Cash (Hawthorne Brothers Romance) (6 page)

Chapter Eleven

Cash

“Any big plans tonight?” Melina, one of the makeup artists, asked.

“Actually, I’m going out tonight. I’m pretty excited,” I said, smiling.

“Big group going? Those nights out can be pretty fun, speaking from experience,” she said.

“Just one other person, no group,” I said, rubbing my hands together. I hadn’t really talked about Jenna to anybody yet, not even my brothers, and we were close. 

It had to do with the jinx in me. I felt like if I said anything
too
soon, at least to people who really mattered, I’d mess it up. Then they would ask me about it and her and I’d have to embarrassingly tell them that it ended and didn’t work out and then I’d be back to square one. It had happened a few times before, even in high school, and I vowed not to let it happen again.

“Ooh, a girl,” she said as Charlie perked up.

“You didn’t tell me you were seeing anybody!” he said.

“I’m not, I don’t think. I don’t want to jinx it!” I said.

“You deserve a great girl. You work so hard, you stay out of trouble, and you’re as handsome as all hell. Treat her right and good things will follow,” Melina said.

Melina was sort of like a surrogate mother here. She worked on my first movie as well, and she took it upon herself to act motherly to me and the rest of the younger cast and crew. I thought she was in her fifties, so it was definitely believable that she could be our mother. It was nice having somebody like her around, especially considering my own mother wasn’t out here. 

“You’re going to have to fill me in sometime, bro,” Charlie said.

I went back to my thoughts, a little embarrassed if I was being honest, and let Melina finish up work before I looked in the mirror and saw my flawless skin and hair. It was just a shame I couldn’t look this airbrush-ready at all times. I’d never have to worry about a pimple ever again.

I went on set, leaving Charlie behind as David called for me to begin shooting. It was one of the final action scenes of the movie, involving me jumping from a helicopter, which I was happy to say wasn’t really the case. Instead we had part of a helicopter with a green screen behind it, as well as green screen-wrapped foam blocks for support and for me to jump onto. It was so fascinating to see how all this actually worked. The finished product always gave me chills, even though I knew how it actually went down. I was five feet off the ground at max, not five thousand.

I grouped up, getting onto the helicopter, before smoke rolled in and David called action. I fought off some bad guys, tossing them off without parachutes, before I grabbed the last parachute off a dead guy and strapped it onto myself. I jumped out onto the platform, and David called cut, ending the scene happy with how it turned out. Now just to film me falling through the air and pulling my cord before we had our movie magic.

•••

I stood in front of my bathroom mirror later that night before I shaved off the small amount of five o’clock shadow along my cheeks and jaw line. I told Jenna it would be beach casual, but I didn’t tell her what we were doing or where we were going. I had on slim-fit khaki slacks and a white shirt, no tie, with a pair of slip-on boat shoes I’d recently gotten from some shoe designer for free. One of the
many
perks of being a celebrity was all the free stuff from just about every company out there that wanted good press and some exposure. The “what are you wearing” question on the red carpet was the cheapest form of marketing you could do for the amount of press and exposure you received.

I sent a car to pick up Jenna, mostly because of the drive times and our dinner reservations, but I promised her I’d take her home afterwards myself. Shooting ran about half an hour later, and with Los Angeles traffic that pushed me back over an hour. I’d much rather have seen her sooner, but it just wasn’t realistic.

I picked up my phone and wallet, grabbed my keys off of the counter, and rolled out in the SUV, the bright LED headlights making the dark garage look like the sun was shining in. 

Time to go see that beautiful face.

Chapter Twelve

Jenna

I hadn’t a clue where exactly on the coast I was when the driver pulled up to a restaurant, which wasn’t all that busy, before I saw Cash standing outside. He was smiling from ear to ear when the car stopped and he came up to open the door.

“Good evening,” he said, extending his hand. 

“Where are we?” I asked, looking around.

“Somewhere magical,” he said, and I wrapped my arm around his and followed him.

We walked around the building, which wasn’t all that large, and onto the sand, where I took off my shoes and carried them with me. Were we having a picnic or something? We walked around the corner and I saw a table on a wooden platform with candles lit and the table all done up with flowers and candles. It was beautiful, as the waves nearby gently crashed onto the shore and the moon glimmered along the water.

