Page 4 of Reckless Storm (San Francisco End Game #3)

Hayley

B eing the centre of attention has its perks, and thanks to the never-ending array of drinks flowing my way, I’m a little buzzed by the time Luke and his teammates arrive, and I’m blaming that for my reaction.

“Lukey Pukey, you came.” I throw my arms around his neck, rocking him back and forth, squealing with excitement. I made a lot of crew members—namely Lucian—big promises about a hot football team and I always deliver.

Luke laughs at my corny nickname and spins me out of his arms, angling me in the direction of his friends. “Hayley, here are my boys.”

He waves a hand across the collection of fine looking men in front of me, smiling as if I could possibly forget anyone from my new favourite team.

“First you’ve got Wyatt,” he begins, pointing to his teammate—who Amelia mentioned is the fun-loving man of the group—and I offer a wave.

“Here you have Mr. Self-assured ladies’ man, Rhett.

” He grins at his own joke, and I grin back at him, recognising Rhett from when he introduced himself the first time I met the guys.

“The big man here is Carter,” Luke continues and I follow his gaze, smiling up at Carter, the man who could easily be compared to The Rock.

With those boys alone, I’m giddy— there’s so much hotness surrounding me —but before Luke’s moved on, my eyes drift over to Reed, sneaking a peek at the tattoos creeping out from the collar of his shirt, and… jackpot. That man is a god.

“Last…” Luke slaps Reed on the back, and while he doesn’t need an introduction—we’ve spoken before—Luke gives him one anyway.

“Say hello to everyone’s golden boy, Reed.

” I smile at Reed and his lips quirk into a genuine grin.

Very golden boy-esque. “Now, boys.” Luke spins my way.

“This is the one and only Hayley Jackman.”

As if trained to do so, they all wave in unison while I bounce on my toes just as Thomas joins us. “Oh, and you know Thomas. No intro needed.”

I do know Thomas and it’s nice to see another friendly face.

Since Amelia and Luke got together, I’ve been spending a lot of time with the two of them, getting to know Luke properly, and in turn, I’ve spent time with Lainey—Luke’s sister—and Thomas, her new husband.

I’ve also been attending games and getting to know some of the wives and girlfriends in the suite. Tagging along as though I belong there.

It’s been fun.

“Hello, boys.” I smile, unabashedly checking them all out. “Thanks for helping me celebrate. I bet you’re all huge fans of fantasy romance.” I wink.

“I’ve been known to read fantasy every now and then,” Wyatt offers and I nod, impressed until Luke scoffs.

“She’s not referring to The Hobbit , Langham,” Luke tells him. “But nice try.”

“There’s nothing wrong with The Hobbit .

” I smile and the laughter continues at Wyatt’s expense, especially when I add, “This isn’t really that, though.

But I do appreciate you all coming. There’s a tab on the bar, a rockin’ dance floor behind me, and a few makeup artists dying to meet you. Who’s ready for a big night?”

I don’t wait for them to answer, spinning on the tip of my stilettos and beelining for said bar, ordering another vodka and soda with a round of shots for the guys, except Thomas—giving him a water, his go-to choice.

After handing out the drinks, the guys make their way over to a table, and I watch them leave as Luke wraps an arm around my shoulder. “Congratulations, Jack Rabbit,” he says with a genuine warmth. “You did it. You proved us all wrong.” He stares at me deadpan and I giggle.

It didn’t take long for Luke and me to form a brother/sister type relationship and I kind of love it.

I never had siblings growing up, but I get the feeling he’d take on that protective role if I needed him to.

“I’m hearing big things, J bird,” he continues as we walk toward the guys.

“The Jackman name is going to be huge in Hollywood.” He winks and though it’s not that funny, a laugh bursts out of me. Maybe I’m more tipsy than I thought.

“In all seriousness”—his cocky expression softens—“I’m excited to say that I know you.

” He pulls me into a brotherly hug and I wait for his inevitable link back to Amelia.

He’s obsessed with her and I love it. “So tell me, when are you and my talented wife going to make magic together? It won’t be long before she’s directing again.

