Sunrise: Movie Star, Fake Relationship Romance (Chasing The Sun Duet Book 1) Read online

  He smirks, and his eyes roam over me once again before he picks up the bag next to him on the floor and adjusts the one slung over his shoulder. He approaches the desk in a confident swagger that I'm sure he's perfected for the Hollywood crowd.

  Once in front of the desk, he sets his bags on the floor and opens one to pull out a folder. I hand him the NDAs signed by us and the staff, and he hands me a check for the stay. If the deposit made me smile, this check might have made me pass out. I don't think I've seen so much money come in at once to the inn.

  Since it's the off-season and the money wasn’t in the budget, I haven't had time to plan what to do with this money. Brynn and I will sit down with our accountant once Kade leaves, but I already have a few ideas. I want to ramp up our advertisements of the inns being wedding venues and market it to the city crowd.

  Once the paperwork is exchanged, I turn to him.

  "I have you set to stay in our Sunrise Suite. You'll have your own private balcony and views of the beach. It is the best room in the inn, but you, of course, can have your pick of rooms. Did you want a different room?" I ask.

  "No, I checked your website, and the Sunrise Suite looks perfect," Kade says.

  "Will you need more than one key?" I ask.

  There was no mention of him having a guest, but I'm sure if there is a girl in the picture, he will want her to have a key, too, right?

  "No, just me."

  I nod and hand him our welcome folder.

  "In this folder is a map of the inn and of the Sunset Inn next door. You are entitled to amenities at both places, though you have only rented out this inn. We plan to bring your meals to Sunrise's dining room if you don't wish to dine in the main dining room. There is a private dining area if you wish to head to the Sunset as well. There is also a map of the island and info on local businesses if you wish to explore. Per hotel security and security agreed upon with your manager, you will need to sign in and out each guest you bring on the property. Due to heightened security, we do ask you to limit the guests as we have limited personnel on site per your request, so the more people you bring onto the grounds, the harder it will be to keep you safe." I've been working on this spiel all morning, and I take a deep breath when I finish.

  "Don't worry. I have no intention of throwing a party or having a bunch of guests. I don't plan to have any guests, really. Not when the locals are so... entertaining." His heated eyes are on me again.

  "Okay then. Here is your key, and I will show you to your room." I say.

  I turn to Brynn. "I’ll meet you in the kitchen, and I expect to hear about the flying kiwis." I almost laugh as I round the desk and come face-to-face with Kade Markson, Hollywood playboy, for the first time with no buffer between us.

  Chapter 4

  Kade

  She was so cute as she gave me her spiel on signing guests in and out. I could tell she was hinting about female overnight guests without actually saying it, which means she knows my background. This will complicate things a little, but I hope to prove I'm not the guy painted by the tabloids.

  I'm determined to make sure she knows it before I leave, so having this goal for the next two weeks makes my time more interesting.

  With her now out from behind the desk and standing to face me, I get to take her in a bit more. She isn't short, which I like since I'm six feet, two inches tall. She comes to my shoulders.

  Her cutoffs showcase her long tan legs, and some cute strappy sandals cover her feet. Her dark tank top makes her hair look even more golden. She looks every part the beach girl I would expect to live on this small island.

  After a moment of staring at each other, she shakes her head again like she is clearing the fog from it, then reaches for my bags. I beat her to them. There is no way this beautiful, sassy girl is carrying my bags.

  When I pick them up, the look she gives me tells me she was expecting some pussy Hollywood type who can barely pick up his own phone, much less a bag. It makes me wonder the type of people she's had in and out of here.

  "Lead the way Goldie," I smirk. The pet name slipped out mostly due to her golden hair but also because she reminds me so much of Goldilocks in the book my mom used to read me before bed when I was a little boy.

  She leads the way upstairs to my room, and I can't take my eyes off how her shorts hug her heart-shaped ass perfectly. The feeling we got off on the wrong foot is one I can't seem to shake. It seems a good thing to fix and get back on track if I'm going to show her who I really am while I'm here.

  "I'm sorry for that back there. I'm just a bit on edge with the media lately. They love to make up their own stories. Whatever it takes to get clicks and sell papers. This break is long overdue," I admit, hoping to smooth things over.

  "I get it more than you might think. This is a small town, and the residents all know each other. Things aren't soon forgotten, and when..." She pauses and gets a faraway, sad look in her eyes. I want to ask her what happened and how I can fix it but don't get a chance before she shakes it off. "Well, when big news happens, it's like living in a fishbowl. I'm sure that is magnified in your shoes. I could get away just by leaving town, but really, where can you go? That has to suck," she admits.

