Flirting With First Page 14

  “They’re super thin, so we have to make sure the potatoes are basically done first.”

  They took out the potatoes, opened them, and filled them with butter, and then Ryker started grilling the steaks.

  Trista came up behind him and wrapped her arms around his middle, resting her face in the center of his back. She swayed and he joined her.

  He tapped some buttons up above his head on the console and music played through the kitchen. He turned to face her and held her close. “I promise a real dance after dinner.” They swayed to the song, and every now and then Ryker used one hand to flip the steaks. He wanted to freeze this moment, remember the feel of her in his arms, the soft movement of their bodies, the fresh smell of her shampoo, the homey feel of her in his home.

  “You’re right. This is nice.” Her wide eyes smiled at him.

  “Can you come back tomorrow?”

  She laughed and then sighed. “No, we’ll be heading back up to New York. But we’re almost done shooting. Just need a couple shots of the skyline and some other things.” Her eyes dimmed and she bit her lip.

  “Let’s not talk about it. We already know how long it’ll be until either of us is free. Maybe we just pretend tonight lasts forever?”

  She let her hand trail down his arm to weave their fingers together. “I can do that.” She tugged his hand. “Dinner’s done, and the steak is gonna get cold.”

  He dished it up. They filled their potatoes, hers with vegetables, his with sour cream, bacon bits, and lots of cheese. Then they brought their plates out to the dining room table. It was already set.

  She smiled. “Ryker, this whole night is beautiful.”

  He lit the candles and they sat close, side by side. Before they began, he reached for her hand. “Two things I most appreciate about you.”

  “What?”

  “It’s something we do in our family. I’ll start. I was incredibly impressed today, watching you perform. I’ve never seen the process before, but I’ve also never seen anyone take my breath away the way you did. And second, I love what you’ve done for Bree.”

  She smiled, a lovely pink filling her face. “Thank you. It means a lot to me that you saw me on set, though I’m so happy I didn’t know you were there.”

  “I don’t understand that.”

  “Is it always good when you know I’m in the stands watching?”

  He thought to the time she and Trevor were there together and shook his head. “I still want you to come, but I get how it can be distracting.”

  “That scene is one of the most gripping and compelling parts of the characters’ relationship, and we were having a hard time getting it right.” She looked away, and he could tell there was more she wasn’t saying. He wondered if she would share with him.

  When she looked back, her eyes took on a new intensity. “Suddenly you came to mind in the middle of a scene—which could be a disaster, depending on what I need to do for the scene. But in this case it was perfect, and my feelings for you added to the emotion I needed to show.” She gave a nervous laugh. “It was like a waterfall. Took a minute for me to get over it.”

  “I saw you there, with Trevor, his kiss.”

  ‘Yeah. Don’t worry about that. Sort of leftover from the scene, you know? Had to recover.”

  “I don’t think I’ll ever get it, but I believe you.” He shook his head. “I’ll be honest. I don’t know how Trevor isn’t in love with you.”

  “What? Why?”

  “If you looked at me like that I’d be lost.”

  “I thought you said I do, but it’s better.”

  “True. And look at me, smitten.”

  She laughed. “Well, I think I can safely say Trevor doesn’t have those kinds of feelings for me. This really is just a job. People outside don’t believe it, but it’s true.”

  “And yet, actors fall for each other all the time.” Ryker didn’t love the direction of the conversation but figured they might as well finish out the thought.

  “They do, superficially. It’s difficult at best to build a relationship based on fictitious feelings from a scene. Built up by a fictional plot, in an artificially contrived environment outside of real life and responsibilities. It’s a nightmare waiting to happen. Even though intense emotion is usually involved in movies like the one we’re in.”

  “You were genius.”

  “I’m kind of hoping for an Oscar. Trevor tells the world that is what he’s after, and I haven’t said anything, but I would love that. Then I could move on.”

  “What? Move on?”

  “That just came out.” She but her lip. “I don’t know if that’s what I really want. Maybe…” She looked thoughtful, so he decided not to press her.

  “How’s your math puzzle coming along?”

  She’d been working on a super hard problem from the Mensa Society. They often posted problems for people to try and solve. And last Ryker’d heard, she was halfway there.

  “I ran out of time, but I was thinking about it right before I fell asleep last night. I think I figured out the next step.” Her eyes lit, and she talked about math for ten minutes, Ryker grinning all the while. When she stopped, she apologized like he knew she would.

  “Trista, I love this stuff. I grew up on it, remember?”

  “That’s just so amazing. I’ve been hiding this side of me for so long, I forget some people actually find it interesting.”

  “And my whole family is counted in that group, so don’t hold back around us.”

  They started eating, and then she said, “I haven’t told you my two things.”

  He’d totally forgotten.

  “Limiting to two things is going to be difficult, but the number one thing I appreciate about you is how easy it is to be myself around you. From the beginning, the things you liked most were the real things I do.”

  He nodded. “I love everything about you.”

  She laughed. “And number two, this might sound superficial, but I love how good you are at what you do. Watching you play baseball is incredible. The other game, when you literally leaped over that player to beat someone to first base. I mean, who does that?”

