The Accidental Movie Star (17 page)

“We have the rain, but the temperature’s mild.”

“Cotton candy or apple tart?”

“Candy.”

“What don’t you like about the trailer?”

“Noisy, too small, and too many visitors with keys. No privacy.”

“Are you firing that Realtor?”

“Absolutely.”

***

A lean crew was headed up to Mt. Whitney for a location shoot. They’d be gone about three days, and the remaining crew, Ashley included, would hang back and work in the warehouse. Ashley didn’t mind, though. She hoped to spend some time with Dad this weekend, and she needed a break from Caz to get her head back on straight. Caz couldn’t be as appealing as she was starting to think.

On the mountain, three bad guys were going to hold Caz’s character hostage. After escaping, Caz’s character would hike the trail and spend a cold miserable night by the lake. In reality, the cast and crew would stay in climate-controlled cabins so the trip wouldn’t be as rough as it sounded, but Ashley shuddered for them. The air thinned in the mountains and the temperature dropped—not pleasant. When she was a kid, Dad had driven her to some of the scenic parks and she’d gotten nosebleeds and dizzy from the altitude. She was better off in LA, which, like Houston, lay much closer to sea level.

She sat in her usual corner, adding more shading to her sketch, and felt eyes on her. Caz. He held a call sheet, and she saw his gaze shift from her to the AD. She sprang up and hurried over. “Don’t.”

Caz gave her an innocent look.

“Don’t,” Ashley said. “I’m a sea-level creature.”

His perfect mouth twitched.

“No.”

Caz turned away and she followed, stepping into his line of vision.

“Look at me, Caz.”

He slanted a look at her from the side of his blue-green eyes.

“No,” Ashley said, slowly and clearly, leaving no room for misunderstanding.

“Next week is our last week, then shooting wraps.”

“Right, so I’ll see you next week and after that for several more in postproduction work.”

“I need you there.”

“I don’t like the mountains.”

“You didn’t say that when we were house hunting.”

“Hollywood Hills isn’t exactly Mt. Whitney. Besides, I want you to live wherever you want. I don’t have to like the location.”

Caz hooked an arm around her waist and drew her in. “Please, please come with me?”

Her cell beeped, delaying her refusal. Ashley looked down and read her text message. “Unexpected meeting in New York, back Sunday, Dad.”

Chapter 15

At first, the weather on the mountain didn’t seem too cold. The temperature hovered in the forties. Ashley could handle the forties. She wore layers and Powder gave her little square hand-warmer packets; the beads inside heated up and kept her fingers toasty.

“It’s only for three days,” Powder said. Powder seemed to be trying to reassure herself. “And they’re setting up a heated tent.” She pulled a fake-fur wrap tighter around her head. “I’m going to set up my station.” Powder hurried up the path. The rocks on either side of her were khaki colored, and large ridges filled with snow lay in the distance. The whole location was beautiful, and other than Powder’s distrust of the outdoors, spirits were high.

Ashley drew in a deep breath. The path smelled like plants and fresh air. Sometimes, you don’t realize how polluted a city is until you escape it. White snow edging the path sparkled like diamonds in the sunlight. Snow never accumulated like this in Houston. Ashley couldn’t stop herself from patting and crunching the toe of her boot into it.

“See, you like the snow,” Caz said. “You’re playing in it.”

Ashley looked up from the white powder covering the toe of her boot and raised her eyebrows. “Just because it’s foreign and interesting doesn’t mean I like it.”

Caz laughed and pulled her close. “Tell me you like it a little.”

Ashley tilted her head back and looked at him through her sunglasses. “Maybe a little.”

“I’m foreign and interesting. Tell me you like me a little.”

“Well, you’re foreign.”

The AD stood further up the trail, clapping his mittens together, shifting from one foot to the other, sending anxious looks at the sky. He wanted them locked into three days here: no overtime, no going over budget. “Let’s get started and get back to Lone Pine.”

The nearby town of Lone Pine served as their base camp. Last night the small group had eaten dinner together in its small hotel, forming a new sense of camaraderie and purpose. Ashley hated to admit it, but these might be her favorite three days of shooting.