” His expression morphs to reflect his awe, and a proud smile lights his face.

“You know I’d work with Ames any day. She just has to ask.”

Amelia first introduced me to the San Francisco Storm players when she was directing a TV show about the team. The directing gig didn’t end well, but her life wouldn’t be the same without it. After all, it brought her and Luke closer together when they were forced to work with each other.

“I’ve been telling her that. Trust me, I’m not at all subtle about it.”

“Oh, I know.” He grins, his expression mischievous. “She complains about it all the time.”

“Shut up.” I shove him back as I step out of his hold. “She does not. She loves me and my crazy.”

Luke rolls his eyes as though that itself is crazy. “That she does. God knows why.”

Shaking my head, I glance away and spot Lucian already watching us. He winks before not so subtly dancing over, immediately insisting I introduce him around.

When I’m finally done, it’s not just the makeup team that I’ve introduced, but a few of my new friends too.

The guys met Cameron, who played one of the angels in Jaded Beginnings , Araya and Olivia from our wardrobe department, and Evan, my leading man, who I quickly discovered is a huge football fan…

but a die-hard Miami supporter. Something he had no qualms about mentioning to the guys.

“You know they sucked last year, right?” Carter reminds Evan, making the group crack up laughing.

Evan’s a good guy, if not a little full of himself.

But I guess a lot of us are in the world of movies.

We have to be. How else could we put ourselves out there, time and time again, allowing ourselves to be judged playing pretend?

Evan feigns shock at Carter’s revelation and my amusement thickens. “You know you’re talking to a Super Bowl winner, right?” I add, attempting Carter’s accent, anticipating that to be the next words coming out of his mouth. And when he laughs, I know I’m right.

“Think you’ll get there again?” Evan asks and I lean in with intrigue, wanting the answer myself. Luke always says yes, but I’ve never met a cockier man in my life, so I’d love a second opinion.

“We fucking better,” Carter says, his tone deep and serious, leaving no room for argument. “I’m retiring this year and I want another win.”

“What about you, Reed?” I turn his way, locking eyes with the gentle giant from across the table where I’m perched between Carter and Wyatt.

“You’ve been a little quiet,” I add, though that’s not entirely true.

He’s been in conversations with the guys; I just haven’t been able to hear him.

And I do love the smooth, deep quality of his voice.

There’s something a little country about it.

A far cry from the accents we have back home.

Reed raises an eyebrow and I grin. “Of course we’re going to win. No doubt about it.” The guys cheer and Reed winks, making me giggle uncontrollably.

It’s safe to say I have a crush on that man. A crush in the sense that I want him to throw me over his shoulder, caveman style, toss me on a bed, and fuck me like nobody has before him.

A pipe dream. One I’d say is less achievable than winning an Oscar.

Not only is he head over heels for his best friend—something I learned within hours of first meeting him—but he’s also too nice for that.

True that he’s built like a freight truck with muscle on top of muscle, and tattoos that tell a million tales while making a girl's panties wet, but there’s still something innocent about him. Something pure.

He doesn’t need me or anyone else corrupting him.

He deserves to be preserved.

Kept for the woman that wins his heart. A woman worthy of that kind of decency.

And while I have no issues with self-worth, I’m not that girl. I’m here for a good time, not a long one.

A girl can dream. And dream I have. Or perhaps fantasise is a better word.

Reed’s pulled into another conversation, but I don’t miss the small smile he flashes me before he turns away.

And it has me swooning.

I love a cocky man, always have, but there’s something about Reed’s genuine smile that makes me melt. And from the looks aimed his way, I’m not the only one.

For the next couple of hours, the conversation is easy, the drinks flow, and my world feels a little lighter, telling me it’s time to hit the dance floor.

Only, I’m in need of a partner. My eyes flash to Reed as I consider my options, but as if reading my mind and deciding he’s not interested, he jumps up and motions to the group that he’s going to the restroom, heading that way without a backward glance.

