This was not what he’d envisioned when he’d told her to choose a place. But she’d laughed as she’d smacked the mole heads that kept popping up through holes, and she’d been a major sharpshooter at the “shooting range.” Now she was off to a driving game while he stood fisting a wad of bright yellow tickets.
Bright yellow. If Callie Matthews was a color, she’d be yellow. The woman was always happy, always bubbly and never failed to take him by surprise.
And he hadn’t necessarily lied when he’d told her he was happy for her. Seeing her beaming from ear to ear had stirred something in him. While he still wasn’t thrilled at the possibility of her innocence being shattered, he couldn’t let her celebrate alone.
Her sweet naïveté was getting to him. And she had no idea the power she was holding over him.
His cell vibrated in his pocket and he slid it out, smiling when he saw the number.
“So you are alive,” he said in place of a traditional hello.
“Kiss ass.”
Noah laughed at his best friend and Hollywood heartthrob, Max Ford. “When a whole week goes by and I know you’re not filming, I have to assume you’re either dead or getting some serious action. Glad to know you’re still with us.”
“Oh, I’m alive,” Max assured him. “Where are you? It sounds like you’re at a kid’s birthday party.”
Noah glanced around the open room where kids ran from game to game, parents chasing to keep up with the chaos. His gaze circled back to Callie and he watched her steering intensely at the racing game.
“You wouldn’t believe me if I told you.”
“You’re moonlighting as a clown for kids’ parties, aren’t you?” Max joked. “I’m not sure the ladies will go for the Bozo wig, pal.”
Noah laughed. “Did you call to annoy me or do you have a point?”
“I wanted to know if you were free tomorrow. Haven’t seen you for a while. Thought we could get together.”
Callie jumped from her racing chair and grinned like a kid as the machine spit out another row of bright yellow tickets. Her enthusiasm was contagious, and he found himself standing in the middle of the room with a silly grin on his face. When was the last time he truly grinned because he wanted to and not because he felt forced to please his current company?
“Actually, tomorrow is the photo shoot for the ads for my new office,” Noah told him. “But I should be free in the evening if all goes as planned.”
“I thought you were still looking for a model.”
When Callie turned and caught his eye, he motioned that he was stepping outside. She nodded and moved on to another game.
“Callie is doing it for me,” Noah said, walking toward the door to move farther away from the noise.
“Callie Matthews? Damn, she’s hot. How did you manage that? Has she done modeling before?”
Once outside, Noah took a seat on the bench next to the door. “No, but I’m trying to watch out for her. She’s got stars in her eyes, man. And she just got a pretty good-size role in a new Anthony Price film.”
“Noah, you can’t save everybody,” Max told him with a sigh. “You’ve got to let go of the past.”
“Easier said than done.”
“Had any more offers on the house?” Max asked.
“Just the two.”
“Which you turned down?”
Noah rubbed a hand over his head and glanced through the door to see Callie smiling while tackling another game. “Yes. I turned them down.”
“And you’re still going to see Thelma every day?”
Noah’s chest tightened. “I’m all she has.”
“She’s not even your family, Noah. You have to let go. I understand she’s Malinda’s grandmother, but you’ve been paying her assisted-living bills for a year now. She has Alzheimer’s. She won’t know if you don’t show up. You’ve got to bury the past.”
He sighed. “I’ll bury it when it’s time.”
“Good,” his friend said. “You can start by asking Callie out on a date. She’d be perfect.”
“I’m not asking her out,” Noah replied. At least, he wouldn’t ask her on a real date.
“Great. Then you won’t mind if—”
“Yes, I would mind.” Noah cut him off. “You’ve got enough on your plate without adding Callie to the mix.”
Max’s laughter nearly vibrated Noah’s phone. “You can’t keep dibs on her and not do anything about it. You’re both adults. If you want to go beyond business and get personal, what’s stopping you?”
“She’s the best receptionist I’ve ever had. I’d like to keep her for a while.”
“She’ll probably be leaving when she starts acting, anyway, so why not just go for it now instead of torturing yourself?” Max asked. “You know you’ve thought about it.”
Thought about it, fantasized about it. Had taken the proverbial cold showers to prove it.
Noah came to his feet, glancing inside at Callie, who was looking toward the doors, probably looking for him.
“Listen, I need to go,” Noah said. “I’ll call you tomorrow and let you know what time I’ll be free.”
After sliding the phone into his pocket, he went back inside. Callie’s smile across the crowded room did something funny to his chest…something he’d rather not explore.
“I’m ready to cash in my winnings,” she told him, holding up her tickets. “I’ve got a hundred here and I think I gave you a hundred. Let’s go see what I can get.”
Noah followed her as he pulled her tickets from his pocket. He still couldn’t believe this was her idea of celebrating. She certainly wasn’t like all the other women he knew. Their idea of celebrating would be to head to the most expensive restaurant and try to get into his bed afterward…not that he ever complained about those nights.
But Callie was different—a fact he’d known from the first day of working with her. She was like a breath of fresh air. He never knew what to expect from her, but he knew it would be something great.
