She wondered what he saw and stopped to consider the room through a stranger’s eyes. The ceiling had exposed wooden beams with a matching mantle over the stone fireplace. The warm tones of her decor complemented those elements as well as reminded her of the ranch house she’d grown up in. Splashes of color in the form of pillows, vases, and paintings spread throughout the living room, reminiscent of palettes often found in the southwest. Those warm tones extended from the living area into the kitchen, separated only by a large sit-down bar, the cabinets having the same rich wood hues as the living area.
“This is charming,” he told her. “It’s very homey. Cozy, without being too small.” Alex thanked him for the compliment, then explained the setup of Eddie’s “compound” and how it suited her perfectly, especially with them willing to look after Felix when she traveled.
She checked her watch. “Okay, Gabe said to come on over when you got here because appetizers would be available. You ready to go over?”
He hesitated a moment, then told her, “Thanks for letting me invite myself over, Alex. I realized later that I might have been pushy about it. I appreciate you letting me step outside my world for a bit and just be a regular guy.”
“Sure, big-shot Hollywood dude.” Her face sobered as she added, “I imagine you don’t get to do that often. I’m delighted to be of service.” She turned to leave.
“Wait.” He caught her arm before she moved. “You… you know who I am?” Fin looked stunned. “When did ye know?”
“When you sat down on the airplane, silly.”
Fin gaped at her. “And you said nothing the entire time?” he asked, his voice raising an octave at the end.
She gave him a sad little smile as she answered. “You looked like you wanted to be,” she added air quotes with her fingers, “‘just a regular guy’ so I treated you like one. You ready to meet Eddie and Gabe? They know who you are, but they’ll be cool.” She waited for his stiff nod before leading him next door.
Fin rubbedthe back of his neck as he followed Alex, unsure what to expect now. He was astonished to learn she had known who he was from the beginning. She had acted so normal, far different from his usual experience with people in general and women in particular. He absorbed this as he walked behind her. It appeared he was in for an intriguing evening.
She led him around to the front and knocked on the door to the other side of the duplex. The door swung open to reveal a giant beast of a man. “Lexi Bear,” he crooned in a deep base that brought images of Barry White to Fin’s mind. “Come on in.”
They stepped into the hall and Fin shook his hand as Alex introduced Gabe.Ah,Fin thought,the chef,nota bodyguard as one might think.The three of them moved into the living room, where a slender man rushed in to greet them. He wore a suit wild with colors, dark blue palm tree leaves scattered across a light blue backdrop, with a touch of red and gold accents. The trousers matched the jacket, which might have been overwhelming but for the solid white dress shirt underneath. That blast of color wasn’t something Fin would wear, but it worked on the man he presumed was Eddie.
“Hello, Finley. Welcome to our home.” Eddie smiled as he swept his arm out, indicating the interior of the house. “Please make yourself comfortable. Would you like something to drink? We have everything.”
Alex laughed and told him Eddie wasn’t exaggerating. They kept a well-stocked bar. She asked Eddie for a glass of wine and Fin followed her lead, ordering the same. As Eddie sauntered off to the kitchen area, Gabe brought over a tray of mixed crackers and cheeses for them to snack on and sat down. Eddie returned with the drinks and sat beside Gabe.
“Okay, to eliminate any awkwardness, we are aware of your celebrity status and we don’t care as long as you don’t mess around with our girl,” Eddie proclaimed as Alex sipped her wine.
Alex choked and sputtered, “Jesus, Eddie, don’t do that when I’m taking a drink. I almost spewed all over everything!” She laughed as she seized a napkin and wiped her face, then mouthed,I’m sorryto Fin.
Eddie shrugged and looked pointedly at Fin. “So, you guys met on the airplane. That’s neat.”
Fin took the comment as his cue and replied, “Aye, I’m in town for a thing. We hit it off. Here I am.”
He noted the grin that appeared on Gabe’s face, but Eddie continued to stare at him. Fin stared back.
“Okay, enough of the inquisition,” Eddie declared with a flap of his hands. “So, did you get a chance to venture out yesterday and see the sights? Or is that later on your agenda?”
Apparently, the big-brother interview segment of the evening was concluded. Fin relaxed and answered, “No, yesterday was a workday for me. I had a round of interviews promoting the new film. But I am working on my schedule for the week. Tuesday I’m playing some volleyball.”
Alex swung toward him with a question in her eyes. He threw a smug grin her way.Yes,he thought,I’m coming with you just as I promised.
“Well, we have some phenomenal places to eat around here. What part of town are you staying in?” Eddie continued without waiting for an answer, “We can recommend restaurants all over town that won’t be too crowded. You might actually be able to dine without being noticed at a few of them.”
“That’s right. Alex told me there was a chef in the house. What type of food do you specialize in, Gabe?” Fin asked, diverting the focus from himself.
The four of them discussed local foods and favorite spots with the best cuisine. Gabe moved them to the dining room, where the topic migrated to entertainment and everyone’s favorite bands. Even as the topic dipped into movies and awards, it never focused on Fin or his works. They asked his opinion on other films as if he were one of the gang and didn’t have an inside track on what happened behind the scenes.
The food was delicious, the conversation engaging, and the company exquisite. Fin couldn’t remember having a more comfortable meal with someone outside the industry. Discounting his family, of course, with whom he would always feel comfortable.
As they cleared the table, Fin pushed up his sleeves to help with the dishes. Gabe noticed his actions and said, “Oh, no, you don’t. You are the guest.”
“But I should help clean up,” Fin protested as he appealed to Alex for support.
Alex snorted. “Guest or not, Gabe doesn’t let anyone into his kitchen. You won’t do it right.” She squealed and moved sideways as Gabe popped a kitchen towel at her.
“She’s absolutely right, and you know it,” Eddie chimed in.
