Hollywood Flirt: Hollywood Name Game Book 2

by Alexa Aston

  Why hadn’t Sydney told him who she was? Better yet, she had to have money. Lots of it.

  Once Wake’s tooth was repaired, he’d Googled her and found out she was worth a ton. That Craig Thompson had left her well off. Obviously, she hadn’t spent any of it during law school or while they were married or Wake would’ve known about it.

  Sydney owed him.

  He’d helped her come out of her introverted shell. He’d become her study partner the first semester in law school. She wouldn’t have had the grades she got without him. He’d married her, for God’s sake, and it was his family’s connections that had helped her land the job at a prestigious firm in New York. Then she had the audacity to up and leave him for no good reason.

  Wake wanted Sydney back—and more importantly, he wanted the money that came with her.

  He’d charged a flight to LA that he’d never be able to pay for and rented a sub-compact. Pawning the last of his mother’s jewelry, he’d found a cheap motel room and crashed for a few hours. Then he’d driven to the last address Marker had provided him. On the way, Wake bought cheap white roses at a grocery store and placed them on the porch early this morning. He recognized Brenda, Sydney’s former assistant in Boston, when she came out and grabbed the vase.

  All day, people had come and gone from the house but Sydney hadn’t appeared until late afternoon from wherever she’d been hiding. She’d only gone inside for a few minutes and then left quickly. So Wake sat, waiting for her to come home tonight. When Sydney had stopped by earlier in the day, Wake had noticed a black SUV park across the street moments later. No one had exited the SUV and the driver pulled away shortly after Sydney had left. If the cars following her were still with her, then he’d have to think of something.

  Finally, headlights appeared. No other cars seemed close behind. Wake sat up in anticipation.

  It wasn’t the ancient convertible Sydney had been driving earlier. Instead, another car pulled up in the driveway. A guy got out. Something looked familiar about him.

  Was Sydney living with this man? If so, she’d have to face whatever punishment Wake decided to dole out. She was his wife. It didn’t matter what the courts said. A piece of paper didn’t tell their story. Sydney was his.

  Wake would make sure of it.

  CHAPTER 27

  Sydney got her father settled in the chair behind his desk. She had a rare morning off since Britt Baker was handling direction of the fight sequences being filmed. Dash had assured her he had the choreography down and wouldn’t sport any shiners when she arrived on set later this afternoon.

  “Are you sure you don’t want to go rest?” she asked.

  “I promise to take a nap soon,” Monty Revere said. “It’s nice not to be in that sterile hospital room anymore. I like wearing my own pajamas to bed and not that open-backed hospital gown.” He inhaled deeply. “This just smells like home. I never realized home had a smell until after my heart attack.”

  “When you’re ready, I’ll have Jayla set up yesterday’s dailies for you to view.”

  Her father patted Sydney’s hand. “You’re doing great, Kid. Monica would be so proud of you. Ron called yesterday. He’s really satisfied with the dailies and the way you run a set.”

  “It’s nice to hear Ron’s happy. By the way, Sadie’s coming over tonight to talk about what we want from the film as she cuts it. She’s already got the opening credits completed and has a rough cut of four or five scenes she’ll show us.”

  “I don’t mind seeing her but it’s what you want, Syd. You’re the director on the film. The cut should reflect your voice—not mine.”

  Sydney shook her head. “It’s ours. We’re sharing credit.”

  “No,” Monty said emphatically. “I want it all to go to you.” He gave her a fond look. “You have a future in this business, honey. Lone credit on the film will go a long way to landing your next gig.”

  “I hope I do, Dad. I feel as if this is what I’m meant to do.”

  He grew serious. “I knew Dash would be good after seeing his audition. Cassie’s screenplay is also letting him shine but you’re getting great stuff from him. Better than I think I could have. This movie will be the turning point for him—and you.” He gave her a hopeful look. “Maybe you’ll make the change in careers together from now on?”

  Sydney shrugged. “We’ll see.”

  “I won’t wait forever for grandkids, Syd. You and Dash would make some pretty darn cute babies, in my opinion.”

