Nope. Just keep being you. Oh, and Im going to need to have supper with you, tonight.
Why? She was immediately suspicious. It probably didnt help that her last real date...that fateful one two years ago...had started out as a dinner invitation from a big good-looking guy. Hed been the star of the high school football team, and all the girls had swooned over him, too. Ana had kept in touch with him after graduation, as hed attended the same college as her on a football scholarship.
Consider it part of your callback.
The hallway door opened before she could come up with a polite way to turn him down but still get the dream acting job. How are we doing in here? Adrian asked from the doorway. He seemed leery of charging in and finding pints of blood spilled on his floor.
Nervous, she jumped to her feet. Good. I think weve got things under control, she declared with false cheer.
Thanks for your time this afternoon, Miss Izzolo, Adrian said politely. Well be in touch.
Oh, God. The classic Hollywood brush-off. Dont call us; well call you. Shed clobbered the star of the movie and wrecked her shot at fame and fortune, after all. It had been a fun fantasy for the five minutes it had lasted. Ah, well. Maybe she could still break into stunt work, someday.
She headed for the locker room to retrieve her cheap nylon gym bag and get back to her regularly scheduled life. She threw open the locker door and stared in dismay. Her bag was shredded. As in literally shredded. Her extra audition clothes were in tatters, and what little makeup she had was smeared all over the rags formerly known as the only decent clothes she owned.
What the heck? Who would do a thing like this? And why?
Chapter 2
Jackson had no idea what to do about casting the lead actress part in the film. His gut shouted at him to go with Anabelle Izzolo, the unknown with the wild talent. But just as surely, the movies investors were going to want him to go with a more established actress. Someone like Shyann Brooklyn.
The tall blonde had been last to audition today. Although Shyann looked great on film, he doubted there was room for him on the silver screen with her and her ego. She was nasty, self-centered and not all that bright, either. He doubted she would have long-term staying power in the business. A few films from now, after the public got its fill of looking at her, it would dawn on everyone that she couldnt act her way out of a paper bag.
His phone vibrated. It was a text from his grandmother to call her. Meddling woman. Oh, Minerva was well-meaning enough, but a royal pain sometimes. Too bad he loved her so damned much.
His father, a soldier, had died on active duty, and his mother had drowned in her grief and wasted away on sleeping pills until shed finally ODd. Gran had taken in the whole passel of Prescott kids, him, his three brothers and his twin baby sisters, and raised them all. Minerva had married young herself, and his parents had married right out of high school. As a result, Gran was far from ancient and was energetic, nosy and felt within her rights to boss all of them around. She was a classic iron-fist-in-a-velvet-glove type.
And right now, he was ignoring her.
He shoved his phone into his pocket and stepped out into the studios parking lot. The blistering California sun slammed into him. The soundstage he and Adrian had built was inland far enough not to catch the ocean breezes that cooled the California coast. But the price had been right on the sprawling piece of property. Beads of sweat popped out on his brow as he threw a leg over his Harley and cranked it up. The powerful engine revved between his legs and, as usual, gave him a bit of a hard-on.
He rolled out of the parking lot and spotted a familiar figure standing at the bus stop in front of the studio. Ana Izzolo looked about ready to burst into flames in the blazing heat. There was one bus in Serendipity, California, and it operated on no discernible schedule. She could be standing there for another hour.
He pulled to a stop in front of her. Can I give you a lift?
Im okay. Ill catch the bus.
Hop on. Its hot as hell out here. No telling when the bus will come along.
Thats nice of you, but Im staying in the north end of town. Dont you live the other direction?
They were talking Serendipity here. The entire town could fit on a postage stamp. He could go from one end of Main Street to the other in approximately sixty seconds, and that included having to stop at the one traffic light in the whole town. He unhooked his spare helmet from its perch on the backrest and held it out to her. Hop on.
She hesitated, but eventually took the helmet from his outstretched hand and strapped it on her head. She slid her leg through the gap between his rear end and the backrest, and settled herself behind him. Abrupt awareness of her hot little crotch nestled against his butt roared through him. Day-umm.
