First Take (Star-Taken) Read Free

I’d like to get your opinion of my acting skills. You’re pretty no-nonsense.”
    She shifted her weight from one wedge-heel clad foot to the other. Yep, “No-nonsense” was her middle name according to her most recent ex, Paul, but that wasn’t the same as “No sense.” “I’m sure you have tons of people willing to give you their opinions.” She might be a fan, and she might have her fantasies, but she wasn’t a groupie.
    Not th at this scenario wasn’t suspiciously close to how one of her fantasies started, but she needed time to merge the fantasy with this reality. What if he turned out to be the world’s biggest jerk? Movie star or no, she’d had enough of jerks.
    A smile kicked up one corner of his mouth and her stomach did a little flip-flop. “Guess I should have said ‘honest opinion.’”
    “I can do honest.” Ask Paul. No doubt her ex would be all too happy to share how she’d chased him away with her too harsh criticism of his lack of ambition and drive. He’d never understood why she couldn’t happily let him mooch off her while he sat on his ever-increasing ass day by day playing online games. “Research” he’d called it. However, one couldn’t create a video game without cracking open a development platform. Not unless some new form of programming had appeared that she didn’t know about.
    She shook her head. Whatever. I’m so over his freeloading ass. Have been for six months now.
    He frowned. “So, you can’t do honest?”
    Don’t blow this, Rach.
    She forced a laugh. “No. I can. I was…” stupidly thinking of my ex instead of focusing on you . That truth wouldn’t do. “I was wondering if I’d filled up on popcorn.” While not technically true, it was something she had to watch out for, hence the small popcorn.
    He smiled. “Great. Then what do you say to grabbing a bite to eat?”
    Had she imagined the look of relief that crossed his face? Stephen tucked his hands into the front pockets of his jeans, thrusting his shoulders out and upward, adding to the too-large-for-life appearance of his. Why would he have cared if she said yes or no to his offer?
    Stop over-thinking this, woman.
    Well, if she wanted to blend fantasy with reality, what better way than eating in front of said fantasy? Nothing said normal like the challenge of sharing a meal with someone you wanted to impress without making a mess. “I was planning on heading to the little sushi joint a couple of blocks over.”
    Maybe she should’ve picked somewhere else, but sushi was what she wanted for her birthday dinner. She’d just have to be super careful with the chopsticks and the soy sauce because if her middle name wasn’t “No-nonsense” then her family would surely argue it was “Mess.”
    His eyes widened. “The one with the giant blowfish in the tank by the bar?”
    She raised her eyebrows. “You know it?”
    He nodded. “Oh yeah. Best sushi on the island.”
    A silly wave of giddiness struck her. He had the same taste in sushi that she did, though she had to admit she hadn’t tried every restaurant in Manhattan, like his words implied he had. This one was her favorite, not only because of its proximity to the movie theater and her place, but it also had the freshest fish around. Her ideal date was a good flick followed by a seaweed salad, shaggy dog roll, and salmon sashimi. Since the salad and roll often left bits in her teeth, she might have to reconsider her usual order. Don’t want too much realism.
    “After you, birthday girl.” He bowed and her gaze riveted to the play of corded muscles in his forearm.
    What would they feel like dancing under her fing ers? She repressed a shiver.
    Focus, Rachel. She’d never make it through dinner if her thoughts slewed toward touching him.
    Heading for the main doors, she couldn’t have been more conscious of each step. Thank God she wasn’t one of those short, fashion-conscious women who wore stilettos to gain height. Wedges accomplished the