Page 61 of Love on the Byline
Blake almost choked on her sparkling wine.
“Forgive the movie star,” Ollie said. “He forgets that mostof us live in the real world where the finer things are stuff like a night outwith friends or dinner in a restaurant that has tablecloths on the tables.”
“Vacations to Disneyland,” Blake added.
“Wing night at McFadden’s.” He grinned at the memories.
“Oh, snap!” Bran chuckled. “That place was a vibe.”
“It was a disgusting hole in the wall,” Blake argued. “Youtwo actually ate the food there?”
“It doesn’t surprise me that you didn’t.” Bran shook hishead. “God, even then, you thought you were so much better than the rest ofus.”
“Bran,” he warned. “Don’t start.”
“No, Bran, please do. Start. Tell me more about mysuperiority complex while we sit in your thirty-eight million-dollar hideout.”She propped her chin in her hand, waiting.
Bran’s jaw dropped as he blinked at Ollie. “Fuck. Is thisplace really thirty-eight mil?”
“At least,” he replied. “Why do you think I’m always tryingto talk you out of buying something in this area?”
“Why not?”
Confused, he turned to Blake. “Uh, because it’s thirty-eightmillion dollars?”
“You see, Blake—and you might want to write this in yourlittle book—Oliver here is more than my assistant, he’s my life coach. He keepsme from doing stupid shit.”
“I don’t always succeed.”
“Obviously,” she agreed, grinning.
“Ha fucking ha.” Bran walked back over to the lounger andreclined, folding his hands behind his head. “You two should take your act onthe road.”
“Maybe you missed your calling, Oliver,” she said. He lovedthe teasing tone of her voice, glad that she seemed relaxed. “Ever think aboutacting?”
“Not for a single moment.”
“Ols hates the camera,” Bran called over to them.
“He’s right, I do.”
“But why?” She seemed genuinely perplexed. “You’re…agood-looking guy.”
Why did it sound like she’d forced the compliment? Ollietried not to shrink in his seat. He wasn’t unattractive, he thought. Of course,standing next to someone like Bran, he probably looked like a troll. But Olliewasn’t blind, he saw the way some people looked at him. Reacted around him.Mostly people who didn’t know him well, who didn’t know him as Bran’s EA.
It was true that he hadn’t dated much, but it wasn’t for alack of interested parties. He wasn’t generally interested most of thetime.
It had taken a long time for Ollie to figure out that heneeded an emotional connection with someone before any physical attractionwould manifest itself. It wasn’t something that came up during high school,since he kept pretty much to himself. He’d only known that he was a littledifferent from the people around him. In college, he had no desire to chaseafter sex the way his classmates did. His friends on the team, the guys in thefrat house.
It was one more way he didn’t fit in.
He could count on one hand the number of times he’dexperienced a pull towards someone in that way and half of those were caused bythe two people on this patio.
“I’ve tried to give him a walk-on role in a couple of myfilms, but he won’t do it,” He pointed at Ollie. “He’s shy.”
“Just because I don’t want to slap on spandex and spoutlines about some vague, nostalgic notion about truth and freedom doesn’t meanI’m shy.”
“Hey.” Bran sat up. “Don’t diss Captain Sky. And no one saidanything about lines. I was thinking you’d be in the background.” He stood upand planted his feet wide. “Sort of like this, with your arms crossed, lookinglike a bad ass.”