A Movie Star for Christmas

by Jess Mastorakos

  “Glad you’re enjoying it,” Harriet replied, not looking up from her phone.

  Her assistant had them on a tight schedule after Holly and Jack had taken so long eating lunch at the café in the town square. Yes, it was supposed to be a quick bite, but Holly had gotten distracted by a few local kids who were big fans of her show. As usual, she gave them as much of her time as she could before Jack had to nudge her along to meet Harriet and walk to set.

  Jack stuck his arm out and steered Holly around a broken piece of sidewalk that she was surely about to trip over. “You better watch where you’re going or you’re going to be enjoying this Christmas town on crutches.”

  This got Harriet’s attention. “You better not get hurt, missy. The amount of money you’re making on this movie is way too high for you to get fired for an off-camera injury.”

  “Speaking of,” Holly said. “Did you get my email about donating the proceeds from the movie to a kids' Christmas charity? I don’t need all that money and I figured a movie about finding the magic of Christmas should bring a little Christmas magic to some kids this year.”

  Harriet waved a hand and went back to her phone. “You’re all set, sweetie. I’ve already taken care of it.”

  Holly squeezed Harriet around the shoulders, determined to bring back her normal mother-figure personality and get rid of the anxious one. “You take such good care of me.”

  As they strolled toward the entrance to the set, they passed a large “Countdown to Christmas” sign posted proudly near the town’s giant Christmas tree. It read, “Snow Hill’s Favorite Time of the Year,” with interchangeable numbers telling everyone that there were twenty-seven days until Christmas.

  Holly pulled out her phone and snapped a pic to share on social media. “I wish I could just live here instead of going back to L.A. Can I just be a long-distance movie star? Or only star in Christmas movies set in this town?”

  Again, Harriet looked up from her phone. “Bite your tongue. You’ve got much bigger things ahead of you in L.A. than what this town can offer. Just think of it as another step on the way to the top. Especially since you’re starting opposite Bill Winters. This is going to be huge for you.”

  “Yeah, yeah,” Holly said. “I don’t want to be as famous as him and Julia. They couldn’t even walk here on their own, they had to take a car to avoid the paparazzi and the inn is only like a block away.”

  “Well, that’s what you have Jack for,” Harriet said.

  Jack chuckled. “Actually, you should be glad they’re here. You haven’t really had much to deal with thanks to them.”

  “I heard the town isn’t much of a Julia fan. Apparently, she was quite a brat when she filmed here. Made a real bad impression,” Harriet stage whispered. “Oh, hey, I’m going to go talk to Steve about tomorrow’s call time. My schedule doesn’t match the one they emailed this morning. I hate it when they change stuff on me.”

  Holly didn’t have a chance to reply before Harriet took off for the unsuspecting producer on a coffee break.

  “Hey,” Jack nudged her arm and spoke under his breath. “What’s the deal with you and Mr. Fix-it?”

  Holly scowled. “Who? Nick?”

  “Yes, the dude with the tool belt who clearly has a thing for you.”

  “You think?”

  Now it was Jack’s turn to scowl. “Okay, I’m not here to have girl-talk with you. I just want to let you know I’m onto him.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “The guy has movie stars and random travelers staying at his place all year long. It’s like a revolving door of girls like you and he never has to commit because you just leave town when the movie wraps. It’s like any guy’s dream scenario.”

  Holly shook her head, a chill creeping up her back that had nothing to do with the winter weather. “No. I don’t think that’s Nick. He’s not like that.”

  “Oh, sure,” Jack said sarcastically. “I’m sure he really is the perfect small-town handyman who doesn’t seem impressed with the movie star thing. No risk there.”

  She didn’t want to believe it, but something about the way Jack mentioned Nick being unimpressed with the movie star thing struck a chord with her. If he were fawning all over her, complimenting her, or chatting her ear off, she wouldn’t be in the least bit attracted to him. But because he wasn’t acting like that, she found him intriguing and different from other men she’d met. Was it all an act on his part? Because if so, he should definitely quit his day job.

