Page 1 of The Love Raffle

Chapter 1

“Thanks, but we’ve heard enough. You can go now.”

Amber had been reciting her monologue in the audition room for only five minutes before someone stopped her. She tried her best to read their faces, but she couldn’t gauge their reactions. She felt defeated. This had to be her hundredth audition since moving to LA—with no luck. On the bus ride home, she couldn’t even bring herself to listen to music. She stared into the space above her, and her eyes landed on the latest Captain Evolution movie poster. Her eyes did not linger long. She didn’t care for superhero movies, but Levi Marks… The bus halted to a stop, putting an end to her thoughts.

While she was making lunch, her agent, Beca, called and informed her she had once again been rejected. She had no desire to go to her event gig tonight. An hour later, after finishing lunch and scrolling through her phone, she shed off her shirt and jeans and slipped on a robe to do her hair and makeup for her shift. With her phone in front of her, she watched a TikTok makeup video while doing her own, opting for a heavier look. It was good to fill the silence of her small apartment.

She’d heard rumblings about the client tonight. Some rock star, or was it a movie star? Either way, apparently their birthday theme was dark. She put on a tight black dress with black heels. She pushed her curly dark hair back into a bun before slipping on a wig cap, then carefully put on a long, straight, jet-black wigwith curtain bangs. Changing her day look to this was something she enjoyed. It took her away from herself. It also helped on the off chance someone from her other job showed up, which was very unlikely, or God forbid, started to work there. It would be hard to place her immediately.

Even though she didn’t live far from the club, she ordered an Uber ride. When she arrived, there was a massive crowd outside, which she shrugged off because the club was always busy, and it was hard to get in. It wasn’t until Amber was in the backroom with the other women that she heard who would be here tonight. She had it so wrong. The star showing up for a good time was none other than Levi Marks.

If you looked up the word “hot” in the dictionary, Levi’s picture would be there. He was by far the hottest celebrity because of his recent success in his superhero movie franchise. Amber would be a part of the group serving him. She didn’t normally get nervous on the job, but right now, she couldn’t help it. She could not mess this up.

Her head hurt from nerves and the loud bass of the music that surrounded her. It’d been an hour since her shift started and Levi’s party had just arrived. She tried her best to push it down and put a bright smile on her face as she moved with her group to Levi’s table. Levi sat low on the dark couch, engrossed in his phone and wearing an annoyed expression. As she approached, she could hear the end of his complaint to his friends.

“I can’t believe you guys brought me out here. I really don’t need this.”

The guy next to him rolled his eyes and slapped his hand hard on Levi’s shoulder. He didn’t even flinch.

“Get over it, man. You’re here, and you need to have some bloody fun. You’re lucky I’m only in town till tomorrow or I would be dragging your ass out a lot more.” His voice soundedawfully familiar. It wasn’t until Amber turned slightly to get a better look at him she realized Levi’s friend was none other than Nicholas Roth, a famous British actor.

Act cool. Act cool. Act cool.

Amber wondered how the other women felt, but if they were nervous, they didn’t show it.

“Fine, Nick.”

“Hell yeah!” Nicholas yelled, clapping Levi on the back before getting up and moving to the dance floor along with the rest of the group. He slid past Amber and gave her a smirk. She gave him a fake smile. The excited chatter of her coworkers picked up behind her as they moved along with the group to get them to buy more.

It was just the two of them now. A beat of silence ensued before Amber spoke up.

“Not going to dance, Mr. Marks?”

Levi grimaced. “Oh man, please call me Levi. Mr. Marks makes me sound so old. I’m only in my twenties, you know.”

“I know… I mean, of course, and to that point, Levi, get up and have fun. You’re only young once.”

Levi caught her eye, and she wanted to look away, but she knew she had to keep his attention. Her boss was most definitely watching their interactions in the VIP section.

“Would you dance with me?”

Amber had to resist the urge to sputter in surprise.

“Yes,” she replies as coolly as possible, then took Levi’s hand as he stood up to lead them to the dance floor. His hand felt soft and warm, his grip tight as they stepped down from the VIP area and pushed through the thick throng of people.

As Levi led Amber to the center of the dance floor, the music shifted to a slower, sultry beat that reverberated through the club. The flashing lights bathed them in shades of purple and blue, casting shadows on Levi’s sharp features. He placed onehand firmly on her waist, his touch lingering as he pulled her close. Amber’s breath hitched as their bodies pressed together, the heat between them palpable.

Her hands instinctively found his shoulders, and they began to move in sync with the music. Levi’s grip tightened on her waist, guiding her hips in a smooth rhythm. Each subtle movement brought them closer, the space between them shrinking with every sway. Amber could feel the tension crackling in the air like electricity.

Levi’s gaze never left hers, and she felt a rush of warmth spreading through her, a combination of the music, his nearness, and the undeniable chemistry between them. As their bodies moved, the world around them seemed to blur, the club’s noise fading into the background. It was just them, lost in the moment.

Amber’s pulse quickened as Levi leaned in, his breath warm against her ear. “You’re a good dancer,” he murmured, his voice low and smooth, sending a shiver down her spine.

She bit her lip, trying to keep her composure. “You’re not so bad yourself.”

Levi smiled, his eyes darkening with something unspoken. He spun her gently, pulling her back against him, their bodies now flush. The closeness was intoxicating, and Amber’s heart raced as she felt his chest rise and fall with every breath.

For a moment, she let herself forget who he was—a superstar, someone out of reach—and instead focused on the way his hands moved over her, the way their bodies seemed to fit perfectly together.

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