“This is…beautiful,” I said, in shock.

“I knew I had to bring the heat if I were going to have a third date,” he said.

“You don’t have to do all this, Cash. Don’t get me wrong, it’s beautiful and I greatly appreciate it, but you don’t have to,” I said.

“You’re worth it,” he said before he pulled out my chair and I sat down. I looked at him as he walked around to his chair, the light breeze blowing around the collar of his shirt as his masculine chest waved hello from underneath.

Cash grabbed a bottle of wine that was chilling in ice and poured us some as I couldn’t help but take all this in. I was just as happy getting drive-thru burgers and fries, but I couldn’t help but get wrapped up in all this, even if it were just for the sentiment. Even though I was so appreciative, it still scared me a little. This was great for an anniversary, but I wasn’t accustomed to extravagance, and I wasn’t sure where we went from here, considering it was only the second date.

I didn’t say a word, not one to ruin the great moment, as I knew I could say something later if I still felt that way. Maybe it was all just a bit overwhelming and I needed some wine to process it.

“The meal is already set, I hope that’s okay. They’re cooking it now,” he said.

“Yeah, that’s fine. I’m not all that picky,” I said, taking a sip of wine. 

“How was your day?” he asked.

“It went as well as it could. My days are never all that exciting,” I said, laughing.

“Hey, there’s nothing wrong with that. Too much excitement can quickly become boring. I wouldn’t mind some normalness and downtime,” he said.

Some soft house-baked French bread was brought out with oil and balsamic vinegar, and the two of us made short work of it, picking the basket clean while we talked and laughed. There was something so natural about it all, something so innocent yet intense at the same time. I knew I wouldn’t have this with another guy, at least no one that I’d met. The normal Los Angeles guy was more concerned about getting ass than building a connection of any type, unless it were on a dating app.

The two of us got filled with a little more wine before the waitress brought out our meals and set them down in front of us. “We have mahi-mahi with a yogurt dill sauce, wild rice, and roasted vegetables for you tonight. If you need anything at all, please don’t hesitate to ask.”

“This looks beautiful,” I said, taking out my phone.

“One of those girls, huh?” he asked jokingly.

“No! At least not
all
the time,” I said, smiling. I snapped a picture of the food, keeping it more for myself than for Instagram, and put my phone away before picking up my silverware.

The fish was so smooth and buttery, the dill sauce drizzling down the side once I made a cut. My mouth watered, the bread not holding me steady, before I took a bite and felt it melt in my mouth. I closed my eyes, chewing slowly to savor as much of this moment as I could. All I could hear was the waves crashing and light violin music from the patio. “Good?” he asked.

“Orgasmic,” I mumbled, cutting another piece.

“That’s a pretty strong word,” he said, laughing.

“It doesn’t compare with the ones you gave me, but it’s a close second,” I said, pouring another glass of wine.

“Good to know,” he said, grinning.

I ate slowly, trying to remember every bite, as Cash talked and I mostly listened. “I talked about you today,” he said out of the blue.

“Oh, you did? To who?” I asked, curious.

“Well, not about
you
I guess, but about going out tonight with a woman. I told my makeup artist. She’s like the resident mother on set,” he said.

“So you didn’t really talk about me in particular then?” I asked.

“Well, I didn’t say your name, I don’t think, but she knew I was going out with you,” he said.

“When do you say my name?” I asked as the alcohol took over.

“I don’t follow,” he said.

“Well, this is our second date and all, right? What kind of a guy are you when it comes to officialness? Five dates? Ten? Three months seeing one another?” I asked, taking my final bite.

“I suppose it depends on the woman. Are you asking because you’re interested, or just curious?” he asked.

I looked at the sand, thinking, as I realized in my buzzed state that I’d said too much. I was putting myself out there, which I didn’t like, at least to this extent, and I needed to try to save face before it was too late and I screwed everything up.

“Just curious, I suppose,” I said, smiling.

“Oh, okay, well I guess it just depends on the rapport I have with the woman and if she can assimilate into my life and the hectic and crazy nature of it. If you’re subtly asking about you, I like you, and I think we’re heading in that direction, if that’s what you want to hear,” he said.

