Hollywood House Call

Two



Callie’s hands were literally shaking. Was this really happening? Was the door of opportunity finally opening for her? Granted she’d been in L.A. a little less than a year and most people took much longer, if ever, to get the audition that would launch their careers.

But Callie had not only gotten the audition nearly two weeks ago, she’d completely nailed it. And her agent had just called to inform her she’d landed the part. It wasn’t huge, but she had lines and three scenes with the lead actors. Now she just had to prove herself, make that role shine and wait for other opportunities to come her way.

She squeezed her steering wheel and let out a squeal as she drove toward Noah’s office. She couldn’t get there fast enough to tell him the good news. Today was her half day to work, so Marie would be there, too, to share in her good news.

This was it. She was finally going to put the old Callie to rest and have everything she’d ever wanted. She’d landed the part; next she would pose for some pictures for Noah and get the money to help her parents in a major way. God, they’d be so happy for a little more security in their lives, and she couldn’t wait to be the one to give it to them.

Her whole life she’d been overshadowed by her siblings—her übersmart brother, who was about to graduate college after attending on a full academic scholarship, and her homecoming-queen sister. Callie had been the average middle child. Because she hadn’t excelled at sports, academics or popularity, she was most often forgotten. Well, no more being overlooked…by anybody.

Callie knew she looked like a complete moron driving down the road with a wide grin on her face, but she didn’t care. For an overweight girl who’d come out of Kansas with big dreams, she’d finally gotten the break of a lifetime.

All her college years of hard work, dieting and exercising before coming to L.A. had paid off. Her goal of becoming an actress was within her reach. That chubby teen in her mind could just shut up because that naive girl with low self-esteem didn’t exist anymore.

Callie shoved aside the humiliating years of her past and focused on the happiness she felt now. No way would she let those old insecurities and her school days of being bullied and made fun of come into play. This was her moment to remember, her moment to shine in the glorious fact that she was going to be in the next Anthony Price movie.

Callie pulled up close to the office and barely got her old Honda in park before she was out and racing across the parking lot. Thankfully it was almost lunchtime and the last of the clients should be finishing up before the office was closed for an hour break.

When she entered the cool, air-conditioned building, Marie, the fill-in receptionist, greeted her.

“Hey, Callie,” the elderly woman greeted, a smile beaming across her surgically smooth face. “Someone looks very happy today.”

Callie couldn’t hide her excitement. “I got the part,” she all but yelled. “I can’t believe it. I got it.”

Marie jumped up from her chair, came around the desk and threw her arms around Callie.

“I’m so excited for you,” Marie said as she squeezed her.

“You may not be excited when I have to quit once filming starts.” Callie eased back. “You’ll be swamped with extra hours.”

Marie laughed. “I’ll make sure he hires someone else, though no one could replace you.”

The compliment warmed Callie. “Is Noah wrapping up back there?”

Marie nodded. “Mrs. McDowell is getting her stitches out and then he’ll be all done. Go on back to his office, and I’ll make sure he knows you’re here.”

“Don’t tell him the news.” Callie shifted her bag higher on her shoulder. “I want it to be a surprise. Actually, don’t even tell him I’m here. You can just let him know someone is in his office.”

Marie giggled. “I like how you think. I’ll make sure he goes straight there.”

Callie turned to the right, toward Noah’s office and away from the patient rooms. She couldn’t wait to tell him, to share her excitement and accomplishment.

She went in and took a seat behind his desk in the big, oversize leather chair. Maybe it was not professional to get cozy at his desk, but she honestly didn’t think he’d mind. Easing her bag to the floor beside her, she crossed her legs and waited.

She’d tried to call her parents on her way here, but the phone had been disconnected…again. She couldn’t get that fifty thousand fast enough. She’d buy the new roof, a reliable new car and prepay some of their utilities for a few months.

With her father still laid off from the chemical plant and his unemployment long since run out, Callie’s mother was pulling double shifts at the local grocery store to make ends meet…and they weren’t meeting very well.

Guilt ate at Callie. How could she spend all the money she made on herself when her parents were facing such desperate times? She knew families all across the country were struggling, but it was hard to see the ones she loved fall on hard times.

Besides, she’d do something for herself with the money she made from the movie. God knew she could use a new car, as well. Her poor Honda needed to be laid to rest years ago. She couldn’t wait to go car shopping. To find something that really said I’ve arrived.

Before her thoughts turned too shallow and she could imagine the color of the car she’d look best in, Noah stood in his doorway. She didn’t give him an opportunity to speak before she jumped from the chair and screamed, “I got the part!”

Noah froze for a moment as if to process her words, then he crossed the room and she suddenly found herself coming out from behind the desk, meeting him halfway and being enveloped in a strong, masculine hold.

Oh. My. God.