  Her cheeks heated. “Okay, on that note, I’m out of here.”

  She found Jayla. “That rehab session really tired him,” she told the assistant. “Make him rest. I don’t envy you that job.”

  “Don’t worry. I plan to. We all want Monty around for a long time. In fact, Mom’s in the kitchen making her super-secret special soup. Remember, the one that can cure anything?”

  Sydney laughed. “Hopefully, Dad will put back on a few pounds eating Diamond’s cooking. He hated the bland food in the hospital.” She glanced at the treasure trove of flowers and cards that had continued to arrive since Monty’s heart attack and caught sight of two stuffed teddy bears. She picked one up. “Herc would love these.”

  “Why don’t you take them over to him?” Jayla said. “Monty has no use for them.”

  “I think I will.” Sydney gathered the other up and decided to run them over now before she went to the studio.

  It was hard to ignore the team following her the few blocks to Dash’s house. Sydney spotted two different cars subtly trading places as they tailed her. Bruce had told her not to acknowledge the security guards in any way so she focused on the road ahead.

  Brenda answered the door. “Hi, Sydney. Come on in.” As they came through the entryway to the great room, Brenda said, “Thanks for the heads up about the security firm. They contacted me this morning. I left two of them in my apartment, checking for bugs and examining that little black bug we discovered.”

  “Dash arranged it, via Rhett. It’s a group Rhett’s used for the last year.”

  “I’m glad professionals are on the job. You don’t know how my heart almost stopped when I opened the door and saw those roses sitting on the porch. I’m so sorry. Did you have a good birthday, at least?”

  “I did,” Sydney assured her friend. “Having Dad alive and home has been the best gift.” She held up the stuffed animals. “These two came with a couple of the floral arrangements he received. Dad doesn’t need these. I thought Herc would enjoy them, especially the one dressed as a football player.”

  “He’ll love them,” Brenda said. “He and Tim are kicking around a soccer ball in the backyard.”

  “How is Tim?” Sydney asked innocently.

  “Don’t act so casually.” Brenda paused. “Let’s just say that Tim . . . is spectacular,” and she grinned from ear to ear.

  “I like hearing that,” Sydney told her. “You deserve someone decent in your life. The fact that Tim’s also smart and really attractive doesn’t hurt.”

  “He’s the best man I’ve ever dated,” Brenda admitted. “I promise to do everything in my power to keep him in my life. Now, I’ve got to get back to work. Head on outside.”

  Sydney went out the open French doors and watched Herc, his brow furrowed in deep concentration, as he kicked his soccer ball. When he scored a goal, Sydney clapped loudly.

  “Way to go, Herc!” she cheered.

  He turned and a smile lit his face as he came running in her direction.

  “I scored, Sydney!”

  “I saw that.” She extended the two bears to him. “These guys are for you.”

  “Oh, boy.” Herc took one in each hand and clutched them to his chest. “They’re so soft.”

  Tim joined them. “I think it’s time for a water break.”

  “I’ll get it,” Herc shouted and ran back inside the house.

  They followed him into the kitchen, where Herc had already placed the bears on the table. He got a water bottle for each of the
m and then pulled out the napkins and handed one to everyone.

  “You’re a great helper, Herc,” Tim praised.

  “I love to help.”

  Sydney asked Herc a few questions and he readily answered them, full of enthusiasm as always. She enjoyed being around him. Herc was what her dad called WYS-I-WYG—what you see is what you get—and about as far from the typical Hollywood person as an individual could be.

  “I’ve got to head to the studio now but thank you for taking your water break with me,” she told the two men.

  “It’s the big scene with Keely today, right?” asked Tim. “Dash was mentioning how good a job she’s done so far.”

  “Keely will be a big name one day. I’m glad to help give her this start. She’s loaded with talent. Want to walk me out, Herc?”

  “Okay.”

  Herc hugged her again when they reached the car. “I’m glad you came, Sydney. Thank you for my new friends.”

  “It was good to see you, Herc.”

