Mr. Hollywood

by Tracy Tegan

  “So we are agreed that at least for now, you are going to give the guy a chance?”

  I sighed. “I guess.”

  I couldn’t really argue with her logic. I don’t know when she became so smart but she did have a good point. I can’t complain about not having any fabulous life experiences and then turn down the first one I get.

  “Here,” Jennifer said as she picked up her cell phone and started to text me something. “Sometimes things in life are scary, but you know what is worse than fear? Regret.”

  I read her message and smiled.

  “Now when you get worried that dating Grayson isn’t the right thing to do or you start to freak out, just look at your phone and remember that, okay?”

  “Okay, deal.”

  With that, I got up to put my laundry in the machine and headed to the grocery store. It was my turn to do the shopping. When I got back I had just enough time to put my laundry in the dryer and change for work.

  Work was like it always was, slow and boring at times, rushed and hectic at others. Being towards the end of the semester though, it was more slow and boring than it was rushed and hectic.

  An hour before closing I started the normal ritual of closing up when the bell over the door rang letting us know that someone came into the store.

  I was putting away some books so I let Tina handle whoever came in. That was until I heard a loud screech and then a thump. I ran up to the counter to find Grayson standing over Tina who apparently had passed out at the sight of him.

  I stood there with my hand on my hips. “This happen to you often?”

  He looked up at me and gave me a sheepish grin. “Yeah, I’m afraid to say that it does.”

  I sighed as his bodyguard, who I met on that first day on the set, picked Tina up and carried her over to the couches in the corner of the store and laid her down.

  Grayson wasn’t alone. He had a friend with him.

  “And who’s this?” I asked.

  Grayson glanced over his shoulder. “That’s Ethan Clarke. Ethan, this is Alison Crawford.”

  He didn’t really need to introduce me to his friend, I recognized Ethan Clarke right away. Who wouldn’t? He was a movie star too. Maybe not as big as Grayson was, but still pretty famous in his own right.

  Ethan stuck out his hand to shake mine. “Hello Alison, it’s nice to finally meet you. Gray has been telling me all about you.”

  I blushed. I couldn’t help it. It was embarrassing to know that he had been talking about me to his friend, especially considering his friend was none other than Ethan Clarke.

  “So I was thinking, maybe after you get off work you and your roommate would like to go out to dinner?”

  “Jennifer? Hmmm. I could call and ask if she is free but I won’t be off work for another twenty minutes and then I need to go home and change. Is that a problem?”

  “Not at all,” Grayson assured me.

  I walked over to the register and picked up my phone which I had hidden behind the counter. I called Jennifer knowing that she would agree. Even if she had plans, heck even if she was on a date at that very minute, she would drop the other guy like a hot potato, to go to dinner with Grayson and Ethan.

  “Hello?”

  “Jennifer, if you scream, I swear I’m going to hang up on you.”

  She laughed. “I promise I won’t scream. Now tell me your news.”

  “It’s not really news. I just wanted to know if you would like to go to dinner with me tonight when I get off work?”

  “Sure. Where do you want to go?”

  “Grayson and his friend Ethan Clarke want to take us to dinner.”

  It was at that moment I heard a thump and then a loud scream. She must have dropped her phone. It took her a second to pick it back up.

  “I take it that’s a yes?” I asked while trying to stifle a laugh.

  “Yes! Of course! Oh my God yes, yes, yes!”

  “Okay well get ready because I get off work in twenty minutes.”

  She didn’t even say goodbye. She just disconnected the call, presumably to run and get ready for our double date.

  “So, we are all set then?” Grayson asked.

  “It seems so. I’ll text you my address. You can pick us up there in an hour. Is that alright?”

  “That’s great,” Grayson said as he, Ethan and his bodyguard walked out the door of the bookstore.

  I ignored Tina’s wide eyed stares and I went back to restocking the shelves, getting ready to close the bookstore for the night.

