Hollywood Player: Hollywood Name Game Book 3 Read online

“Then line ‘em up and sell tickets.”

  “You’re serious.”

  “I am. I’ve been unhappy for a while, and I’ve decided to do something about it.”

  Brenda gave her a crooked smile. “Good for you, Sydney. Good for you.” Her eyes misted over. “I’m going to miss you.”

  Sydney gave her a hug. “I’ll miss you, too.”

  “If you ever need another assistant, I’d be happy to follow you wherever. Especially if you decide to practice a more exciting kind of law.”

  Sydney kept a straight face. Brenda watched every crime drama on TV and was always talking about criminal cases that appeared in the Boston newspapers. If her assistant only knew just how different Sydney’s life was going to be. Still, Brenda was as sharp as anyone she’d known in law school and constantly thought out of the box. Maybe Sydney would reach a point where she might need an assistant.

  “I’ll keep you in mind, Brenda. Thanks for the offer.”

  The young woman gave her a smile. “Then I guess I’ll go start canceling appointments.”

  Sydney took a deep breath. One minor roadblock down. One major hurdle still ahead. She stepped into the corridor and saw Simon’s executive assistant at the coffeemaker as she passed the staff kitchen. That would make it easier to slip in with no one manning the desk outside Simon’s door. His assistant could be a real dragon, guarding Simon’s time.

  The managing partner’s door was open, which was unusual. Simon stood looking out his window, hands in his pockets, lost in thought.

  Sydney rapped on the door. “Hi, Simon. I need to speak to you.”

  He turned. “Sure, Sydney. Have a seat.”

  “It won’t take that long.” She closed the door for privacy, not knowing how he’d react to her next words.

  He cocked his head, waiting for her to speak.

  “I’m resigning, Simon. Effective today.” She paused when she didn’t get a reaction. “Did you hear me?”

  He crossed his arms. “I wondered why you didn’t want to sign a contract. I chalked it up to your recent divorce and moving to Boston. Not knowing if you’d want to stay or not. Are you getting back with your ex? Heading to Manhattan again?”

  Sydney laughed. “That’s the last thing I’d do. Actually, I’m leaving for the west coast. I have family there. I need . . . I need to go home.”

  Simon sighed. “You’ll be missed, Sydney. I’ve never seen anyone with your work ethic.”

  “I appreciate hearing that. You’ve been terrific to work for.” She pulled her badge from where it was clipped to her skirt’s waistband. “I won’t be needing this anymore. I do want to thank you for the opportunity you gave me. I wish the circumstances were different but I’ve decided I need a bigger change than I first thought.”

  He smiled. “If you ever choose to come back to Boston, this better be your first stop.” He offered her a hand. “Good luck to you, Sydney.”

  “Thanks for being so understanding, Simon.”

  She left his office and returned to her own, giving Brenda a thumbs up as she passed. Brenda repeated the gesture as she spoke into the phone.

  Sydney closed her office door and decided to make one more call before she left for the airport. She scrolled through her contacts and paused at a number she hadn’t called in a long, long time.

  Dad.

  She touched the name on the screen before she chickened out and brought the phone to her ear. Very few people had Monty Revere’s private number. Sydney hoped he hadn’t changed it.

  After three rings, she heard, “I’m only answering this because I recognize the area code and I have a friend in Boston who owes me dinner and beers. How ya doin’ today, Terry? When’d you get a new number? And when the hell are you coming to LA?”

  Sydney’s throat closed in emotion. It had been so long since she’d heard this voice.

  “Terry? You there?”

  “Dad?” she got out.

  A long pause. She was afraid he might hand up. She tried to get words out, but none would come.

  “Syd? Is that you, baby?”

  “Yes,” she squeaked out as tears swam in her eyes.

  “I’m . . . I’m glad you called, honey. How . . . how are you?”

  “Dad. I’m coming home.”

  “Really?”

  In that one words, she heard wonder. Hope. Love.

  “Today.”

  “For real?”

  “For real,” she said. “For good,” she added.

  “I’ll meet you. Where? LAX? John Wayne? Burbank?” He threw out several airports.

