Harbor

“Harbor, you’re even more stunning than your pictures.” Mitch Southerland is obviously overly trying to make up for my misfortune as he leads me to a small table in the back of the coffee shop.

When I saw him, I did a double take. I pictured the cliché Hollywood agent when I spoke to Mitch on the phone. Instead of having the slicked back hair, fake tan, and too white teeth, Mitch is good-looking in a laid-back way, with shaggy blond hair and sparkling green eyes. He doesn’t look like someone who just went through a major family emergency and I become annoyed at myself. Last night, Ian made me feel stupid for trusting Mitch and I defended myself and my ability to read people. I refuse to let Ian’s insecurities leak into my life.

“You don’t have to flatter me, Mitch. You’re already my agent.”

Mitch throws back his head and laughs deeply. The dimples on his cheeks dig in deep and I find myself giggling with him. Just being in his presence for a little under ten minutes tells me why he’s such a successful agent. His charm and easygoing attitude puts a person immediately at ease and it makes him easy to trust.

See Ian, I do know what I’m doing. I force my attention back to Mitch when I catch myself mentally argue with the man who takes up way too much of my thoughts lately.

“Sorry, it’s hard turning the charm off. It’s second nature.” Mitch winks at me before taking a sip of the coffee the waitress delivered while I’d gone off to Ian la-la land.

“Well, you don’t need it with me. But you’ll be even more charming if you tell me you were able to get me an audition,” I respond, fighting the urge to wink back at him. Guilt that I almost flirted with Mitch flitters over me. Guilt I have no reason to be feeling because Ian and I are…We’re what? Definitely not a couple. Realizing this isn’t the time to ponder my weird relationship with Ian, I lean in so I can give Mitch my full attention.

“Then consider my charm turned on high.”

“You got me an audition, is it on Broadway? No, I wouldn’t be on Broadway yet, but like I said, I have no problem with doing an off Broadway production just as long as I’m on stage.” I take a drink of my coffee to stop myself from rambling but I can’t keep the excitement from making me feel lightheaded.

I watch Mitch over my coffee cup and see his smile dip before coming back up. My excitement dies, knowing that what he’s about to tell me isn’t what I want to hear.

“I’m not doing porn,” I tell him when he doesn’t speak.

Mitch grins widely at my statement and finally says, “I would never put any of my clients in porn. I promise, Harbor, you’re safe.”

“What aren’t you telling me?” My nerves are making me restless and my foot bobs under the table.

“The audition isn’t for theater on or off Broadway, it’s for a television commercial.”

“I don’t understand. I told you that I wanted to be on Broadway. I want to be on stage. Why would you book me for an audition for something that has nothing to do with theater?” I hate that Ian comes to mind again, reminding me that I’m too trusting. Maybe Mitch is just using me for easy money.

“Harbor, I’m doing my best to get you an audition for a play, but these things take time. It’s hard for an unknown actress to get parts in anything right now. I think this is the best course of action. This way you aren’t pigeonholing yourself by only wanting to do Broadway and you also will get more experience.”

“I don’t know, Mitch. I’ve always studied to be an actress on stage. I’m not even sure I would know what to do in front of a camera.”

“Harbor, you’re a natural. You’ll be perfect in front of a camera. Let’s make a deal. You go to this audition and do the best you can, and if it doesn’t work out I’ll take you to a big fancy dinner where you can publicly tell me I was wrong.”

“What about the theater?” I ask, unable to keep from smiling at his silliness.

“I’m going to try my hardest to get you a theater audition, whether you get this commercial job or not. Theater is what you asked for and theater is what I will get you, but if you could humor me and go on some television and or movie auditions I set up for you, I would really appreciate it.”

Butterflies tickle my stomach. I’ve secretly wanted to try acting offstage, but I didn’t have the confidence to try it. Mitch is giving me the perfect opportunity and whatever happens, he would still be working on getting me onstage.

“It’s a deal,” I tell him, giggling when he reaches over and shakes my hand.

Mitch and I talk over the details of my audition and when we part ways I feel like I’m floating. I grab my phone to call Ian and tell him about my meeting with Mitch, but I decide I don’t want to talk to him on the phone. I want to see him. With a skip in my step I walk the couple of blocks to Ian’s building. I don’t try to hide my smile when I see the elegantly displayed logo of Strong Enterprises above the stern-looking lady manning the front desk.

“Can I help you?” she asks in a no-nonsense manner.

Before I can answer, Collette exits the elevator, rushes over and hugs me. “I was just telling Ian how I need to kidnap you for a girl day.”

“I’m game.”

Collette must be able to see my happy glow because she takes my hand and leads me to Ian’s office, not bothering to knock. When we go in, he’s on the phone and his eyes widen when he sees me standing next to Collette.