Her arms snaked around his waist, which had the effect of mashing her breasts against his back informatively. Soft. Springy. Resilient. Well, that answered that. Her female assets were real. Good to know. Hed never been a fan of hard and lumpy implants.
Youre about to be her boss. Behave yourself. Nope. His body wasnt listening to reason. His erection swelled until his jeans were uncomfortably tight. Good thing he was sitting on the bike and not trying to walk.
He twisted the throttle and the Harley leaped forward. Ana relaxed behind him and moved easily with the bike. She obviously knew how to stay centered and quiet on top of one. He didnt let many women ride with him because they usually threw off his balance. He could hardly tell she was aboard, though, as their bodies moved in perfect unison. Only that sexy female form clinging to the length of his back reminded him she was there.
The farther inland they went, the hotter the air got. It was official. They were in hell. He followed the directions she gave him through the radio-mike between their helmets, and in a few minutes he pulled into a shabby motel parking lot. A few disreputable-looking surfers were just coming back after a day in the water, but the parking lot was otherwise deserted.
Need me to walk you up to your room? he asked. His grandmother was a stickler for the niceties and had raised all the kids to be polite.
Ana stiffened against his back. No, but thanks for offering. She slid off the bike a little too hastily and he shot out a hand to steady her as she stumbled.
Dinner, tonight. With me, he stated.
No, thanks.
That wasnt a request. Your audition isnt over yet.
If shed been awkward before, she was board-stiff and epically uncomfortable now. Jeez. Did she think he was going to throw her down and rape her on a casting couch? He said defensively, I just want to talk more. Get to know you. Find the chemistry between us. Ill pick you up at eight.
Ill meet you at a restaurant, she countered quickly. Pick a place.
Romalettis. She wanted to have her own ride home, huh? Did she not want to sleep with him or just doubt that he would be interested? Hmm. Intriguing.
She disengaged her arm from his fingers, and he was startled to discover he missed the feel of her skin. He took the helmet she passed him and watched her pull her blond hair out of its ponytail. It swung around her shoulders pertly.
Realizing with a start that he was staring at her, he tore his gaze away from her. For lack of anything else to look at, he eyed the motel. It looked one step up from a crack den. But it was the only low-cost lodging in town. Serendipity was mostly a secret enclave of the rich and famous. It was far enough north of Los Angeles to get out of the rat race, but close enough that a private jet could have a person back in the heart of L.A. in less than an hour.
He and Adrian had chosen the sleepy little town to house their production company precisely because of its laid-back atmosphere and distance from the Hollywood rat race. Not to mention real estate wasnt sold by the square foot up here or for exorbitant prices. That, and his grandmothers home was here. Hed just finished fully renovating the place and adding a few bells and whistles to it. Serendipity was where hed grown up. His roots ran deep in this town.
Thanks for the ride, Jackson.
Anytime, babycakes. Grinning, he revved the throttle and spit gravel at her with his back tire as he peeled out of the parking lot.
He pointed his Harley back toward the coast and let the wind blow away the misgivings trying to creep into his mind. Was he making a mistake casting someone so naive? Her freshness and innocence would play great in the film, but at what price to her? He would hate to hurt Ana. She was a good kid.
He pulled into the driveway of the sprawling Victorian home hed grown up in. Technically, he owned the place now, but it would always be Grans house. It was gray-blue with white gingerbread trim and moss-green accents, and looked totally at ease in its rocky seaside environment. The recent renovation and expansion had more than doubled its square footage, but the architect had done a brilliant job of blending the old with the new.
For the past few years, hed only crashed here between movie gigs. But he was looking forward to living here full-time. The Hollywood grind was getting old. He also thought Minerva liked the company, not that she would ever admit it. The twins had left for college, and he suspected Minerva was empty nesting. Not to mention his grandmother was a flamboyant soul in constant need of an audience.
He parked his Harley in the garage next to the white Cadillac hed bought her for her birthday last year and headed into the kitchen. Steeling himself to face the baby lectureagainhe sighed.
Hey, Gran. He paused beside her to drop a fond kiss on her cheek. Still tall and slim at sixtysomething, she was an elegant woman. Beautiful, even now.
