Wicked Heart (Starcrossed #3)(20)
“The director’s looking for a strong, passionate Romeo. Usually he’s played as a whiny boy, but she’s wants a man.”
He studies me for a few moments. “Sounds reasonable. Can I see you when you’re done?”
I pull him down for a soft kiss. “Maybe.”
He steps away from me and runs his fingers through his hair. “I’m going to take that as a ‘yes.’ Now, you should probably leave while I have the strength to let you go. But first, give me your phone.”
“What for?”
“Quick selfie to capture the moment.”
I reach into my pocket and hand my phone over. He blows out a breath and brings up the camera. “Come here.” He puts his arm around me and pulls me into his side. “Ready?”
He holds the phone out, but before I can look up into the lens, he pulls my face around and kisses me, long and slow. Through a surge of dizzying hormones, I’m vaguely aware of the shutter clicking in the background.
When he pulls back, he shows me the picture. I get hot just looking at it. We look amazing together. Like we belong in a million-dollar ad campaign instead of a selfie.
He kisses me once more. “So you don’t forget me while we’re apart.”
As if that’s even remotely possible.
He pushes my phone into my back pocket, and not so subtly grazes my butt in the process. “See you soon, Liss.”
No one’s ever called me Liss before. Lissa, yes, but not Liss. Coming from him, it’s perfect.
He turns to leave, but I grab his arm. “Wait, you don’t have my number.”
“You refused to give it to me, remember?”
“That’s when I thought you were an actor. Construction-worker Liam can have my phone number and address. Hell, you can have my social security number, too, if you want it.”
He smiles and leans down for a final soft kiss. “Don’t need it. I’ll find you again.” He steps back and walks away.
“You seem awfully sure about that,” I say to his back.
He turns and gives me a smug smile. “I am. It’s fate.”
FOUR
AUDITION HELL
I rub my eyes.
It’s been a long-ass day. If I never hear another verse of iambic pentameter, it’ll be too soon. We’ve seen thirty-two Romeos today, and most of them had no clue what the hell they were doing. If auditions were people, this one would be Charlie Sheen. It was a disaster.
Beside me, our director, Miriam, is rubbing her temples.
“How?” she says, in a whiny tone. “In this massive city where every second waiter is a goddamn actor, how can we have zero serious Romeo candidates? I don’t understand.”
“Maybe we have to throw our net a little wider. Try some of the students at The Grove?”
“What about your brother?” Miriam asks. “I know he auditioned for Mercutio, but if I can’t find someone else to do Romeo, I may need to switch him around.”
“Oh, no,” I say as I shake my head. “Ethan doesn’t have a romantic bone in his body.” His track record with relationships is even worse than mine. “Plus, he despises Romeo. I think you’d have a fight on your hands there.”
Miriam groans. “Well, unless this final candidate blows me away, it may be a fight I’m willing to have.” She picks up the piece of paper in front of her. “Oh, God. This next kid has no agent and no experience. He doesn’t even have a headshot, for God’s sake.”
She slaps the paper back down onto the desk and sighs. “Go bring him in, would you? Might as well get it over with, so I can open a bottle of wine and drown my sorrows.”
I pat her on the back as I head toward the door. When I open it and look into the waiting room, there’s only one person there, and he’s not an actor.
“Liam?” How did he know where to find me?
He takes off his headphones and looks up at me. He’s even hotter in the daytime than he was last night. How is that possible?
“Hey, Liss.” He stands and walks over to me, and I don’t miss the way his gaze travels down the length of my body and back up. “I half expected not to find you today. Last night was so amazing, I started to believe I dreamt it.” He studies my face. “I’m glad to see you actually exist. And you’re even more beautiful than I remember.”
I’m searching for a response when Miriam calls out, “Elissa? Is there a problem?”
“No. Be right there!” I half close the door and lower my voice as I turn back to Liam. “Look, I’m happy you exist, too, but you can’t be here. I’m working.”
“I know. I’m on the list.”
“You’re kidding me.”
“I’m really not. Check it.”
I look down at the clipboard in my hand, and sure enough, over the page and right down at the bottom is “Liam Quinn.”
I glare up at him. He gives me a panty-melting smile.
“Elissa, I might not have been entirely honest with you last night, but I swear it was for all the right reasons.” He slides past me, pushes open the door, and walks into the room. “Hi, Miriam. I’m Liam Quinn, and I’ll be auditioning for the role of Romeo.”
As soon as Miriam lays eyes on him, her mouth drops open. It takes her a few seconds before she can form words. I know how she feels.