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Chapter 17
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Seaside Pictures Chapter 18
DaniHe'd finally left. Not that I wanted him gone, I just needed some time alone to process the fact that, in the last two hours, I'd said more sentences than I'd manage to accomplish in the past year.Deep breaths. That's what my therapist always said. "And when that fails, try counting to ten while envisioning yourself walking along the beach and watching the waves."Sometimes it felt like psychobabble crap.But right now? I needed something - anything - to center me. I quickly glanced out the window and started counting the waves as the tide rolled in, my hand clenching my cell phone.I felt guilty that the first time I'd talked was with a Hollywood actor who was basically paying me to get his coffee, while I couldn't say one thing around my sister or brother-in-law, or even my best friends.My brain hurt from trying to figure it out.Was this just a special one-time thing? Or was I suddenly going to be completely fine? Was it the whale? Lincoln? The kissing?Maybe that w
Seaside Pictures Chapter 19
Lincoln"I'm impressed." Dani cleared the last dish and loaded it into the dishwasher then grabbed a rag and started wiping down the bar area. "You can actually cook.""One of my many talents." I tipped back the last remnants of my Corona and winced at the memory of how our dinner had started..."You know, you can drink beer if you want to." Dani grabbed a Pepsi and pointed at the six-pack that I'd requested before I'd actually thought about it."Nah." I waved her off.She rolled her eyes, grabbed a beer, and tossed it in my direction. "I'm seventeen, not a saint. It's not like I've never witnessed someone drink."The beer was freezing. I popped the cap and took a long sip. "Does, uh, that mean you've been to lots of parties where you get completely drunk and need your sister to drive you home?"Dani reached for her long, golden-blonde hair then pulled it back into a tight, low ponytail. "Well, back in the day, you know, when I was sixteen and still drinking milk at night an
Seaside Pictures Chapter 20
DaniHe was kissing me.And he wasn't acting.There were no whales.Just me and Lincoln and the buzzing sensation of his mouth as it explored mine. My response should have been different.Pulling away would have been wise.Laughing it off, probably wiser.But I kissed him back.Because Lincoln Greene didn't look at me like a puzzle that needed to be solved in order for us to be friends. He didn't try to fix the pieces. He simply accepted them for what they were. Screwed up.It was as if he saw the fear, hurt, anger - the ugly - and accepted me anyway.His kiss deepened as he reached around my body; his hands tugged the seal shirt off. Cold air bit my back as it made its way to the floor.Smooth lips slid past the corner of my mouth when his hands found my waist and lifted me. Our mouths broke contact, and I grasped his biceps with my hands, steadying myself as he lifted me into the air and carried me to the bed.The soft down comforter kissed my back as he lowered me onto
Seaside Pictures Chapter 21
LincolnThe sound of my alarm was more irritating than the fact that somehow I'd managed to sleep wrong, and my neck was currently twisted so hard to the right it hurt to breathe. Damn couch.I hissed out a curse as I wobbled to a sitting position and rubbed the back of my neck, memories of the previous night hitting me upside the head like a two by four.Dani had been so upset - maybe I should have been honest about the whole thing. Seeing her face, seeing that tattoo that I could have sworn I'd seen before - it made me pause.And that pause was long enough to allow my brain to start working. Sleeping with her after knowing her, what? A little over a week? Not a good idea. Hell, it was one of the worst ideas I'd ever had. Who cared if I'd kissed her? Who cared if I was attracted to her? She wasn't one of those girls, the type you slept with, then left in the early daylight by jumping out the window.And I was treating her that way.I was ashamed of myself.And I'd hurt her in
Seaside Pictures Chapter 22
DaniThe minute the limo pulled up to Jaymeson's beach house, I jumped out. Lincoln tried to follow me, so I broke out into a run.He grabbed part of my shirt right before my fingers reached the door. "Dani, don't, not like this."I sighed and turned. "Look, I'm still your assistant. But you don't need me on set today. I've already texted Pris and let her know what you needed in your trailer for snacks, your laundry's been delivered, and your truck is already waiting for you at the location. I'll pick up where I left off tomorrow, but for right now, can I please just have the day off to think? Or are you going to make me go to work with you? Especially after that picture's been blasted all over the Internet."Linc's face fell. "Fine." He released my shirt. "But, for the record you don't have to call ahead and do all of that.""It's my job," I said in a hollow voice. "Unless you're firing me?""No." His answer was quick. Even wearing that stupid whale shirt, he still looked gorg
Seaside Pictures Chapter 23
Lincoln"Cut!" Jay shouted for the five hundredth time. "Look, Lincoln, you're supposed to be trying to maul the girl. This isn't your first kiss. You aren't asking for permission. What the hell is wrong with you?"Several things. One being that we were shooting a bedroom scene, and I was with Dani's sister. It felt so incredibly wrong.I'd never struggled with acting.Not until now."Head in the game," Jay snapped. "Some of us want to go home for dinner tonight.""Sorry, Jay." I shook my head, clearing my thoughts yet again as the scene was slated.Pris was in her bra and underwear. I was supposed to pick her up, slam her against the wall, then try to seduce her, and then bail.Ha.They do say that the truth is stranger than fiction. What are the odds that they'd changed my schedule again, and I had to film this scene right after my issue with Dani?With a deep breath, I focused on pushing away every thought of last night, keeping only one.The hungry look Dani had given
Seaside Pictures Chapter 24
DaniThe sound of a pot clanging against the floor jolted me out of my sleep. With a start, I jerked upward and nearly collided with Demetri's face."Whoa." I pulled back. "Why are you hovering, mother hen? I could have head-butted you."His eyes glistened.Without warning, he pulled me into a tight bear hug as his body shuddered around mine. "You're really talking.""Wow, imagine what would have happened if I would have woken up and serenaded you.""Birds..." Demetri released me on a sigh. "They would have been attracted to the high-pitched screeching, flown into the glass door, somehow managing to break it into a million pieces, and upon seeing my perfect face, attacked, pecking me to death, leaving only one tiny shred of clothing that they'd encase in glass and put in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame."I gaped. "Thought this through a bit?""Yeah well..." He winked. "... when it comes to birds, I have all the outcomes completely figured out.""Scary.""Paranoid," Alec's vo
Seaside Pictures Chapter 25
LincolnDinner with my publicist went like expected. She asked why I was screwing my new assistant, who also happened to be underage, and according to Twitter, a charity case.I told her why, and that I'd broken things off...She heaved a sigh. "Well, that was stupid. Think of what it could do for your image. Hollywood heartthrob obsessed with mute girl? Damn, don't be stupid. Marry the girl."Offended, I'd only been able to eat a few bites of my pulled pork taco before I was ready to toss my beer in her direction and pray it blinded her enough for me to run out of the restaurant."What?" She'd shrugged her waif-like body. "It's good PR.""So is giving money to the homeless."She let out a loud snort. "Hardly. That shit never goes viral. But this? This is social-media gold. If I were you, I'd go back and play nice, at least until we hear back about your last audition with Spielberg. Hey, maybe they'll even make you an ambassador for the blind." Her icy-blue eyes twinkled with
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