  I wonder what this beautiful girl has been through to feel like she was living in a fishbowl, and I make a silent vow to find out. A part of me wants to promise her she will never feel that way again, and then another part of me says to do that, I'd have to stay away. My heart doesn't seem to like that idea.

  "So, what was with the girl throwing a kiwi at some guy?" I ask, needing to change the subject.

  "Ahhh her ex-boyfriend, who we didn't know was back in town. It's a long story and not mine to tell but let's say he deserved it and was lucky she didn't throw a pineapple at him." She laughs and stops in front of my door.

  "Is throwing fruit a normal thing for her?" I ask, not wanting the conversation to end.

  "Her throwing things in general is. I have a scar on my arm from her throwing a seashell at me."

  "Ouch, what did you do to deserve that?" I ask.

  "I dumped a bucket of sand on her head. I was ten, and she had pushed me into the pool earlier that day after I stole the last of her mom's blueberry muffins." She shrugs with a smile on her face.

  I fall against the wall laughing. She shakes her head and takes the key from my hand and opens the door for me.

  A quick look around confirms the room matches the online photos with a blue wood bed frame and amazing ocean views. The views alone sold me on this trip. Some peaceful ocean waves to wash away the old me seemed perfect.

  "My personal cell number is in your folder. Since there is minimal staff, if you need anything, call me on that number. I always have my phone. I live on the property, so I'm here day or night. I make breakfast here in the dining room. Normally, the guests from Sunset come over for breakfast, but they have been informed that breakfast will be in the dining room there. You can choose to eat here or walk over to Sunset with me each night at six for dinner. Just let us know your preference. I am going into town tomorrow to get some stuff before the storm hits. You’re welcome to tag along. If you need anything, let me know, and I'll be happy to pick it up. The bridge in and out of town closes during a storm, so don't go too far." She turns to me and smiles. "I'll let you get settled. See you at dinner."

  With that, she turns and leaves, and the room feels dark and empty like she takes the sunlight with her. What the hell is happening here? I have to be more stressed than I realize. That is the only reasonable answer.

  I close the door and set my bags down. Opening the balcony door, I let the sound of rushing waves fill the room. There are no cars, or people yelling, or sirens. It's just calm and quiet. Exactly what I need.

  I turn to start unpacking my bags when my phone rings. Wren's name flashes on the screen, and I almost send him to voicemail, but I decide to get this over with.

  "How was your flight attendant?" I ask, not even bothering with hello.

  "Gre
at, man. We are going to some club tonight too." He laughs.

  "Hope she was worth it. I'm officially pissed at you." I grunt.

  "Oh, she was worth it. She does yoga and lives in a house with four other girls just as hot as her, and they like to share, if you know what I mean." I can just see him wagging his eyebrows as he says that, and I roll my eyes.

  "I know what you mean. I just got here, and I'm unpacking. Did you need anything?" I ask.

  "How is the place?" A door closes in the background, and the line becomes quieter. He's now gone from friend mode to work mode.

  "It's quiet and cute. Just like the photos online, but the view is much better. Met the owner. She's the only staff I've seen here so far." I decide to leave out the other inn owner and not complicate things. The last thing I want is Wren showing up and ruining my peace and quiet.

  "That's great, man. Just remember to stay off social media and stay out of the spotlight. We want you to basically disappear as I go back to the studio next week and talk to them. I want to see what it will take to get you the role in that action movie we were talking about," Wren says.

  Ahhh, the action movie is supposed to be some huge production to rival the Mission Impossible franchise, but I wasn't overly impressed with it. Wren swears it's going to be huge, and his gut is hardly ever wrong. Well, at least with my career, it's not. With women, it is wrong more than it's right.

  "You do that and maybe talk to the asshole Matt about why he and his wife don't just release a statement with the truth. It would kill all this dead in the water and benefit us both." I sigh.

  "I know it would, but they aren't willing to. Honestly, I don't know for sure, but I think they are having problems and want to use this as a way to split in the best possible light. If they make up, then it makes them both look bad down the road or like they were hiding something. I'm willing to bet Matt offered her some big settlement in the divorce if she keeps looking like she cheated. I bet he's the one who's cheating and doesn't want it on his reputation. I've seen shit like this so much," Wren says.

  "So I get screwed in the process, and they go on their merry little way?" I grit out. I'm pissed. I hate how fake Hollywood is, and I hate playing these games. "Then this came at a good time because I'm so sick of it all, Wren. Maybe not push for the action movie. I need a break," I say the words out loud to him for the first time.

