The Unidentified Redhead (1) Read Online Free Page B

on, I wasn't out there for a Sports Illustrated cover. The way he was looking at my toned legs, flat stomach and strong arms, I would say those workouts were paying off. I shook my long hair, squeezing the water out before toweling off my body and slipping into the chair next to Holly. Jack took the seat facing us as we talked.
    They had attended a dinner for People that night and Jack was quite a hit. I got the sense from talking to the two of them that this film was a bigger deal than I had realized and he was getting quite a bit of buzz. They had spent most of the night meeting industry people and working the room.
    That was what made Holly so good at her job. People forget that it is called show business for a reason and it takes a lot of work to launch a career in the right way. All too often, a young talent gets lost in the shuffle of a hyped movie and then without the right follow through, they're last year's news. Holly was great at making sure that the actors she managed worked on projects that challenged them creatively, as well as succeeding commercially. To do that, you had to work the room sometimes, as they had done tonight.
    While Jack joked about some of the funny people they had met and the Time hoopla that I was beginning to understand was unavoidable, I got the sense that he wasn't quite comfortable with it yet. That was good, though--too many take themselves too seriously and they burn out fast.
    Holly was beginning to tell stories about when we had first moved out to L.A. so many years ago and I knew it wasn't going to be long before she embarrassed me.
    “So, there was Grace, and she's singing her little heart out for this director. She's convinced she's going to get the part, she's giving it her all and when she's finished, she stands center stage, looking like she deserves a Tony for this performance,” she paused, looking at me for confirmation.
    “Yeah, so there I am, thinking I nailed it. I was finally going to get cast in this new musical,” I continued. “Then I noticed that the director is dressed awfully casually for this audition. Too casually.”
    “Like he is wearing a jumpsuit and has a bucket of cleaning supplies and mop next to him!” she screams, collapsing on Jack's shoulder in laughter.
    “What? Why was a director dressed like that?” he asked.
    “Because he wasn't the director, he was—”
    “–the janitor,” I finished, hiding my face in my hands.
    “Grace gave the audition of her life for a freaking janitor! She was so mortified she ran offstage and out to her car and was gone before anyone even knew what happened!” She gasped through her laughter.
    “But I bet he was thoroughly entertained,” I reminded her.
    Holly's phone rang, interrupting the moment, and she excused herself to take the call, chuckling. I shivered a little from the night air, still in my bathing suit.
    “You should probably go get out of that wet suit. You're going to catch cold. I should get going anyway,” Jack said, getting up to hand me another towel.
    “Yeah, it is getting late. I'll walk you out,” I answered, standing up next to him.
    He draped the towel around my shoulders and rubbed them a little bit to warm me up. We passed Holly still on the phone and she gave him a kiss and mouthed the words, “Call you tomorrow.”
    “So, Sheridan. Does this mean you're a singer?” he asked.
    “Yep, I was singing even before I was acting.” I sighed as we walked through the house towards the front door.
    “Why do you say it like that, like it makes you sad?” he asked, turning to face me.
    “It doesn't make me sad. I just don't sing as often as I used to and I miss it sometimes. I'm actually going to start singing again at some open mike nights soon; next week in fact,” I smiled in anticipation of this.
    “Well, be sure to let me know when it is. I would love to come,” he said, looking down at me. I was reminded that I was only in a towel and my bathing suit and decided to mess with