SITTING THIS CLOSE, I TOOK my first really good look at him. The man was gorgeous. Probably not by Hollywood’s definitions, but gorgeous all the same. His dark brown hair was a little longer on the top than the sides and he was wearing the sexiest set of dark-framed glasses that, on anyone else might look nerdy, but on him they just looked hot. Behind them, a pair of smoky-gray eyes peered at me almost shyly and his skin had turned a beautiful shade of pink as he’d told me the name of his drink.
“I’m sorry if I’m being too forward. I saw you yesterday when I was out running, so when I recognized you again in here, I figured I’d come over and introduce myself. My name is Dean.” I stretched my arm out, offering my hand. He looked at it for a second and then reached over, sliding his hand into mine. A surge of electricity traveled up my arm as our hands made contact, shocking me. By the look on his face, the sudden widening of his eyes, it was obvious he’d felt it too.
“Garrett,” he said. Pulling his hand back, he eyed me cautiously.
I sighed, sure that I was making a complete fool of myself. “I’m here alone and it seems that you are too.” I waited for him to nod before I continued. “I just thought it might be fun to buy you a drink, but if you’d rather I leave...” I shrugged, trying to appear casual.
His eyes were assessing as he studied my face. After a few moments, he nodded. “Okay, but you’ll have to catch up. I’ve already started.” He gestured to the drink in front of him, his mouth turning up in an adorable grin.
“I guess I better hurry up then,” I said, giving him my best smile as the bartender placed my drink in front of me.
Trying to hide his growing smile, Garrett lifted his drink and took a sip. I watched the way his lips wrapped around the straw and flashbacks of my fantasy in the shower came roaring back, causing my blood to rush to my cock. I was thankful for the bar top, which hid the evidence of my arousal.
Ignoring the ache between my legs, I focused my attention on the intriguing man seated next to me. “So, is this your first time in Hawaii?”
He took one last sip of his drink and then set it back on the bar before answering. “Yes. I’ve always wanted to come here, but never took the time before. I’m glad I did though. It’s even more beautiful than in all the pictures I’ve seen.”
“Oh, for sure. The first time I came here, I was amazed at just how lush and green everything was, and the people are incredible. Very friendly and welcoming.” The bartender came back, picking up the empty glass and I gave Garrett a questioning look. “Would you like another of the same or something different this time?”
“You don’t need to do that, really,” he insisted.
“That wasn’t one of your choices,” I said, smiling at him so he’d know I was teasing.
He shook his head with a laugh. “Okay. I’ll have another one of these, please,” he told the woman. I ordered a second drink as well while she was there. “Thank you very much,” he said to me as she walked away.
“You’re welcome. Thank you for letting me enjoy the company of a handsome man.” His eyes sprung wide as if he was shocked by my words and he dipped his head shyly. The pink flush in his cheeks reached all the way up to his hairline and I felt my smile grow even wider. Oh, he’s a fun one.
The bartender brought our drinks, setting them in front of us. I raised my glass and he did the same with his. “To Sex on the Beach,” I said, holding his gaze.
He was clearly embarrassed but didn’t back down as he tapped his drink to mine. “To Sex on the Beach.”
We continued talking as we drank. We chatted about the different islands and all the things he was hoping to see and do while he was there. I learned that he was born and raised in Chicago and that he was an only child, then I told him that I was originally from Oklahoma but was currently living in California. I watched him carefully as I gave him that little bit of information, waiting for some spark of recognition, but he held my gaze evenly.
Eventually, we switched to shots of tequila and I could feel myself relaxing even more into the evening as the alcohol began to flow through my veins. I was on vacation, far from the stresses of my everyday life, and I was in the company of a sexy man. I took a minute to look around, smiling at the couples having fun on the dance floor. “Do you dance?”
Garrett lowered his drink, looking at me in alarm as if he thought I was going to force him onto the dance floor. “No. Not at all. I prefer to play things safe.”
I leaned back in my seat, tilting my head as I stared at him. “You think you wouldn’t be safe dancing?” I asked cautiously.
He laughed ruefully. “I wasn’t worried about my safety as much as the safety of everyone around me on the dance floor. Seriously, it’s not pretty. People could get hurt,” he explained as I let out a loud laugh. Several heads turned our way, but I didn’t care. I was completely intrigued by this man.