Ashley honestly thought that—until it started to rain. Forty degrees was very bearable until you got wet. She huddled in the heated tent as soon as the first drops fell, rolling the hand-warmer packet between her fingers like a rosary. Powder huddled by a heater, staring at her black nail polish. She wasn’t outdoorsy either.

The actors rotated in for touchups and to get out of the cold. Ashley had seen them all except the star. “Where’s Caz?”

One of the actors answered her. “He’s in all the scenes, so they’re keeping him out there. Filming will slow if he takes a break.”

Ashley groaned, grabbed a blanket and a hot chocolate, and headed for the opening to the tent. The relentless rain, pouring off her umbrella in steady streams, and the muddy ground under her heavy boots, made the fifty feet to the shooting area seem much further.

Caz sat, tied up on a log by a fire, his character’s face defiant. His huddled shivering didn’t look fake.

“Cut,” the AD called.

Ashley moved in and carefully placed the cup between his icy, bound hands.

“Thanks.” Caz lifted the drink to his mouth. He made a sound of annoyance and twisted the fake restraints off his wrists. The rope fell beside his boots, soaking into the mud.

Ashley lowered beside him.

“I’m all wet,” he warned when she scooted close. Holding the umbrella in one hand, she used the other to toss the blanket half around him, half around herself, and huddled into him. His body radiated chill instead of his usual warmth.

Putting her right arm under the blanket, she touched his soaking shirt. Ashley slipped her warmed hand underneath his two layers of shirts and touched him. His skin felt icy against her palm.

Caz made a pleased sound and lifted a hand for the umbrella. “Use both hands.”

Ashley slid her other arm around him in a hug, certain his affectionate look was more about her warmth than her company.

The nearness made the wetness of his clothing seep through her sweater, and she wondered how he stood it.

“I don’t want a house in the mountains either,” Caz said. “We can just do a day hike sometime.”

Ashley grinned against his arm in total agreement. “You should tell the AD you’re ready to stop for the day.”

“I’m fine.” His body shook.

“Okay,” the AD said, “We’re ready for you, Caz.” Caz muttered a cut-off groan in response.

Ashley noted in annoyance that the AD wore a full parka and had someone holding an umbrella over his head. She gave Caz a final pat and lifted away from him. “I’ll get a dry blanket and come back.”

***

The temperature was falling with each raindrop, and Caz’s skin felt even colder when she returned.

Caz said, “I think this is the last shot.” His teeth chattered around the words. “They’re worried about the condensation on the cameras.”

“Here.” Ashley took hold of the umbrella and blanket and slid his hand under her sweater. The icy feel of his fingers against her warm waist made her jump. He tried to withdraw his hand, but she pressed it back in place and took his other, placing both against her skin. The blanket slipped, and she grabbed hold before snuggling into him, one arm around him, one hand clutching the blanket and the umbrella.

“The AD suggested I think warm thoughts, like the beach.”

“If your hands are the indicator, that’s not working.”

Caz leaned his head against her shoulder. “I’m glad I made you come out here with me.”

“That’s not very nice.” The pinging rain became harder pounding rain that blew in sideways. The angle made holding the umbrella over their heads almost useless.

“I’m not nice. Tell me something warm to get me through the next shot.”

The AD warned, “Five minutes, Caz.”

“Hmm, well, you could think about the lodge and a warm cozy corner by the fire.”

“Are you sitting by the fire too?”

“I’m sitting by the fire telling a nice guy all about the kissing pentagon.”

Caz stiffened and sat up to look at her with bright eyes.

Ashley said, “Too bad you’re not nice.”

The AD said, “Okay, we’re ready. Let’s get this last shot over and wrap. The rain at this angle is really getting to the equipment.”

Ashley stood, lifting the blanket with her. Caz surprised her by standing too. He leaned forward to whisper in her ear. “Thanks.” He pressed his cold lips to her neck and she shivered, but not due to the cold.

***

Sharing a room with Powder meant giving up all claim to counter space. Powder’s stash of cosmetics covered the small area, in addition to every other spare surface in the room. For the first time in her life, Ashley went to bed each night slathered in face creams. Her skin looked great in the morning, but not so much at bedtime.

This was their last dinner together on the mountain. Ashley couldn’t say she was sorry. The monsoon had killed her momentary lapse into being a girl who enjoyed the outdoors. She checked her watch; thirty minutes to blow out her hair and dress before dinner.

