Chapter 2
Gage shrugged the travel bag off his shoulder and spun in place to take in the vaulted ceilings of the beach house. Exposed metal beams added to the modern appeal while leading the eye to the main event beyond the glass—the ocean view.
While Gage appreciated the structure’s job to accent that view, and what a fine job it did, he’d likely spend more time admiring the architectural design of the beach house during his stay.
Just two more years of school and he could hit the ground running a firm of his own.
Of course, if his famous father had anything to say about it, Gage would give up that dream to follow in his footsteps.
A rap of knocks sounded from the half-open door. “You made it, my friend!” Christian bellowed before bursting into the room. His shadow stretched across the sunlit floors, a white-on-white combination of wooden slats and twill rugs.
“You know it.” Gage met him for a bro hug—one arm at his back, the other patting his shoulder. “Nice place,” he said, circling to take in the area once more.
“I thought you’d like it.” Christian’s Latin accent was in full form. “I’m surprised the one and only Mark Craven didn’t insist his son stay in one of the mansions at the west side of the beach.”
“He offered,” Gage said. “I refused. It’s just me. No need to draw attention to myself.”
Christian grinned. “That’s where you and I are different.”
Yes, they were. While Gage’s longtime friend soaked up the spotlight from his childhood, Gage had done his best to live a normal life. As normal as he could with a famous father. Of course, normal would soon be harder to accomplish now that Gage had accepted the upcoming movie role.
“Did you check out the master suite yet?”
“Not yet,” Gage said, still admiring the generous amount of light spilling into the room. “Dang, they did a good job with this place. I love Velstein’s work. He’s a genius.”
Christian was already halfway across the room. “That’s what I hear.”
Gage hitched his bag over his shoulder once more. “Hey, aren’t you supposed to get this for me?”
“Watch it,” Christian warned. “If you wanted that kind of pampering you should’ve taken one of the mansions with room service and all that.” He spun to face Gage as he joined him in the master suite. “And if you wanted my services, you should’ve signed up for dance instruction, not surf.”
Gage grinned, already distracted by the cozy feel of the room. It was a shift from the rest of the home. Must be the overhang outside the balcony giving the illusion of privacy despite the floor-to-ceiling windows casing the east wall. “Genius,” he muttered.
“Someone has an architect crush,” Christian accused.
Gage shot him a look. “You’re just jealous that I’m not taking your dance course.
” He flung his bag onto the lounge chair in the corner and sprinted toward the puffy looking bed.
He dove into it, face down, arms splayed, and smiled when the landing was softer than he imagined.
“And why would I?” he said against a pale blue pillow.
“I already won you in a dance-off.” He shrugged onto his back in time to hear Christian groan.
“Yeah, when we were six years old, punk,” Christian said.“ And that’s just because the judges wanted to kiss up to your famous father.” He puffed his chest. “Let’s not forget who took the title at every other competition there was.”
Gage grinned, loving the way his old friend always rose to the occasion. “How could I? You’re ‘America’s Favorite Latin Lover.’ Besides, the cable networks re-run those talent shows nonstop.”
Christian flashed that child-star grin, complete with dimple and all. “That’s what draws folks to the Royal Palm, my friend. The ladies want some private dance instructions by the one and only Christian Lopez.”
“Yeah,” Gage said. “Forget the beach. You’re definitely the main attraction.”
Christian nodded. “You got that right. Now let’s go introduce you to your instructor, Hollywood.”
“Sounds good to me,” Gage said. His phone let out a buzz as the words left his lips. A quick tug from his pocket and a glance at the screen showed a text had come in from his dad.
How’s my favorite son? Can’t tell you how proud I am that you’re doing what it takes to get into this role. That’s what makes a star.
“That from your old man?” his friend asked while glancing at the screen.
“Yep.”
Christian swung open the door and stepped onto the sunlit porch. “That’s promising. Things better between you two?”
“He just called me his favorite son, if that tells you anything.”
“You’re kidding,” Christian said with a clap. “It’s about time. Move over, Beau Craven. Baby brother is coming on strong.”
Sure, his pro football playing brother had been the obvious favorite all these years, but at what cost?
“It’s just crazy, because until I agreed to do the film, I was his forgotten son.
” Gage might make light of it in conversation, but he resented how true the statement was.
