Hollywood Heartthrob (2 page)

“Well, I’m not.” She replied flatly.

“So, was it a bad day? You looked pretty mad at the papers you threw in the back there?” his tone was flirtatious, as was his stance, and this angered Amy.

Clearly, Josh Roberts was accustomed to seducing each and every woman he met. Most women probably melted at his feet and jumped into his bed before he’d had the chance to even utter a greeting. Amy hated this arrogance. She’d met his type before; every guy Tanya brought home was a struggling actor with all the self-belief in the world. In Amy’s eyes it was a most unattractive quality.

As Josh Roberts stood undressing her with his eyes she could feel the fury begin to well up inside her.

“Yes, I’ve had a bad day!” she told him sternly.

“I’m trying to teach my class in English Lit but I can’t because all anybody wants to talk about is your stupid movie! And then when class finishes I can’t grade my papers because I can hear gunshots and shouting! This is supposed to be a quiet, rural area! I feel as though I’m back in New York City!”

Josh didn’t seem phased by her outburst; his expression seemed mildly amused as he watched Amy’s nostrils flare out in anger as she yelled at him.

“So you’re from the big apple?” he asked when she’d finished, his eyes teasing her, mocking how gorgeous he was to women, begging her to just drop the pretence and sleep with him.

“Where I’m from is none of your business,” Amy declared, knowing that in her rage her true accent had appeared, just slightly, which would have already given away her roots.

“Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got to get home and grade some papers- some place where I can get some peace and quiet!”

“Wait, you’re leaving?” Josh sounded surprised now.

“Imminently.”

“Why? You should hang around. Let me make it up to you for my movie causing you to have such a bad day.”

Amy knew exactly how Josh planned on making things up to her and she wasn’t the slightest bit interested.

No, that was a lie. She thought he was handsome, sexy even. But then she was only a woman and he really was an Adonis. His hair danced slightly in the wind as they talked, not that she noticed as his dark eyes were mesmerising. But she reminded herself that he was just an actor. Just somebody with crazy dreams like Tanya. Dreams that only paid off if you were lucky.

“Once I get home and finish these papers I’ll be fine,” Amy told him politely. “It was nice to meet you Mr…” she hovered over the name, not wanting to give him the satisfaction of already knowing it.

“Roberts. Josh Roberts,” he answered as he awkwardly extended his hand which Amy took and amiably shook.

“Good luck with the film, Mr. Roberts,” she smiled sweetly, glad that she had managed to put a dent in his
armor
.

“Thanks…Miss?” he had gathered himself again after being briefly caught off guard and was back to being suave and seductive as he enquired about her name.

“Miss Prince.”

“See you again, Miss Prince.”

As she got into her car, Amy tried to focus her thoughts on the task of driving but her interaction with the heartthrob on campus had left her heart racing even though she found him arrogant and vulgar.

As she drove away, she knew how much fun it would be to tell Jenny who’d want every bit of the meeting told in finite detail. She decided she’d invite her over and they could gossip till the small hours over a glass of wine. Amy knew she was lucky to have made such a good friend at the college. Jenny was her life-line there even if at times she could be overly quirky and annoying.

****

Watching the small Prius leave, Josh Roberts couldn’t shake the feeling that something felt strange. Admittedly, it was weird for an attractive woman to turn him down, but it wasn’t that. He assumed the sexy teacher was just being hard to get, at least that’s what he hoped as now she’d rebuffed him it made him want her even more.

No, what was weird, he realized, was that it was the first time in five years that he’d been asked his name. Before that, everyone always knew who he was. But he’d liked having to answer who he was. It made him feel…normal. And Josh Roberts hadn’t felt normal for a long time.

Amy Prince felt tired and drained as she braced herself for yet another day of difficult teaching.

Driving into campus that morning she saw that the film crew was already on site, hard at work and covering the entire inner quad area. She sighed to herself as she knew that once again her students would rather attempt to stop a celebrity than focus on their studies.

And why they felt the need to gawp at the famous, Amy didn’t understand as she herself had a close encounter with the film’s main star, Josh Roberts, and she’d been left feeling unimpressed. She hoped that she wouldn’t run into him again.

As she came into her classroom that morning Amy realized that her hopes were dashed.

Josh Roberts stood leaning against her desk, his gaze settled beyond the window outside. The early morning light shone off his chiselled features and the faint scent of lemon grass carried on the air over to Amy who stood frozen in shock in the doorway.

“Ah, good morning,” Josh sensed her presence and turned and give her a broad smile which revealed blindingly white teeth.

“Morning,” Amy replied politely, tentatively edging into her classroom, unsure what her impromptu visitor wanted.

“So this is your classroom?” Josh asked, looking around the vast room with seats which rose up towards the far wall.

“Yep, this is it.”

