Next time, he'll be the one she dances with.
The next night, he is watching when the boy from the club, who everyone calls Cush, picks her up. He's up the street, parked behind another car. He's been here so much lately the neighbors probably think he lives here. He puts the binoculars in front of his eyes and watches as they exit the house.
Keatyn looks like she belongs on the red carpet. Her bangs are pulled back into a braid and her long locks are curled into cascades that fall down around her delicate shoulders. The dress she's wearing has a soft skirt and golden trim, making her look like a virginal goddess. He decides then and there that if they win an award for their movie, that's the dress she'll wear. He can imagine the scene after the show. He will take her back to his house on the beach. The one he wanted to buy for his grandmother, that is if the old man will ever agree to it. He will take her outside. The white dress will blow in the ocean breeze and he will embrace her, kiss her. And they will end up lying on the sand, kissing, the waves rushing up and tickling their feet, just like the end of his grandmother's most famous movie. And, he decides immediately, the way his remake of A Day at the Lake will end.
What he doesn't like, however, is the way Cush pushes her against the side of the Mercedes he drove and kisses her deeply.
The boy may have to go.
While he's waiting for them outside her friend Vanessa's house-now there is another fine piece of underage hotness who would make a nice short-term plaything-he thinks about what is to come. How last night after he went home from the club, he watched the video of Keatyn again-the video he stole from his friend, Bobby. And it sparked an idea. The role Matt Moran wanted her for was that of a girl who gets kidnapped.
His Grandma used to say that life often imitates art. He will kidnap her, and they will make their movie together without having to worry about anyone's prying eyes.
He had hoped it wouldn't come to this. He had hoped she would come of her own accord. And he knows, eventually, she will. She flirted with him at dinner. He just needs some more time alone with her. At his Grandmother's glorious estate. Then she will realize they are perfect for each other.
But he's starting to get impatient as he follows the pair back to her house in Malibu. Either way, he's prepared.
He's surprised when they drive by and continue up the street, not far from where he usually watches her house. When he sees whose house they are going into, he can't help but smile. It just so happens that he was invited to this party tonight, too.
I'm absentmindedly swirling my wine around in my glass and staring out into the ocean when a man leans his arms onto the railing next to me.
"We seem to keep running into each other on the beach," Vincent says.
"Yeah." I'm not in the mood to chat. Not even with Vincent. I take a very large sip of wine and hope he'll take the hint and go away.
"You look amazing," he says. "A little over-dressed for a beach party, but incredible. Prettiest girl here, if you ask me."
I turn to look at him. He's wearing a crisp aqua shirt, unbuttoned at the neck. Softly draped taupe slacks. Buttery leather loafers. Expensive gold watch. Everything about him screams money and privilege.
I take another big drink. Swallow.
"What's wrong?"
I shake my head. "Nothing, really. Same shit, different day."
"I know how that goes. Even though I'm excited about our movie, it's still been a rough week. I miss her."
"I'm glad I could help a little. It must be hard going through something like that by yourself."
He nods. "Yeah, but I do have some good news. Our movie is a go."
"Really? That's exciting. So you got the financing?"
"Grandmother left me a pretty large estate. I met with her attorney today and got all the details. I don't have to worry about the financing now. I can do it all myself."
"Is that smart to do? What if it bombs and you lose all your money? You haven't even seen me act yet."
"I've seen you surf. I've seen your emotions. If you can be yourself on camera, we'll both make more money than we've ever dreamed about. Why don't we get started tonight? I'm dying to get you on film. I know it will inspire me even more."
I don't reply, just take another sip of wine.
He leans closer to me, causing our shoulders to touch.
I don't want to make him mad by saying that I don't know him well enough to go anywhere with him. Mom has warned me about stuff like that. About photographers who say they're going to make you the next supermodel, they just need to "take a few photos" first. About producers, who promise to make you a big star, they just need you to "come read" for them first, but what they really want is to get you on the casting couch.
"You always go to parties like this?" I ask him. I'm trying to be polite.
"Free drinks and beautiful women. Who wouldn't?" he says.
"You trying to meet that special girl on the beach?"
"I already met a special girl on the beach. Fine. I get it. You don't know me well enough yet, right?"
I touch his forearm. "I'm sorry."
"No, you're smart. There are a lot of men out there that lie about this kind of thing just to get girls. I'm not one of them, though. I usually don't have a problem finding women."
I look at his handsome face and laugh. "I don't suppose that you do."
"So go for a walk with me. I'm in mourning. It's the least you can do."
"I can't. I'm here with my . . . um, like, we're friends, but . . . " I roll my eyes, thinking about Brooklyn. "Story of my life, apparently."
"All the more reason for a mind-clearing walk on the beach. The party is getting pretty revved up. No one will even notice you're gone."
"Keatyn! There you are," I hear Millie say. "Get your ass in here and come dance with that handsome date of yours before all the old women try to get their hands on him."
"Thanks for the offer, Vincent. It's sweet of you, but I don't think anyone can solve my boy problems."
"Maybe you need to solve them yourself."
I had just started to walk away, but I turn back around. "What do you mean?"
"If a guy is interested in you, really interested in you, he'll let you know it. If he doesn't, he's not worth it."
I walk back to him and give him a hug. "Whatever I did to help you the other day, we're now even. That's exactly what I needed to hear. Have some fun tonight, okay?"
He raises his glass to me as I walk back inside.