  “I’ll Uber over. Do you still live . . .” Her voice cracked.

  “Same place, baby. Just hurry home, baby.”

  “I’ll be there by six,” she got out.

  “I’ll be waiting,” he said softly. “I love you, Syd.”

  “I love you, too.”

  She disconnected the call and fell back into her chair. Then she opened the bottom drawer of her desk and dug out a handful of tissues. Blew her nose. Rested her glasses on the desktop as she mopped her eyes.

  “Guess it’s a good thing I don’t wear mascara,” she told herself, though she was ready to wear makeup again. Ready to see who Sydney Revere really was.

  She threw the used tissues into her trashcan and then tossed her oversized glasses in, as well. They hit the can with a clang. Sydney started pulling the pins out of her hair. Those, too, went in the waste bin. She’d finally grown it out after law school, back to shoulder length, but she always wore it up. Never down. She ran her fingers through the long locks and felt liberated to have it falling around her again, like a comforting blanket. The first thing she’d do once she got home was make a hair appointment. She wanted to go back to her natural auburn hair.

  Sydney pulled a mirror from the inside of her purse. She rarely looked into it except to check after a meal to see if she had any food in her teeth.

  Puffy eyes and all, she still liked what she saw.

  Sydney stood and reclaimed her briefcase and purse. She opened the door and stepped out. Brenda gawked at her.

  “You look so different, Sydney,” her assistant said, her baby blue eyes round with wonder. “I’ve never seen you without your hair up. Or no glasses. You look really pretty.”

  “Thanks, Brenda. I’m off.”

  “You’ll keep my offer in mind?” Brenda had a hopeful look on her face.

  “I will,” Sydney promised. She hugged Brenda once more and then waltzed down the corridor. She could tell heads were turning as she passed. She hadn’t sought out or received attention like this in a long time.

  Wait until she sported her own hair color. And makeup. She couldn’t wait to brush on a few coats of mascara.

  Stopping in the restroom, she splashed cold water on her face and patted it dry with a paper towel. Here was the starting-to-be-new Sydney facing her. So far, so good.

  Sydney emerged from the office building a few minutes later and looked around. Rick leaned against the car, a folded newspaper in his hands. He glanced up as she began walking his way. He smiled and went back to reading—then looked up again in a double take.

  His eyes crinkled. He beamed at her as he opened the back door.

  “Well, hello, Miss Brown,” he said.

  “Hello, Rick.”

  “You’re looking good, Miss Brown. I almost didn’t recognize you.”

  “I almost didn’t know myself, Rick.”

  The driver closed her door and opened his own. “Where to? Logan?”

  “Let’s make one stop before. CVS. The first one you spot.”

  “Will do.”

  Within five minutes, Sydney was grabbing a small shopping basket at the drug store. She headed straight for the wall housing all the makeup. She tossed in everything from concealer to eye shadow to five different shades of lipstick before she remembered to add makeup remover and a small makeup bag for her purse. She paid for the items and returned to the car.

  As Rick drove her to th
e airport, Sydney applied makeup for the first time since she was seventeen. Her hands shook at first so she took a few calming breaths and tried again. By the time they reached Logan, her transformation was complete.

  Rick opened the door to help her out and gave a long whistle. “Oh, Miss Brown.” He was speechless.

  She laughed. “I’m Sydney now, Rick. My Miss Brown days are over.” At least they would be once she Googled how to legally go back to being Sydney Revere again.

  “Sure you don’t want to hire me as a bodyguard? You’ll need one. Men are going to be coming on to you left and right.”

  It felt nice to see a man eye her appreciatively. Not that she wanted to be involved with any man right now. After Number Two, she was done with men, but receiving a compliment about her appearance felt exhilarating.

  “I know Tae Kwon Do, so I think I can protect myself.” She’d taken lessons since her law school days and loved the empowering feeling practicing the martial art gave her.

  Rick held up his hands in surrender. “Then you should be set.” He paused. “I’m not going to be driving you anymore, am I, Miss Brown?”

