Falling Stars (Starstruck Series Book 2) (3 page)

“Surprise!”

Alisa blinked, taking it all in. “I can’t…what…”

Logan set the items he had in hand on the chest at the foot of the bed before taking a few steps to reach her.  He brought a finger to her lips then quickly replaced his finger with his lips, kissing her tenderly.  Logan was gentle with his embrace, and she could feel the body he flexed slightly when he pulled her close.  She pulled away and rested her forehead against his chin.  The way he smelled.  It was so amazing, and definitely invigorating.

Wow,
she thought.  She had missed him.

“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you I was coming home.”  His whisper sent a chill through her, head to toe.  

Alisa panicked.  She had been worried all day, worried she had pissed him off because she missed his check-in while she was at Cora’s. “I’m sorry I didn’t call you last night. I was out with Ray and the gang, and we were at--”

“Shh…” He shook his head.  Logan smiled slightly.  “It’s okay, baby. I was concerned is all, but you’re here and you’re more beautiful than I remember.  I hope you like what I did.”

“I missed you so much,” She breathed out, pressing her forehead against his.  Alisa took note of everything, tears escaping her eyes.  The rose petals on the floor, the champagne and bouquet on the bed, the candles… everything was perfect.  The only thing she truly cared about right then was Logan himself.

“I missed you too.” Logan brushed away her tears with his thumbs, and then pulled her in for a kiss.  She was lifted into his arms and placed carefully back onto the mattress.  After four miserable months, tonight, she was not alone in their bed.

***

The sun started peering through the sheer curtains.  Alisa was lying on her side, facing her husband’s back as he slept.  Physically, she was exhausted, having made up for their four month separation the night before, but her mind was wide awake.  She was breathing it all in, still unsure that having him in their bed was reality.  The muscles in his back were relaxed but even then she could see how he had changed.  Reaching out, she traced the bare skin on his back with her fingertips.  

He awoke with a shudder, rolling over.

Biting her lip, she looked at him with wide eyes.  “Oops.”

“Morning.”  Logan chuckled, wrapping her in his large arms with ease.

“I know this might sound really cheesy, babe … but have you been working out? I know it’s been four months …”

He smiled, “The movie called for it.  They had me on a super strict diet and exercise plan while I was there.  It was awful but worth it, I guess.  Glad that’s over, but they want me to maintain for the duration of the film.”

“Believe me, I’m not complaining.” Alisa pressed her lips against his shoulder and trailed kisses up to his cheek.  His body felt a lot more solid than she remembered, and his shoulder tensed as she braced herself against him. “Hmm …”

He scrunched his face, “What?  You don’t like?”

“Oh, don’t get me wrong, they’re nice. Just … different.”

Logan smiled and held her for a moment before kissing her forehead.  “Wow, did I miss this.”

“Me too,” Alisa replied after a beat.  “Christian didn’t do it for you?”

Logan laughed aloud, “No, can’t say that he did.  Despite what he thinks, Christian is not as beautiful as you are, babe.”

Seeing his smile in person was a million times better than his image on a phone, tablet or computer screen.

He stretched out and pulled her even closer.  “Please tell me you have a free day today.”

She nestled her head into his chest.  Mentally sifting through her plans, she was relieved to come back with: “Nothing.  Absolutely nothing.”

“Really? No casting today or meetings or writing sessions where you disappear for hours at a time?”

“Those can wait.”

Her phone vibrated on the nightstand.

“
Can
they though?”

Alisa rolled towards Logan, in the opposite direction of her phone.

“Shouldn’t you get that?”

“No, it’s fine.”

“You should probably answer it, Lis.” Logan said again, attempting to grab her phone.

“No.” She wrestled him as he tried to reach for it, and before she knew it, he had answered the video call in one quick swipe.

“Well hello there.”  It was Ray.  

Alisa quickly buried herself under the linens, pulling the comforter over her head.  “Oh my God!” She swatted Logan’s bare chest from under the sheet.

His rock hard abs deflected it as he flexed.

“Good morning.”  

“Well, you’re not the … face I expected.”

Alisa reached up, took the phone from Logan, and tapped the “call only” button on the side.  She pulled the device to her ear and brought herself to sit at the edge of the bed.  “Enough with the drooling over my husband, Ray.  What’s up?”

The other end of the bed shifted, and Logan’s naked form walked in front of her.  It was a bit distracting.  He winked at her and disappeared into the master bathroom where she heard the shower faucets turn on. She snapped out of her trance.

“Well it’s no wonder you ignored my texts this morning.”

Alisa smiled, “Yes.  He flew in last night and was here to surprise me when I came home.”

He let out a yelp of excitement, “Well…?”

“I’ll let you fill in those details. I don’t spill.”

“Oh please, everyone knows the scene in
The Space Defender
was written purely from real-life experience.”

She blushed, “What?!”

Ray laughed, “Ha, well
now
I know.”

“Very funny! So why the video call, Ray?”

There was a break in the conversation, and she heard him moving a few things around   before he finally responded.

“So …”

“
So
?”

“Kassidy made her final decisions on the cast. I had all of your notes, so we went over them and picked the best candidate for each role. And now that Logan’s back in town, I’m sure things will be easier. No panicking that our director won’t be here to begin filming. I think you’re going to love who she chose!” Ray sounded too excited for Alisa to be sure.

“Come on… who did she choose?”

Ray cleared his throat: “For Harvey, we decided on Greg Arden.”

“The tall guy, kinda burly--”

“Wore the really tight v-neck to his audition?”

Alisa clicked her tongue. She figured that would be the one thing Ray remembered from Greg’s audition.  “Yes.”