  Back at the inn, Holly stepped out of her bathroom with a towel wrapped around her wet hair, cozy and warm in her comfiest Christmas jammies. After a long day on set in the chilly December air, she was ready to turn on her fireplace and watch Hallmark Christmas movies until dinner. She plopped on the bed, grabbed the remote, and turned to the right station. One of her favorite movies had just started. It was the one about the spirit who was cursed to come back to the living every holiday season for eternity, until he fell in love and was set free to live in the present.

  A few moments later, a loud commotion rang out from outside her window. She hopped off the bed and skipped over to her bay window seat, peering down into the front yard. The car Bill and Julia had taken to set was at the curb, and at least a dozen paparazzi clamored for their attention. Their shouts were indistinguishable from where Holly sat, but the message was clear. They were being intrusive, and all the couple wanted to do was get in the door and be free of them. Holly watched the scene unfold with mild interest, and then her eyes bulged when one of the photographers turned his camera on her and started to zoom. She bolted from the window seat and snapped the curtains closed. Creeps.

  She went back to her bed to pick up where she left off with her movie but was distracted yet again when she heard a car door slam. She slipped off the bed and snuck to the window, risking a look between the curtains. There were no paparazzi this time, just a lone red truck, in the exact style of the ones from her favorite Christmas decor. And lo and behold, Nick Patterson was busy unloading something from the back of it. Why did the man have to be so dreamy and drive the truck of her small-town Christmas romance dreams?

  And why did her brother have to make her suspicious of his intentions? Because now all she could think was that he might have only purchased that truck to make the unsuspecting Hollywood girls drool. Once again, Holly snapped the curtains shut. Well, he didn’t need to know his tactics were working. Not until she figured out if they were, in fact, tactics, or if he was for real. And the only way for her to know that was to talk to him. She was an actress, after all. A professional. If anyone could tell if he was authentic or not, it should be her.

  6

  Nick

  Nick and Joan could hear the commotion from Bill and Julia’s exit all the way from the kitchen. They had only gotten home about twenty minutes earlier, changed, then left again in search of a nice restaurant. Nick hadn’t planned to stay at the inn for dinner that night because of them, but once he realized they’d have to drive to the next town over to find the kind of restaurant they were looking for, he changed his mind.

  “I still can’t believe she thought that conversation would help anything,” Joan said. “I mean honestly, half the town gives her dirty looks when they see her out and about. Do you know how many phone calls I’ve gotten from my friends who work in the square telling me about how their customers leave when she comes in?”

  Nick shook his head. “You ladies are all caught up in that drama. I only told you because I knew you’d be upset if I didn’t. But I don’t want to stand here and slice potatoes and gossip with you. I’m still a guy.”

  Joan pinched his cheek. “You may be a big tough guy, but you’ll always be my baby, and you’ll indulge me in whatever I want to gossip about, ya hear?”

  “Yes, ma’am,” Nick laughed.

  “What are we gossiping about?” Holly asked as she entered the kitchen.

  Nick looked up, not exactly surprised she’d walk in since she was a guest at th
e inn, but caught off guard by the way his pulse quickened at her very presence. She wore long-sleeved pajamas with a classic striped Christmas pattern. Did this girl own anything that wasn’t related to Christmas? The pants hugged her curves in all the right places while also looking incredibly soft and comfortable. He smiled and nodded at her, pretending he didn’t have the urge to reach out and see just how soft those pajamas were.

  He noted the time on the microwave. “Do you always change into pajamas before dinner?”

  “Maybe,” Holly said, pursing her lips.

  “Were you up there watching Christmas movies in your Christmas pajamas?” Nick accused her with narrowed eyes, pointing at her with the knife he held.

  “Maybe.”

  Nick chuckled. “You have a problem.”

  Holly stuck her tongue out at him. “Scrooge.”

  Joan watched the scene unfold between her son and her guest with stars in her eyes. “Hello, Holly. Have a seat here, we’re just prepping dinner. I’m sure there’s something I can put out for you as an appetizer.”

