We were interrupted as Wes arrived at my side, asking Audrey for a beer. He turned to me. “Oh, man, I’m going to split soon. Think anyone will notice?”
I shrugged noncommittally. “Probably not. Do you have somewhere better to be?”
“Yeah, if I can get out of here soon enough, I can get between two sexy numbers.”
“Six and nine?” Audrey asked. She was back with Wes’ beer, and we both looked confused for long enough that she clarified, “Two sexy numbers?”
Wes cracked up, laying an extra bill on the bar as a tip. He motioned towards her. “I like this one. Nice work.”
I shoved him away with one hand, “Yeah, yeah. Get out of here.”
After another hour, Tiffany finally managed to convince Audrey that she wasn’t actually needed, and she joined me on the other side of the bar so we could talk without getting interrupted.
So, of course, Terry appeared. “There’s the next McConaughey.” He turned to Audrey, studying her. “You’re cute, do you act?”
She shook her head. “No, I market alcohol.”
“Pity, I could find you some really steady ad work.” He stuck his hand out, “I’m Terry, his agent.”
“Audrey Adams,” Audrey said, shaking his hand with an open smile. “Can I ask why McConaughey? I mean, I guess I can kind of see a resemblance, the sandy hair, the blue eyes …” Even though she was referring to me, her attention never left him, her tone warm and friendly.
“He’s a great actor, don’t you agree? Largely made a career out of his looks until he was only really being cast as the romantic lead, not unlike our J here. But then he surprised everyone with a series of smaller serious roles that he knocked out of the park. Took his career in a whole new direction. Proved pretty isn’t always all there is.”
“Wow.” Yeah, wow. How had I never heard this before? Probably because I’d never bothered to ask Terry why he was always using that comparison.
“Jackson is lucky to have an agent who believes in him so much.” Audrey smiled, and I could see Terry was a little under her spell. Not that I could blame him. She must be a killer saleswoman.
“It’s easy to be. There’s a lot of potential there.” Terry picked up a drink offered by a waitperson walking by, then pointedly added while looking at me, “He just needs to pick his next project so I can do my job and get him to the next stage of his career.”
“Well, hopefully, some good news comes after tonight.”
He hummed, hopeful. “Hey, I need to talk to Wes. Have you seen him?”
“Uh, yeah, he should be around. Somewhere.” I said nonchalantly.
“I think I saw him in the corner booth,” Audrey added.
Terry went off in the direction we’d mentioned, leaving Audrey and me alone again. Or as alone as we could be in a sea of a hundred people.
I normally hated these events, but it was surprisingly fun with Audrey there.
“So …” Audrey bit her lip, and I fought the urge to lean in and kiss her. “It’s kind of loud in here.”
I nodded. “Crowded, too.”
“Yeah. I know somewhere nearby where we could go. Somewhere more intimate.” A small dimple appeared in her cheek when her smile widened enough. I wanted to lick it.
“Lead the way.”
13
Audrey
This time, my lips were on his before we reached my door.
Seeing him again had felt a little surreal, although far from a coincidence if I knew Tiff. My heart had damn near stopped when I’d spotted him at the bar, looking like a three-course meal in those tight jeans and button-down.
I may not have thought I'd ever see Jackson again, but that hadn't stopped me from fantasizing about what I wanted to do with him. And now that I had the chance, I was going to go for it.
