Reese was chewing on her lower lip. “Look, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to freak you out,” she said. “It’s not obvious, I swear. It’s just…you won’t ever talk about him. Ever. Not even to me. At some point, something’s gotta happen.”
Reese studied the table again as Amelia mulled over her words.
“You’ve got to either deal with it or move on,” Reese continued. “Because clearly, that hasn’t happened. The way you two left things, it’s no wonder.” She looked up, shaking her head. “You were still in love with him. He was still in love with you. I always expected you to make up eventually. When that didn’t happen, I waited for you to move on. And it’s been all this time. And you…haven’t. I’m just worried about you.”
When Amelia was able to find her voice again, the words flooded out in a jumbled stream. “Why is this the first time I’m hearing all this? Why say it now?” She paused, frustration masking the pain in her eyes. “It doesn’t even matter anyway. I’m sure Noah has moved on.”
She stared down at her hands, thinking about the picture she’d dreamed up last night of the house and kids she assumed he had by now. She had trouble placing a wife in that scenario, but she was sure he had one of those, too.
“I don’t know, Mel. I’m pretty sure he’s still single,” Reese said, her words slicing into Amelia’s vision. “I think you did even more of a number on him than he did on you.”
“How would you even know that?” Amelia glared at her, suspicious. “What, are you friends on Facebook or something?”
“No, but, you know…friends of friends.” She shrugged. “I heard he’s in Texas now, working as an architect.”
Amelia felt Reese’s eyes piercing into her and worked to control her expression. So he was the Noah Bradley she’d been stalking online—which meant he had finished school. That was a relief. She couldn’t process the other news.
He was still single? Not that it mattered…
After a too-long pause, she looked up and into Reese’s gaze. “That’s great for him. But what Noah’s doing isn’t any of my business.”
One corner of Reese’s mouth turned up, but her skeptical stare remained in place.
“Okay, so he inspired the books—so what? He had a big impact on my life. But that’s in the past. He’s in the past.” Amelia gave a vague wave of her hand, trying to convince herself as much as Reese.
Reese didn’t look at all convinced.
“I’m fine. Really,” she said, her voice sharper than she wanted it to be. “And I’d love to move on. But I have to find somebody to move on with first, don’t you think?”
Just then the server reappeared and placed their drinks in front of them.
“Compliments of the gentleman at the bar.” He winked in Amelia’s direction and gestured with his head toward the throng of people packed against the polished wooden bar behind him.
Amelia and Reese stared at each other for a moment in stunned silence and then dissolved into laughter.
“How’s that for service?” Reese gasped for breath, and the tension melted. “Ask and ye shall receive.”
When they’d recovered themselves somewhat, both girls glanced in the direction the server had pointed. Amelia scanned the line of barstools, expecting to see some version of a smug, sleazy guy looking to score a one-night stand. Probably creepy. Probably old.
But the guy her gaze landed on—the one who was staring at her so hard she could almost feel his eyes boring into her—was neither of those things. He had not been there when they came in, she was sure of it. How would she not have noticed? She swung her head back toward Reese, her eyes huge.
“Um, Reese?” Another long pause. “Um, isn’t that…is that the guy from that TV show? That HBO show with Matthew McConaughey? What’s his name?”
“Colin Marks. I think…yeah.” Reese looked stunned. “And I…think…we’re about to know for sure.”
Within seconds, the tall, sandy-haired actor had extricated himself from the group that surrounded him and sauntered over to their table. He slid right onto the empty third stool, planting his elbows on the tabletop and his chin above his interlaced fingers.
“You ladies look way too serious over here,” he said in a recognizable baritone. “It’s Friday night. It’s New York. Aren’t you having fun?”
“Always.” Reese’s confidence matched his, something that never ceased to amaze Amelia, who was way too starstruck to play it cool. She peeked at him through her lashes.
“But you’re not?” He glanced at her with a look that somehow burned with curiosity.
