Page 10 of Hollywood Crush

“Don’t lie to me. I’ve worked with enough professional liars over the years to know when people are acting in front of me.” Daniel smiled encouragingly even as he grunted with the weight he was pushing away from his chest. He let the weight fall back and stood up, turning to one of the machines that required he face away from me. “You know what? When I was little and learning lines,my Mum would turn away from me so I didn’t get too nervous saying them in front of her. I’m going to do the same.”

He leaned forward — away from me — to grab the weights in front of him to pull them toward him. My eyes drifted downward to an arse perfectly formed in his exercise shorts, but I forced my gaze toward and away from him. “It’s just…” I started, knowing I was crossing a line by letting a customer know my personal gripes. “When you first came here. You seemed nice. And that was cool, I thought actors would be more…well, Marjorie. But then you threw in a casual insult at Wales. And that wasn’t cool. Made me feel a bit less than, made me feel like no matter how many big name actors we get through these doors, next year you’ll be at Comic-Con saying how awful a time you had here or making sheep-shagging jokes for a couple of laughs, and we’ll still be here. Struggling to pay the bills.”

“Oh. I see.” Daniel stood up from where he sat, stretching his arms above his head and groaning. He came to sit right next to me on the bench and I could feel his body heat radiating toward me. I was suddenly very conscious of being sat shirtless next to this Greek God of a man. As if to make matters worse, his hand was just centimetres from mine. Perfectly manicured nails and soft, smooth skin next to my bitten nails and calloused knuckles. It was enough to make anyone feel inadequate.

“I am sorry,” he said. “Everything had happened at once, I had been rushed from Ireland to here in a matter of days and I was tired of constant rain. I think you could’ve transported me to the Maldives and I would’ve said the same thing. But I am really sorry, and I won’t be disparaging Wales or you, or your hotel to anyone. I promise you that.”

And then he took my hand in his. I wondered if I was the only one who could feel the deepening desire, the sparks travelling between us, an imaginary electric current that ran through clasped fingers.

“Anyway,” I said quickly, pulling my hand from his and standing up. “I need to get some things done. Do you need my help with anything else?”

“No,” he said. “In a couple of days we’ll be filming at the beach if you would like to come down. There’ll be fans and paparazzi there now they know we’re filming down here but it would be nice for you to see the process.”

“It’s pretty busy around here. But I’ll see if I can make it.” I didn’t want to make promises I couldn’t keep, and I didn’t want to encourage my own desire.

“Thanks for being honest with me, Tudor. It’s hard enough to find people who can be nowadays.” Daniel gave me a genuine smile as I opened the door and I smiled back just before it shut between us.

An hour later, after my shower and under the covers in bed my phone received a notification that Daniel had uploaded a new story to his Instagram. Iclicked with curiosity.

He was shirtless in his room, evidently still sweating from his gym session. “Hi guys, Daniel here. You should all be aware now that I’m filming in Wales. Well, I just wanted to say that it isbeautifulhere. I can’t tell you the name of the hotel we’re staying at, but once we’re done I’ll let you know. This village isn’t the easiest place to get to. But it is worth the trip.”

???

It was with Daniel’s kind Story in mind that I made my way down to the beach two days later. It was a warm day so I’d swapped my usual hotel chinos and shirt for a more colourful shirt and some jean shorts that showed off a little more calf than I’d usually be completely comfortable with.

The hill down from the hotel to the beach was steep. The actors and crew had been shuttled down one by one to get there, and a crowd of village locals and tourists had circled the beach. It was cordoned off by ropes and security guards stood at the top of the steps that led down.

Llywelyn was with his partner James and they were watching from near the front of the crowd. James was from London, but had moved here after a week-long whirlwind romance with my best friend. Months had passed since and the two were still disgustingly happy.

James beckoned me over and gave me a hug. “Coffee?” he asked, holding out a flask. I nodded gratefully and took a sip. It was ridiculously good. “New Fairtrade Javan blend I’m selling in the coffee shop. The film crew are loving the fancy offerings more than anyone else in this bloody village.”

“Hey, I love your fancy offerings,” said Llywelyn. “Wait. That came out wrong.”

“Have you had Marjorie in yet?” I pointed down at the elderly but glamorous lady who sat in a camping chair, in full medieval outfit.

“Oh God, don’t get me started,” said James. “When she found out the coffee was Fairtrade she didn’t want it because, and I quote,it tastes better when you pay them less.What a fucking dinosaur.”

“Jesus Christ.” There was no sign of Daniel but Marjorie had started her scene. Between takes she was screeching at some young runners to get her water. The poor makeup artists were buzzing around her like flies as she consistently reached up and smeared or scratched at her makeup every time the camera stopped rolling.

“Oh, look. There he is.” James was pointing over at one of the tents that had been set up by the cliffs. Daniel was emerging in full elven gear, with the alterations to his ears visible from here and his dark hair slicked back on his skull. He was wearing a big robe which concealed whatever outfit he had on underneath.“He’s gorgeous isn’t he?”

“Not your type, though. Right?” Llywelynsounded concerned.

“Nah, I like a bit of rough,” said James. He elbowed Llywelyn, and I was inclined to agree. Llywelyn and I had been friends as kids and sometimes messed around. But with his bushy beard, body hair and working man’s clothes, he had always been far removed from my type.

“Your type though, isn’t he?” said Llywelyn, looking at me. “And it’s been a while since you’ve gotten any.”

“Me? Nah. Hollywood pretty boys don’t do it for me.” As I spoke, Daniel turned to look up into the expectant crowd and gave a wave. The crowd cheered, but his eyes kept searching until he found me.

“Hey, Tudor! Come on down!” Daniel had shouted across the expanse of the beach.

I didn’t even have to look around to know everyone’s eyes were on me. “Well go on then,” James said with a sharp nudge to my ribs. I moved to give him back the flask. “Nope, keep it. The beach is windier than up here, and if Danny-boy is seen drinking my coffee then it might get some of these bozos into my shop.”

I tentatively made my way past the crowd, still very aware of their eyes on me. The security guard looked me up and down like he had X-Ray vision before letting me past him and down to the beach.

“So glad to see you!” said Daniel. The prosthetics he wore made his face look otherworldly, but Icould still see the very attractive man that lie underneath. The worst thing were the contact lenses that covered his eyes. Eyes that I had noticed the first day I met him, but not realised until the night in the gym just how kind they were. Worlds away from diva-ish co-stars and dodgy directors. Now they were completely black.

Daniel approached me and shook my hand. I heard cameras click up above. “Ooh, can I nick a bit of that?” he pointed at the flask in my other hand.

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