CHAPTER 8 ALEXIS
Gregory stops the car in front of the house where I’ll be staying for the next two days.
It’s not far from home, so I don’t have to stay here, but I liked the idea of just ducking away from Brooks and my father for a couple days, and besides, the company I’m endorsing has booked a fairly full schedule for me over the next two days.
I need to get the lay of the land first, but I’m hopeful I’ll be able to invite Danny over to hang out…or, you know. Whatever.
It’s a mansion, and I guess that’s the whole point.
This company wants its product to appear luxurious.
They’ve secured several celebrities from all different fields for a variety of promotions—everything from print ads to commercials to radio spots, and they’re filming, recording, and photographing it all here over the next two days.
They booked me for a variety of different spots, so when the company told me I was welcome to stay in one of the suites, I jumped at the idea.
It’ll be easier than going back and forth to home anyway.
Since Brooks and my father are deep into setting everything in motion with the merger, Gregory has been assigned to me for the next two days.
And since I’m not leaving the house and the company has security here, he’ll basically chill in the main areas when I’m working but leave me alone when I retire to my suite.
I don’t think I’ve ever been so excited for two days away. I just wish Danny could be here with me for all of it.
Security lets me in since they recognize me, and I walk into the house, where an assistant greets me and leads me into the kitchen, where a buffet of food is already set up for us.
These people spared no expense to spoil their celebrities. I spot Andrew Kinney, the star of that firefighter show LAFD, actor Victor Bancroft, country singer Kelly Jean, YouTube star The Gamer, and reality television star Natasha Prince.
Everyone greets me as if they already know me even though I’ve never met any of these people before, and I suddenly think this would make a great reality television show.
I actually make a mental note of that even though I know my father would never agree to it.
Well…maybe I don’t care. Maybe I want to do it anyway, and maybe I will.
But just like I recognize all of them, they recognize me, too—because this company wants people who are household names to advertise their products.
I know what they’re paying me, and their budget must be astronomical to have all these famous people gathered together in one place.
“Alexis, hello and welcome. I’m Jared Beck, the owner of Hush, and we’re so happy to have you here.
My assistant Lake will show you to the office so you can meet with our lawyers, take the product for a test ride, and, of course, review the paperwork and NDA you signed before we get started.
” He nods to the assistant who led me into the kitchen.
“Please, help yourself to refreshments first.”
“Thank you. Nice meeting you all.” I grab a bottle of water and glance at Lake to let her know I’m ready, and then I follow her across the house toward the office. Gregory follows a few paces behind to get the lay of the land.
The meeting with the lawyers is all pretty standard, and I’m given a schedule for the next two days telling me where I need to be and when.
I’m reminded of the clause in the nondisclosure agreement that I’m not allowed to discuss the product until it launches or anything that goes on in this house over the next two days.
Well that should be interesting. I already saw The Gamer eyeballing Natasha when I walked into the kitchen. I can’t help but wonder what other shenanigans we’ll get up to in this house over the next two days.
And it gets even more interesting as I walk into the kitchen and spot the newest arrival. Because of this new arrival, the kitchen feels more boisterous before I even clear the entry from the office. It’s light and fun in here, and I feel the excitement buzzing from the room as I walk toward it.
I step into the room and freeze on the spot as my eyes meet those of the newest arrival.
My chest tightens, and my heart races.
I’m not sure how to react. Do I pretend I don’t know him?
How can I pretend that after what he did to my body last night?
His cheeks redden again. Clearly, he remembers what I did to his body without even touching him, and that searing ache darts right between my legs again.
What this man does to me with just his eyes is certainly something I’ve never felt before in my life.
“Alexis Bodega,” he says softly, and oh, right, now I remember that he kissed me after the game last week—was that really only last week?—and it was the kiss seen around the world, so everyone here is more than likely aware that we’ve met before.
“Danny Brewer,” I echo, trying to keep the utter surprise from my voice that he’s actually standing in this kitchen as if I manifested him right from my very fantasies.
“Nice to see you again.”
I offer a tight smile, not sure how to act around him in front of other people. “And you.”
Gregory is standing a few paces behind me, and he shifts on his feet a little. The mere movement is his only reaction to what’s happening, but he’s usually still enough not to be detected by my side…which means he knows exactly who I met at the Beverly Wilshire.
Both times.
And surely he didn’t miss the way my hair was mussed or my rather relaxed demeanor after the second visit…the one where I was getting my massage.
Oh, I got massaged all right.
Gregory is probably wondering what’s going on between us. But he also knows me pretty well, so maybe he already knows exactly what’s going on.
Conversation picks back up, and Danny gives me a meaningful glance. I’m not sure where his room is or if he’s planning to stay here like I am, but I’m hopeful this means we’ll have a little more time together during his visit to California than we first thought we would.