Rising Star Page 4

  Selena was loading Rusty into the horse trailer for the last time and she jumped when she heard a voice behind her.

  “You didn’t think you were going to get away without saying goodbye, did you?”

  Selena turned at the sound of his smooth, sexy voice, her heart skipping a beat. “I know you’ve been really busy,” she muttered, looking at her feet.

  Matt took her chin in his hand and forced her to meet his eyes. “Screw their movie,” he said as he dropped his head and kissed her passionately.

  She was caught off guard by the unexpected kiss. It left her breathless and Selena stepped back as she stared into his blue eyes. He stared back, losing himself in the dark, secretive depths of her eyes. She knew she shouldn’t feel this way. He was leaving soon and odds were, she would never see him again, except maybe on TV. But she couldn’t seem to help herself. She was inexorably drawn to him and his nearness alone was enough to make her feel jittery and nervous. There was an electric current between them, she could feel it now, even without touching him.

  He pulled her close again and kissed her, longer and deeper this time. Selena felt her knees go weak with passion for him. He broke the kiss finally and backed away from her, holding her hand until the last second, his smoldering eyes holding onto hers.

  “See ya,” he said finally, his voice gruff and his blue eyes sparkling as he turned and walked away.

  Selena stood as if in a trance, watching him go. What had he meant by that? He hadn’t said goodbye, he’d said ‘see ya,’ which implied what? He was going to fly back and forth from Hollywood to New Mexico to visit her? Not likely. She watched until he disappeared into the crowd of actors and crew, her heart sinking at the thought of him leaving. Why did everything have to be so complicated? Why couldn’t they just be together and see where this strange attraction led them?

  Selena drove home slowly, a huge check in her hand, but her thoughts in a turmoil. She’d known this moment would come and she’d tried to steel herself against it, but now it was here and she missed Matt already. There had been something very special between them, a spark, a chemistry, she wasn’t sure what to call it, but she had certainly never felt it before. And of course, she had no way of knowing if he felt the same, but the way his blue eyes sparkled whenever he looked at her, Selena knew he was attracted to her. And obviously, she’d been wrong; he hadn’t just been looking for a desert fling before returning to L.A. She wished she’d never said anything to him about it. She’d probably hurt his feelings.

  Chapter 7

  Selena was working on her detective story a few days later when the phone rang. She ran to answer it, her mind still embroiled in the adventures of Trish. She’d given Matt her phone number and email, but she knew he was really busy with filming right now. Even still, she held her breath and hoped as she lifted the receiver.

  “Hi, it’s Don Broward,” the voice on the phone said.

  “Hi, Don. How are you?” Selena was surprised to hear from him again.

  “Wonderful. We’re just finishing up filming in Santa Fe. We’ll be heading back to L.A. in a couple of days.”

  Selena’s heart fell as she thought about Matt flying back to California, never to return. Even though she’d been expecting it, she still felt a little tug at her heart when she thought of never seeing him again.

  “I got an email from a friend in L.A. yesterday,” Don continued. “Her name is Angelique. She’s looking for someone to do a magazine layout on horseback, wearing designer dresses. She said she’s looking for a young girl who can actually ride, not just someone to sit on a horse, and I immediately thought of you.”

  Selena was quiet as she listened, her thoughts tumbling across each other.

  “Would you mind if I send her a clip of the film and a couple of still shots?”

  “Sure. I guess that’s okay.” Although why some lady in L.A. would have any interest in her, she couldn’t imagine. Whatever must Don be thinking? She was not an actress and she was most definitely not a model.

  “Great Selena, consider it done. And I thank you for your participation in the movie. It should be coming out soon.”

  “Thank you, Don, for the opportunity. It was quite an experience.” And one I don’t really wish to repeat. She had no interest in acting and she was grateful her part had been small. Getting her few lines right with so many people watching had been harder than she’d thought it would. It wasn’t the lines; that was easy enough. No, it was all those people and cameras.

  They hung up and Selena quickly forgot about Don and his crazy ideas as her mind reentered the land of Trish. She had finished the story while she sat around the movie set every day; now she just had to get it transferred onto her computer. She read through her scribbled notes, editing and making changes as she transferred it to her computer.

  She had also stopped on her way home from school and bought several of Matt’s previous movies. She watched each one at night, after her parents had gone to bed and the house was silent. She hadn’t even told Beth she was watching them. It was something she wanted to do alone and it gave her a nearness to Matt she wouldn’t have had otherwise. She could see why all the teenage girls in the country, and even the older women, had fell so in love with Matthew Mason. He was gorgeous on screen and his acting was so well-performed, she tended to forget the Matt she had known and fall in love with his on-screen character. His love scenes were so romantic and so intense, she felt a jealous pain as she watched him kissing starlets on the screen. No wonder Beth calls him a ‘hottie.’ She dropped her chin into her hands as she stared at Matt on her small TV screen, his sexy musical voice filling her room as if he were there with her. She had trouble sleeping each night after watching his movies. Visions of his sexy, romantic characters on-screen filled her thoughts as she tossed and turned and, when she could finally get to sleep, her dreams were filled with Matt, only it was she kissing him in front of the cameras, instead of those silly starlets. Yeah, like that would ever happen! She lay awake thinking about him every time she woke from her restless dreams.

