Accidental Action Star (14 page)

Next, I put on an apron, laid out my ingredients like a pro and threw them together. While the chicken sizzled, I sliced carrots and tomatoes and stirred the ingredients for home-made ranch dressing. I also threw lettuce, spinach, cranberries, apples, grapes, and walnuts into containers and put all of the above into a carrier bag.

That done, I strategically loaded ingredients for brownies into containers and put them in the carrier bag along with a baking pan. The desire for fresh-baked brownies would ensure the boys invited me to stay for the meal.

I put all of the above together with the speed of a professional on a timed cooking show and walked it over to Warehouse 47.

The security guard eyed my bag. “Badge, please.”

We played this game every time I left the building, like my clearance had been revoked in the last hour. I shifted the heavy bag in my arms and withdrew a take-out container from the top. “Brought you dinner.”

His brown eyes lit up, and he took it with both hands. “Thank you.” His expression was so gratified I almost got why people liked to cook for other people. Almost. I pulled my lanyard over my neck.

The guard waved me off. “You go on in, Hannah, I know you’re good.”

“Thanks.”

I cleared the back security post and went over to Max’s trailer. I knocked.

Aidan let me in, while holding Kickers so he wouldn’t get out. “Max is in the shower.”

“No problem. I bet I can find the kitchen.”

That made Aidan laugh. The space was tiny.

I went to work. Aidan put the cat down and got three bottles of apple juice from the fridge behind me. Next he got three paper plates and spaced them out on the bar along with forks. Someone had taught the kid to set the table.

I flash heated the chicken and it was ready by the time Max emerged from the back. He wore dark blue-jeans and a cobalt-colored T-shirt. He walked barefoot into the kitchen and the tiny space became miniscule. “This is nice of you, Hannah. What can I do?”

“Nothing.” I shooed him to the bar. “Aidan’s going to help me make brownies when we’re done.”

Max arched his eyebrows but didn’t contradict the plan.

Aidan bounced on his stool and dipped his carrot into the ranch dressing. “I get to break the eggs.”

“Yep.”

Dinner was fun, carefree, and all about Aidan. Afterwards, we mixed up the brownies together and put the batter in the oven. I set the timer, and we moved to the couch.

Max turned on a cartoon while Aidan built a block tower on the coffee table.

“Hannah’s dad doesn’t live with them,” Aidan told Max.

Oh. “Well.” I thought about how to clarify my unusual home life. “When I’m not in school, and Mom’s not shooting her TV show, we live with Dad in Texas.”

Aidan had his tongue partway out of his mouth as he concentrated on the blocks. The kitten lay asleep against his leg. “Mom’s going to come back and live with us too one day.”

Max looked away.

Aidan divided his focus between the blocks and the cartoon, giving each undivided attention in five-minute stretches.

I stretched my arms overhead. “I don’t know about you two, but I’m bushed. And because I cooked, I get to leave Max with the clean-up.”

“No problem,” Max said. “I’ll have the dishes returned to
Scoop Out
.” He rose and ruffled Aidan’s hair. “I’ll walk Hannah to the door. Tell her ‘thank you’ for dinner.”

Aidan hugged me as I rose. “Thank you, Hannah.”

I bent and returned the hug. “You’re welcome.” Kickers was asleep at this point, but I patted his head anyway. “Listen for the brownie timer so Max can take them out of the oven.”

“I will. I smell ‘em.”

Max held the door, and I stepped outside. He followed me, closing the door behind him. “Thanks again.”

“You were going to blend something, weren’t you?”

“I was going to order pizza.”

“Aidan doesn’t care for your shakes?”

“Not too much, no.”

I lowered my voice even though we were alone outside. “Where’s your mom?”

Max’s face closed off, but he answered me. “Mom’s a doctor. She always wanted to work with an overseas medical program, provide aid where there’s none. After Aidan was born, she felt like she had to take a shot and do it while she could.”

I made a non-sound. “She must be passionate about her work. I get that.”

Max shrugged. “Yeah.”

I started to turn away but paused. “I fight for what I want too. But, for what it’s worth, I’d never leave my kids.” I squeezed his arm, wished him a goodnight and left.

Justin fidgeted in the seat beside me. “It’s freaking cool that we’re here. And so close.” Two rows separated us from the VIP section. The theater auditorium was laid out with movie reviewers and contest winners in front. Crew sat in the middle. And a roped-off section separated us from the VIPs.

