Celebrity 1 - Wrong Number, Right Guy (2 page)

Dar unlocked his front door after another long day at work. He dropped the handful of mail on the hallway console, the flickering light of his voice mail catching his attention.

For a moment his heart rate kicked up a notch and he thought for yet another time, I wonder if it’s Ryan.
Of course it wouldn’t be.
Dar
had called
Ryan
, not the other way around. Unless Ryan’s phone had a caller feature on it, he wasn’t likely to know
how
to contact Dar—assuming he wanted to. Still, Dar had entertained the possibility for two full days before deciding that either Ryan did have the feature and had chosen not to call him back, or he didn’t have it and he
couldn’t
call Dar back.
Dar’s ego went with door number two.
And yet…and yet, here he was staring overlong at the blinking light as though it were sending out the caller’s identity in Morse code. It wasn’t Ryan. It couldn’t be Ryan. It wouldn’t be Ryan.
Dar’s pulse eased, replaced with mild disappointment. God, how he hated crushes. He always got way over stimulated when he developed a new crush. This time he hadn’t even had the benefit of meeting the guy and he was already wishing he would call.
“Desperate. You are so fucking desperate.” He shook his head, and hit the playback button.
Brett’s welcome voice filled the short hallway. Dar smiled while Brett regaled the voice messenger with his latest follies. Mostly about his current mission to be an extra on a local movie shoot and the good-looking craft caterer serving coffee.
“Slut,” he accused Brett’s recorded voice.
The message ended. The tone sounded and the light remained steady.
I knew he wouldn’t call.
Dar spread out his mail, looking at all the senders and giving the phone a few more minutes to ring. Finally, he pulled off his tie and headed for the kitchen.
A soft mewling cry brought him to a stop at the small food and water dish. Huge green eyes set in a small impish face looked up at him from a gray puffball of purring fur. “Hey, DB, you hungry?”
DB mewed high, but soft.
“I’m serving tuna tonight. I know, I know, I’m going all out again. Water-packed, not oil-packed. This time, the crackers are all mine, though.”
DB’s meow drew out and lifted plaintively.
“Okay, but just one.”

Ryan flopped backward onto his bed. If he had to listen to Selene bitch about one more thing, he’d fucking buy her a ticket back to Beverly Hills. How could she possibly expect her personal assistant to add bubbles to her carbonated water? And who the hell insisted that her room only be decked out in hot pink? It was actors like her that gave them all a bad name.

