His agent might agree with her. “Don’t believe everything you read. At least half of what they print is a lie or exaggeration.”
She raised a finely arched brow. “Only half?”
He grinned. “Three-quarters.”
“The juicier, the better, I assume.”
“Scandalous headlines sell better,” he admitted. “The stuff they write is unreal. I haven’t lived like a monk, but I’m not some dog chasing after every female in heat.”
“You’re nicer than I thought you would be.”
“Thank you. I think.”
“It’s a compliment.”
That was something. “I can be nice, but I’m a big flirt, too. You know guys. We always have to try.”
Megan stopped walking. “Always?”
The V deepened. Something was bothering her. “Pretty much.”
“Hypothetically, if a guy doesn’t try...”
“Then he’s already got a girl or...”
Megan stared up at him with rapt attention. “Or?”
She had to be talking about herself. Adam cocked a brow. “Hypothetically?”
“Not exactly.” She bit her lip. “Maybe you could help me understand this. Him.”
Knew it. And Adam didn’t like it. Territorial? Maybe, even if it made no sense. He wanted to know who the guy was. Someone she’d known a long time or someone she just met. Whoever he was sounded like a fool. Megan wouldn’t have to ask Adam twice to fool around with her. “Sounds like you’ve been banished to friend zone.”
“Banished is the right word. I could walk around naked and he wouldn’t notice me.”
Adam would notice. But her words made him wonder what kind of friend this guy was. “Have you walked around naked in front of him?”
She drew back, as if horrified by the question. “Of course not.”
Good. Adam didn’t want her to be taken advantage of. “I’ve got to be honest with you. Most guys will fool around with female friends if given the opportunity.”
Her shoulders slumped. She blew out a puff of air.
Adam didn’t like seeing her look so deflated. “Not what you wanted to hear.”
“Nope.”
“There are two other possibilities,” Adam offered.
Megan perked up.
“The guy could be superconservative and religious.”
“He goes to church only for funerals and weddings.”
If Megan knew that much about him, he couldn’t be a new guy. “Then he’s gay.”
She glared at Adam. “Rob is not gay.”
“So this hypothetical has a name. The same name as your best friend from high school.”
“Yes, and trust me, Rob likes girls. Women. He’s dated several. Just not me.” She sighed. “Forget I said anything.”
Her dejected tone bothered Adam. “I can’t forget now that it’s out there.”
“You’re an actor,” she countered. “Pretend.”
“I can do that for you. Or...”
She sighed. “I’m not sure I’m ready to hear more. Why don’t we say goodbye here? I can find my way back.”
He wasn’t about to let her get away from him that easily. “A gentleman always escorts his date home.”
“I’m not your date.”
“I thought you were going to say I wasn’t a gentleman.”
The corners of her mouth lifted. “The thought may have crossed my mind.”
Good. She was back to joking. “You, Megan Calhoun, are one of a kind.”
“Next you’ll say I have a great personality.”
“I don’t know you well enough to say that.” Even if he was thinking it. “But I will tell you if your best friend, this Rob guy, has stuck you in friend zone, you’re better off without him because he’s got to be a total idiot.”
She started to speak, then stopped herself. “Rob is smart. He’s an engineer.”
Adam wished she wasn’t so quick to stand up for the guy. She deserved better than to wait around for some bozo, one that lived in another state, to wake up. There were plenty of men here in L.A. to choose from. “Being book smart doesn’t apply here. Find another guy. Someone who’ll appreciate you. Spoil you. Kiss you until you can’t see straight.”
Her lips parted.
With another woman he might think that was an invitation for a kiss. With Megan, he couldn’t be sure of anything.
She eyed him suspiciously. “Exactly where am I going to find a guy like that?”
“He could be right under your nose,” Adam said. “But if you keep waiting to get out of friend zone with Rob, you’ll probably miss him.”
CHAPTER FIVE
ON SUNDAY afternoon, Adam returned to the lot. The studio was the last place he needed to be, but he wanted to check out his trailer.
He glanced around seeing his favorite things that would help him relax in between takes and during downtimes—weights, a pull-up bar and video game consoles. “Looks good. Thanks.”
Veronica Tully, his personal assistant, stared at her tablet. She was the definition of efficiency. “You’ve been invited to two parties tonight as well as a special event at the Wilshire. If you’re going to show up, no worries, but if not I’ll send your regrets.”
With his first call on the set early Tuesday morning, Adam should make the most of tonight. But the thought of hanging with the usual crowd didn’t appeal to him.
Parts of his character, Maxwell Caldecott, must be rubbing off on Adam. Forget clubbing and partying. Hardworking, idealistic, family man wannabe, Maxwell attended formal events, the kind that required tuxedos or jackets and ties. Anything to prove his worth to the high-society wife he loved more than life. Too bad she was going to end up making the Wicked Witch seem more like the tooth fairy.
Staying home didn’t appeal to Adam, either. He’d spent last night working on lines. Still...
