Solid Ground (Hollywood Kiwis #5)

Chapter 1

ONE

DECLAN

Las Vegas.

Sin City.

The city that never sleeps.

Always my favourite place to lose myself after finishing a film.

And honestly? The crappy, destined-to-go-straight-to-DVD film I just made will probably be my last.

My career is over.

It’s a sobering thought. And I’ll get sober just as soon as I have one last weekend of debauchery.

For about the millionth time, my mobile rings and I silence the call. My agent, Nikki, has been hounding me since my film wrapped. No doubt she’s got other shitty offers on the table.

For almost thirty years I’ve ridden the roller coaster that is Hollywood. I’ve lived the highs, both figurative and literal, and now I’ve sunk into this bottomless pit of despair.

I’m not making another never-will-be-seen movie ever again.

Maybe I’m not the type to retire to the country and live a quiet life, but something has to be better than my dying career. I need a break—some alone time to come to grips with who I am. My life has been a whirlwind since my teens.

Now I’m in my mid-forties and I want to take some time to breathe.

I’ve been working since I was a teenager—my “big break” came in the form of a soap opera, and while I’ve been blessed to be a jobbing actor since, it hasn’t all been smooth sailing.

It’s my own fault for driving my career into the ground. The alcohol and the partying pushed people too far. There are directors and other actors who refuse to work with me because of mistakes I’ve made along the way.

I’m getting off this ride before I truly hit rock bottom.

I’m in the hotel lobby when my mobile rings again, and I groan before hitting accept.

I might as well get this over with.

“Nikki.”

“I’ve got an offer?—”

“Answer’s no.”

She sighs. “But this could be the step back to?—“

“That’s what you said last time. And the time before.” I growl. “I’m done. It’s over. I’m going to live it up this weekend and then go home to LA to hide behind the giant metal fences I’ve surrounded my house with.”

“And do what? You’ll climb the walls with nothing to do.”

I let out a sigh. “No idea yet. Become a farmer? Grow corn? I don’t know, but something has to be better than this. ”

She huffs. “Fine. Take a break. But you know that there’s more for you out there. We just need to get you back on track.”

“I’m not sure I want to ‘get back on track’.”

There’s a pause on the other end of the line. “You’re serious, aren’t you?”

“I am. I’ve had it with this life.”

“Okay. Okay.” She draws a deep breath. “I’ll back off. Have fun this weekend, and we’ll talk again next week. I don’t want to give up on you, Declan. I don’t think you should give up on you either.”

“Thanks, Nikki. Love you.” I hang up before she can respond with the snort I usually get back when I profess my feelings for her. She’s been a part of my life for so long, she’s practically family, but I’m not caving on this.

My career is well and truly over.

I thought I’d be more upset than I am, but it’s time. My only regret is that I didn’t retire several years ago before the flops and the direct-to-DVD movies.

I’m already checked into the Bellagio, so I head downstairs to find a bar and a drink.

There was a time in my career when going out in public was hard. Being recognised was a pain in the ass, and there were occasions when I needed security with me.

I’m not sure I miss those days.

While I’m still recognised on a regular basis, there are no security concerns. Sometimes I’ll be stopped for a selfie or an autograph, but those times are few and far between.

It’s just as well because I’m rarely in the right frame of mind to deal with requests .

By the time I’ve had a couple of drinks, I’m warmed up and ready to look for a good time. I’m not out to get laid—if I drink as much as I plan to, I doubt I’d be able to perform. I want to party and have fun.

I turn around and lean back on the bar, scanning the dance floor.

It’s her swaying hips that catch my eye at first.

I’ve always preferred brunettes.

And this one is spectacular.

Her little black dress hugs her curves, her long dark hair swinging as she waves her arms in the air and dances with a shorter blonde.

The blonde’s not bad-looking either, but it’s the brunette that grabs my attention like no one else in that room.

The look of sheer joy on her face draws me to her. Her smile is a mile wide, her eyes sparkling as she laughs with her friend.

The blonde stumbles, and concern crosses the brunette’s face as she catches her and guides her to a nearby booth.

Before I know it, I’m on my feet and making my way toward them.

“Hey,” I call out.

They don’t hear me, the brunette brushing the hair from the blonde’s face, her brow furrowed in concern.

I step closer. “Hey. Is she okay?”

The brunette’s blue-eyed gaze hits me, and I almost take a step back. From afar, she was gorgeous, but up close—she’s spectacular. Even in the dim lighting of the bar, the freckles smattered across her button nose are visible .

Her full lips twitch as she fixes those beautiful eyes on me. “Um I thought she was, but I think she’s had too much to drink. We’ll be fine. Thanks for checking on us.”

That’s not an American accent, but with the music playing, it’s hard to hear what it is.

“Do you need a hand?”

She shrugs. “As long as I can get her back to our room, we should be okay.”

“Are you sure I can’t help?”

Chewing her bottom lip a moment, she hesitates.

