The driveway sweeps up to the house, and I refuse to gawp. I’m not a tourist anymore. I’m his peer. A work colleague. An equal.
I’m just getting out of my car when Mackenzie appears at the huge front door. He is wearing a green silk dressing gown and his beauty punches me in the gut. His golden hair is loose and practically shines. He flows down the white marble stairs to me. Stopping two steps from the bottom as if he doesn’t want to get too close to me.
“What the hell are you doing here?” he hisses as his sapphire eyes blaze in fury.
“Congratulating you on the show being renewed,” I say as my heart sinks.
He glares at me like I’m an infuriating imbecile. “Go! Before someone sees you!”
I glance around in confusion. There is a tall wall all around his property. The gates are more like giant doors. No one can see us now I’m inside. And even if they could, is it really so terrible to be seen with me?
“Like who?” I ask helplessly. Is he worried about his parents seeing me? Though I can’t fathom why that would be a problem.
He makes a noise of pure frustration and crosses his arms without answering me. I don’t think he is wearing anything under that robe, but he wasn’t expecting company. Maybe I’ve interrupted him with a lover, or a hooker, or an orgy. Jealousy surges through me and it serves me right. Dropping in unannounced is rude. We are nowhere near close enough for that. What on earth was I expecting?
I glance down at myself. I’m still wearing my sweaty workout clothes. I didn’t even shower. I’ve completely lost the plot. I stare up at him and try to redeem myself.
“Are you going to do it?”
“Do what?”
“The show?”
“Yes!” he hisses in exasperation. “Now, fuck off!”
I nod sagely. “Good, I just wanted to know.”
I stare at him some more. Foolishly hoping to see his expression soften, for him to relent and invite me in. Maybe even let me see what’s under that robe. But he doesn’t. Infuriatingly, it’s still damn good to see him. His dazzling eyes are full of outrage but they are looking at me. I can smell him and it’s amazing. He is right before me, almost close enough to reach out and touch. It feels like food for my soul.
But he clearly doesn’t want me here. Either I’ve interrupted something, or he considers me so far beneath him he can’t stand the thought of anyone seeing us together. Knowing him, it’s possibly both.
The best I can do is attempt to leave with some sort of dignity intact. I don’t want him to see me scurrying away with my tail between my legs.
I get back in my car. “See you soon then, I guess,” I say and it’s the best acting of my life. I sound completely unphased, nonchalant even. There is no way to tell I’m a mess. Simultaneously thrilled to be basking in his presence again, whilst utterly crushed by his dismissal. I can feel both emotions viscerally in my guts.
The driveway loops around in a circle, so I follow it. As I head out, I watch him in my rearview mirror. He is standing on the steps watching me. Probably making sure that I leave, but the sight gives me goosebumps.
I can’t stop looking at him until I’m through the gate and he is out of sight. There is definitely something seriously wrong with me.
Chapter seven
Weareallsittingaround the huge conference table waiting for his majesty, Mackenzie Jones to arrive. I fiddle with my coffee cup and try not to get too annoyed. It is what it is. The sun rises, the moon sets, July follows June, and Mackenzie is always late. He is successful enough to get away with it. Hopefully, one day I will be too, though I pray to god that I never turn into a rude ass.
My agent is busy on her phone. The rest of the cast and crew make small talk around me. I let the buzz wash over me. All my earlier excitement for this meeting has died. Killed by him.
The door opens and I hate that I whip around to see if it’s him. It is. Seeing him gives me instant butterflies. He is wearing a soft gray hoodie with the hood up. Oversized shades cover half his face yet he is still ridiculously stunning. My stupid crush has clearly not gone anywhere. My gaze tracks over the perfect line of his jaw, his smooth skin, his immensely kissable lips. I even like the shape of his shoulders. His build is utterly enticing, completely masculine but slender enough to be compelling. I want to feel him in my arms.
His mother walks in behind him, looking as glamorous as hell. I find myself sitting up even straighter. Miranda Jones. Hollywood’s darling twenty years ago. She is still a formidable woman. Still insanely famous even though she hasn’t deigned to take any roles for decades. These days she is all about her make-up range and being her son’s agent.
They walk in without a word of apology and take their seats near the head of the table, right next to the showrunner. Miranda takes the seat closest to the boss. It’s clear she is top dog. Meanwhile, I’m sat half-way down the opposite side, amongst the actors playing the side characters.
He doesn’t even glance in my direction. There is no indication that he has even seen me. I’m his frigging co-star and he is ignoring me. As if I’m not worth noticing.
The meeting begins, and I struggle to pay attention. Even though he is being a rude, entitled ass, my mind just wants to stare at Mackenzie and drool. Despite the insult of it, it’s probably a good thing he is sitting so far away from me. Otherwise I might try to kiss him or punch him. Possibly both.
“Season two is taking a new direction. I’m sure you have all seen the fans’ enthusiasm. There are over one hundred thousand individual pieces of fiction online. So we are writing Cain and Abe’s love story into the show.”
Surprised murmuring breaks out amongst most of the crew. It seems some already knew this whilst for the rest of us it’s a surprise. I just stare at the showrunner, my guts twisting as every emotion ever known to man runs through me.