Sometimes he had to show up at events and parties because that was expected of him due to starring in a certain role or wanting to be cast in an upcoming project. He’d “dated” costars because the producer or studio wanted to drum up publicity. It was all business, all the time. “Any reason I should attend?”
Veronica scanned her tablet. “No.”
“Send my regrets,” he said without any further hesitation.
“I’ll book a table for you for dinner. Seven-thirty,” Veronica said with the same competency she’d shown since she started working for him a year and a half ago.
Adam didn’t want to be tied into any plans. He’d have enough of that during the shoot. “Thanks, but I’ll figure out something myself. Take the rest of the day and tomorrow off. It’ll be crazy around here starting Tuesday.”
“Thanks, boss.” She walked toward the door, then glanced back. “If you need me...”
“You’re only a text away.”
So was someone else, Adam realized. Megan. As Veronica exited the trailer, he whipped out his cell phone and typed.
Working today?
He didn’t know why Megan kept popping into his mind. No, he knew. Someone different and new was more fun than the same old same. She was probably out and about, checking off sights she wanted to see on her list. He’d bet she had actual lists, either on paper or her computer. No doubt a copy on her cell phone.
A beep sounded. A text had arrived. He checked his cell phone. A reply from Megan.
Yes, but almost finished.
Too bad. Adam was hoping she’d been able to have fun today. He typed.
Running an errand or at the lot?
Lot.
Her reply was almost instantaneous. He smiled. If they were so close, they could be talking instead of texting. An idea formed in his head. He typed another message.
All work and no play...
Hahaha.
Laughter wasn’t the reply Adam wanted. He wanted her to say she was up for some playtime. Fun. He’d try again.
Let me show you some sights when you’re finished.
No reply came. That w
as weird considering how quickly she’d answered back before. He typed some more.
Lived in L.A. area my entire life. I like playing tour guide.
Time dragged. He checked out the shelf full of video games. Some good titles.
His cell phone beeped. Finally. He read the text.
Too tired. Not up for fighting freeways and crowds.
Adam knew she must be tired, but he didn’t like the idea of her being alone. He remembered what being the new kid was like, whether at school or at a studio. It could be lonely, even if others were around. People had helped him when he first went to work on movies. He wanted to do the same with Megan. Tonight was the perfect time, possibly the only time, to do it. And being with her this evening beat any of his alternatives.
His thumbs tapped the touchscreen.
Understand. But I know the perfect place. Very relaxing. We can make it an early night.
As Adam waited for a reply, anticipation built. Must be the challenge. Few women kept him waiting. Most simply fell at his feet, seeing him whenever he wanted to see them. Having women willing to revolve their lives around him was convenient, but it made Adam uncomfortable because that was what his mom did for her man of the moment. He couldn’t picture Megan doing that.
The seconds ticked into minutes. He imagined her weighing the pros and the cons, the V between her eyes deepening into almost parallel lines, as she made a list. Perhaps a mental one, or she might even be jotting one down. He wouldn’t put it past Megan. But he still hoped she said...
Another beep. He glanced at the screen.
Sure.
Adam pumped his hand. “Yes.”
Another message immediately followed.
Where do you want to meet?
Picking her up would be easiest, but that might seem like too much of a date. Like it wasn’t a date, a voice mocked. Ignoring it, he typed.
Griffith Park Observatory parking lot. Five o’clock.
Okay. See you then.
A satisfied feeling flowed through Adam. He couldn’t wait to see Megan. Once the shoot started, things would be hectic for both of them. He wanted to make the most of tonight.
And he would.
* * *
The sun dropped lower toward the horizon, filling the sky with satiny tendrils of yellow and pink. Megan sat on a blanket on the lawn area of the Griffith Observatory. Adam sat next to her. In his jeans, long-sleeved red shirt with a surfer logo on the front and an L.A. Dodgers hat with the brim pulled low, he still didn’t look like an average guy. But no one walking passed them recognized him.
The scent of the grass filled the air, mingling with the smells from the delicious dinner Adam had brought. A good thing they’d taken a short hike through Griffith Park when they arrived. She didn’t think she could do it now after eating fried chicken, corn on the cob, sweet potato fries and the flakiest buttermilk biscuits she’d ever tasted.
Megan stared at the view of Los Angeles, including the iconic Hollywood sign. “I always thought everything in L.A. was flashy and loud. Glad to see I was wrong.”
“This is an oasis in the city. My mom and I used to come here when I was younger.”
She wondered what Adam was like as a kid, probably a daredevil even then. “Thank you for suggesting we come here. It’s so nice. The park. The view. The food.”
“The company.”
She smiled up at him. “That, too.”
And so romantic. Better not go there. They were friends. Only friends.
Except being with Adam wasn’t the same as hanging out with her friends. A strange undercurrent kept things from feeling comfy and cozy like when she was with Rob. With Adam, she felt kind of prickly and off balance. She had no idea what might happen next. Funny, but that didn’t bother her as much as she thought it would.