She tilted her head as his gaze scrambled her brain. He was cocky, clearly, but he didn’t seem intimidating. His eyes radiated a warmth that contrasted with their icy cool color and almost allowed her to forget who he was. To forget that he was the hot new star on the hot new show. To forget that his face was everywhere, especially right now, and especially in this town.
She couldn’t, however, forget that he was drop-dead gorgeous and still staring at her. She felt the usual flush creep up her neck and into her cheeks.
“Um. I’m…yeah.”
She had a sudden urge to crawl under the table. This was insane…too insane to be real. For the second time that day, she experienced the odd sensation that she was living someone else’s life.
“Yeah, you are, or yeah, you’re not?” He flashed a grin that could only be described as coy.
“Yeah, I am.”
She laughed, mortified at her idiocy. Why the hell was he here? Why was he talking to her?
“Well, good. That’s more like it.” He was still staring at her. “You look familiar. Have I seen you somewhere before?”
She stared back at him, baffled by the irony in his statement. Had he seen her before? Maybe he really did recognize her—she couldn’t believe Colin Marks would stoop to using a cheesy pickup line. Not that there was any chance he was trying to pick her up. She shook her head and found her voice.
“No. I don’t think we’ve met.” To her relief, the words sounded cooler and more collected than she felt.
“Well, then, let me introduce myself. Colin Marks,” he said, holding out his hand.
She took it and shook, and Reese did the same.
“Nice to meet you,” Reese said. “I’m Reese Spencer, and this is, um…Mel Henry. Thanks for the drinks.” Amelia looked at her sharply. Why had Reese used her pen name?
“My pleasure.” Colin’s eyes were on Amelia again. “Mel Henry,” he said, nodding. “I thought so. My sister loves your books. She’s been dying to get the new one.” He paused. “Hey, can I get a signed copy? She’d love that.”
Her mouth fell open slightly. Colin Marks was asking her to sign something? Now she knew she was in an alternate universe.
“Um, sure. I know I can work that out.”
He laughed. “I’ll have my agent call your agent.” A look of chagrin crossed his face. “I miss the days when I could meet somebody without an agent.”
She laughed, too. How odd that she didn’t fall into that category.
“Do you two live in New York?” he asked, glancing at Reese.
Amelia surprised herself by being the one to speak up.
“No, we’re just here for the book launch. It’s a whirlwind trip, actually.”
“Yeah, I know all about those.” He nodded. “I’m only here for a few more days myself. I love the city, though. I’ve thought about getting a place here.”
They launched into a discussion of Manhattan’s finer points, Amelia telling him about the early days of her career, which she’d spent living in a matchbook-size fifth-floor walk-up in the West Village. As they talked, the rest of Colin’s entourage drifted over. The crowd in the bar seemed to part for them as a couple guys from his group dragged over a table that had just been abandoned for them by its occupants. Amelia realized self-consciously that their party was the center of the room’s attention.
Soon though, she was talking to Colin again, and that caused he
r to forget everything else, including her own nervousness. It was two hours and several drinks later before she realized how late it had gotten. She watched as Colin signed a bar napkin for the eighth or ninth fan who’d stopped by their tables to ask for an autograph. It didn’t seem to bother him at all. While he was distracted she snuck glances at him. He was tall, with a gym-sculpted body, chiseled cheekbones, tousled hair, and those crystal-blue eyes—which always seemed to twinkle like he was on the verge of laughter.
He was compelling, and she felt herself falling under his spell. It was another reason she found herself in a hurry to leave the bar.
This night had not turned out anything like she’d expected.
* * *
Amelia’s head swam on the cab ride to the hotel. She was in a fog, more woozy from the memory of Colin’s blue eyes on hers than from the wine she’d consumed. When she’d said she needed to leave, she didn’t think she’d imagined the look of disappointment on his face.
She half smiled as she pictured him walking with her to the door after she and Reese said their good-byes. Several pairs of jealous eyes trailed them as they walked away, and a twinge of discomfort surged through her at that part of the memory.