He was so close tonight he could practically taste her sweetness on his lips. If that woman hadn't come out onto the deck, he'd have gotten her down to the beach. They would have walked in the moonlight until he got her somewhere deserted. Then he would have pulled her in close. She probably would have barely noticed the prick of the needle when she was in his arms.
His other attempts to get her alone are unsuccessful, and Vincent is upset to learn that after school is out, she goes away for the summer. He follows her social media accounts while he makes plans for her return. He considers going on holiday himself, but his company needs his attention and his board of directors demands it. And it gives him time to prepare. Time to rewrite the script with her in mind. Time to secure a filming location.
He can't wait to tell her the good news.
He knows when she returns home, based on her social media. And he absolutely loves the sexy photos she and her friends posted. One thing about social media, it sure makes it easy to keep track of her. He tells his assistant that he's meeting a client for lunch and won't be back in his office. He goes to the hotel where he knows the girls are staying and books a room. He just has to figure out how to get her there. Obviously, the path of least resistance would be to get her to come of her own free will. If not . . .
When he arrives at the pool, he makes his way to the bar area. He spots Keatyn quickly. She stands out in any crowd. She's tanner, her skin a silky bronze. Her hair is lighter, bleached out from the sun. Little freckles are crisscrossing her nose. She looks different here than she does when she's on the beach.
Older.
She's wearing a very small triangle bikini. Her hair is long and straight. The golden color of her earrings, the bracelets up her wrist, and her aviator sunglasses only seem to further complement her beauty. He orders himself a drink and watches her talking seriously with her girlfriends. The summer apart has changed their dynamics.
Keatyn seems bolder, more confident. It's sexy.
He knows they aren't old enough, but no one will card them looking like they do, so he grabs a server and sends them over drinks.
And waits for her to come to him.
Our waiter interrupts us when he sets three bottles of beer on the little table between our chaises.
"Beer, gross," Vanessa says haughtily. "Do I look like I drink beer?"
Vanessa prefers champagne.
"They aren't really for you, miss," he says to Vanessa. He leans down and says discreetly, "From the gentleman at the bar."
I glance over at the bar and see Vincent holding up a beer and grinning at me.
"Excuse me," I say to the girls. "I need to go thank someone for the drinks."
I don't bother to put on my cover-up. I mean, we're at a pool, and he's seen me in a bikini before.
"Long time no see," he says, then he tilts his head and gives me a sexy grin.
"What, are you stalking me?" I laugh.
He leans forward and gives me one of those long cheek kisses. "Is it that obvious?" he says in a teasing voice.
"Seriously, it's great to see you," I say. Because it really, really is. Vincent looks gorgeous. "So, what are you doing here?"
"I could ask you the same thing. Actually, what I should really ask is where the hell you've been? I haven't seen you on the beach all summer."
"I was in Europe."
"You look good. And to answer your question from before, I'm here because I just finished up a lunch meeting. It went well, so I decided to take the rest of the day off. I walked out here to get a beer"-his eyes gaze out at all the women in bikinis-"and enjoy the scenery. Little did I know, you'd be the best part of it."
I tilt my head at him. "Do you have a room here?"
His eyes trail down my bikini and he puts his hand on my hip. "Why, Miss Douglas, you're being awfully forward."
I roll my eyes. "I didn't mean for me. I meant that's why you're really here, isn't it? You're looking to get lucky."
"Like I said. I wanted to celebrate. I also have big news for you."
"What's that?"
"The script is done."
"Really? That's awesome! When do I get to read it? Can you, like, messenger it to my house? Have you started auditions yet?"
"Not yet. I want to get you locked in first."
"You wanna lock me in, huh? Then what would you do with me?" I tease.
A look crosses his face. I'm pretty sure he just pictured me in handcuffs. And after reading that hot S&M novel on the plane ride home, I have to admit that thought kinda turns me on. I could play the young, naive girl, and he could play the older, dominant man.
He's still staring at me, but then he finally chuckles. "I've missed you."
"You're just saying that because you want me to do your movie."
"Well, maybe. What did you say before? I need to seduce you?" The words roll off his tongue like silk.
I visibly melt and look at him dreamily.
"The way you said that was pretty sexy. I bet you won't have any trouble finding company this afternoon. So, hey, thanks for the beers. I better get back to my friends." Then I remember the house he was trying to buy. "Did you get the house yet?"
"That's my other good news. We signed a deal and I close next month."
"Very cool."
He pulls me into his arms. "Why don't you come to my room for a little while? We can celebrate, and I can tell you all about the script," he says in a velvety voice.
"I'm already here celebrating with my friends."
"And just what are you celebrating?"
"My birthday is this week."
"Well, happy birthday."
"Thanks." I tease him before I walk away. "You know, I'm totally going to be watching you in action. Good luck with finding a uh, roommate."
She leaves him, returning to her friends and lying back in a chaise. It takes everything he has to be patient with her. But part of the thrill is in the chase. It will happen soon enough.
Of that he is certain.
Especially when he sees how her eyes linger on him.
It's clear that they're meant to be. That she's falling in love with him.
When I lie back in my chaise, RiAnne says, "Who is that guy? Is he an actor? Ohmigawd, he is so hot."
Vanessa says, "He is hot, but isn't he a bit old for you?"
"You dated that twenty-six year old. He's not that much older. Um, I never asked you at the time, but was it, like, good with him? Was his being older, like, a benefit in any way?"
She laughs. "If that's your way of asking if the sex was good, the answer is yes. It was amazing. He knew way more than any high school boy and a lot more than the college guy. Plus, he had way more stamina."