Idolized (Hollywood Stardust Book 3) (24 page)

Edward stared him down.

Uncomfortable silence overtook the room.

Logan stood and went to his side. “What is with you? Take it down a notch.”

“I have a few things I’m dealing with.” Ryder attempted to speak without moving his lips. “I just finished one movie and I’m staring this one, and I have my own movie to deal with, I barely even had a break.”

Logan pushed him back away from the table. “Is this thing with you and Cora real?”

With Logan’s question, the heat surrounding him threatened to incinerate him. “Is this thing with you and Ivy real?” Was anything real? Was this as real as he could make it?

“It just happened exceptionally fast between you two, and you don’t have the best track record.” Logan pulled no punches.

“Seems to me I remember someone acting very fast with some reporter and, as I recall, your reputation wasn’t stellar either.” Even with sweat breaking out on the back of his neck, he made sure to look his co-star right in the eye.

“Then since we don’t start filming until next week why don’t you go do something with her and pound it out so we don’t have a feud on the set.” As if challenging him, Logan lifted his chin.

“Fine.” Do something? He supposed they could do something. In fact now that he thought about it, he would love to take Cora to his cabin in Big Bear and wondered if she would even agree to go. Maybe the drive and the air would do them both good. The cabin was the best escape.

Logan elbowed him. “Now go make nice.”

“You know, you and I could have directed this, we didn’t need a policeman.” He sighed.

“This one is going to hit close to home, and we’re both leads. We needed him and he’s the best. Or that’s what I’ve been told.” Logan shoved him forward.

Once more, he looked at his phone. Sometimes the best course of action was no action. The more he argued, the worse it would get. He slid the stupid link to the world into his pocket, returned to the table and held his hand out to the director. “No phones.” No way would he apologize.

“Thank you, Mr. Scott.” Edward shook his hand.

He and Logan resumed their seats.

“Now. Why don’t we go through the first scene and get our sea legs?” Edward motioned toward Madeline. “While our screenwriter passes out the pages, I want to remind everyone to turn in their scripts as they won’t be necessary and aren’t even complete.”

Turn in the script? No. Cora really seemed to like the script, and he told her she could have it.

Madeline handed him papers and reached for his script.

In a flash, he put his hand down on it. “I have some notes in there. I’ll give it to you in a bit.” Instead, he reached in his bag and gave her his
Working Title
script. Not only would he get his favor, but it was a great diversion.

Madeline nodded and made her way around the table.

No one was taking this script away from Cora, and he wasn’t going to make her wait until the film wrapped to have it. When he thought about it, what could he give her she couldn’t buy?

He put the papers on top of the script and gathered them all up together. It wouldn’t take much to sneak it into his bag. It wouldn’t be the first time he stole. The only difference was this little treasure wasn’t going into his storage facility, but to a woman who deserved it.

HOLLYWOOD STARDOM

FADE IN:

EXT. HOLLYWOOD, CA – OUTSIDE HOLLYWOOD STARDUST THEATRE - DAY

ROXY opens her eyes.  The camera pans to WILLIAM, STEVEN and CHARLES in the crowd.

WOMAN

(Points to WILLIAM on the picture)

I recognize him.  My daughter loves him.

ROXY

The world knows him.

WOMAN

How long have you known them?

ROXY

We met in high school.

WOMAN

Really.

ROXY

(Nods)

We all traveled here when they were going to tear the theatre down.  They let me live my dream even when I turned into their nightmare.

WOMAN

What do you mean?

ROXY

I put them through the wringer.  I wasn’t old enough to deal with the emotions.

WOMAN

(Puts her hand on ROXY’s shoulder)

You never answered my question.

ROXY faces her.

WOMAN

Who is it?

ROXY takes a breath.

FADE OUT.

Chapter Eleven

“SIT RIGHT HERE, Miss Caine.” Ryder settled her in her chair at the dining room table and leaned over her. “I thought we’d break in the dining room.”

“I see this.” Cora reached for her glass of wine.

He kissed her cheek. “We’re like real people.”

“Don’t let the dining room fool you.” Out of the corner of her eye, she glanced at him. Since she walked in the door, he’d been acting weird. In truth, that wasn’t accurate, she would just say weirder than normal. Actually, she didn’t know what normal was anymore. However, he did usher her into a nice hot bath and after towel drying her and doing the hair braid thing again, he had her put on a robe, and led her to the dining room table for dinner like a normal person.

Well, it wasn’t unheard of.

She guessed.

“Stay right there while I get our plates.” He took a sip out of her wine glass, then disappeared behind her into the kitchen.

After learning her lesson about too much alcohol, she reached for her new must have—a glass of alkaline water—and leaned back in the chair, wondering what Ryder could have possibly conjured from the nonexistent groceries in the refrigerator. Did he even cook?

“Here we go.” Ryder returned and placed a plate in front of her. “The best of the best from my friends at Karma Cuisine. They deliver.”

If nothing else she got her answer, unfortunately it only created more questions. “What is this?” She had to admit everything was pretty, almost too pretty to eat, but it seemed as if something were missing.

“Cucumber and watermelon salad, hummus with gluten free pita bread, a variety of seasonal olives, and a Portobello mushroom steak.” He used his fork to point out the different dishes.

And now she knew what was missing. “Don’t you mean Portobello mushrooms and a steak?” At saying the word, her mouth watered.

“The mushroom tastes just like a steak. You’ll love it.” With a lot of vim and vigor he dug into his plate.

She followed suit and took a bite of the vegetable that wanted to be meat. Smoky, hearty, delicious even, but it wasn’t steak. Still, his whole display was sort of endearing so she decided to go with it.

The sounds of silverware and dishes filled the room giving the place a little bit of a homey feel that wasn’t totally unwelcome.

“So, how was your day at work?” He poured her some more water.

When he first texted her earlier, she thought he would have wanted her to come home and go straight to the bedroom. She had been so busy the last few days they didn’t really have much quote unquote personal time. However, with his bland question she had to wonder what was going on and put her fork down.

“How was your day?” She stopped short of asking what sin he committed.

“I brought you a present.” Grinning, he took a quick drink of his water and reached over to one of the empty chairs.

She ground her teeth together wondering what he bought her with her credit card. Whatever sin he committed had to be horrible to warrant a present and dinner and no sex.

“I have to admit I sort of took this from the reading today. They wanted them back, but I knew you liked it.” He presented her with his script from
Hollywood Stardom
.

Her mouth opened then she closed it as she assessed the gift. He gave her the script. There were only a few of these in the world, and she couldn’t stop a smile. As a bonus, earlier she found out she won her auction for an actual prop from her favorite musical, an actual note they used right on stage. Today was a day of memorabilia.