The Fame Game, Starstruck, Infamous: 3 book Collection

“Jake!” Carmen squealed, hugging the tall, dark-haired guy back. “Long time no see! How are you?”

“Better now,” said Jake, winking. He was handsome in the way that so many Hollywood guys were: strong cheekbones, strong jaw, and strong arms. He was wearing a shirt that said Virginia Is for Lovers.

As the two of them tried to catch up, yelling over the noise of the crowd, Kate shifted restlessly from foot to foot. Carmen had introduced her to Jake, but Jake only had eyes for Carmen. And Carmen was lapping up the attention, Kate thought. Maybe she’d been wrong about her and Drew.

Jake bought them both drinks and they headed back to their table, where they were joined by another handsome, dark-haired guy named Drake (really), who could have been—but wasn’t—Jake’s brother. Drake kissed Carmen and shook Jake’s hand. “Bro,” he said, “haven’t seen you since that roast of whatshisname. How’s it going?”

Drake settled in and Carmen once again introduced Kate, who smiled mildly, not expecting him to give her the time of day.

“Kate’s my new friend,” Carmen said. “She’s an amazing singer. You guys have to see her.”

“Cool,” Drake said. “By the way, I finally saw The Long and Winding Road. You were awesome.”

And that was how it went for an hour: handsome but interchangeable guys rotating through their booth to greet Carmen and flirt with her, and Carmen happily flirting back. She kept trying to include Kate in the conversation, but she was the only one who seemed to care what Kate had to say. Eventually, bored of being the third (or fifth or sixth or whatever) wheel, Kate got up and went to find fresh air.

Toward the back of the bar was a patio area, which was uncrowded and quiet. White lights twinkled in the jacaranda trees, and she thought she heard the murmur of a fountain somewhere. She breathed deeply, enjoying the solitude. The bass from the club registered with a dull thump behind her. She finished her drink and set the glass down in a planter filled with succulents.

“They like it better when you give them a bit of the sauce,” said a voice behind her in a charming accent.

She whirled around, mortified at being caught hiding her empty in a plant. “Uh—well—” She cleared her throat. There was yet another handsome dark-haired guy standing there. Seriously, was there a special on them tonight? “I was just setting it there for a minute.”

He laughed and his white teeth flashed in the darkness. “Don’t worry, I won’t tell the manager. But it does look like you could use another drink,” he said.

She shrugged. “Yeah, maybe.”

“Don’t look so thrilled to be here,” he said, reaching out and giving her shoulder a friendly little poke.

She took a step back, unnerved to be poked by someone she’d never met. “Do I know you?” she asked.

He threw back his head and laughed for what seemed like a full minute. When he was done he said, “Maybe you don’t need another drink.”

“Why?” she asked, puzzled.

“I met you ten minutes ago. We were sitting at a table together? You know, with Carmen?”

Kate flushed a deep red and was glad it would be too dark for this guy, whoever he was, to see that. “Oh my God, I’m sorry,” she said. “I didn’t realize—”

“I’m Luke,” he interrupted, holding out a hand for her to shake.

“Oh, right, sure,” Kate said. “I’m—”

“You’re Kate,” he said. “Kate from Columbus.”

“That’s me,” she said softly. She was still mortified.

“Well, Kate from Columbus, you wait one second. I’ll be right back.” He turned and went back into the club, and Kate was free to kick herself repeatedly for her stupidity. Luke was freaking cute—how was it that she didn’t remember him? Was he really so identical to Jake and Drake and Cayden and Jaden?

In a moment, Luke returned, bearing a vodka soda for her and a beer for himself. “Don’t give this one to the plant,” he said, handing it to her.

“Thanks,” she said. “I’m sorry I didn’t recognize you. Clubs like this aren’t exactly my thing.”

“Mine either,” Luke said. “But a friend of mine promotes this night and he made me promise to come.” He took a sip of his beer. “So what are you doing these days, my old friend Kate? Still in the biz?”

“Pardon?”

“Show business. Acting. Writing. Directing. Make-up . . .”

“Stunts,” Kate heard herself say.

He raised his eyebrows. “Really?”

“I was Megan Fox’s stunt double in Transformers.” She tried to say it with a straight face but she could feel a smile pulling at the corners of her mouth. “Do you think she jumped out of that burning building?”

“You had me going there for a minute,” he said, laughing and toasting her. “You’re an actress.”

“No, definitely not,” Kate answered. “I’m a musician. I mean, trying to be.” She blushed again. “Really I’m a, uh, food services technician.” He smiled at that. “That’s much more accurate to say, because that’s what pays the bills.” For some reason—perhaps because the cameras were gone—it didn’t even occur to her to mention The Fame Game. She hadn’t totally adjusted to her new life; she still felt like last month’s Kate. “Are you in ‘the biz’?”

Luke nodded. “Yep. Just like ninety percent of the people inside this ridiculous club. I’m an actor.” He grinned. “Perhaps you’ve seen me in my star turn as Doctor Rose on Boston General?” The comic, needling way he said this told Kate, who had never seen Boston General, that he wasn’t actually one of its stars.

“I’m not much of a TV person,” she admitted.

“That’s okay,” he said, “I won’t hold it against you. But let me try another one: Did you see me in the bar scene in Inception? No? Okay, how about as that young lawyer from a competing firm in The Good Wife? No. Okay. Um, I usually don’t like to bring this one up, but since I’m striking out with everything else: Did you see me in that GEICO commercial, the one where the gecko goes to Disneyland?”

“Yes!” squealed Kate. “You were the handsome prince!”

“Guilty as charged,” Luke said, ducking his head modestly.

“Well, you were a very convincing prince,” she said. “I’m sure all the princesses were in love with you.”

“Kate Hayes! There you are!”

Kate looked over to see Carmen standing in the doorway to the patio, smiling tipsily at her. “I’ve been looking at you for forever,” Carm said. “I mean, looking for you. I thought you, like, got locked in a bathroom stall or something.” Carmen’s eyes flicked to Luke, who was leaning against a railing, looking relaxed and happy. “Um, I was going to go home. But you look like you’re having fun! So you should stay!”

Kate opened her mouth. She was having fun talking to Luke, it was true, but she was worried that she was reaching her limits of witty banter. What if they ran out of things to say to each other? Would Luke say good night and leave her standing alone on the patio? “No, I should—”

“Oh, stay!” Carmen cried enthusiastically. “Luke can take you home, can’t you?” She glanced over at her friend.

“Of course,” said Luke. “It would be my pleasure.”

“Great! ’Night, you two!” Carmen said, looking pleased with herself. She blew them both kisses and vanished.

Now what? wondered Kate.

Luke grinned at her. “I guess you’re stuck with me,” he said.

Stuck with Doctor Rose, she thought. Every girl should be so lucky.

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