Page 15 of One Hollywood Sunset

‘Yeah I’m tired. How did you know? Not looking so hot?’ he asked.

‘You’re wearing your glasses. You always wear your glasses when you’re tired.’

‘My God, you know all this and we aren’t even married yet.’

‘So, how did your meeting with the writer guy go?’ Freya asked.

‘It was fine. We’ve done my childhood now and looking after Matt, so we’re just about to get into the realms of the Cheesy Twangers commercial and my first movie role, freaky hairstyle and all.’

‘Oh, I was hoping you would have skipped to the chapter about meeting me. After all, that’s when your life really began.’

‘I’ve told him that already. I said, “Mark, we can get through all this real quick because my life meant nothing until I met my fiancée.” He said we had to go through the motions. But trust me, your chapter is the centre of the story. The rest is just padding,’ he assured her.

‘You’re good.’

‘Hey, never mind my book. How did it go with Sadie Fox? You didn’t call me. I said give me a call and let me know how it went.’ He took off his glasses and rubbed at his eyes.

‘I didn’t call because there was nothing to report. She cancelled me. Gave Sasha some excuse about having to fly to Paris. I think it’s more likely she’s found another photographer,’ Freya told him.

‘Well, that’s her loss. I wouldn’t lose any sleep over it.’

‘No, I know, I won’t. So, did you pick up the fancy-dress outfits for tonight?’

‘Yes I did.’

‘And have you looked at them yet?’ She grinned.

‘Yes I have.’

‘And what do you think?’

‘Please tell me I’m the doctor and not the nurse.’

She let out a scream of laughter and rocked back and forth in her chair. Willis darted for the safety of the house.

‘No, Freya! No way! I am not dressing up in a nurse’s outfit! Absolutely not!’ he exclaimed.

‘But Nick, the doctor’s outfit was the only one they had in my size, apart from the Darth Vader costume. And I just couldn’t visualise how I was going to eat with the mask on or talk without scaring Sam and Jolie’s kids,’ she explained.

All lies. She’d seen the nurse costume and thought it would be perfect for him.

‘I’m not doing it, Freya. I mean it.’

‘Come on, you so have the legs for it,’ she cajoled.

‘There’s nothing you can say to persuade me into that outfit. Nothing,’ he insisted. He picked up his glass of orange juice and drank it down.

‘Oh no? Are you sure about that?’ She ran her hand slowly up the inside of his thigh.

‘Have you seen the length of the skirt? It’s practically obscene,’ he continued.

‘You. Me. A bottle of wine and candles. Some soft music, maybe Luther Vandross or Lionel Richie. A plate of soft fruits and double cream. We could light the fire and close the blinds and…’ Freya began.

She slipped her hand up inside his t-shirt and caressed his stomach with her fingers.

‘I’m not wearing high shoes with it. Or stockings,’ he answered.

‘I’ll go and open the wine; you grab Luther.’

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