Cut to the Chase Read Online Free Page B

are you kidding me?”
    She shook her head.
    “Doing an action film?”
    Abel returned and Paige pitched the ball again. “Yup.”
    Chris stared at her. “Avalon Randolph?”
    “You already said that.” But she had said the same thing over and over, too.
    “Oh my God. That’s unbelievable.”
    “What’s unbelievable is that you’re about to burn our dinner.”
    Chris turned toward the blazing steaks and quickly moved them away from the flames. “And you’re going to interview her?”
    “That’s the plan.”
    “Is the plan also to charm her into a date?”
    Paige laughed. No way would an actress of that caliber be interested in her. Plus, she could never handle someone with such an uncontrollable personality. “Of course not.”
    Abel was back at Paige’s feet, whining for another throw. She picked up the ball and tossed it again.
    Abel snagged the ball in one bounce and Chris said, “It could happen.”
    No, it couldn’t , she thought. That was like a third-grader thinking she’d marry her teacher. Different worlds. Different galaxies, actually. “I’ll have a hard enough time just interviewing her.”
    Chris took a swig of her beer. “Man. That’s incredible. You’re going to hang out with her. She’s, like, the biggest thing in Hollywood. She’s a superstar.”
    “You’re making me even more nervous, Chris.”
    “Hell. She’s single. At least that’s what the magazines say. And you’re single. Why not?”
    “Why, is more like it. She can have anyone she wants. Male or female.”
    “But she likes females, Paige. And you’re one.”
    “That’s about my only matching prerequisite. I’m not beautiful, rich, or famous.”
    “Who says those are the only qualities she’s looking for? And besides, you are beautiful.”
    “We’re not going to have this conversation. I am not looking to hook up. I’m writing a book.”
    “You’ll win her over with your charms,” Chris said. “Now hand me those plates and let’s eat.”
    Paige stood and ruffled the fur on Abel’s head. She wasn’t too sure she could. She’d be meeting Avalon the next day and already her stomach was doing a river dance.

Chapter Four
     
    "Cut!” The director called to the crew and they began to set up for the next scene. Avalon made her way to the corner of Hollywood Boulevard and Vine Street and stepped out of the hot June sun and into the makeup trailer.
    Tawnya, her personal hair and makeup woman, was also her best friend. A tall, beautiful black woman, Tawnya wore lots of red and black. Whether she chose formal wear or jeans and a T-shirt, she always looked incredibly stylish. When she had done an outstanding job on Avalon’s first film, Avalon had asked for her on each succeeding film. She trusted her not only with her hair and makeup but also her secrets.
    “It’s a bit sticky out there.” She opened a bottle of water just as she heard a knock at the door.
    “Come in,” Tawnya said as she blotted the sweat from Avalon’s face.
    She turned to see a rather stunning woman step in. Dressed in shapely jeans and a white V-neck T-shirt, the woman looked like an actress, but Avalon didn’t recognize her from the set. Her long brown hair looked to curl naturally as it fell about her shoulders. Avalon could see the beautiful cerulean blue of her eyes even from that distance. She had a big, wide smile that made Avalon’s stomach flutter.
    “I’m Paige Cornish,” she said, holding out a business card. Her pleasant, almost deferential manner had a refreshing appeal. “I’m here to interview you.”
    “The writer.” She took the card. At first, she’d balked at Billy’s request for this interview. Sure, it was part of her job, but the constant barrage of the same questions and the same requests for poses had become tedious and mind-numbing. Paige, however, seemed to lack the typical assertive approach of a reporter or writer. Avalon could always sense the ulterior motives of an interviewer by the way the