Justin and I had good seats. But it was hard to be grateful when Kursten and Candace had even better seats. They sat one row higher, right behind us. I couldn’t be too jealous though. Because, after shaking the back of my seat to get my attention, they’d spent five minutes alternating between saying how excited they were to be at the premiere and complimenting my outfit.

Cutter had delivered. The dress was composed of blue-violet silk. Strapless and fitted to the waist, it then flowed out, all the way to the ground in a bit of drama. Every inch fluttered with small cutout rectangles created from tissue thin fabric, almost like feathers. Even my roommate Eva had gawked when I’d put it on back at the dorm. The dress had drama, delicacy and artistry in one.

Justin grabbed my arm, his grip tight. He stared down below us.

Lorene had entered the auditorium. She arrived in a fitted sunset-orange, mermaid dress flanked by two bodyguards. She climbed the steps, posing every three feet or so to allow members of the audience to snap her picture.

I rose. Time to make good on my promise. “Come on.”

Justin sat frozen, more still than I’d ever seen him. And artists know stillness. If our models moved the tiniest bit, we called them on it.

I’d have to bring Lorene to him. Holding my skirts off the movie theater’s sticky floor, I scooted down the row, past tuxedo-clad knees while trying to avoid squashing anyone’s feet. “Excuse me. Pardon me.” I reached the aisle. “Lorene. Hey.”

One of the bodyguards put out his hand to stop me. I rolled my eyes and leaned around him. “Lorene, it’s me, Hannah.”

She looked down at me from two steps up. “And?”

“And I want to introduce you to Justin. The artist who sent you the bra.”

Lorene bent, showing more cleavage than I wanted to see and blew a kiss to Justin. He stood there, pale and rigid, blown away with awe. I didn’t get it. He was as talented as her, as attractive really, in a less-obvious way. I turned back to the aisle. Lorene had climbed up two more steps and was entering the center row. I climbed after her.

The VIP security guard had one hand on the rope that portioned off the VIP section. “Sorry, Miss. Actors only.”

“I’m an actor.” Sort of. “I’m in
Time Kick
.”

“Can I see your ticket?”

Frustration dug at me. I knew my ticket was for two rows down. “I want to get Lorene to come down and meet my co-worker.”

At this point, Lorene had taken a center seat. She arched her back, posing for the onlookers.

I made an angelic face and blinked my eyes at the guard. He waved over one of the ushers. “Ask Lorene if it’s okay if—” He looked at me.

“Hannah,” I supplied.

“Hannah can come and speak to her a moment.”

The usher scurried down the row while I tried not to tap my foot. The annoying thing was, if Max had brought me to the premiere, my seats would have been right there, and I’d have been able to wave Justin up—and, I’d be here with Max.

The usher bent low and whispered to Lorene.

Lorene tipped forward, one hand on the chair in front of her, Kursten’s chair actually. She stared at me and smiled. Then she shook her head and settled back.

I fumed. I knew her answer before the usher even returned. “Sorry, Miss. The usher made a gesture of sympathy. “She said ‘no’.”

“Thanks for trying.” I stalked back to my seat and slumped down. Grr.

“It’s okay.” A flush darkened Justin’s cheekbones and he appeared almost relieved. “I didn’t think you really could. It’s just cool to be here. We’re so close to her.”

That made me annoyed. “You deserve to meet her, Justin. If you want to. You’re a great guy. You deserve
better
than her.”

His mouth twisted into a partial grin. He thought I was humoring him. “Sure.”

The lights dimmed.

I swiveled back.

The seats on either side of Lorene remained empty. Where was Max? Where was Garrett? Where was Marissa? Where was Lorene’s date? Was that why she wouldn’t let me introduce Justin? Was she here on a date?

Whispers filtered through the auditorium and heads turned to the entrance. Max. Tall. Handsome.  A few girls screamed, “Max.” Laughter followed. Max waved to the crowd, inciting a few more yells, including one from Kursten behind me, and Security led him up to his seat.

His seat.

His seat beside Lorene.

I stiffened.

Breathe. Just breathe.