  Holly took a seat but waved her hand. “No, no, put me to work. I’m not really hungry yet but I’d love to help you guys if that’s okay.”

  Joan and Nick shared a look, clearly not used to the guests helping them cook dinner. Nick shrugged at his mom, then went back to slicing potatoes while she dealt with Holly. It was her kitchen, after all. He just did what he was told.

  “Do you like to cook, dear?” Joan asked, getting supplies together for the salad and piling them in front of Holly.

  “I do,” Holly answered, opening a container of cherry tomatoes. “And this is going to sound ... well, silly, maybe, but I only got into acting because of my love of cooking.”

  “That’s not silly. Tell me more,” Joan urged.

  “Well, my mom was an excellent cook and I grew up helping her every day. Then I entered a teens’ cooking contest that one of our local news stations was holding, and I won. But there were also talent scouts in the audience—L.A. is full of them—and that’s how I landed the role on Jemma’s Culinary Adventures. Most people don’t know that I actually helped come up with the recipes we featured on the show.”

  Nick had been completely distracted by her story, so when she stopped talking, he realized he was just watching her with the knife half stuck into one of the potatoes. He shook his head and got back to slicing. He couldn’t put his finger on exactly why, but something about her story hit home for him. Sure, he wasn’t a famous actor who fell into his career thanks to a pastime he shared with his mother, but the fact that she shared a pastime with her mother at all resonated with him. She really was different than he’d expected.

  Joan put the salad bowl in front of Holly so she could compile the ingredients and mix it up. “We’ll have to have you cook for all of us one of these nights.”

  “I’d love that,” Holly replied, with a small smile at Nick. “Thanks.”

  “So, what did your mom think of the switch from cook to actress?” Nick asked out of curiosity.

  Holly beamed. “She was the best about it. We still cooked all the time and she always brought in food for the cast and crew of the show. They loved her. And we both loved that the show was all about our favorite thing - food.”

  Joan held up a hand. “Amen.”

  “She passed away before the show got canceled, so she wasn’t there for the other acting projects that weren’t cooking-related.”

  “I’m sorry, honey, how did she pass?” Joan asked gently.

  “She and my dad were in a car accident. Neither one of them made it.”

  Joan went around the counter and pulled Holly to her. Nick watched the scene, glad that his mom was offering her comfort. He had a lump in his throat the size of a golf ball and didn’t think he’d be able to speak even if he knew what the heck he should say. He settled on giving her an encouraging smile as she caught his eye over his mom’s shoulder. He’d already told her about his dad, so she knew he knew what loss felt like, but the idea of losing both of his parents like that had him all torn up for her.

  Realizing he’d finished his task with the potatoes, and they were ready for whatever the next step was, he cleared his throat. “Ma, what’s next for these?”

  Joan wiped the corner of her eye slightly and chuckled. “Sorry to leave you hanging there, Nick. Here, take this pan and layer half of them in the there, nice and flat layers. Then pour some of that cheese mixture over it from the stove, then layer the rest on, and finish up with the rest of the sauce. Then just pop it in the oven. Got it?”

  “Got it,” Nick confirmed.

  Holly eyed the pot on the stove. “Mmm, I can’t wait to have those. I love scalloped potatoes.”

  “I’m glad,” Joan said. “We have a few special diet requests here so I’m glad we can have a nice hearty meal tonight with our smaller crowd.”

  Nick cut his mom a look, cautioning her against saying anything bad about Julia in front of Holly.

  “Are these your favorite nights to come to dinner, Nick? The ones with the meat and potatoes?” Holly asked.

  “Yeah,” he replied. “Something like that.”

  “And fewer movie stars in attendance?” Holly teased.

  “Absolutely.”

  Joan chuckled. “I’m glad you don’t take any offense, Holly. He’s only joking.”

  “Oh, I know. My weird Christmas obsession and crazy Christmas outfits put me in a whole separate category from stuck-up starlet.”

  Nick tilted his head, considering. “You’re not wrong.”