Had she known he felt this good, this…hard all over, she would’ve insisted on good-morning hugs every day he came into the office—a much better pick-me-up than coffee. When you could feel a man’s rippled muscles beneath his clothing, you knew there was some mighty fine workmanship beneath that cotton.

Noah eased back, keeping a firm grip on her bare biceps. “You seem really happy.”

“I’ve never been happier,” she told him, the thrill of her phone call still running through her.

“Then I’m excited for you,” he said, letting his hands fall away.

“I feel like celebrating.”

He laughed. “Don’t celebrate too much and forget the photo shoot in the morning.”

Callie smiled. “I know when it is. I’ll be there.”

Noah studied her face, and Callie refused to look away. When a man like Noah Foster held your gaze, you didn’t want to focus your attention on anything else.

“What do you say to dinner to celebrate?” he asked suddenly.

“Dinner?”

Noah’s rich laughter washed over her…and she was still tingling from his touch. “Callie, I understand what it’s like not to have your family here. Someone needs to share this time with you.”

Callie recalled him saying some time back that his family lived in Northern California. Other than that, the topic had been off the table, so she’d assumed that meant for her not to ask any questions about them. But that didn’t stop the questions from whirling around in her mind.

“When should we go?” Callie asked, knowing there was no way she would turn down personal time with Noah.

“How about after work?” he suggested, sliding out of his white lab jacket and hanging it on the back of his office door. “Our afternoon is light. We may even get out early.”

Callie glanced down at her clothes. While she might look fine, she’d want to freshen up.

“You could leave your car here,” he continued. “I’ll drive.”

Callie wasn’t going to turn that offer down. This might not be a date, but it was as close as she would get to dating her hunky boss—though she wasn’t under any delusions that Noah would fall for her type. Though so far, from what she could tell, he didn’t have any particular type. So why hadn’t he ever asked her out?

Oh, yeah. She worked for him.

So what? This was L.A. Did a code of ethics really matter in a land full of sin and silicone? Either something else held him back or he simply wasn’t attracted to her. Either way, she had her work cut out for her if she wanted to pursue anything beyond a professional relationship with him. Granted, she had her sights set on her career, but she could so carve some time out of her day for scenery like Noah Foster. And she knew he wasn’t a long-term type of guy, so really, what could the harm be in getting to know each other on a personal level?

“Where will we go?” she asked, following him out of his office and down the hall toward the break room.

He threw a killer smile over his shoulder. “You pick. It’s your night, Callie.”

She mulled it over, thinking of where she’d always wanted to go but never could justify going alone or paying such high prices. This milestone really deserved to be done up right.

Then she remembered the one place she’d always wanted to go but never got a chance.

She offered a wide grin. “Oh, I have the perfect place in mind.”

* * *

Of all the restaurants Callie could’ve picked in L.A., Noah couldn’t believe she’d chosen this one. A pizza place with games that spit out tickets so you could pick out prizes at the end. On a Friday night this place was crazy with kids running amok, screaming, laughing and waving their generic prizes in the air.

And Callie seemed to be fitting right in.

This was not what he’d envisioned when he’d told her to choose a place. But she’d laughed as she’d smacked the mole heads that kept popping up through holes, and she’d been a major sharpshooter at the “shooting range.” Now she was off to a driving game while he stood fisting a wad of bright yellow tickets.

Bright yellow. If Callie Matthews was a color, she’d be yellow. The woman was always happy, always bubbly and never failed to take him by surprise.

And he hadn’t necessarily lied when he’d told her he was happy for her. Seeing her beaming from ear to ear had stirred something in him. While he still wasn’t thrilled at the possibility of her innocence being shattered, he couldn’t let her celebrate alone.

Her sweet naïveté was getting to him. And she had no idea the power she was holding over him.

His cell vibrated in his pocket and he slid it out, smiling when he saw the number.

“So you are alive,” he said in place of a traditional hello.

“Kiss ass.”

Noah laughed at his best friend and Hollywood heartthrob, Max Ford. “When a whole week goes by and I know you’re not filming, I have to assume you’re either dead or getting some serious action. Glad to know you’re still with us.”

“Oh, I’m alive,” Max assured him. “Where are you? It sounds like you’re at a kid’s birthday party.”

Noah glanced around the open room where kids ran from game to game, parents chasing to keep up with the chaos. His gaze circled back to Callie and he watched her steering intensely at the racing game.

“You wouldn’t believe me if I told you.”

“You’re moonlighting as a clown for kids’ parties, aren’t you?” Max joked. “I’m not sure the ladies will go for the Bozo wig, pal.”

Noah laughed. “Did you call to annoy me or do you have a point?”

“I wanted to know if you were free tomorrow. Haven’t seen you for a while. Thought we could get together.”

Callie jumped from her racing chair and grinned like a kid as the machine spit out another row of bright yellow tickets. Her enthusiasm was contagious, and he found himself standing in the middle of the room with a silly grin on his face. When was the last time he truly grinned because he wanted to and not because he felt forced to please his current company?

