Page 4 of The Starlet

Elena:If you haven’t read the book yet, I suggest you skim it. You’ll be glad we’re both single with all the pretend sex we’ll be having.

I haven’t read the book, but I have read the script. There are a lot of scenes that have the two of us naked and wrapped around one another.Thank God we have great chemistry.

Me:I’ve skimmed it. We’re going to have to spend a lot of time with one another to be comfortable.

Elena:I expect dinner some night this week. I have so many questions that I hope you can answer… Noah.

Smirking, I type a quick reply.

Me:LOL.Only if you’re good.

Elena:I’m always a good girl. :)

I suck in a deep breath. That’s probably not how she meant it, but damn if that doesn’t make me hard in an instant.

Friends. We are just going to be friends.Keep it in your pants, Bradley.

Chapter 3

I’m pacingback and forth, waiting for Bradley to show up. Since his audition, I haven’t been able to get him out of my mind.

It doesn’t help that I watched Altered Reality ten times either.

Of course, I told myself it was for research purposesonly. Not because he’s devilishly handsome, or because, when he kisses the girl passionately against the wall, I picture myself in the scene. I can almost feel his fingers ghosting over my exposed skin, causing me to break out in goosebumps.I’m sure he knows how to use his mouth and hands.

No! Bad Elena!

I can’t think of him like that. We’re friends, nothing more. He already said he doesn’t want a relationship right now.When his fingers brushed mine yesterday, the hairs on my arm stood up.He had to have noticed, right?

The plus side of meeting Bradley is I’ve finally found a way to get rid of Mister Prior Obligation without feeling guilty.

The doorbell rings, and I take a final look in the mirror, brushing a loose curl from my face. I open the door and see he’s holding a small bouquet of flowers in his hand. My eyes wander down his form. He looks handsome in a black button-down, black skinny jeans, and white Adidas. I can’t help when my eyes linger a little longer between his legs. Heiswearing skinny jeans, after all.

“Do you always wear so much black?” I tease, taking the flowers from him and holding them to my nose to inhale their sweet fragrance.

“I’m from New York. What do you expect? We love our black clothing there.” He smiles, stepping through the entryway as I wave him in. “You look great, Elena. Also, this was on the ground.” He pinches an envelope between his fingers and hands it to me palm side up.

“Oh, I must have dropped it when I got the mail today. You can toss it on the table,” I call over my shoulder, walking toward the kitchen for a vase. “The flowers are beautiful. Thank you.”

“My mom taught me to bring flowers when I pick a pretty girl up for a date.”

Date.Is this a date? I mean, it kind of feels like a date. And I want it to be a date...

“Well, it’s a good thing I’m pretty then. I’d hate to see what you bring an ugly girl.” I’m smiling wide at my own joke as I return to the foyer.

He cocks his head to the side and furrows his brows, confused. Then he answers. “Flowers. There’s no such thing as an ugly girl. Some girls I’m not attracted to. My mom raised me right.” He flashes a smile and I swoon.Seriously? Great answer!His mom sure did raise him right.“Ready?”

I nod and clear my throat. “Yes. Very much so.”

* * *

“Wait,so you mean to tell me you ripped your pants when you were suspended?” I toss my head back in laughter. I’m going to have to stow this little nugget of information away for later use. I love hearing behind the scenes stuff that no one knows about when filming. Stories like this are why I love acting. I get to be a kid and play. There are times when my job is serious, but when I’m on set, it’s freeing. I get to be someone else. Someone who matters.

He laughs with me, and I get tingly. It’s deep and warm. “Yeah, costuming was pissed, and everything got delayed for an hour or so while they fixed them. I swear, I ended up with PTSD after that. They hoisted me back up, and I kept putting my hands by my ass. I needed to make sure the pants were secure.”

I break off a piece of bread and pop it into my mouth. “Wow. I would have paid good money to see that.” Iwonder if he’s a boxers or briefs kind of guy.All this talk of pants ripping has me shifting in my seat. Tonight might be a night to revisit an old silicone friend.

“Yes, well, the crew wouldn’t let me live it down. I’m sure there’s something hidden in the credits somewhere about it.”