  “Yes,” Joan agreed. “You are a lot more laid back. Even hanging out with us here in the kitchen sets you apart.”

  Jack pushed through the doors leading to the dining room. “You will always find this one in the kitchen. She eats more than I do. Especially at Christmas.”

  “Hush, Jack Frost,” Holly shot back, throwing a baby carrot from the salad at him, which he caught in the air and popped into his mouth.

  “Are you here to help us cook dinner, too?” Joan asked. “Because I swear, we’ve never had a movie crew try to get so involved with the help. Well, except for that one time...”

  Nick cleared his throat. “Ma.”

  Jack looked pointedly at Holly, who blushed and looked away. Nick had no idea what that little exchange was about, but it didn’t sit well with him. He’d try to remember to figure it out later. Placing the prepared potato dish into the oven, he shut it and stretched.

  “Alright, Ma, looks like you have a much better chef than me in here to help you out,” Nick said. “Jack, you wanna go watch the game?”

  “Sure,” he said, again, shooting a look at Holly.

  Before he had a chance to respond, Nick caught sight of a pair of eyes peeking through the circular windows in the kitchen door. He waved a hand, and Robin pushed through.

  “Knock, knock,” Robin said, poking her head in. “I stopped by to check on how our stars are enjoying Snow Hill but couldn’t find anyone out there. Isn’t this inn at capacity? Where is everyone?”

  “Harriet is working,” Holly offered. “It’s still business hours on the west coast so she said she had some phone calls to make. I can’t speak for anyone else staying here, though.”

  “Oh, everyone has other plans for dinner tonight.” Joan smiled sweetly. “And Bill and Julia went in search of a ‘nice’ restaurant.”

  “Hah,” Robin scoffed. “They’ll drive forty-five minutes to spend a bunch of money on food that still isn’t as good as yours, Mama Patterson.”

  “I know, but what do I know?” Joan said, holding her hands up.

  Robin crossed to the counter and sat on a barstool next to Holly. “Well, I’m glad I’ll at least get to talk to you, Holly, but I also came to see if Bill needed anything. The mayor wanted me to check in. Has he said anything to you about how he’s enjoying Snow Hill?”

  Holly shrugged. “We pretty much just do our scenes and skip the chit chat. He’s the kinda guy who pulls his phone
out and scrolls social media between takes.”

  “Sounds like a nice guy,” Robin said, crinkling her nose.

  “Those two make a great pair,” Joan added.

  Nick took a deep breath and glared at his mother. There was no censoring her.

  Robin waved a hand. “Oh, don’t worry, Nick. We all hate her after–”

  “She was such a stuck-up starlet last time,” Joan cut in.

  Nick risked a glance at Holly, who looked curious, unfortunately.

  “Really?” Holly asked. “I mean, I guess I shouldn’t be surprised. I’ve run into her a few times back in L.A. and she’s not the friendliest.”

  Nick was mortified to see Joan and Robin share a knowing look. This was going to go downhill, fast. He had no way of making them stop talking about it without looking too defensive, so he decided the best plan was to remove himself altogether.

  “How about that game, Jack?” he asked.

  Jack nodded. “Sounds good.”

  7

  Holly

  Holly watched Nick and her brother leave the kitchen with narrowed eyes. She hoped beyond all hope that Jack wouldn’t say anything awkward to Nick about her. After his little speech about being onto him, she wasn’t sure how far Jack was going to take the protective big brother slash bodyguard routine.

  Coming into the kitchen to hang out with Nick and his mom had proven to be just the right way to investigate his intentions. He seemed like a normal guy who liked his peace and quiet and loved the work he shared with his mama. She could absolutely identify with that, and she hadn’t gotten a single vibe that he was trying to hook up with her for an easy holiday fling. He just acted ... normal. So maybe it wasn’t an act, after all.

  Robin cleared her throat. “I really want to tell her.”

  “Robin,” Joan cautioned. “I don’t think Nick wants us to talk about his business.”

  “Oh, please, woman. The whole town is talking about his business. She’s going to hear about it eventually. We might as well tell her.”