Read Hollywood Hot Mess Online
Authors: Evie Claire
Hollywood Hot Mess (32 page)
I rush down the ruby ribbon to the pavement, shielding my eyes and running half blind. At the end, just before the pavement starts, stands Spence, looking all sorts of superhero suave in his tuxedo. I clasp my clammy hand in his. It just happens to be the hand I also hold the glass vial in. He jerks at first then looks to me with a mischievous smile parting his lips. We both know what’s coming. What always comes when the two of us get together. But right now, I don’t care. All I need is to wash this nightmare away as fast as I can before I actually have to feel the heartbreak ripping me in two.
My knees sway. The carpet moves under my feet. I grab my forehead to make it all stop. The horde of reporters crushes my back, feeling like a wave of lead rearing back to wash over me. Spence squeezes my hand, pulling me back to my senses. A black SUV slides to a stop in front of us. Spence reaches for the door handle and places his hand in the small of my back to help me in the backseat.
“Carly!” The press pool screams my name. I can already see the pictures tomorrow morning. The story Devon will wake up to find in his mansion by the sea.
Let’s make it hurt as much as we can!
I think, and flip my actress switch.
“Go! Fuck! Yourselves!” I scream at the horde of hounding parasites, and hurl the glass vial right at the head of Miss Bitch Reporter. Damn, she ducks just in time. My middle finger flies into the air and I laugh at her too-close-for-comfort shock at what I’ve just done.
With that I turn to the car and rip the slit of my emerald silk dress high enough to climb into the SUV. Spence’s eyes fly wide at first, but he quickly recovers with a wicked laugh, sliding into the black leather seat beside me. “Looks like it’s going to be one of those nights!” He chuckles, reaching into his breast pocket for what he always carries there and closing the door on the riot outside.
“Roosevelt Hotel,” he instructs the driver, and we slide into the Hollywood night.
* * * * *
To purchase and read more books by Evie Claire please visit her website,
www.evieclaire.com
.
Devon and Carly’s story continues in
TOTAL TRAINWRECK
.
Don’t miss it!
Hurricane Carly hits the big leagues and her off-screen drama hits DEFCON-level F*ck
From tabloid trainwreck child star to award-nominated starlet, Carly Klein wants it all. And being silver fox Devon Hayes’s f*ck buddy isn’t cutting it anymore. The gloves are off as she comes out swinging for the man she loves.
Devon Hayes, aka the sexiest man alive, is the toast of Tinseltown as half of a Hollywood power couple HeaVon—but he doesn’t want to be. Yet his A-list
show
mance lover will stop at nothing to keep their marital sham alive. So when Carly and Devon’s scorching connection off set threatens his soon-to-be ex’s dynasty, a sh*tstorm of trouble is unleashed.
But pussing out isn’t in Carly’s DNA. Through sex tapes, murder and epic Hollywood takedowns, Carly and Devon will be together and HeaVon
will
burn in Hollywood Hell...
Acknowledgments
Patience is a virtue. My grandmother taught me that. The past five years have confirmed her words of wisdom over and over again. To my family, who has patiently helped me find the time I needed to chase my dream—every word on every page in this book is because of your unwavering support. You will never know how much your encouragement means. To the friends who patiently waited weeks for calls to be returned while I was in the throes of my craft—I cannot tell you how humbled I am to hear the excitement in your voice or see the sparkle in your eyes when you ask me how things are going with “the book.” I’m beyond blessed to have you in my squad. To Sarah and Kerri—thanks for taking a chance on me. The patience you have shown while gingerly guiding me along this new path has blown me away. Y’all are forever the best!
To the writers chasing the same dream as me—a lesson in the patience it took on my part to finally catch it:
5—the number of years I pursued publishing a book before it became a reality.
4—the number of books I wrote before one finally caught the eye of an agent/publisher.
3—the number of publishing offers I received once this book finally caught fire.
2—the number of representation offers I received for said book.
1—the number of Twitter contests it took to get noticed.
Keep at it. No one’s going to chase your dreams for you!