“Mm-hmm.  Sven went to Jens Larson,”

“Naturally. He was the best.”

Ray agreed, “Sure was!  I think he’ll do great!”

“Theresa?”

It was obvious Ray was hesitant to announce this one, but he spit out Heather Hartford, making her cringe. “Nothing that some one-on-one time with Sofie won’t fix?”

Alisa groaned.  “I already pray for the girl.”

Sofie Alonzo was the coach Ron had hired to work with everyone from the show to get into character.  Sofie generally ran lines with an actor until they went crazy or they drove her crazy.  She was eccentric and forced the actor to engage in some rather strange activities to “become their character”.  The old director of
Family Insurance,
Roman, usually sent Sofie through to collect Dawn, Ray, Logan, and the others for “exercises”, but they rarely enjoyed it … unless Sofie offered to buy them coffee or  lunch during their sessions.

“Now Aaron. Uh …” Ray fell suddenly silent, though he could be heard moving on the other end, so she knew the call had not been disconnected.

“Ray…?”

“Yeah?”  He sounded nervous.

“Who did Kassidy pick for Aaron?”

He coughed. “Um …”

“Spill it.” She enunciated every syllable.

“The studio wasn’t sure if they’d allow him to because of the show run and everything that he has going
  
”

“Ray!”

“I mentioned to Kassidy that I’d seen him read with you, and he did exceptionally well.  Kassidy had a chat with Ron, and he said since Aaron would be up for at least half the season, we’d be able to borrow Evan for the show. As long as he can balance the preliminary work for your movie and our show, Ron said he’s ours!”  Ray spoke quickly, not taking a single breath. He knew if he did, she’d have time to protest.

Alisa fell back onto the bed, as the news slowly sunk in. After nearly a minute of saying absolutely nothing to Ray, Alisa found the word to sum up how incredibly stunned she was. “Oh…”

“Honey, please don’t hate me.’

“I
 
I don’t hate you, Ray.”

“Nuh-uh. Don’t tell me that. Talk to me, please.”

“I have to go.  I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“You’re not coming to the office today?”

“No. Hold all my appointments and calls. Please. Okay?  Love you.”

Ray barely got out his goodbye when the button to end the call was hit and the phone was tossed aside.  Alisa fell back onto the bed and let the air exit her lungs with a loud hiss.  She couldn’t believe this was happening.  
Evan is my director.  Evan is now our Aaron
.  Evan was going to be on the show she was using as an outlet outside of the movie …
Ugh.
 Just when she thought she could get away from him for a minute, she was going to be stuck with him on the set of both productions.

After a shower of her own, Alisa quietly sat on the couch with her laptop; Logan was across from her, catching up on sports scores.  It was exactly as she had pictured: he had a beer in hand as he watched the big screen, completely relaxed and enjoying himself. It was exactly what she missed while he was away.

“What do you feel like doing for lunch, sweetheart?”

Her mind must have drifted off to the show because she started to type Evan’s name in the book she was working on.  Alisa’s eyes widened.  Her eyes shifted helplessly between her husband and the computer screen, her only shield, as she repeatedly hit the delete button.

Logan caught her staring at him as she frantically clicked at the keyboard.  He chuckled. “Everything okay?”

She continued typing
actual
parts to her novel, slumping lower into the couch.

“Babe?”

Alisa didn’t want to look away from the screen even though he was standing before her.  She made a feeble attempt at remaining hidden.

“Hey,” He tapped her computer. “What’s going on?”

“Huh?” Alisa jumped.

“Babe,” Logan apologized as he grabbed the laptop from her and set it beside the beer that was now on the coffee table.  “For someone who had nothing to do today, and wanted to spend time with me, you sure are spending a lot of quality time with your computer.”

Alisa bowed her head.  “I’m sorry; there are … deadlines and … the book.”

Plopping down beside her, he folded his hands over his chest and looked over at her.  His legs stretched out to the coffee table, one leg crossed over the other, so casual.  “So what’s bothering you, baby?”

Alisa couldn’t answer.  She wouldn’t dare tell Logan about Evan, not now.

“Is this about who your date is going to be for the premiere?”

Well, that’s part of it.
She poked him in the side.  “I would hope my husband would be able to go with me, considering we worked on this one together.”

Logan rubbed his side with a grin and kissed the top of her head.  “Are you kidding?  I already have my suit all picked out, tailored and pressed. Should be here tomorrow.  Be proud of me.”

High-fiving him playfully, Alisa smiled.
The thought of him in a fresh designer suit…

“Ugh, I feel like it’s prom all over again.  I haven’t even looked at dresses yet.  I think I’ll just wear one from the
  
”

“No way! You should get a new dress.  Treat yourself.  When’s the last time you went out and got new clothes?”  Logan folded his arms and looked at her curiously.

It took her longer than five seconds to respond.  Truth be told, she hadn’t gotten any new clothes since before he left for London.

“Well, there was that hat … those shirts …”

“Excuse me, I bought those for you for Christmas, and that old Sox hat came in a care package from my mom.  Come on! Let’s go shopping, and I’ll buy you something nice.”  In one swipe, he pulled her onto his lap, and she straddled him comfortably.

“Noooo …” She buried her face in his shoulder.  “Don’t make me do it.”

“It’s my first day back, and I want to take my wife out dress shopping.  
Last minute
dress shopping.   Who doesn’t take that offer?”  He looked down at her, raising his eyebrows.  He had a good point.  

She whined softly.

Placing his lips to her ear, he whispered: “What do I have to do to convince you, then?”