Colin walked with them all the way through the vestibule at the bar’s entry and out onto the comparatively quiet street. Reese hung back, taking the opportunity to slide out her phone and call David. She ducked under the restaurant’s awning, just out of earshot.
“Can I get your number?” Colin asked. “I’m holding you to that signed copy of your book, but I’d like to be able to reach you without going through your agent.”
She hesitated. She was flattered—beyond flattered…more like flabbergasted—by his attention, but also not sure what to make of it. Why her? Did he do this all the time? A guy like him had to be a player, right?
He must really want the book.
“Uh, sure, yeah.” She sputtered the words, feeling awkward and inept as she fished through her bag for a pen.
“No need,” he said. One hand moved to her arm as he slipped his phone from his pocket, and her arm tingled where his skin met hers. “I’ll just put you in my cell.”
He’ll put me in his cell. Wait…what? Colin Marks was putting her in his contact list? Once he got the screen pulled up, Amelia numbly rattled off her number, feeling silly as she did it—she knew he wouldn’t actually call. After he finished tapping at the screen, he rushed forward to flag a cab that had just turned onto the street. When it stopped, he helped her and Reese into it, closing the door behind them and then turning to re-enter the bar.
Amelia made sure they were out of his line of sight and well out of earshot before she dared to look at Reese. As soon as she did, both girls let out a shriek that caused the cab driver to jerk the wheel and swerve over the line. The car lurched as he hit the brakes and then corrected, glancing in the mirror to see what had gone wrong.
“Sorry,” Amelia said, catching his eye with a sheepish smile. He grimaced, mumbled something in a heavy accent, and moved his eyes back to the road. Amelia turned again to Reese, and the two of them just stared at each other.
“Well, that was…different.”
“That was an out-of-body experience,” Reese said. “Those eyes. That face. He’s even more gorgeous in person! Whoa…” She surveyed Amelia with amazement. “I love Dave with all my heart, but I am so freaking jealous of you right now. Did you see the way he was looking at you?”
“No,” Amelia said, dragging out the word and laughing off the idea even though she had caught Colin staring at her a couple of times. “But yeah, he’s…yeah. Wow.”
“What’d you talk about just now? He got your number, right? I saw him typing it in. Holy shit. You are going to go out with Colin Marks. You totally are.”
“Right. Like I’m ever going to hear from him again.”
Reese rolled her eyes.
“Oh, geez. Are you kidding me? He couldn’t keep his eyes off you. I bet he calls before you even leave town.”
Amelia scoffed. “I’m pretty sure you’ll lose that bet,” she said, her voice deflated a bit. “Hey, why’d you tell him my name was Mel Henry? What made you think he knew who I was?”
Reese shrugged. “You are Mel Henry,” she said matter-of-factly. “You might as well change your name legally at this point. The whole world knows who you are.”
“God, I hope not,” Amelia said.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Last Night
Reese won the bet.
The next afternoon, Amelia was in transit from a magazine photo shoot to a radio interview when she pulled out her phone to check in with Reese and saw a missed call from an unfamiliar number. She dialed in to her voicemail, unsuspecting, and was stunned at the instantly identifiable sound of Colin’s voice.
“Hey, Mel. This is Colin Marks. Listen, I know you’re not in town long, so I thought I’d try to catch you. I enjoyed talking to you last night, and I wondered if you might have a spot in your schedule to grab a cup of coffee. I wasn’t kidding about wanting the book. Give me a call if you can.”
Her mouth dropped open, and the hand holding her phone fell to her side. Nina, beside her in the cab, glanced up from her phone and eyed Amelia with interest.
“What’s up?”
She hadn’t told Nina about meeting Colin. She wasn’t sure why she hadn’t mentioned it…except that, until the voicemail offered proof, she wasn’t one hundred percent sure she hadn’t dreamed the whole thing up.
“Oh, um, nothing. That was this guy I met last night.”
