Chapter 5

Gray and Carson grabbed a couple of imported beers and found two empty chairs. The outdoor venue was arranged in clusters of pseudo living rooms. Large area rugs scattered around the enclosed lot were set with love seats, upholstered armchairs, tables and floor lamps. The effect was a homey, comfortable scene, illuminated by softly glowing bulbs strung overhead.

Stretched out in armchairs, they sipped their beers while watching the crowd. Gray unfastened his bow tie and loosened the first button on his starched white tux shirt. Soon, he became aware he was unconsciously searching the crowd for Eve. When he had her pinned against the wall he had wanted to bury his fingers in that stunning mane of hair, then kiss her tempting lips. The memory alone was making the blood pump hard through him.

Why can't I get her out of my mind? This ridiculous. It's a really a bad idea for more reasons than I can count.

Still he searched the crowd.

Carson cleared his throat, snapping him out of his reverie.

"You doing okay since you and Elexys broke up?" Perhaps conversation would get Eve Brock off his mind.

"Yeah. She wasn't into it anymore. Neither was I, honestly. I beat her to the punch on ending things. We barely saw each other anymore. Ran its course, I guess you'd say." Carson didn't seem particularly torn apart. Elexys had been giving Carson the brush off for a few weeks. Their relationship had lasted a whopping two months, tops.

Gray nodded and brought the beer to his lips. Mid-sip he froze. There she was. Not more than twenty feet away, Eve was deep in conversation with a well-muscled guy wearing a tight-fitting black T-shirt emblazoned with "SECURITY" on the back. The guy probably spent half of every day at the gym by the looks of him.

Whatever story he was recounting made her laugh, appearing relaxed and clearly enjoying herself. She was smiling! Damn, she had a wonderful smile. It went really, really well with those amazing big chocolate brown eyes. This woman was the whole package. So real. So beautiful. Nothing like the plastic actresses he often found himself dating on occasion. He was growing hard again and could swear he still smelled her intoxicating yet delicate perfume.

I want her to smile like that for me. Yeah, but I screwed that up, didn't I?

A low growl emerged from Gray.

The security guy seemed to be a little too enamored with her, which set Gray even more on edge. Every once in a while, the guy would punctuate his story by patting Eve on the arm, occasionally gliding his hand up and down, then lingering before removing it again. He was standing far too close to Eve for a casual conversation.

Damn, the guy was flat out flirting with her, and she didn't seem to mind. I do.

Gray's blood heated, his hands unconsciously drawing into fists. Somehow, he suppressed the ridiculous caveman desire to go punch Mr. Good Looking in the face and drag Eve home with him. Oh, hell, he could envision her underneath him on his bed, that incredible black hair fanned out on crisp, white sheets...

What the hell? I'm daydreaming about sex with newspaper reporters? For the love of...

"Earth to Gray." Carson snapped his fingers, pulling him out of his trance. "What's up with you and that one?" He pointed his beer bottle toward Eve.

"Fuck if I know."

Before he could consider his new infatuation further, a pair of familiar feminine hands came to rest on his shoulders. He smiled.

"Gray. Lover, how are you?" Lara Kincaid leaned over the back of Gray's chair and enveloped him in a snaking caress.

Lara had been his co-star in Seasons a few years back. As a TV couple, they were hot and heavy on the set. There had been never-ending speculation about a torrid off-screen affair, which had never actually evolved. A few months ago she joined the cast of Living & Loving with him and Carson.

"Lara...good to see you, baby." Gray grinned at her. Damned, the woman was beautiful. She always looked sexy. Idly, he wondered why he could never conjure a thing for her. On the other hand, he knew Carson had been not-so-secretly in lust with Lara for years. The guy never acted on it, claiming Gray would come to his senses one day. Not likely. As far as he was concerned, Lara and Carson would make a great couple once they opened their eyes.

Lara planted a quick kiss on Gray's lips, then plopped her curvy body into his lap. She grinned at Carson and gave him a sly wink. Gray watched Carson shift uncomfortably in his chair.

Tell me about it, man.

Lara appeared to have been injected into the tight-fitting, strapless turquoise evening gown that glittered with a tasteful array of hand-sewn sequins. Her naturally platinum blonde hair was cut into a classy bob, and she radiated fun and sass. Immediately, she launched into an animated retelling of some celebrity gossip, amusing Carson and Gray.

While she chattered away, Gray's attention wandered to where he'd last seen Eve talking with the security guard. She was still there. The guy was writing something on a piece of paper—his phone number?—and she gave him a business card. As they shook hands, Mr. Good Looking pulled her closer, leaned over, and whispered something in her ear, making her laugh. He gave her a generous once-over as she walked away. Eve had been interviewing him, but even so the last exchange left no doubt in Gray's mind the guy had the hots for her. Who wouldn't? It didn't sit well with him.