Hello, Jackie. Tea? She glanced up at him and did a double take. What happened to your face?
Anaan actress auditioning for a partclocked me across the face with a club.
Oh, dear. It looks like youre going to have a hooked nose and a black eye. Wont you make quite the dashing pirate? I assume she didnt get the part?
Actually, were thinking about casting her.
Well, at least she can defend herself from your advances.
He rolled his eyes. The crap in the tabloids about me is not true, Gran. I swear.
She waved a whatever hand at him and pulled the tea bags out of the pot.
Can I have some of that tea on ice? he asked.
Ruins the flavor, dear.
Yes, but its a thousand degrees outside. And the idea of drinking something hot makes my nose hurt.
Theres a nice breeze coming off the ocean. Why dont we take our tea on the veranda?
He never failed to be amazed at how it could be twenty degrees cooler on the coast than in town. He picked up the tray and followed her outside onto the stone patio. Sure enough, a cool, fresh breeze dried his sweat in a matter of seconds. He sipped at the tall glass of iced tea Minerva poured for him in spite of her objection to chilling her imported Earl Grey.
Have you thought about what we talked about on the phone? she asked without preamble.
The memory of Anas declaration that she could fake out his grandmother flashed through his mind. If only.
He took a long pull at the tea before answering with long-suffering patience, Weve been over this before. Im not averse to having a family...someday. But right now, Im traveling and working too much to sustain a relationship, let alone raise kids.
But now that the production company is up and running, youll be home more. Have more control of your schedule.
In theory. He had yet to see that play out in practice. Hed been working day and night with Adrian for the past year getting all the financing and business paperwork set up. He was convinced that it was a good business move to invest a large chunk of his accumulated wealth in a long-term venture like this. But it was a big risk. A big project.
Tell me about this pugilist actress.
Shes a newcomer. Names Ana Izzolo. He searched for words to describe her accurately. Shes spunky. Fiery. Very un-Hollywood.
Minervas eyes lit with interest. How old is she?
I dont know. Mid-twenties, maybe.
Is she pretty?
Of course shes pretty. We wouldnt be casting her as a leading lady if she wasnt. Although shes not traditional. Shed be a girl-next-door type if she didnt have... How to describe the cynical edge he sensed more than saw? He shrugged, and finished lamely, She has a certain something. Shes compelling.
Speaking of which, he only had about an hour until he had to leave for their date. And he needed a shower.
Going out tonight? Minerva queried.
Yup.
On a date?
Thats none of your business, he retorted.
And why not?
Because Im thirty-three years old and dont tell you every detail of my life?
Her nose went up. Fine. Ill find out where you went and who with down at the hair salon tomorrow.
He stared at her in chagrin. The hell of it was she would be able to do just that. And that would be the downside of small-town life. If you must know, its a working dinner. Im meeting Ana to talk some more.
His grandmother pursed her lips. When do I get to meet her?
Uh, never.
Minerva glared down her patrician nose at him. Are you ashamed of me?
Hed forgotten how effectively she could deliver a guilt trip. No, Gran. Im not ashamed. This is just work, not true love ever after.
Compelling, hmm? she murmured as he stomped past her toward the house.
Meddling woman. This was getting out of hand. You dont have the right to run my life, Gran.
I wouldnt dream of interfering, dear.
Hah. And leopards didnt have spots. Even if the leopard was his grandmother and her heart was in the right place. At least she hadnt played the I could die at any moment without ever seeing my great-grandchildren card.
Looking forward to dinner with Ana more than hed looked forward to a date in a while, he headed upstairs.
* * *
Ana couldnt say if she was more excited or scared. Both about her dinner date tonight and the whole idea of landing a major movie role. Either way, she was a bundle of nerves as she primped. She did her best not to mess up Tyrones awesome makeup job. She wasnt much into the girlie arts and could never duplicate Tyrones artistry.
She chose a pale pink angora sweater and white jeans to change into. They were basically her only decent clothes left after the vandalism of her other audition clothes at the studio earlier.