Unforgettable: Book Two (A Hollywood Love Story #2)(17)
Gucci tugs at the leash and I chuckle. “Looks like someone’s getting impatient. C’mon, let’s hike some more.”
We randomly turn up another desolate winding road. The uphill path is very rustic and rocky. And narrow. It cannot be traveled by car, only by foot. Paparazzi-safe. Zoey and I walk together in silence, she and the dog a little ahead of me as the dirt road isn’t wide enough to accommodate the two of us side by side.
“You okay?” I ask her, amazed by the grace and ease with which she navigates the challenging path. And the way she moves her delicious ass.
“Yeah. This is really beautiful. I’ve never been up this way.”
“Me neither.” At least I think I haven’t set foot here before.
And then Zoey lets out a gasp. She’s stumbled on a loose rock. I catch her before she tumbles and hold her firmly in my arms.
She exhales. “Ooh, that was close. Thanks for the save.”
Letting go of her, I step in front of her. “You don’t need another trip to the hospital. I’m going to lead and I want you to hold my hand.” Her gaze meets mine. Before she can utter a word, I grasp one of her beautiful hands and then continue our upward trek. Gucci keeps up with us.
Stopping once to let Gucci take a leak, we reach the top of the canyon in twenty minutes. The panoramic view is mind-blowing. In one direction, we can see the Griffith Park Observatory, the Hollywood Sign, and the snow-topped San Bernardino mountains. In another, we can see downtown LA with its skyscrapers kissing the cerulean sky, and yet in another, the Pacific.
“Wow! I’ve never seen the ocean that color,” exclaims Zoey, still holding my hand.
“Yeah. It’s pretty amazing.” The color really is remarkable—an intense, dense turquoise. The expanse resembles a rich panel of velvet.
Soaking in the spectacular view, we share a long stretch of silence, our hands still locked together. It’s as if we’ve been connected like this forever. Panting, worn-out Gucci lies down.
A feeling that I cannot describe sweeps over me. It’s more than just the view or the acute awareness of my companion’s long slender fingers entangled with mine. So close to heaven, it’s an aliveness like I’ve never felt before. I wonder if Zoey’s experiencing it too.
Letting go of her soft hand, I gently turn her by her shoulders so she’s facing me. My heart is singing and my cock is humming. With one hand, I tilt up her chin. Her milk chocolate eyes melt into mine.
“Zoey, what are you feeling?”
“The same thing you are,” she whispers.
My lips descend. And then, she jerks away before her soulful eyes meet mine once again.
“Brandon, we should head back. You’ve got to be on the set by two and I have a shitload of work to catch up on.” Her voice is thin and unconvincing.
“Right.” The little dog barks—I’m not sure whether to second the motion or protest it.
We head back in silence, our hands and hearts and pasts entwined. Katrina nowhere on my mind.
My day on the set goes great. I’m rocking it. I’ve got my lines down and everyone’s in tip-top form. The relationship between Kurt and his assistant Mel is developing, and for the first time, Mel opens up to Kurt about her own tragic past. Just like Kurt, she’s lost a loved one, her own first true love, though from illness. While Kellie Fox, the adorable, talented actress playing the part, is making it so easy for me to deliver my lines, method-actor me draws from all the emotions I feel for Zoey. I put everything I feel toward her into them.
Later, after the sun sets, we shoot an action sequence on location. At a big deserted warehouse located in downtown LA. The cat and mouse game between Kurt and his late wife’s assassin continues. For the first time since my accident, I hold a gun and aim it at my target. Bang! Let me tell you, there’s nothing like having a big gun between your legs and another between your fingers you can shoot off. I channel all the rage I feel toward Frank Donatelli into my acting. The way my legendary teacher, Bella Stadler, taught me to do. The memory of this special person in my life has returned and given me a lot to think about.
The night shoot culminates with a life-or-death car chase through the dark desolate city streets with Kurt pursuing his nemesis, The Locust, in his yellow Ferrari at close to one hundred miles per hour. Adrenaline races through my veins. Bang! Bang! Bang! Close to midnight, we film the episode’s final cliffhanger scene—a huge truck is coming at Kurt head on!
“Cut! That’s a wrap,” shouts out Director Niall Davies through a megaphone. “Great job, everyone. Enjoy your weekend and see you all bright and early on Monday.”
Wow. The week’s gone by so fast. A PA helps me out of the car.
“You were awesome, Brandon. I can’t wait to see the dailies and to find out how this season will conclude.” He hands me a bottled water.
“Thanks. You’re going to be surprised.” The twist with Mel and Kurt professing their undying love has been kept very guarded. No one except me, the producer, the head writer, and the Conquest Broadcasting execs know about it. Even Niall and my co-stars haven’t been told what’s going to happen.
Doug DeMille, the show’s Executive Producer, strolls over to me, and gives me a man-pat on my back.
“Great work, Brand-O.”
I take a glug of the water and say thanks.