Chapter 2
Hill
Unknown number: Hey, sorry to bother you. My name’s Josh Lowry, and I’m in Bent Oak, Texas. No need to respond, but I thought you should know that this guy is giving out your phone number without checking with you first. [photo]
Cole Washburn’s face grinned up at me as I snorted.
He’d been trying to set me up on and off for years, but until now he’d always chosen people in the industry.
Based on the photo’s background, he’d graduated to finding some poor schmuck in a bar.
Cole was leaning to one side with his arm extended, but Josh Lowry had cropped himself out of the selfie.
Huh. Most people would’ve left themselves in, hoping I’d take one look at their picture and fall madly in love.
Don’t engage. Don’t engage.
I settled back on my peacock blue velvet sofa, taking a healthy sip of my cognac before resting it on a coaster on the end table.
No need to leave a ring on the surface and make extra work for Victoria, who came in once a week to clean.
Back when I’d hosted dinner parties in my old condo, I’d needed her more often.
I was successful now, so I didn’t have to network so hard.
Or at all. I’d moved to Malibu, which was quieter than West Hollywood, and this place was just the right size for one person.
I kind of liked that Victoria and I were usually the only people who ever set foot in here.
Every once in a while, I considered finding a boyfriend, but I enjoyed my alone time far more than I enjoyed weeding through the Mr. Wrongs to find the elusive Mr. Right.
I smiled down at my e-reader and snuggled into the sofa cushions. This was my favorite way to spend an evening.
I picked up my phone to set it aside, but the photo caught my eye again.
I was not in the mood to call Cole and yell at him, but it’d have to be done sometime.
Pursing my lips, I reread Josh Lowry’s message.
He’d been respectful—so far—and he’d cropped himself out of the photo.
Unless he’d used someone else’s selfie with Cole and had gotten my number another way.
Shit. I downloaded the picture and used it to do a reverse image search. No exact matches, thank fuck. But my adrenaline was spiking, so I messaged Cole after all.
Me: Did you give my number to some guy in a bar?
He didn’t reply right away. Screw it. If Josh Lowry got weird, I’d block him.
Me: Thank you for letting me know. Would you mind telling me why he gave you my number?
Unlike Cole, Josh Lowry only waited a few seconds before responding.
Unknown number: I’m an author (under a pen name) and he said you like to read, so therefore we’re “perfect for each other.” It seemed a little thin to me, but it’s better than “you’re both gay” like my sister always says when she tries to set me up.
I chuckled. At least Cole had realized I’d be much more interested in talking to an author than the sound effects guy he’d tried to set me up with last time.
I was curious what kind of books Josh wrote.
Had he failed to mention his pen name hoping I’d ask, or because he was trying not to come across as pushy?
Not that it mattered. I wasn’t interested in some rando Cole had found in a bar. Still, I didn’t want to be rude.
Me: Agreed. Have a nice night, and thanks for telling me about Cole
He applied a thumbs up emoji to my message. Not a heart. He wasn’t going to be weird. Whew.
Cole, however, was solidly in the weird camp.
Cole Washburn: Yes! Isn’t he adorable? Did he tell you he came to my rescue? It was hilarious
Cole Washburn: I downloaded one of his books but I haven’t started it yet. It has good reviews though
Cole Washburn: I hope you didn’t mention Joyce Carol Oates or any of that other highbrow stuff
Me: Have you been drinking?
Cole Washburn: Yes. Will’s niece was in a musical tonight. She’s in middle school, and only one of her classmates can sing. I made Jason take me to the bar to pregame, and now we’re all trying to erase the memory with whiskey
Cole Washburn: What did you think of Rook?
Me: Who?
Cole Washburn: Rook Rance. That’s his pen name. He said his real name but I can’t remember it
Rook Rance? What the fuck did the guy write? I opened my e-reader and searched for him. LGBT romance. I tried not to curl my lip. Romance was very popular, and just because I didn’t read it didn’t mean it wasn’t valued by a large percentage of the reading population.