“Maybe all you need is the right partner,” I urged.
Garrett shook his head adamantly. “No, no, no. Not going to happen. I don’t care how charming you are.”
“You think I’m charming?” I asked, my voice dipping lower.
His eyes widened as he realized what he’d let slip. “I didn’t…I just…” he stammered. I almost felt bad for teasing him when I saw how flustered he was, but we were interrupted before I could apologize.
“Excuse me.” I turned to see two young women standing right behind us. I’d been so engrossed in my conversation with Garrett, I hadn’t even seen them approach. “Oh my God! It is you! See, Kimmy. I told you it was Vincent Wilder,” the blonde shrieked loudly, grabbing her friend by the arm as she began to bounce up and down on the balls of her feet.
All around us, people turned to stare, and I felt myself shrinking into my seat as Kimmy thrust a pad of paper and a pen under my nose. “Can I get your autograph? Just make it to me, Kimmy with a y.”
“Oh, and one to me too. Will you sign ‘To Jessica, with all my love’?” the blonde pleaded.
I glanced back and forth between the two, forcing a fake smile on my face as I took the paper and pen and signed it for them. By this time, more people had begun to crowd around the bar and I could feel sweat break out over my brow. I looked up at Garrett. He looked stunned as he took in the bizarre scene.
He stood up and a sinking feeling filled my chest. Couldn’t I have just one nice evening? Garrett surprised me though when he cleared his throat and spoke smoothly. “Thank you all so much, but Mr. Wilder and I were just leaving. If you’ll excuse us, please.” With that, he pulled his wallet out, tossing several bills down on the bar and then looked at me. “Are you ready?”
It didn’t take me even a second to decide. I jumped to my feet, my stool nearly toppling over in the process and then the two of us slipped through the crowd, making our way down to the water. Neither of us said a word as we moved further away from the lights and sounds of the bar. When we were covered by darkness once again, I spoke.
“Thank you for that,” I said quietly.
“It was nothing,” he answered, and I wished I could see his face, so I could try to figure out what he was thinking. Although maybe I was better off not knowing.
“Well, it wasn’t nothing to me. I didn’t even get to buy you that drink like I wanted to,” I said, sadly. I doubted I’d get the chance now, which was a shame. I’d been having fun with him.
We walked several more feet before he spoke. “I’ve got some beers in my fridge if you’d like to go back to my place,” he said softly, surprising me.
“Okay. That sounds good,” I said, keeping my voice neutral so he wouldn’t hear the excitement in my voice. I knew he had to have been surprised back at the bar, and I was sure he had a lot of questions, but the fact that he still wanted to spend time with me was a good sign.
The tension that had been coming off Dean in waves as we were leaving the bar slowly began to ebb the further we got down the beach, and we walked along in companionable silence. The moon finally reappeared from behind a cloud, helping to guide us as we made our way along the shoreline until we were standing in front of my bungalow. He looked at me hesitantly as if he wasn’t sure he was still welcome.
“Come on up,” I said simply, leading the way up the steps. There was a momentary pause and then I heard his footsteps trailing behind. “Make yourself at home. I’ll be right back with those beers,” I told him, gesturing to the various chairs situated around the deck. Leaving him there, I stepped inside and headed straight for the kitchen.
My hands were shaking a bit from the events of the night and I gripped the edge of the counter, willing my heartbeat to slow its frantic pace. I’d spent the last several months holed up in a remote cabin with no human interaction other than the occasional phone call. Then, within two days of being on the island, I’d not only found myself spending time with a striking man, but I also got thrust into some sort of fan-frenzied rush toward that same man. It was a lot to take in and I needed just a few minutes to collect myself.
My head was swimming with questions that begged to be answered, but I didn’t feel it was my place to ask. I barely knew the guy after all, having shared nothing more than a few drinks and some pleasant conversation. As far as I was concerned, it was up to him to decide what he wanted to tell me. Still, I’d be lying if I didn’t admit that I was curious and more than a little confused about who he really was and why a man like him would want to spend time with someone like me in the first place.
