Wicked Heart (Starcrossed #3)(64)

“In the rehearsal room?”

“Yeah. It was kind of last-minute, but Mary said she’d organize it with you.”

In my back pocket, my phone buzzes. When I take it out and look at the screen, I see a text from Mary.

<Forgot to tell you about an interview this morning in the studio. Journalist plus photographer from Moda arriving at 8. Please provide three chairs. I’ll be there soon to supervise.>

I smile and hold out the phone. “Well, now she has. Better go get set up, I guess.” I grab my folder and move past him.

As I come out of the office, Angel sees me and waves. “Elissa! Over here. I have someone I want you to meet.”

I try to look normal as I make my way to her, but I can tell how amused Liam is by my stiff-legged walk as he follows behind me.

“Nice work,” he whispers. “Toy soldiers everywhere would be proud.”

I give him the finger behind my back as I reach Angel and the man she’s with. The man looks to be in his mid-thirties, and his handsome face lights with a smile as he turns to me.

“Elissa, this is our agent, Anthony Kent. He’s in town for a few days to make sure we’re behaving ourselves, which of course we are. Anthony, this is one of the most fabulous women you’ll ever meet. Elissa Holt.”

I hold out my hand to Anthony and he clasps it. “A pleasure to meet you, Mr. Kent. I’m sure keeping these two in line is like herding cats. I know of some excellent treatments for stomach ulcers, if you need them.”

Angel rolls her eyes as he laughs. “Please call me Anthony. And, yes, as long as those ulcer treatments don’t interfere with my blood pressure medication, I’m in. A pleasure to meet you, Elissa.” His hand is warm, and he gives my fingers a gentle squeeze before he lets go. “Let me guess. You’re playing Bianca.”

I shake my head. “Thankfully, no.”

Anthony frowns. “Really? Why not? Who’s your agent? And why the hell aren’t they getting you better roles? You’d be perfect for Bianca.”

“Anthony,” Angel says. “Elissa doesn’t have an agent.”

He looks at me, then back at Angel. “Bullshit. She’s working on Broadway without one?” In a flash, he pulls a card from his pocket and hands it to me. “Well then, this is my lucky day. Sign with me and I’ll have you on movie screens in record time. That beautiful face needs to be shared with the world, and I’m just the man to make it happen.”

Before I can say anything, Liam steps forward, and I don’t miss the tension in his shoulders. “She’s not an actress, Anthony, so you can stop hitting on her. She’s our stage manager.”

Anthony turns back to me. “Seriously? You’re hiding yourself backstage?” When I nod, he shakes his head in disbelief. “Look, I don’t want to alarm you, but I’m pretty sure depriving hardworking Americans of your kind of beauty is illegal in forty-eight of the fifty states. You may need to get out of town for a while. It just so happens I have a house in the Hamptons if you’re looking to hide out in luxury. I’d be happy to harbor you as a fugitive.”

I laugh. This guy’s pretty charming, even if he is joking. It feels good to have someone I’ve just met say such flattering things. “I’ll keep that in mind.”

I notice that Angel is beaming at our exchange. I have the strongest feeling she’ll be informing Anthony I’m single as soon as I’m out of ear shot. I’m not sure how I feel about that. Yes, I want to get over Liam and start dating again, but dating his agent probably wouldn’t be the best idea.

When I glance over at Liam, his hands are shoved into his pockets, and the glare he’s directing at the wall above Anthony’s head could blister paint at thirty paces.

Yep. That’s what I figured.

I put Anthony’s card in my pocket. I’m sure there’ll be other handsome, charming strangers with whom I can contemplate moving on. Ones who don’t have these kinds of complications.

“Well, if you’ll excuse me, everyone, I have to go set up for the interview. Nice to meet you, Mr. Kent. If you need anything while you’re here, please let me know.”

He reaches for my hand, then places a soft kiss on the back of it. I’m surprised when it makes me tingle.

“I certainly will, Miss Holt. And the pleasure was all mine.”

Even though I don’t look at Liam as I walk away, I can feel his disapproval.


The following day, I’m in my office working through lunch as usual, when there’s a knock at the door.

“Come in.”

Liam enters carrying a small bag. He flops down into the chair beside my desk. “Hey.” He pulls something from his pocket and places it on the desk in front of me. “I thought you might like this.”

I pick up the thumb drive and examine it. “Oh. Wow, Liam. I mean, I know we said we’d keep things professional, but really? You couldn’t come up with a better gift? They were out of staplers? Or paper clips?”

He crosses his arms. “Actually, smart-ass, this is a gift you requested.”

“It is?”

“It is.” He raises his chin. “You asked me to get it because you didn’t want everyone to know you’d like to . . . now let’s see if I can remember your exact words . . . ‘climb me like a tree and bang me like a screen door in a hurricane’? Do I have that right?”