Amy suddenly felt incredibly self-conscious as she realized that her hair was a mess and she’d not put any make up on that day. She hated herself for caring but couldn’t help it. Josh Roberts looked so perfect it was difficult to feel anything other than a mess beside him.

“It’s nice.”

“Okay. Why exactly are you in it?” Amy’s stubborn nature overwhelmed her, as it often did, and she suddenly had no patience for pleasantries or idle chit-chat.

“Wow, you’re direct!” Josh laughed.

“I’m a teacher, I have to be.”

“Makes sense,” Josh mused as he walked around her desk, admiring it, letting his fingertips dance across its surface.

“You’ve still not explained why you are here.” Amy prompted.

“I have a class that starts in twenty minutes and if my students find you here I’ll never be able to bring them down off the ceiling in time to teach them anything.”

“But not you?” Josh asked, his eyes locking on Amy’s intently.

“Excuse me?”

“I’m here and you aren’t on the ceiling. You actually seem annoyed.”

“That’s because I am annoyed. You are getting in the way of me doing my job.”

“Well, I’m sorry about that.”

“So what do you want?” Amy demanded, painfully aware that each minute that passed drew her excitable students ever closer.

“I was thinking that since you are a teacher here, you know the place pretty well, and I’d like to have a look round, a guided tour if you like.”

“You want me to be your guide?” Amy asked incredulously.

“If you don’t mind. I’d like to learn more about the buildings, their history, that sort of thing.”

“Seriously, what do you want?” Amy glanced nervously at the clock high on the wall as she spoke.

Josh saw her check the time and smiled cheekily to himself.

“Your students will be here soon.”

“Yes, they will, so you need to leave.”

“I’ll go.”

“Good.”

“If you agree to give me a tour of the campus.”

Amy’s eyes widened in anger at the realization that Josh was attempting to blackmail her. She had no idea why he was so keen to tour the campus; she seriously doubted it had anything to do with an interest in any of the buildings’ history, which she knew little about herself. But she needed him gone as her students were now just over ten minutes away and some of the more eager of them were always early.

“Fine okay, I’ll give you a tour!” she conceded.

“Great, that wasn’t so hard, was it?” Josh gave her another dazzling smile before making good on his word and leaving.

Finally alone, Amy exhaled and realized how tense she’d been for their entire interaction. Josh Roberts made her exceedingly nervous and she didn’t like it. As the first of her students began to filter into the room she was grateful for the distraction which teaching would give her from her own muddled thoughts.

****

“So where have you been?” Caroline Demure asked without moving her head as she sat in her makeup chair while a technician carefully applied false eyelashes to frame her hazel eyes.

“About,” Josh shrugged dismissively as he fell into a nearby chair.

“About?” Caroline echoed, her tone pitched in disbelief.

“Yes, about.”

Josh was in no mood to talk to Caroline. He just wanted to get ready for his morning on set in the trailer as quickly as possible so that he could leave again.

“Anyone would think you were avoiding me,” Caroline almost purred the words as she spoke.

Caroline Demure had been voted the world’s sexiest woman two year’s previous and it was an accolade which had consumed her entire being.

Everything she did or said was done with the mindset of creating a seductive allure and while Josh had liked that at first, he had quickly tired of it.

“I’m not avoiding you,” Josh answered flatly.

“Well you certainly left my bed quickly enough last night!” Caroline quipped and Josh felt his cheeks become enflamed.

He hated how Caroline would discuss personal issues in front of fellow cast and crew, as though they weren’t even there. He thought it was an ignorant way to behave.

“Let’s not discuss that now,” he told her sharply, as though he were disciplining a young child.

“Then when are we going to talk about? You keep disappearing.” Caroline pouted.

Keeping her eyes focused on the mirror she let one of her long legs slip from beneath the flimsy dressing gown she was wearing and graze the floor. She wanted to entice Josh. He was the most desired man in the world, she the most desired woman, they were a perfect match.

“Keep your clothes on for Christ’s sake,” Josh said disapprovingly.

Angered Caroline quickly swept her leg back up and this time she turned from the mirror to look at Josh directly.

“You don’t normally moan when I take my clothes off!”

“Caroline, not now-” he sighed.

“Then when?” Caroline demanded. “Last night you came to me and wanted me like a man possessed; now it’s as if I’m invisible. I’m tired of playing these games with you!”

“Then have some respect and stop opening your legs!” Josh told her bitterly as he rose from his chair and angrily exited the trailer.

Caroline was quickly behind him, only one of her eyes fully made up which made her appearance appear uneven.

“Josh, what is going on with you?” she demanded.

Stopping and turning, Josh looked at her and felt the eyes of the rest of the cast and crew upon him. It wasn’t the first time he and Caroline had participated in a public spat; it always drew equal interest and he felt embarrassed to be airing his dirty laundry in such a crude manor.