The AD said, “Evening. You two excited to see the final cut?”
“Absolutely,” Ashley said.
Caz gave a small nod.
“Great,” the AD said. “You’re going to love it.”
A woman wearing a suit joined them, saying something about high pre-sale ticket records. The greetings weren’t going to stop coming. The premiere was an impossible place for a private conversation.
Caz headed from the lobby to the entrance of the auditorium. “Caspian Thaymore, plus one,” he said to the usher. The theater was a large typical stadium-style movie theater. The air even had that faint, popcorn-lives-here smell. The bright wall sconces lit the darkness so people could find their seats. The usher led them to the middle section.
“Thanks,” Ashley told the usher.
“I went by your house earlier, hoping you’d be in town for the premiere, but you weren’t, and your dad wouldn’t give me any details.”
“He’s protective.” Ashley pulled at his hand.
“I missed you,” Caz said, keeping his voice low. “I know I screwed up.”
“I get it. I do,” Ashley said. “So many people used you all summer, in so many ways. That’s your life. How could you not, how could you—”
Caz cut her off with his kiss. It felt familiar, exciting. His kiss had the power to shut off her thoughts. Pulling back, he laid his free hand against her face. “I wanted to call for Christmas, but I didn’t, and things were crap at home. My dad came back, and he’s already left again.”
“Are you mad at him for leaving, or your mom for taking him back?”
“Both.”
Ashley swallowed. “Did you find out who did the press leaks?”
“Petra and my driver. My agent too.”
She gaped at him. “All of them?”
“It’s why it never made sense before, because it was all these random locations, and you were the only one who knew them all.”
Ashley looked away. “How do you stand Hollywood? How can you work with these people again?”
“Petra has her own agenda, but she’s not malicious.” His expression was hard. “I’m hiring my own driver and buying a car.”
“And the pills?”
“I don’t know who drugged my drink, but I know it wasn’t you.”
“It wasn’t.”
Looking into her eyes with a sincere expression, Caz said, “I know. I’m sorry I doubted you before.” He kissed her, a brief, quick kiss.
People filtered into the theater, many stopping to offer comments and congratulations to Caz. The noise level grew until the director moved to the floor in front of the screen. He leaned into the rail and spoke into a microphone. “Thank you all for coming. This project has been a labor of love for the cast and crew, without whom we wouldn’t be here tonight. So without further adieu, enjoy the film.”
The lights darkened and Ashley felt her lips smile. She squeezed Caz’s hand.
The movie came on.
OMG.
Halfway through the movie, Ashley dropped Caz’s hand and wrapped her arms around herself. The director had used all of her scenes, but he replayed the steamy bed scene the most. Throughout the film, images of her in bed with Caz flashed through the hero’s mind. The death scene repeated also, but the bed scene definitely made the most appearances.
Ashley rubbed a hand over her face, half covering her eyes.
Leaving the auditorium, in between chats with people stopping them, Caz said, “Why are you so upset?”
Ashley turned her face to him and whispered, “He shot when I didn’t even know he was rolling.”
“Well, that’s not a bad way to get a natural take.”
“And the bed. We’re rolling around on that bed. A really long time. He put that in the film.” She didn’t think her face could flush any deeper.
“You looked hot. You’re beautiful, Ashley.”
“My dad is in the audience.”Her voice raised on the last word.
Caz sucked in a breath. “Ah, maybe too hot then.”
Ashley turned her face into his arm with a groan. “Yes, definitely too hot.”
His hand rubbed her back. “It was a good film, though, right? I don’t always get to say that.”
She didn’t answer and didn’t explain the part that shocked her the most. The depth of the emotions she’d just seen on screen didn’t come from any hidden talent. She wasn’t an actor. As much as she lied to herself, she had just seen her feelings for him, right there, in high definition. Ashley Herrington was in love with Caspian Thaymore.
In somewhat of a daze, she exited the theater along the side of the auditorium. The red carpet was still out, but the roped-off fan area had cleared.
Powder appeared and hugged Ashley. “You were so good.”
Ashley got out of her own head. “Thanks. Your makeup was stunning. I admit I didn’t fully appreciate your art until your work was blown up on screen.”
Powder laughed. “Yep, there’s nothing better than seventy feet of screen to highlight your mistakes.”
Petra, Cutter, and the wave of their clashing colognes joined them. Olive, arms swinging, arrived soon after. Olive wore an all-black gown and low heels and carried a large leather tote.
Cutter did a small jig and the tassels on his shoes shook. “He saw it. He loved it.”
“Harlon?”
Cutter’s voice took on a singsong tone and his face held a glow. “Harlon Ramonannini saw my revision and loved it.”
“Cool.”
Petra did one of her poses from the movie. “My wardrobe was fantastic too. Did you see how great I looked? In every scene, it was amazing.”
Olive nodded. “Amazing.”
“It was so intense,” Petra said. “I was so keyed up last night I could barely sleep. I really don’t know how I kept from looking hideous tonight. I had to put on so much eye makeup because of the shadows.”
Caz pulled Ashley in front of him and draped his arms around her. She leaned against him.
Cutter eyed their embrace with surprise. “Ashley, I thought you were dating Garrett.”
“I never went out with Garrett.”
“That’s what I thought, but Olive was so insistent.” Cutter put his hands on his hips and pouted at Olive. “Guess your source isn’t as good as you thought.”
Petra said, “Olive is a great assistant, but her scoop is always off. Mine, however, is great. I mean, when I see something I get the story right. Like with Lorene, I knew she was drinking, and I told everyone how she is on a set. But Olive was like ‘Poor Lorene must have been drugged.’ Please. I know Lorene, I’ve worked with her, so I know. I was all like ‘I don’t think so’ and Olive was like no really. You remember that, Olive, right? How wrong you were and how I was right?”
Olive shifted her eyes from left to right then looked up. “I don’t know who said that, but you’re right, she was drinking.”
“I know,” Petra said. “You should listen to me. Lorene and I are frenemies. I was telling Tween In, I’m in the know.”
Caz’s arms tensed against Ashley. “What a stupid misunderstanding,” he whispered in her ear.
Ashley turned her gaze up to his, and his ocean eyes pleaded with her. She put her hand over his and squeezed.
Over Caz’s shoulder, a group of well-dressed executives stood with Dad dead center in their midst, wearing a dark frown. Ashley gulped as his gaze met hers and he strode over.
She ducked out from under Caz’s embrace, stepping away.
Dad took her arm and pulled her another step back. He wore a polite smile but his icy eyes held fury. “If you’ll excuse me, I need to speak to my daughter.”
Olive gasped. “Ashley is your daughter?” She looked at Ashley. “Why didn’t you tell us your dad was Mr. Herrington?” Her gaze swung back to Ashley’s dad. “I was just telling Ashley how great she was.”