Page 6 of The Publicist
Crossing my arms, I glare up at him. “We aren’t meeting for another few hours. Can I help you with something?” I watch his eyes roam up and down my body, and I snap my fingers, gathering his attention. “Eyes up here, Romeo.” I motion toward my eyes. To be fair, while he was busy looking at me, I was doing the same to him. He is still in his jeans and a tight t-shirt, but his jacket is missing. His arm muscles bulge as he stands there rigid, and I notice his jaw tick.Wonder what he’s thinking?
“The gala isn’t for another few hours. Why are you dressed already?”
I tilt my head to the side and scrunch my eyebrows in confusion. “You came over here to ask why I’m getting ready for the gala so early?”
“No, ah…” He runs his hand over his stubble and a small chuckle escapes his lips. “I’m trying to play nice and wanted to know if you want to get a bite to eat? I know of a great place outside the city we can go to.”
“I have a hair and makeup appointment at two this afternoon, and it’s already eleven-thirty; I don’t think outside the city would be a good idea. Why not order room service and have them bring something up?”
“Fine. Would you like to join me for some room service in my room?”
Hell yes, I want to! While he is a playboy, it is still Caleb, and he’s still hot as hell!“How about we have it here? I’ll add lunch to your ever-growing tab.”
“Sounds good.” Squeezing past me, he enters the room and sits in the chair in the corner. I let out a small sigh and close the door.
Chapter 6
She opens the door,and I’m struck by how beautiful she looks. The green dress shows off the tops of her ample chest nicely and drapes around her hips in the most seductive way possible. I came here because Steve is making me apologize after I told him what happened.Fuck that though!I’m dying to kiss her again, to make her give me more than what I stole in the elevator. I lock my jaw and tuck my arms to my sides to keep myself from doing anything else.
She reluctantly invites me inside, and I make a beeline for the chair before she can take the offer back. “Why all the gowns?”
“I made my boss get me a gown for the gala tonight, and I was trying them on to see which one I like the best. I have to change. I’ll be right back.” Picking up her jeans and t-shirt, she closes the bathroom door behind her. I stand and look at the other choices she was provided with, and definitely like the one she’s wearing the best. The color makes her eyes pop. I hear a small grunt come from the bathroom, and she peeks her head out. “Caleb, can you help me with the zipper? It seems to be stuck?”
“Sure,” I respond coolly. I walk up to her, and she pushes the door open a little more. She sweeps her hair over her shoulder, holding the dress in the front by her chest. The zipper is halfway down her back, but it’s stuck on a small amount of fabric on the side. I gently pull the fabric free and slide the zipper to the bottom, allowing my finger to trail lightly down her spine.Her skin feels so smooth. I want to feel more of it.I feel her body tense under my finger and drop my hands away from her.
“Thanks,” she whispers.
As she turns to pull the dress out of the way to close the door, she refuses to make eye contact with me, which I’m thankful for. I want to do everything to her, and I’m sure she would see it written on my face. I adjust myself in my pants and grab the menu from the small desk, browsing the available options. She steps out of the bathroom, unfortunately in her clothes, and hangs the dress back on the rack as if nothing happened.
“Find anything good?” She takes the menu from my hands and begins looking over it.
“Pesto Chicken Pizza. It’s good but large. Want to split it with me?”
She glances up at me, and a small smile tugs at her lips. “Sure, I love pizza. I’ll call it in.” She picks up the phone and calls in the order. Her voice is smooth and confident as she speaks with the staff member. Covering the mouthpiece, she looks at me. “Want anything to drink?”
“Yeah, I’ll take a Harpoon IPA.”
She finishes the order, getting bottled water for herself, and hangs up. “Should be here in twenty minutes.” Her expression changes from soft to stern. She pulls her laptop out and is in business mode in an instant. “I need full honesty from you at all times while we are working together. My job is to make you look like a caring, giving man who is staying out of trouble. The partying has to stop, as does the string of girls.”
“So, I see youarepunishing me to my right hand.”If she’s going to try to cock block me, I’m going to find a way to claim her instead.
“I’m not a total bitch, and I understand you have,” she makes air quotes with her fingers, “needs. All I’m saying is if you’re going to bring a different girl back to your room every night, try not to get caught. You don’t live in California full time, do you?
“No, I live in Boston, but I have a place out here, too. It’s better so I don’t have to stay at hotels all the time.”
She pulls out her computer and begins taking notes.
“Your family. Are you close with them?”
“Yes. They normally come with me to the premieres of my movies.”
She glances at me and smiles. “That’s sweet. What about past girlfriends, current girlfriends, or anything? Who’s in your life that I will see a lot?”
“We already established I don’t currently have a girlfriend, so nothing to report there. I had a girlfriend for many years before I began building fame like crazy, but I had to break it off with her. I didn’t have the time.”Bullshit. She broke up with me because I cheated on her.“I hang out with Elena Conners a lot, so you will see us together.”
“Ah, yes, Elena. So, the rumors really aren’t true? You two aren’t dating?”
“No.” My reply has a bite to it, and I try to reel my emotions back in. She peeks over at me from the corner of her eye, curious as to the tone I take with her, then goes back to typing.