  “I love you, Sydney.”

  “I love you, too, Herc.”

  Across the street, Wake Marshall watched with interest.

  ◆◆◆

  Dash toweled off and threw on a robe. Adrenaline still raced through his body. It always did after filming fight scenes, which had been a bulk of his acting experience until his time on No Regrets. He loved how Cassie’s screenplay stretched his range. It had plenty of action but the storyline was complicated and had more depth than any movie he’d been cast in.

  What was coming up made him a little nervous, though. It would be his last two scenes with Keely, who’d been nothing short of remarkable. Replacing Marlyn had been the best decision Sydney could have made for the production. Though Marlyn had talent, she was also jaded—and that had shone through in her scenes with Dash. Keely had more raw talent, which Sydney had channeled. Keely’s incredible combination of strength and vulnerability turned into something magical. He wanted to live up to his end in their upcoming scenes.

  He wolfed down the Caesar chicken salad and bowl of mixed fruit that awaited him. A lot of physical energy had been used up earlier today so he mixed a double chocolate protein shake and drank it for good measure. Now, Dash had to harness the emotional energy required for the charged love scene with Keely and then their last scene together when Rachel died in Paul’s arms.

  A knock sounded on his trailer. “Come in,” he called.

  Sydney and Keely appeared. Dash offered the two women seats and drinks.

  “I wanted to talk with both of you before we got on set,” Sydney started. “We’ve rehearsed both scenes but I thought it wouldn’t hurt to walk through a few things again to make sure everyone is on the same page.”

  She went on to assure Keely that it would be a closed set with only a skeleton crew working during the sex scene. Keely had never done any kind of nudity before and the actress had admitted to both Sydney and Dash that she was nervous.

  Sydney went through the emotions that she wanted them to bring to the screen and then reminded them of certain actions to take as bits of dialogue were spoken.

  “I know it all sounds very technical and not romantic in the least bit but coordinating who puts what where and when they do it will make shooting the scene go more smoothly,” Sydney assured them. “Okay, let’s switch gears and talk about your final scene together.”

  As she spoke, Dash realized what a gifted director Sydney truly was. She gave them insightful pieces to use at different points in the scene, even relating the emotions to certain events that Paul and Rachel had undergone together or that Dash and Keely had experienced in their own lives. By the time Sydney finished, his confidence was sky-high. Looking across at Keely, he saw she projected the same certainty.

  “I have faith in both of you,” Sydney said. “Cassie has written exceptional dialogue. You two are bringing her characters to life in ways neither of us imagined. When all is said and done, this will be everyone’s favorite scene in the movie.”

  She stood. “Dash, you better go get into hair and makeup. I know we’d built time to do that again due to how messy this morning’s fight scenes were. Britt told me he got exactly what he needed from you. Good job.”

  “I want a quiet place to think about everything Sydney said and run through the scenes in my head,” Keely added. “A therapist friend tells me I should always do that. So far, it’s worked.”

  “Feel free to use my trailer, Keely,” Dash offered. “No one will bother you here.”

  “Thank you.”

  Thirty minutes later, they were back on the soundstage, ready to begin. Dash had thought it might feel a little awkward performing a sex scene in front of his girlfriend but Sydney was a pro throughout. Her direction before the scene began made for very few interruptions. Dash was able to step into Paul’s shoes and through his eyes see Rachel and love her for who she was and what she had come to mean to him while they both were on the run.

  Two hours later, Sydney had what she wanted and called for the final set-up of the day. This time as the scene began, Dash didn’t see Rachel—or even Keely—as he bid goodbye to the woman who had sacrificed everything to the point of death for the man she loved. Dash pictured Sydney lying in his arms. Sydney fighting as she took her last breaths. Sydney in the moments before she left him. The woman he held was the one he loved. He would have to live without her for the rest of his life. Feelings poured from Dash that he’d never experienced in person, much less portrayed as an actor.

  He bent and brushed his lips a last time against her soft mouth, tears spilling down his cheeks. He pulled back and whispered, “Goodbye.”