No way, buddy. I saw her first.

Unconsciously, he stroked Lara's back with his hand as he watched Eve, who turned in his direction. Her eyes zoomed in on Lara seated in his lap, then spotted his hand on her back. He froze. Wide-eyed, she stared at Gray. Her beautiful smile disappeared.

Shit. Shit. Shit. Dammit. What the hell was she thinking?

For a split second, Eve's mouth fell open, then snapped shut. Spinning around, she hurried out of sight without looking back.

"Aw, hell."

"Something wrong, lover?"

Lara and Carson looked at Gray. Gray looked at Carson. Carson began laughing, having figured out exactly why Gray was suddenly miserable.

"What?" Lara was confused, sounding a little hurt at being left out.

Still laughing, Carson offered, "Lover-boy here has been making goo-goo-eyes at a little cutie all night long. She saw him over here with you curled up in his lap all cozy and intimate, and left the building. Not what he wanted her to see, I'm guessing." Gray flashed his best friend a dirty look and flipped him his middle finger behind Lara's back.

"Oh, I'm sorry, baby." She probably was sorry. Their little romance act was just that—a well-practiced performance after years of portraying lovers on screen. They were actually nothing more than very close friends.

"You want me to go catch up with her and tell her nothing's going on?" Lara was sincere. If he gave her the go-ahead, she'd be on it in a flash.

"No. Thanks, Lara, no. I'll deal with it later."

How the hell am I going to deal with "this" later? I have no clue.

Then he remembered Lisette had given him Eve's number. Maybe he'd give her a call in the morning.

Why the hell would I do that? Forget about her. Let it go.

Nothing good could come from this fresh obsession he was nurturing.

Lara slid out of his lap. Carson and Gray stood as well.

"Honey, I'm sorry for taking over your lap. She sure couldn't have been happy to see me sitting in her spot."

"It's not her spot. Yet. Hell. I just met her, Lara. There's nothing going on." Frustrated, he rubbed his hand across his face.

"You sure, sweetie? I saw your face." Lara tapped him on the nose.

"Yeah. Don't worry about it."

She gave him a look that told him she doubted it very much.

"You can sit in my lap and smooch me, Lara," Carson said.

"Oh, Carson, baby. As much as I'd like to take you up on such a tempting offer, I'd better take off. I've done enough damage here for one night. I have an early shoot tomorrow. Love you both."

She gave Gray a peck on the lips and went for one on the cheek with Carson. At the last second, he turned his head and latched his lips onto hers, pulling her body tight against his. A typical Carson maneuver when it came to Lara.

"Come up for air, Carson," said Gray, shaking his head.

"Hell, no. I got the hottest babe on the lot in my arms. I ain't letting go." He pinched her ass and she slapped his. Then, wriggled loose of his grip.

"Good-bye Carson," she said, her voice husky, teasing. "Bad boy."

"One day, Lara Kincaid, you and I are gonna burn it up, baby." He wagged his index finger back and forth between the two them, grinning. "You'll see just how bad I can be."

"I may hold you to it, cowboy. See ya later." Laughing, Lara blew them both a kiss and sauntered off. Gray swore she put a little extra swish in her step for Carson's sake.

"You two should get a room and get it over with," he said to Carson.

"Hey, that's what I keep saying." Carson adjusted what Gray assumed was discomfort in his pants. He knew exactly how his friend felt. His cock had been good and hard after the near-kiss with Eve. He couldn't get her out of his goddamned head. This wasn't good.

****

As the limo moved along the quiet, late-night Los Angeles freeways toward his Santa Monica beach-front home, Gray's mind drifted back to Eve Brock.

This is crazy. Why am I obsessing over this woman? She isn't even my type. Far from it.

They'd barely talked and most of their conversation had been over a colossal misunderstanding.

Of my making.

He closed his eyes. Damn, it had been a long day. Thoughts swirled as he laid his head back and tried to relax. Unfortunately, those thoughts gradually took shape and he visualized Eve Brock walking away from him. The sway in her step. Her big brown eyes peering up at him. Pressed up against the wall between his arms, waiting for his kiss.

What would her lips have tasted like? I should have kissed her.

His eyes snapped open. "Dammit. What the hell is wrong with me?" He stared out the window. Before he knew it, he had his phone out and was calling the one person who could talk some sense into him. He hoped.

"Gabriela? How's my baby sister?"

"A little late to be calling, don't you think, Gray?" She laughed. "Congratulations on another win. You looked good tonight."

"Thanks, Gabs." He paused. "I need some advice."

"At one in the morning? Hmm. Must be a woman."

"Yeah. It is." 

****

Sisterly advice. What every star struck celebrity needs when he can't get her out of his head...right?