Read Online Behind the Film Star's Smile by Kate Hardy - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Kate Hardy
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walks.’
Baloo gave a soft woof, and he bent to stroke her head. ‘I didn’t mean now, you daft hound. She knows the W-word,’ he told Jess ruefully. ‘I can help out a bit, but not enough—not when I have full days shooting on set. And I can’t pull out of the film this morning, not when they start shooting this afternoon. It wouldn’t be fair to the team and I can’t expect someone else to come in at ridiculously short notice and learn the part.’ He shook his head. ‘It just wouldn’t be fair on anyone. A lot of people are relying on me. I can’t let them down. But I can’t let my aunt down, either.’ He looked at her. ‘Jess, I really need your help, and I’ll understand if you can’t do it, but if you could help me look after Baloo until Monica’s properly back on her feet...’
*
Look after Baloo. With Luke. Spend time with both of them. Get close to them.
No. Jess knew that she should walk away, right now. That would be the sensible course of action. Walk away and don’t get involved.
But she had a nasty feeling that it was already too late. She’d already started bonding with the dog. And she couldn’t even begin to let herself think about what was happening with Luke himself. How she’d been looking forward so much to the mornings at work because it meant spending time with him as well as with Baloo.
She was an idiot. She should know better than this. Getting involved would be a bad, bad, bad idea. Especially with someone who was so very much in the public eye—someone who was way out of her league.
But Baloo was looking at her with pleading brown eyes. Luke was looking at her in exactly the same way. And she was pretty sure that this was genuine, not just an actor excelling in a role.
They needed help.
From her.
Could she be mean-spirited enough to say no? Especially as working with Baloo had helped her to focus, move on to the point where she was able to think about maybe going back to her old career, albeit in a civil role rather than with the police force?
Jess took a deep breath. ‘OK. I’ll do it.’
Luke wrapped his arms round her and held her close. ‘You’re a lifesaver. Thank you so much.’
*
It was the first time in more than a year that a man had held Jess tightly like this, as if she were the most precious and most important thing in the world. The first time since Matt had been shot. Part of Jess wanted to bawl her eyes out, remembering how much she’d lost. Part of her wanted to hug Luke back. And a really crazy part of her wanted to tip her head back in invitation for a kiss.
Oh, help.
This was unfair to both of them. Luke had made it clear that he wasn’t interested in a relationship, and neither was Jess. This had to stop right now. She needed to be sensible. Yes, the man was drop-dead gorgeous, but she was just being star-struck. This was a reaction to stage presence or whatever it was that actors had.
‘You’re going to be late for work,’ she said.
‘I guess.’ He pulled away and took a step back. And there was a slash of colour across his cheekbones that she’d never seen before.
Oh.
So did he feel this weird pull of attraction, too? She’d guess that he didn’t particularly want to feel that way, either.
But they were both far from being teenagers. So they could deal with this like the adults they were. Couldn’t they?
‘I’ll see you later,’ she said.
He nodded. ‘I’ll call you when we break for lunch. And thank you, Jess. I really do appreciate this.’
‘No problem,’ she said. ‘Come on, Baloo. We’re going to the office. Walkies.’
The dog perked up and wagged her tail. ‘See you later, Luke,’ Jess said, clipped Baloo’s leash onto her collar, and headed for the production office.
*
Normally, Luke loved his job. He liked the script for this film, he liked the director, and he liked most of his co-stars—Mimi, admittedly, he could do without, but he’d put up with her for the sake of the film.
But today he
Baloo gave a soft woof, and he bent to stroke her head. ‘I didn’t mean now, you daft hound. She knows the W-word,’ he told Jess ruefully. ‘I can help out a bit, but not enough—not when I have full days shooting on set. And I can’t pull out of the film this morning, not when they start shooting this afternoon. It wouldn’t be fair to the team and I can’t expect someone else to come in at ridiculously short notice and learn the part.’ He shook his head. ‘It just wouldn’t be fair on anyone. A lot of people are relying on me. I can’t let them down. But I can’t let my aunt down, either.’ He looked at her. ‘Jess, I really need your help, and I’ll understand if you can’t do it, but if you could help me look after Baloo until Monica’s properly back on her feet...’
*
Look after Baloo. With Luke. Spend time with both of them. Get close to them.
No. Jess knew that she should walk away, right now. That would be the sensible course of action. Walk away and don’t get involved.
But she had a nasty feeling that it was already too late. She’d already started bonding with the dog. And she couldn’t even begin to let herself think about what was happening with Luke himself. How she’d been looking forward so much to the mornings at work because it meant spending time with him as well as with Baloo.
She was an idiot. She should know better than this. Getting involved would be a bad, bad, bad idea. Especially with someone who was so very much in the public eye—someone who was way out of her league.
But Baloo was looking at her with pleading brown eyes. Luke was looking at her in exactly the same way. And she was pretty sure that this was genuine, not just an actor excelling in a role.
They needed help.
From her.
Could she be mean-spirited enough to say no? Especially as working with Baloo had helped her to focus, move on to the point where she was able to think about maybe going back to her old career, albeit in a civil role rather than with the police force?
Jess took a deep breath. ‘OK. I’ll do it.’
Luke wrapped his arms round her and held her close. ‘You’re a lifesaver. Thank you so much.’
*
It was the first time in more than a year that a man had held Jess tightly like this, as if she were the most precious and most important thing in the world. The first time since Matt had been shot. Part of Jess wanted to bawl her eyes out, remembering how much she’d lost. Part of her wanted to hug Luke back. And a really crazy part of her wanted to tip her head back in invitation for a kiss.
Oh, help.
This was unfair to both of them. Luke had made it clear that he wasn’t interested in a relationship, and neither was Jess. This had to stop right now. She needed to be sensible. Yes, the man was drop-dead gorgeous, but she was just being star-struck. This was a reaction to stage presence or whatever it was that actors had.
‘You’re going to be late for work,’ she said.
‘I guess.’ He pulled away and took a step back. And there was a slash of colour across his cheekbones that she’d never seen before.
Oh.
So did he feel this weird pull of attraction, too? She’d guess that he didn’t particularly want to feel that way, either.
But they were both far from being teenagers. So they could deal with this like the adults they were. Couldn’t they?
‘I’ll see you later,’ she said.
He nodded. ‘I’ll call you when we break for lunch. And thank you, Jess. I really do appreciate this.’
‘No problem,’ she said. ‘Come on, Baloo. We’re going to the office. Walkies.’
The dog perked up and wagged her tail. ‘See you later, Luke,’ Jess said, clipped Baloo’s leash onto her collar, and headed for the production office.
*
Normally, Luke loved his job. He liked the script for this film, he liked the director, and he liked most of his co-stars—Mimi, admittedly, he could do without, but he’d put up with her for the sake of the film.
But today he
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