Total pages in book: 90
Estimated words: 83368 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 417(@200wpm)___ 333(@250wpm)___ 278(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 83368 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 417(@200wpm)___ 333(@250wpm)___ 278(@300wpm)
Before he could speak, Jay said, “I know you have your reservations, but if you could just spare an hour, or even thirty minutes, we’ll supply the coffee, and all you have to do is listen.”
Hersch made a noncommittal sound.
“Look,” Jay continued, because the man was nothing if not persistent, “at least come and tell the hottest actor working in Hollywood, and one of the best looking, why you don’t want him to play you in the movie of your life.”
Hersch laughed then. “Since I’m pretty much neighbors with Archer now that I’ve moved to town, I guess I could come over for some neighborly coffee.”
Jay let out a triumphant sound. He said he’d text the address, and Hersch hung up, wondering what on earth he’d gotten himself into. As he headed back to his new home, he wondered if there was also maybe a tiny bit of himself that was flattered that anyone would want to make a movie about him.
* * *
A shower and a change of clothes later, Hersch followed his phone’s directions to Archer Davenport’s place on Scenic Drive, where he’d been running earlier. He briefly wondered if they’d seen him and that was why Jay had made the call, but he shook away the idea—surely not even Jay Malone was that conniving.
As he walked up to the door, he was impressed by the beauty of Archer’s home. He’d expected something spectacular—Archer was an A-list celebrity—but this place was a modern masterpiece of glass and sharp angles. Its crisp white paint job sparkled in the sun.
The dark gray front door was built to be intimidating, with a series of security cameras around the buzzer, but Hersch was used to high-level security. He rang the bell.
To his surprise, Archer himself opened the door. “Come right in,” he said. “So glad you could join us. I’m Arch.”
Hersch knew that Archer had recently broken his leg, but the only clue was that he walked with a slight limp. He’d clearly made a great recovery. Archer flashed him a true Hollywood-heartthrob smile and ushered him in.
He showed Hersch through to an enormous living room with floor-to-ceiling windows that showcased the ocean view. Jay Malone, sitting on a cream leather couch, jumped to his feet and came straight over to shake Hersch’s hand like they had already made a deal. Hersch was thankful to have something to focus on besides the view. Jay was wearing a sharp navy suit. Did the man ever give himself a minute off?
Archer told Hersch to make himself comfortable. “I’m so happy to have a real-life hero in my living room,” he said. “It’s an honor.”
Hersch tried not to cringe. He was anything but a hero, but these two men kept insisting otherwise. Rather than taking a seat right away, Hersch turned his back on the windows to look at the art. Archer was obviously a collector. He was drawn to a group of paintings that were different, softer and more expressive than some of the others. “Are these Tessa Taylor’s paintings? I saw an exhibition of her work. They’re beautiful.”
Archer looked like Hersch had just paid him the greatest compliment in the world. “Yes, wow. I can’t believe you recognize her style. I’m always telling Tessa she’s one of a kind, but she doesn’t believe me. She’ll be thrilled when I tell her that Herschel Greenfield spotted her work and liked it.” Then, almost as though he were giving away state secrets, he said, “We’re engaged.”
“Congratulations.”
“Just announced it to the press last night,” Jay said in his forceful way.
“Tessa’s very talented,” Hersch said. He looked carefully at Archer’s face, realizing as he did that he was seeking traces of Mila there. What had that taken—two minutes before he was thinking about Mila again?
Jay guided Hersch to a chair, and Arch poured him a cup of coffee.
“I was reading online that your movie with Smith Sullivan is coming out soon. Congratulations.”
Arch smiled, but it was a modest smile. “Ah, thanks. We’re pretty excited about it. The movie had a great screenwriter and director, and the crew were just amazing. They made it easy for me. Plus, I was working with my best bud, which helps.”
“I’m sure that your breaking your leg on set will help with ticket sales,” Jay interjected. To Hersch, he said, “The man never broke character, so they kept filming.”
Hersch was amazed that Archer was so down-to-earth. He’d been expecting to meet a flashy, self-involved guy, but Archer just seemed like a regular Joe who happened to be good-looking. “I hear Mila sold you a house,” Arch said. “She’s a great Realtor, but she’ll have you out surfing if you give her half a chance. We all surf. You’ll have to come out with us sometime.”
Hersch felt himself relax and realized he’d very much been on his guard until now. “I’d like that a lot,” he said. Which was true even if it was unlikely. “I’ve been missing doing a range of outdoor activities. I used to compete in Ironman, but I sat the last one out.”