  When we closed the store, I hurried home to get ready, I knew I didn’t have much time before Grayson and Ethan would be there to pick us up. When I got there Jennifer was in a mad rush to find the perfect outfit. She had her hair and makeup already done.

  I did my best to get ready without giving it too much thought. I knew if I obsessed about it too much I would be too nervous and make myself sick.

  I didn’t know where we were going but when Grayson and Ethan were at the store they were in casual clothes so I didn’t dress up too much. Jennifer, however, went all out. She put on a little black dress and some really high heels.

  “Oh my God! You are not wearing that Alison. What are you thinking?”

  Jennifer ran to my closet and frantically started going through my clothes. It took her a minute but eventually she settled on a dress similar to hers.

  “Here, put this on while I find you some suitable shoes,” she demanded.

  I didn’t feel like dressing up but I knew Jennifer, she wasn’t going to let me out of the house without the perfect outfit so I did as I was told.

  Jennifer returned a few minutes later with another pair of high heels, throwing them at me. “Here, wear these.”

  I must confess, it’s nice to have a roommate that wears the same shoe size as me, especially when she has a massive collection of fabulous shoes.

  After I got dressed, Jennifer dragged me into her bathroom and started playing with my hair and makeup. She was determined I look my best.

  Grayson looked like a more muscular cross between Ian Somerhalder and Zac Efron with jet black hair and baby blue eyes. He worked out often so he had an incredibly well built body. So even when he was in casual clothes, he still looked dressed up. He was just that good looking.

  Ethan Clarke wasn’t bad. I mean, not many women would kick the boy out of their bed, but he was no Grayson Chase. Together however, they were deadly and may very well cause a riot wherever we go. I started to wonder if this whole dinner date was a good idea.

  Then the doorbell rang. My hands started to shake. I was really that nervous. More so than I had been that morning when I was alone with him. I had no idea why, it just felt different this time.

  Jennifer answered the door and I heard Grayson introducing her to Ethan. I walked out of the bathroom and into the living room, dreading every step. When I got there Grayson stopped mid-sentence and just stood there staring at me.

  “Hi,” I said shyly.

  Ethan nudged Grayson and he finally spoke up. “Hey.”

  Jennifer looked between Grayson and I, perhaps wondering which of us were going to move but when we didn’t she spoke up. “So are we ready to go?”

  Grayson finally snapped out of whatever trance he was in. “Yeah, lets head out.” He walked up to me, grabbed my arm and led me out the door.

  Ethan did the same to Jennifer.

  “You look amazing,” Grayson said in my ear as we walked to the stretch limousine sitting in front of our house.

  “I wasn’t sure where you had in mind that we go for dinner. I hope we aren’t too overdressed.”

  “Not at all. You look incredible. Absolutely incredible.”

  I giggled. “Thank you.”

  “Where are we going?” Jennifer asked once we got inside the car.

  “We have a private dining room reserved at Quattro at the Four Seasons,” Ethan said. “Do you like Italian food?” He asked Jennifer.

  “Love it,” she said as s
he giggled.

  “How about you?” Grayson asked me.

  “That sounds wonderful.” I wasn’t really a big fan of Italian food but I was quite sure a place like that would have something on the menu I could eat.

  When we pulled up to the Four Seasons, Grayson’s bodyguard ushered us inside and to the restaurant. From there we were taken to a private dining room while he stood and guarded the entrance.

  Our private dining room had two small tables set up for us, so Jennifer and Ethan were at their own table, while Grayson and I were at the other. We were together, but still alone.

  That worked out perfectly because Ethan and Jennifer were so caught up in their conversation, they didn’t even seem to notice that Grayson and I were there. I couldn’t believe how well they hit it off.

  After dinner I glanced over to see Ethan leading Jennifer out the door.

  “I’m going to watch a movie with Ethan in his room. Don’t wait up,” Jennifer said over her shoulder.