Powder stood at the wood-framed mirror doing her makeup. She wore black leather pants, a leopard-print tank top, and an intent expression.

Not wanting to get in her way, Ashley took the hairdryer into the bedroom. When she finished, she unplugged the dryer, wound up the cord, and put it away. Her time on set made her more careful with cables. Opening the small wardrobe, she snagged a pair of jeans.

“Not so fast,” Powder said from the doorway, holding a tube of makeup like a weapon.

“We’re on top of a mountain.”

“You’re dining with one of the hottest guys on the planet. Well, at least that’s what the magazines say, not really my type, but anyway, what kind of friend would I be if I let you go out like that?” Powder patted the counter. “Up.”

Even though she’d just taken a shower, the steam was already gone from the bathroom due to the dry California air. Ashley hopped up and let Powder start her makeup.

“You can wear one of my skirts,” Powder said.

Ashley’s eyes widened and Powder smacked her on the leg. “Eyelids down.”

After Powder finished with a dusting of shimmer powder, Ashley assessed her new look. She wore far more makeup than she usually wore, very black eyeliner and glam, completely unsuitable for the woods. She liked it, but she’d never be able to duplicate the makeup without looking crazed. “Thanks.”

“You’re welcome. Now put on those black tights you wore under your jeans. They’ll work. Black bra and your black tank too.”

Wow, the tank and the tights; she was going to let her layer.

Powder held up a blue and black plaid miniskirt. The hem came to mid-thigh on Ashley, so the skirt must be a micro mini on the tall Powder. It wasn’t much of a layer.

Powder said, “We need to go shopping together when we get back.”

“Cool.” Ashley grabbed her black pullover; the sweater still felt damp under her fingers.

“Ack, don’t, what are you doing?”

“Um, it’s forty degrees.”

“That thing got all wet.”

“My other one got really dirty when I slid on the trail.”

Powder shook her head. “And you wonder why you couldn’t catch that guy back home. What are they teaching you girls in Texas?”

“I will freeze if I go down there like this. I’m wearing a tank top and a mini skirt and its freezing.”

“Please, if some guy doesn’t step up to offer you his jacket or a warm arm around your shoulder within five minutes, I’ll go without makeup all week.”

Ashley gasped. “Really?”

“No. But trust me, you’ll thank me later.”

“I only have the hiking boots.”

“They kind of work.”

***

Ashley walked down the main stairs of the lodge, arm in arm with Powder, hesitant to hear any crap about her outfit. Then again, she knew Powder would give anyone making a crack a smackdown.

The bar area was almost full tonight. A few of the crew sat in overstuffed armchairs scattered around the room, but most stood belly up to the bar. Arms waved and Powder gravitated toward them.

The promised warmth of the fireplace’s golden flames drew Ashley in the other direction. The popping crackles of the wood underscored the country music coming out of the corner jukebox, and the burning log smelled like it was from a real tree instead of a ceramic fake. Ashley breathed in the realness, so different from being on set, and lowered herself to the hearth with a hand against the rough bricks. She hoped the bricks wouldn’t snag Powder’s skirt, but she wasn’t willing to relinquish the position of the fire even if they did. The fire heated the skin of her bare shoulders, and she shifted, trying to expose as much skin as possible to the flames. Any part of her not directly in front of the fire chilled, so she had to keep up the rotation. She sat alone for about one minute.

A male voice said, “Can I get you a drink?”

Ashley turned away from the hypnotic orange glow to look up at the guy. He looked college-aged, and had a love of the outdoors. The flannel gave that away.

“Oh, no, I’m good, thanks.”

“That was killer rain today. Seriously.” He took a sip of his beer.

Before she could answer, another guy joined them wearing a UCLA sweatshirt. “Dude, my trail was mashed up.”

Ashley couldn’t decide if her sudden popularity was because there weren’t many girls in the room or her proximity to the fireplace.

Powder returned from the bar holding two pink drinks. She handed one to Ashley and winked at the nearest guy. “Yep, definitely a day to stay inside.”

Ashley swiveled the glass in her hand, wishing the drink was heated. “Thanks. Uh, what is it?”

“It’s called a Rain Ender,” Powder said.