He was putting his life on hold, all to gain the approval he’d been seeking most of his life.
He followed Christian out of the beach house with reluctant steps. Steps that seemed to take him closer to his father’s dream and further from his own. It was never Gage’s desire to star in a Hollywood film, but here he was, ready to pay the price for his father’s affection.
“It really makes me appreciate my mother, rest her soul,” Christian said as they walked. “You know she lived for all the dance competitions and talent shows, but she made a point to tell me that I could stop at any time. She’d love me just the same, and she’d support me at whatever I chose to do.”
Gage thought back on the many times Christian had come to stay with him while attending one competition after the next. The woman had made a whole lot of sacrifices to keep him in the demanding dance circuit. “Your mother was an amazing woman, Christian,” Gage said.
“Darn straight,” he agreed.
“We’ll see soon enough where my dad’s loyalties lie. I’m not going to do another film after this one. He’ll most likely go back to ignoring me once he realizes I’m serious about getting my degree.”
Of course, Gage had already told his famous father about his intent to start that firm of his own, but the man never gave it any merit.
They were nearing the resort now, and Gage took a moment to admire the structure of the massive building. The online photos hadn’t done it justice. Thomas Dean Billam, the architectural designer, had done some great work throughout the country, but this had to be one of his best.
“So,” Christian said with a nudge to Gage’s arm. “You requested a woman as your surf instructor, eh?”
Gage’s face turned hot. “My acting coach says it’s best that way. In the film, my character falls in love with some surfer girl who’s competing in the same tournament. He says this way, I’ll be able to study the woman as well as the sport.”
Christian stopped walking a few feet shy of the entrance, his shoulders seeming to stiffen. The drastic shift caused Gage to think back on what he’d just said.
“Listen,” Christian said, glancing down at his feet. “Carly’s…”
“She’s what? Is she hot?”
A spark of mischief lit Christian’s eyes, countering the nonchalant shrug of one shoulder. “She’s a second-grade school teacher.”
Gage grinned. “Which is another way of saying yes.”
But his friend didn’t flinch. “That’s not what I was going to say. Carly’s been through a lot. You can’t come in here and mess with her head just so you can get the part.”
“Whoa, whoa,” Gage said, circling his buddy to look him in the face. Anger boomed hot in his chest as Christian glanced up to meet his gaze. “First of all, I’ve already got the part. Second, you know me better than that. I’m not some playboy.”
His friend only shrugged and stepped around him. “I know, man. It’s just, you move from one chick to the next pretty quick, that’s all.”
Gage propped his foot against the door so Christian wouldn’t open it yet. “Dude, you make it sound like I’m leading them on or something. I’ve never fallen in love. That’s not my fault.”
Christian rolled his eyes. “You and me both know what it’s like to have women throwing themselves at us. So forgive me if I’m not worried about your end of things.”
“Fine. At least I don’t take advantage of the fact,” Gage said. “Unlike most guys, I’ve never claimed to be in love.”
Christian’s shoulders dropped. He nodded, took a few steps back and turned to face the beach. “You’re right.”
Dang straight he was right. “Besides, my dad would flip out if I started dating her. He keeps warning me that I need to stay single so I can sell more tickets.”
“Being married hasn’t hurt your father’s career,” Christian said. “In fact, it’s probably only helped him. He’s kind of like Swayze that way.”
“True,” Gage agreed. “But he made my mom wait forever. Think he was purposely holding out so he could earn the title of Hollywood’s Most Eligible Bachelor.”
Christian chuckled under his breath. “Probably just wants to make sure his son earns the title too.”
Gage couldn’t help but shoot his buddy a surprised look. “Dude, he actually really did say that. He’s all stoked about the idea of being the only father and son team to earn that title.”
Gage thought about what it would be like if he really gained such a title, and cringed at the very idea.
Sure it would feed his ego, but that came at a price.
“I feel like it’d be even harder to find the right woman if I stayed in the Hollywood game for long,” Gage said.
“Already, I feel like I attract all the wrong women. Having Mark Craven as a father is hardly an advantage in the dating world.” The truth of it was evident in the review of Gage’s dating life.
A stream of women who seemed to have one-track minds, all set on meeting Mark Craven.
“You know what I mean. How do you know if a woman actually likes you for you?”