  Silence permeated the soundstage. Then Sydney quietly called, “Cut.”

  Big Jim, the cameraman, started clapping. The rest of the crew joined in. Dash wiped away his tears and offered a hand to Keely. She came to her feet, her cheeks turning pink, a big grin on her face. She threw her arms around him.

  “Thank you, Dash. I’ve never worked with a more generous actor. I don’t think I’ll ever do a scene like that again. You’ve been an amazing partner on this journey.”

  Sydney came toward them and wrapped her arms around them both in a group hug.

  “That was extraordinary. Breathtaking. Astonishing. You two rocked it!”

  “It was all in the direction,” Dash said, his eyes meeting hers. “We couldn’t have done it without you.”

  “Thank you so much, Sydney,” Keely gushed. “Thank you for having faith in me and bringing me in to do a job even I didn’t know I could do.”

  “You’re an exceptional actress, Keely, and if I ever have the chance to work with you again, I’ll leap at it.”

  “Oh, you’ll work again, Sydney. Directing is in your blood.”

  Sydney stepped back and called out, “We’re done for the day. Thank you, everyone. Terrific work today.”

  The crew started shutting down their equipment. Dash asked, “Would you come to my trailer for a minute?”

  “Sure,” Sydney said.

  He escorted her back and let her enter the trailer first. Closing the door behind them, he turned and pulled her into his arms for a searing kiss.

  “That’s what I’ve wanted to do all day, babe,” he told her when they finally came up for air.

  She laughed. “Don’t ask what your bare chest and butt were doing to me during your love scene. I’ve felt like an overheated engine for hours now.”

  Dash kissed her again, long and leisurely. “I could do this all day,” he murmured against her mouth.

  “And all night?” she murmured. Or at least he thought that’s what she said. He was too busy enjoying the feel and taste of her to worry much about conversation.

  His phone buzzed on the nearby table, interrupting their fun.

  “Sorry. I need to get this.” Only Tim and Brenda had the number to this phone. And Herc, of course. They rarely called him, handling everything between them until he arrived home, so Dash knew it had to be important.

>   “Hello?”

  “D-Dash?”

  “Hey, Herc. You sound upset, buddy. Is something wrong?” He looked at Sydney, who moved close to him and rested her hand on his forearm.

  “Dash?” His brother started crying.

  “Hey, buddy. It’s all right. Tell me what happened. Are you hurt?”

  “N-no.” Herc sniffed.

  Dash heard something muffled in the background. “Herc? Are you there? Let me talk to Tim, okay?”

  Herc started crying again. Dash’s worry meter shot up to red alert. Finally, Herc said, “Is Sydney there?”

  “She is. Do you want to talk to her?” He looked at Sydney, who nodded encouragingly at him and reached for the phone.

  She pressed speaker so Dash could hear what Herc said.

  “Sydney?”

  “I’m here, Herc.”

  Herc sniffled. “The bad man . . . . he wants . . . he wants to talk to you.”

  A pause. “Hello, Sydney. I’m with your friend. Herc.”

  “Wake?” she hissed.

  CHAPTER 28

  Sydney fought the chill that filled her. She couldn’t afford to get emotional. Instead, she converted to what her brain termed attorney mode, pushing aside all feelings. Attorney mode meant a laser-focus and her mind constantly churning, finding a quick solution.

  “That’s right. We haven’t talked in a long time, Sydney.”

  Flattery worked with Wake. Raising her voice didn’t. Also, taking the blame and making him feel superior were tricks she’d used during their marriage.

  “I know, Wake. It’s my fault. I was hurt when I saw you with another woman. I wasn’t thinking. I took things too far. I’m sorry about the divorce.”

  “Are you?” he asked. She could hear the smallest bit of hope in his voice and needed to play to that. Anything to keep him from hurting Herc.

  “Yes, but I thought it was for the best to leave because . . . well, I wasn’t good enough for you. Your mother told me that enough times. There were so many other girls in our law school class that were prettier than me. Smarter than me. You should’ve chosen one of them.”