Fast Lane | ✔️

13

Ch13

"By the way, you look fabulous today, Miss Montgomery," Martin Berkovich complimented as he pulled out a plush, black leather chair for Ashton to sit in. "Then, of course, you always do," he said, sitting down in the seat across from her and rewarding her with a charming grin.

"Thank you. You're looking pretty good yourself, Mr. Berkovich," she flirted back, fluttering long lashes.

Martin was several inches shorter than Ashton, and blessed with well-defined muscles, smooth, pale skin and a nose that bordered on being slightly too large for his face. He was dark and handsome, not in a traditional sense but in an off-beat sort of way, which she found quite appealing. It set him apart from the typical blond-haired, blue-eyed California stud. Martin became an overnight sensation when his latest movie, an independent flick called Blaze, hit the theaters. His riveting performance as a single-father firefighter already had people talking Oscar nominations. Martin was the current hot-topic, and every tabloid in the country wanted to learn more about him and his personal life-the perfect complement to Ashton's ulterior motives.

Spago was busy with the afternoon lunch crowd, exactly what Ashton had been hoping for, that way there would be plenty of people around to see her with her famous date. She caught the attention of Kim and Kourtney Kardashian sitting together at a nearby table, and gave them a casual wave. Let them all see who she was with, the more the merrier as far as she was concerned-a little insurance to keep the press off her trail. She picked up the lunch menu and scanned through the options.

"It really is a shame about Brooks," Martin said, interrupting her thoughts.

"What? Oh, yes, it certainly is."

An extraordinarily attractive waiter-most likely an out-of-work actor-stopped by and took their lunch order. After Martin requested the Smoked Jidori Chicken and Ashton the Maine Lobster Salad, he continued on. "I know you and Brooks are close friends. Have you spoken with him today?" Martin asked, his voice laced with sincere concern.

Ashton shook her head, "I've tried, but he's not answering his phone. I imagine the police must be keeping him pretty busy. I cannot even begin to imagine what he's going through!" she responded, surprised by Martin's worry over a guy he barely even knew.

It's a shame I'm not interested, she thought ruefully. Martin's a great guy, so laid back and caring, unlike most of the men in this business who are typically only concerned about themselves. If things had been different, she might actually like him. But things were what they were, and extremely complicated. Of course, nothing with me can never be easy!

"Well, when you do speak to Brooks, please offer my condolences. If he needs anything, anything at all, do not hesitate to let me know. It's in uncomfortable situations like these when you find out who your true friends are, and any friend of yours is a friend of mine."

Ashton gave him a wide smile. "Martin, you're too good to be true! How is it that some lucky girl hasn't snatched you up already?"

Martin let out a little laugh, his eyes sparkling with youth and charisma. "Maybe I'm sitting with her right now. . . " he suggested with a wink.

Her smile faded a tad as she thought about what he'd said and she felt just a twinge of guilt. Sorry, guy, that can never happen . . .

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Juliana marched into Vivian Landsbury's office unannounced, ignoring the secretary's irate, "you cannot go in there without an appointment" plea.

"Well, well, well," the agent said from behind the confines of her enormous mahogany desk. "Look what the cat drug in." She looked over the rim of her tortoiseshell glasses and stared at Juliana in amusement. "You didn't see fit to make an appointment like all of my other clients?"