Also available from
Evie
Claire
and Carina Press
About the Author
Evie Claire lives in Athens, Georgia, with her husband, two
daughters and one very spoiled rescue dog. After graduating from the University
of Georgia, she worked as a pharmaceutical sales representative before becoming
a writer.
An avid equestrian, devoted wino, coffee snob and occasional
runner, Evie is in a monogamous relationship with her favorite yoga pants. When
not chasing toddlers or writing, Evie can be found nursing her online shopping
addiction, planning elaborate DIY projects that never happen and discreetly
eavesdropping on the juicy conversations of local college students for
inspiration. She can tie a cherry stem in a knot with her tongue, counts
afternoon naps among life’s great indulgences and randomly belts out the whistle
solo from GNR’s “Patience”...because why not?
Evie obsessively stalks her favorite Hollywood gossip sites
and lives life by one simple rule: “If you don’t have anything nice to say, come
sit next to me!”
To follow Evie’s latest musings:
Introducing the Carina Press Romance Promise!
The Carina Press team all have one thing in common: we are romance readers with a longtime love of the genre. And we know what readers are looking for in a romance: a guarantee of a happily-ever-after (HEA) or happy-for-now (HFN). With that in mind, we’re initiating the
Carina Press Romance Promise
. When you see a book tagged with these words in our cover copy/book description, we’re making you, the reader, a very important promise:
This book contains a romance central to the plot and ends in an HEA or HFN.
Simple, right? But so important, we know!
Look for the Carina Press Romance Promise and one-click with confidence that we understand what’s at the heart of the romance genre!
Look for this line in Carina Press book descriptions:
One-click with confidence. This title is part of the
Carina Press Romance Promise
: all the romance you’re looking for with an HEA/HFN. It’s a promise!
Find out more at
CarinaPress.com
.
Fall in love with the
New York Time
s bestselling
The Kowalskis
series from Shannon Stacey, available now at
CarinaPress.com
and wherever ebooks are sold.
The Kowalskis
EXCLUSIVELY YOURS
(
The Kowalskis
, book one)
UNDENIABLY YOURS
(
The Kowalskis
, book two)
YOURS TO KEEP
(
The Kowalskis
, book three)
ALL HE EVER NEEDED
(
The Kowalskis
, book four)
ALL HE EVER DESIRED
(
The Kowalskis
, book five)
ALL HE EVER DREAMED
(
The Kowalskis
, book six)
LOVE A LITTLE SIDEWAYS
(
The Kowalskis
, book seven)
TAKEN WITH YOU
(
The Kowalskis
, book eight)
FALLING FOR MAX
(
The Kowalskis
, book nine)
“Books like this are why I read romance.” —
Smart Bitches, Trashy Books
Order your copies now!
Connect with us for info on our new releases, access to exclusive offers and much more!
Visit
CarinaPress.com
Other ways to keep in touch:
Facebook.com/CarinaPress
Twitter.com/CarinaPress
CarinaPress.com/newsletter
If you like romantic comedies with British flair, you’ll love ACT LIKE IT by Lucy Parker—available now!
ACT LIKE IT
by Lucy Parker
A sharp-witted heroine and an infuriating-but-swoon-worthy leading man bring down the house in this utterly charming contemporary romance debut.
“I liked this book so much, I read it twice.” —
Smart Bitches, Trashy Books
Order your copies now!
Connect with us on
CarinaPress.com
for info on our new releases, access to exclusive offers, free online reads and much more!
Visit
CarinaPress.com
.
Other ways to keep in touch:
We think you have a good book in you!
Do you write in the below genres? Harlequin’s Carina Press wants to see your manuscript.
• Contemporary Romance
• Romantic Suspense
• Historical Romance
• Paranormal Romance
• Mystery
• Erotic Romance
• LGBT
• Science Fiction & Fantasy
Submit today!
All manuscripts receive a thorough evaluation by a Carina Press editor and a decision within 12–16 weeks. What do you have to lose?
To learn more about our submission guidelines, visit us at
CarinaPress.com/WriteForUs
.