  I looked back at Grayson, confused. “You’re staying at this hotel?”

  “Yes, some of the cast are staying here.”

  Before it could get any more awkward I decided I better let him know I wasn’t interested in going back to his room with him.

  “Well, it’s getting late and you have an early call time. I guess we should get going.”

  “I’ll call for the car,” Grayson said. “Sure you don’t want to order dessert before we go?”

  I giggled. “No way. I’m so stuffed. I really don’t think I could eat another bite if I had to and that’s saying something considering I don’t normally eat Italian.”

  “You don’t? Why didn’t you say something before, we could have gone somewhere else?”

  “No. It’s fine. I’m not a picky eater. I figured they would have something on the menu I liked and if nothing else I could always just eat a salad. What kind of restaurant doesn’t have a good salad or two?”

  “What kind of food is your favorite?” Grayson asked.

  “I love Mexican food. How about you?”

  “I guess I don’t really have a favorite kind of food, but I do love Mexican. Haven’t had it in forever though.”

  “There is a great place by where my mother used to live before she passed. It’s so good, I can almost taste the queso dip now.”

  “It’s settled then,” Grayson said as if he had come to some decision.

  “What’s settled then?”

  “We’ll go there tomorrow for lunch.”

  “Didn’t you just tell me that you had an early call time tomorrow?”

  “I do, but we break for lunch between one and three tomorrow while they setup some of the final sequences.”

  “I don’t know Grayson. It’s not really a fancy place, like you are probably used to. It’s a small, family type place.”

  “That sounds perfect to me. I’ll pick you up just after one tomorrow and you’ll show me just what I’ve been missing.”

  I giggled. He seemed so normal sometimes, it’s hard to believe he was this huge movie star when he put on his regular Joe persona.

  Grayson stood up and helped me out of my chair before leading me out of the restaurant, with his bodyguard nearby. By the time we got outside of the hotel, the car was just pulling up. The bodyguard opened the door for us and helped us get into the back of the limousine before he went and sat in the front, with the driver, giving Grayson and I our privacy.

  As I sat next to him, I couldn’t help but glance over at him a few times and wonder what he was thinking. Was he going to kiss me? Did he want to kiss me? Was he disappointed that I didn’t go up to his room with him after dinner like Jennifer had with Ethan?

  Finally, I couldn’t stand the tension anymore so I leaned over and kissed him. He seemed surprised at first but soon he took possession of my lips and our innocent kiss became heated.

  My heart picked up pace as his large arms wrapped around me, pressing me closer. The extra touch sparked a fever between us as our tongues curled around each other in a brain melting kiss.

  He pulled me on top of his lap and for some reason, I went willingly. His lips moved to my jaw and neck. My stomach fluttered with each press of his mouth against my sensitive flesh.

  I’d never done anything like that before. Okay, sure I’ve kissed guys before but never while in the back of a limousine and never while sitting on their lap. I could feel his erection pressing against me.

  A rush of shameful heat pooled between my legs and I felt myself losing control. I broke off from the kiss and as I did, he reached up to cradle my face in his hands. I needed space but at the same time I wanted him to continue kissing me.

  “I’m sorry,” he whispered as he helped me back to my seat. “I didn’t mean for that to happen.”

  I didn’t respond. What could I say? I didn’t mean for that to happen either, but it did and now it was all I could think about. I don’t know that I would ever be able to get the taste of his kiss, the way his hands felt on my skin, the way it felt when he crushed my body against his, out of my mind.

  When the car pulled up in front of my house and the bodyguard opened the door, Grayson got out first and then held up his hand to help me exit the car. He walked me to the door and when he did, he placed a chaste kiss on my cheek.

  “Thank you for going out to dinner with me tonight. I’ll see you tomorrow just after one, okay?”

  “Alright. I’ll see you then,” I said as I walked in my door and shut it behind me.