  “You saw that?” He was unreasonably and unaccountably thrilled at the thought she had watched his game while on the road.

  “I sure did, and got all the tech people to watch it with me. They’re Team Ryker.”

  “What! With Trevor right there?”

  “Sure. It’s pretty obvious to the crew that he and I aren’t really a thing.”

  “I’m liking this more and more.”

  “But it’s true. I appreciate how good you are at what you do.” She grinned wickedly at him. “And you look amazing without your shirt on.”

  “Ho ho! Is that when you fell in love with me?”

  She appeared to consider him for a few minutes and then said, “I think so. But not for the reasons you’re insinuating.” Her tone was serious, and she was so convincing he wondered if it were true.

  They finished up dinner, and Ryker led her into the front room, where he’d cleared the floor. He used the remote to turn on music and dim the lights, and he pulled her into his arms. “Would you like to dance?”

  She followed wherever he led, her head leaning back and her smile large and relaxed. “I’d love to dance for as long as you’ll have me.”

  “Forever?” It came out without thinking.

  She stopped, searching his face. “Yes.”

  He pulled her closer, wondering what they had both just discovered about each other, and just nodded. Then he said, “I’ve been thinking about you.”

  “I hope so.”

  “What if you started taking online classes?”

  “I keep up with my acting and character and memorization stuff already with my coaches.”

  “No, I mean math classes.”

  She sucked in a breath, held it, and then exhaled. “Math classes?” Something about the wonder in her voice made him smile.

  “Sure. One
at a time or something. I think you’d enjoy it.”

  “I’d love it. Do you think I could? How do I even do that? I’ve already graduated.”

  “Well, you can pick up classes at any community college, but I think you’re beyond that. Have you considered getting your master’s?”

  She stopped dancing. “Whoa. A master’s in math?”

  “Well, I’m sure there are lots of options. We could talk to my dad about it.”

  She started swaying again, but he knew her mind was far away, and that was just fine with him. He suspected she’d be happier if she started working on something like this. And he suspected she could do both. Anyway, he figured, why not give it a try? He’d already asked his dad and knew what was required to get in his dad’s school. But he didn’t want to dump all that information on her at once. She’d have to think it over.

  After that song finished and a second one too, she finally stepped up on her toes and kissed his cheek. “Thank you for thinking about this for me. I’ve never thought about it before, and now it’s something I want to explore. If I don’t, I will never forgive myself.”

  He laughed. “Well, I mean, don’t be too hard on yourself. Math will always be here.”

  “And so will acting. But maybe I can do both.” She smiled. “Just like you said.”

  They finished the next song, and he was already dreading when she would have to leave and call it a night. Is that what love does to you? Makes you stay up way too late and miss someone all day and night when they aren’t around?

  If so, he’d take it any day, just for moments like the one he was in right then.

  Chapter 20

  Trista said goodnight to Ryker, her mind spinning with so many different emotions she wasn’t sure she’d sleep at all.

  He’d called a car to take her back to her hotel. She couldn’t even begin to process what a wonderful night she’d had. It was almost like they were a permanent couple. Cooking together at his place, hating to say goodbye, she’d wished the night would never end.

  But then he’d brought up online classes, and her mind had started exploring the idea from all directions and she’d found it difficult to concentrate on anything else. She hadn’t even known how badly she wanted to continue her math education until he’d brought it up. And he’d said forever. And that felt important.

  They drove out of Annapolis and back toward her hotel, the lights on the water twinkling at her, reminding her of the balcony view from Ryker’s house. She’d never been more charmed by a home. And Ryker’s pleased expression seeing her there. She had felt closer to him than ever.

  She pulled up her phone. “Thank you.”

  Come back. Her smile came easily with his return text.

  You can count on it.

  Now.

  I wish.

  And boy did she wish. Call me tomorrow?

  Every tomorrow.

  Missing your view already.

  And I’m missing you in it.

  She sent him a quick selfie.

  Not the same, but thank you. I’ll never complain about pictures of you.

  Could all of these wonderful things be happening to her? Growing up, her parents had her auditioning before she could walk. Then she had enrolled in acting classes. She’d gone to normal public school but missed a lot because of auditions, commercial shooting, and some small parts here and there. Simultaneously she’d done quite a bit of modelling. She wasn’t tall enough for runway, but she did lots of photo shoots for different companies and had a steady income from that all through high school. Most of the kids around her didn’t know—she didn’t want them to. She just wanted to fit in, and they already thought she was weird. She’d wear the clothes from designers she was modelling, and the kids made fun of her.

  Her older siblings were all gone. Her parents spent little time with her. In a great moment of desperation, she signed up for the drama club, even though acting live on stage scared her to death. The group setting, everyone equally scared to audition, made things easier for her. And she realized it wasn’t much different than her auditions she’d been doing for years. She had at last found a group of her own, friends of a sort. But the other kids didn’t love her sudden appearance and were even more threatened when she nailed good parts, were her friends only during the run of the show then clung to each other afterward again, leaving her out.

  Many years of loneliness followed. Until Ryker and his family. She smiled. Ryker.

  When the car dropped her off, she went straight to bed, reliving every incredible moment with Ryker and full of anticipation for the possibility to earn a master’s, to study math.