“Yeah…and?”
She didn’t say anything. She opened her mouth and tried, but no words came out.
“Must have been some guy,” Nina said, smirking. “You’re rarely speechless.”
She tried to laugh, but the sound was high-pitched, nervous. “You could say he’s some guy. He’s…Colin Marks.” She paused. “You know, that actor from—”
Nina interrupted her. “Yes, I know who Colin Marks is.” She rolled her eyes. “Okay, good one. Point taken—I’ll get off your back about your lack of a social life. You really do need to get out more, though.”
Her voice trailed off as she studied Amelia’s expression.
“You are…kidding. Right?”
Amelia pursed her lips and gave a tiny shake of her head.
“Whoa! Hold on. Okay, let me get this straight. You hung out with Colin Marks last night? And he just called? Okay…”
Amelia watched the wheels spinning.
“You know what this means, right? You think you’re getting attention now, if this goes anywhere—”
“Wait, wait, wait. Slow down,” Amelia said. “You’re getting ahead of yourself. He just wants a signed copy of the book for his sister. That’s all. Once he gets it, that’ll be the last I hear from him.”
“Oh, okay,” Nina said, the disappointment clear in her voice.
Amelia chuckled inwardly. From her own experience in PR, she understood Nina’s chagrin. In these days of celebrity gossip as front page news, a movie star boyfriend would no doubt up her—and the books’—staying power in the press. But even if, and it was a huge if, Colin was interested in her beyond the book, she’d never use him like that.
Not that it mattered, because he wasn’t interested. He was a famous actor, so far out of her league the ballparks were on separate coasts. Besides, even if he was interested, there was no way she’d set herself up for that kind of disappointment. He had to be a total player, and she’d been played enough.
I’ll tell him I’m booked solid. That I’ll send him the book.
By the time her fingers drifted back to her phone, the cab had stopped at the curb and Nina was sliding out. Amelia was dying to talk to Reese and get her take on the Colin situation, but she didn’t even have time to send a text, let alone return Colin’s call. The two-hour ordeal at the radio station was torturous.
Afterward, Nina took a cab in one direction and Amelia in another. She texted
with Reese the entire way back to her hotel, which was another ordeal thanks to Midtown traffic. Forty-five minutes for a grand total of nine blocks—she wished she’d walked. As soon as her hotel room door closed behind her, Amelia pulled her phone out of her bag, took a series of deep, yogic breaths, and tried to think around the swarm of butterflies that had overtaken her stomach. She felt like she was back in high school—she hadn’t been this nervous about calling a boy in more than a decade.
Chill out. He’s only human.
Her phone buzzed in her hand with another text, making her jump. Reese.
“Call him. Call him N.O.W. And you’d better say yes.”
Amelia laughed out loud. Reese was reading her mind, as usual. But she wasn’t planning to say yes—she could barely handle the thought of calling Colin, let alone seeing him again. Before she lost the nerve, she found his number in her recent calls list, clicked send, and braced herself to turn down whatever he offered.
Colin picked up on the fifth ring.
“Hey, Mel Henry.” His words caught her off guard—she was expecting his voicemail. “I was starting to think you were ignoring me.”
“No, no.” She tried so hard to keep her voice from shaking that her lower lip trembled with the effort. “Just…busy day. I’m sorry it took me so long to call you back.”
“No worries. You’re calling now.” He paused. “So is the rest of your day busy, too?”
“Yeah.” She hoped she sounded remorseful, not relieved. “I’m booked pretty much back to back. You probably are too, though, right?”
“Actually, no. I’m in town for some meetings, but really I’m just here for a break. I’ve had a hectic shooting schedule over the last six months, so I’m trying to kind of chill out, lay low for a while.”
She blinked hard at the unlikelihood of this conversation. Was she really chatting with a famous actor about his busy shooting schedule? Her palms started to sweat.
“Is this really the best place to…lay low?”
Now a Major Motion Picture Page 11