The director arrived on stage, sharing his zealous passion, showing his favorite cast interviews, who gushed about the incredible life-changing experience it was to work with the best director on the planet. Feeling distracted, Carrie Ann could barely pay attention to the ongoing ramble, preoccupied by the guilt seeping in through the cracks of her conscience. It wasn’t fair to invite Jason. Even though she clearly defined her intention for the evening as friendship, she used him as a buffer and knew it. Not my finest moment.
Theater lights dimmed giving warning that the movie was about begin.
Carrie Ann slipped a loose strand of dark hair behind her shoulder, but in mid-motion she saw a pair of warm cognac eyes in her peripheral.
Summer’s powerful gaze landed directly on her, demanding her attention.
A surge of guilt, ridiculous and unreasonable, simmered beneath the surface of her skin. The pounding of her heart, almost painful in its beat. He held the piercing stare for what felt like eternity before cutting to the male companion at her side. Though his face showed no emotion, his jaw stretched taut and rigid, bolding the cleft in his chin.
Carrie Ann squirmed in her seat. Without being able to stop herself, she inched away from Jason’s side.
A quick mental assessment of her own bizarre reaction fired off an internal round of head-strong tenacity. Irritation capsized. Gathering her defenses with several deep breaths, she turned to Jason showering him with a reserved smile.
As darkness lowered over the theater, Summer faced the screen leaving her to endure two of the longest hours of her life.
*
A list of Who’s Who filled the trendy restaurant which opened exclusively for the after party. Dinner tables were replaced with smaller bar-like high tables, covered in fine white linens and candles, giving the restaurant a more intimate party vibe. Men dressed in formal wear blended with a mixology of women’s colorful gowns and dresses making for an exquisite palate for the evening. Sparkly jewels nestled between vast amounts of enhanced cleavage, and a copious amount of free-flowing alcohol, made for a plethora of sightseeing. And not the kind you’d find on your average tour of Hollywood Boulevard.
“What would you like to drink?” Jason asked.
To drink or not to drink? That was the question. Lord knows she needed a dose of pink cure all, but she wanted to keep her wits about her. Carrie Ann tried to make an excuse for an early exit, but Tommy wasn’t having it, encouraging her and Jason to join them at the private after party. Jason rubbed elbows with LA’s wealthiest on a daily basis, yet Carrie Ann thought she might have to wipe the drool from his chin when Tommy Clemmins insisted they share his limo. She giggled to herself practically hearing the cha ching of dollar signs roll through Jason’s eyes like a Vegas slot machine at the mere possibility of assisting Tommy Clemmins with any real estate needs.
“I would love a water.”
“Water?” A hint of shock crossed his face. Judging by the quirk of Shayla’s brow, she was just as surprised. “Anything else?”
“No thanks, just water, please. I have to work tomorrow. The next few days will be brutal.”
Jason turned from the table, leaving her standing amid a small group including Shayla and John, Tommy and Tess, and a revolving door of people patting Tommy on the back for the near God-like production of The best film they’d ever seen in their lives. Carrie Ann loved the movie and the film’s merit would certainly make its mark on several award nomination lists, however, the well-rehearsed congratulations and felicitations bordered on some major ass-kissing.
JC called out to Jason as he made his way toward the crowded bar, “Can you make that two waters?” She waved before hiding a yawn in the palm of her hand.
A set of broad shoulders made their way through the horde of people. Reed approached with a chair. “Here you go, darlin’. I’ll get you a water. You want me to get you something to eat?” he asked sweetly, bending closer to inspect her face as if she were a young child or an elderly woman.
The muscles in Carrie Ann’s face slowly softened watching the tender exchange in awe. Reed placed a kiss near JC’s temple and rubbed a small circle over her flat tummy before catching up with Jason.
Her mouth popped open in recollection. “Are you…” Her question cut short gesturing a hand roll in the direction of JC’s mid-section.
“What? Why would you ask that?” Panic saturated her tone. JC’s eyes darted from side to side checking the proximity of prying party goers.
“It’s just…” Carrie Ann moved closer, whispering, “That’s the second time I’ve seen him touch you like that.”
“Touch me like what?” She attempted to hide her beaming grin, but the joy radiating in her eyes gave her away.
Carrie Ann glanced around, making sure no one in the near vicinity was paying attention to their quiet conversation. Most were immersed in Tommy and all things Oscar talk. She covertly circled a hand over her the waist of her sequin dress.
“Shit. Please don’t say anything.” A deep shade of crimson flushed her cheeks.
“No, no. I would never. Congratulations. Does anyone else know?”
“Only family…and we’d like to keep it quiet as long as possible. Maybe Thanksgiving, depending how soon I start to show. We just found out the other day when we saw you at Tommy’s place.”
“You better tell Reed to stop rubbing your tummy like that in public. Oh my gosh, I can’t even imagine how beautiful your baby will be. You two are the most attractive couple I know.”
Another round of severe blushing.
The deep red sparked an idea. “You know, if you’re interested in announcing your new arrival—” she whispered the last few words in JC’s ear “—publicly, I’d love to have you and Reed pose together in the Bared Your Soul Calendar. The chemistry between you two is off the charts. All the proceeds go to the—”
“Hello, Red.” A deep delicious voice swept over her bare shoulder.
Jolting upright, she let out a squeal bumping into his muscular form. “You scared the shit out of me,” Carrie Ann blurted bringing her eyes around to meet his.
Summer stood inches to her left. Humor flicked the crease of his wide, full mouth. Her breath hitched slightly before turning erratic. Somewhere deep inside, she felt a small urge to bolt, but his amber eyes rendered her immobile. Inner chaos gathered force as intuition rebelled against logic. She struggled to catalogue the distinction between the two, reluctantly allowing herself to bathe in the fearsome pleasure of the sight of him.
“Let’s chat later.” She heard JC say faintly, beneath the blood pounding in her ears.
Carrie Ann took him in at a sideways glance, not daring to face him head on. His tan skin accentuating his white smile. She breathed in the spicy scent of him invading her senses. A tingle of awareness danced through her veins against her will.
“You brought a date to my movie premier.” He said flatly, more of a statement than question. There was no change in his expression except the humor fading from his lips.
She was slow to react. The mere brush of his fingers lingering playfully over the back of her arm made her come undone. Goosebumps chased up her spine, one vertebrae at a time, instantly prickling her exposed flesh.
“No. I mean, yes. I mean…so what, Summer?”
“I’d hoped, perhaps, you would’ve joined me this evening. Did you get the fl—“His words drifted off, golden eyes swallowed her whole, taking in every intimate nuance of her face.
Needing to detach from the intensity of his stare, Carrie Ann sought the near vicinity for assistance from Shayla…who pretended not to pay attention while drowning her wide-eyed interest behind the rim of her glass.
The touch of his fingers, light and arousing, coasting along the length of her arm captured her undivided attention. “What?” she asked unsteadily.