Cole Washburn: Hey, you should come visit us at the ranch! I won’t force you to meet Rook in person, I promise
Me: Thanks, but I’ll be on location starting Monday. Maybe later in the year
Or not. I’d love to see Cole, but I disliked staying at people’s houses. I never knew what to do with myself. I always felt like I was either underfoot or my hosts had to go out of their way to keep me entertained. But I could always stay at a hotel. Hmmm.
I hated New York City. It was dirty, smelly, loud, and so crowded I could barely think.
For the past week we’d been in the French countryside, and I’d loved it.
New York was a slap in the face. All the tourists milling around and staring at us made my skin crawl, and twice I’d had to break out the mantra I usually reserved for red carpet events.
Fortunately we’d completed filming the street scenes this morning, and I was relaxing in the lobby of the upscale hotel we’d rented out. The director was consulting with the lighting crew, so I had time to sit and breathe. I opened the Kindle app on my phone, but a text came through.
Unknown number: Hey, it’s Josh Lowry (the guy Cole Washburn gave your number to) again. If my texting bothers you, please feel free to block me. I’m working on a book with an actor main character, and I was hoping I could ask you a hypothetical question. Nothing personal, I promise.
I got called for my scene, so I put my phone away and forgot all about Josh Lowry for the rest of the day.
It wasn’t until the next morning, while I was waiting for hair and makeup, that I remembered the text.
He’d still been respectful, so what the hell.
I’d send a response. It was 4:30 a.m. in Texas, but he’d have to deal.
Me: What’s the question?
Then it was my turn in the chair, and I forgot about Josh Lowry again.
That night, I ducked my colleagues’ pleas to join them out on the town by reminding them I had a big scene in the morning. Gleefully I holed up in my room and ordered dinner along with a large glass of sauvignon blanc.
I was deleting all the spam texts I’d received during the day when I ran across Josh’s reply.
Unknown number: If you woke up visibly pregnant one day, what would you do to hide it from the paparazzi?
I practically choked on my wine. What the actual fuck? I didn’t stop to weigh the pros and cons before responding.
Me: In this scenario, am I a person with a uterus?
His reply came almost instantly.
Unknown number: No. Well, we’re ignoring the biology of how the baby is being carried. But you’re a cis male movie star.
Unknown number: Obviously there would be magic or an alien involved.
I snorted. Obviously. I lifted my wine glass to my lips and realized I was grinning.
Me: So I've been *probed*?
Unknown number: Hah, undoubtedly. But shifters sell better than aliens, so I'm leaning in that direction.
Me: Like werewolves?
Unknown number: Exactly. You might have latent wolf DNA or something – I haven’t gotten to that part yet. I’m at the “I woke up pregnant” part.
I took a bite of my now-cool roast chicken and considered.
Me: I can’t be filming because too many people would have their hands and eyes on me, so it’d have to happen between projects
Me: Almost everything can be delivered these days, so I’d try not to leave the house. Do I call a doctor?
While I waited for his reply, I saved Josh’s number in my contacts. He deserved that much for entertaining me.
Josh Lowry: A doctor would want to run tests and lock you up in a lab. Not leaving the house is practical but no fun. What if you were out of town? Oooh, maybe the hotel concierge has to help you.
Me: Or if I had a personal assistant, I might call them
Josh Lowry: Yes! The sassy/spunky sidekick always goes over well with readers. Okay, so you’ve got to leave the house to hunt down your hookup/baby daddy and hide your big belly while doing it. Thoughts?
I ate the rest of my sautéed spinach and followed it with another sip of wine.
Me: I can get from the front door to a car by holding something big in front of me, but anyone standing or sitting next to me wouldn’t be fooled. Honestly I’d dress up like a pregnant woman
Josh Lowry: Genius! I love that! Your assistant could go out and buy all the clothes and makeup.
Me: Don’t forget the wig. If my friends in wardrobe and makeup can help, I’d be undetectable
Josh Lowry: You spend the next third of the book dressed as a pregnant woman, with all sorts of sight gags and physical comedy. I love this. Okay, I’m good to go from here. Thanks for your help!
Me: Glad to be of service
I put my phone down to finish my dinner, ignoring my disappointment that the conversation was over.