I shifted in my chair, adjusted my skirt, and rose to my knees. The chair threatened to fold in on me and I pushed down with my ankles. Lorene had her hand on Max’s arm. A hand tipped with orange nail polish. A gripping hand. A proprietary hand.

I let out a breath. He had not brought Lorene as his studio date.

“What’s going on?” Justin looked backwards to see what I was staring at.

Candace and Kursten peered back too. “Ew,” Kursten said. “He’s dating her?”

Candace turned around to face me. “Lorene must be Max’s date. Garrett brought Marissa. We’ve met Marissa, you know. And Garrett got us these tickets.”

“Uh huh.”

Lorene put her hand in Max’s hair.

No.

Double no.

Hell no.

I stood. One look at security turning girls back from the VIP ropes told me I’d have no luck there. And I doubted they’d carry a second message from me. Not after Lorene had refused my first. Not that this message would be for Lorene. This message would be for Max. For Max and Max alone.

“Ew,” Kursten said. “She’s like hanging all over him.”

Max had straightened away, but Lorene’s orange claws still gripped his arm. He looked down at me.

I braced one hand on my seatback, scooped up my skirts in the other, and stepped onto the armrest in my diamond-covered stilettoes.

“Pretty shoes, Hannah,” Candace said.

I stepped onto the painted concrete floor in front of them. They wore black chiffon skirts and studio T-shirts. “Cute skirts.”

Kursten elbowed Candace and they held out their hands to help me. I climbed up onto their armrest. I stood one row below Max. His golden gaze locked onto mine. My world tilted.

My weight was shoving the armrest up. I lifted my foot off the back of the armrest and centered my weight on the shoe in the middle. My arms went out. The Balancing Stick yoga pose.

The pose I’d finally mastered. I tightened my core and remained there. The cold theater air-conditioning blew over my gown. The heat of Max’s gaze warmed me.

Max reached forward, taking my arms and drew me to him.

“OMG,” Kursten said.

Candace squealed.

“Hannah. What are you doing?” Justin gasped. “That’s Lorene’s date. Get away from him.”

I put my arms around Max’s neck. He lowered his head and kissed me. Magic. Heat. Warmth. Connection.

Max lowered us to his chair, drawing me to his lap. He cupped my face. The auditorium lights darkened more. “You look beautiful.”

“So do you. Sparkling hot.”

He cut off the compliment with a kiss. Gentle. Sweet. Definite. Thorough. His kiss tasted like a promise.

“I missed you tonight,” he said.

The director went up to the front of the auditorium to introduce the film. We ignored him. We also ignored Lorene, who scooted down to get away from us.

“I missed you too.”

Max glanced down at Justin. “Is that your date glaring at us?”

“He’s glaring at me for ruining Lorene’s evening.”

He tightened his arms around me. “You’re not going back to him.”

“Okay.”

I threaded my hands into his silky hair and kissed him, slow and deep, tingly and warm.

The movie kicked on.

I pulled away and rested my forehead against Max’s. I trembled. “Does this make me your date?”

Max moved his hands to my waist. “Yes.” He pulled the armrest up and tucked my bent knees into the seat beside us to hold me closer.

“Where were you?” I kept my voice low.

He kissed my neck, causing a rush of sensation and a flickering of excitement. “There was some trouble outside.” He kept his voice low also, low and deep in the darkness. “Sax. Some guys. It’s all cleared up now.”

“He’s okay?”

“Yeah.” Max stroked my bare arm. “All I could think of was that you were here, and I didn’t know where you were.”

He sounded tense and I touched his face, reveling that I had the right, reveling that his words meant he cared.

He tightened his other hand on my waist. “Even before that, I was thinking about you. All freaking night. Knowing you were coming here with some other guy. I didn’t like it.”

“Yeah?”

“Yeah.”

I kissed him to reward the sentiment.

“Garrett said he’d sign on to
Dragon Night
.”

“Awesome.”

“Yeah.”

I kissed him again.

“The premiere…”

“Max?”

“Yeah.”

“Stop talking.”

He did. We barely paid attention to the movie. We basically kissed and held each other until the credits rolled. Contentment combined with excitement and sheer happiness made me want to stay there forever. Being with him felt right. When the lights lifted, I stood up though I didn’t want to and joined everyone else in clapping for the movie though I hadn’t watched it.

Max dropped his arm around my shoulders. “I’ll drive you home.”