Hollywood Hearts (A Bad Boy Love Triangle Romance): (Hollywood Hearts Book 1) Read Online Free Page A

off her bartender flair by spinning bottles and glasses behind the bar with Mike and the other barmaid, Ree. Pulling up a stool, I surveyed the room trying to find Rafe while my fingers busied themselves by ripping a napkin into little pieces. I heard a glass pound down on the bar in front of me.

    “Liquid courage, babe,” said Astrid and I swigged it back quickly. The whiskey burned my throat and I gagged a little bit. “Nice outfit. You’ve gone full Hollywood on us, hey Kentucky?”

    “Fuck off,” I told her, gesturing me to fill another small shot for me that I necked back too. My face warmed almost instantly, not from the alcohol, but rather from the site of Rafe coming out of the bathroom hallway.

    “One sec,” Astrid said, noticing my attention was elsewhere.. She jogged over and from the other end of the bar and shouted, “Rafe!”  

    He looked to her and smiled with that smile so wide, gentle and warm that it could make a baby melt. My heartbeat pounded through my ears. Maybe he had a thing for Astrid and not me. She was cute, black and flirtatious in a way I only dreamed to be. While I had a brief window of opportunity before showtime, I reached over and poured one more quick shot.

    “Hey! That’s outta your paycheck,” Mike shouted at my middle finger that I had flipped up in self-defense.

    “Rafe, Ellie. Ellie…Rafe.” There he stood, smiling above me and leaving me choking on my own saliva. He shook my hand without breaking his direct, although unsettling, eye contact. It seemed so strange to see him right in front of me in the flesh. He looked even better in person.

    “It’s nice to finally meet you,” his deep voice told me.

    “You too,” I replied as calmly as possible, trying to ignore all of the things he’s done to me in my mind.

    He sat up on a stool next to me and rested his elbow on the bar. I could see his muscles tightening against his white business shirt and his strong forearms protruded out from the rolled up sleeves. Was I the only girl who had a thing for strong forearms? He dressed so well it made me sick.  

    “What do you want?” Astrid asked him. He turned his head to me.

    “What are you having?”  

    “Whiskey…and maybe some dry this time,” I said shaking my glass of ice at Astrid. She made us both two drinks and continued serving the other customers.

    “You work here then?” Rafe said.

    “Mm-hmm.”

    “That’s cool. It’s a pretty cool scene, got lots of great reviews so far.”

    “Yeah, can’t complain, I guess. We’re all friends and Mike’s a pretty alright boss. He started the place.”

    “Nice, nice.” His bright eyes look at me and squint from a smile on his face. I swoon so badly that I almost fall from my stool. “So, you from around here originally?”

    “No, Kentucky. But, did the cliche thing and came here to pursue acting like an idiot.”

    “Well, hello. Fellow token idiot right here.”

    “Oh, sorry. I totally didn’t mean it like that. You’ve actually got a career though. Whereas me, I’ve been in a infomercial for a mop and had the role of ‘Fat Girl in Car’ in a made-for-TV movie.” He laughed at me.

    “That’s something. Regardless, w’re both idiots for the risk we’re taking. I’ve worked my ass off auditioning for years and all I’ve got to show for it is an, albeit adorable, set of fangirls and a few residual paychecks each month. Not exactly living the dream but, we do it anyway right?” He raised his glass and I clinked mine on his.

    “Well, you’re talented and that’s why I’m one of those fangirls. I’m obsessed with Landmark, I can’t believe it was cancelled.”

    “Oh, thank you. Well, we love the art, right? So it’s worth it to put up with the bullshit if it means living your passion…” His gaze locked on mine again. “Excuse me if this is super forward but you’re eyes are gorgeous.” I answered with an undeniable blush and awkward giggle.

    “Thanks. Well, if