already ordered them a pair of cosmopolitans and was chatting up the handsome bartender.
After three drinks and a lot of memories, it seemed as if only a few hours had passed, instead of seven years. Kelly hadnt had a roommate since Angie had left and she realized she hadnt had a best friend, either. She needed someone to confide in, someone whod understand all the changes she was going through, someone to help sort through the confusion.
So, tell me about your sex life, Angie said, getting right to the point.
I dont have one.
Oh, come on. All those gorgeous men in L.A. and you arent dating someone?
For every gorgeous man there are three gorgeous women. And two of them are younger than me. Kelly gnawed on her lower lip. Actually, there is someone Im interested in. The only problem is that hes younger.
Younger is good, Angie said. Like a few years younger? Or boy-toy younger?
Eleven years, she replied.
Angies eyes went wide. Oh, my. Thats definitely boy-toy. She took another sip of her drink. Is he wonderful in bed? Please tell me all the details. Ive been sleeping with the same man for seven years and Id like to imagine someone out there is having wild and crazy sex. Not that we dont have our moments. My talents as an actress have come in handy on more than one occasion, though Ive been typecast as the French maid.
We havent done anything yet, Kelly admitted. In truth, I just met him today. There was just aa spark. I know hes interested and the more I think about it, the more I think I might be interested, too. Or maybe curious is a better word. And I think Im reading the signals right, though I cant be absolutely sure.
I dont think the signals have changed over the years, Angie said. Why not go for it?