  “Sydney,” she said softly. “And, no. This is goodbye. Thanks for everything, Rick.”

  He stuck out a hand and pumped hers enthusiastically. “If this is it, then you’re going out in a blaze of glory, Sydney.” He looked sheepish using her first name.

  “Thanks.”

  Rick retrieved her suitcase from the trunk and raised the handle for her. “It’s been a real pleasure, Sydney. Good luck with wherever you’re going and whatever you’ll do when you get there.”

  She gave him a smile. “I hope someday you’ll be able to know what I’ve decided to do with myself. Bye.”

  Sydney entered the airport and checked her bag, glad the long flight wouldn’t have any layovers and that she’d snagged the last seat in first class. She stopped to pick up a bottled water and bought a pack of gum. Not just for take-off and landing. When she’d written stories as a teenager, she’d always popped a piece of gum into her mouth and chewed furiously on it as she wrote.

  As she boarded the plane, she hoped to get a lot of writing done. She reached to turn off her cell. It buzzed in her hand. Sydney had already taken two calls from Brenda on the ride to the airport and hoped this would be the last of them. She wanted to leave Boston behind.

  “Hello?” she said as she slid her briefcase under the seat in front of her.

  “You quit your job? That’s fucked up, Sydney.”

  She quickly disconnected the call, her heart pounding. She wanted to scream in frustration and hurl the phone from the plane. Instead, she turned it off and methodically opened the back of the case and removed the battery. She couldn’t let him know where she was going.

  Would she ever be able to get away from Wake?

  CHAPTER 2

  Dash DeLauria opened his eyes and knew something was wrong as his curtains automatically opened on the set timer. Warmth hugged the side of his body.

  Someone was in bed with him.

  He glanced down at the woman snuggled close, her long, blond hair spilling across his bare chest and arm. Dammit. Why hadn’t Ashley left like he told her to?

  He didn’t trust women. Any of them. Because they did all kinds of dumb things. Like this.

  Dash sat up and pushed Ashley over. She groaned and shoved her face into the pillow. He shook her. Hard. Reined in his anger.

  “You need to leave. Now,” he said, his voice flat.

  She rolled over and stretched. “It’s the middle of the night. I’m not going anywhere.”

  “Yes, you are.” He stood and glanced around, spotting her silky gray dress tossed across a chair. A black thong rested on top of it. Dash picked both up and threw them at her.

  “Get dressed,” he ordered.

  “I don’t get you, Dash.”

  “You don’t have to.” Not anymore. He wouldn’t say that until she was heading out the door.

  Ashley tossed back the covers and stood, arching her back as she stretched. She had a banging body. He’d admit that. But she was past the sell by date. She’d spoiled everything by sneaking back after he’d told her to leave. He’d trusted that she would and had jumped into the shower after their lengthy bout of sex. She must have waited until he climbed into bed and fell asleep before she came back and got in bed with him.

  Gritting his teeth, he opened a drawer and pulled on gym shorts and a tank as she lifted the barely-there dress and shimmied into it. It fell past her hips and landed mid-thigh. She slipped into the thong and reached for her gladiator sandals. While she laced them up, he put on socks and cross training shoes. His trainer would be here in a few minutes, and Dash would never keep Leo waiting.

  Ashley finished putting on her sandals and gave him the sexy pout that had graced fashion covers around the world.

  “You never stay over at my place. You never let me stay here. I just wanted to be close to you, baby.” She ran a manicured fingernail down his arm.

  Dash pulled away. “Time to go.”

  He latched on to her upper arm and escorted her from his bedroom, down the hall and to the front door.

  As he opened it, she purred, “Want to get together tonight?”

  “Nope. Not tonight. Not any other night. We’re done.”

  Confusion crossed her face. “What do you mean?”

  “Exact what I said, Ashley. It’s over. I told you when this started that there wouldn’t be a future. We had some fun. Now it’s done.”

  “I don’t think so, Dash.” Her eyes sparked in anger.

  He sighed. “I don’t care what you think. I don’t want to be with you anymore. We had a nice ride. You got a lot of good press being seen with me. If you want something permanent, find someone else.”