  She knew the crew had finished filming and returned to Hollywood. She had heard nothing from Matt before he left and nothing since. And, as she watched his movies, she didn’t really expect to hear from him. What would a superstar like him, who could have any girl he wanted, want with someone like her? She began to assume, much as she had before, that she had just been a ‘spring fling,’ someone to occupy himself with, until he had finished shooting the movie.

  Chapter 8

  Selena celebrated her eighteenth birthday with her parents and Beth. They took her out to dinner and the waitress brought a cupcake with a candle in it.

  “Open mine first,” Beth said as she pulled a gift from underneath the table. Selena ripped open the package. Beth had bought her a journal with her name engraved on the front. “It’s for recording your adventures, the next chapter of your life after we graduate,” Beth told her. Selena hugged her friend. “It’s perfect, Beth. Thank you.”

  “Now mine,” her mother said as she produced a large box. Her mother had bought her a new pair of cowboy boots. Selena was near tears as she hugged her mom. “Thank you, mom. You know how much I’ve wanted these.” She hugged her father too. “Thank you, dad.”

  Her dad looked embarrassed and said, “They’re from your mother. I have your gift at home.”

  The staff at the restaurant, many of whom were Selena’s classmates, brought out a cupcake with a lit candle stuck lopsided in the icing. They sang Happy Birthday as Selena’s family and even other restaurant patrons joined in. Selena was sure it was the single most embarrassing moment of her life. Why couldn’t they just give her the gifts at home, over a nice quiet dinner? She thanked everyone, hoping the dim light of the restaurant hid the deep red flush on her face, and blew out her candle.

  When they returned home, her dad disappeared and she heard his old truck start up in the driveway. The embarrassment she’d suffered at the restaurant had caused her to forget ab
out her dad telling her he had another gift for her. Hmm, I wonder where he’s off to, she thought as she heard the old truck rattle down the drive, this is not his night to play cards with his cronies, I don’t think.

  Selena was listening to music with Beth when he returned a few minutes later.

  “Okay, Selena. Your birthday gift is outside,” her father said when he entered the house.

  Selena stared at him, a surprised look on her face, until she remembered what he’d said at the restaurant. Although she had enjoyed her birthday dinner with the three people she loved most in the world, she had been incredibly relieved when the evening ended and she could relax. “What could you possibly get me that has to be outside? It’s not another horse, is it? Selena looked at Beth and saw excitement almost bubbling over on her face. She followed her dad outside and stopped in amazement. There was a bright, shiny red car parked in the drive.

  “Are you kidding me?” Her dad was smiling happily when she looked at him. She ran and threw herself into his arms and hugged him tight. “You’re the best dad ever.”

  “Enjoy it, Selena. Just promise me you’ll be safe, okay?”

  “I will, dad. I promise.”

  Selena and Beth jumped in the car, playing with all the knobs and gadgets. The car was several years old, but in really good condition. It must have cost a fortune, Selena thought as she walked around the car, running her hand down the fender. She knew her dad couldn’t afford this. Had he been saving up for it? Or did he owe money on it? I’ll get a summer job, she thought as she stared at it. No way I’m going to let him take on another bill. She knew her parent’s barely made enough to cover expenses now. Her dad made a decent living as a mechanic, but she knew her mother’s receptionist job didn’t pay very well. She had the check in the bank from the movie, but she knew her mother wouldn’t let her touch it. “It’s a good start for college,” her mom had told her.

  “Let’s take it for a drive,” Beth said, interrupting her thoughts as she climbed into the passenger side. Selena shrugged off her worries as Beth’s excitement washed over her. Beth found a rock station on the radio and turned it up to an ear-shattering decibel. Selena felt the steering wheel vibrate to the beat as she drove. Good thing we’re out in the country, she thought. Wouldn’t want to get pulled over for disturbing the peace.

  “You’re sooo lucky, Selena,” Beth yelled over the music. “My parents only got me a new saddle when I turned eighteen.”

  “I know, I was there, remember? But you know they did all they could afford to, right? I’m not sure how my dad could even afford this car.” Selena turned the radio down as she spoke.

  “I know. Well, you can at least give me a ride to school tomorrow, right?”

  “Of course.” Selena cranked the knob on the radio and blasted the music again as she flew down the dark, shadowy back roads. Beth’s excitement was catching, and Selena sang along with the song as she drove. She felt free as they flew along, the car gave her a sense of freedom that she’d never known. Just think, no more asking for permission to use the pickup, she thought. Matt crossed her mind as she drove, his name wandering across her mind even as she sang along with the radio. She stopped singing as she imagined him here with them, his blue eyes shining with mischief as he sang along with the song too. Selena glanced in the rearview mirror and saw Matt’s face, just as she had imagined it. He was smiling happily from the back seat, blue eyes shining as he sang.

  “Watch out,” Beth screamed over the music.

