Hollywood Roommates

7

Chapter Five

ALLIE

You were right, I text Brooke. Your brother is a jerk.

Told you, Brook replied. Ready to move in with me yet?

Nope. This place is worth the hassle.

Good luck with that.

I gaze across my new bedroom. Even though there’s barely anything in here, I’ll make it work. It’s a blank canvas, ready for me to splash myself all over it. It’s a good size and has a walk-in closet and large windows overlooking the ocean. There’s even a door that leads outside to the pool. The bathroom isn’t attached but is right next door, which is fine. It’s as empty, white, and unused as the bedroom is.

I take the stairs back to the top floor, which is an open concept design with the living room, dining room, and kitchen all flowing together in one big space. Everything in the house is sparsely decorated, but of the finest quality. There’s no color other than black, white, and gray, along with a lot of metal and glass. Even the floors are white and pristine. Shane and his sister share the same style preferences, it seems.

I find Matt in the kitchen, pouring himself a glass of water. For a moment all I can do is stare at him and marvel at how I’m going to be living with three incredibly sexy guys for the next few months. If I needed a way to get over Parker fast, this is definitely a good start.

“Did Shane give you the run-down of the place?” Matt asks.

“Not exactly.”

He rolls his eyes. “Of course not. The main thing to know is that Shane likes things done his way and he can’t stand mess or disorder.”

I hold up my hands. “Not a problem. He won’t even know I’m here.”

“And whatever you do, don’t touch the thermostat.”

My eyebrows dart up. “That sounds like a challenge.”

He grins. “Trust me, you won’t like the consequences.”

“All right. I won’t mess with it.” I gesture to the front door. “I’m going to grab my stuff from the car.”

“Need some help?”

“That’d be great, thanks.”

We head outside, where my car waits under a palm tree, the scratched blue paint glinting under the sun. Like me, it’s out of place here. I pop the hatchback trunk and grab as many bags as possible from inside, loading them up on my arms.

Matt picks up the two boxes in the back, his well-developed arms flexing as he lifts them easily. The boxes were heavy when I put them in, but that doesn’t seem to be a problem for him. “That’s it?”

I shrug, but glance away quickly. “I don’t need much.”

We carry everything down the stairs to my new bedroom. Once my things are all on the bed, it does seem pretty pitiful. I have more stuff at my old apartment, but the idea of facing Parker makes me think it’s time to downsize anyway.

Matt lingers in the doorway, leaning against the frame in a way that draws my eyes to the t-shirt stretching against his muscles. The craziest thing is he seems to be checking me out too. Don’t get me wrong, I’m pretty damn cute, especially if you’re into a woman with some extra curves. But I figured most actors would go for the tall, thin model types, not girls like me. Not that I have a problem with tall, thin model types, mind you. All bodies are perfect, no matter their shape. I’m just a little self-conscious of mine sometimes, especially in a city like Los Angeles where looks matter so much.

“How about I give you a tour?” Matt asks.

“I’d love that.”

He steps back into the hall and gestures at the door across from mine. “That’s Shane’s bedroom. I suggest you not go in there if you value your life.”

“Not a problem.”

He takes me to an open doorway down the hall. “This is where we hang out most of the time.”

We step inside a family room that’s a lot more relaxed than the living room upstairs, with large, gray couches, a table and chairs, and a huge TV. Tall windows let in a ton of light and sliding doors lead outside to a massive pool with an attached spa.

Matt leads me onto the patio and I breathe in the fresh sea air. The sun’s still high in the sky, signaling a warm summer night to come, and all I want to do is strip off my clothes and jump in this pool. Preferably with Matt. It’s one of those pools that seems to have no edge, making it appear as if it descends directly into the ocean. Beyond it, steps lead down to the beach, which is private and empty, a rarity in Southern California.

“Feel free to use the pool or the spa anytime you want,” Matt says. “You can get to the beach from here too, but make sure you bring a key because the gate will lock behind you.”

“This is incredible. Like something out of a movie. You know?” I laugh, because it’s a ridiculous comment to make to an actor. “Of course you know.”

“It is incredible,” Matt says, with his sexy grin. “Come on, I’ll show you the rest of the place.”

As we head back inside to continue the tour, I ask something that’s been nagging at me. “I hope this isn’t too personal of a question, but why are three famous actors all living here? Couldn’t you each get your own fancy beach houses like this one?”

His smile fades and he clears his throat. “I’m sort of in between gigs right now, so Shane lets me live here while I look for my next part. In the meantime, I work as a bartender nearby.”

“And your brother?”

“He can easily afford a place like this, or even bigger, but he’s laying low for a while. Did you hear about his divorce?”