Page 31 of Her Movie Star's Secret Plan

The waitress came and took their orders. Owen took Alexis’s advice and ordered a combo with the pork tacos and shrimp tacos.

“Do you do your own shopping, or do you have someone who helps you choose your clothes?” Alexis asked.

“I do my own shopping, and my agent gives me recommendations for clothes.”

“You have good taste. I like the way you dress. It’s this mix of upscale and laid back.”

“Kind of like this restaurant.”

“True. This restaurant feels very Owen-like. I imagine that Hollywood is a lot like this place.”

“Hollywood is a lot of things.”

“I bet it’s so different from here.”

“It is. I like them both, though. There’s something honest about Maple Creek. It will always be home to me. But I love the energy of Hollywood. So many artists and creative people. There’s always something fresh and new to discover.”

Alexis smiled at him. “I’d love to go there sometime. That sounds incredible.”

“I think you’d love it. California is like its own country. It has its evils, but overall, it’s a beautiful place.”

“What’s your favorite thing about California?”

“The beaches. I love the ocean.”

“My parents used to take us to Virginia Beach every summer when we were growing up.”

“I remember that. I never went to the beach until I went to California.”

“We should have invited you to come with us.”

“It’s okay. You were busy with your own lives.”

“I’m sorry we weren’t better to you growing up.”

“It’s in the past. And you guys were great. I loved going over to your house.”

“I’m glad you and Chase stayed close throughout the years.” Alexis sipped her drink.

“If it weren’t for Chase, I wouldn’t have a career.”

“You could have let yourself get wrapped up in the whirlwind of Hollywood, but you stayed loyal to him.”

“Of course, I did. Chase is my people.” Owen toyed with the paper from his straw.

They talked for a few more minutes, and eventually, the waitress brought them their food.

“You were right,” Owen said after he took a few bites of his tacos. “This is fantastic.”

“I always get these two kinds of tacos when I come here.”

“We should come here again sometime.”

“I’d like that.”

Owen’s heart beat faster in his chest. So, shedidlike him. At least he hoped that was what she meant when she agreed to go out with him again. It was hard to know who genuinely wanted to be with him for who he was inside—the real Owen—and who was interested in the outer image he projected to the world. He wanted to be with someone who truly knew and understood him. But the problem was, he wasn’t even sure he knew or liked himself. He didn’t like who he was before he became the famous Owen Hadley. He’d been a scared teenage boy. So much of his identity was attached to the image he’d worked so hard to create with his agent.

He leaned toward Alexis and took her hand to see how she would react. She allowed it. He ran his thumb across the back of her hand. Her skin was soft, and touching her did funny things to his insides. The more he held her hand, the more he wanted to touch her face and to tangle his hands in her hair.

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