After she chose her prizes—a hideous monkey with tie-dyed fur and a flower-shaped eraser—he escorted her to the car and drove back to his office. Even though she was fairly silent during the ride, she was beaming from ear to ear.
“You had a good time.”
It wasn’t a question, more like an observation.
“A blast,” she told him. “I’d always wanted to go to a place like that as a kid.”
He threw her a glance as he pulled up beside her car. “Why didn’t you?”
Callie’s smile faltered, and she toyed with the ear on the monkey. “I didn’t have a very pleasant childhood. And that’s the best way I can put it.”
Noah put the car in Park and turned to face her. “I’m sorry, Callie. I didn’t mean to pry. You’ve worked for me for a while now and I don’t know much about your life before you came here.”
She attempted a smile, but her sad gaze met his. “I’d rather focus on my life here than back home.”
Wherever she came from, whatever she experienced must be painful because the L.A. Callie was a bright, bubbly woman who didn’t care to let everyone see how positive she was about life.
“I can’t thank you enough for everything, Noah.” She reached out, placed a hand on his forearm. “You don’t know how much I value our friendship. At least, I like to think we’re friends.”
“We are,” he said, cursing his voice when it cracked like some damn adolescent.
Her dainty, warm hand on his arm really shouldn’t turn him on, but he’d been intrigued by her for a while now.
“Good,” she said, smiling wider. “It’s nice to know I have people I can count on.”
She leaned over and gave him an innocent, simple peck on his cheek, but as she pulled back, her face remained within a breath of his and she locked eyes with him again. He froze and was surprised when she placed a softer kiss on his lips, hesitating as if waiting for approval.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered. “Was that unprofessional
?”
“Not as much as this.”
He cupped the side of her face and claimed her lips.
Three
Callie knew on some level this was wrong—that would be the professional level.
But on a personal, feminine level, kissing Noah Foster was so, so perfectly right. There was no way she could not respond to such a blatant advance.
His thumbs trailed along her jawline as he shifted and changed the angle. Mercy, this man could kiss her lips and she felt it all the way down to her toes…not to mention all the important spots in between.
Callie grabbed hold of his biceps as the glorious assault on her mouth continued. This attraction wasn’t new on his side or he wouldn’t be devouring her mouth in such a way that had her limbs trembling and her thighs clenching.
But before she could bask in the fact this was the best kiss she’d ever experienced, Noah pulled back.
“God, Callie,” he all but growled. “I’m—”
“No.” She shook her head, putting a bit of distance between them so she could look in his eyes. “Don’t say you’re sorry.”
His eyes searched hers, that warm gaze dropping to her lips before coming back up. “I wasn’t. I was going to say I don’t know what came over me, but that would be a lie. I’ve wanted to do that for some time.”
The revelation wasn’t surprising, but she was a little taken aback that he admitted it. Which brought to mind the all-important question: Why hadn’t they locked lips before now? Had she known he had such…talents, she would’ve taken charge months ago.
Okay, well, maybe she would’ve held back since he was her boss, but she definitely would’ve fantasized about it more.
“So have I,” she admitted.
The corners of Noah’s sexy, and she could now add tasty, mouth lifted. “But you work for me.”
“So now what?” she asked. God, that sounded lame. “I mean, I don’t have to quit, do I?”
“Do you want to quit?”
Callie quirked a brow. “Don’t answer my question with a question.”
“Just trying to figure my way around this….”
She grinned. “By this, you mean the fact that I want you?”
He studied her face. “Yes.”
Callie’s hands slipped from his thick arms. “I won’t lie about my feelings, Noah. If that makes you uncomfortable…”
“I’m not uncomfortable,” he told her. “I won’t deny the sexual tension between us.”
The chubby girl who still lived deep inside her couldn’t believe this was happening. The new Callie, the one who took charge of her life and made things happen, knew this was a moment she’d remember forever.
Noah Foster, one of the sexiest men she’d ever met, was admitting he was sexually attracted to her.
“I don’t do relationships, but I can’t deny the chemistry is strong here. I’ve never been in this situation before, and I’m trying to keep this simple.”
Intrigued, and a little surprised that he inadvertently admitted that she had the upper hand here, Callie grinned.
“And what situation is that?” she asked. “Making out in your car with an employee?”
With a sigh, Noah turned in his seat, laughed and shook his head. “You’re not going to make this easy, are you?”
“What’s that?”
Throwing her a glance and a wicked sideways smile, he said, “Oh, now you’re going to answer a question with a question.”
“Touché.”
“How about we go on a date and see where this leads?” he asked. “Since the attraction is mutual, I don’t see why we couldn’t.”
Callie’s belly quivered. She had no doubt that if they went out they’d probably continue where they left off with that kiss. Because a kiss that held those kinds of promises was just a stepping-stone straight to the bedroom. The possibilities thrilled and aroused her, but she also had to be realistic. She didn’t want to cause any awkward moments in the office. Though right now she was feeling anything but awkward.
“Tell you what.” She shifted sideways and smiled. “When I start filming, I’ll go on that date, but not before I quit my job. Deal?”