I hold up my palms. “If you want, I can call the bar staff. I’m sure they’ve dealt with this kind of thing before.”

She glances at her friend. “I don’t really want to make a scene. Caitlin’s fiancé is kind of famous and …”

“It’s okay. You’re staying at the Bellagio?”

She nods.

“Let’s get her out of here.”

Caitlin looks up. “Ohh I know you who are.” Caitlin giggles and points. “Zoe, it’s Declan O’Leary.”

I grin. “Good spotting.”

“My mom loves you.”

Zoe snorts, and I shift my gaze to her, raising an eyebrow.

“I’m sorry for my friend. She’s so good at putting her foot in her mouth. Especially when she’s wasted.”

I shrug. “It’s fine. We all have bad nights. I’ve had a few myself.” Shifting my gaze to Caitlin, I tilt my head. “Can you walk?”

In response, I get another peal of laughter, and Zoe rolls her eyes .

“Come on, you,” she says.

I lean down. “Wrap your arm around my shoulders, sweetheart. I’ll help you.”

“I can’t believe Declan O’Leary is helping me to my room.” She giggles again and Zoe and I help her to her feet.

“I’ve got her,” I say to Zoe, but as we leave the bar and approach the elevators, it becomes increasingly obvious that I don’t have her. Her legs buckle out from underneath her, and it takes a lot of extra effort to hold her up.

Zoe presses the button and a door opens. After stepping into the elevator, I sweep Caitlin up into my arms. At least she won’t stumble now.

The elevator starts to move.

“Thank you so much for this,” Zoe says. “I doubt she’ll remember much in the morning. So much for our first trip to Vegas.”

“How did she get so drunk? The bars are usually more careful.”

Zoe shrugs. “Too much too fast. I was pacing myself because we’re here for two nights, but she had other ideas. She’s also not very good at handling her booze.”

Now we’re in the quiet, I can hear Zoe better. Her accent’s definitely not American. I’ve worked with Australians before, and it’s not that. Maybe New Zealand?

“You’re not from around here.”

She grins. “What gave it away?”

“Well …”

The elevator dings and the doors slide open. I follow Zoe down the hallway until we come to a stop outside a room .

It’s much smaller than my own, and there are two matching queen-size beds. Zoe points me toward the one closest to the windows.

As I dip to place Caitlin on the mattress, she falls face-first and laughs. I turn to leave, and by the time I’ve reached the door, a loud snore comes from the other side of the room.

Zoe and I share a bemused glance.

“So much for partying the night away,” Zoe says.

“Was that the plan?”

Zoe nods. “Caitlin’s getting married in two weeks. Neither of us have ever been to Las Vegas. We thought we’d run away for the weekend to celebrate.”

“And now she’s out for the count and it’s still early.” I chuckle.

She blows out a long breath. “Yep. This wasn’t how I saw tonight going.”

For a moment, I study her. “I’ve got a proposition for you.”

Zoe’s eyebrows shoot up, and she runs her tongue along that scarlet top lip. “You do?”

“Your friend is out for the count, and this is your first time in Vegas. Let’s not waste your night.”

Her smile is warm, and I know I’ve hit the target.

“What do you suggest?”

“Leave her a note in case she wakes up. We’ll add my number to it so she’s got contact details for both of us. I’ll show you around, and then we can come back here and drink the complimentary champagne in my penthouse suite.”

Her face lights up in a grin, and her blue eyes sparkle. “ That sounds like a great plan.” She hesitates, her gaze returning to the bed.

“We can come back here and check on her after our tour and before we go up to my suite. You said she hadn’t had a lot to drink.”

Zoe nods. “It doesn’t take much to get her drunk. A couple of glasses of wine do it sometimes. She’s crashed on my couch before.”

“If you’d rather not go, that’s okay too. I won’t hold it against you.” I wink at her, and her cheeks flush pink.

She watches Caitlin for a moment. “No. I still want to see Las Vegas before we leave. I don’t know if I’ll make it back here for another visit before the end of the year.”

“What’s happening at the end of the year?”

Zoe’s gaze swings back to me. “I finish my current contract and then depending on what happens, I might be going back to New Zealand.”

I smile. “We don’t have to be gone long. Even if it’s an hour or so.” I take her hands in mine. “But if you want to take a rain check, that’s all good too.”

“A rain check?”

“We do this another time when your friend isn’t drunk.”

Her blue eyes sparkle. “You would do that?”

“I really want to spend some time with you. Maybe we can swap numbers. Plan our own clandestine Las Vegas adventure.” I grin. I’m not sure what it is about this woman, but I want to spend time with her. “Let’s swap numbers and we’ll sort this out later.”

She nods and gives me her number. I type it in and send her a quick text .

“It was nice meeting you, Zoe. Shame about the circumstances, but that can’t be helped.”

Zoe laughs. “Thank you for all your help, Declan. I’d never have been able to get her back to the room without it.”

“You’re welcome.”