Dar wouldn’t have thrown a glass of water across a room. He was too pleasant.
Ryan turned his head to the side, looking at the phone.
Should I call? Would that be weird?
There’d be no way to hide the fact that he’d copied the number down after talking to him the other day. Was that too needy?
Ryan caught his bottom lip in his teeth. He rolled up on his side. It had been four days. The weekend was coming after one more day of shooting. Maybe if things went well, they could meet up for drinks or something.
No. He didn’t even have to finish that thought. There wasn’t a chance that would happen. Ryan knew better than to risk a paparazzi fest like that one. Dar’s name, printed on the pad of paper, seemed to glow in the lamp light.
He flexed his fingers nervously. He probably wouldn’t even pick up, Ryan decided. He snatched the phone and hurriedly dialed.
“Dar speaking.”
At the sound of his voice, Ryan’s own froze.
“Hello?”
“Hi. It’s Ryan,” he said when he could finally force his throat to work. Man, he didn’t remember ever feeling this stupid. It was like grade school when you went over to a kid and asked him if he’d like to be your new best friend. It was the same clammy handed, chest-tightening sensation of anxiety that someone would know you and reject you out of hand.
Fame insured people liked him. Dar didn’t know Ryan was famous. The onus of likability lay completely on Ryan’s personality. Ugh.
“Ryan?”
“From the other night.”
Great. I’m not even memorable
.
“Oh, right. Ryan Fenmore, the not famous guy I wrongly called.” Dar laughed lightly on the other end.
Ryan smiled into the receiver. Whatever it was that made this guy so happy, Ryan wanted a piece of it. “Yeah, that’s the one. I hope you don’t mind. I have caller ID and I kept your number.”
“You hung up on me last time. I’m kind of surprised you’d
want
to keep my number.”
“Sorry about that. I’m not real good with…”
With what? People? Jacking off on the phone? Talking to people who have a knack for knowing my secrets?
“Phones?” Dar supplied, amusement ringing in his voice.
Ryan sighed. “Yeah. Damn fuckers are confusing.”
Dar laughed loudly. Ryan joined in, feeling suddenly lighter.
“Well, I’m glad you figured it out to call me back,” Dar said gently.
“You are?”
“I liked talking to you. To be honest, I was kind of hoping you’d call sooner,” Dar confessed.
“You were?” Ryan asked incredulously.
“I was.”
“So is this a good time?” Hope stacked higher in his chest. He breathed easier. Dar wanted to talk to him, too. Ryan felt like a kid on a first date—excited and awkward.
“Hang on. Let me just get comfortable. Gotta plump up these pillows,” Dar said.
Ryan felt hot all over. Dar was lying in bed, too, talking to him, his words drifting unobstructed into Ryan’s ear. Ryan rearranged himself on his bed, pushing pillows under his head and shoulders.
“You know that movie that’s supposed to film on Main Street?”
“Yeah,” Ryan hedged.
“Brett has been trying to get in as an extra and talked me into going down there at lunch today.”
Ryan’s stomach flipped. He’d been down there preparing for the scene where the bank windows are blown out. He’d seen the throngs of extras hoping for their shot at fame. Which one had been Dar?
“I take it from your tone that you didn’t get in,” Ryan concluded.
“No, but Brett’s pretty determined. He thinks if he gets to meet Ryan Pierce, that Ryan will fall in love with him and ask him to move to Hollywood. He’s going back downtown tomorrow.”
Ryan licked his lips, knowing he’d say the words and probably regret them later. “Tell him I’ll make sure he gets in if he presents his ID to the casting director.”
Dar laughed. “Ha, ha. You think you can arrange something like that, do you?”
“I’m serious. Remember, I told you I did some PR type stuff. One of the, uh…” Ryan worked for a reasonably vague description of his actual attachment to the movie set. “…projects I’m working on has to do with the movie they’re filming.”
“Serious?”
“Yeah,” Ryan said, chuckling at the amazement in Dar’s voice. “I’ll get him in on one condition.”
“Oh, my God! Brett is so going to owe me for this one! What’s the condition? I’d do just about anything to have one up on him.”
“You have to come, too. Present your ID and get in as an extra on the movie,” Ryan finished.
“Why? It’s Brett’s thing, not mine,” Dar pointed out.
“Because…” Ryan relaxed into a full laugh. “You have to live a little. I’ll get him in, as long as you come along and also join the extras casting.”
Dar groaned.
“You’re welcome.”
“I have work!”
“So do I, and we need extras. You’re a likable guy. Why wouldn’t I recommend someone who is easy to work with?” Ryan thought that sounded like a plausible explanation. Truthfully, he just wanted to lay eyes on the man. Then he’d have him in mind the next time they talked.
“Fine. I’ll take the day off and show up for casting.”
“Excellent,” Ryan proclaimed. Anticipation fluttered in his belly. It had been a long time since he’d been this excited to see someone.
“Will Ryan Pierce be on the set?” Dar asked.
“Yes. He’s shooting tomorrow.”
“Can we meet him?”
Ryan thought about it for a second. It would guarantee that he’d see Dar. Would Dar know it was him when they met?
“Just for a hello?” Dar pressed.
“Yeah. I’ll arrange it.”
“Holy shit! I can’t believe I’m going to meet Ryan Pierce tomorrow. Geez! I bet he’s even hotter in person.”
Ryan shifted uncomfortably. He plucked his shirt at his belly, watching the cotton spring back to line his abs, over and over again.
“Will you be there, too?” Dar asked suddenly.
His fingers paused in mid-pluck, a smile tugged at his lips. “I’ll be there, but I’ll be too busy to stop and chat.”
“Even for an old friend?” Dar teased.
Ryan’s smile widened. “Old friend, huh? We’ve spoken exactly twice.”
“And already you’re introducing me to the movers and shakers as someone you trust. I think that qualifies.”
“Yeah, I guess it does,” Ryan mused softly.
“Meet me tomorrow.”
“I really can’t.”
“Please meet me tomorrow,” Dar pushed.
“I’ll see your headshot for sure, but I really can’t get away. The movie waits for no one,” Ryan insisted gently.
“Then you’ll have the advantage. What if you leave a headshot for me with the casting director?”
Ryan laughed. “I don’t think so.”
“Chicken.”
“Maybe a little.”
“Maybe a lot,” Dar corrected, chuckling.
“Fine. I’m chicken.”
“Are you worried that you won’t measure up?” Dar asked.
Ryan felt his face heat.
“You shouldn’t. I may not have met you yet, but I could definitely see us hanging out together,” Dar assured him.
“I genuinely am busy tomorrow. I won’t be able to break away. That’s it,” Ryan insisted.
“Then meet me Saturday.”
“What?” Ryan asked suddenly alarmed.
“Bring your hot smoky voice to Café Wetzel on Saturday at ten sharp. You’ll know what I look like since you’re going to be checking out my headshot tomorrow.”
“I can’t just show up downtown.” Was Dar insane? He’d take one step and get swarmed.
“Why not?”
“Look, I’ll meet you Saturday. Do you know where Marquette Court is off of Jade?” Ryan asked.
“Yes.”
“Come to the Gingerbread Inn and I’ll meet you there at ten. Sharp,” he said, using Dar’s words.
“Which cabin are you in?”
“Who said I was in a cabin there?”
Dar snorted. “You work in PR for a movie set in a small town. My guess is you aren’t from here, so the fact that you know crossroads and tiny, nothing side streets tells me you’re over there at the cabins.”
“Fine. I’m at the cabins,” Ryan admitted.
“Good, honesty is an excellent start in a relationship,” Dar said approvingly.
“Are we
in
a relationship?”
“Don’t get hung up on it,” Dar teased.
Ryan resumed plucking his shirt, settling in to the warm tones of Dar’s voice, wishing they could talk like this all night in half flirtations and easy banter. He smoothed his palm over the warm cotton, wondering what he’d find tomorrow when he saw Dar for the first time. Would the voice match the man? Would Dar be disappointed in meeting him, the actor, and even less pleased when he realized it was the same person on Saturday?
Idealizing a meet with a celebrity and the actual thing could be a huge disparity.
Ryan just hoped that he wasn’t taking too much of a risk meeting Dar. At least he would have a day to size up the risk before talking one on one. Part of him warned that it was a bad idea. The other part couldn’t wait.
“You like my smoky voice, huh?” Ryan asked after an easy silence.
“You have a
great
voice,” Dar acknowledged.
“So do you. And you laugh a lot. What makes you so happy, Dar?”
“I’m a simple guy. It doesn’t take much. Today the sun was shining, I walked into the office to the smell of hot cinnamon buns, and a client renewed their contract with me because they like my work.”
Ryan could almost sense the half-hearted shrug that seemed to come through in Dar’s words.
“And then I got this call from a guy I don’t know, but would really like to,” Dar finished quietly.
Ryan grinned, giddily, fully. “Aw.”
“Are you in town long?”
“Another week or so, maybe,” Ryan answered.
“Will you call me after you go?”
“If you want me to.”
“Yeah, I’m going to want you to,” Dar admitted. “Will you let me call you?”
“Let’s see how Saturday goes.” It was hard not to get his hopes up, but Ryan was practically choking on the thrill. It felt like a tight knot in his throat.
“On Saturday, when we meet, are you still going to pretend you aren’t gay?”
Ryan chuckled. “Good night, Dar. It was good talking to you again.”
“Sweet dreams, Ryan.”

