AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I buckled my seatbelt as the private plane started to descend, sipping on my bottle of beer. The bar at the back of the plane was fully stocked with every type of liquor imaginable, but I’d always had simple tastes, which meant there was nothing better than a cold beer.
When we landed, I made sure that my baseball cap was pulled down low and slipped my sunglasses on before leaving the plane. Anonymity was important to allow me to have some peace while I was here.
It wasn’t an intricate disguise, but I’d learned over the years that it didn’t have to be. I just needed to blend in and make sure that no one was inclined to look too closely at me. If I was recognized as a movie star in a busy place like an airport, I’d be swarmed by people wanting autographs and pictures. It would take hours just to get out of the place.
I didn’t check a bag, so I was able to head straight for the exit with my blue duffle slung over my shoulder. I had arranged for a car to pick me up, and it was easy to spot the black sedan with the license plate that matched the one sent to me by the ride share service.
The driver barely glanced at me as he confirmed the drop-off location at The Grand Vista Hotel. It was only a fifteen minute drive, so I settled back into my seat and made myself comfortable.
My phone rang just as the man pulled out onto the road, weaving through traffic as he headed north. I glanced at the screen and saw it was Sam, the man that had been managing my career from the beginning. Back in my early twenties, I was lucky to get a guest spot on a crime procedural show or land a toothpaste commercial. But over the last ten years, I’d become an internationally recognized action star and that meant that both of us were wealthy men.
“Hey, Sam,” I said, holding the phone up to my ear.
My gaze shifted to the window as the car turned onto the highway that ran parallel to the ocean. The vast expanse of blue waves and clear sky was captivating, the kind of thing that I could stare at all the time. Just beyond the dunes was a stretch of white sand that almost seemed to shine in the bright sunlight.
“B-man,” Sam greeted, using a nickname that I’d never really cared for. “I know you want to take a little break, but I just got this script—”
“I’m going to stop you right there,” I interrupted, looking away from the window as I rubbed my eyes with my thumb and forefinger. “I don’twanta break. Ineedone. Do you have any idea what a nightmare the last four months were? I’m telling you right now, I’ll never work with Colin Harris again.”
“I know he can be a little intense, but the last two films he directed were the highest grossing movies of the year. Working with him can make us all a boatload of money and open doors for you.”
“Intense? He’s a total asshole. Do you have any idea how moody he can be? I swear to God, one day he screamed at a boom mic operator until he lost his voice. It’s not worth putting up with him ever again.”
Sam sighed. “At least you had Stephanie on set with you. You know, TMZ ran a story last week about the two of you getting back together.”
I cringed. “I already told you, we arenotback together. Never going to happen, not that I could get that through her thick skull. I’m a good actor, but come on. Just because we were playing a couple falling in love, that doesn’t mean I still have real feelings for her.”
“You’re crazy. She’s one of the hottest women on the planet.”
“She’s one of the most self-absorbed people on the planet,” I countered, growing tired of this conversation.
I’d already told Sam all of this when the movie wrapped and I informed him of my plans to spend a week on this island. I knew that he wasn’t thrilled. After all, if I wasn’t working, I wasn’t earning money for myselfandhim, but he’d just have to get over it.
The car pulled up in front of the hotel, and I stepped out, grabbing my bag from the seat beside me. I lifted a hand in a wave to the driver as he took off and started to walk up the concrete steps to the hotel with the phone still pressed against my ear.
“Fine, wallow in your misery for a week,” Sam said as I reached the top of the steps. I paused there to wrap up the conversation before going inside. “But I’m sending you the script. This is going to be another big project, and they wantyoufor the lead. You can find time to read it sometime over the next seven days.”
“Alright, send the damn thing,” I said, mostly to get him off my back. “I’m staying at The Grand Vista Hotel, but don’t expect a response until my vacation is over.”
I ended the call, ready to head inside and get checked in. But movement out of the corner of my eye caught my attention and I turned my head to see a woman stumbling up the steps with an oversized suitcase that was clearly too much for her to handle. She huffed and brushed back the dark brown hair that had fallen into her eyes as she came closer, and I was so amused by her harried expression that I didn’t realizehowclose she was until she had reached me.
That also happened to be when she officially lost her balance and fell right into me.
I dropped my duffle bag as I reached out to catch her before she took us both down onto the concrete. We briefly became a tangle of limbs and my hat was also knocked off my head as my glasses became askew.
My hands were on the woman’s slight hips, and I got the impression of her feminine curves while I made sure she was steady in an upright position. But I pulled my hands away as soon as possible. Bending low, I snatched up the hat and shoved it back down on my head. Making sure my sunglasses were in place, I glanced around to make sure that no one was nearby to see, or that they didn’t notice me if they were.
I was lucky. We were the only two people on these steps. I turned back to look at the woman.
“Are you okay?” I asked, but as I met her hazel eyes, I could see the spark of recognition there. She knew who I was.
Crap.
CHAPTER3
Marlee
Oh my God, I’m staring at Bowen O’Neal.