“Actually, tomorrow is the photo shoot for the ads for my new office,” Noah told him. “But I should be free in the evening if all goes as planned.”

“I thought you were still looking for a model.”

When Callie turned and caught his eye, he motioned that he was stepping outside. She nodded and moved on to another game.

“Callie is doing it for me,” Noah said, walking toward the door to move farther away from the noise.

“Callie Matthews? Damn, she’s hot. How did you manage that? Has she done modeling before?”

Once outside, Noah took a seat on the bench next to the door. “No, but I’m trying to watch out for her. She’s got stars in her eyes, man. And she just got a pretty good-size role in a new Anthony Price film.”

“Noah, you can’t save everybody,” Max told him with a sigh. “You’ve got to let go of the past.”

“Easier said than done.”

“Had any more offers on the house?” Max asked.

“Just the two.”

“Which you turned down?”

Noah rubbed a hand over his head and glanced through the door to see Callie smiling while tackling another game. “Yes. I turned them down.”

“And you’re still going to see Thelma every day?”

Noah’s chest tightened. “I’m all she has.”

“She’s not even your family, Noah. You have to let go. I understand she’s Malinda’s grandmother, but you’ve been paying her assisted-living bills for a year now. She has Alzheimer’s. She won’t know if you don’t show up. You’ve got to bury the past.”

He sighed. “I’ll bury it when it’s time.”

“Good,” his friend said. “You can start by asking Callie out on a date. She’d be perfect.”

“I’m not asking her out,” Noah replied. At least, he wouldn’t ask her on a real date.

“Great. Then you won’t mind if—”

“Yes, I would mind.” Noah cut him off. “You’ve got enough on your plate without adding Callie to the mix.”

Max’s laughter nearly vibrated Noah’s phone. “You can’t keep dibs on her and not do anything about it. You’re both adults. If you want to go beyond business and get personal, what’s stopping you?”

“She’s the best receptionist I’ve ever had. I’d like to keep her for a while.”

“She’ll probably be leaving when she starts acting, anyway, so why not just go for it now instead of torturing yourself?” Max asked. “You know you’ve thought about it.”

Thought about it, fantasized about it. Had taken the proverbial cold showers to prove it.

Noah came to his feet, glancing inside at Callie, who was looking toward the doors, probably looking for him.

“Listen, I need to go,” Noah said. “I’ll call you tomorrow and let you know what time I’ll be free.”

After sliding the phone into his pocket, he went back inside. Callie’s smile across the crowded room did something funny to his chest…something he’d rather not explore.

“I’m ready to cash in my winnings,” she told him, holding up her tickets. “I’ve got a hundred here and I think I gave you a hundred. Let’s go see what I can get.”

Noah followed her as he pulled her tickets from his pocket. He still couldn’t believe this was her idea of celebrating. She certainly wasn’t like all the other women he knew. Their idea of celebrating would be to head to the most expensive restaurant and try to get into his bed afterward…not that he ever complained about those nights.

But Callie was different—a fact he’d known from the first day of working with her. She was like a breath of fresh air. He never knew what to expect from her, but he knew it would be something great.

After she chose her prizes—a hideous monkey with tie-dyed fur and a flower-shaped eraser—he escorted her to the car and drove back to his office. Even though she was fairly silent during the ride, she was beaming from ear to ear.

“You had a good time.”

It wasn’t a question, more like an observation.

“A blast,” she told him. “I’d always wanted to go to a place like that as a kid.”

He threw her a glance as he pulled up beside her car. “Why didn’t you?”

Callie’s smile faltered, and she toyed with the ear on the monkey. “I didn’t have a very pleasant childhood. And that’s the best way I can put it.”

Noah put the car in Park and turned to face her. “I’m sorry, Callie. I didn’t mean to pry. You’ve worked for me for a while now and I don’t know much about your life before you came here.”

She attempted a smile, but her sad gaze met his. “I’d rather focus on my life here than back home.”

Wherever she came from, whatever she experienced must be painful because the L.A. Callie was a bright, bubbly woman who didn’t care to let everyone see how positive she was about life.

“I can’t thank you enough for everything, Noah.” She reached out, placed a hand on his forearm. “You don’t know how much I value our friendship. At least, I like to think we’re friends.”

“We are,” he said, cursing his voice when it cracked like some damn adolescent.

Her dainty, warm hand on his arm really shouldn’t turn him on, but he’d been intrigued by her for a while now.

“Good,” she said, smiling wider. “It’s nice to know I have people I can count on.”

She leaned over and gave him an innocent, simple peck on his cheek, but as she pulled back, her face remained within a breath of his and she locked eyes with him again. He froze and was surprised when she placed a softer kiss on his lips, hesitating as if waiting for approval.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered. “Was that unprofessional?”

“Not as much as this.”

He cupped the side of her face and claimed her lips.