  The next morning, she made her way to the movie set with a new energy. They had a few more scenes and then some odds and ends, some B-roll the director needed to give the editor. She was looking forward to putting this movie behind her. She loved it, but the emotional strain had taken its toll.

  She pulled in just as Trevor got out of his car. He waited for her. “I’m still recovering from last night.” He reached an arm out to wrap across her shoulder. “That was amazing.”

  “I know. We fed off each other and built a beautiful moment. Well done.”

  “Your advice was perfect. I lived in that guy’s head, in the moment, his present, and it made all the difference.”

  The moment they were having right then felt particularly intense, and Trista hoped he wasn’t trying to go anywhere too personal with his thoughts.

  “I got back together with Anna after last night.”

  She hadn’t even known there was an Anna. “I’m happy for you.”

  “Thanks. Working with you, it’s taught me a few things about myself, about being real.”

  “Everybody thinks acting is, well, acting, but it’s really being truthful in imaginary circumstances.” She wondered if her acting coach would smile at being quoted on a blockbuster movie set. Probably. “So are you still Team Trevor?”

  “For the purposes of marketing and publicity, all the way. But I’ll be more careful about how I go about things.”

  “I’m sure Ryker will appreciate that.”

  “I was wondering if you would go to the red carpet premiere with me still, though? As my date?”

  “Of course. I was planning on it. It would seem odd to show up with anyone else.” She eyed him. “Just as odd as being seen at Ryker’s baseball game with you.”

  He winced. “Sorry about that.”

  Her nod might possibly have forgiven him, but she hoped he never did something like that again. He’d caused enough trouble.

  They entered together and immediately were hurried to hair and makeup.

  Trista’s clothes were hanging on the costume rack outside her trailer. For the first scene she’d be in white pants, a tight black shirt, spikey heels, and plenty of jewelry. The outfit almost looked like something she’d wear. Perfect.

  Once dressed, they worked on her hair. Thomas curled it in big curls that cascaded down her back, with some lining her face. They used pink blush and fake eyelashes. She was feminine and pretty, and she loved the look.

  “Here’s where you really knock ‘em dead.” Thomas winked.

  He was right. The critics, the judges, the artists would all love last night’s drama, but her fans would love today. She frowned. But they would hate the final scene.

  She was proud of her character. When she walked away, it was absolutely what she needed to do, no question. And she was strong and brave for doing it. It was amazing how attached Trista had become to this fictional woman, how much she was rooting for her in her fictional decisions. But today, in this scene, she was America’s sweetheart, the one everyone would fall in love with.

  After the next scene, some would continue to love her and everyone else would hate her. Ah, well. It was the stuff Oscars were made of.

  She made her way to the set. She was up first with some modelling shots, some different angles of her face, her body, her movement. They wanted to catch shots to use for marketin
g. The cameraman, Jo, was one of her favorites. He got her humor, and he made her laugh. She stood on her tape, marking her opening spot for this scene.

  “Eh, your right foot is off.” Jo acted like he was being helpful.

  “What?” She looked down. Her toe hit the tape precisely where it should. Then she scowled at Jo, the cameras flashing away. “Very funny.”

  “I wouldn’t want you to be off by a millimeter.” He grinned.

  She ignored him, though the small curve of her lips stayed. She smiled, rotated her head, tilted it precisely to show all angles. Then Trevor joined her, and they were a young couple in love, laughing, playing. He scooped her up, he danced with her, he held her, cradled her, and at one point, while pressed up against him, their noses touching, he almost kissed her. But it was all in fun. It was the job. And if she’d done her job right, the whole world would believe her character loved him.

  During their first break, a man she’d never seen before approached her. He held out his hand. “Trista McKinney, I’m Salazar Palmino.”

  Her heart stuttered. The Salazar Palmino, the man who literally controlled the industry, the biggest producer alive today. “What a pleasure to meet you Mr. Palmino. Here on our set.” She placed her hand in his.

  He led her away to a table in the corner. “I wondered if we could chat for a moment in between shoots.”

  “Sure. I have a small break now, and if we need more time, I’m free later this evening.” Curiosity was literally tingling through her arms.

  “I was here on set yesterday and watched your last scene.”

  She swallowed. Another person she was happy she hadn’t known was watching. “Oh?”

  ‘Yes, and I was stunned. I became emotional, watching you two. Trevor was excellent, but you were the catalyst to the genius of that scene, and I want to talk to you about a project.”

  “Excellent.” She was thrilled. She would love to work with this man. She’d heard incredible things about his artistic eye, about the quality he brought to every show he produced. “My agent—”

  He held up his hand. “I’ll talk business with your agent, but let’s talk for a few minutes first.” He toyed with his watch. “I have a project overseas, it will take about three months to complete, and I want it to be immersive. I’d need your exclusive time and we’d shoot the whole thing as quickly as possible. I’d like to keep you close, start to finish, for the full three months.” He leaned forward. “It’s going to be the most incredible project I’ve ever worked on. It will blow everything else I’ve done out of the water.” The excitement in his eyes thrilled her. It sent energy across the table and tingled in her toes.