I pondered the events of the night. Yes, the last few minutes at the bar were a bit overwhelming, but before all that happened, we’d been having a good time. Dean was surprisingly easy to talk to and I’d really been enjoying our conversation, even if his flirting had caught me off guard at first. I wasn’t used to anyone paying so much attention to me. It was disconcerting and thrilling all at once. Regardless of the strange events at the bar, I wouldn’t mind getting to know him better.
With that thought in mind, I grabbed a couple bottles of beer from the fridge and carried them out onto the deck. Dean was quiet as I sat down in the chair beside him but gave me a gentle ‘thank you’ when I handed him a beer. He popped the cap off and took a slow drink.
Opening my own bottle, I took a drink, the buzz I’d been enjoying at the bar returning as the beer traveled through my system. I settled into my chair, stretching my legs out in front of me with a contented sigh. Dean mirrored my movements and the two of us sat staring out over the ocean, the gleam of moonlight making the water look like liquid silver. Further up the beach we could hear someone laughing.
“I suppose I owe you an explanation,” he said quietly. I hated the trepidation I heard in his voice. I already missed the easygoing banter we’d shared earlier; the fun, playful attitude he’d displayed.
“You don’t owe me anything,” I assured him.
“Well, I feel like I do.” He paused, probably waiting to see if I’d argue again, but I sat quietly. If he wanted to tell me then that was his choice. “I didn’t lie to you, in case you were wondering. My name really is Dean.”
“I never thought you did,” I said gently.
“My name is Vincent Dean Wilder, but to my fans, I’m Vincent Wilder, the movie star.” He lifted his beer to his lips, eyeing me closely from the corner of his eye as if expecting some sort of reaction. When he didn’t get one, he continued. “I came here because I needed to get away for a bit. Away from the paparazzi and the fans and all the craziness that goes along with being famous. You have no idea how suffocating it can get sometimes.”
“I have a pretty good idea,” I said, shrugging my shoulder.
“You do?” he asked curiously.
“Well, not me personally. But my best friend works for one of the biggest entertainment agencies in the country. He’s also married to Carter Greene’s cousin,” I explained. I felt a familiar pang in my chest as I pictured Akio. Do I still have the right to call him my best friend?
“Oh wow! Carter’s Creed? I love their music,” Dean exclaimed, pulling me away from my thoughts before I could let them dampen my mood.
“Yeah, they’re an amazing band, but I’ve heard horror stories of what they all went through the more famous they became. Fans sneaking onto their tour buses, paparazzi hiding in the bushes outside their houses, hoping to get a picture of them in their own homes. It’s ridiculous. They have no privacy whatsoever. They can’t even go out with friends without people hounding them. Kind of like you, tonight,” I said quietly.
“Yeah, well, it’s not all bad. I know I have a better life than most, and I have no real reason to complain,” he said, brushing off my sympathy.
“Hey. You’re allowed to have a career you love and still have a private life,” I told him.
“Thanks. And thanks for not freaking out on me tonight. I get now why you were so cool about who I was when we met.”
“Ummm, actually, I didn’t recognize you. I don’t watch much TV or many movies.” I winced, hoping I hadn’t offended him.
Dean narrowed his eyes at me. “You’ve never seen any of my movies? Danger’s Dream? The Blood Arrow trilogy?”
Shrugging my shoulders again, I flashed him an apologetic look. “I spend most of my free time reading.” He stared blankly at me for a few seconds then he let out a loud bark of laughter. “Yeah, yeah. Laugh it up. I know I’m a nerd,” I said, rolling my eyes. He certainly wouldn’t be the first person to tease me about being a bookworm.
His amusement died down as he continued looking at me. “It’s actually very refreshing to meet someone who doesn’t expect me to be like the characters I portray or who hasn’t read my bio and suddenly thinks they know everything about me. And if you’re a nerd, you’re the sexiest damn nerd I’ve ever seen.” My jaw dropped at his words. He couldn’t be serious, could he? Dean seemed to notice that he’d surprised me.
“Surely, you’ve been told that you’re sexy before.”
I felt my face growing warm and I was glad it was dark enough that he couldn’t see me blush. “No, not really.”
“Then it’s about time someone let you know.” There was no humor in his voice, no teasing and my breath caught in my throat as our eyes locked together.