I could feel my cheeks warming up as I brushed my bare foot against the sand-covered wood below and cleared my throat. “That’s very good to know,” I said, smiling.

He smiled back before dessert was brought, a chocolate soufflé paired with fresh berries and whipped cream. Even though I was full of bread and fish, I couldn’t help myself and I took a big bite, the raspberries and blueberries bursting in my mouth while the soft chocolate rolled around my tongue and slid effortlessly down my throat.

“Wow,” I said, excited.

“Their desserts are the best, aren’t they?” he asked.

“You’ve been here before?” I asked.

“With my parents when they visited last. I promise it wasn’t this romantic,” he said, laughing.

“I’d hope not. I was wondering if I was going to have to ask you just how close you were with them,” I said.

We finished off our dessert and walked along the beach as the cold Pacific water occasionally rolled over our feet and curled my toes in. Cash had his arm around me, mine around his waist, as we wandered with nowhere to go. An hour passed, and as he looked at his watch, the gold band shimmering beneath the stars, he said we should get going before it got too late.

I still had no clue if he was taking me home or back to his place, but I was sort of hoping for the latter. I just wanted to be with him, cuddling and feeling his strong arms around me all night long. I wanted to feel secure, and I did with him, whether he knew that or not.

I didn’t say anything, and instead went along for the ride as we went in the opposite direction of my place, towards what I thought was his house. I told Malia earlier that I might or might not come home tonight, and of course she sat there and hoped and prayed that I wouldn’t come back. She seemed to think Cash was somehow her meal ticket in life, though she was going to be sorely mistaken if anything did come of us.

As we pulled onto his street, the houses looking familiar, I got a little antsy in my seat as he opened his gate and we drove inside. He got out of the car and opened my door for me, helping me out, as my eyes felt a little heavy and tired. 

“Want to get in bed?” he asked, to which I quickly nodded.

We walked up the stairs and to his room, holding hands the entire time, before we went inside and kicked off our clothes. Neither of us initiated anything sexual, even though it was both familiar and likely wanted, but we instead opted to crawl into bed. I felt his arms around me, my head flush against the pillow as I smiled. He laced his fingers with mine, his chin on my shoulder, before I breathed in a heavy breath and let it out slowly.

“Thank you for tonight. I had the most wonderful time ever,” I said as his feet brushed softly against mine.

“Thank you for coming out tonight with me, and for being so great. I’m glad you decided to stay tonight,” he said.

“There’s nowhere else I’d rather be than here right now,” I said, biting my lower lip gently.

No more words were spoken as the two of us let go and let our minds go to sleep. It didn’t take long, a full stomach rolling me into sleep as my eyelids became heavy and my breath deepened. This was much better than being alone in my own bed.

Chapter Thirteen

Cash

I pulled up to the airport in my SUV and waited as my mother called me, frantic, wondering how she and my father were going to find me. It had been about five days since I’d last seen Jenna, and two days ago my mom surprised me and said they were coming to visit whether I wanted them to or not. She was a stubborn woman, always wanting her way or the highway, but I still loved her for it.

“I’m just out front. The slew of paparazzi should be enough to show you where I am. Wait, I see you!” I said, putting my car into drive and pulling up to where they were.

She hung up, waving, before putting her phone in her purse and walking with my father in tow. I pulled up to the side, the paparazzi running from where I just was, before I put my car into park and got out to greet and help them.

“Are they always like this?” she asked, looking at the photographers.

“Pretty much. I’m not even sure how they found me. I think they were trying to get somebody else,” I said as I hugged her.

My father gave me a quick hug, him never quite the one for gratuitous affection, before I opened my trunk and tossed their suitcases inside. My father got in the car, up front with me, before I quickly got in, locked us all inside, and drove off while the camera flashes were still going off. I hated that part of the whole acting thing.

“So, how have you guys been?” I asked.

“I think we should be the ones asking you that, honey,” my mother said.

“Why?” I asked.

“It’s so hard to get a hold of you. You know your brothers don’t give us that trouble,” she said.

“Well, they don’t have demanding jobs that keep them busy twenty-four-seven,” I said.

“Still, would it kill you to call me once or twice a week?” she asked.

“No, it wouldn’t. I’ll do better, I promise,” I said.

“Good, that’s all I wanted to hear,” she said.