  She hurled a ton of expletives at him, shouting words he’d never heard a woman use before. He nodded, nudged her out the door, and then shut it and threw the deadbolt.

  Not all his relationships ended this poorly—because most were one-night stands. Every now and then, he dipped his toe into the dating pool and stayed with the same woman for a few weeks. Or a couple of months, at most. But he had no intention of settling down.

  Ever.

  Dash started toward the kitchen and saw his brother coming down the hallway. Herc rubbed his eyes.

  “Hey, buddy.”

  “I heard shouting, Dash.”

  “Yeah, I flipped on the TV and the volume was turned up way too loud. I muted it. Why don’t you go back to bed?”

  Herc yawned sleepily. “Is Leo coming?”

  “He’ll be here soon and then we’ll work out. Want me to wake you when we’re finished?”

  Herc nodded. “Leo gives me protein shakes. Leo counts my jumping jacks.”

  “Leo likes you, Herc.”

  “I know. You like me, too.”

  “I do, buddy. Go back to bed. I’ll get you up in a couple of hours.”

  “Okay, Dash. I love you.”

  “I love you, too, Herc.” He held his hands wide. “This much.”

  His brother grinned and opened his wider. “No, this much.”

  Dash laughed and stretched his arms as far as he could. “This much,” he countered. “Go to sleep.”

  Herc stumbled back down the hall. Dash waited until Herc made it to his room and heard the door close.

  Crisis avoided.

  It was quiet so he hoped Ashley had gotten into her car and driven away. He could only imagine having to explain to Herc what was going on if she had stayed in the driveway shouting at the top of her lungs.

  His brother was why he didn’t have sleepovers with women. Herc had the mind of a five-year-old child. He wouldn’t understand why they stayed. Herc might get too attached to them. Dash didn’t want any woman coming between him and his brother.

  His mother had been bad enough. He pushed aside thoughts of the woman who’d deserted her family. She hadn’t been able to handle having a son with an intellectual disab
ility. At least, that’s what they called it now. His mother had used retard. Dash hated when she called Herc that. He was glad when she finally had enough and left.

  He went into the kitchen and pulled out the peanut butter and peeled a banana. He smeared the peanut butter on the banana and downed a bottle of water with it. As he finished, Leo Parker walked into the kitchen, a backpack slung over his shoulder. Leo had a key to the house so he could enter without ringing the bell and waking Herc.

  “Everything okay?” the trainer asked.

  “Yeah. Why?”

  Leo shrugged. “I pulled up and saw Ashley standing in the driveway. She flipped me off and got in her car and burned rubber leaving.”

  Dash said nothing.

  “I’m not used to seeing any women here this early.”

  He shrugged. “You won’t be seeing Ashley here anymore. Period.”

  “Gotcha.” Leo set the backpack down on the table. “I brought some more of the new protein shake for you and a new soccer ball for Herc to kick around.”

  “Thanks, Leo. That’s really thoughtful of you.”

  “I like Herc. It’s good for him to run around and get some exercise.”

  Dash laughed. “Spoken like a true trainer. You ready to hit the gym?”

  “That’s what you’re paying me the big bucks to do,” Leo teased.

  Dash liked Leo. He had an easygoing personality but he could be a beast when he supervised workouts. He never asked Dash to do anything that he didn’t do right beside him. Leo had gotten Dash into the best shape of his life. More importantly, the trainer had a soft spot for Herc. The two men, so different from one another, had bonded. It was Leo who’d introduced them to Tim Dillon. Tim was what Dash liked to call Herc’s live-in handler. Tim was more than a babysitter. He guided Herc. Taught him. Took him on outings. Played with him. Hung out with him.

  Dash couldn’t have managed Herc without Tim’s help. He was thankful that he made the kind of money he did so that Herc didn’t have to live in a group home. Dash liked having his brother around.

  Ninety minutes later, his limbs were exhausted. They’d finished their circuit training so he hit the treadmill to get in a twenty-minute run to finish things off. Leo headed to the kitchen to prepare egg white omelets for them and the protein shake that Herc had gone nuts over.