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As I stared at the moon over the palm trees, I heard footsteps behind me. I turned and was relieved to find Jake.
“I had a feeling I’d find you hiding,” he said.
“It’s a bit overwhelming, I suppose.”
“I thought you loved crowds and dancing. At least, you used to.”
“Yeah, I guess I’ve changed. Or maybe you just always brought that out in me.” I was sure it was the latter. Jake had always had a way of making me brave.
“Well, you’re not hiding tonight. Let’s see if my magic still works.” He took my hand, and I went back inside with him. We found a group of friends from the cast, and before I knew it, I was finally fitting in. It was nice just to let my hair down and unwind.
Chapter Thirteen
Jake
It was crazy having Kate on my arm, and so far, no one at the party had made anything of it. We were just old friends, enjoying a night together, and I knew it didn’t matter who I was there with. The only thing the crowd would notice was who I left with.
With any luck, that would be Kate too.
She was incredibly sexy. That dress did everything it could to show off the incredible body I knew she had hidden beneath her usual casual attire.
“You haven’t known pressure until you sit across from a cannibal,” she said while entertaining a few of the comedians from my old acting group. “You guys are worried about getting laughs, and I’m sitting there hoping I don’t get eaten.”
“Way to make us feel like a bunch of pansies,” Paul said. I had noticed he hadn’t taken his eyes off her the entire time. Even I’d forgotten how funny she was. She had always been the brainy type, but in school, what had made her fit in was her fun-loving sense of humor.
The men laughed, and my friend, Jeff, patted me on the back. “She’s a riot, this one. I think she missed her calling.” He turned his attention back to her. “You could do a whole bit about that, you know? It would be a hit.”
“I think I’ll stick to my day job, but maybe you should go to the Amazon.”
As they laughed again, I felt myself getting more and more turned on. In a roomful of starlets, I only had eyes for her. She was always unique, and that was what had originally caught my eye.
Tonight, she didn’t disappoint.
I noticed her drink was low but didn’t want her too tipsy. “I’ll get us a refill, okay? Something virgin.”
“Oh yeah, I know how much you like those,” she whispered in my ear.
I pulled myself away and went to the bar, where I ordered a juice and then glanced back across the room. She was still entertaining the small group, and I figured I’d hurry back.
But then Ben walked over with Brian Drake, who had invested in the film. “There’s that superstar,” Ben said. “My boy Jake here is going to make us millions.”
“He had better,” Brian said, shaking his fist at me. “I’m only kidding, my friend. We only did that kind of thing back in New York.” He and Ben exchanged a laugh. Brian wasn’t any older than Ben, who was in his early thirties, and while I didn’t know if he had ties to the mob, I didn’t want to find out.
“So, are you enjoying the party?” he asked.
I nodded. “Yeah, it’s great, man. It’s really good to see you again. Glad you came out.”
“Ah, it’s nothing. I like to make an appearance when I can. Say, are you ready for that trip? It’s going to be rough out there.”
“Yeah, it’s why I’m just enjoying the night and trying not to get too in my head about it.”
“Yeah, I feel you, man. One last hoorah before the real work begins. I tell you, I’m glad I’m not going. It’s way easier to write a check and leave the hard work to Tony and poor Ben here.”
“Hey,” Ben said. “We get to have all the fun.”
“No, that’s my job. I don’t think it gets any better. Anyway, I just wanted to thank you again for all you’re doing for this picture.” I shook his hand, and I was saved from further bullshit when a young woman came up and tapped Brian on the shoulder. As if I wasn’t anyone to him, he turned around and hugged her, and then his and Ben’s attention was elsewhere. I stood there a minute, made an introduction, and then I quietly slipped away.
I walked back to where Kate had been to find that the group wasn’t there. They must have split up, and there was no telling where Kate had gone. I walked around the room, and when I didn’t see her, I cut across the dance floor and tapped Tess on the shoulder.