Megan put her arms behind her so she could lean back and support her weight. Her hand brushed Adam’s. Heat and tingles erupted from the point of contact. She straightened. “Sorry.”
“No worries.”
Megan was worried. She couldn’t control her body’s reactions to him. Even the slightest touch sent her insides aquiver. Not good.
He removed a white cardboard box from the picnic basket, then opened the lid. “I hope you saved room for dessert.”
Megan peeked inside to see two big chocolate cupcakes with fluffy white icing. The mouthwatering scent added two more inches to her hips. She took one, anyway. Focusing on dessert was better than thinking about Adam. “No matter how full I am, there’s always room for a cupcake.”
Laughter filled his eyes.
“What?” she asked.
“It isn’t often I meet a woman who enjoys food the way you do.”
Megan shifted uncomfortably. She wanted to fit in with everyone else, find where she belonged, but she wasn’t about to starve herself to do it. Especially when cupcakes were involved. “It’s a love-hate relationship. Most women enjoy food, but they hate the calories.”
“You don’t seem worried about calories.”
“I’m not,” she admitted. “I might have been a size zero for about a week when I was twelve. But as long as I’m fit and healthy why not eat?”
He held a cupcake. “I agree completely.”
She bit into hers. The vanilla frosting, creamy and sweet, filled her mouth. So tasty. The cake was light and chocolaty. Perfect, like Adam.
Megan stiffened. He wasn’t perfect. Okay, maybe physically. She’d concede that much. But other things considered—stability and respectability—not even close. Adam might not be as big a show-off as she’d first thought, but he was reckless and a daredevil. Totally wrong for her. She stared at her cupcake.
“You look a million miles away,” Adam said.
She turned her head. The intensity in his green eyes made her breath catch.
“I’m back.” She took another bite of the delicious cupcake. “You said you came here with your mother.”
He nodded. “We didn’t have a lot of money when I was growing up. This was one place we could afford. Admission is free except for the planetarium show.”
“A bargain for the beautiful views.”
“Wait until you see inside and look at the sky through a telescope. I used to...”
The wistful look in his eyes intrigued Megan. She leaned toward him, eager to hear what he was going to say. “What?”
“Dream about being an astronaut.”
More adventure and thrills. Not surprising. “You wanted to fly the space shuttle.”
“No.” Now that surprised her. “I didn’t want to be a pilot, but a mission specialist. A scientist.”
To be a scientist meant he had to like science. Her first impression of him being a dumb jock had been way off base. This only reaffirmed how far off.
Megan imagined Adam wearing a white lab coat. He would look good no matter what he wore. “You would have been the hottest scientist ever. Every female research assistant would have wanted to work on your project.”
On him!
Adam grinned. “Thanks.”
“But I’ll be honest, you would look even hotter in a spacesuit.”
“I’ve worn one before. I played an astronaut in a movie. The best part was experiencing zero gravity during a parabolic flight. Talk about wild. You would have liked it.”
“I suppose doing somersaults in midair would be fun as long as you didn’t hit something while you were floating around.”
“Everything is controlled. Very safe.”
Being an actor gave Adam the opportunity to experience unique things that an average person like herself didn’t get to do. That had to be fun for him. “Playing an astronaut in a movie would be a lot safer than actually being blasted into space.”
Mischief gleamed in his eyes. “Nothing wrong with a little danger.”
“Says the surfer who rides the biggest wave out there.”
He raised his hands in the air like he had won a close race. “And conquers the biggest wave.”
; “Long-term, my money’s on the wave.”
Adam shrugged. “The rush is worth the risk.”
“I’ll take my chances on dry ground.”
“There’s rock climbing.”
“Not my thing,” she admitted. “I’m not a big fan of heights.”
“So no skydiving or BASE jumping.”
“Nope.” She’d never done anything like that, nor did she plan on it. “I like to keep my feet firmly planted on the ground. I’m addicted to breathing, not adrenaline.”
“Come on, you can’t tell me you’re totally risk adverse.”
“It’s true.”
“If it were, you wouldn’t be here.”
Megan drew back, feeling suddenly exposed. Most people took what she said without looking deeper. Even Rob. She might not have known Adam long, but the things she kept hidden from the world seemed somehow visible to him. She didn’t like it. “You mean here with you?”
“I’m not dangerous.”
Oh, yes, he was. She swallowed.
“I was talking about your internship,” Adam continued before she could say anything. “You left your family and friends to move to Los Angeles. That’s not exactly taking the safe path.”
Moving to a new town wouldn’t kill or injure her the way his risks would. At least she hoped not. “There aren’t many job opportunities for costume designers in Larkville. None unless you count the annual Christmas pageant at the community church. They’ve used the same costumes for years.”
“What about another city like Austin? They’re well-known in filmmaking circles.”
His Larkville Cinderella Page 7