Shrugging my shoulders, I stand up and rearrange my dress, double-checking that it’s covering all the right places, namely the intimate bits that it should be covering, before motioning to the dance floor.

Ever the gentlemen that they are, the guys stand when I do, and in my current state, I can’t help the giddy laugh that escapes me. “Anyone up for a dance?” I ask, grabbing the back of the chair in front of me, leaning forward. “We’ve reached that time of the night, and I’m ready to move.”

I don’t wait for a response before waving goodbye and heading to the dance floor, knowing without a doubt that at least one of the guys is following me.

And once there, I’m in my element.

On the dance floor I can be who I want to be.

I’m surrounded by strangers and I don’t have to talk.

I don’t have to justify my actions or explain myself.

I can just be. And more to the point, I can just be crazy .

I can flirt. I can sing. I can act like I don’t have a care in the world because at that very moment, I don’t.

There’s nowhere else for me to be. I’m not Hayley Jackman, the actress, the foreigner, the wild child.

I’m a dancer, surrounded by other dancers, all likely experiencing the same high.

I find it relaxing. It can get a little busy in my head sometimes. Being the easygoing, carefree, unapologetic one in a friendship can be extremely taxing.

Sometimes I want to be weak and frail, but I can’t be. I have to be there for my friends. I have to be the strong one.

And I always will.

That’s my life.

Closing my eyes, I let the music take over and I sway to the beat until my mind clears. And when I open my eyes, I smile to myself, finding Carter and Wyatt have joined me.

I dance around the boys, cheering at their moves, drinking in the attention until Evan sidles up to me, rubbing his junk against my leg under the guise of dancing.

I’d be pissed if I didn’t know he was joking. He’s harmless enough, and I’m ninety percent sure he’d prefer to go home with one of the guys.

“We did it, little Jackman,” he says, wrapping his arm around my shoulder as our castmate, Cam, joins us. “We starred in a fucking masterpiece.”

“And we killed it,” Cam adds, the excitement in his tone infectious.

“Yeah we did, and now all that’s left to do is dance.

” Evan cheers, spinning away from me as he drops down into a half squat, half booty shake and I snort as my gaze flashes to Cam, finding him jokingly rolling his eyes.

This is us. To a T. And I’m going to miss it.

I smile wide, but the earlier feeling of emptiness takes over me.

In such a small amount of time, the Jaded Beginnings cast and crew have become my happy place, and now we’re about to go our separate ways, off to new projects to make new friends.

And that freaking sucks. Sure, that’s how this business works, but I’m not ready to let them go. I’m not ready to start over again.

When he’s back on his feet, Evan grabs my hand, and I push my worries from my mind. Tonight, they’re still here. I’ll have plenty of time for self-pity tomorrow when I wake up hungover, undoubtedly in some random guy’s bed.

Tomorrow’s another day, but now…

“Let’s party,” I yell above the music, throwing my hands in the air as I toss my head back and cheer. My mood is what I make it, and for the rest of tonight, I’m euphoric.

Time passes, but I couldn’t say how much, as I work up a sweat, letting the music consume me.

Closing my eyes once more, I rock my body as the hypnotic beat flows through my blood, transporting me to another world.

A smile tugs at my lips, and when I open my eyes, my gaze instantly locks on Reed, my heart pounding while I catch my breath, holding his stare as he watches me from the sidelines.

I wink, seductively swaying my hips, taking him in as he leans against a bar table, his arms folded, his tattooed forearms peeking out beneath his fitted white shirt, the object of many lustful gazes. Including mine.

And he has no freaking idea.

His eyes drop to his phone, and it doesn’t take a genius to guess who’s texting him based on the way a smitten grin instantly reaches his eyes.

I barely know him and I can see it.

A thought occurs to me and I smile to myself, picturing his perfectly sculpted body going to waste. Imagining myself putting it to use.

And I can’t hold back. It’s not in my nature. A blessing and a curse.

Brushing off the guys around me, I’m like a moth to a flame, my eyes never leaving Reed as I walk his way.

I have questions. Actually, I have one quite personal one. And I’m not leaving without an answer.