His eyes roamed over her face, pausing on her lips, then back up to her eyes. “I already told you I can’t do a relationship, anyway, so it doesn’t matter when to me. I’d rather see you outside the office now, but that’s because I’m not a patient man.”
She laughed. “Boy, you really lay on the charm, huh?”
He shrugged. “I won’t lie. I worry about you getting mixed up in this Hollywood scene so fast.” He blew out a sigh, not wanting to scare her. “I know it’s not my place, but…”
“I’ll be fine, Noah,” she assured him. “This is what I’ve always dreamed about. There’s no need to worry.”
He looked out the windshield and off into the distance. “You have no idea,” he murmured.
He’d initially worried about exploring his attraction to Callie because he was her boss, but if he kept her close, maybe then he could also keep her safe. He knew he couldn’t save everyone. He hadn’t been able to save Malinda, but he damn well couldn’t watch another woman get hurt if he could prevent her downfall. If he could only save one woman, he wanted it to be Callie.
Callie gathered her things, including that heinous monkey, and tugged at the door handle. “I better get going. Thanks again for everything.”
Before she exited the car, she leaned in and kissed him. Not a friendly peck, but a soft, open-lipped kiss right near the corner of his mouth.
Oh, yeah, it was going to be a long, long wait for that film to start shooting next month.
* * *
Noah paced, checked his watch and paced back the other way. He not only had to get this shoot over with, he needed to run by the assisted-living facility to check on Thelma. He wasn’t happy with the afternoon nurse and he wanted to pop in unannounced. And then he planned to meet up with Max.
“Listen, Noah, I can only give about five more minutes,” the photographer told him. “Then I’m going to have to reschedule. I have another shoot later this afternoon I need to set up for.”
Hands on his hips, Noah stopped and nodded to the photographer. “I’m sorry, man. I’ve tried her cell several times. This isn’t like her to be late or blow off a job. She’s very professional.”
They hadn’t been out late the night before, but had she gone back out? Flashes of Malinda making promises to show somewhere flooded his mind. He’d usually found her at home, strung out and totally out of touch with reality.
He hated to think the worst of Callie, but he’d been lied to and deceived for so long before Malinda’s death that it was just hard to trust anymore. Added to that, he wondered where Callie put all her money. She always packed her lunch and drove a clankity, beat-up old Honda. He hadn’t seen any signs of drug use, but most new users didn’t use all the time, and the signs were slow in coming. Besides, just how well did he know Callie aside from at the office? For all he knew, she partied all weekend.
The image of Malinda just before her death, dark eyes, pale skin and sunken cheeks, still haunted him and he’d hate to see the vibrant Callie Matthews fall into that dark abyss.
Callie had always been a professional, though, and she had never been late for anything. She was a bright spirit and he wanted to believe deep in his heart she was an innocent. Something was wrong.
He pulled his cell from his pocket and tried calling again while the photographer started taking down his equipment. A sinking feeling settled deep in his gut each time her chipper voice mail clicked on.
He’d left enough messages and texts, so he hung up and slid the phone back into his pants pocket.
“I’ll pay you for your time today, Mark,” Noah said. “Can we go ahead and reschedule for next Saturday? Same time?”
Mark nodded. “Sure thing. And don’t worry about paying me today. Things happen.”
Noah helped Mark carry the lighting and some other equipment to h
is waiting car. By the time all of that was done and Mark had left, almost another hour had passed and still there was no word from Callie.
If he weren’t so worried, he’d leave her be. She was an adult, after all. But there was a niggling feeling in the back of his mind that something wasn’t right. Whether she was hung over or had been in an accident, he didn’t know.
Before he stopped at the assisted-living home, Noah thought he should at least drive by Callie’s place to check on her. She was, after all, alone in L.A. with no family here and no roommate. He just needed to make sure she was okay.
Endless possibilities flooded his mind. As morbid thought after morbid thought raced through his head, his cell rang. Panic filled him instantly, but relief slithered through. Hopefully that was Callie on the other end ready to apologize for being late.
But when he glanced at the caller ID and saw Private Caller, his hope died. He punched the button on his car to put the call on speaker as he drove down the freeway toward her apartment.
“Hello?”
“Mr. Foster?”
Not recognizing the voice, he answered, “Yes.”
“This is Marcia Cooper. I’m a nurse in the E.R. at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. We have a Miss Matthews, who was brought in to us. We tried calling one of her neighbors, but we couldn’t get her. Callie suggested we try you next.”
Fear gripped Noah, but if she’d mentioned his name and number she was at least coherent. “Is she all right?”
“I really cannot discuss her condition over the phone,” the nurse told him. “Are you able to come in?”
“I’ll be right there.”
Noah pushed the pedal farther, weaving in and out as best he could with the thick afternoon traffic. The thought of Callie hurting in any way made his stomach clench. He’d only known her to be vivacious, full of life and always smiling.
He understood the nurse was not able to disclose any information due to privacy laws, but knowing Callie was in the E.R. and not knowing her condition scared him more than before he’d gotten the phone call. Did she have a cut that just needed stitches? Had she fallen and hit her head? Had she been attacked?
Damn it. Where had she been when she’d gotten hurt?
Hollywood House Call Page 3