Collette pats me on the shoulder before walking out, closing the door behind her. Ian motions for me to sit in one of the chairs in front of his desk as he continues his phone call, but his intense eyes never leave me. Instead of sitting, I move to look out the massive window that takes up a whole wall. The busy city below looks small, and I fall more in love with New York.

I hear Ian hang up and twirl around, launching into him. His arms wrap around me and his lips come to rest on my hair. When I came here, I didn’t think. I only wanted to be in his arms when I told him the good news, but now that I have his arms wrapped tightly around me I realize how inappropriate my behavior is. The thing is, I don’t want to move. I wouldn’t mind staying in his arms for a long time.

“Is everything okay? Did Mitch not show up?” The frantic tone in Ian’s voice has me moving away from him so he can see my smile.

“No, Mitch was there. Everything is great, actually. I couldn’t wait to share my news with you and I didn’t want to tell you over the phone.”

Ian tucks a strand of loose hair behind my ear and grins. “I’m glad you came in. I missed you.”

His words start a flurry of tingles in my stomach and for a second I can’t remember why I did come to his office.

“Are you going to make me guess?” Ian asks, breaking me out of my trance.

“Mitch got me an audition,” I squeal, doing a small happy dance, careful not to hurt my leg.

“That’s amazing, Harbor. What play is it for?” Ian laughs at my dancing.

“Here is the crazy part. It isn’t for a play, it’s for a commercial. Mitch convinced me while he’s trying to get me a Broadway audition he wants me to expand and try commercial, TV, and even movies. Can you believe it?” I do a clumsy twirl and come to an abrupt stop when I notice Ian’s smile is no longer on his face. In fact, if I’m not mistaken, I think Ian is pissed, but that doesn’t make any sense.

“Is everything all right?” I ask Ian when he still doesn’t return my smile.

He gives me a stiff nod and dread knots in my stomach. “That’s great, Harbor. I’m happy for you. Are you sure this is what you want, though? Ever since I’ve met you all you have talked about is being on Broadway. Is it really such a good idea to remove your focus on your dream to chase a commercial?”

My fists clench and I have to fight to keep them at my sides. My feelings for Ian are strong, and the sexual tension between us never seems to go away, but this weird grudge he has for Mitch is getting annoying.

Yesterday during dinner we had our first argument. Normally when we are together we have fun no matter what we do, go out or sit at home watching crappy TV, and that is one of the main reasons I know I am falling for Ian. It’s obvious he’s guarding his heart from something that happened to him, and I figure he’ll tell me when he’s ready. I want to be with Ian and I decided a while ago that I would wait for him to confess his demons so we can work it out, but if he doesn’t stop with his bashing of my agent I can’t see us working. As much as I want to tell him everything on my mind, I keep my feelings in check. He isn’t ready to hear what I have to say and I’m not sure I have the force to convince him.

“Mitch says that I need a portfolio with more work to be considered for Broadway. He’s just being a good agent and helping me gain experience. It’s not like I’m refocusing my dream because I’m doing a commercial audition. This is just supplementing it.” I keep my words light, not wanting to fight with him.

“Maybe you should let me find another agent for you. I have connections.”

I’m shaking my head before he even finishes his sentence. “I’m going to stick with Mitch. I’ll let you get back to work. I was just in the neighborhood and wanted to see you.”

Before I can take two steps, Ian grabs my arm and pulls me into his chest. My heart starts beating rapidly as I inhale his rich male scent. When Ian’s large hands run up and down my back, I’m close to melting into a puddle of lust. My ability to keep my need for him at a low simmer has been because I’ve made sure to avoid being this close to him. He’s making it difficult not to give in to my desire to throw him down and straddle him on his organized desk.

“I’m sorry for being an ass. I’ve been working on a crazy account and it’s making me insane. Don’t be mad at me. Let me make it up to you. I’ll take you out for a celebratory dinner when I get home.”

I smile and nod against his chest. One of Ian’s warm hands moves from my back to under my chin, where he lifts my head so he can see my face. His tongue peeks out and licks his lips and my skin is aching for him to touch me.

As if he has all the time in the world, Ian’s head lowers until his full lips are pressing against mine. The kiss is slow and torturous. Ian takes his time, as if he’s memorizing every nuance of my lips. When I moan my desire, his tongue slips in, gliding around mine as he strokes the inside of my mouth.

Someone clearing their throat brings us back to reality. I try to jump away but Ian holds me firmly to him, his erection pressing into my stomach, making me mentally curse whoever interrupted us.

“I was wondering if you were going to join us for your meeting?” Collette asks from behind me, a smile evident in her question.

“I’ll be right there,” Ian tells her, kissing my nose before releasing me. Before he makes it out his office door, he speaks over his shoulder. “I’ll make reservations. I’ll see you tonight.”

Tingles shiver down my spine. The way he said the word tonight, it sounded like a promise of more kisses, hopefully more… everything.