  I tried not to think about Jennifer running off with Ethan like she did. What is wrong with that girl? She does this all the time. She meets some guy and rushes into the serious stuff and then wonders why their relationship never works out.

  The sad part is, she’s a great girl. She’s pretty, smart and has a bubbly personality. She could be the whole package if she would just stop doing stupid things like she did tonight with Ethan.

  Chapter Four

  The next morning, I got up earlier than normal and decided to go for a run. I needed to clear my head.

  An hour later I was good and sweaty when I finished the last lap around the campus track. I saw a large crowd start to form just where I was headed. I looked around, wondering what in the world was going on. Was someone hurt? Were they giving out free bottled water? Sometimes companies did that to promote some random product or service.

  By the time I got over there, the crowd had more than doubled in size and several of the girls were all worked up in a tizzy.

  I’m short so I’m usually able to squeeze my way in through the crowd, but this time it wasn’t so easy. Whatever or whoever had these girls worked up, had them pushing tightly against each other, all trying to get closer to something or someone.

  Finally, I figured it out, when I overheard one of the girls shrieking Grayson’s name. I didn’t want to risk him seeing me look all gross like I was, with no makeup, my hair up in a ponytail and sweat pouring down my body, so I carefully backed out of the crowd and tried walking around them. Of course being the one and only girl not in the crowd would have drawn his attention.

  I sighed when I heard him shout my name and reluctantly looked towards him. I wanted to just crawl in a hole somewhere and die. I couldn’t believe I was actually going to let him see me looking like the hot mess that I was.

  “Hey,” he said casually as he jogged over to me.

  “What are you doing here slacker? Aren’t you supposed to be working?” I teased.

  “We are in between takes. I was going to try and get a quick workout in but apparently the word got out that I was working out in the campus gym and the crowd started to form.”

  I laughed as he pointed towards the mob of girls currently being held back by a bevy of bodyguards.

  “Where did all that muscle come from?” I asked.

  “The studio always employs a lot of protection. They’ve got to keep their stars safe from overzealous fans,” he said with a self-deprecating smile.

  “
We still on for lunch today?” I asked.

  “Of course. I’ve been looking forward to it all morning.”

  “Good. I was worried that seeing me like this might have freaked you out. Thought you might want to cancel.”

  “Are you kidding me? You look hot like that.”

  “Yeah, all hot and sweaty,” I retorted.

  “Exactly,” he said with a raised eyebrow.

  I playfully punched him in the arm. “You perv!”

  “Okay, okay. Let me get back to work before the crowds get any worse.”

  I laughed and watched him walk away looking incredibly sexy. The mass of bodyguards trailed behind him, back to where they were filming and the girls attempted to follow suit.

  When I got back home I took a long, hot bath. I needed time to think and usually baths were relaxing enough to help me process all the crazy thoughts in my head when a good run didn’t work. But this time the bath didn’t work either. This time my brain was even more dazed and confused.

  What in the world was I doing with Grayson Chase? He’s got so many women falling at his feet, what does he want with someone like me? It would never work between us.

  Even if we could somehow figure out the long distance thing, which I doubt we could, we still can’t overcome the other thing, the big thing … my total and complete lack of experience. He’s probably been with hundreds of women, maybe even a thousand. I’ve been with zero men before. Zero. And I’m still not even sure if I’m ready. He’s not going to wait around any length of time while I decide what I want, when he has scores of women throwing themselves at him daily.

  After getting dressed I noticed my phone beeping at me. I picked it up to see a new text message from Jennifer. “Sorry I’m not home yet. Will be there soon enough. We got a late start this morning.”

  Then my eyes drifted up to one of her previous text messages. “Sometimes things in life are scary, but you know what is worse than fear? Regret.”

  Damn her and her insight. I sighed. She’s right. If I didn’t at least try with Grayson, I would regret it. So I went into my closet and tried to find something magnificent to wear to our lunch date. Was it possible to look fabulous in casual clothes?