Dar settled back onto his pillows, staring up at the ceiling with a silly grin on his face. “He called. I can’t believe he finally called.” He whooped, then dialed Brett’s number. “He is so gonna owe me!”

“Hey, you’re coming with me tomorrow, right?” Brett asked the minute he picked up the receiver.
“Hell, yeah. I’m not only going with you, but we’re both getting picked,” Dar promised.
“That’s the spirit.”
“No seriously, that guy I called a few nights ago, called back. He’s
working
on the set and he’s going to make sure we get a walk-on bit.”
“No fucking way!” Brett yelled. “You must be an amazing lay.”
“I am, but I still haven’t met this guy so he wouldn’t know that.” Dar smiled. “When you got the goods, it just oozes over the phone line. Too bad you never hooked up with
this
.”
“You were always too good for me,” Brett chimed in.
“You got that right. I haven’t even told you the best part yet. Listen, I’m calling off work tomorrow and we’re going downtown. The guy I called is going to get us in to meet Ryan Pierce.”
“Oh, my God! Oh, my God! What am I going to wear? Should I wear my black slacks? They make my ass look amazing. I could wear the blue oxford. Eric said it made my eyes look really blue. Oh fuck! What if I’m so nervous I crap myself?”
Dar laughed, his eyes watering. “You are such a girl.”
“Fuck you. We’re going to meet
Ryan-fucking-Pierce
! He’s going to fall in love with me tomorrow.”
Ryan Pierce was hot. There was no denying the slim-lined build of leanly corded muscle could make a man drool. His longish ebony hair waved to his shoulders in gleaming strands. His black slashing brows over deep chocolate eyes and the always slightly rough-shaved jaw looked like he’d just rolled over from a mass of tangled sheets. Bedroom eyes, and slow, brilliant smile with a single dimple and always, always, there’d be a scene where he loped indolently without a shirt, his jeans barely clinging to lean hips.
Some woman would sigh all over him on the screen. He’d smile that smile. She’d stomp her tiny little female foot and Ryan Pierce would deliver his sensitive lines with puppy-dog eyes and hungry wolf grin until she melted all over him with her girl lips and girl boobs. It was completely indecent.
Dar definitely wanted to meet the silver screen Adonis. More than that, he hoped he’d notice another man craning to see Dar. Then he’d know
that
man was Ryan Fenmore. The silver tongued tease on the phone.
That
man could run that silver tongued-ness all over Dar’s willing body and Dar would keep his closeted secret as long as he was asked to.
“You can have him,” Dar offered. “I have my eye on someone else.”
“I’m glad you’re giving up without a fight. It’s good to know your limits, my friend. You wouldn’t have stood a chance anyway.”
“Go get your beauty sleep. You know how your eyes get puffy when you stay up.”
Brett squawked indignantly on the other end. Dar laughed as he hung up. Whatever his Ryan was doing now, he hoped it involved thoughts of Dar doing naughty things to him.