Chapter 4
Joshua
“There’s a lot on your plate, you know this? Lots of press releases and a few interviews,” she told me. But all I could do was watch her.
I couldn’t help thinking about last night. How beautiful she looked, how caring she was, and how real she could be.
I mean, I knew a lot of that, but I hadn’t taken the time to really see her, and now that I had, I couldn’t help but focus on that rather than what my life was looking like.
“Joshua?”
“Yeah?”
“Are you listening to me?”
“Sure. Press releases and interviews.”
She sat her notebook down on her lap and crossed her arms, her brow raised. It was a look I knew well. It clearly stated how annoyed she was with me. And not that I blamed her. This meeting seemed to be taking forever and it was my fault. I’d own it. Because I couldn’t focus.
I was going to blame that all on her, even if she didn’t agree with it.
“What?” I asked, trying not to smile.
“You are making my job far more difficult than it needs to be here. I shouldn't have to keep checking to see if you are paying attention to me. This is, after all, your job, you know.”
I sighed, rubbing the back of my neck and I nodded. I did know it all and I was trying to stay in the game.
“You don't have to scold me, Tessy.”
“I don't? Because you really are not leaving me many choices here.”
“Stop. You're making it sound like I've totally tuned out everything. And if you must know, it's all your fault. I can't get the image of you last night out of my head.”
A blush creeped up her neck and landed on her cheeks and it was the dang cutest thing.
How is it that I hadn't noticed that? I mean, it wasn't like she blushed a lot.
But I never noticed how her hair was long, thick, and wavy. Then again, she often had it up in a bun or in a ponytail.
And I had never seen her in a dress, let alone anything that highlighted her brown skin. So, yes, she stayed in my head because these two people were different yet the same. And I wanted to get to know both of these sides of her.
Let me tell you that was new.
It wasn't that I didn't think of relationships or wanting to have someone serious, I did. Just not now. Not with how busy I was.
Which is why I also had my flings. But I also hadn't met a lady who could knock me sideways.
It wasn't that I hadn't seen Tessy as pretty, she was. But she hasn't opened up to me. Not like she did last night and I liked it.
I liked her.
I wasn't okay with this afternoon ending, even if she was coming tonight for dinner.
“I need food,” I told her, causing her to jump.
“Oh, we can go over this later, Joshua.”
“No, why don't you join me for lunch. There's this bistro around the corner I love, and I think you would too. It's also quiet.”
“Uh, I…su…sure. I'd enjoy that. Thank you.”
She grabbed her bag, her notebook, and I shot up, escorting her to my car, helping her in.
Hell, when was the last time I had a lady in my car? College maybe. Because any date I went on, I either had a car pick us up, or we'd meet somewhere.
I also hadn't had a woman in my space. No female has stepped through my doorway, unless it was family.
And yet Tessy had. And will again. And I had no problem with that.
Her phone pinged as I climbed in and watched as her brows came together, then she went to her planner, her finger going through the times, then she responded.
After a moment, she looked up, realized we hadn't moved and frowned.
“Is something wrong?”
“Not at all. Just watching you work. You're very good at keeping me on task and I have to thank you.”
“Oh, you do make it easy, at times anyway. That was the studio. They want a meeting next week. So, it's penciled in.”
“Perfect. It's a great script. Will really play up my image.”
I started the car and backed out of the drive, making the quick trip to the bistro.
“Are you finally going to share what it's about?”
I held open the door for her, a grin on my face.
“It's a romantic action film.”
She paused right inside the doorway, a brow lifted.
“Since when did you go romance?”
“Since I got handed this script and enjoyed the lead. It's going to be fun. And different.”
“Well, that it is. I'm not sure how I'm going to be able to handle that though.”
I let that sit in my brain, needing to come back to that, because that statement was loaded with many levels that I needed to understand.
She walked over to a back corner booth, looking at the menu that was there.
“What's good?” she asked without looking up.
“Hmm, I think you'd enjoy the chicken club. You tend to like things with bacon and that pairs nicely with the chicken and their special sauce.”
Her head snapped up and I tossed her a wink. She might not think I knew much about her, and I probably didn't, but I had picked up on a few things here and there.
“Well, okay, I'll take that with a Coke, thank you.”
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
“So, he's sitting there, a shit eating on his face as we wrap up the scene and he tells me ‘no one could nail that in one take and you did it. You got a job in Hollywood’. And that started it out,” I told Tessy, leaning back in my chair an hour later.
“I can't believe the hottest director would tell you that.”
“Well, he did. I haven't shared that with anyone before. A lot of people would think I was lying.” I took a sip of my tea, smiling as I recalled that moment.
“That day was a game changer. I hadn't landed anything big and wasn't sure I was going to stay in acting. But like any big name says, you just need the right role and that was mine.”
“I think it suited you. And look at you now, scripts flooding in like crazy.”
“It is. Sometimes I do wonder how this is my life, how I even got here. However, I wouldn't change a minute of it. Especially since it's giving me the power to help back.”
She grinned and I couldn't help but really return it. No fake one, no forced one. A real one. One people hardly got.
Because with her, she was getting the real me, not the one I had to showcase for Hollywood.
Damn, when was the last time I let the real me even come out? Outside of family, when was the last time anyone even wanted that?
Never was the answer.
And yet, I couldn't see myself putting on an act for Tessy.
I mean, she saw more than others, but I was still held back, withdrawn.
“I like this,” she whispered, her eyes searching mine.
“I do too. It was a nice lunch.”
“Thank you for it. You didn't have to.”
“No, but I wanted to.” I rested my arms on the table, giving her my full attention, feeling something within that was foreign, but not unwanted. “I have a confession, Tessy.”
“And what is that, Joshua?”
“I'm really glad you won the bidding last night. For the first time in forever, I'm really looking forward to not just good food, but good conversation and great company. So, yeah, I'm happy it was you.”