“So, work has been going well?” my father asked.

“As good as it can, I guess. It’s demanding, but luckily I wasn’t filming today so I could come get you guys. I will be there tomorrow, though. I’d love it if you guys came by and checked out the set and met everyone,” I said.

“We’d love to,” my mother said, a smile on her face.

“This traffic is horrendous. You deal with this daily?” my father asked as he simultaneously checked out my car and peered out the window. I guess that’s what you get when your dad owns his own auto shop.

“Well, the airport area is always a bit more crowded than where I live, but yeah, it gets busy. Los Angeles is the second largest city in the country, you know,” I said. 

“I suppose you’re right,” he said, feeling the leather trim.

“So, are you seeing anybody?” my mother asked.

“Can’t help yourself, can you, Carol?” my father asked.

“I’m just trying to be present in his life, Ed. Maybe you should do the same,” she quipped.

“Let’s all calm down. The topic of my love life shouldn’t cause a fight. Yes, I’m seeing somebody,” I said as we turned onto the freeway.

“Really?” my mom asked, perking up in her seat. “And what’s her name?”

“Her name is Jenna,” I said.

“Is she a co-star?” she asked.

“No, she’s normal and not in the business at all. She’s a waitress and college student. I met her while out to dinner one night with my co-star Charlie,” I said.

“Good. You need a down-to-earth normal girl to keep you in check. I see those supermarket magazines and how those famous ladies around here act, always dating around and getting married and divorced whenever the wind picks up. You don’t need that in your life,” my father said.

My father was never one to shy away from his opinions, at least in my eyes. I understood where he was coming from; he just wanted me to stay safe and not get hurt like I had before, but a
normal
person could do just what these celebrities did with no problem. Just because Jenna was a waitress didn’t really mean anything.

“When are we meeting her?” my mother asked, leaning forward in her seat.

“Uh, well, I didn’t exactly have plans for that to happen just yet,” I said.

“What? Why? Are you embarrassed of your country parents?” she asked.

“Mom, stop. You know that’s not the case at all. We just, you know, aren’t
official
or anything. We’re still in that talking and learning about one another phase,” I said.

“Well, how long have you been seeing her? Are you also seeing anybody else?” she asked.

“No, I’m not seeing anybody else, and I don’t know, maybe three or four weeks if I had to think off the top of my head. I haven’t been counting or keeping a tab,” I said.

“Your father and I went on two dates before we started dating officially. Are you scared to make it official?” she asked.

“You’re asking too many questions,” I said as the stress in my voice started to build.

“I just want to make sure you’re happy and not pushing something away that could be great,” she said.

“No, I’m not scared to make it official. I’m just not sure she wants it to be official already,” I said.

“Well, you’ll never know unless you ask. I want to meet her, that way I can figure it out,” she said.

“No, absolutely not,” I said.

“The boy doesn’t want to, Carol. Just let it go,” my father said.

“One dinner, that’s all. I won’t bring up you two dating, or if she wants to, or anything of the sort. I just want to meet her and see if she’s good enough for you, that’s all,” she said.

“If I set it up, will you stop talking about it?” I asked.

“Yes,” she said, smiling.

“Then fine, whatever, I’ll set something up,” I said, rolling my eyes.

I looked in the rearview mirror, seeing her looking out the window and smiling, like she knew what she was doing. She always had a way of pestering me until I gave in enough to give her what she wanted. I wasn’t sure if it was something all mothers did, or just mine, but it always drove my brothers and me insane. 

When we got to my place, I pulled out my phone and asked Jenna if meeting my parents would be all right. I knew it was a bold move, considering we weren’t even official and you’d never meet parents so soon, and quite honestly I felt a bit stupid asking already, but I sent the message anyway. 

“Let me help you with those,” my father said as we opened the trunk and pulled out their luggage. “I can take this one.”

I grabbed the rest, walking inside and setting it aside in the living room as my parents marveled at the view.

“How much did you pay for this place?” my father asked.

“Ed, shut up. You know better than to ask that,” my mother said, slapping him on the arm.

My phone buzzed in my pocket and I pulled it out to see a text from Jenna.  “Does tonight work?” she asked, and I felt my stomach churn a little. I guess this was going down quicker than I thought. No time to prepare.