  "Shit, I don't think it was that bad. You know a break right now would kill your career. You have to come back swinging or not at all. Listen. Let's get you in another blockbuster, then you can take some time off with the whole ‘going to spend some time with family' spiel and keep your social media going. Let me talk to the studio and see where we go, okay? I promise, let's just get you back in, then we will get you a break." Wren's voice actually sounds sorry, which isn't an emotion I get from him often.

  "Okay. I'm actually going to turn my phone off for a few days, so call the inn if you need me, okay?"

  "All right, take care, man." Wren hangs up.

  I figure if I'm going to turn off my phone, I should call my mom and dad and let them know. They will worry regardless.

  "Hey, baby." My mom's voice greets me.

  "Hey, Mom. I'm going to turn off my phone for a few days and wanted to give you a number to reach me if you need me." I give her the contact info here for the Sunrise Inn.

  "Does this have anything to do with that Cassie girl?" my mom asks.

  Great. Even my mom, who avoids tabloids, has heard.

  "It has everything to do with it. She was drunk, so I helped her home and left. Nothing happened, but she won't say that publicly. Wren thinks they are going to use this as a reason for divorce, and I get caught in the crosshairs," I admit.

  "I think I agree with him this time, baby. So you're just hiding out in North Carolina?" she asks.

  "Well, Wren suggested I stay out of the public eye for a bit while he talks to the studio, but really, I need time to think. I'm just not happy anymore. No matter what I do, I'm still a Hollywood playboy. No one but you, Dad, and Wren thinks I've changed, and it's just ... tiring. I need to figure out what I want again."

  "You could have come home to do that. It would have been nice to see you." Mom sounds a bit hurt, but I know she won't admit any more than she already has.

  "I know, but the press will be looking for me there once they know I've left Hollywood. You guys lock the gate and make sure the alarm is on for a bit, okay?"

  They live in the middle of nowhere on a small ranch, but once I made a name for myself, I upped their security. I put in a gate at the driveway and an alarm system in the house and around the yard. Thankfully, they didn't fight me on it.

  They did fight me when I paid off the mortgage on their land, however. After I sat down and showed them how much money I had made and gave them the whole this is how it works you took care of me, now I take care of you speech, they let it go.

  "We will. But promise you will call and check in next weekend so I know you're okay?" Mom asks.

  "I will call on Saturday if not before, and I expect to talk to Dad then," I say, knowing he's out in the fields working now.

  "Fine, I’ll tell him. I love you, baby, and you can come home any time, no notice needed, you hear me?"

  "I love you too, Mom, and I know. I promise to visit soon."

  We say our goodbyes and hang up. I turn off my phone and toss it on the nightstand.

  As I finish unpacking, I'm feeling better than I have in months. Maybe if I hurry up, I can run into Lin before dinner.

  Chapter 5

  Linly

  I'm checking emails at the front desk when Kade walks up. He's been in his room since he checked in a few hours ago, which has been fine by me. All this quiet time has allowed me to update our website and catch up on emails, all stuff that falls to the side when we have a steady stream of customers.

  "How's your room?" I ask without even looking up from clearing the last emails from my inbox.

  When he doesn't answer, I look at him, and he has a funny expression on his face until my eyes meet his.

  "There she is," he says softly with a smile on his face. "The room is great. Very peaceful. I turned my phone off, so if my manager Wren or my parents need me, I gave them the number here. Anyone else, just take a message for me, please?" he asks.

  I'm not sure why but I didn't expect him to ask. I expected more of a demand. Kade Markson seems to be surprising me at every turn.

  "Sure will. Ready for dinner? Will you be eating here?" I ask him.

  "Actually, did the staff at the Sunset sign the NDAs?" he asks.

  "The kitchen and dining room staff did, yes," I tell him.

  "I'd like to eat there if there is a private area. Will you join me? I hate eating alone."

  Crap, I wanted to sit down and eat with Brynn and finally get the story from her about Jasper. No matter how busy we are, we always eat dinner together in the off-season and lunch together in season.

  After giving it some thought, I stand and slowly make my way to the side door that will lead us to the dining room at Sunset.

  "I will eat with you if you tell me the real reason you're here," I tell him.

  He shoves his hands into the pockets of his jeans and looks at his feet as we walk. He stops at the door and sighs. He grabs a ball cap from his back pocket I had missed and pulls it low over his head.

  "I can't. I promised my manager," he says.

  I shrug. "Okay well, I have a dinner date with Brynn. I want to hear the flying kiwi story," I tell him as I lead him to his private table that can't be seen from the rest of the dining room.