I’d been invited to this party and against my better judgment, I decided to go. Too many celebrities and way too many reporters looking for a story. My name is Peyton, and I’m a fashion reporter. Okay, so maybe it’s not Pulitzer stuff, but it’s a good living, and I get to meet everyone…. But I digress. This story is about a party….
Peyton did a last minute check of herself. Nice short leather skirt, blue peasant blouse and black boots, blonde curls streaming down her back. She was tired of being conservative, and decided to wear something bold from a new young designer. After all, the outfit was a freebie… Smiling at her reflection, she picked up her bag and headed out the door.
Her friend Lucy met her at the door. The house was already filled with other reporters and some of Hollywood’s stars and wannabes. Peyton headed for the bar and got a glass of wine.
“Can you water this down a bit for me? Just some seltzer, I need to keep my wits about me for a while.”
She took the drink and settled into a barstool. She scanned the room, looking for familiar faces. Hands waved to her, and she waved back. No one worth talking to, not this early anyway.
Turning back to the bar, she didn’t see who had approached. She nearly choked on her wine when she heard that deep Aussie voice.
“A beer, mate.”
Peyton looked up. There he stood, Heath Ledger. Four months before, she had interviewed him for a fashion shoot. Peyton still had copies of the original pics in her bedroom.
“Heath, hi, how are you?”
Heath looked over to her. His mind raced to remember her, damn; this was one hot chick, why didn’t he remember her? “
“Well, hey, how are you???” He stammered, trying to cover.
Peyton smiled. “You don’t remember me, right?”
Heath grinned sheepishly. “Please help me?”
She nodded. “My names Peyton McGregor. I interviewed you for California Fashion a couple months ago.”
Heath shook his head, “Yes, yes, now I remember! But you look so different, I would’ve remembered these curls!” He reached out and twirled a curl between his long fingers. Despite the closeness of the room, Peyton shivered at his touch.
“Yeah, well, I had my hair up that day. Professional and all.”
Think what you want, but she lusted after him ever since she met him. The interview had been done “on the run” just a quick luncheon thing, and they hadn’t kept up.
Heath kept wondering to himself why he hadn’t gotten this beauty’s number at least. But he recalled that the interview was fast and he had left immediately for another film shoot. But he did remember that she was quite attractive and intelligent.
“Peyton, hey, let’s find someplace here where we can talk and catch up.”
They took their drinks and headed out to the deck. The evening was cool, the stars bright, and the moon hanging just perfectly over the ocean. Her friend Lucy had benches placed randomly in the sand, and right at this moment no one was occupying them.
Peyton pulled off her boots, Heath kicked off his sandals and they headed down to a seat.