  Selena slammed the brakes and slowed the car. She’d been so busy watching the mirror, she hadn’t seen the hairpin curve on the dark road. She yanked the small car around the curve, still much too fast.

  “Holy cow, Selena,” Beth said as she turned the stereo down. “You okay?”

  “Yeah, sorry.” She glanced in the mirror again, but Matt’s beautiful face had disappeared.

  Chapter 9

  She was working on her story again a few days later, typing away on her old computer, when her cell phone rang. Her heart leaped as she thought of Matt. She could see his twinkling blue eyes as she thought of him, with the mischievous light shining out of them. She squeezed her eyes shut and held her breath as she picked up the phone.

  “I’m calling for Angelique Deveroux,” a lady’s voice on the phone said. “Is this Selena Summers?”

  “Yes,” Selena answered, confusion heavy in her voice. She had been so sure it was Matt this time; now her brain had to switch gears as she heard a female voice.

  “Angelique is interested in interviewing you for a magazine layout. Would you be able to fly out to L.A. next week?”

  “Um…I guess so.” Selena was at a loss for words. Then she remembered Don’s phone call. This must be the lady he’d sent her picture to. Selena hadn’t took it very seriously and in fact, she had forgotten all about it.

  “Good, I’ll book the flight and send you the details.” The lady took down Selena’s email address.

  Selena hung up, dumbfounded. How was she going to explain this to her parents? She had completely forgot about Don’s call and had never mentioned it to her parents. There were only a few days left of school before graduation. Would her parents let her miss those last few days? Would she be back in time to graduate with her class? She hadn’t even found out how much the job pays or how long it would last. Not to mention the fact, she’d been spending all her free time working on her novel. She was much more interested in selling her book to a publisher than being in Don’s movie or modeling women’s clothes. She felt sure the only reason they were interested in someone like her, was because the stick-thin models probably couldn’t sit on a horse without falling off.

  “I can’t believe it, my baby’s going to be in a magazine?” Selena’s mom screeched when she told her about the phone call.

  “It’s just an interview, mom. I don’t know yet if I’ll be in anything.”

  “I’m not too crazy about a teenage girl going alone to L.A.,” her dad chimed in.

  “I’ll be okay, dad. A driver is meeting me at the airport and taking me straight to Angelique’s office. I’ll never be alone while I’m there.”

  “Mmm…and what about school?”

  “I’ll ask my teachers tomorrow if I can miss a few days. Graduation is next Friday, I should be back by then. It’s only a few classes I would miss. Anyway, it’s an interview. If she’s not happy with me, I’ll be back the following day.”

  “I don’t think you should miss the last few days of school,” her mother said.

  “She’ll be fine, Rosa,” her dad answered for her. “Her grades are good enough, I’m sure she’ll be able to miss a few days.” He kissed the top of her mother’s head as he said it, then turned to Selena.

  “Go. Spread your wings and fly, duckling.”

  Selena laughed and hugged him. “Thanks dad. You guys are the best.”

  But, did she really want to go? Maybe it would have been easier if her parents had forbidden it. Of all the things she’d wanted to be when she grew up, a model was definitely not on the list. Later that night, she stood in front of the full-length mirror hanging from the door of her small closet. She turned this way and that, striking a pose like the girls she’d seen in magazines. This is just stupid, she thought as she finally gave it up, flouncing down in front of her old computer. They’re going to take one look at me, and wish they had saved the air fare. She went back to one of her manuscripts, a Trish Black adventure she’d never finished. As she read through it, she began making changes and adding to the story, watching as Trish grew into the smart, sassy girl from her other stories. Now this girl, Selena thought as she typed, she could handle anything. She could solve a murder mystery while pretending to be a model. Hmm, Selena paused as she thought about it. Might make a good story. Trish was everything Selena wanted to be. She was cool, confident and comfortable around all sorts of people. She always had a snappy comeback to every question and she didn’t take any guff from anyone. I bet she would have taken
Matthew Mason and wrapped him around her little finger. Selena smiled in the dark as she considered it. Trish would have been so aloof, Matt would have been chasing her down and begging for a chance to spend time with her. Angelique and the modeling business were all but forgotten as Selena lost herself in the world of Trish.

  Chapter 10

  Selena’s dad drove her to the airport on Monday. She’d had no trouble clearing it with her teachers; her grades were among the top of her classes and she had already accrued enough credits to graduate. These last few days were filled with parties and yearbook signings, as high school, for her at least, drew to a close.

  Her father parked the red car and followed her inside the airport to check in. He stayed by her side all the way to the security checkpoint, where he gave her one last hug. “Be safe, Selena. I love you.”

  “I love you too, dad.”

  “Hey,” he said as she began walking away.

  She looked back and her father winked at her. “Break a leg,” he said.

  “I hope not.” She smiled and waved as she entered the line at the security checkpoint. I probably will, she thought. I’ll probably fall all over myself and break both my legs. I’ll be laughed out of modeling. No, I’ll be laughed out of Hollywood; out of California, even. We don’t want no half-breed hick girls here, she could just hear the Hollywood people chanting at her as she moved through the line.