Page 23 of Hollywood Crush

“Because you’re acting like this is the first VIP guest we’ve had. We have had a hotel full of actors for the last month and you seem to be panicking over this one a ridiculous amount.”

“Well this is the firstOscar nominee,” she said.

“Is it? Is he?” I pulled out my phone to check.

“Well, not Oscar nominee yet. But all the gossip blogs say it’ll happen soon. Because of that film he’s doing withYou-Know-Whoupstairs.”

“I presume you mean Danny and not Voldemort.” It was fun to wind her up, though I knew I shouldn’t.

“Yes, I mean Dan—wait, Danny? How long has he beenDanny?” Mam asked.

I felt my cheeks warm. Now the shoe was on the other foot, and she had the upper hand. “Doesn’t matter. Daniel, I mean. I don’t think he’d want me calling him that to his face. Anyway, no one knows who’s going to be Oscar nominated til they’re actually announced.”

“Well apparently a rough cut of that film they did together has been doing the rounds. The blogs are saying the chemistry they have is electric.”

I felt something heavy and uncomfortable settleat the bottom of my stomach. I was trying not to be jealous, and Daniel’s reassurance ofonly youresonated with me. But it was strange that just a week ago clips from the romantic film they’d shot together had seemed hot, and now they made me feel like shit.

“You shouldn’t believe everything you read in the blogs, Mam.”

“Well I can see it with my own eyes. Those men had itbadfor one another.”

“Thank you for your constant reassurance.” I batted away the feather duster again as it came dangerously close to my coffee.

“Why does it matter to you, anyway?” she asked.

“It doesn’t.”

“Well…” whatever Mam was about to say was cut off as the doors swung open, admitting one gorgeous redheaded actor and an entourage of paparazzi with pictures.

“Hey, hey. You know you’re not allowed to step over the threshold, those are the rules!” I moved quickly to disperse the photographers. It had been quiet and sneaking about with Daniel had been easy after the initial rush of production, but it stood to reason that a guest star as new and high-calibre as Patrick Ryan would bring a whole new circle of hell. I was just glad that production had stood down and I hadn’t seen Marjorie all day - her walking in the lobby without makeup and in her dressing gown, stuffing her face would’ve made fora field day for the press.

“Hi, I’m Tudor, the owner of this place,” I said as I shook Patrick’s hand. He seemed kind of distracted and looked behind him where paparazzi still stood in the doorway, just outside the threshold. “I’ll get rid of them now,” I said and moved to close the door.

“No, no. Keep the door open. Is Daniel Ellison here?” Patrick looked around like Daniel might jump from a plant pot and surprise us.

“Not here, he did say he would like to see you at some point…”

I heard the door to the stairs creak and we both turned as Daniel walked through it. I was not expecting the chain of events that followed.

Patrick ran past me and threw himself into Daniel’s arms, almost knocking him down. The seed of jealousy that had been germinating in my stomach felt like it was growing.

“Oh my God, I’ve missed you so much, baby!” Patrick kissed Daniel’s cheek and I was very conscious of the paparazzi outside as the sounds of clicking and the flashes went wild.What the fuck?

Daniel gave me a bewildered look over Patrick’s shoulder. His hands had come up automatically to hug him back but I watched as they stiffened and fell away. Patrick prolonged the contact, kissing Daniel’s cheek again. I wanted to kill the man for touching my…my Daniel, without his consent. I took a step forward but Mam grabbed my arm topull me back. “Easy now,” she said. “Keep it professional.”

Right.Professional. Hotel comes first.I turned my anger on the waiting paparazzi, and their flashes almost blinded me as I turned to face them. “Get OUT!” I shouted. “You know full well where the road to the hotel becomes private land so I suggest you set up camp there. The next person who crosses boundary on to my private land gets the police called on them.”

Surprisingly, they scarpered pretty quickly, either running or biking back down the bit of the road I had marked out as a property boundary for the hotel. I hauled the doors closed and turned back to the problem at hand. One gorgeous, young, ginger problem at hand.Professional.

“Mr Ellison, I had no idea you and Mr Ryn were so close. Would you prefer to share a room, Mr Ryan?” I asked, pasting on my very best customer service smile.

“Um.” Daniel looked shellshocked, and I wondered if he was genuinely confused by what had gone on or just sorry he’d been caught.

Patrick was still facing away from me with his arms wrapped around Daniel. “Are they gone? Are the paparazzi gone?” he asked.

“They are,” I replied. “Now, for your double room. Do you need extra towels or are you comfortable with sharing?”

“There won’t be a double room,” said Daniel.He finally seemed to have gained composure and unlocked Patrick’s arms from around his neck. “What thefuck?” he asked, glaring at Patrick.Oh good, he’s just as confused as me,I thought idly over the jealousy that was still raging inside me.

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