Idolized (Hollywood Stardust Book 3) (2 page)

And do you even remember the ones in the picture with you?

(laughs)

ROXY

(points across the way)

Actually, the three of them are right there.

WOMAN

Oh my gosh.  How do you know them?

ROXY takes the picture from the woman and stares down at it.

ROXY

(she inhales)

They are my loves, my hates, my life.

(Blinks and looks at the woman.)

Sorry.

WOMAN puts hand on Roxy’s shoulder.

WOMAN

Don’t be sorry.

ROXY

I better go.

WOMAN

Wait.

ROXY turns to her.

WOMAN

Before you go, tell me who you ended up with.

ROXY

How do you know I ended up with one of them?

WOMAN widens her eyes

ROXY closes her eyes

FADE OUT.

Chapter One

THE LIMOUSINE STOPPED in front of the Beverly Garland hotel, and Ryder Scott held up his hand, a silent command telling the driver not to unlock the door quite yet. No one should ever enter a battle zone without a plan of attack, and he needed a moment to get centered and take in the lay of the land.

While the set up was always the same, the players always changed. As usual, the red carpet trailed from the crowded curb on Sunset Boulevard all the way to the door of one of Hollywood’s trendiest hotels. In between point A and point B, a step and repeat emblazoned with the
Hollywood Starburst
movie logo provided the perfect background for the stars to stop, strike a pose, and answer a question or two before heading into the after-party celebrating the movie premiere of the sequel to
Hollywood Stardust
that had waited over twenty years to be told.

After several deep breaths, Ryder lowered his hand, giving the go signal. The second the telltale click of the limo doors unlocking echoed through the vehicle, a nameless uniformed person opened the door into the war zone.

His strategy firmly planted in his mind, Ryder put one foot on the red carpet and paused, allowing the rest of him to remain in the shadows of the car interior. All too soon, the focus of the photographers would pull away from the step and repeat to find out who was in the last limo, though they knew the answer. All his co-stars had already arrived.

At times like this, it was critical to stay hydrated and ensure his pH was optimized, so he downed the last of his alkaline water before achieving his desired result.

At last two photographers turned toward the limo, and once a third followed suit, Ryder took his time exiting the car.

In one fluid motion he stood, flashed the one-sided smile that made him a star, and waved. Once the roar of the crowd gathered around the front of the hotel amplified, the smile became a bit more sincere, and he took his place in line behind his co-stars. All the better to remain in a defensive position as well as provide the much needed grand finale of arrivals. He lived by the motto, last in, first out, and above all else, leave everyone in a state of want.

Logan Alexander with his wife, Ivy, by his side and his kid, Curtis, in his arms went first. The once villain of the group, Logan turned his reputation around when he not only fell in love with the woman interviewing him, but resurrected and helped direct the sequel to their genre changing movie,
Hollywood Stardust
.

“Logan.” One of the female news reporters came forward. “What did you think of the final cut of
Hollywood Starburst
?”

“The sequel turned out exactly as we envisioned, and we stayed true to the story.” He nodded, and his little toddler reached for the microphone, eliciting a chuckle from the reporters.

“When does the filming of
Hollywood Stardom
begin?” The reporter let the little boy hold the microphone handle with her.

In a startling twist to the
Hollywood Stardust
story, there was a third and final movie planned,
Hollywood Stardom
. Even more surprising was that the four original actors would be reprising their roles. Of course, Ryder would be the penultimate star. He was the one with the body of work, the career to be envied, the one who was even making and producing his own movie. Yes he was the actor and director combination. “We will begin next month, and it’s sure to be the perfect wrap-up for this set of characters.” Logan took his wife’s hand.

“Ivy, what was it like making your acting debut with your husband?” The reporter turned the mic to Mrs. Alexander.

The once camera shy woman not only did some cameos in
Starburst
, but would be taking a full-fledged role in the next movie. She faced the camera head-on. “I couldn’t have asked for a better director.” She turned to her husband.

In a moment tailor-made for the Hollywood royalty they had become, the couple kissed and Logan led her into the hotel.

The couple in waiting, Drew Fulton, Ph.D. and Erin Holland-Fulton, took their position next. At long last, fans of the elusive happily ever after could rejoice. In a fairytale come to life, the geek and the leading lady from the original movie, reconnected after twenty years and tied the knot in a gala fit for any princess.

The happy little couple struck several media-friendly adorable poses, including several which included having Drew place his hands on Erin’s barely visible baby bump.

Ryder gave a quick glance behind him, swearing he could still see the smoke trail on the bullet he dodged when he didn’t end up with her. While years ago Erin taught him many things on being an amazing lover, of utmost importance was her lesson on birth control. Don’t enter a woman without it.

“Erin, you are positively glowing,” the reporter noted.

“It’s a Hollywood Glow.” Erin held on to Drew. “Among other things.”

Well, no one could say Erin wasn’t a sales person through and through. Within her first four words, she plugged her and Drew’s line of nutraceuticals. Not that she needed to, the stuff was sold out on the high-end shelves where it reigned as the crown prince of supplements. With a sneer, Ryder reached into his pocket and made sure he had his late night dose. Hell, the stuff worked.

“Exactly.” The reporter nodded. “So Erin, as the original Roxy, how do you feel the new cast did taking over for this installment of the story?”

Only someone who knew Erin as well as Ryder did would have noticed her grip tighten on her husband, and the slight quiver of her lower lip. Of all of them, Erin had the worst time allowing the role she defined be taken on by someone else.

Erin leaned forward. “They all did magnificent, but I can’t say I’m not thrilled to have Roxy back.”

Her answer was gracious and truthful, and Ryder gave her a thumbs-up, even if she hadn’t see the gesture.

“Your fans are going to be thrilled.” The reporter beamed at her and turned her attention to Drew. “Dr. Fulton, how does it feel to return to acting?”

“It feels right.” Ever the serious one, Drew lifted his chin at the reporter and then took Erin inside.

Ready for his turn on the front line, Ryder no sooner stepped over to give these reporters a true photo opportunity than a stripe of black lace rushed in front of him, tripped and stumbled right into the center of the step and repeat.

When the woman stopped, clenched her fist and straightened up, two things happened. First, one luscious tendril of auburn hair tumbled free of its updo into her eye giving the woman a sexy “just-got-out-of-bed-and-ready-to-get-back-in-it” look. Second, he recognized the woman. In fact, one could say she was one of his many benefactors, though not in his traditional sense, meaning he hadn’t slept with her…yet.